The food was good though expensive for what it is. I thought it would be better than it was, safe…read moreto say it was disappointing. I had the Ruben with pastrami, and my brother got a corned beef on rye with Swiss. Service was good, thought the hot sandwiches weren't really hot, more so warm.

A Chicago staple since 1942…read more If you haven't been here you really need to stop in. Great food Great service Great people You'd better be hungry because the food is plentiful and so are the desserts Love this place

5 stars based on Bahn mi, cha gio and iced coffee I ordered today…read more I must have been part of an early crowd. When I arrived, there was only one other table dining, which made it GREAT for me. It's a decent size hall with 10+ table arrangements, making it pretty great for a group to enjoy their lunch. It also featured a couple of kiosks for ordering, which I thought was a bit easy to miss, since it was tucked away in the left corner when you walked in. It looked like there was also a cashier available to take orders, if you miss the kiosks. I've seen places where they simply do not have anyone at the register to take orders, but that wasn't the case for Lotus. Before deciding to visit them today, I had an impression that their menu choices were very limited compared to other Vietnamese restaurants I was used to. I'm certainly not complaining, since I'm usually a huge fan of select "specialty" approach in restaurants. That's why I decided to order one of their Bahn mi, where I normally would have chosen pho for my first visit. And it didn't disappoint. First off, the size of the sandwich was good. I've had it where they charged a buck or two less, but they weren't big enough to be a full "lunch" portion. Lotus' size, I thought was decent. I had ordered one of their cha gios just in case the sandwich failed to fill me, but I think I would have been okay without it. Cha gio was super good tho! Oh, and the iced V-coffee was good, too. Typically, they'll bring out the coffee before your meal is ready, probably because they're ready-made in the morning and all you'd need to do is pour them over ice. I of course, have known legitimate mom n' pop places, where they'll actually bring out coffee as it's brewing in Phin (stainless steel coffee filter) and a glass of ice with condensed milk, so you can wait for the coffee to finish brewing and pour yourself one, which is what I *always* prefer. Not here, but no big deal. You can usually tell how good the food is going to be by trying their iced coffee. Even though V-coffee isn't known for using "incredible" beans, the balance of the strength of coffee and condensed milk *does* make a big difference in your experience. I felt this place had it correct! I'll definitely come back myself and even bring coworkers or my family to have their Bahn mi again. What I'm not sure about is whether I want to try their pho or bun. First, they don't offer too many variations, so I'm stuck choosing from just a few. (For example, I usually go for "brisket-only" or a combo of brisket and rare steak, but they didn't seem to have those options. Granted, it's possible they'll make it happen if I asked) Secondly, I think they're a couple bucks more expensive than what I would like to pay for a bowl of pho. We'll see.

Ambiance - neighborhood gem, casual, offers small dine in area…read more Service - order at kiosk upon arrival, self serve, pick up food at counter Food - pho broth was aromatic, sliced beef was slightly different than what I'm used to (it was marinated, not the typical rare un-marinated sliced beef)

Such a pleasant, fulfilling surprise. By chance we stopped at Shang Noodle, looked in the window…read moreand was drawn inside. Atmosphere was great; a little noisy, but in a good way. Lots of friend groups and others, enjoying their together time, incredible meals, and just sharing together. Serious stuff: Ambiance was very inviting, letting all clientele the opportunity for unfettered enjoyment. Food was flavorful, sumptuous - just delicious and more than ample. Service; quick, courteous, attentive. Waitstaff proving good information on menu items and pairing suggestions. They checked on us several time, ensuring everything was to our liking. If ever back in Chicago, I will definitely be look for Shang Noodle!

Went here on a whim last night after reading all the glowing reviews on Yelp. Before that, I…read morechecked out a few eateries on the 4th floor of the Nordstrom building, but nothing really stood out, and honestly, none of them seemed very busy and the one restaurant Lao Sze Chuan was way too expensive, $30+ entrees were average and the place wasn't busy at all. So I decided to try Shang Noodle, which was tucked away on a side street off Grand Ave., just steps from Michigan Ave. It's across from the Nordstrom building, past Labriola's, down some steps and about a block away located on the south side of the street. As soon as I walked in, and I wasn't expecting this but the restaurant was extremely loud and nearly every seat was taken and everybody seemed to be enjoying themself, families, couples and groups. I figured that was a good sign and it signaled to me that the food was probably good! At first, the host wanted me to sit at the bar, which I politely declined because I don't usually sit at bars, also, I was there to eat, not pick up somebody! I noticed a small table open, pointed it out, and he kindly let me take it. No 'tude either! As far as my server goes, she was efficient, friendly, and very helpful with recommendations since it was my first visit and probably because I didn't look like the other customers who were more familiar with the cuisine. She suggested the pot stickers over the hot and sour soup, and the beef Chow Fun instead of chicken Chow Fun. The pot stickers were a little small, but crispy and very tasty. I also asked for some sweet and sour sauce on the side which I'm glad I did because it paired nicely with the pot stickers instead of that plain vinegar sauce they usually serve you. For my main dish, I ordered the char-grilled beef Chow Fun. The portion size was more than generous, and the char-grilled beef had a great umami flavor. A few of the rice noodles were a bit firm, likely undercooked, but overall though it was quite enjoyable. What I appreciated the most about Shang Noodle was the value. $18 for the beef Chow Fun and $9 for the pot stickers felt reasonable to me, considering it was on the dinner menu, the portion sizes were humongous and the restaurant was located on the Near North Side, which is usually quite pricey. I'll definitely be back, though next time I may try lunch instead, or go with friends of mine.

A hidden gem in the West Loop. Attentive service, large menu of both meat, vegetarian and seafood…read moredishes. Well prepared, excellent Chinese food.

LEGIT. Every time I come here, it's just for that lamb…read morenoodle soup (羊肉泡馍). Also, the fried green beans are amazing--those dishes have GuoQi, the magical Chinese smoky char I almost never get in the US. That taste really feels like back in China. I wish the Bay Area had this kind of flavor, but unfortunately, we don't. 牛逼！

Easily the best noodle soup I've had. It's not just yummy, it's yummy yummy!…read more This is a must go Chicago Chinatown spot if you're a noodle and soup lover. It's that legit! They have other Chinese staples too, but let's not kid ourselves, you come and come back again for the noodle soup. And they have PLENTY of different options of it to choose from. It's a small place and off the beaten path a bit, so get there before the lunch rush. Owners are super nice and welcoming. I discovered it on the walking food tour we did and I came back for more!

This spot has changed hands, names, and menus over the years, but it seems to have found its…read moreidentity - noodles. This family-run spot is quaint and doesn't offer much in terms of interior decor and lighting. The entrance is also fully covered in a decal, which makes it easy to walk right by this spot. The food makes up for some of these shortcomings. This is the familiar Cantonese cooking that is comfort food for many. The stir-fried noodles in particular are a must. There are rice dishes, soups, and more to choose from and you can't really go wrong with anything. The soup is my least favorite of these due to the broth lacking depth, but the wontons were good. The XO sauce stir-fried noodles with beef was my favorite. If you're looking for something casual with affordable dishes, Yummy Yummy is worth checking out.

Amazing food and service! Will be back!…read more Had the Irish Benedict and the taste of Greece skillet. Yum!

I love a great diner like experience and this place provides that at a high level. The counter and…read morebooths are so classic diner decor - I love it. The waitresses are so welcoming and friendly. The all day breakfast as well all the other dishes were so yummy. I highly recommend if you're in the mood for some comfort food in this part of the city.

Finally made a stop in the Hmart food court and it didn't disappoint. Food was pricier than…read moreexpected. My boyfriend and I split the beef short ribs bento box, Soondubu Kalguksu, and a spicy tuna samgak-gimbap. The samgak-gimbap had a good amount of tuna and the spice hits in the aftertaste. Soondubu Kalguksu: the noodles were so good. We ordered the pork and regular spicy. The broth was spicy (for me) but needed for a cold day. They were generous with their tofu! Short ribs bento box: I liked the variety of side dishes. I recommend this bento box with another dish to get a satisfying fullness With the food court being close to the exit, be sure to bundle up because it can get cold. You order at the register and they will call your order number when ready. You return your tray to the restaurant you ordered from.

This place always hits the spot if your craving Korean food. They have the basic popular dishes…read morelike kimchi soup, Mandu(Korean dumplings),ramen,bibimbap and the pancakes. Opted to try the ramen today and it was good portion and pretty tasty. Don't skip the banchan ..love the corn here. Definitely try if you're in the west loop/greek town area.

First time here we were seated immediately! It was Thursday night around 10ish I'll say. The staff…read morewas super friendly and helpful! Very welcoming and attentive, but then again it's a hidden little ramen spot where everyone's huddled up at a bar pretty much lol The food was absolutely delicious! I got their signature ramen and the pork just melted in your mouth. Noodles were 10/10, broth even better.! Will be coming back for sure. Hopefully we have a similar experience with waiting and dining

We were seated immediately, but also came at 6PM on a Monday. Servers and the team were very nice,…read moreand the ambience even more so. It definitely lives up to the speakeasy reputation. Prices were definitely on the higher end. Shio bowl: broth was nice and light, yet so flavorful! The addition of mushrooms were a perfect fit. The pork could have had more flavor, but that may be because the broth was light. Tonkotsu bowl: really packs a punch! Unfortunately, I found it very salty with the black garlic oil. The pork in this one was perfect, though! Overall, a great experience and I would come back to try their other options!

I was so excited to try this place, but didn't find it to be what I expected. We tried the tandoori…read morechicken momo, veggie jhol momo, and the veggie biryani. The tandoori chicken momo was the tastiest, by far. But all, seemed to be a bit bland? Even the biryani, which I usually find bursting with flavor, was a let down. Staff was friendly and quick! The ambiance was relaxed. We sat outside on a nice day, and they had nice seating that allowed our dog.

Based on the name, momos are clearly the go-to order from here. I usually order takeout from Momo…read moreWorld, which does affect the quality a little I think. Dumplings are always going to taste better fresh versus 30 minutes later after delivery. While I think the other menu items taste fine, the momos are in a league of their own. There are spots with better briyani and curries you can order from, but nobody does momos does as well as they do in Chicago.

Never a bad meal or service. We live right across the street from Half Sour and it's easily has…read morebecome one of our favorites. Their brunch with homemade bagels are delicious & truly have never ordered anything we didn't love.

This is a great little bar…read more The drinks somehow all had glitter--which I love--but didn't seem to match the vibe. My husband and I stopped in for a quick dinner and Half Sour fit the bill. Casual pub fare of good quality. Slow service, but it wasn't a huge issue. I'm sure we'll be giving it another shot.