Serves meat, vegan options available. This family-owned restaurant offers around some seitan dishes, in addition to smoothies, vegan spring rolls, Chinese tofu and vegetable dishes. Informal but pleasant atmosphere.
Categories: Chinese, Delivery, Take-out, Non-veg
4 Reviews
First Review by lincke
Contributions +680
Disgusting - Edit
Likely the worse meal I've had at a restaurant in recent memory. I had lunch 3 hours ago and I still feel like hurling. I was at lunch with two friends. I texted them that I felt like hurling and they told me that they had just had the same discussion. I got "Orange Chicken." This was with their fake meat. Their breaded "chicken" nuggets were nothing other than fried dough balls. Literally. Nothing in the middle. No seitan. No tofu. Just fried dough. Awful.
Cons: bad food
Contributions +14
Vegetarian Menu - Edit
Since Chicago tragically does not have its own 100% vegetarian Chinese restaurant, 168 is my favorite option for Chinese in the area. I have been eating at this establishment for 15 years, and the quality has always remained high and consistent. The restaurant is family owned and run, and they say hello and talk to you when you dine in or pick up. Before coming to the US, the family lived in South America where they learned to make their own faux meats. From this they created a separate vegetarian menu. Some of the options are BBQ pork, Rainbow duck, Fillet fish, Szechwan chicken or beef, Mongolian chicken or beef, Sweet and sour pork, Orange chicken, and others. They use the same “meat” (combination wheat and soy I believe) for most of the vegetarian dishes and use different sauces and vegetables to change the taste. The sweet and sour pork, however, is different and almost seems like a yummy crispy and chewy fried dough ball in sweet and sour sauce. The fillet fish is not fishy at all like some vegetarian seafood can be, and is done with a white gravy and broccoli.
This is an omni restaurant, but I have never felt suspicious of what ingredients they are using in the veg meals, and they have always been willing to listen and accommodate. They seem respectful of vegetarianism and offered their food at Veganmania a few years back. In the case of a meetup or dine out, they can prepare all vegetarian and vegan options, including the "egg" rolls.
The ambiance is very casual and quiet except for soft music. The décor is basic. The restaurant is located in a suburban strip mall. You do not have to dress up to eat here. Once a year or so the family goes away for a week or two, and since they do not have a website, you might want to call ahead just to make sure they are open so you are not left hungry and disappointed by a note on the door.
Pros: Vegetarian Menu, Friendly staff, family owned and run, Easy parking
Cons: All the dead animals they sell
Contributions +22
Not Vegan!!! - Edit
I called the restaurant and asked if they had anything vegan and they said they have something almost vegan. I then asked anything strictly vegan with no meat, fish oil, or dairy and they said no. So I didn't bother with it.
Contributions +14
Highly Recommended! - Edit
We have been going for years and love the Orange 'Chicken', Sweet & Sour 'Pork', and Szechuan 'Beef' - all seitan dishes. Good parking, nice, personal owners.
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