Lao Sze Chuan - Highland Park

As we stepped into the restaurant, a light drizzle was falling outside. We opted for a table by a large window, and the waiter quickly brought us the menus. After carefully reviewing the extensive selection, we decided to share a jellyfish appetizer, xiao long bao, and a dry pot of pork ribs. The jellyfish caught our attention; its texture was reminiscent of the vegetables in the appetizer, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. The xiao long bao were warm, juicy, and familiar, providing a comforting taste. I was particularly excited about the dry pot, and it certainly lived up to my expectations. It was intensely spicy and savory, with the pork ribs and vegetables perfectly complementing each other. However, it's not for those who can't handle heat. If I could change one thing, I would have liked to see more pork in the dish. Overall, our lunch was warm, well-seasoned, satisfying, and even a bit adventurous, all while the rain continued to patter outside. I definitely look forward to returning to try more dishes in the future.

We ordered Mongolian beef, but it tasted more like beef stir-fry with oversized chunks of onion. Additionally, they served the really hot soup in plastic containers, which is quite concerning.

They have an extensive menu, and everything I’ve sampled has been quite delicious. While I’m not Chinese, I suspect that many of these dishes are more authentic than what you would find at typical Chinese-American restaurants. One thing to keep in mind: when they say spicy, they really mean it!

The food was fine... however, I?m complaining about the fact that two employees were playing music from their phones the entire time I was eating. This was extremely annoying. I?m not coming back.

We ordered takeout. I was expecting amazing things based on the price. It was just okay. I wouldn 't pay that much in the future for the same food I can get elsewhere around town for less money.