Chi Cafe - Chicago

I was introduced to this place during late dinner hours and despite it being a weekday, it seemed quite packed.

I'm torn about giving this place three stars - hear me outWhile the food itself wasn't bad by any means, it didn't wow me at all.

Value for money restaurant, simply one of the cheapest Chinese restaurants I know in Chicago.

The place is located where most of the Asian restaurants are in China town. It is by far the best Chinese food in Chicagoland! The food is always fresh and the portions are massive! They prepare the food fast especially considering how busythey get. The service also excellent! The prices are also very reasonable. It?s also a hidden gem considering how late it staysopen (especially after a long night out). I have been coming here for years and always recommend this place. They neverdisappoint!

I went at the recommendation of hotel staff while visiting Chicago. I was told the food was good and that it was one of the few places open at night. Although the latter is true, I didn?t have as good of an experience when I ate here. My egg roll came outa little burned but I ate it anyways and it was decent. I ordered kung pao chicken and the portion was huge but the chicken wasvery dry and overdone. I typically don?t send food back so I tried to eat it? after having a second piece of chicken I realizedit was going to be pretty difficult to eat. The server was very kind and let me choose something else from the menu. He wentback to the kitchen and told me he?d tried a piece of chicken and that he agreed it was too dry. The service is the reason thatthis review is 3/5 and not 2/5. I chose the Thai chili fried tofu and the few pieces that I had were delicious. However, Ididn?t eat much of it because I?d eaten the (also dry) rice that came with the chicken while I waited for my food the secondtime. I ordered a lemon tea as well but didn?t drink it because it tasted more like hot lemonade than tea. The other reviewshere seem pretty good, so I?m not sure what happened. It was a Wednesday at 10:30 pm, but there were still a decent number ofpeople inside. This wouldn?t be a place I?d return to if I visit Chicago again.