Won Kow Restaurant

Reviews 3

A

A Private User

BUYER BEWARE, IF YOU WANT TO GET SCAMMED, EAT HERE! Owner knowingly gives out expired parking validation tickets... Really wanted to rate ZERO stars, but this system wont allow it. Coming from the burbs, we called the restaurant to verify their parking situation. The owner answered informing us that they offer a validated rate of $2 per 3 hours for patrons. So we thought, cool lets park in the lot and eat there. I was feeling foolishly nostalgic as my very own wedding shower was held here 15 yrs ago... There are many establishments to choose from in the area that serve the same food. The entree food here was just average, the dim sum is NOT very good at all. Sticky, grimy lazy susans and dirty water glasses, disgusting bathroom that I wont let my kids even wash their hands in...Tea isnt even free, there is a surcharge of $2 for tea. Finally, to top it all off, back to the parking situation: so we bring our ticket to the owner up front to be validated per our waitress prompting. The older gentleman (owner) in speaking in Cantonese-English presumably to the "Chinatown Chamber of Commerce" about some parking validation tickets...(hmmmmm, what an awfully strange coincidence! I will let you know that Im of Asian descent, so Im thinking now after the fact, that he probably thought I could understand him. He staged the whole thing). I ask him for validation for my parking and he hands me a validation ticket that expires 12/31/10. He tells me this is what he received from the Chamber of Commerce and that it should work. He goes on to tell me that I should just talk to the person at the parking lot and that they should accept it. He tells me that he gives this ticket to everyone and that they dont come back to him (...really? I wonder why not...), except for one customer...I tell him ( my mistake) that if this doesnt work Im coming back for the difference because I had even called prior to deciding where we would eat and that we were assured that they validated parking... Fast forward...ticket (of course) doesnt work. Guy at booth says he cant help because obviously tickets expired (really? what a surprise!)...I head back to the restaurant, owner now conveniently gone...and they call him and reach him on the phone, and instead of instructing his waitresses to refund the now $8 difference in parking (total parking bill $10 instead of $2), he says for me to wait because he may be back in a few hours! They call his son (other owner) who says that its not his issue---call owner. OK, ENOUGH, REALLY. Youve now lost a patron who really only came for the economical food and parking...but if you cant even provide parking as you advertise and say (just dont advertise and say that you do)---the economical food which has decreased in quality over the years really isnt worth it. You can still get economical, hot food (yes, food not so hot when served...hmmmmm...) on the other side of Chinatown (the newer part) and much better dim sum at Cai.

BI

Big Food Jerk

Won Kow Restaurant 2237 S Wentworth Ave Chicago IL 60616 Won Kow is an old school Chinese restaurant right smack dab in the middle of Chicago’s Chinatown. I have been here many times over the years and coming here brings back memories of the early 70’s with my Mom as I grew up not far from here. I seem to always gravitate to Won Kow even though there are many other restaurants to choose from, but this is my spot and I’ve never been disappointed. The place is on the second floor and there is a climb to get up there. Once you open the doors you are greeted by a grand stair case and if you aren’t in shape you may need a Sherpa to guide you up. I promise it’s worth the climb. The dining area is spacious and clean and not overly stereotypical Chinese restaurant like. A subtle décor that is esthetically pleasing and comfortable. The waitress was “very’ Chinese and even though her English wasn’t great she seems to know what you want before you do. Her service was definitely above average. The menu has all of the Chinese –American favorites as well as some not so typical fare like the many Dim Sum choices which are various types of dumplings with a plethora of filling choices. So what my wife and I did was of course started with egg rolls and then ordered some BBQ pork fried rice and then Dim Sum. We had BBQ Pork – Shrimp & Cilantro – Pork & Peanut. What I found to be unique was that they have a big Dim Sum placard that is laminated on the table with a Dim Sum order form that you fill out. It’s different but kinda cool! The BBQ Pork came in a more traditional bread dumpling and was probably a safe choice if you aren’t very experimental. The filling and dumpling were both delicious. The Shrimp & Cilantro came in a dumpling that is reminiscent of a cellophane noodle and I’m sure is probably the same ingredients in dumpling form. If you are texturally sensitive this may freak you out because it is a little slimy. The shrimp inside of that little edible cellophane wrapper is one of the most unique flavors that I have ever eaten. It’s a gotta try it to see what I’m talking about flavor. It is fantastic and I could eat them till I pop. The Pork & Peanut comes in the same type of dumpling and is again a uniquely delicious little slimy dumpling of love. I also had a Hurricane and a Tsing Tao (Beer). My In-Laws were with us as well and ordered a dinner for 2 that was enough food for 2 for 2 or 3 days! According To The Big Food Jerk. I love Chinatown and I love Won Kow. If you have never been there you should walk around and visit the shops and then eat and drink in my favorite Chinatown spot. Also if you park in the lot just north of Cermak when you get to Won Kow have your server validate your parking ticket and you can pay as little as $2 to park.

BR

Brendan Tripp

Coming north on the Dan Ryan on the tail end of rush hour, and both the 90/94 side and the LSD side were way backed up, so we decided to swing into Chinatown for dinner instead of fighting through bumper-to-bumper traffic. Our regular Chinatown "go to" place was "closed for remodeling" (I hope thats actually the case), and the back-up we had in mind didnt validate parking (booo!), so we decided to hit Won Kow. Wed hoped they did all-day Dim Sum, but they dont, so we ordered off the menu. Its been YEARS since Id been to Won Kow (Ive got a bum knee and ankle, so those 3 flights of stairs are a challenge), and I dont know if Id ever actually seen their menu - having only been there for Dim Sum previously. We werent looking to spend a lot, so opted to go for the "Chefs menu" for 2 - which included wonton soup and appetizer combo (fried shrimp, egg roll, and BBQ rib). We probably wouldnt have ordered the two dishes that came with that, but they were OK. Frankly, what can you expect from a restaurant that still features Chop Suey and Chow Mein these days? The influences of that style of cooking were evident in both the Kung Bao Shrimp, and the combo dish (Won Kow Kow?). Neither were bad, per se, but both had dark sauces without much character. Heck, while there were evidently Chinese hot peppers in the Kung Bao, it had almost NO heat unless you hit one of them. Again, perhaps there are "gems" on their menu, but it may be years again before I end up back there. The meal wasnt bad, and it wasnt particularly expensive (we got out for $33 including tax and tip - just having water and tea), but there wasnt much there to recommend it, other than validating the parking for the main Chinatown lot.