Gourmet Food — Restaurant in Chicago

Oh Gourmet...what would I do without you and your deliciously cheap rice boxes?

I'm so glad my friends introduced to me this place! I've recommended it to so many people looking for cheap eats. The restaurant itself is more of a take out place, but there are a few chairs and tables inside if you'd like to dine in, but it's kind of dirty and the ground is sometimes sticky. I usually prefer to order take out.

On to the food...Gourmet is known for their ridiculously cheap rice boxes. They also sell xiao long bao, BBQ meats, dumplings, tofu dessert, and etc. For just about $5, you are able to get a large box of food that usually lasts me two meals and I'm a big eater. They have all different types of rice boxes from chicken to pork to beef, but I usually get the minced beef with a fried egg on top - so good! The sauce is savory and rich with bits of minced beef and veggies in every bite. The part that makes it over the top is the fried egg on top when you break the yolk and mix it with the rice. My stomach is literally grumbling as I'm typing this review. They also have some of the best fried chicken wings I've had in Chinatown! These wings have to be battered in crack - that's how good they are! I've also tried the xiao long bao here, but the skins are too thick and there is rarely any soup inside, so avoid them at all costs. The douhua (tofu dessert) here is really good and super fresh - they make it fresh daily, and it's only a $1.50 for a large container. Make sure you get here early for this because they sell out pretty fast.

Because it's located in the old part of Chinatown, parking can be a bit tricky, but there is street parking - just watch out for all those people who think they're invincible that walk out in the middle of the streets or behind your car as you're parking!

Overall, it's a great joint to grab a quick lunch at...

4.5 stars This hole-in-the-wall diamond in the rough was and still in some ways amazing. I remember back in the day you could get a can of pop, the soup of the day, and a rice box all for under or arouns $5. But soon the extras kept on getting stripped.

But who cares when you got great quality food for the price! You will still be paying only $5 for your meal and you will leave full.

Recommendations: What I love are the spicy salt chicken wings, they are juicy, spiced just right and tender. Oh man trust me its fried chicken at its finest; just know you'll need to work out afterwards. The spicy salt shrimp is the best here; I haven't liked other restaurants even though they sell it for much more. Pork Soup Bun. don't let the name fool you. These are similar to potstickers and dumplings but these are amazing. They are steamed and have a soup inside that explodes in mouth but the juices are rich and delicious. Trust me this is a great appetizer with your meal. It comes with a rich vinegar with garlic, onion, and ginger pieces that enhances the taste of the bun. spare rib rice - just like dimsum, love it! Singapore noodles, curry with noodles, can't beat it. Beef Chow Fun (dry), fish with corn, sesame chicken, fried egg with shrimp, porkchop with mandarin sauce, porkchop with onions, curry chicken... everything is practically good.

One note though this place ain't good for the body and not a good place for a date unless you are assured of her love for you. This is the only reason to knock on this place but since I'm all about good food and less about the...

This is an local hang-out for most Chinese folks from Chinatown, where they buy their quick cheap Chinese take out, or dine-in dishes like Braised pork with Chinese broccoli over white rice to Century eggs with diced pork congee. I have been going here since the late 1990s, when the building was originally Quan Yick garage for their delivery trucks, which was sold and later became Gourmet Take Out Restaurant. The same owner also own Tang's Garden Restaurant, which served both Dim Sum and other authentic Chinese food as well as American version like egg foo young.

Gourmet Restaurant is not all that big, look more run down, then their classy Tang's Garden Restaurant. The chairs and tables can due for replacement, and it is not a place for a first date or business meeting, and it barely can sit more then 20 people. If one eat here, you are here for the local food, like hanging roasted duck, or roasted pork, and a few dim sum dishes, which their classier Tang's restaurant tasted much better. One is here for their box lunches or some congees at a reasonable price, then a McDonald's meal leaving one feeling still hungry minus the drink.

During lunch hours, this place can get busy with cars double parked outside, with people waiting for their orders. The same is even for dinner, where one might see a few returning workers from other suburban Chinese restaurant buying take-out to eat at home. With Covid, business has died down a little, but still steady.

If one ever want a quick bite, and eat like a local, this is one of the restaurant to go to buy take-out and do not...