Lao Sze Chuan (Grant Park) — Restaurant in Chicago

My grandmother is from south China near Sichuan and I'd frequently visit growing up. I have yet to find another restaurant in the city that reminds me more of her and delivers such powerful childhood nostalgia with each bite.

Chef Zhou is a true master of his craft. The jab-jab-punch of garlic, ma la, and chili in his Dry Chili Chicken still knocks me out my seat each time even though I know to brace for flavor impact. His Mapo Tofu is genuinely "ma" spicy (ask your Chinese friends what it means if you need) and I haven't had Yu Xiang Rou Si (Pork in Garlic Sauce) this authentic since I was in Cheng Du that I can't even bring myself to call it by its English name. Our other favorites are the Garlic Fried Prawns and the famous Boiled Fish Fillet in Spicy Szechuan Sauce (Shui Zhu Yu).

Mary, Edison, and Meagan make us feel like family every time we dine here. The hospitality they provide with each meal, the efforts they put in wiping and sanitizing each table, the kindness they offer each patron is inspiring. This location opened up last summer, unfortunately during both COVID and a labor shortage and has not received the publicity it deserves. Selfishly, I want this to remain my best-kept secret in Chicago but the folks that work here deserve so much more.

I've always entered here with a warm welcome and left with a full heart and stomach. While my grandmother is no longer strong enough to cook, I see her culinary spirit through these doors, welcoming me in, tossing the woks, placing the dishes--asking me what I'd like to eat.

Thank you,...

DO NOT EAT HERE! Wanted something close after getting in from a long flight. Hotel staff told me about this restaurant. Ordered General tso chicken lunch box which came with white rice, vegetable egg roll, soda and I ordered a side of scallion pancakes. Before my order was placed I specifically ask to have the chicken crispy, the server said yes it is crispy. Had food to go. This is the worst Chinese food I have ever had the displeasure of purchasing. I say purchasing because the food was inedible. The chicken was soggy (not crispy), stale and riddled with salt. To make it worse the sauce was sweet and tangy. The spring roll was drenched in oil. I couldn't even eat that. I was in disbelief, how can you spoil General tso chicken????. Was too tired to walk back with the food and thought if I called the restaurant the server who was unpleasant to begin with would become belligerent. Threw the food away as it belonged in the garbage and had to write this review. The only thing that saved me was the scallion pancake and it was bearable. Do not eat here!!!. You've been warned. I also must add that generally when the portion is too large the food isn't good. I saw the size of the food of the patrons dining in and asked what they were having, it was...

This is some good Chinese food, I had the fried rice combo and my God was it so good. The rice was cooked perfectly with the meat: chicken, beef, and shrimp being cooked perfectly too. I also have the say they have huge portions I'll show it in the pictures but I was honestly surprised. I did not see if there was anything else to drink other than water nor did I ask so I'm not sure on that. They are also very accommodating for food preferences, I had a picky eater with me and they happily redid their food for them.

Menus is also online just to let y'all know, they have spare old menus that arent entirely accurate on paper so they would recommend online but they have the option.

While we waited they gave us these chips with I don't know what exactly was on them but they where sweet.

Overall great experience and also very quite. I did not see any outlets either.

Also the fried rice was 16 dollars and some change. They offer chopsticks and forks along with spoons if needed.

I would definitely come...