Jiang's Mongolian Grill — Restaurant in Dundee Township

One freezing afternoon on the Illinois prairie, my family tasted Jiang’s Mongolian; the warm experience exceeded expectations in all aspects. Walking through the double doors transports you to an Oriental world as far from bland suburban sameness as east is from west. Calming, yet compelling, earth tone color palettes are as bold as the flavors without being garish. High ceilings supply ample breathing room so you do not feel cloistered. A well-Oriented architect, rather than an occidental capitalist, likely laid it out with the people’s pleasant dining experience in mind. The layout creates a cozy, intimate atmosphere so you don’t feel like you are eating in a crowded, loud cafeteria. In a non-linear, semi-circular fashion, the floor plan wraps, intriguingly, around a Mongolian grill, where a chef grills your choice ingredients into a masterful whole; yet there is a soft “buffer” of bamboo so that you don’t feel like you are intruding on the dining experience of others. Even for my party, with two small children, the hostess seated us, thoughtfully, in a semi-private half-booth where my kids could lay out coloring books and create little worlds of their own imagination. The food is delicious; a smorgasbord of fresh options befitting a sophisticated, immersive atmosphere. The soup and salad is unlimited. The soups are made daily from scratch. The hot & sour soup was so delicious I returned for seconds. Steaming clam chowder on a cold day? No wilted, slimy lettuce here; the salad bar is well stocked with an assortment of fresh vegetables you don’t often find along Randall Road. The salad bar doesn't miss a beet. You can a create a stand-alone salad with antioxidant-rich beets, crisp lettuce, juicy pineapple, diced tomatoes, and sugar snap peas. As you would expect, there is your standard fare of proteins: chicken, beef, or pork; however; Jiang’s expands on the usual protein picks with eggs and world-class seafood options like fresh fish, crab, shrimp, scallops, squid, even mussels from New Zealand. The attentive staff goes the extra mile without fawning. Servers work as a team, checking in to see how your meal tastes and keeping your cup full. Rather than distracted and absent, the staff is mindful and present, enhancing your experience with thoughtful gestures, like wrapping the customer’s copy of the receipt around your payment card. Thoughtfully, our server brought sticks of chewing gum with the bill so you can leave with fresh, rather than garlicky, breath. Jiang’s even graced us with a parting gift; a colorful Chinese new year calendar my four-year-old liked so much that she hung it on the wall and “painted” it with markers. The devil is in the details does not mean God is in the generalities. Ordinarily, I don’t write granular reviews at this level of detail; but, having dined at some of the finest restaurants in Chicago and LA, Jiang’s Mongolian is a five-star experience in a location you’d least expect, uncommon for the Algonquin Commons. In my hometown, where unique dining options along Randall Road are usually limited to usual suspects of soulless, ho-hum corporate chains, Jiang’s is a surprise. The reasonable price is not a tradeoff to quality. The restrooms are so nice you can rest; with beautiful vessel sinks, spacious floor plans, and everything you need to leave as fresh as the vegetables. We plan to hire a babysitter and return for a romantic date night, it’s that good. Jiang’s is not a place you go to eat, Jiang’s is a place you...

Recently went to this place on Saturday night, and it was very slow as we were there after main dinner hours. I came with a group of 7, we were quickly sat and given our drinks and bowls. We made our food and sat down. All going well! As we were talking my daughter stopped me from eating as I was about to eat something plastic and not something I had put in my food. I advised the waitress and she was concerned, but then she asked me if I put any hot sauce in and I was like yes, but I would have noticed the cap falling in and taken it out. Therefore, not calling you. She took it away, and the other person, who came with authority and said did use the hot sauce and the waitress yelled at her in dismay… she then accused me … and took it away and yelled at everyone in the restaurant in their native language. Very uncomfortable feeling for us all! I went and got a salad as I was not going to get another bowl since my party was done and ready to go…three kids…you all understand. I got my bill and noticed I had been charged 11dollars for unlimited soup and salad for the one salad plate, which was not good. I was furious. I have no problem paying for my food, but I was not expecting to pay full price as my food was thrown away. I asked why the charge, and the manager person just laughed and scoffed at me… then asking what should I charge… not my responsibility or right to tell you, but be fair. I then asked if I remade the bowl how much would she charge, and she said normal cost…I went and remade a bowl. I was furious. I had no problem paying half price for the bowl I had… or charge me the kids price… but charging full price and blaming me…come on…do better! I know with my prior experience with Asian restaurants, that getting things removed or comped from a bill for quality,taste, or service is rare…but this was a foreign piece of plastic in my food. I try to always be positive…I have not liked their quality and food when I have gone there before, but we go because we have friends whose kids love this place…. I didn’t review it then… but I told that manager I was not going to hold back as this was unacceptable! I hope this does not happen to anyone at anytime! I am happy that others enjoy this establishment! I...

I am honestly SHOCKED at how many reviews claim that this restaurant is clean. The fan was CAKED in dust. The walls and air vents had very visible dust on them, walls had splatters, tables were sticky. I am not a clean freak, but as I waited for my food, I was noticing more and more cleanliness issues. Also… no AC. The staff was rude, they slammed some trays down in front of us when we forgot to grab them. I ate here because my boyfriend and I read the reviews and thought it would be a good place to go. The food was fine. Some of the proteins looked really questionable. But overall, I have no clue how so many people rate this place as clean and fresh. The price point is great, and I saw a lot of families there enjoying their time. I am aware in this economy that their price point is super approachable for lots of people, but cleanliness is still something that should be...