The food was ok. The forks and knives were unclean and the service is not that good.
(3)
Stacy M.
Their gingerale was incredible, but the rest of our meal was left to be desired.
(3)
Jason P.
Definitely surprised by this place. It has been YEARS since I have been here... we're talking close to a decade, so I was expecting your average PF Chang's style chinese/japanese/thai offerings. I opted for the Sweet Ginger Scallops and Shrimp, and it was amazing. It was a little light on the scallops and shrimp, but the sauce was so good I gobbled up the mountain of rice that was on the plate just to get more of that sauce in my mouth. My wife had the pad thai, she was a fan, but I can't really comment on that because I'm not a fan of pad thai anywhere. Our friend had the Teriyaki Glazed Chicken Fried Rice, and that was very tasty as well. I love the fresh ginger ale, and the mai thais are awesome as well. Pot stickers are good, but you don't get many of them in the appetizer (I'm a big boy, I like my portions big as well). It's a tad pricey for what it is, but you're paying for the location. I'll definitely go back if I find myself with a reason to be in River North, but I probably wouldn't plan an outing solely around this restaurant.
(4)
Pinak B.
Like most entertain you restaurants, its a good spot to visit when no other option comes to mind. Feel like getting some good Asian inspired cuisine, but don't' really know where to go? Try out big bowl. They have a nice assortment of premade dishes, as well as a build your own bowl. Some favorites include Spicy Peanut Noodles, Kung Pao Tofu and the Chicken Satay. For entrees I would recommend staying away from the items on the menu and going with the 'build a bowl'. Its more interactive, fun and you can pick and choose exactly what you want. If you come with a group, its a good opportunity to mix and match items and try a little over everything.
(3)
Tiff B.
Can't believe I never wrote a review for Big Bowl. I love this place! Sure it's not authentic Asian food, but it's damn tasty and that's all that matters. I've never had bad service here and even though they're always packed. It doesn't seem like you have to wait long for a table. My best friend loves this place, so whenever she comes to town she insists on going here. The prices are very good as well. You can get a three course meal plus wine for about $20/person. That's cheap for restaurants downtown.
(5)
Erika G.
LUNCH: I love the stir fry at this place for lunch. A giant bowl of Chinese-style comfort food. It's not the most exotic fare, but yum - on a cold day, it hits the spot.
(3)
MNP K.
Very Impressed...all the food was awesome and the wine prices were low...BBQ hot bun starters were very tasty and the orange chicken was possibly the best I have had...can't wait to go back.
(4)
Maria R.
I would give it three stars for the calimari appetizer and the refreshing hibiscus tea, but our dinners were very unsatisfying. I kept thinking the chicken didn't look cooked enough. My husband and I ordered very different dishes and they both looked exactly the same except for the sauce. A disappointing experience.
(2)
Cate W.
Delicious food, and excellent service! Having worked in at another upscale Chinese restaurant that also prioritizes fresh food and interesting flavors over the traditional msg fest, I was so glad to discover Big Bowl downtown! Sometimes the Loop restaurant reviews I read on Yelp are so depressing--truly mixed reviews-- that I hesitate to spend money or take a chance on any of 'em. Big Bowl is a fabulous alternative. We went out for supper on Wednesday night with a friend visiting town on business, and we all were incredibly pleased with our meals and the overall experience. Our server was great--pleasant but not smarmy, attentive without hovering. The food came out hot and on time. We started with vegetable potstickers (delicious) and I had a pomegranate- gingerale-vodka cocktail, which was good but a little too hot gingery for my taste, though the aftertaste was pleasant, and the thai chicken panang curry. Oh MY! That was an excellent dish! The curry was a lovely peanut-lemon grass, flavorful and full without being too heavy, the peapods were crisp and the chicken was lovely. It had a little heat (as I was warned) but the server warned me about the little red peppers I should avoid in the dish--the whole thing was great! And when I took home leftovers, I think the dish improved over night in the fridge. I got two lunches out of it. My fiance had the chicken pad thai, which he loved, and my friend, a vegetarian, tried the Big Bowl make-your-own stir fry. When she asked our server's advice about the many sauces available he was able to find out what she liked and make some good suggestions. Really, it will be no sacrifice to go back to this place. The restaurant was pretty busy even for an early Wednesday evening--can't say I'm surprised if this is theaverage dining experience.
(5)
Anna B.
The food and service was really great. Everything we ordered tasted really fresh, but managed to still be very flavorful and filling. Our waiter was great and the manager came to greet us with free appetizers too! I would definitely recommend it.
(4)
Justin S.
Not my favorite at all. The home made ginger ale was different but still pretty good. The food however, not really great. The pad thai wasn't that great and what made it worse was the price. No lunch specials that just sucks. Service was good but still food not so much. I'll keeping looking for some great pad thai....
(1)
meso s.
Placed an order for pick up on a very busy Thursday evening during a visit to the city. Wasn't familiar with the resturant but ordered the cashew chicken which was too spicy to eat. However enjoyed the Mogolian beef dish it was delish. The fortunate cookies nice sweetness to them.
(4)
Gen S.
I keep going back to this place for the fresh ginger ale. It's seriously delicious. (If you're looking for a buzz, the sangria is decent, but not fantastic. Their other drinks are pretty pricey.) Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the food. It's average at best. It's your typical americanized "Asian" food. I've never had the make-your-own stir fry bowl, but I'm consistently underwhelmed by their entrees. Most of their appetizers, like potstickers or egg rolls, are shipped frozen to the restaurant. My girlfriend found a huge chunk of wood in one of her potstickers, so eat with caution. This place gets three stars because I'm always seated immediately and the ginger ale is fantastic.
(3)
Megan T.
I usually LOVE Big Bowl and frequent the Schaumburg Il location. We were there last Friday night and they sat us at a high top table in the entryway.... this would have been fine, but when the place filled up I had people interrupting our meal to ask up if the two chair that were part of our table were being used and if they could eat there. Aside from the rude people I ordered their special which the waiter talked up of Fresh Ahi tuna steak. I eat a lot of Ahi Tuna as it is my favorite fish, and I was really disappointed with this dish and then I came to find out it was $23.00 I wish I had stuck to my old favorite of Yellow curry or kung pao noodles. Our waiter was not great and didn't really know the menu well. He said that my order came with rice and green beans and when my meal came it had no rice. In the least I was disappointed at this experience and wish we had chose to dine at a different restaurant on this night.
(3)
Bryant C.
Nothing impressive. I felt like I was in an ultra commercialized restaurant. I can't really explain it. The place just wasn't that good though.
(2)
Lorraine D.
"I can't remember much, except for an overwhelming feeling of goodness" - is what my sister used to describe Big Bowl. I used to frequent this place during my time in Chicago, even though I'm generally not a big fan of pan asian. Here, however, the food is good, and it's a great place to visit. The place is really modern and it tends to get a bit loud. Also, it being close to the magnificent mile, it tends to get crowded on the weekends. When my friends came to visit me we went to this place a total of 3 times during their visit. Needless to say, there are tons of awesome restaurants in Chicago and this was one of our favorites.
(4)
Rob C.
Americanized asian stir fry, sort of a lesser version of Stir Crazy. Remember your positive or negative experience will be affected by the keyword -- americanized.
(2)
Henry A.
Seriously, if you like Thai food or "real" Chinese food, do not waste your time and money here. The menu essentially consists of some of the more popular items available at any of the thousands of Thai restaurants in the city, along with some Chinese noodle dishes and Mongolian grill items. The dishes are about 20% more expensive than what you would pay in a Thai restaurant and have about 20% of the flavor that you would get elsewhere too. We ordered the yellow curry and a pad thai, both dishes we normally love at regular Thai restaurants. After paying way more than we would normally, they were the worst versions of the dishes we had ever eaten anywhere. If you're looking for that kind of food in a nice atmosphere, please skip the Big Bowl and go to a nearby Thai restaurant instead, such as Dao, Star of Siam, or Silver Spoon. You will not only get MUCH better food, but you will also pay a lot less. On a positive note, the wonton noodle soup i had as an appetizer was really excellent. I would possibly consider going back here, but I would just get a large portion of that soup and that's it.
(2)
D S.
This place is great! I went last weekend with my girlfriend and two freinds and it was prefect. The wait was only 15 minutes, the service was great at the bar and table, and the food is out of this world. Also, for being located in the gold coast, the price was very good. I ate: chinese lettuce wraps an asian favorite, chicken, bibb lettuce, hoisin sauce teriyaki glazed steak filets teriyaki glazed filet mignon (3), chinese fried rice, baby asian vegetables I drank: Sapporo (20.3 oz) Beer
(5)
Nikki L.
Oh my god, my mouth is watering just looking at the pictures. I haven't ordered here in a while, but from what I can remember I LOVE THIS PLACE! I love their chicken dumpling and the chicken pad tai. They only offer delivery from Dining In, which can be more $$ than it should but...it's worth it!
(4)
A.S. V.
When Big Bowl first opened over a decade ago, I thought it was one of the best restaurants in the city. Now it's just another Lettuce Entertain you joint doing the same old thing. I don't imagine the food has changed all that much, but the prices have. For old time's sake, I'll keep it at four stars, but I wasn't too impressed by the stir fries last few times -- I swear they've blanded it out for the tourist crowds.
(4)
Lorelle L.
I love this place! Ever since I first visited Big Bowl while I was in Chicago for a quick vacation about 7 years ago, I have been a loyal customer. Sure its a chain and sure its not authentic Asian food, but it is damn tasty and affordable! The service has always been friendly and quick. The special cocktails are delicious and I've never had a dish I didn't like. Next time you're there, check out the Mochi for dessert! Yummy!
(5)
Ren H.
Here you can either order off the menu or go to the bar and pick veggies and meat for them to stirfry.. its perfect for everyone and its very cheap!
(5)
Linda N.
tried the stir fry option last night and it was delish! i had the chicken stir fry with chinese garlic ginger sauce (?...can't remember the sauce name) with the chefs choice veggies and jasmine rice. it was the perfect amount of everything. i also had the hong kong cosmo...super strong. i swear it was all alcohol and a splash of cranberry juice. i probably wouldn't get it again but at least i got my $$ worth. =)
(4)
Brad C.
I received a Lettuce Entertain you gift card for Christmas and since Big Bowl is now part of them I figured it was a perfect time to give them a try. Make sure you plan on waiting at least 30 minutes, Big Bowl is one of those restaurants tourists love going to. You get alot of food, but it isn't really worth taking a doggie bag home. Homemade ginger drinks are great and very good in cocktail form.
(3)
Pooja S.
Pre movie dinner? Near Michigan Ave, that wont break the bank... those were all the criteria we were looking for when we went in. Ordered the pot stickers with white wine sangria for me, sauvignon blanc for the husband. Server was very friendly. The highlight of my evening was finding lychees in the sangria, they were really good. Ordered the Thai veg green curry which was perfect for the two of us. The curry was amazing, really spicy with a lot of green chillies. The only reason I took off one star was because there wasn't very much actual curry. Would have been nice to get some more gravy in the dish. All of this ended up in costing about $35. Husband was comparing it to London and how little you get there in that amount. Gotta love America....
(3)
Gaurav M.
Good food. panang curry was average but kung pao chicken and spicy noodles were great.
(4)
Erin J.
You know, this place makes me feel like I'm eating "healthy" Americanized Chinese food. It all tastes good, but truly...I was kinda underwhelmed. Also, the price for the portion size is really off. After paying higher-than-average for an entree, I was still hungry after I was through. Probably a good place to go for a drink (their ginger ale is pretty good) or maybe a similarly-overpriced appetizer, but not worth a special trip.
(2)
Mike E.
Maybe this place is not for everyone. It is expensive, average food you can get elsewhere but the pot-stickers are quite delicious and the fresh ginger, ginger ale is truly worth a try ( I love ginger). Otherwise it is only worth going here if you are trendy, seems like that was their main client, or it is convenient and you are hungry.
(3)
Kat W.
This place is a joke, avoid at all cost (not cheap either). They don't know how to season Asian food. What amazes me (and the reason for 1 star) is the mere fact that so many people eat here.. it is just utterly unbelievable and I question the taste bud of every single person in that restaurant. At least, walk 2 blocks and go to P.F. Chang's.
(1)
Carrie B.
A good place for your thai/chinese/asian craving. Great appetizers, entrees, drinks. They've changed their menu a bit and seem a little strict on custom orders (I tried ordering the Kung Pao Chix less spicy and they wouldn't do it). It's pretty touristy, but decent. Good casual lunch or dinner spot.
(3)
Karen L.
Big Bowl is nothing to write home about, but it's decent enough. As the name implies, they give you great quantities of food for the price. The food tastes fine, but it's nothing amazing in my book. This place gets kind of crowded at night, not only making it difficult to hear but also to scoot your chair out. Try it if it's convenient for you. Other wise, you won't be missing too much.
(3)
Javier B.
This should really be a 5-star review as I think Big Bowl is awesome, but I will give it 4 stars for two reasons. 1-I have consistently gotten undercooked pieces of chicken the last few times I have been there, 2-I really hate that they give you an odd number of pot stickers (though they will add one if you request it). Aside from tthese two items (the chicken one being a biggie), the food here is delicious. I would highly recommend the Kung Pao chicken, the Thai hot pepper chicken, pad thai, panang curry is phenomenal and the coconut curry is excellent. From the appetizers, the pot sticker combo is great. I love the three sauces that they serve with them. I always end up dipping my fork in them after the pot stickers are gone! The hot and sour soup is exeptional! It is the tastiest one I've had and I am a huge fan of hot and sour soup. Their prices are not cheap, but not unreasonable. This is not a hole in the wall Chinese or Thai restaurant! I am sure some of their dishes are not that great as they need to have some bland stuff for the tourists (fried rice, Mogolian beef, orange chicken) but the majority of the menu items are really really good and very flavorful. I have no clue what some of the people that say this place is bland are talking about.
(4)
Jared L.
This place is pretty solid all around. You should be able to find something you like. Also, their orange chicken is the most orange tasting chicken I've ever had.
(4)
Sarah Q.
I like my food very spicy, and usually when I go out I still have to add chili sauce to my dishes because everything is Americanized spicy (which means: not spicy at all). But Big Bowl pleasantly surprised me--they will make your dish so spicy that you sweat! They also have tons of vegetarian options (and you can substitute tofu for any non-veg option) and a stir-fry bar which is amazing. Basically you fill your bowl with fresh veggies and garnishes (they have a huge selection), choose your protein and sauce, and if you want noodles, rice or fried rice. Then you leave your bowl of veggies with the chef and he'll whip up your dish. It's amazingly fresh and tasty--their sauces are homemade and are really good (I've tried kung pao, teriyaki, and green curry). Unfortunately, the shrimp is hit-or-miss--either they cook it well or not enough and it ends up tasting fishy, so I would avoid it. I've gone at different times of day and night and never had to wait for a table, but it probably gets busy earlier in the evening on weekends, so make a reservation just to be on the safe side.
(4)
brett m.
in the infamous words of michael kors, 'i'm underwhelmed'. big bowl was a letdown for me. the menu was unimpressive, even for a mainstream pan-asian-themed restaurant. the service was... okay. the portions were hefty - however, lest we forget, hefty portions of unimpressive food. the hibiscus lemonade (or whatever it's called) is excellent, but i hardly think i'd return just for a glass of lemonade. and p.s. i remember (though hazily) the dishes being quite mushroom heavy, and for those of us with shroom allergies or those with fungus aversions, it wasn't terribly easy finding something edible.
(2)
Julie M.
I LOVE Big Bowl. This is what I expect of a chain. You go in, they have good food that you can always count on, it's not crazy expensive. I've been here 4 times in the past 2 months. I really liked the steak red curry special they had in December. That thing was spicy! I went there 3 times in 1 weekend and ordered it twice. The 2nd time, it had some habenaros in it! Yum, yum! The ginger ale is good, too. I prefer my drinks a bit on the sweeter side, so I get the pomegranate flavor. I had the salmon pad thai the other day. Figured that would be hit or miss, but definitely a hit. The salmon was cooked pretty well. They also have a gluten free menu and there were no mix-ups there. My co-worker is very sensitive to gluten, and he had absolutely no issues (ie, food was separated properly, the noodles weren't cooked in water with noodles made of wheat, etc.). Another great staple when hanging out in Chicago.
(4)
Michael W.
A nice departure from traditional Chinese restaurants. My friend loves the Crispy Orange Peel Chicken. The service has always been prompt and friendly, and we've never had to wait for a table. The decorating scheme mirrors the food - a mix of traditional and contemporary. A fun place for lunch.
(4)
Christian R.
homemade lemonades and ginger ales hmmm, great food and good drink. i had the orange chicken and literally wanted to order a second to go haha. the waitor was a dork and never came around when i wanted him too.
(4)
Kali A.
I love big bowl! They have delicious food, great prices, and great service! I took my friend there for a surprise dinner. Fortunately, she too loved it and it is now a favorite of her's as well! :)
(5)
Marian L.
Love this place - great casual place to stop in while shopping on the magnificent mile! Service is decent and the dishes are fantastic. I personally recommend the Potstickers as an appetizer, as well as the Crispy Lemon Chicken as the entree. If your not too much into soda or alcohol - try the Hibiscus Iced tea or the Hibiscus Lemonade - mmmmm! Not a place to drive to - but just take the subway to the red line stop Grand!
(4)
Liliana S.
Decent food but not the most authentic. Definitely check out other restaurants before settling upon this one. If you're in the vicinity and are starving to death for some Thai then check this out..
(3)
Zach A.
Decent stir fry and pretty cheap. Also a good place to grab a drink for happy hour.
(3)
Kelli M.
Very decently priced. The lettuce wraps are a must-have. Also recommend the chicken satay. The dishes are ok, the servers always make a recommendation. Good service, very friendly and helpful. Several different teas for after dinner.
(4)
Allison K.
Compared to other stir fry restaurants I have been to in the past, I really was not impressed by the quality or taste of the food here. I have always heard about this "big hype" about eating at Big Bowl, but really the experience here was just blah. It's just like every other "stir fry place" where you get to pick out your own ingredients and etc, but something was just off about it. The only thing I did enjoy here was their iced tea. This place too was a little bit over priced too, (maybe because it's a Chicago touristy type of spot?)
(2)
Ramon R.
This restaurant isn't all that. There's too much to eat and too little worth eating. It's such processed Thai food! The seating is also terrible; my friend and I were squeezed in this tiny space near the cash register. Ugh. Go to a REAL Thai restaurant that (of course) isn't near the Magnificent Mile.
(2)
Mark P.
Americanized Asian food. Blech.
(1)
Joe S.
Average stir-fry joint. Food looks and sounds better than it tastes. Veggie dishes are the way to go here. Nasty, gristly chicken and bubblegum beef and pork. Why not use better quality and charge another dollar or two? I sure don't like a potsticker full of fat,or to have to pick through my chicken. They tend to over ginger and curry things, and the best cocktail was done away with years ago..the Ginger Blush. Homemade ginger ale is VERY GOOD. Iced tea and Lemonade good too. Too bad the beverages are better than the food. Seems hard to screw up noodles, but this place does. Melman must've lost interest after the first few years.
(2)
Sydney K.
The food here is palatable, but they've tried to make the cuisine too mainstream. As a result, it reminds me of an Asian themed Bennigan's. Not that there's anything wrong with that - sometimes you feel like something predictable. The drinks definitely lack kick though.
(2)
Doug p.
ive had nothing but great service every time, the coconut basil shrimp is one of my favorite meals, reasonably priced, and always a good time
(4)
Dom R.
i actually did check bigbowl a few years ago - nd was dissappointed.. but gave it a go today... entrance, welcome - nice ambiance - hip/ up to date/ modern service - my waiter was very attentive, caring nd answered all my questions nicely food - as a first course i had the chicken dumplings, tasty - but not too asian... as a main dish i ordered the kung pao beef wirh brown rice - delicous! spiceyy, beef quality was excellent! loved it. price wise totally ok. a/c as usual everywhere in the US - freezing - hate it
(5)
Sona P.
Service - very friendly and fast on a Saturday night. Food - decent but nothing to rave about. We split the fresh vegetable rolls (Vietnamese spring rolls) and the portion was small for $6.95. We also shared the panang curry with tofu, which was a good size and pretty spicy. Note that the panang curry is NOT vegetarian even with tofu. Overall - great location and service, food was just so-so but that's to be expected when you're in the heart of a tourist area.
(3)
Steve A.
It's easy to classify Big Bowl as another fast casual chain, but that really understates how nice this location is, with its elaborate and beautiful interior design and hands-on management and staff. The concept is a mix of Chinese, Thai and Mongolian barbecue, so there's likely to be something for most people. I enjoyed the very fresh tasting spring rolls, which were cut up like a sushi roll rather than served as a log; great idea. Pad Thai was tasty, heavy on the lime and cilantro. I had the shrimp version, but the chicken version might be a bit more traditional. There's a reasonable list of alcoholic beverages that match the food. House-made ginger ale is a good non-alcoholic choice. Service was fast and friendly. The manager visited and even comped me a cucumber amuse bouche as a first time visitor.
(4)
Ken O.
Having been to the Big Bowl on Cedar Street before the closing, I knew what to expect from the chain. I was not wrong. This location is just blocks west of Michigan Avenue so it's in a great location. The restaurant has a cool vibe. Trey T was my server. He was very attentive to me and all of his other diners. I had ordered the Luncheon Beef & Broccoli. Few minutes were the food was delivered and of course, the good was great. I would recommend this restaurant for the food and service.
(5)
Ayesha K.
Great environment, even better food. Always fresh, tasty, and well prepared. Definitely one of my favorite spots to eat!
(4)
Liz K.
I am reviewing my second visit. (My first visit was during lunch rush and it went well but it was a long time ago I cannot remember). We went on a Saturday night and made reservations. We arrived early and still had to wait around... even after our reservation time (what was the point?). We were getting pretty upset because so many people who came after us were being seated first (did they forget about us?) Then we were given the worst table ever right by the line and people waiting. There were other empty tables so I asked the host if we could change tables but I guess not. Food: We ordered dumpling appetizers and they were good. I ordered a mojito and it was so fresh and delicious!! The vegetable curry was great. It had a good mix of vegetables. :-) However, the pork dish that was ordered was terrible and too oily. :-( For desert we ordered the Mochi oh my so goods! They are small but so flavorable and the chocolate/caramel sauce makes them so much better! Overall the food was decent but nothing spectacular. I was pretty disappointed because I always have such high hopes for a LEYE restaurant (we are LEYE frequent diner card members). However, even though service was not so good in the beginning...our waiter was great and so helpful.
(3)
Tricia Z.
I haven't visited this place in three years so this is not a recent review but it left such an impression I still remember it. I crave their ginger ale and their delicious appetizers. Some of the dishes were out of this world and the staff was super friendly. When I stayed in Chicago I went here after a bad day and it made the day 10x better. Then I went here the following night because it was that awesome. I miss Big Bowl..if I am in Chicago again you will find me here.
(5)
Christine F.
Mmmmmmno. I'm glad I didn't have to pay for this myself. I would have been pretty displeased. Our office was getting Big Bowl delivery, and I was excited. I was hoping I was going to discover a Thai place within delivery range that didn't make my stomach sad (Thalia, Panang and Siam all set sail to the land of fail). Big Bowl, unfortunately, got lumped into this group of Fail Whales. The delivery was prompt enough, but my Panang curry was a sorry situation. It was super watery and didn't even remotely taste like panang curry. If you had blindfolded me and asked me what this was, I probably would have responded that it was some kind of awful soup. That's how watery it was. I actually threw it out without taking more than a bite. It was that bad - and I'm a cheap bastard, guys. It takes a LOT for me to throw out food. My search for good River North thai continues...
(2)
Lisa B.
I want to give this place a 3 1/2. Four is my closest option and I'll for sure round up. The service was great, I forget our waitress' name but she was attentive, but left us to talk some. She told us the drink specials right away and paced her service. Great. I had the panang curry, which I would've given a 3 out of 5 as far as curries go, but the veggies were yummy, the chicken and rice in the dish were good, and the curry was flavorful, if not quite the consistency I would like. My fiance had the sesame chicken, and after tasting it, his was delicious! I recommend the big bowl blonde ale, a great beer at a great price, only $3 on Sundays! The restaurant was pretty busy, definitely not an intimate date vibe (we were listening to the woman next to us complain about her WHOLE LIFE and all the people she knows, if you know her, I'm so sorry, we heard her complain about you), but it was great for a fun, affordable tasty evening meal on the gold coast!
(4)
Vaidehi T.
I love this Americanized version of Asian food - dont judge me!! I have been here several times and never had a bad experience. Love their green curry and Kung Pao dishes. Also I absolutely love their stir-fry bar. This location is usually crowded because of the location. The service is pretty good here and the ambiance is pretty good too.
(4)
Haroun K.
3 stars seems correct. I was armed with my yelp app, and hoping to have a sort of authentic farewell-to-Chicago lunch downtown. I don't know how I ended up here. I had a vegetable curry, which was fine, but not great. The whole experience felt like a Thai TGI Fridays, actually. The passionfruit ginger ale was probably the best thing I had, though.
(3)
Prisca W.
The food, the drinks, the service at the bar, and the decor all made my evening! After a long day of walking and shopping, this place was perfect! I would definitely stop here the next time I'm in the city!
(5)
Gina S.
I've had the Ginger Garlic Chicken Stir Fry and the Thai Yellow Curry Chicken here. The food is good, but nothing sock-knocking out of this world amazing. However, my Gin & Ginger cocktail was mighty fine...sock-knocking fine, but that's just the alcohol talking. The menu offers a good variety of Thai/Chinese, something for the little guys and even something those with dietary restrictions (Gluten Free). The atmosphere is a little noisy and the servers must be busting some serious booty because we hardly saw ours except when our order was taken and delivered.
(3)
Irene G.
I've been here quite a few times now and while I love most Lettuce Entertain You restaurants, this place is just okay. I like the ambience and service is great. My work threw a bridal shower for one of my coworkers here and everything went smoothly. The food is just average-I know where to get better pad thai!
(2)
Phyllis S.
If you are in the mood for Asian food and can't make up your mind what you want, check this place out. Also a good choice if there are vegetarians (and perhaps vegans) in your party. Also, I did notice a Gluten-free section of the menu. I was in here on a Saturday afternoon and the place was rather busy. Decor was nice, sort of an Asian Bistro Hip-theme. However, I had trouble hearing the conversation with my friends at our table, cause it was so loud in there. Ditto for being able to hear the waiter clearly. Not the place to go for quiet conversation if the joint is jumpin'. I had the Thai Hot Pepper Shrimp with Basi & Peanuts. I was very pleased with the flavor. It was nicely balanced. I was also impressed with the fact that they brew their own lemonade and ginger ale ONSITE! (I LOVE ginger ale!) It was just good enough, I almost considered bringing home a 4pack! Evidently, t they take sustainability very seriously in regards to the ingredients they use in the food. I like to see that in a restaurant. It almost made up for the price of the food, which I found to be a little high. The portions are pretty generous if you order from the menu. However, my boyfriend did the "make yer own" stir-fry and was not pleased by the amount of food that he got for the price. FYI, "Fire-eaters" like me might find the little icons that indicate spicy food to be a tad misleading. The food was reasonably spicy, but to 'flames shooting out my mouth' levels. I felt the need to request some chili sauce to get the heat intensity to where I wanted it. (Which was no big deal.) Probably a good thing, given that we live in the Midwest, but thought I should mention it.
(3)
Sheri S.
I like this place;) It was not what I was expecting in the traditional sense of a Thai or a Chinese restaurant, but Big Bowl definitely made it's mark. The trade off's Instead of getting a traditional Thai Iced tea I got the Orange Ginger Ale that they specially make with freshly squeezed orange juice. Their lemonade was cool it was Instead of the typical Beef Fried Rice that I get in New York I got a Beef Fried Rice that actually tasted like beef that was grilled and then mixed into white rice with some sweet and sour sauce. The beef pieces were chunky pieces contrary to the shredded beef I am accustomed to. Spring rolls are pretty standard, but these were longer and more crispy. I also had the small Dumpling Noodle Soup, chicken dumplings with noodles, vegetables, tasty chicken broth. This was very yummy especially considering how cold it was outside. I was really happy for this wholesome soup. Big Bowl is a chill casual dining kind of restaurant. A very unique blend of Chinese and Thai food, so go with an open mind ;)
(3)
Norma G.
This place is amazing! I have never gone to Big Bowl and not loved what I ate. My husband is a cook and he loves this place! The Sangria is absolutely heavenly! This is a great place to come in groups as well. The service is always great and the food, well... I've already said it!
(5)
Randy R.
Look, if you are looking for authentic Chinese and Thai food, you'll need to go elsewhere. But the food is fairly flavorful and decently prepared, while our server was attentive and prompt. All in all, not a bad experience.
(3)
Ayako M.
Uhg. I should have known better. Here's the quick and dirty: Egg Roll: tasty but greasy and fell apart - also, it's just one HUGE eggroll though the menu says egg rolls-plural (lucky thing I wasn't sharing!) Veggie potstickers: no flavor, none. Veggie and Tofu Pad Thai: again, no flavor. Slimy and tofu seemed like it was straight out of the carton and fell apart when you tried to pick it up. Very few veggies. Cost: Expensive. Chances I'll order from here again: Zero
(2)
Tat S.
I went here a year ago at a different location and since then have wanted to go back! Unfortunately, in St. Louis we don't have Big Bowls aplenty like in Chicago. We have wonderful Thai and Vietnamese restaurants which I love but I am so STUCK on how lovely the Pho tastes at Big Bowl. I of course had Pho like last time and it was as great as I remember it. My little sister was envious since she had the dumpling soup which paled in comparison (I even took a taste. Not as good. :/ ) My mum had the summer rolls I think? They were really good and the sauce was amazing! It was really busy the night we came in and our food still arrived promptly, the server wasn't freaked out by the pace of the restaurant, rather he was calm. So here is to a second pleasant experience at Big Bowl! I am eager for the more to come!
(4)
Tom F.
Service was only OK... we had stopped in at the other location off Rush street in the past and thought it was better. Made a reservation here because they could accommodate a group of 8.... we were in town for a reunion. We ordered a shared meal for 7 adults (one child only had soup) and it seemed the portion size for the group matched our last visit as a group of 5!
(3)
A E.
I'm usually not sold on the idea of restaurants which specialize on two different types of cuisines. Big bowl does its best to try to split the difference and they are not entirely unsuccessful. They have a lot of options available, and their "pick your own vegetables for the stir fry" gives a lot of variation and I enjoyed my stir fry. I liked what I saw on the menu, and when I first left I wanted to try more. However, that aftermath left me spewing like a fire hydrant a few days. I can't be sure that this was the source, but this was the only meal that I didn't share with my traveling companion, and I was the only one affected. In the end, I don't think that what I enjoyed is worth even the idle risk of the day and a half of digestive issue that followed.
(2)
Dan R.
I go here for the Kung Pao Chicken but always ask that they make it the old way with cilantro. That is 5 stars. The rest is a cut above but not 5 star.
(4)
Marie B.
I'll be honest, I'm a snob when it comes to chains. I know, it's a first world issue. That being said, I normally avoid chains. However we came here on the way home from work and it was delightful satisfying. The mussels which was on the specials was amazing! We couldn't get enough of the sauce that we used it on our rice. The general Tao chicken was also very good. Definitely will be back!
(4)
Padma A.
back up option to entertain guests on a weekday, always works. Met my childhood friend visiting town after a long work day for dinner. Easy stirfry, lots of conversation and the ever refershing ginger ale... we were.2 happy customers.
(4)
Shuang Z.
I'm a regular diner at Big Bowl. I give the food 3 star, the price, service, and atmosphere a 4 star. This is an Asian fusion restaurant, they seems to be known for their pad thai, but I found this dish too sweet, but I do love the tofu in the pad thai dish... I usually go for the stir-fry bar. This is really neat, because I can pick up my own vegetable. They have a huge variety of fresh local vegetables, from corns, peas, to leafy veges. You can also pick your own protein and sauce. For the sauce, I recommend Chinese Ginger soy. The lemon grass was way tooooo sweet. Green thai curry was toooo spicy. Teriyaki was ok. Thai yellow curry was pretty tasty though. Caution: The portion is huge!!
(4)
Sara M.
Decided to use one of the lettuce entertain you scratch off tickets to try Big Bowl. Good atmosphere and great menu selection. Chinese,Thai and build your own stir-fry bar. Friendly wait staff with good menu suggestions. Ordered the potstickers and kung pao chicken.
(4)
Zoe Y.
This review is long over-due. Big Bowl was okay. Decent in price and portion, however it is lacking something. We drove to Chicago from Ann Arbor to meet with friends and before going out, we were starving and decided to eat here. I was not impressed at all. The ambiance is okay but kind of misleading. I kept asking my boyfriend if it was an attempt to be a fine dining establishment or hometown, organic based restaurant. The service was pretty good, especially for us coming in so late. To start off, we had the pot stickers which were awful. I would rather eat Ling Ling's from Costco than whatever they served here. We ordered the sesame chicken and the stir fry - both were average. I would rather eat at P.F. Chang's than eat here. Next time I'll go out hungry rather than eat here. It wasn't a horrible experience but it was pretty average. The one thing I actually liked was the homemade ginger ale they make. It was tasty and you could definitely taste the ginger!
(3)
Jim B.
This was my first time at Big Bowl, but definitely won't be my last. Great location, interesting menu, fabulous food and fantastic service from Joe O! Joe is very personable and did a great job explaining the menu and specials and recommended a dinner that my brother absolutely loved. The service was flawless. Thanks, Joe!!! I highly recommend this place and and if you do stop by, be sure to ask for Joe's section...
(5)
Shahzad A.
Poorly managed place. Don't get me wrong, the place looks great but the food is what is miss managed. You will find shrimp dish with half shrimp with tail and the other without. It makes you question how well things are cleaned. I have been to this big bowl and returned food twice because one thing or the other was wrong. The other big bowl in Schaumburg does not have that problem and is a much better location if you like big bowl food.
(1)
Amy L.
We had Big Bowl for the first time a little over 2 yrs ago and I was hooked! We happened upon it right before they closed for the evening when we were out looking for a bite to eat. Fast forward..we return to Chi town and I must...repeat MUST go back. We actually ate here twice on this trip because we dont have this in Cincinnati. I ordered the same kung pao beef with noodles that I got on the first trip as well as the potstickers. The service was great. Our server recognized us on out second trip back. Very friendly, accommodating, and prompt. She brought refills of drinks before they were needed, which I love. The food was as amazing as I had remembered. The beef in my kung pao beef was super tender and the sauce was rich and spicy. My boyfriend got the kung pao chicken with jasmine rice. It was also delicious. The pork potstickers were delish! Crunchy bottom as they were cooked very well and the dipping sauces flavorful. Everything was just as good on the second visit but the food was a little less spicy this time. Service and food were still top notch. The second visit was lunch before we drove back to Ohio. I even got a meal to go!
(5)
David G.
In Chicago on business and wanted a fast take-out wok bowl for the hotel room working lunch. I am from Seattle visiting. This was the closest place and they had a takeout counter in the restaurant. I ordered a yellow curry chicken with rice and veggie. It took less than 10 minutes and was packaged just right with everything needed to stand on its own. The meal was done very well, great flavor and quality veggie (string beans and peppers) and chicken. Well done! They have an extensive lunch take out menu and restaurant prices. I would be happy to go back and try more. I posted photos in the hotel room so you can see it firsthand.
(4)
L H.
They got 1 thing right which is why they get 1 star. The drinks were terrible - a real Mai Tai isn't bright yellow and doesn't have mint in it. The "strawberry mojito" which they said was a specialty was watery and chunky. The worst was finding a very hot pepper in the Mongolian beef dish - after chewing it! Immediate pain and hot sweats ensued. We had to leave without eating our meals. A total disaster. When the bill came we had to discuss the charges - it shouldn't need to be discussed. A real management team would recognize the potential severe damage that could have been done. What did they get right? The Chix and peanut egg rolls were great.
(1)
Tennille T.
I like Big Bowl very much. They use fresh ingredients and the spices are just right HOWEVER everytime I order my meal "without" peanuts this location ALWAYS adds them. For whatever reason I don't get this. I am not allergic but just don't like them as a personal preference but I wonder when this place will get sued for adding ingredients customers request not to add and someone has some major allergic reaction. Personally this is the only issue I have with this place. Manager/Owner please give the cooks training because if they continue to ignore customers food preferences and add a ingredient that causes harm, your establishment will get sued like nobody's business and I think if you are aware and step in you can avoid a butt load of trouble. P.S. If you have food allergies please don't eat at this location. My daughter has peanut allergies and had I gave her some of the food she would have probably had to be hospitalized or maybe even died because her allergy to peanuts is VERY high.
(3)
Jackie C.
This place was exactly what we were looking for. We had an amazing waitress, Emily who was just a great person and loved the restaurant. I had a special salad and it was just incredible. One of the best salads I have ever had! My husband had the Kung Pao and he basically licked the bowl! We will definitely be back.
(5)
Courtney F.
For a chain Chinese restaurant, I was REALLY surprised at how delicious and fresh everything here was! Fried rice was great and I had a watermelon sangria that was to die for. Would definitely return.
(4)
Mark-Allen E.
A decent Chinese takeout or eat in option. I normally order the Orange Chicken, white rice no scallions - extra chicken. Always good. Orange chicken can be a big hit or big miss and I feel I consistently get good food from here. I'm not giving Big Bowl 4 stars because the kitchen area( you can see back into the kitchen as you walk to the bathrooms) is by far one of the most filthiest restaurant kitchens I have ever seen. It's odd to me because the rest of the restaurant is clean. Service from wait staff is lackluster at best. We eat here once or twice a month and it's like I have to sacrifice my unborn child to get a drink refill. Also their alcohol drinks are terrible. I have only had one decent drink at Big Bowl. The food for the most part is enough to compensate for Big Bowls lackluster customer service and other downfalls.
(3)
Michael S.
Great place great people i use to work at the location on ceder 2yrs ago...these people are like family they do everything fresh no short cuts...must check it out its a must...best new school thai Chinese food in town.
(5)
Kevin C.
Fresh local ingredients sourced for all their menu items. No frozen foods. The quality was very good for a chain restaurant. Pleasantly surprised. I dined in a two occasions: work lunch and a dinner for some out of town visitors. They have a lunch menu with smaller portions which I'd recommend if you'd like to skip the food coma after getting back to the office. The pot stickers and dumplings are a good place to start a meal. Lettuce wraps are a large portion and would likely serve 3-4 people. I tried the shrimp and scallop entree for lunch. A bit on the sweet side even knowing it was a ginger soy dressing. Great tasting seafood. On the dinner occasion I went with the less adventurous sesame chicken. Good stuff, no grisly chicken, no thick breading, with a kick of spice. Overall I'd recommend a lunch visit or a affordable dinner alternative for the area. Service was attentive on both accounts and I can't share any negatives. Chop chop.
(4)
Joe K.
Visiting from out of town. Took the family and everything we ordered was fresh and flavorful. Service was outstanding and prices were great!!! I will defiantly be back for more!! Keep up the great work.
(5)
Hang T.
From the looks of the exterior, you already know that this place is not going to have authentic Asian food, but I still wanted to try it out. My final thoughts is that what the place lacks with the food, it makes up with the level of service. When we first got there, we were given free crab rangoon I believe because we were first timers. We were personally greeted by the manager before our meal began and they were so accommodating to our large group. The baby needed vegetables reheated to a certain consistency and they heated it twice for us so she could get it down. I ordered the chicken pad thai. While the flavors were there, I got more vegetable and beans sprouts than anything else. My husband ordered the pho appetizer and the bbq pork buns. The pho did not taste like traditional pho. It was like Asian Chicken noodle soup. I did like the bbq pork buns. They were tasty. All in all, I think if they were trying to be authentic with the food, it didn't work. If they were trying to bring a new twist to traditional dishes, that didn't work either. I think they just need to pick one direction and plan this recipes accordingly. The people from these China and Thailand would be very unhappy with the food here.
(3)
Steve G.
Food was excellent and service was prompt and courteous!
(4)
Kate J.
One of my friend's and I came here not too long ago for dinner. First, let me say, she has several food allergies, and Big Bowl was more than willing to work with us on that. I ordered the Sangria which was absolutely delicious; and got the Chicken Pad Thai for my main entree. My friend ordered something with chicken and veggies and no sauces or anything like that due to her allergies and both were large and very filling portions. I had never been here before, and have actually never even heard of the place until now. I like the fact that you can order pretty much whatever you want and they can make it for you however you would like. Definitely impressed with this place.
(4)
Nina B.
I came here for lunch with a friend. I ordered the Asian chicken salad, which had a pretty tangy dressing. If you eat one of the peppers they are really spicy! And I can usually take a decent amount of heat. The portion size was a bit small for the price. The salad did have a good amount of meat, however. I would probably get something else if I went back. Service was a bit slow. It's nice they take the Wildcard discount (20% off) for NW students. My friend got the yellow curry rice bowl which she loved. Overall a decent lunch experience but nothing spectacular.
(3)
John B.
This kind of location provides scrumptious meal. This lime rooster is my favorite; I've by no means got something think its great. Helpings are just right for dinner. This container peel off stickers plus the dumplings usually are pretty good also. I relished your pomegranate mojito a great deal. We all did not get almost any distinct difficulties with service-- it had been common.
(5)
Ruth S.
Food was great, pad Thai amazing, orange chicken, excellent. We ordered the crab cakes but they were gone for the night do we had really wonderful Calimari. I just wonder why no one mixes a good drink anymore. Always weak, too much mixer, out of balance. Disappointing when the food was so good
(3)
Barbara B.
Was brought some take out pad thai from here. Pad that was super bland, it was the worst pad thai I've ever had. Avoid!
(1)
Tony B.
The waiter forgot to put in our soup and appetizer order, so they brought out our meals 15 minutes after we sat down. Told the dude holding the food on his arm what was up and he took all the food back and trashed it. They then brought out the soup and appetizer and had us fill new bowls with our selected vegetables. Eventually we got our meals at the right time and they were excellent. As I am wont to do, I ordered mine spicy - it was so hot it was almost inedible. Then we got the check. It had an "On us" credit of $39.50. Wow. More than made up for the minor mistake. Thanks. We'll be back.
(4)
J. C.
We went here for lunch today, and I had never been at this restaurant before. So I really didn't know what to expect. But I was meeting some old college buddies, so I pretty much didn't really care where we were going to eat. I knew it was Chinese and Thai, which I love, but was extra delightfully surprised that you can pretty much make your own bowl of whatever ingredients you choose if that's the option you're looking for. Our waiter was super extra helpful and nice, and extremely patient since my dining buddies didn't immediately know how the whole system works (pick a sauce, pick a meat--which the kitchen puts in for you)--and walk up to the counter to load your bowl with whatever veggies you want. My hibiscus iced tea was very delicious, and the melange of items I ended up picking for my bowl turned out pretty good in the end taste-wise. The only things that make this not a five-star experience is that the bill ended up being a little on the pricey side. But I should have known better since the Near North neighborhood is usually all tourists on the weekends. Also, in my opinion, they seemed to skimp a little on the meat (I ordered chicken) that I got. It's a little different from Flat Top Grill (where you pick EVERYTHING), so I guess this is how Big Bowl does it. I would be back again if I'm back down here.
(4)
Melanie S.
Corporate, Americanized Chinese food notwithstanding, Big Bowl isn't actually half-bad. As long I go there with the mindset that I'm not attempting to eat authentic asian food, and just enjoy it for what it is; which is a decent, reasonably priced meal, then I can live with myself. The two things I always get when I go here, which averages about once a month, are the hibiscus lemonade tea (so refreshing) and the mixed green salad with some type of asian viniagrette. This dressing is so good, I would do shots of it if it were offered. It's a sesame, ginger, soy, rice wine vinegar concoction and it's simply delicious. From there, I usually order the mongolian beef or orange chicken. The mongolian beef has shiitake mushrooms, and while not a traditional ingredient in mongolian beef, adds a flavorful touch. The orange chicken is your basic garden-variety dish that you can find on any Panda Express in Anytown USA, but again, I'm not going to Big Bowl expecting to be transported to the heights of culinary wonder.
(3)
Richie D.
I'm not a big fan of chain restaurants (hence I can't give 5 stars), yet Big Bowl would be towards the top of my list if I were to recommend one. Yes, they have Americanized "Chinese" food, but I can claim that there were tourists from China sitting at the table next to be. I guess it can't be that bad! BB is all about their Ginger ale which was just alright. Picture a non-alcoholic, carbonation-infused mojito but with ginger instead of mint. I had the pomegranate flavored ginger ale but I wish I went for the passion fruit or green tea flavors. I did like that you can taste the real ginger. As for the rest of the experience. I absolutely LOVE the decor. I wish my house could be a Big Bowl, and don't get any ideas. The Asian theme is everywhere you look with perfect color combinations that look like what you see on the H&G Network. Food wise, the mongolian beef is definitely one of their tastiest dishes offered...probably not the healthiest. Also the Shrimp Summer Roll appetizer is also tasty. The rest of the items are fairly average. If you're starving and not willing to wait for a family-owned/non-chain restaurant in downtown Chicago, BB is not a bad choice.
(4)
John G.
It certainly exceeded my expectations. I had the appetizer calamari -- one of the freshest, tastiest fried calamari's I've enjoyed and I do love my squid. The veggie pot stickers were more like gyozas -- but the filling was freshly made and the gyozas were clearly hand formed. The wonton soup was an interesting mix of Viet and traditional won ton soup. All in all, I'd go back.
(4)
Tony M.
Make sure you try the combination chicken & vegetable dumplings. Very good and very fresh. The service was suspect. I had a couple of apps and the waiter tried to get me to try something else but I was full. He did not like it so he left the bill and I did not see him again. Someone else had to help cash me out. Avoid the waiters that try to up-sale you on somthing you don't want.
(3)
Viola Y.
Always go here when I am in town. Great dishes and drinks! I even picked up the cookbook.
(4)
Janelle C.
Love their food. Big plus is that you can create your own dishes and food is made fresh in front if you.
(4)
Jen S.
We have been here a few times over the years and have never been disappointed. We took a fairly large group for lunch and they were very accommodating. One person in our party had a peanut allergy and the waiter was extremely attentive and helpful in selecting items from the menu. The food was wonderfully prepared and came out hot and fresh, although it did take a while to arrive. Everyone enjoyed their selections and found the service to be very good. A little on the pricey side, but the food is excellent!
(5)
Candice H.
The fried Tofu is very delicious. One of their staff is amazingly nice. He has great passion for customers and always provide service before we ask.
(4)
H H.
Not the most amazing chain in the world....if you like chains, that is.
(2)
Anuj S.
I love Big Bowl's stir fry bar. I don't know why some people I've been with aren't as appreciative. Maybe it's just that I've hit the jackpot on just the right combination of veggies, sauce, etc. So here's what I always get and I've never been disappointed. I go for the stir fry and load up on all the veggies. They add tofu for you later. Then I go for the Spicy Kung Pao sauce. And actually, I request a bit of extra sauce. It's DELICIOUS. And then I get it with noodles. Once I get it, I add plenty of hot sauce. Oh man... cleans out the sinuses. When I was out in the burbs, we used to go to one out in Wheaton, but that closed down for some reason. It's strange, because it seemed pretty full when we'd go. Well anyways, the one downtown is close enough to me now.
(4)
Laura P.
I LOVE this place. It is incredibly delicious and tasty and you can make it as healthy or unhealthy as you'd like. I've been here about twenty times and almost always order the stir-fry. When you get the stir-fry you pick the type of vegetables, meat, sauce, and rice you want. Either you can have the chef choose your veggies based on the meat/sauce/rice you're getting or you can grab a bowl and choose your own mix of whatever vegetables you'd like from the vegetable bar. I always go with this option. You have the choice of filling the bowl as much as you want and usually I pile it incredibly high and then drop it off at the stir-fry station (yes I've piled it so high that I've dropped things out of my bowl while taking it to the station). The vegetable bar has about 15 different veggies with all the standards and them some more seasonal specials. There are about 6 stir-fry sauces to choose from and all the typical meats (and tofu) are available. For rice you pick between white, brown, or fried. If you want your dish to be healthier, opt for the brown rice, pile on the veggies, opt out of meat, and ask for light oil/sauce. They are very accommodating with the oil/sauce and they really do make it light if you ask for it. Conversely, I've gone with people who have asked for extra sauce and they really did go heavy on the sauce. Basically, you can create whatever you want and the end result is delicious. You can also ask for chili paste on the side to make it more spicy. They also have amazing customer service. They once put peanuts on my stir-fry dish when I asked for no peanuts (the kung pao sauce comes with peanuts, but you can opt out of them). Not only did they promptly make me a new one, they gave me a complimentary dessert and took the stir-fry off the check. They also have great Chinese New Year specials during that entire week. Last year was the year of the rabbit and they gave every person born in that year an entirely free meal (drink, appetizer, entree, and dessert) on new year. It was amazing. They have a large variety of drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic and both Asian inspired and non-Asian inspired (like sangria)). Their portions are huge--not just with the create your own stir-fry, but if you order off the menu, too. It's not too big that you'll necessarily have to get a to-go box, but you will definitely leave full, which is important for me. The exception is dessert. The desserts are small and are not meant for sharing. They are big enough only for one person and they are certainly not hefty. But they are interesting and this way you can focus on the delicious entrees. I wouldn't make the claim that this place has authentic Asian food, but if you want delicious Asian food and don't care about it being Americanized and inauthentic, definitely give this place a try.
(5)
R.g. C.
I dined here the other day with my girlfriend and Carlos was our server. Even though this is just a casual "corporate" like restaurant he went above and beyond to make our lunch awsome!!! Everything he recommended from the wine to the dessert was superior. Great service! Oh I did not mention that was our first date, NOW shes my girlfriend!!!
(5)
Kaelyn P.
I ordered the steamed dumplings (chicken and veggie) and the shrimp summer roll. Yikes, as far as American Chinese goes, I'd rather pick up freezer dumplings from trader joes. Really average flavor and the sauces were meh. As for the summer roll: you get lettuce, noodles, a few shrimp, basil, red pepper, wrapped in a sticky rice roll.. with a soury sauce that overpowered the zero flavor roll. MIght as well go to jewel and buy the ingredients. Save your stomach from the disappointment and go anywhere else !
(1)
Linda N.
Had high hopes based on reviews here and on Open Table, but was disappointed. Had the Thai special which was alright although nothing special. Was initially excited to find rice pudding with coconut milk on the dessert menu, so I ordered one. Something similar was my favorite at a Chinese dessert place I used to visit in chinatown in Canada. I doubt it will become anyone's favorite at Big Bowl - it was horrible! Nothing like the chinese version! Our waiter was very nice, yet her efforts didn't seem sincere at all so that part didn't do it for me either. On top of this, the natural and healthy ingredients they advertise that they use left me feeling bloated and uncomfortable the rest of the evening. To sum up, I won't return next time I go to Chicago. There must be better alternatives out there than this for those who love Asian inspired food.
(2)
Akhil A.
Love their sesame chicken with red panang curry and fried rice...can't beat this combination....
(5)
Cara M.
Too bad I didn't read the reviews here before I ate... everyone was correct about the Pad Thai, it was terrible. :( I love Pad Thai and was excited to try it here, but it was bland, oily, didn't taste remotely like any I've had before, the noodles were overcooked (fell apart into little pieces every bite) and had things that don't belong in Pad Thai (I'm looking at you, Thai basil). Weird. If you're going to put the word Thai on your sign, you should probably learn how to make one of the cuisine's signature dishes. I gave it two stars instead of one because the apps we had were pretty tasty (calamari and chicken potstickers), and everyone else's dishes at least looked tasty?
(2)
Jonathan H.
Great decor, great food i love the curry chicken and had my birthday party here. The bar stools/chairs need a bit of maintenance while i was there last time but otherwise you really cant complain about the fast friendly service.
(4)
Kathy G.
I don't care if the food is Thai, Chinese, Japanese....whatever. All I know is that it tastes good. The build your own stir fry is great, I can fill up on my favorite vegetables and skip the ones I don't like and I can get the cook to help me out if I need it. The Kung Pao Chicken is delicious, the tien-tsin peppers add just the right spice. It is hard to decide what to order but that is my favorite menu item. Go there for the quality and the ambiance. The room is not over decorated or gaudy like some Asian-themed restaurants, it's a nice, inviting place.
(4)
Grace N.
The three of us went here with a $75 gift certificate and were able to get 2 apps, 3 entrees, and 4 beers for $74, which is pretty reasonable. The beef wraps were good. The potstickers were ok, but I'm never imrpessed with potstickers (they're never that much better than the frozen kind). What I appreciate about their entrees is that the meals they label as spicy are ACTUALLY spicy, including the pepper chicken, and any szechuan dish. I can handle a lot of spice, but my face was actually starting to turn red. No pain, no gain! I also like the brown rice option. The service is spotty, but I'd probably go back.
(3)
Jennifer R.
I went to Big Bowl for the first time 2 months and have returned 3 times since then. The service is great and the food is even better. The chicken lettuce wrap appetizer is so good and the honey ginger ale is both refreshing and tasty. I can't wait to go back soon. I went to Big Bowl for the first time 2 months and have returned 3 times since then. The service is great and the food is even better. The chicken lettuce wrap appetizer is so good and the honey ginger ale is both refreshing and tasty. I can't wait to go back soon. I went to Big Bowl for the first time 2 months and have returned 3 times since then. The service is great and the food is even better. The chicken lettuce wrap appetizer is so good and the honey ginger ale is both refreshing and tasty. I can't wait to go back soon.
(5)
Neetha V.
Very Tasty Food...Variety of options for all kinds of crowd, veg to meat lovers! MUST try their Ginerale, Made with fresh ginger made in-house, if you want to know, what real ginerale tasts like try this!! Very good! Flavorfull food, was never disappointed, tried several options and they all turned out pretty good!!! My husband loves their icecream dessert, I forget what it is called! Passion fruit..etc Overall a good place for an outing with family/friends!
(4)
Charles V.
Spicy Tofu, white rice, and spicy green beans....very delicious. Chicago friends said I would probably enjoy Big Bowl and I did. Yummy! I love spicy food, so I would try more dishes in a heartbeat. I'd like to sit down there at some point, but we were rushing so we got our food to-go. Other issue is I am only in Chicago for three days. Not sure when I will be back, but if I do ever visit again. I would surely try to make a pit stop.
(4)
Somchai S.
Overpriced for mediocre food. I had the munchies during my lunch hour so I decided to order some steamed dumplings and a shrimp summer roll. To my surprise the 5 dumplings were undersized and not all too tasty. The summer roll was edible however they only gave you one roll with 3-4 pieces of shrimp. My unsatisified stomach was still craving food. And my wallet was out $13. Next time Ill go to Wow Bao to curb my thai cravings. And Ill head up to Tank Noodle for some summer rolls that are worth the price!
(2)
Antonio R.
Went to Chicago with my senior class the first week of April 2013. Had the pot stickers and the chicken pad Thai with homemade ginger ale and let me say this.... Best Asian experience I ever had! The pad Thai was the freshest ever.. The pot stickers were great and the ginger ale tasted fresh as well!! If ever in downtown please goo here!!!!!
(5)
Mir E.
Penang chicken curry! Freakishly amazing and such a good choice last minute. It was so good and it was my first time eating curry and I am now a fan lol. Sort of spicy the more u eat but none the less still sooooo good!
(5)
Robin P.
So many great places to go eat in Chicago, but this isn't one. Average food with a nice interior.
(2)
Vineet S.
I am a fan of this place. Awesome food, service and ambience. Just simply love the Stir fry menu. They have one of the best gingerale in the town, the best thing about the gingerale are all the fresh ingrediets. The vegetarian stir fry is just damm mouth watery. The cashew chicken is also great. The vegetable potstickers are just average.
(5)
Dan A.
Oooh, I really liked my Big Bowl. I let them mix my greens for me and got beef in my bowl. I had a lot of "bowls" when I lived in L. A. so I wasn't expecting much but this was a really great experience. Their specialty ginger ales are absolutely worth a try... they are very strong but enjoyable if you like ginger drinks. I liked the orange especially. Great wait staff, nice folks, cool atmosphere... this place hit the spot during a busy downtown shopping afternoon.
(4)
Karl S.
So i saw the Big Bowl sign and went in to bowl a few games. To my surprise not a single ball or lane to be found. I hate false advertising......kidding I usually try to avoid chain restaurants when I travel, but I always seem to make it to a Big Bowl for some Pad Thai Constantly good food.
(4)
A I.
For the price point, this is good. Setting: Seating reminded me of a big chain restaurant, but it was clean and plenty of space. If I have to turn more than one page on a menu, I lose interest. I really lose interest when it is an instruction manual. Food: Ginger ale was good and a plate of noodles was prepared and served quickly. Not the best Pad Thai on the planet, but the ingredients were fresh and the food was hot. Service: Very organized and friendly staff. I liked that the waiter basically telegraphed what was best on a very complicated menu.
(4)
Kelly K.
This is a love story, about a girl, some spicy mustard, and some sweet customer service. I "discovered" Big Bowl way back in 1998, when I was working in a cubicle farm in the burbs with few food options nearby. I worked late. A lot. After a few nights of cuisine a'la Vending Menace, I placed a takeout order with Big Bowl. My boyfriend at the time had me addicted to potstickers, and Big Bowl serves theirs with this crazy crack mustard. It's probably just MSG and yellow #5, but I don't care. It makes my toes curl. My first time tasting this combination of potstickers and Crack Mustard, I ran around my cubible giggling. I'm not kidding. Fast forward to 2011. I've been living in the city since 2002 and I'm not allowed to like chain restaurants. I hide my occasional Cheesecake Factory cravings from my friends, from fear of being stabbed to death with a tightly-rolled copy of Time Out. Listen. I understand Chicago is home to a zillion amazing non-chain restaurants. But I need to remember my suburban roots lest I become one of those city-snobs that won't venture farther west than Irving and Pulaski for fear of being sucked into the strip mall vortex. So anyway, Big Bowl. For years, I quietly seek out others who enjoy this VERY Americanized Asian food for what it is: (Tasty) Americanized Asian food. We sometimes jump into cabs and sneak away for lunch, but it's rare. Then one day, I find out my boss also secretly likes Big Bowl and I'm on their website, looking for the number to the delivery service they use. They have a "store" link. I click it. THEY SELL THE CRACK MUSTARD. OHMYGOD THEY SELL THE CRACK MUSTARD!!! It's 93 degrees and humid. Don't care. I practically skip from my office to the location on Ohio. I pick up lunch. I buy a bottle of mustard. I get home that night ready to bathe in it. I look at the date on the bottle - it's expired by 2 months. Could I? Probably. Should I? Probably not. I call them to let them know they sold me bum mustard. The guy who answers the phone not only remembers me from earlier in the day, but goes to the store room, removes the rest of the bad mustard, and sends me a fresh bottle FREE OF CHARGE. Personalized service from a chain restaurant, peeps. He also called me the next week to make sure the mustard arrived intact. I think I have a crush on my Friendly Neighborhood Big Bowl Crack Mustard Peddler. I won't rate BB 5 stars, only because I think the Restaurant Police would evict me from my Edgewater apartment in the middle of the night, but deep in my heart, I'm a Big Bowl Lover.
(4)
Ramya P.
I've been here so many times and it serves a very Americanized version of real Thai food. But I'm not complaining! There are a few good options for vegetarians like the pot stickers, pad thai and you can customize your own stir fry... for me though, the highlight is the Green curry. Honestly, I've had green curry at so many places and I can't help but compare them to this one and most of the times they will not hold up against this one. Humongous portion size so, come here when you are absolutely starving after shopping all day in Michigan avenue!!
(4)
Kay P.
very average food...I ordered a chicken stir fry which was very sour...my colleague didn't like his noodles too...food was oily too...wil not go back
(2)
Kin L.
Americanized Hybrid Asian Cuisine, or as I call it, Fake Asian Food! So this place specializes in Chinese and Thai cuisine? I'll be the judge of that! I only came here because I was extremely hungry and it was on the way home. Since it does sort of look fancy and well decorated inside, I figured the menu would have some neat and interesting items to order. Well, I was wrong. The menu was so run of the mill ordinary that I felt like leaving after I sat down. But I'm not an ass, so I stayed. The menu featured items such as Kung Pao Chicken, Pad Thai, Fried Rice, Beef & Broccoli, and other ordinary items. Seriously, other Chinese and Thai restaurants in the area serve the exact same thing, and I'm willing to bet the prices are lower, and the food tastes better. I guess you can classify the menu items as 'safe foods.' You know, you have to try really hard to F-up the dish when it's being cooked. I selected the Teriyaki Chicken Fried Rice...which isn't even Chinese or Thai. Teriyaki is Japanese! Whoever created the menu needs to attend Asian Cooking 101. Hell, I'll even pay for the class myself. I also got the potsticker combo (3 pieces of chicken and 2 pieces of vegetables) as an appetizer. Seriously, only 5 potstickers? Stingy! At least throw in one more vegetable potsticker to balance out the combo! Oh yeah, I can make way better potstickers from the freezer back home. Shame on you Big Bowl, you're an insult to Asian cuisine!
(2)
Rob J.
What is with all the families that come here? I know you gotta eat somewhere so I'm not knocking it, but it was FULL with families. A great spot for a quick meal before a movie up the street though...
(3)
Emann B.
Look, it's not the best Pan-Asian food you can get for the money, but when the fams in town, they love it. I've been going for years. Most recently I went on a Sunday around 7:30pm and the wait was about 35 minutes. By the time we sat down I was a bit irritated, but our cute guy server was so sweet and attentive, it more than made up for it. Great service really makes all the difference. Food is generously portioned and hits the spot. Had the potsticker combo, glazed salmon, and yellow curry with tofu and vegetables. Perfectly tasty and delicious. For dessert we shared the mochi combo, just enough to hit the spot.
(4)
Dwayne H.
Great hot Thai food exceptional service at great prices! Did I say great curry?
(5)
Morgan A.
I recently had a food sensitivity test done and have to eliminate a TON of things out of my diet for 90 days including wheat, dairy, yeast, eggs - the list goes on... I came to big bowl and they were beyond accommodating with my situation. They gave me a menu and told me what could be made catered to my food allergies. Most restaurants scoff at my list and tell me I can get __x__ and that's it. When the food comes it's boring, bland and I usually get charged extra for less food. Say waaa? Big Bowl was the complete opposite. I got a tasty lunch full of flavor and catered to my allergies. Multiple times I had someone coming out checking, is this ok for you? is that ingredient ok (yeast is a tricky one)? I felt very confident that my meal wasn't going to make me sick, and it didn't! Our waiter was fabulous and the entire staff was super friendly. Usually I dread going to eat out due to my limited diet right now but they made it a pleasure! I highly recommend this place to anyone that has special diet needs!
(4)
Jay S.
Years ago, when my husband and I first started visiting Chicago, we were sooo excited about BIG BOWL. We're from Seattle, and it excited me to see a good updated Asian/Asian fusion place in the Midwest at the time. "Bruce Cost is being a good ambassador for American Style Asian" - I thought. Sadly, times have changed. The lemon chicken that so impressed me with its fresh take on the old school mess has regressed. The hot and sour soup suffered from what everything I ate suffered from: overuse of sesame oil. Holy cow - someone needs to freshen the staff's palate! They've become desensitized to a very pungent ingredient. Ouch. My husband did like his "build-a-stir-fry" with salmon, so I can't fault that...but I can't praise it either. If a professional kitchen can't heat up the pre-made sauce and ingredients James picked for the $20 he put down...things would be 1 star indeed. And what happened to the all the chow fun? There was only one fat noodle on the menu. Where are the blazing beef noodles? There are too many delicious things in Chicago to bother with a visit to Big Bowl again. So farewell...thanks for the memories.
(2)
Kate D.
This place has delicious food. The orange chicken is my favorite; I've never had anything like it. Portions are just right for dinner. The pot stickers and the dumplings are pretty good as well. I enjoyed the pomegranate mojito a lot. We didn't have any particular problems with service-- it was average. I'll be back here for sure.
(4)
Jing C.
It's probably because I moved in down the street and started eating here more often but I've really come around to this place. The good: the ingredients are super fresh, reasonably health-conscious Asian food, and excellent ginger ale! I love good Chinese food but it's a meat-loving cuisine so sometimes it's difficult to eat Asian with vegetarian friends. Problem solved! Big Bowl has a section dedicated to vegetarian eats. And while I will never give up red meat and seafood, I've got to admit the Unfried Rice is a highlight.
(4)
Haley S.
Yes, it's chain Chinese. But, it's worth it for four things in my book. First of all the chicken potstickers are a fave. They're not at all greasy! Also love the teriyaki spareribs and green tea ginger ale. But what i really come here for is the vietnamese chicken noodle soup, which is AWESOME when you are sick!
(4)
Kevin Q.
Decent place with good restaurant ambience but just kind of wish that you could fully customize your own bowls like you would at Flat Top Grill since I could only choose the vegetables. Overall, I liked the place and thought it was an excellent choice to have a date at.
(4)
Sonali K.
Maybe it's because it has been so long, or because I couldn't eat Gran Luxe for lunch anymore (what work always seems to order), but we got Big Bowl today and it was SO good. I decided to try something new - the Vegetarian Dumpling soup (made extra spicy). I can't believe I hadn't tried this sooner! It was flavorful, the dumplings were fresh and delicious, and they definitely didn't skimp on the "extra spicy" request. They serve the dumpling on the side so they don't get soggy, and I have to admit I didn't add them to my soup. I ate them with a side of their peanut sauce and hot chili sauce - so yummy. I also got my usual order of spicy sesame peanut noodles - still good.
(3)
Eric K.
I used to work down the block from this BIG BOWL and it has remained one of my favorite places to eat for YEARS. I went there last evening and got a table to order what I usually get. The chicken pot stickers with the awesome mustard dipping and other 2 sauces and the fiery chicken cashew dish as my main course. Imagine my surprise when I got the chicken pot stickers and it came with a new spicy chinese mustard sauce. The original sauce was a reason I came to the restaurant - I even would take bottles home. Now it comes with a spicy chinese mustard I could get at any cheap Chinese take out. The waiter said it might be because they were getting rid of peanut oil because of people's allergies. Um...let people with allergies order their own food - don't ruin mine! Then I got the fiery chicken dish which used to come with nice white chicken pieces ride and vegtables. Now it comes deep fried with a dark sauce on it. Yes SOGGY deep fried chicken. The flavor was ok but the whole experience was like bad chinese takeout. Not the flavors it used to have AT ALL. In GOOD NEWS - they added some things to the menu from the closed BEN PAO - Sesame Chicken and I'm happy about that. Maybe I will go back and eat the old Ben Pao dishes but BIG BOWL itself if kinda dead to me. This place is going downhill fast!
(2)
Teegan F.
We were seated quickly, the server was great, and the food was delicious. This place rocks!
(5)
Katherine R.
Pad Tai Noodles with chicken. Nice tea selection; infused teas with exotic fruits. Intriguing atmosphere with dim colored lights and a serene ambiance of tables in a a line and then an open area for larger groups for the round tables. The drinks are tropical and created in tall glasses with colorful juices. The concoctions are really well done here with or without alcohol. Our server was alert and very time oriented with our group on a weekend night especially.
(5)
Gayatri D.
Not many vegetarian options. But whatever they have tastes quite good! Great service and large portions. Perfect for a quick lunch!
(4)
M G.
Food is always delicious. Many different choices to choose from. Even the drinks are good. Place is mostly busy and the service can improve because they tend to be slow sometimes but that is because the place is busy. Overall, always a good experience when i eat there.
(4)
Kathy S.
This place is the epitome of overpriced "Asian" food. I've been there a handful of times because friends have wanted to go there but have never had any dish that I really loved. The only one that I kinda liked was the thai hot pepper chicken with basil and peanuts. However, it was so salty that I had to have lots of rice with each bite to overcome the crazy salty factor. So basically the only time I'll come back is when a group of friends really wants to come here.
(2)
Anthony S.
Good food, good selections, great prices and good service. I am always happy to come here! You absolutely must try their pumpkin ice cream mochi in the fall. It's to die for!
(5)
Trena R.
When traveling and in doubt of what you want to eat, ask the trendy 20-something working at the hotel, right? He was spot on. It was about a mile walk from the hotel and worth every step. The waiter was friendly, great at reading body language (knowing when to do a drive-by and when to engage us in chit chat). He was quick with drink recommendations and guidance on the food - local, organic, delicious! The food was incredible. I had the pad thai and sampled a friend's Sesame Chicken. OMG. I *must* get back to Chicago so I can eat my way through the menu. This is one of the restaurants where I could walk in, say "surprise me" and be over-the-moon happy. Ooops... I think I just drooled on my keyboard.
(5)
Jessie Elizabeth J.
Big Bowl is good, flavorful food depending on what you order. The make-your-own stirfry is a good bulky meal for the price. The Thai curries are tasty and well portioned. Avoid the "prime" beef dishes as the meat is not tender and the sauces for dark meat dishes can be bland. Is it solid thai and Chinese? Yes! But a wee bit overpriced and more about the atmosphere than the food.
(3)
Brianna L.
Let me start off by saying I absolutely love big bowl. This location had friendly and attentive staff. I prefer the flavor of the food at the woodfield location better tho. I also like the location in woodfield better esp since its FREE parking. Parking prices in Chicago are just redonk. I really disliked the seating situation. We had to sit at a high table, which is uncomfortable after a while. The seating was also super tight. Like if I moved I would have touched the person behind me and the person to my left. I don't think I'll be back to this location. A sweet treet was that they did give us chocolate covered strawberries on the house bc it was Valentine's day.
(4)
Arun C.
This was definitely the best Chinese food / Stir Fry place I've ever been to. Starting with the ambience, it was warm and friendly. Nothing too fancy but not like typical Chinese restaurants. This would almost hit the fine dining category in terms of ambience. The waitress was extremely friendly and explained everything very nicely. She was very pleasant. The food options weren't too overwhelming. They had 6-8 dishes in Chinese, the same number in Thai and the option of Stir Fry bowl. The appetizer menu looked interesting but we skipped that and so I cannot comment about that. I went for the Stir Fry bowl while my wife chose to go with Kung Pao noodles from the menu along with their Orange Ginger Ale, both of which she raved about. The stir fry bowl - The vegetable selection was quite good and the veggies looked fresh. Something different about this place is that they do not stir fry your choice of protein along with the veggies. Only the veggies are stir fried and served along with rice and meat which is prepared separately. It was delivered quickly and the taste was just amazing! The sauces they had used were just perfect and I cannot wait to go and have it again! Unfortunately that means making a trip to Chicago. They do not have one in Houston Overall, me and my wife completely loved the place and are looking forward to coming back here soon!
(5)
Belinda L.
On our last trip to the Windy City we decided to give this a try cos Eataly was too busy and this was just across the street on the way back to our hotel. It was pretty crowded when we stopped by so we thought that was a good sign. But I guess being a Saturday night and right downtown at Magnificent Mile, this did not mean much. The interior was nice and cool, semi-dark lighting with numerous TVs showing different sports channels. They also have a bar where you can order drinks and sit around while you wait for your table to be ready. We started with the calamari, thai-styled. That was good, it came with a sweet-sour dipping sauce. For main courses we ordered the BBQ pork fried rice, which is also char skew fried rice in asian terminology, and the pad-thai. According to the waiter those were good choices. To us those seemed pretty normal, which was unfortunate. Each time I go to Chicago one of the things I look forward to is the food, but this didn't leave me particularly satisfied. The service was great though, I have to credit them for that. Our waiter was friendly and knows the menu well. He also helped us pack the leftover fried rice to go and gave us some fresh dipping sauce to go with it. Next time I am in town I will make it a point to plan out where to go for meals, do some research etc on what is around the area, especially during peak periods where places will be busy...
(3)
Sadia H.
The Red Hot Pepper Chicken Noodles was great. Very spicy! Don't add the hot sauce to this. It's very flavorful and the portions are huge. Good place to go to after shopping in the Magnificent Mile area.
(3)
Prashanth M.
I have been to this place at least 50 times and I started loving the sangria and the stir fried that you can create by selecting own vegetables a lot. I don't know how many times it happened that I went out of the apartment to eat something and I ended up here. I like most of the things. I am giving 4 stars because they didn't tell me the first time that there was fish based sauce in the pad thai noodles and they can't do it without it.
(4)
N S.
Over ate but the quality is always great. This time I focused on the Chinese menu and all of it was great. Orange chicken was excellent but not as much chicken. I'll have to ask for extra chicken next time. This was carry out so maybe the box was smaller. Usually when we sit down to eat we always have extra chicken of the orange chicken !!!the bill for two take out was 78$$$ a little high but it was triple points. !!!!!
(5)
Christina S.
My boyfriend and I agree that this place is a fancy Panda Express. If you're looking for authentic food you won't find it here. If you're looking for a place to enjoy overpriced Asian cuisine with a nicer ambience than Panda Express, this is your place. We ordered the shrimp pad Thai and the spicy cashew chicken. Both were nice dishes but a little saltier than I liked. Portion sizes were good and we had leftovers to spare. I will probably stick to Panda over Big Bowl.
(3)
Dimple M.
Love the food but hate it that all curries are made in fish oil. Being a vegetarian that limits my options. Green curry is extremely spicy and would help if you offer to tone it down. Service is always awesome.
(4)
Hollina U.
Meh. I think I might have been biased going in because I typically don't like Asian chain restaurants... also very picky about my Asian cuisine. I ordered the Penang curry here... which was good--- the chicken was cooked perfectly, and wasn't dry like I was worried about-- I hate ordering chicken because I'm always expecting it to come out overcooked. But it was good-- the curry wasn't bad either. I requested them to add tofu as well (well, actually I requested for a mix of half tofu, half chicken, but they said they had to add it for an additional charge, which, fine, I guess makes sense), but the tofu was just meh and flavorless. But that's the thing--- tofu is often something that a lot of Western restaurants can't do right... and I count Big Bowl as one of them. But if it's cooked right it's delicious! But whatever, I guess maybe another tofu centric dish here could be good and I didn't know. Prices are higher than what I typically would pay for Asian food too... but I guess it's a nicer atmosphere than most Asian restaurants, so that's where the premium comes in? It's nice that they have a carry out area! (But then if I want carry out Asian food, I'd drag my feet over to Panda)
(3)
Emin S.
Full restaurant, I loved the crowd. Ambiance is great. Not too quiet, not too loud -- everyone around me was smiling and having a great time.. I had the pad Thai that was very unique, burst with fresh herbs and was also lighter healthier than any I have had. Tangy, and played with my tastebuds kept me guessing. I would be curious to taste their other dishes, that will have to wait until next time. Friendly service, affordable price, overall a great experience even when you are dining by yourself.
(5)
Karol N.
Decent spot for a quick lunch. Nothing special food wise, it's better to stick to Chinese options since their American versions are better than Americanized Thai food.
(3)
Fan Y.
I was looking for asian. I walked in thinking- gee not a single asian person in here, no worries, this isn't chinatown so I wouldn't expect that anyways. I mean the ambiance was great, there was a sitdown bar. The kitchen was within view. Service seemed friendly(everyone was american so english wasn't an issue).. I ordered the teriyaki friend rice, which looked appetizing with generous portions including lots of veggies and meat. They even included a pair of chopsticks! I really looked forward to it. Unfortunately, the dish was the saltiest thing I have had from a restuarant in years. It tasted like they doubled the portion of salt either by mistake or by design. I didn't complain at the time because I was hungry, had a cold and was coughing a lot, so I wanted to quickly eat and go home. So far, I've drank 2 liters of water after coming home and my thirst has not yet been quenched. It seems like this fit the stereotypical bad asian fusion restuarant- checked all the boxes except the food.
(2)
Chrissey N.
Love. The food is always flavorful, and Chris is such a nice waiter! I've been here quite a few times, and the food is like a chic re-invention of traditional Chinese and Thai dishes, don't go expecting authentic, but I like this even more than authentic! Love the spicy Kung pao chicken- it has to be my favorite dish!
(5)
Ben B.
Big Bowl is great upscale Asian fare. First thing you must do upon sitting down is to order a fresh ginger ginger ale. So crisp and clean with just enough ginger bite. I'm also a huge fan of the spicy Sichuan beef. On a spicy meter, I'd put this around a 6/10. A nice kick, but nothing where you'd be fanning your tongue or shooting steam out your ears. Atmosphere is dark and inviting, especially if you land a booth. For some reason, I always forget Big Bowl exists. Not sure why. It's delicious, well-cooked food at reasonable prices and a nice atmosphere. Great for dates, friends or business hang-outs.
(4)
Brianna D.
Was walking down Michigan avenue looking for a place to eat yelping every restaurant we walked past, walked past Big Bowls and didn't have a chance to yelp it before my boyfriend wondered in. Hands down best pad Thai I have ever had! Our server was absolutely wonderful! So nice and sweet and friendly. Will be craving this place every day
(5)
Hannah S.
I ordered out from Big Bowl this past Sunday evening through Grub Hub. This was my first time trying them. I ordered 2 of the Sesame Chickens. Once I place the order it said the wait time was 2 hours, so I immediately called the restaurant and canceled. I told the woman on the other end of the phone that I had ordered through Grub Hub and she assured me the order was canceled. I even asked "so it's canceled-there is nothing else I have to do?". Sure enough some time later there was a knock at our door. I told the delivery driver I called to cancel and sent the food back with him. So the next morning I filled out a dispute charge with Grub Hub and heard nothing back. I had to call Grub Hub 4 times to get the charge reversed, because Grub Hub would call the restaurant and the restaurant would shrug them off and say they had to look into it. Finally one woman from Grub Hub got back to me and said the restaurant claims they did not get the food back. So either the restaurant is lying or the delivery driver ate my food. I will never give this restaurant money again. Grub Hub refunded me not the restaurant. We did place a new order for pick up for the 2 Sesame Chickens before I knew the debacle I would face with the delivery mix up. They were mediocre at best the chicken was soggy and the fried rice lacked flavor. I can't imagine how bad it would have been if we waited for delivery.
(2)
Jill H.
Had lunch at Big Bowl while in town on business. Started with steamed dumplings that were served in a tasty sauce. I had the lunch portion of sesame chicken served in a bed of brown rice and thoroughly enjoyed it. Portion size was great, if not generous, and the sauce was tangy & delicious. My only wish is that there was one near Detroit so I have it more frequently!
(4)
Ayperish A.
I love Big Bowl. Food is always delicious!!!
(5)
Elizabeth P.
Excellent food + excellent service! We came for lunch and ended up getting an appetizer of the sampler potstickers (which were so yummy). We couldn't pass up the dessert sampler either which was equally as yummy. We definitely want to come back.
(5)
Doug W.
FOOD - I had a date here, and we split 1 entre and 1 main course dish. Both dishes consisted of spicy noodles with peanut sauce and peppers, and they were AMAZING. - Portions are small for the $. - Food quality is simply great. - Don't buy dessert here; $5 gets you about 3 bites of whatever you choose, since the portions are really small. SERVICE - The waitress we had was nice, but seated us at a 4ft-tall table, which was not the booth we requested. Inconvenient. RESTAURANT - The place is really nice inside. Decorated beautifully. - Nowhere to park besides parking garages; inconvenient. - Floors and tables were clean. OVERALL - Would go here again, but only after receiving a paycheck. Great food, but cost does not afford equal servings in my opinion.
(4)
John M.
What's up with no pork dumplings and chicken egg rolls? But the service is great and the food is not bad.
(2)
Izzy N.
Ok FINE it's been years now and big bowl has proven itself to me some. But.. I only order 2 things after a little absence. Shrimp pad thai with no peanuts, no cilantro, no beansprouts and no basil :) then I pile on the chili sauce.... maybe.. MAYBE some potstickers if the company I'm with wants to split it and or their ginger ale. That's it!! I don't veer towards any other version of their pad thai.. Cuz it's been disappointing in the past. Otherwise I'm not the biggest fan of their other dishes. I find it salty, meh and an atrocity. Recently I've been here on a date night and it's always dependable cuz I order the same thing over and over again and just low key enough without being a total dump atmosphere wise for some company otherwise I'm cool with eating food from a cart down the street. Mexican corn in a cup from a dirty cart is fucking delicious. So for a quick fix that's low maintenance cuz Lord knows we are lacking in delicious asian eats in this neighborhood and in Chicago in general... I'm allowed to be lazy after 40+ hours of work a week and not cook myself some asian flavors or trek to mediocre Chinatown or disappointing argyle. You're pretty good big bowl but if I were going home to Portland soon of course I wouldn't miss you. Risen from the dead for sure.
(3)
Salina L.
I wanted pho because I'm sick so sent hubby out. Big Bowl was the closest. Pho was nasty! Potstickers were terrible. Orange chicken was pathetic. The worst Chinese/ Vietnamese food EVER. I now feel worse than before the pho.
(1)
Jigna S.
Loved this place! (Better than flat top grill in my opinion)! I've only tried the stir fry bar option and it was delicious and in huge portions! You can choose your meat, sauce rice or noodles and veggies (or you can select the chef's choice of veggies and you don't have to get up to go to the stir fry bar). I got the sesame crusted chicken with sichuan sauce (so it had a nice spicy kick), fried rice and my own selection of veggies. It was soooo good!!! Will definitely be coming back to try their other dishes, especially the pad thai, which they are famous for.
(4)
Mike P.
Surprisingly good food and great staff for a chain restaurant located in the most crowded part of the city. Being around or on Michigan Ave during the holidays makes my skin crawl. This past weekend Big Bowl gave us a great lunch with really excellent service when the joint was absolutely packed. A needed oasis from all the crowded stores.
(4)
Chelsea F.
Atmosphere, ok. Food, good. Service, great. Came here hungry and was more than satisfied. I was torn between Kung Pao Shrimp and sesame chicken and our server Michal, the very handsome guy with tattoos, told me to get the sesame chicken and I was thoroughly pleased. I especially like how he was honest and not trying to simply up sale. He was very attentive and always kept up with our drinks! We tried each of the deserts and they were great!! Michal gets an A+
(4)
Mia F.
I liked the online order capability, speed and takeout service accommodation, but the food was mediocre.
(2)
JJ Q.
Comfort food with a distinct Asian flavor. Authentic? Not particularly. Good. Yes! A step up from P.F. Chang's, and a longish one at that...but then it's part of the Lettuce Entertain You chain. And that shows. That said, I'm hardly damning it with faint praise, although I suspect that one of the reasons I like it so, is because it's about a block from the Homewood Suites where I usually stay in Chicago. The food is NOT drowning in sugary sauces, that cheat of cut-rate faux Chinese restaurants, and the flavor of the ingredients does come through. The regular menu dishes are decent, though I've come to love the 'pick your own' section: you pre-select the meat (or tofu!) and the sauce, then when you're ready, go up to the selection of vegetables by the kitchen and select the blend you want. And the house-made ginger soda is delicious. I'll be back, never fear. And enjoy it.
(4)
Michael B.
Had a food emergency! The ladies stomach clock went off and they had to be fed immediately. Wanting ramen, we bolted towards the little Japanese place in Hotel Tokyo only to find it closed. Spotting Big Bowl just down the street, we got there just in time to avert a complete meltdown, but it came at a price...the food. It is what it is and I'm sure it has it following and tourist business. The staff are very nice!
(2)
Davin C.
Very first time at Big Bowl, and very pleased with the food, service, and ambiance! Highly recommended it and out waitress, Claudia, was very friendly, kind, helpful, and very pretty! Food was outstanding! Got the Mongolian Beef, and one of the best I've had! Will definitely be going back!
(5)
Sam P.
Came in after a horrible vibe and walking out of RPM ITALIAN. Vibe is great. Easy going and waitstaff is nice.
(4)
Kim B.
Great menu for a group who doesn't know what to choose. Dumplings, small Pho and pork buns all very good. Especially the dumpling and 3 sauces. Since I was there for first time, manager Justin stopped by with a little free app and said hello. Great touch and overall good service. Came back with a big group and did the group dinner. So much good and all very good. Service want as good this time but still worth coming again for sure.
(5)
Ravi N.
This is one of my new all time favorite asian restaurants. I had the orange chicken, and the others I say with had the cashew chicken, teriyaki shrimp and scallops, and the Mongolian beef. I also had some of the best tea and ginger ale in my life. Very good food and a great atmosphere.
(5)
Brian M.
I stopped in to Big Bowl based on an extremely favorable review from a friend and I have to admit that despite it being a chain it was actually very good. The Chicken Pot Stickers and the Orange Chicken, however I decided to go with the Seven Flavor Chicken which was amazing. It was very unique, a little spicy, a little sweet, a little savory, it was just delicious. Now the pot stickers where great, very flavorful and the sauces were good, well at least two out of the three were. The one mustard based (I think) sauce did not go with the pot stickers at all however the other two were great. I decided to also order a Big Bowl Blonde Ale, which was pretty good. I was under the assumption that it was a specialty brew just for Big Bowl however I did some research and discovered its actually made by Wild Onion, and is available in 12oz cans. I might have to try to track this down! Overall Big Bowl offers good food, good service at reasonable prices for downtown Chicago. The service was fast and I have to admit that I will probably return on my next trip to Chicago. I think next time I will have to try the Orange Chicken.
(4)
Saahithi G.
Big Bowl is my favorite Thai place in the town. THey have a stirfry option as well. My favorites: Potstickers Spicy Thai Green Curry with Tofu Thai Hot Pepper with Rice with Shrimp/Chicken Ginger Ale is good as well.
(5)
Lynn H.
I got the sesame chicken stir fry. I haven't tried anything else, but I loved this! I loved how I got to choose all the veggies I wanted in my dish and the portions are huge. About $15, but it is very filling and tasty. For waiting something relatively quick and good, I would definitely come back here. That's why I gave it a 5-star...it's awesome for what it is.
(5)
Sara L.
I keep dreaming about this meal, even though it was only days ago. We walked and walked in the city to get here. I was so hungry and thirsty by the time we arrived. I got seltzer and lemon to drink. Tasted like the best thing I've ever had in my life. They do not skimp on lemon, let me tell you. Two big chunks. So fresh. I got vegetable teriaki, make your own stir fry. The veggies come from local farms. Love it. I can't wait to go back and get the same thing.
(5)
Jodie S.
I ordered the chicken pad thai and it was very yummy! The atmosphere of the restaurant was great. Our appetizer was delivered incorrectly, but our waiter quickly fixed the issue and let us keep the wrong one. We didn't wait too long for our food and the waiter was great about refilling our water.
(4)
Sacha F.
Eh. I had really quick and great service but I'm not a fan of this food. It's definitely better than China Star, or whatever crappy Chinese food branch is in Chicago, but it's definitely not authentic. I ordered the orange chicken, and I'd probably rate it a 6/10. Lunch portion size was fine, wasn't heavily sauced or fried but it wasn't in my top five and I probably wouldn't recommend this place or come back. Giving three stars based on the awesome bar tender.
(3)
Blaine T.
I really love their vegetable pad Thai a! Nom.
(3)
Kathleen C.
Big Bowl is good, but not the best Asian food in the city. It is very much good for the casual lover of food, but not for someone who loves Asian food (at least as far as I can tell as I've found much better options elsewhere). However, it is relatively quick and easy and they are friendly at every location I've been at. I tried the pad thai with chicken and tried to get it spicy. It was a smidge spicy, but not overly so (probably catering to the typical customer that doesn't know their spice, so they are 'safe'). The atmosphere isn't great for a downtown restaurant, but it's a solid choice if you're hungry. Food - 3 Value - 4 Atmosphere - 3 Service - 4 Bathrooms - 3
(3)
Kristen W.
Don't be turned off that this is a chain restaurant, this restaurant is part of the Lettuce Entertain You group and doesn't disappoint! Service was great and the bar manager was awesome! The strawberry sangria was really great, I love any sangria with fresh fruit in it! We both had the chicken pad thai and it was really good, the ingredients were fresh. i can't wait to go again.
(4)
Maureen M.
Just one block from Michigan Avenue and the Mag Mile, the vibe on a weekday at lunch time is a blend of locals and out-of-town adults. There is a kids menu but it doesn't seem to attract kids despite hordes of them on the Mag Mile. The service was attentive and almost obsequious but not overboard. The lunch menu is limited but sufficient. I liked the option of jasmine rice, brown rice or fried rice. I love ginger ale but very seldom drink soft drinks. The ginger ale had a nice bite that paired well with the food but it was TOO sweet. A drier ginger ale would have been just perfect. The portions were reasonable and the food was high quality but the amount of chicken in our chicken dishes (Kung Pao and the seasonal special General Tsao) was small. On the other hand, there was an abundance of peanuts in one dish and more than enough onions in the other. Still looking for Chinese food in the neighborhood, I'll stick to Star of Siam for Thai.
(2)
John G.
For a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant this seems to have a lack of attention. This is the second time we've had a problem here. The staff tried to make things good but there is a problem in the kitchen. The last time they were out of brown rice. This time we started with a new item, BBQ pork buns. The meat was uneatable, tough and had chunks we both couldn't chew. The vegetables you choose for the stir fry were wilted and tired. I don't know what was in the spinach.
(1)
Sean C.
Chinese and Thai, trendy but I'm not bowled over. But we didn't eat that much a variety, admittedly. I am annoyed that the main dish of PAD THAI came out before the appetizer of CHICKEN DUMPLINGS. About the main dish, I do appreciate they use quality, organic and plump white chicken mixed in with the noodles. If you're here, do order the organic made-from-real-ginger GINGER ALE. #sincerity
(3)
Dina T.
Loved this place! We are here after finding a massive wait at the other restaurant we were thinking of going to. I'm so glad we ended up here. Our server was so sweet! She was super attentive, kept our drinks full, and even brought us an appetizer "on the house" after hearing it was our first time to one of their restaurants. My husband and daughter got the stir-fry which they both enjoyed immensely. I got the sesame chicken. It was the best sesame chicken I've ever had! Yum! We also had their edamame and their chicken peanut egg rolls for apps. All around a great experience. My husband thought it was a tad expensive but I thought it was decently priced considering the overall service and food as well as the location; smack dab in the center of Chi town.
(5)
Vee S.
My mom was a patient at NW hospital and hadn't had an appetite in days and wanted orange chicken so I choose this place because of the reviews and the proximity to the hospital. I order thru DinningIn orange chicken and the shrimp pad Thai. ANd it was AWFUL!! THE CHICKEN WAS Vinegary and and the pad thai was horrible and sticky BOTH DISHES were disappointing!!! my moms favorite place is Yummy Thai but I wanted to give this place a try and it ended up costing me $30.40 NEVER AGAIN!!!
(1)
Joel B.
The service was good but, dont eat here unless your white and you like crappy mall chinese food. The pad thai i got tasted like sweat. There was no flavor besides a hint of sour sauce and sweat. If you want good authentic thai/chinese steer clear. I had high hopes due to the good reviews but this place is garabage. So if you want some good ole greasy white people food then go ahead eat here. You will love it.
(2)
Tam D.
Went there yesterday and ordered the pho and thought, You've got to be joking. The menu said it served 2-3 people. The bowl I got barely served me. It was an average-size bowl of flavorless chicken broth with 3 or 4 pieces of chicken and a handful of noodles. That's it. And it cost 12 or 13 bucks. Seriously!
(1)
Miranda S.
Lunchtime was pretty quick and their portions were recently scaled back. I like the 'mongolian bbq' idea where you pick everything and have them cook it for you. It's delicious and healthy.
(4)
Joel T.
Horrible service and very inconsistent food and whoever heard of Asian restaurant wo soy sauce?
(1)
Danielle M.
In town for a conference and looking for a GF friendly restaurant near my hotel. Great choice. Food was delicious, with lots of GF choices (on a separate menu no less). Waiter was very friendly and a bonus was a nice bar so I could have a glass of wine with dinner. Prices were quite reasonable for prime downtown location. All around good experience.
(5)
Gigi D.
Here's what was really tasty: the chicken dumplings, twice-cooked green beans, mongolian beef, and yellow coconut curry with tofu. Everyone loved the fried rice, and the brown rice was great too. The portions are pretty big, so three of us shared two entrees and two small plates. Unlike at most Chinese places, the mongolian beef has lots more mushrooms than onions and beef, so if that isn't your thing, skip it. Even their spicy dishes aren't super spicy, but they offer some chili sauce to kick things up. Took off a star for slow service.
(4)
Tj W.
Went in for lunch on a Friday around 12:00. The service was good the food was pretty good as well. I recommend the east side drink, gin, cucumber, mint, and lime..: you won't regret it... Especially with a screaming baby.
(4)
Adrianne D.
Mickie is an excellent manager at this location, there was an issue with my carry out order, shrimp instead of chicken. He did not make an issue out of it. I corrected the situation and was friendly. I enjoy big bowl and will continue to support this location as I appreciate the customer service and love the food!!
(5)
Latoya M.
Really enjoyed my meal here!!! The Server was absolutely Amazing. Not a place I would have picked, However very pleased that my cousin picked this place. Will be back :)
(4)
Sara P.
Start from the appetizer the lettuce wrap was Good. I like the sauce that comes with it. I ordered yellow curry with supposed to have tofu in there but none. I tried to get attention with my server. He's gone right after the food came so I can't wait then I ate my wrong order and never checked with us until we asked for the bill.2stars from the appetizer and my friend's order she said hers was very good.
(2)
Francis R.
Big Bowl seems to be my number one stop to cash in on those Lettuce Entertain You rewards. Their service is always great and the staff always friendly. Make sure you get your free order of chicken or vegetable potstickers with the Foursquare app check-in! The dish comes with 5 pieces and an assortment of sauce to dip in. Nice flavors all around! I ordered the Spicy Sichuan Beef and boy was that spicy but delicious! If you aren't a fan of spicy, I'm sure you could ask them to tone it down a bit. Lucky our waitress had my water refilled regularly so it was doable. My date ordered the Panang Curry Chicken over noodles which I had recommended to her having order that on my last visit to a Big Bowl. The dish is typically served over rice, but over noodles is a nice change up from a traditional Thai curry dish. I forgot to mention the drinks! Their sangria is always spot on! On this past visit, they had the seasonal watermelon sangria, which was absolutely refreshing on these warm Chicago summer evenings. Definitely worth a try! Until next time, cheers!
(4)
Neha M.
I went for a friend's birthday celebration. I ordered green curry vegetables and it was awesome. The dessert we ordered was really good. All of us liked the food as well as the service.
(5)
Mitch K.
It was a lazy Sunday afternoon and I Had a Lettuce Entertain You gift card to burn, so I figured I would give Big Bowl a try since it is nearby. Wasn't sure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised. The food was tasty (ate the Chicken Potstickers and Red Hot Pepper Chicken Noodles), the beer selection was well above average for a restaurant (drank a Anit-Hero) and the service was quick/friendly. Again, very pleased with Big Bowl and will definitely be going again soon.
(4)
Autumn L.
The Big Bowel restaurant is Asian restaurant, and concentrates in Chinese and Thai cuisine. They have really delicious Chinese and Thai food, the service is also fast, and atmosphere is really comfortable and attractive, as well as the location is very prosperous. I went to the restaurant with my friends for dinner. The restaurant is located in the center of Chicago, nearby Wabash and Michigan Street, which means they have a good location. There are also many customers that mean their food is really attractive. I ordered the Kong Pao Chicken which served by a unique plate, it was really delicious. In terms of my own experience, I recommend the "Spicy cashew chicken" which is crispy chicken, hot peppers fiery chill sauce, and it taste is really delicious. And, I love spicy food which the restaurant also offer many type of spicy food. For the atmosphere, the decoration with solid Chinese culture, as well as they have light music which makes people more enjoy the food. The menu is really easy for people to understand, because they have clearly and separate Chinese and Thai menu, also they separate their features. In addition, in terms of the level of service, the waiter is very friendly and kindly. However, I think that they still have to improve their service, the reason why is because when I ordered beverage, the cups is not really clean. Furthermore, for the location, because the Big Bowel restaurant is located in the downtown, so it is really hard for parking, but there still have the public parking place next by the restaurant, of course, it is very expensive, like 5 dollars for half hour, 15 dollars for an hour and half.
(4)
Carlo B.
Just finished dinner at the Big Bowl. Service was excellent. Good size portions and great taste. I had beef & broccoli with Jasmine rice. It hit the spot. Appetizers were pork dumplings and crab rolls. Again it was great. Great atmosphere and good for families.
(4)
Angel L.
Came here for my brothers birthday and absolutely loved it. The service was phenomenal, food was something different but still really good. Love the setting and environment. If you go ask for Naima as the server, she was the bomb!
(5)
David A.
Another lunch visit, another good meal. Kung Pao Chicken was just spicy enough. Despite being busy our server Piotr took great care of us, our drinks were always full and we got our order quickly. Will definitely visit again when in Chicago!
(4)
Christie M.
Wow really? This is pricey but I expected it since its Chicago. Portions are giant! Unfortunately we had no microwave at our hotel so had to leave the food. The place had a nice decor to it, kinda like how PF Changs but slightly more Asian. Taste was decent. Super busy there, but it doesn't excuse why our waiter never checked up on us and me having to flag him down 3 times for various things like straws for my kids' cups. Our boys just can't sit through 2-3 hrs worth of dining. Hoping to get in/out fast....yeaa no way.
(3)
Abby L.
Good atmosphere, decent food. Not exceptional cuisine but still pretty good food. The staff are polite and know what they're talking about, and the options on the menu are good. Pretty comfortable place for a well priced meal.
(4)
Jennifer G.
My husband and I go to Big Bowl a couple of times a year and had such a pleasant experience Christmas Eve. They had a 15 minute wait when we stopped in that night so we decided to just eat at the bar. Our bartender was very attentive and our mai tai and mojito were very nicely done...and sitting at the bar, very quick! We started with the spicy green beans, and they were delicious. In most places - chains especially - when you order spicy, it's not really spicy - it's Midwestern spicy. Big Bowl's spicy green beans were spicy and so good. We ate them up very quickly. We then had the Kung Pao Beef with green beans (it was a theme that night I guess!) and the Thai Hot Pepper with Rice and Shimp. The Kung Pao was good but the sauce was a little heavier than I usually like and I did have to add more chili paste to it. However, the Thai Hot Pepper dish was delicious and had a slow spiciness in your mouth. It was a really light sauce and very good. I would get that dish over and over. As I mentioned - our bartender / server was very good and the food came out really quickly. We will definitely go back - and maybe now that we have tried the spicy green beans and Thai Hot Pepper dish - maybe more than just a few times a year.
(4)
Marilee F.
Great spot for an Asian lunch or dinner. Wait staff was friendly and helpful with the menu. I found the menu limited, the only reason I didn't give a 5th star
(4)
Clarissa T.
This place was very good. Service was a bit slow, but that won't keep me from coming back. I had the pa gang curry and it was wonderful!
(4)
Jerrod K.
Overpriced, mediocre food that lacks any cultural authenticity. If you want mass-market Asian, Panda Express does it for about half the price, and is much kinder to your palate (and that's saying something!). We ordered a Pad Thai and Pho. The Pad Thai was pretty poor, with a flavor that I struggled to place. Thankfully I called a bit of an audible and special ordered it with the crunchy sesame chicken instead of the normal chopped chicken. Normally, pad thai can stand on its own, but I had to mix in the sesame chicken to make it edible. On the bright side, the crunchy sesame chicken was very good, and does offer at least some hope for other dishes. The Pho Bowl was advertised as being for "2-3 people". How, I have no idea - it wasn't even enough for one! Instead of the usual beef, it came with chicken. Ugh. The flavor was reminiscent of those $1 cans of instant soup you buy at a grocery store. In fact, I probably would have preferred a good Progresso or Campbell's Chunky over what these guys had to offer. Again, not a ringing endorsement.... The Sangria was good, but again, was expensive and fairly small/watered-down. Service was okay -- but we actually had to ask for chopsticks. And hoisin and hot sauce for the pho. Ugh. Chicago - you do not have to settle for this place. There are much better alternatives just a stone's throw away!
(1)
Ryan B.
The worst curry I've ever had. Terrible. They took 1 hour 45 minutes to deliver it too.
(1)
Stephanie L.
I got dragged here by my better half. I have never been to Big Bowl. I avoid chains like the plague. Especially chains downtown, but I was pleasantly surprised with Big Bowl. Our server was one of the best servers I have ever had. That is a HUGE compliment. He appropriately checked on us, brought condiments, cleared dishes, etc. Amazing. Its kind of sad for me to say that I got better service at a chain than most independent and expensive restaurants. The food was excellent as well. Lettuce wraps are delish. Great spice, sauce, crunchy and portion size. The potstickers are pretty standard and come with three dipping sauces. I am a potsticker junky and this did the trick. Our entree was the thai chicken with peanuts and basil. It was a decent portion with some kick! Not to mention, I added lots of the thai chili spice. The ginger, ginger ale was extremely refreshing. I hate to say it, but I wont have to be dragged here kicking and screaming next time :)
(4)
Patrick D.
After last visit decided to try again. 2nd visit was like a completely different place. Service was attentive, food was good. Pleasantly surprised.
(4)
Joe M.
Really really bad... The staff here is off the charts awful. A few things to keep in mind if you do decide to visit this Big Bowl... 1) DO NOT think about requesting a modification to any item on the menu (you will get a huge attitude and it probably won't come right anyway). 2) DO NOT be allergic to any ingredients on the menu (you have a 50/50 shot at still getting the allergen in your food). 3) DO NOT even think about ordering a take out order within 45 minutes of closing time (you will find yourself banging on a locked door 15 minutes later when you arrive to pick up your order). Not to mention the attitudes of the people that work here in the evening. I arrived at 9:45 to pick up my order and found the door locked (they close at 10). I had to bang on the door to get a staff member to acknowledge me. Once let inside, not a single word was spoken to me and my food was practically thrown at me, not even in a bag. I was handed a bill, charged and shown the door without so much as a thank you or good night. And then what happened, you guessed it, order wrong, as usual..... A little background.... I am a Lettuce Entertain You Frequent Diner Gold Member and order from this Big Bowl at least once a week the exact same order. This is typical of my experience here at least half the time.
(1)
Lucia F.
An extreme mediocrity. The service was excellent, and I was brought an extra seltzer water without asking! However, all the food was covered with this sickening, un-tasty brown sauce that made me sick just thinking about it! They took my chicken satay of the bill, which was fine. The chicken dumplings were no better, but after wiping the sauce off a bit, the rating went up just a bit. I would not return! However, the fortune cookies were yummy!
(2)
Jay F.
I have not had a return business trip to Chicago yet when I haven't fed my craving for Big Bowl fare. I absolutely love the Kung Pow Chicken & Noodles - never disappoints. The Chicken Pad Thai rocks as well. I always bring new visitors here if I have the choice of restaurant options.
(5)
Lauren S.
Great dinner last night. The place was packed and our food and service were still spot on. Getting seated took a bit as we wanted a booth but other parties waiting got seated quickly and with a smile. Our server was good. Picked up after us on our table so it was never left with a mess and brought drinks in a timely fashion. She was polite and working hard with many tables but she always had time for the table when she was taking orders or checking in. Food last night was great. We had egg rolls, satays, stir fry bar one with chicken the other with salmon and 7 flavor beef. Everything was pipping hot, flavorful and delicous. We dine at Big Bowl a few times a month and though they have made mistakes 9 times out of 10 they hit it out of the park. My only complaint is managers should get to know there customers better. We've been to BB at least 50 times and never once has a manager stopped by to say hi thank for coming in or anything.
(5)
Nick E.
Huge disappointment! I expected to have a great meal here but instead my food was terrible! The vegetable potstickers had nuts in them which mixed awful with the vegetables! It made me wan to vomit! Luckily the waitress took it off the bill. The dumpling soup had dumplings that were ok but the soup itself had barely any taste and what I could taste was like dishwater! Worst restaurant meal I've had in a long time
(1)
Joseph H.
My family needed a last minute restaurant with a gluten-free menu prior to a concert that evening so I called Big Bowl on Ohio street and the staff could not be more accommodating. I arrived 30 minutes prior to the rest of my party but I was seated promptly and the waitress was excellent. I received dinner orders from my family as they were driving to the restaurant and the waitress placed the orders and the food was being delivered as my family walked in. The food is excellent and not expensive. Overall we had a wonderful time with excellent service.
(5)
Chi N.
Good service but terrible food. Very much tastes like Panda Express. Don't come here if you want non greasy version of Asian food
(2)
G D.
This is a great Thai place if u need quick service. Food is delicious, prices r great, service is quick!! They also have a make-ur-own dish bar.
(5)
Steven K.
I'm a huge fan and I have been taking my kids to the downtown locations, they have two downtown, for years. The train ride to the city of peaceful and then it is a nice walk to the gold coast. The eggrolls are phenomenal but the kids can order a soup, off menu, which is a chicken noodle soup. It's around $5 and the noodles are very thick and the chicken is shredded in the soup. My kids love it. I love taking them to different places to share different cuisines and experiences.
(5)
Francois J.
Forget Fat Rice. Ginger Soda, Pot Stickers, spicy Sichuan and Orange Chicken are miles above that pretentious Chinese Fusion place that won Best New Restaurant. Really? Big Bowl Rocks.
(4)
Timothy H.
Went here to nurse a hangover and its exactly what we needed. I got the brothless ramen and the homemade ginger ale. Everything was good and our hangovers cured!
(4)
Rick H.
I hate to say this, but I think this place is going downhill. This was always one of my "go to" restaurants when I had friends in from out of town. My last visit (Monday Sept 30th) was disappointing. I ordered the Shrimp Pad Thai, like I always do, and it just wasn't as good as in father past. The portion was smaller overall. They skimped on the shrimp as well. Usually the meal had whole pieces of shrimp, this time it was small bits & pieces. I saw very little peanuts & hardly any egg. Totally disappointed .
(3)
Racquel D.
I tried this place out for the first time last night, and I must say this place was pretty good. I ordered one of their freshly made ginger ales, barbecue pork fried rice, fiery dumplings, and mango cheesecake. Mmmmm to all of it. My favorite out of what I ordered was probably the dumplings, but they were all really good. I got the green tea ginger ale, and you can totally taste the ginger so you know it's fresh. Service here was also really good. Our waiter was really attentive and checked on us often, even though it was pretty busy last night. And if we saw that he was busy with another table, either the manager or a food runner came by to drop off our food. Good location, too. You're not terribly far from the Magnificent Mile, Red Line Grand stop, a bunch of other restaurants, bars, and hotels, and Navy Pier. I guess my only con about this place is the price of the food, but I will say you get a lot of good food for the price. You're sort of paying for the ambiance of the place because it's a big space in a nice and busy area. Check this place out though.
(4)
Audu S.
The food was Excellent. I had the monopolies beef and my wife had the king pay chicken noodle. The service was excellent and the staff was friendly. Great first impression of Chicago cuisine..... I will go back again and again.
(4)
Paul K.
This place offers a Mongolian-style BBQ, where you pick your meat / veggies / noodles and they cook it for you. Pretty tasty, and fairly fast and reasonable. Had some dumplings for an appetizer too, though those were just OK.
(4)
Manuel I.
Business customer representative Ms. Susan J asked for my contact so that a manger could get some feedback on how to make things better for the restaurant. Days, weeks and months passed and no calls from any of them...so I suppose problem is not just in the restaurant itself. It's also due to poor management.
(1)
Larry B.
Decent food. Good after a long plane ride, but kind of a panda express version of the real thing. Overall though it was a good meal. I give it 3.5 stars. I have to say though I love their signage from the street, and although it wasn't the best meal of my trip, it really wasn't half bad, and I'd more than likely go back if I lived in Chi.
(3)
TM M.
My husband has a special needs diet so we thought an asian place with a gluten free menu would be great. Overall, portion sizes were small, pad thai and mongolian beef dishes were bland and the $33 bill was pricey. We were hoping this would be a lunch place we could depend on for our week long stay but we won't be back.
(1)
Ben And Nikki B.
WTF happened to you Big Bowl? Four years ago when I worked for LEYE I loved hitting this place up (granted the Cedar location...) after a double shift for a few cocktails & chicken potstickers- things have either changed or they were having a seriously OFF night last night. Let me preface this review with the fact we decided spur of the moment to have dinner downtown on a FRIDAY NIGHT WITHOUT RESERVATIONS (yes... I know.) After attempting to get seated at SEVEN other restaurants (lowest wait time well over an hour- up to three and half at 2 places!) we decided to give Big Bowl a shot since we've had some great cocktails & appetizers there in the past. I should have known walking in on a Friday night to NO WAIT was a red flag, I even second guessed myself at the last minute and wanted to escape to Eataly across the street (YES I KNOW- FAILLLL). But at this point we were pretty hungry, a little chilly & tired of running around so we decided to have a seat. Ben B (not to be confused with hubby- weird!) was our server and he was... well... an experience. After determining we had been there before he immediately asked if we knew what we wanted & didn't review anything with us- especially not any specials they may have had that evening. I FREAKING LOVE their chicken pot stickers so we started off with an order of those while we discussed appetizers. My Ben was pretty disappointed in the beer list (but this is to be expected @ an asian restaurant so I'm not deducting points for this). Once we finally decided on some beers we asked the server to explain the difference between the 2 Trippels on the menu which he had to ask the bartender about (fine- I also get that not all servers are beer experts, I wasn't either so again no points lost here). Once the beers were ordered and arrived @ the table we had decided on everything else (Chicken Dumplings & Kung Pao Chicken to share) Chicken Potstickers: Balls to the Walls AMAZING as always. Love the 3 sauces that come with this too! Honestly we should have just ordered 3 portions of these & called it a night! Chicken Dumplings: Why the fuck are these on the menu? These are EXACTLY LIKE THE CHICKEN POTSTICKERS BUT STEAMED WITH NO SALT, NO TEXTURE AND NO FLAVOR. FTN (fuck that noise)- never again. Kung Pao Chicken: Decent size portion for one or two (if the two are sharing something else). Decent flavor & spice profile although nothing special/different/out of the normal. We did really love the kale (@ least I believe it was kale) that came with this dish- it was honestly the best part of the dish. So- by this point in the meal I knew we were going to be going on Yelp to review this hot mess meal and was discussing our review points with hubby. Hubby is nearly sure that the manager overheard this conversation because immediately after he "just happens" to stop over @ our table to ask if we're interested in a "extra soup" "on him". Hubby says sure & I said thank you. This is the only time anyone ever checks on us- we are never asked how our meal is going, how the drinks are, the appetizers, the entrees- NOTHING. I know LEYE isn't supposed to ask "How is everything" but never once did he say "Is there anything else I can bring to the table" OR ANYTHING OF THE LIKE. Talk about "stellar" service...Anywho! The manager brings over said "free extra soup" -- Hot & Sour Soup which is the managers FAVORITE ITEM ON THE MENU- TO DIE FOR HE SAYS.... I LEGIT (AND I KID YOU NOT YELPERS) ALMOST VOMITED IN MY MOUTH JUST BY SMELLING THIS SOUP. I'm sure it is an acquired taste that clearly I do not possess but JESUS H CHRIST. NEVER EVER AGAIN. What happened to you Big Bowl? #NeverAgain
(2)
John H.
Great food! Shrimp spring rolls were very fresh and sauces were excellent. Spicy chicken noodles were spicy and a good portion. Service was OK.
(4)
Nick G.
I cannot believe I ate here. It was possibly the worst food I have ever had. I could care less if it's "authentic" Asian food; that wasn't the issue. The food was just THAT awful. The pot-stickers weren't cooked all the way, and from their appearance it was obvious they were frozen and from a bag. They were the exact same things that I buy from the freezers in the Asian grocery stores. I can make better pot-stickers than this restaurant served me! As I said, it wasn't fully cooked; the dough was hard on the edges and obviously a tiny bit freezer-burnt. Just... awful. And six tiny pieces for $5? I can get a bagful of this cheap frozen crap from the Asian grocery stores. You should be ashamed to served this to your customers!! I ordered the Mongolian Beef.. and it tasted awful. I don't know what was in their sauce/marinade mix for this dish, but it tasted nothing like Mongolian Beef. It was very bitter and it barely had any flavor. I only ate 1/4 of it because it was 9:30 at night and I was absolutely starving.. I needed to eat something; otherwise I would have sent it back and had it taken off my bill. The person I was eating dinner with tasted my food and said it was awful, too. How do you mess up Mongolian Beef?! The service was spotty and the server didn't pay too much attention to us. I will never go back here. I should have known better, when every other restaurant in the city was packed and you needed to have a reservation, and this place was half full. A major disappointment and waste of money.
(1)
Naveed M.
Amazing Food - Service was okay but the food is great! Server was a little distracted. Forgot about our appetizers but no big deal. Can't wait to be back in Chicago to eat here again!
(4)
Joanne Y.
Nothing phenomenal. I had the kung pao chicken (the waitress said this was one of their more popular dishes. It was good, but I don't think I'll be returning again to order that. Not worth the $13 + tax. I might want to try their other menu items, don't think I would never come here again. Besides my entree, the space was clean and well kept.
(3)
John D.
I came after work one night and came for a drink and some Pad Thai. I had Dion as my bartender and he recommended a Panang Curry. I ordered the vegetable pad Thai and wasn't blown away. Dion asked me how the food was and I just said it was okay, and he ordered me the Panang Curry instead and wanted to make sure I was impressed with my dinner. Dion is the bartender you come back to. I'll come back for sure, maybe order something different.
(5)
Wesley K.
All the people bashing this place needs to cut them some slack. I'm Asian... and yes I understand this stuff is NOT authentic Asian food. But who said they're trying to be? Not to mention some stuff does not need to be "authentic" to still taste good. The food here is definitely "Americanized" Chinese food. But it doesn't mean it doesn't taste good. Places like this and PF changs? Very low yelp review yes. Not authentic at all yes. But opening hundreds of hundreds of locations and making tons and tons of money? Well if the food really tasted so bad... they wouldn't be operating at a profit and continuing to open more locations. Food is a-ok. Nothing orgasmic and mind blowing. But I was craving some Asian food, came in here and got the Cashew Shrimp and it tasted good enough for me to eat my whole plate and be satisfied.
(3)
Clinton S.
The meal here last night was absolutely delicious. I had the chicken curry and my significant other had the perch. Both were delicious. Drinks were excellent, would recommend the ginger screwdriver. Desert was something I never tried before, an ice cream mochi. Would certainly recommend. The area was excellent, close to our hotel and right by the magnificent mile. Will go back again if I'm in the area again!
(4)
Marie G.
We had a reservation on Open Table. My daughter requested a dinner there for her 16th b-day so I asked for a booth for 4 and a candle on the dessert that we were going to order and pay for. Made reservation a week in advance. She acknowledged the reservation and the birthday. They tried to sit us by a kitchen table, not a booth. Then the waiter tried to rush us. Asked us 3 times if we were ready to order as we were looking at the menu. We had already ordered drinks and two appetizers. We kept telling him no and that we were in no hurry. After we ate, he brings the check and never asked us about dessert. Rude! There is NO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE HOSTESS AND THE WAITER ABOUT THE BIRTHDAY CAKE. We just left and got dessert somewhere else. We were in and out in less than an hour. It is that type a place. Not good for any type of celebration. They want you in and out. Oh yeah, when our appetizers came we had to ask for silverware. Awful service, good food. Ruined the birthday celebration.
(2)
Dave S.
Surprised there wasn't a bigger lunch crowd here...maybe I caught them on a slow day. They have a pretty good lunch menu. I thought the portion was well fit for lunch and was under $10. My friend and I split the lettuce wraps which we both agreed were above average but the lettuce itself was a let down. The lettuce itself was a bit thin and soft, which doesn't make it really suited for a wrap. My friend got an entree portion the size of his meal looked in proportion to what he paid as well. Both of us left full and happy. Try their house made sauce as well - provide a nice kick with some heat but was not overpowering at all.
(4)
A C.
Combining Thai and Chinese into one restaurant is the best decision ever made!! I am vacationing in Chicago and the food here is so incredible that I've been twice in 24 hours! To top it off, the service is great. Highly recommend this place.
(5)
Neil R.
I love this place! I see a decent number of below average or average reviews but I've always had a great experience. I usually eat at the bar and get served very quickly. Its a diverse menu and I'm not sure if its authentic or not, but its very solid food. I tend to get the more Thai style dishes but their Chinese style appear to be good as well. Its a cool bar to grab a drink at as well. It can be very busy at peak dinner hours so getting a table or a seat at the bar can be tough. I would say its a bit pricey but I do feel you get your bang for your buck.
(5)
Gerald F.
Spicy. Way spicy. Great ingredients. Huge plate. Excellent shrimp. Too much oil and hot peppers. Wow. Very unique, very fresh, very big.
(4)
Rebecca B.
Some friends and I stopped at Big Bowl for dinner following a movie this past weekend. We had been walking around, trying to decide where to eat, when someone announced, "Let's just eat here." We all ended up very happy that we were standing outside of Big Bowl when she said this. We were promptly seated with no wait, but we were there pretty early, and the place was packed by the time we left. The food was good, and the service was great. Everyone, both meat eaters and our one vegetarian, left full and happy I appreciate that Big Bowl supports sustainable and local ingredients whenever possible, and I love that they prepare as much as possible in house. Everything tasted fresh and delicious. The fresh ginger ale, for example, is made in house, and it is awesome. It is sweet and spicy and refreshing. I have some food allergies that can make going to a new, unfamiliar restaurant somewhat challenging, but the folks at Big Bowl were lovely and more than willing to work with me to find something that I could enjoy. Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and didn't even have to be asked to check with the kitchen about certain ingredients or how something was prepared. This was one of the first times that I wasn't made to feel as though I was a hassle or a difficult customer. I ended up with a BBQ chicken dish with steamed rice and vegetables that was hot, fresh, and delicious. I will be back in the future, Big Bowl. My friends and I thank you for a wonderful meal.
(4)
Legarconla L.
Disappointed with the service especially during peak evening hours. Came here to have a good dinner with my friends but the service was very slow. First no plates were kept and had to eat the appetizers right from the served plate. Each order took more than 15 mins to be served. The waitress was running with wheels tied to her legs that we had to call her everytime we had to order a dish.would never visit any big bowl it's waste of time.
(1)
Courtneye B.
Okay--just finishing dinner at big bowl. I haven't been here in about two years, and maybe nostalgia got the best of me, but I was REALLY looking forward to some GREAT chow fun noodles.... AND--mediocre. I had a steak dish where the noodles were half crisp, half soggy. I suggest the chef choose a side and stick with it. The ginger ale was good, albeit a little sweet. Nice waitress, though. Too bad the food didn't live up to her efforts.
(3)
Susan W.
Went here twice in a 10 day period. First time had a green curry with shrimp & tofu. It was wonderful!!! Friend had a kung pao chicken with excellent greens. We each had a single scoop of their salted caramel gelato. MUST TRY!!! Our server was fantastic!!! Asked how long he had been there thinking he was going to say years. He shocked us letting us know it was his first server job & he had only been there a few months. I would imagine he eats out alot & knows what kind of service he appreciates & strives to provide the same. Second time I had the Shanghai Shrimp & Scallops with the fried rice. ($1 upcharge) The fried rice was NOT good. :( Way soggy. Mentioned not liking it to the server & he gave some lame excuse about it being organic rice. blah, blah, blah. I didn't like it, didn't eat half of it & he should have removed the extra charge from my bill, but whatever... Friend had their Pad Thai & it looked amazing!! I'm getting it next time. We both enjoyed their Shandy drink. A mix of honey, lemon, beer & vodka. It sounds weird as all get out but it was super refreshing with the spicy savory food. Great location near Nordstroms Rack & Trader Joes for shopping.
(4)
Allison W.
This place was great! We had so much fun. Got seated immediately on a Sunday. Food was great, definitely getting two meals out of our build-your-own stir fry. Our server Cam and the manager Justin were amazing! Super helpful, cheerful, and friendly. Very attentive and fun. We will for sure be back! Highly recommend this place. Thanks for the good time guys!
(5)
L M.
Excellent vegetable roll, yummy calamari. I tried their freshly made ginger ale and lived that too. I'll be back!
(5)
Thomas S.
Food was so delicious. Did the stir fry bar and was so fun putting all the vegetables in my own dish. The ginger ale was also so unique and delicious; a definite must have for diners. The service was slow, but the delicious food more than made up for it. Very cool atmosphere
(4)
Jay I.
This is a rip-off version of PF Chang. Since we had a very good experience at TRU and Joe's we decided to try another restaurant run by LEYE. What a miss on this one. When you are in the restaurant, you would think that the ambience is nice, and that they have nice bar with good menu and a grille station (for mongolian beef kinda thing). However, the food we ordered were at best ok. they weren't just good, and the portion was too small. If I have to pick this and PF Chang I will choose pf chang a hundred times.
(3)
Maria M.
Bartender was really nice in greeting us since the hostesses were not at front when we walked in the door.. Ordered an Arnold Palmer, had a fruit fly in it.. Waitress took it back & showed the manager.. Manager never came by the table to apologize nor ask if everything was ok.. He stood by the cooking area the entire time talking to staff hanging out & to the cooks.. I asked for my meal with no onions & the 1st thing I see, ONIONS!! Big whopping chunks..I didn't want to make a big deal about it so I just picked them out.. The waitress checked on us once..but at the end of the meal after I waived her down, I nicely let her know. After the poor service, nasty fly, and onion In my food, the waitress at least have us her employee discount. I was not asking for a refund nor a free meal, I simply stated the facts in a nice and educated manner. Since it seemed that the manager didn't care, she at least took matters into her hands and tried to make up for the mess.. That by itself made me give her a $9 tip (on a$20 meal after employee discount)..
(2)
Mike H.
Gave this place a shot and it was good. I tried a few things and they were all pretty good. Ordered a mai tai and it was great, ended up having three!! I wasn't a big fan of paying $1.50 for a side of rice with my entree, but oh well. Overall this place is good, I will be back.
(3)
Mimi N.
Nick is probably the only attentive bartender there. Eat at the bar for awesome service . Other bar tenders don't really pay attention to you and are too busy socializing and not bringing the bill or tending to you. Food is pretty great for Americanized asian food.
(5)
Natalie B.
The general manager reached out to me to apologize--I love it when restaurants really do care about your business and maintaining a high level of service. He also informed me that they now offer organic milk. I love that I can feel good about what we eat here. We will definitely go back very soon.
(5)
RC R.
Big Bowl just changed their menu on 10/14/14. They took away one of our favorite dishes - Seven Flavor Chicken. There is nothing similar on the menu now. I ordered the Ginger Beef Chow Fun and it had no ginger and no spice - the beef tasted bland. The carry out person was very helpful and nice though.
(2)
Meredith P.
We chose to stop in to Big Bowl on a Saturday night while we were wondering around Chicago. It was very busy the night we chose to come here, but we were seated fairly quickly. I really like the concept and the variety of offerings they had. The build-your-own stir-fry was intriguing, but I opted for a standard pad thai instead. It was good but kind of bland, nothing too exciting. And (this is just a me thing) I tend to add soy sauce on my pad thai and there wasn't any at the table which I thought was strange for an asian-style restaurant. There were nice drink offerings and I really enjoyed the ginger ale they make there. Overall, it was good but I wasn't overly impressed.
(3)
Jenny B.
Really one of the best Asian restaurants I've been to. There are options on the menu for almost anyone, and they support and participate in sustainability and humanely raised meats! There's even a drink menu! Food was delicious, the staff was friendly and helpful, and the modern design/atmosphere was relaxing. It is much bigger than I expected--we got there at 6:30 on a Friday and we were sat immediately.
(5)
Victoria W.
We came here a while ago to have a drink and get parking validation before heading to the actual restaurant we were going to for dinner. The plan worked great. I ordered my standard orange ginger ale, which was awesome as always. But the reason I'm writing a review here is to applaud the bartender, Nemanja, who was friendly and pleasant to such a degree, I made sure to jot down his name. I don't know if he even works there anymore, but I wanted to give a shout out into the void just in case.
(4)
Matthew K.
I had the thai hot pepper chicken. The ingredients were good quality but it was literally inedible. It was basically chicken drowned in lemon and cilantro. Seems like a good place but this particular dish was not to my taste.
(2)
Laurie C.
Food is good, lots of selection. Unfortunately the service at this location sucks every single time I go here. Everything from having to wait for long time to get served as I watch people that got there after us get served before us, being brought the wrong food, one time we actually had some billing issues and the manager promised to send us a gift card for their mistake and never did. So if you go expect the service to suck but at least the food will be good, maybe try pick up or delivery instead.
(3)
Anay A.
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(3)
Jeremy C.
The bowls were fairly large... I would say they have "big bowls" :) I thought the food was good. I liked the steamed dumplings, the do it yourself stir fry, and they actually had some tasty beers on tap. The lady had some lettuce wraps. Any lettuce entertain you place.. you know the food and flavors will be there. Here is my (spicy) beef. I'm not exactly an old country buffet type of guy but... Chicago has Flat Top grill. At flat top you get the same style of create your own stir fry but... Flat top you can make the unlimited trips for seconds... Plus they have the flat bread there... oh yea.. So with that said.. This place is good. Great flavors, etc... but ... if I'm in chicago and I'm feeling DIY stir fry... Then it's Flat Top grill..
(3)
S S.
Food was excellent as usual but the service was extremely bad. It is 4th of July evening and the place was expectedly packed. The waiter was impatient and rude and did not wait to answer our Qs. She would ask what we wanted and before we answered, she would leave. She repeatedly that many times and forgot about us asking for Hot sauce, water, etc. overall experience was bad and something I did not expect from Big Bowl
(1)
Partha A.
Went there on a busy Friday evening. I could tell by the patrons, it had a high popularity among South Asians such as myself. The mix of spice and sweet and savory is perfect I guess and hits home nicely :). Man gripe was our food was way too salty - but it was prepared hot and was fresh. Fiery dumplings - nice and as it should be. I expected more fire but that was fine. The chicken wrapped in rice paper - chicken felt a little dry. But the dippings were okay. Penang Curry - absolutely fantasmic - smells of fenugreek and cumin with lemon and coconut. Heaven. Spicy Sichuan beef - Too salty and a little flavorless. Thai hot pepper chicken with basil and peanuts - I had it over noodles instead of rice - it was gooood. BUT once again, a tad overseasoned. Next time I go in, I should ask for lower salt content and I should be content.
(4)
Lori H.
Healthy eats, mix of spicy Thai and Chinese stir fry. Full bar. 3 blocks away from Michigan ave. breezy window views.
(4)
Jeremy D.
1. This is a Lettuce Entertain You joint. There is nothing wrong with that at all, but this is a corporate joint. 2. Thankfully it is NOT P.F. Changs But this IS pretty Guai-Lo cuisine though. Very good ingredients, but not particularly firery, earthy, sour... Recently had the Shrimp Pad-Thai... And just very one-noted. Pad-Thai (while become very ubiquitous and over done) is still a great dish and should be beguiling of tamarind and palm sugar... Lime and fish sauce... Chilies! The shrimp were very fresh... Butt he dish just didn't SING. It was just BORING. Even adding their Sambal Chili Sauce didn't do much for it. It's a nice enough place and the quality isn't suspect... But this isn't the best either.
(3)
Zi B.
Drinks were pretty good... excellent customer service...terrible food. Orange on the Orange Chicken was not fresh. It tasted rancid. The Ginger Shrimp and Scallops with pea pods and tomatoes smelled spoiled. Not overreacting, I couldn't finish it. After many times eating there, this is the first time something like this happens. Unfortunately it was so bad that I couldn't possibly bring myself to recommend this specific location.
(2)
Paul S.
Big Bowl is part of a series of chain restaurants which I had somehow managed to avoid unintentionally. When taking a date out recently, we were walking around downtown and she suggested it. I figured, why not? Here's the quick and dirty... Pros: + Our waiter knew his stuff and could easily explain the nuances of all the menu items, sauces and so forth, forgot to get his name though + They serve the food pipping hot, so it does taste fresh + Kung Pow for the win, 'nuff said Cons: - $40 for dinner for two at a place that seems like a slightly more upscale Panda Express, I'm missing the point here - My chicken dish had very little chicken on it, seriously, don't skimp In short, Big Bowl was tasty, even if they shorted on the meat given the price. Yes, it isn't high end eating, but for $20 per plate, you expect better. Perhaps I'll give one of their other locations a try, as I hear they have one in Schaumburg by the Woodfield Mall.
(3)
Amy Z.
I am a HUGE fan of pan-Asian food so I'm aware that the cuisine is merely inspired by Asian dishes and may not be in any means authentic. Despite this flexibility, both Big Bowl's pad thai and lettuce wraps were, to put it as delicately as possible, cringeworthy. LETTUCE WRAPS: Never having been to Big Bowl, my friend and I wanted to try something "noteworthy." Having been labeled with the logo WOW! next to it, we decided to try. And sure enough, it was "WOW!" WOW! in that it was sloppy gunk of dark matter with mostly softened rice noodles, sauce, green onions and sliced cabbage. It's hard to make a really good lettuce wrap filling, but it is even harder to butcher it completely. You're already serving this dish in lettuce, how can you be so cheap as to not even offer a little more substance? PAD THAI: Why would you put string beans and bok choy in pad thai? What's with the excessive use of red peppers and dressing? Where'd all the peanuts go? I may not be Thai, but I like to think of pad thai as a delicate dish where the combination of ingredients are individually subtle, but combine to create a slightly tangy with a hint of savory goodness. What I had the pleasure of eating was more like sour wet noodles with a consistently very much like that of jajangmyun. So explain to me, how has this restaurant gone so long with 4 stars? Either the chef was having a bad day or the reputation of Big Bowl truly is an embarrassment in and of itself, proving that the only people the food I had would attract are those who can't cook and eat microwave dinners for a living.
(1)
Pete P.
Good choice for lunch right off the Mile. We had potstickers combo, very good, I liked the funky spicy sauce in the middle best. Pad Thai Chicken, Asian Chicken Salad, Watermelon Salad, and Beef Lettuce Wraps. Everything was good, probably too Americanized as OP says. Very fresh and tasty. Watermelon Mojito, meh, no flavor at all. That and random service cost you a star. One block west just past the Harley-Davidson Shirt Shop.
(4)
Nahima D.
Happy hour is awesome. Spicy peanut noodles $2.99 special is delicious. Amazing service from Katie & Peter.
(5)
Hina Q.
My wife and I tried this place on a whim. We were walking around downtown and decided to go to this restaurant after looking at the menu. The restaurant has a nice ambiance and looks clean. It's located downtown Chicago near all the shopping areas so that's a plus. We were seated at the table and after a few minutes the waiter came by to take our order. Off the menu I saw that their gingerale was made in-house and fresh with fresh ginger. I decided to order that and my wife ordered the raspberry lemonade. We were surprised when our drinks came after taking the first sip. They were delicious drinks. The gingerale here is quite the popular drink and now I know why. Exquisite! The food we ordered was: veggie dumplings and teriyaki fried tofu; for main-course it was the shrimp pad thai and hot pot shrimp panang. Both of our dishes along with the appetizers were very good and fresh. We really enjoyed our dinner and drinks. For dessert we ordered the chocolate brownie with the homemade ice cream and the apple crisp with homemade whipped cream. Both of the desserts, like the main course, were delicious and freshly made. The staff is professional and very courteous. We really enjoyed our experience here and would definitely recommend this place and visit it again and again. A must try!
(4)
John M.
Im not sure if I got lucky. I looked back at the website and I thought maybe I ate somewhere else. But it was here that I had a really good meal. I ate on the fringe of outside and inside. I enjoyed the walk from Rush St seeing all the crowded outdoor seating to finally arrive here and be greeted by an open table. I like the Russian waitress. We nicknamed her Natashi. She was attentive. Had nice drinks and ate "asian fusion" I dont even know what that means. I just know it was fancier than regular Chinese food and it was very tasty. Tasty food, good service, nice lseating, good company. I liked my visit.
(4)
Neha A.
This was my first time in here and I liked this place a lo t. We ordered chicken lettuce wrap and chicken kung pao. Both were well made and yummy. The service is slow though. Wish they op en up one in Ann Arbor too.
(4)
Shradha A.
Another great stirfry experience and I just want to add (for myself too) that their Pad Thai is not and can't be vegetarian (fish sauce). The vegetable potstickers are good but the Kung Pao stirfry with noodles is my rockstar item! Their homemade gingerale is not too sweet and a nice complement to the spicy sauce!
(4)
Jana M.
Great service, food came promptly. Lively spot. Quality food- would go again without hesitation. The white pomegranate sangria was amazing! Beef lettuce wraps were also outstanding!
(4)
Odranre B.
This is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant. I occasionally eat here to earn points. Food is OK. Nothing spectacular. Located just west of Michigan Ave on Ontario. Friendly staff
(3)
Van T.
another faux Asian establishment...the entrees are mostly rice, and not the good kind of rice either. blech!
(2)
Crystal Z.
I had the most amazing beef lettuce wraps EVER at this place. Seriously, so good. I wasn't too impressed with the wonton soup, but it would've been hard for anything to measure up against just how good the beef lettuce wraps were. The peanut sauce that came with it was out of this world. I also got one of their cocktails made with the fresh ginger ale. It was refreshing and delicious. Service was also good and food came quickly. I will definitely be going back.
(5)
Jeanean M.
This was a lovely surprise. Food was good, service was good. I enjoyed it. The best thing is if you can't find your taste on the menu you can go create your own. Big plus!
(4)
Lizzie R.
This place was average. Came here for a casual dinner with a friend and the food was good, not mind-blowing. I had the pad thai which is one of my favorite dishes wherever I go and it was just okay. My friend asked for whatever tea they had that night and he asked for it to be sweetened. Got it and it was the most sour tea we'd ever had. Then I had run out of water. This was the only beverage I had asked for, so I asked two waitresses for a refill because mine was nowhere to be found. They send a bus boy who is cleaning off other tables to fill my water. He takes my glass and comes back with a glass of not warm but hot water! I quickly asked him to take it back and get me some ice water. I guess I need to specify that I will be drinking the water when they bring it out, rather than waiting for it to cool. At one point during the night, something had spilled on the table and I had to use my napkin to wipe it up because, you guessed it, no waitresses to be found. Another bus boy is near and I ask him for another napkin because mine had been used to clean up the table mess. He then hands me two little cocktail napkins. I was floored. The location is great, the place is nice looking, but for the food and service, I would say you're better off somewhere else! I may come back here again hoping it was just a one time bad experience but from my first, I was not happy.
(3)
Paul E.
The meal was great, the drinks were good, and our server Chris kicked ass. They gave us really good tasters to try since it was our first time too!
(5)
Evan K.
I came here for dinner one night with a friend, and I really enjoyed it. They basically let us pick our own table when they seated us, and the service was good. I decided that I wanted to try their in house ginger ale, and I really enjoyed it. It had a nice fresh taste and was a crisp refreshing drink. I ordered chicken pad thai, and it was satisfying. I haven't had a lot of thai food before, but out of the chicken pad thai that I've had in my time, I enjoyed this one probably the most. I liked the setting, and I enjoyed the idea of being able to have thai or chinese or both if I wanted it. I would like to go again sometime when I get a chance.
(4)
Lisa L.
Neat place where you can pick out all your own personal favorite vegetables, sauce, meats, etc. Service fast and very good. Good for kids. Kind of loud but fun place.
(4)
Stina T.
I was extremely sad when one of my favorite LEYE restaurants, Ben Pao, closed a few years ago. However, I am tickled pink that Big Bowl has infused their menu with a few of Ben Pao's most popular menu items (e.g., sesame chicken, cherry bomb shrimp, and the chicken and peanut egg roll). What I love about Big Bowl is their vast menu - there's something that truly can please everyone, including those with dietary restrictions/preferences. Additionally, I really like Big Bowl's dedication to using fresh ingredients in their dishes and that so many of their ingredients come from local farms. It's truly one of those restaurants you can eat at and feel satiated after you eat, but not sickeningly full. The portions are large enough so you can split them or just have left overs. I like their dessert menu because the serving size is "just right". Some of my favorite menu items include their hot and sour soup, sesame chicken, and shrimp summer rolls. The decor at Big Bowl is trendy and fresh, but still comfortable enough for diners of all ages. The service has always been hit-or-miss (sometimes attentive enough, other times not attentive enough), but I can't say I have any specific horror stories about bad service. Not feeling like dining out tonight? You can opt for pick up or delivery. Big Bowl offers delivery from Diningin.com ! I don't know about you, but a big bowl of hot and sour soup when I have a cold or am feeling under the weather is one of the most soothing things possible! The perk? Most of the times I've ordered Big Bowl from Dining In, the delivery fee is waived!
(4)
Jeremy A.
In downtown Chicago there's not many choices for Chinese food but nursing a hangover I knew I needed to get some noodles somewhere. We went in there for lunch and this place was absolutely slam packed. Its a pricey spot but its par for the course in downtown Chicago. Read this closely, unless you are a vegetarian you absolutely HAVE to try the spicy Szechuan pork belly noodles dish. I thought it was a bit weird when I ordered it but holy crap this was one of the tastiest Chinese dishes I have ever had in my life! They have a build your own bowl option as well so you can pretty much choose your destiny at this place.
(4)
Sky T.
Great place. Good food done right. We had dishes that tasted different from what we were used to. They tasted better than we were used to. The Sichuan green beans are over the top.
(5)
Diana M.
I was, for a while, a big bowl regular. Living only a few streets away, I was even going here up to 2-3 times a week. PROS: *Most of the food is solid. You could really pick anything on the menu and be satisfied. * The specials are always great, but I have my favorites: gyoza, spring/eggroll appetizer, yellow curry with pad thai noodles and pomegranate giner ale. After dining there so frequently, the servers new that we always order our 'usual'. * Servers are always very friendly. The place is always busy and you can tell the staff works hard. CONS: * Restaurant can be loud and most annoyingly, the hostesses are almost always snobby and not very friendly. They consistently make me question their continued employment and instantly trample on any excitement I had to be there. *A bit pricey for what it is. I never leave upset not satisfied with my food, but it's not unique. For a chain, I would have liked to have seen lower prices. Ultimately, this is why I stopped going as frequently. I havent dined there in months. * the seven flavor beef is inconsistent. When it's done well, it's delicious, but many times, it's been dry
(3)
Maya G.
Pai Wai with a new name. I actually looked it up to see if they were the same owners because it is pretty much identical. I had the teriyaki bowl where you can fill up your own veggies. Tip: Fill up a ton of veggies to get a nice chicken/veggie proportion. Overall- not bad for really unhealthy, moderately tasty and completely nonauthentic asian food.
(3)
Dean O.
OK...I was just in Chicago on business and admit that I was drawn to the hustle-bustle of this place from peering in through the windows (not knowing it was a chain until I stepped inside). The truth is that it's neither a 1-star nor 4/5-star place...its a solid 2.5 stars, right in the middle. Completely average by all accounts. As such, most of the reviews here are valid and believable. Service will always vary based on luck of the draw. I happened to sit at the bar (being solo) and my server/bar maid was delightful...so no complaints there. The allure is really in the styling of the place (how exotic that we've suddenly landed in Shanghai!) as well as the energy it exudes...not the food. The food isn't dreadful as long as you set your expectations correctly. Just imagine that you've purchased a microwave dinner that you don't completely hate, nor does it really satisfy. Also, it somehow looks closer to the picture on the front of the box than micro-dinners do in reality, but it costs $15 instead of $3.75. If you get your mind straight on that, you'll be fine. On the plus side, you will have left-overs for lunch tomorrow and if you are with people you don't really enjoy, service is fast so you'll be in, out and on your way.
(2)
Eugene V.
Stopped by with the family after a day at the museums. Originally seated in dining room, however, waiter accommodated request to move to bar area corner table so we could order from happy hour menu (til 6pm). chicken satay, pork dumplings, lettuce wrap were satisfying. Best item was BBQ pork ribs. Bbq pork fried rice had decent flavor, portion size was on the smaller side. Service was excellent - very friendly and attentive!
(4)
Samantha E.
Came with a group of friends and it was A-OK (as the three stars indicate). There is actually a pretty hefty discount for Northwestern students so it makes it even more reasonably priced. My spicy food was not all that spicy, but what can you do. The flavor was good and the house ginger ale was on point.
(3)
steve l.
Good atmosphere, but the food is really, really bland. Pad Thai has no flavor. The spicy Thai shrimp had less heat and less flavor than the beef and broccoli. Sickening sweet as well. Shrimp wraps were soggy and bland. What happened to what used to be a solid choice? Oh well...
(1)
Tom F.
Chain pan-Asian - nothing special. Pretty greasy pad thai, average pho, fair teryaki ribs. Highlight was freshly made Ginger ale. Very good service - noisy so good for kids.
(2)
Genevieve S.
Spicy is spicy. Pretty good but nothing amazing.
(3)
Albert W.
People who are not chinese are going to like this place. It's like PF Changs. As for me, I really think there are other places that more interesting to go eat at like Purple Pig and all the other great food places in the general area. Come here if you want american asian food in a nice setting.
(3)
Channa P.
Went here for dinner. Got the very spicy, but delicious pepper chicken. It had a tangy flavor because it was seasoned with lemon juice. That lemon taste was a happy relief from the heat of the spices, and really works quite well with the rest of the dish. I had a heaping portion and after eating my weight had enough to box. Try it out. It's cheap, good, and decently authentic.
(4)
Grace N.
Generic, unauthentic, americanized asian food....but their decor is really pretty. Tables are pretty close to each other so often it makes it difficult for people to walk through. Pad thai w/chicken-missing the peanutty flavor that pad thai is supposed to have and had a really strong taste of lime already in it. What's the lime on the side supposed to be for then? Fried rice w/beef-vegetables and beef were cooked perfectly. veggies were crunchy, meat was tender, but finishing the last bit of my plate was tough. The rice was drenched in sauce which made it really unappetizing I only dined here because I was visiting from out of state and it was too late at night to travel to any other area outside of what was near my hotel. Customer service and dishes were cooked very well, but taste is just too americanized like "panda express"
(2)
Manan M.
Just finished dinner - the food was absolutely unpalatable-we ordered chefs choice vegetables with green curry ..absolutely horrible,no salt -extremely spicy as well ..it was almost as if the chef gave us the food in spite ..Been a regular here for years, but surely never coming back .
(1)
Stefania L.
My husband and I went to big bowl several time this winter....we were very happy because the food was very good and the vegetables was very fresh. My husband loves the hot granbeans that are very very spicy.
(4)
Lex M.
And now for the best part - we gave our wait person two credit cards and told her to put 1/2 the bill on one card and 1/2 the bill on the other card. Well, she ran two cards, but she ran the same card TWICE! This was just the end of a terrible experience!
(2)
Dina G.
Exactly what the name says: BIG BOWL. But my favourite bit; the big screen TVs mounted on the walls of the bar playing live NHL sport. Truth is I got so caught up in the black hawks game I forgot what I ordered or even when. Though we sat in the restaurant half- The screens were perfectly visible. Besides I wasnt the only hockey zombie there. There were more of us. One of us. One of us. Though I distinctively remember the waiters arrogance when he heard our accents. I made it my point to highlight the fact Ill be reviewing my experience here- suddenly like a leprechaun off a lucky charms cereal box, he turned into rainbows and marshmallows.....how convenient right? Now its up to the company who they chose to represent them, but I cannot doubt their taste and presentation of the food. Simply superb.
(4)
Mikee R.
Not sure why I didn't review this last year. We decided tonight that we won't be going back. The food is just OK. It tastes just bland for this kind of place, I would expect the food to just POP and be flavorful and fresh tasting. The service was just BAD! We had to ask for lemon for the water three times. Our server just didn't seem to care. Oh well. Their loss.
(2)
Keith C.
The steamed dumplings were good. The dumplings were cooked so that they were not soggy at all when brought out. I really like the sauce that they use for it. It's not exactly soy sauce but it's kind of similar. Maybe soy sauce with something else added but it really complemented the dumplings. Chicken pad thai was also good. Not fantastic but it did satisfy my thai food craving.
(3)
Peanut Q.
The worst food i have ever had in Chicago. Ordered from this place via grab hub.. The food came 20 minutes late than expected and semi cold. Small potion for the price .. Tastes so awful. It is not authentic asian food, not authentic american asian food either.
(1)
Rashmi P.
At times I feel walking into a restaurant without any preconceived notion is the way to experience the true value of it. All I knew about Big Bowl, was based on my Twitter communications with #spicychat and that they support sustainable local produce and enjoy well-seasoned food creations. Big Bowl is one of #SpicyChat's loyal foodie supporters. Needless to say, on my recent trip to Chi-Town I had to stop by and say hello. Co incidentally, I was in Chicago to attend the #IGC12 Independent Garden Center Show (world's largest trade show and conference for independent garden center owners, managers and buyers). It seemed befitting to pay a visit to a restaurant which not only supports foodies and serves locally grown produce, but have gotten more involved with their Seed to Table innovative approach by contracting with farmers to grow sustainable/organic crops. Crops that are grown from heirloom seeds, selected by Big Bowl, and cultivated on the farm with the help of the restaurant staff. Now they are serving more than 700 lbs each week to four of their Chicago Locations. I walked into a vibrant & modern restaurant proudly showcasing an open kitchen with fresh local seasonal produce bar. Over the course of my lunch I couldn't help notice how completely packed the restaurant got. Conveniently located on E Ohio Street, it is walking distance from Magnificent Mile, drawing clientele from both tourists and Chi Town residents. A quick glance over the menu displayed a familiar menu serving classic regional Chinese and Thai specialties. There was a 'Group Share' menu, Big Bowl menu and the Classic al carte dining. Oh I wish my boys were with me. After all how much can a girl eat? The Summer Harvest Celebration menu grabbed my attention. Each time you order from their specials, Big Bowl and Free bird donate $1 to growing homes. After all charity begins at home, so I ordered the spicy Sichuan eggplant. Locally grown eggplant, freebird chicken, sungold tomatoes dressed in a spicy Sichuan sauce - yes, it was indeed 'spicy' and I couldn't get enough of it. Hands down, one of the better eggplants I have tasted outside of China. I was told by our pleasant server that their 'ginger-ale' is homemade and it is the signature drink. Not being a ginger ale fan, I politely refused and enjoyed my refreshing and cool cocktail; a nice compliment to my spicy meal. Of course personally for me Cold Sesames Noodle is reminiscent of good old times in NYC, so I couldn't help ordering a bowl. Cold noodles lightly dressed in an addictive peanut sauce, garnished with cucumber julienne; yes it was light and refreshing. Though, I didn't quite grasp the lying down bowl concept in the presentation. A meal at Big Bowl is incomplete without their signature 'From our Farm to your Table' stir fry bar. What a fun and interactive way to enjoy your meal. Now, stir fry has been around for donkey years, what makes Big Bowl special? Allow me to elaborate. Fresh local produce, protein from small family farms, curries made from scratch, freshly toasted spices and all, authentically prepared capture the essence of flavors signature to Big Bowl. Need I say anymore? My signature Big Bowl: chicken, greens from the bar, panang curry, and jasmine rice. The flavor was lighter than any Thai curry I have been exposed too. While I was just pondering that, with great pride the sweet server informed me the curries are all made in-house from scratch starting from roasting the chilies. There is not a more comforting dish for me than the aroma of kaffir leaf infusing the chicken and perfectly cooked jasmine rice. Even though I was dining alone (indeed a rarity for me), I had a wonderful time. Between the vibrant energy of the restaurant and the friendly staff, I felt at home. Big Bowl manages to re-create authentic flavors producing bold and bright flavors with fresh produce, herbs, and clean flavors. So all you people hooked on heat and complex yet comforting flavors of Thai & Chinese cuisine has to offer, Big Bowl is one restaurant I am pleased to endorse is worth the trek, regardless of which suburb of Chicago you reside in.
(4)
Kevin A.
LETTUCE UNDERWHELM YOU Meh. Ultra-sanitized, Americanized, under-seasoned Chinese/Thai fare from the Lettuce Entertain You empire. I appreciate that the ingredients are fresh and that they are trying to do this PF Chang's fresh Chinese thing. Unfortunately at the end of the day the food just didn't impress. The orange peel chicken, while containing actual orange peels, didn't have any depth of flavor. Ditto on the Mongolian beef, or should I say the Mongolian onion as it was kind of lacking in the meat department. Also, beware the men's room as it's a concussion waiting to happen. The sink is right next to the door which despite a sign on the outside asking people to open it slowly, comes flying open at light speed.
(3)
Sarah B.
Just okay. I stopped in for lunch while running some errands. My server, Robert, was very nice. He suggested a few items and pointed out things on the menu. I also was offered a free appetizer since it was my first time in. Yay free stufff. I ordered the Chicken Pad Thai. Keeping in mind that if I wanted really great Pad Thai I should have gone to a more authentic restaurant, this was just meh. The noodles were almost kind of crispy..not good, the chicken was kinda gross, but overall, it was edible. Decent flavor. I dont know that this is somewhere I would go again but it wasnt horrible.
(3)
James K.
A great dinner at a good price.
(5)
caroline k.
PF Changs meets TGIF. Came for take out on a weekday night and it took forever. Ordered the hot and sour soup (not your typical/authentic in taste), sweet ginger scallops and shrimp entree (overly sweet and a bit 'fishy/seafood-y' in tste), and chicken and vegetable dumplings (5 little dumplings for $6 - not worth it). The ambiance is, as expected, lively and very themed (including a gi-normous white chinese take out box hanging overhead to the right of the entrance) - fun, but not necessarily worth it for the food.
(2)
M. D.
I love Thia food so much and Big Bowl Pad Thia is amazing. The Asian Chicken salad is to die for. They have the BEST pot-stickers...SO Yummy!
(5)
John L.
Boys & girls, it's time for a Haiku for Big Bowel (yes, I said "bowel"). Read it aloud in your best Arnold Schwartznegger voice: You concoct bland food. Why do you make us throw up? I shall not be back.
(1)
Bob V.
This place is excellent. Eat here every time we are in Chicago. Prices are real reasonable too.
(5)
Dorothy S.
How could one not love a place called Big Bowl with a ginormous red bowl and chop sticks sitting atop the entry way? I think I'm just in awe because we don't have this type of place in San Francisco and I'm giving this place a bunch of stars because when you have amazing company dining with you, the experience is all the better. Seriously, the pad thai was interesting because it really tasted as if there was kim chee in it, which I'm not really accustomed to but it tasted good enough. I think what I love most about BB was sitting in an open air spot where you could people watch and smell the fresh air from the outside. Fortunately, the horse and carriages didn't pass in front of the restaurant while we were dining there. Overall, nice place to eat but you need a token for the restroom, that's downstairs.
(4)
Taylor G.
I'm not sure what to say about Big Bowl other than "meh". I went in for lunch and had my old stand-by: Panang Curry. Prices are a bit higher than I would have liked to pay (~$15 after tax and tip for the dish alone). The portions were quite considerable, but I would have much preferred a lower price in exchange for less food, rather than Americanized portions. Aside from that , I didn't find the curry inspiring at all. I requested extra heat, and got it, but it all fell on the tip of my tongue, rather than engulfing my whole mouth in flames - I would have preferred the latter. On the whole, it was very standard, though the chicken was very juicy. The rice was bland and heaped on the same plate as the curry, ensuring it turned into a large soupy mess. I would give Big Bowl one more chance. The food was just okay, but the prices don't reflect that fact. For $15, I want to be wowed and amazed. Big Bowl? I'll pass.
(2)
Jenny z.
Starving? If so, you might be able to actually eat something here and still be able to look at yourself in the mirror. Otherwise, stay away. It's in close contention with Penny's and Joy Yee's for most embarrassing and pathetic excuse for an Asian restaurant in Chicago. Ick.
(1)
M. P.
Best food ever!!!! Now this has a been a long overdue - like 10 years:-) That's how long me and my family, and our friends have been going to this place and have been loving it! We have had birthdays, special occasions, anniversaries and so many memories here! The service is decent but I dont really care as the food is phenomenal!!! We are big bowl food addicts! My husband has been eating Orange Peel Chicken for the last 10 years :-) I love the Schezwan Cashew Shrimp . I also try their stir fry bar several times. Also since I love Schezwan Sauce but it is not on the Stir Fry menu, I ask them to make it with it and they happily do it! My mom had green curry last time and loved it as well. Overall an amazing place that we love the most! If you are a regualr at this place and other of lettuce restaurants you must get their leye card (free customer loyalty card) and rake up lotsa dollars!!! Love it!
(5)
roderick h.
Always good food... lunch specials are always pretty good and the food is very fresh! I usually get the teriyaki chicken (i think) and its always soooo sooo good... which is why I havent tried much else :)!
(4)
Jennifer G.
I love Big Bowl. Their hot and sour soup is to die for. Skip the make your own stir fry deal and go for their pad thai or chinese dishes. They are much better. My husband had the Szechuan Beef and spent the whole meal with tears streaming and a runny nose - if you love heat - try the Szechuan Beef. Their Pad Thai could go up against any Thai restaurant. I love this location for somewhat easier parking as well as Puma across the street. I would visit the other location if I am in the mood for ESPN Zone.
(4)
Thongsy S.
I can not vouch for their regular dinner menu. I came here for the Fortune Hour event and they were passing around appetizers. They had these lettuce wraps and fruits on sticks. It was just okay. I usually LOVE free food but this time around, I was only able to eat 2 pieces of the lettuce wraps. The atmosphere is okay and the service seemed good. But considering I haven't tried their stir-fry, I will have to go back and give it a try.
(2)
Maria S.
This review is definately influenced by the fact that my kids love this place with a capital LOVE. First why the kids love this place: - rubber bandy chopsticks to practice eating with - a "mad libs" type fill in-the-blank thingy on the kids menu - that has them in stitches every single time. We do it over and over and over. They just can't get enough. - fancy "red dragon" drinks (shirley temple) - a good selection on the kids' menu - it's right around the corner from the Lego store And why I like this place - I think the food is pretty tasty. I've tried several curries and they are yummy and have some kick. The lettuce leaf wrap appetizer is great. - The kids love it and will behave all day if we are going there. And then they behave in the restaurant because they are busy cracking themselves up over the mad libs thing. So there you go.
(4)
Matt G.
In the pseudo words of Jeff from Curb Your Enthusiasm "This is a Big Bowl of RIGHT!" I really enjoy this place. It is one of the few restaurants near Michigan Avenue that doesn't seem to be over crowded all the time. The portions are very generous and the prices are not awful. It is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant so I've used gift cards here, but it's also not one of those Lettuce Entertain You places that I will only go to if I have a gift card. I recommend the build your own stir fry, it's a good deal and you'll always have enough for lunch the next day. The potstickers and chicken eggrolls are also quite good! Perfect if you're going to catch a movie at 600 N. Michigan!
(4)
Kristina K.
Let's start with the food: ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! I always do the build your own stir fry. I stick to the all natural chicken, teriyaki, and egg noodles. You get to fill your own bowl with vegetables of your choice at a salad bar type thing. I've also tried the sesame chicken (I do not recommend it) and the beef...which is also quite delicious...I'm just more of a chicken person. The whole ambiance of the place is really cool too. Very modern but still a semi-oriental feel. Lots of TVs, and they are always playing the sports game. Normally, I go to the Big Bowl in Gold Coast, but I've tried the downtown one several times...I usually have Renee...and he is a great server! He is always very careful with my severe shellfish allergy. I'm finally writing a review about this place because last night I had an exceptional experience. My sister and her boyfriend were visiting from WV, so I took them there. Our server, Julie P, was absolutely great! She was so friendly, and by the time our meal was over I felt like we'd known her for years. She was very personable without being unprofessional. I feel like she just really went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time, and I hope that she sees this message. While I've always enjoyed my visits to Big Bowl, Julie made this experience especially fun! So, thanks Julie for an excellent experience! I have nothing bad to say about this restaurant...it is just absolutely delicious.
Three strikes and you're out. This place has become a 'used to be good' restaurant. Three years ago, everything from the drinks to the dessert were excellent, now I'm left with watery sauces and hair in my food. The last meal I had there was the shrimp with basil and lemon---truly awful; it tasted like fish water and herbs. I have no idea if they have a new chef or new management, but all three items I have ordered in the last year during friends' events have been bland and poorly prepared. The decor is nice and the staff is pleasant, but the food is underwhelming at best.
(2)
D S.
Actually, it's probably more like three and a half stars, to be fair. I went here for lunch. My dish was pretty good (a crunchy, spicy shrimp dish, as I recall), but doesn't stand out in my memory. It was nice. The other member of my party had the salmon pad thai, which sounds intriguing enough on the menu, but in reality it's a complete disaster. The sum of adding salmon to traditional pad thai is simply fishy, malodorous noodles. We were there towards the end of the lunch hour rush, so the wait staff was busy, understandably. However, after our lunch was served, the waiter didn't have a chance to ask if everything was okay until he cleared our plates. At this point, we pointed out the acridity pad thai, and, to Big Bowl's credit, he removed the dish from our bill. BB has a comfortable atmosphere and is conveniently located. The fresh ginger ale, which comes in a variety of clever flavors, was brilliant. Therefore, I doubt our experience there was typical, though it's probably best to stick with the basics. Lesson learned.
(3)
Stephanie K.
What can I say? It's another Lettuce Entertain You place. Does anyone else feel like they're all kind of the same? That being said, the one exceptional thing on the menu at Big Bowl is the homemade ginger ales. They're fantastic. Other than that, I'd steer clear of the make-your-own stir fries and stick to their 'pretty good' appetizers. Some reco's include: Beef Lettuce Wraps, Potstickers, and Chicken Satay Skewers.
(3)
Jason P.
Very PF Chang-esq. I really enjoy the food here, but it seems like it's too comprable to PF Chang. The only thing PF does not have of course..is the stir-fry! This allows you to go up "mongolian bbq" style to make your own selections. The chef will help you pick out what you think you would like and create a great combination. The dinner options are also pretty good. They advertise "spicy" choices but i've never been thrilled as i've always had to have them go back and add to my dish to make it more hot.
(3)
Jahi J.
One of my favorite spots. I usually do the stir fry bowl with the salmon and I am always satisfied. I probably go here more than any other place for the thai herb calamari alone. When I am downtown I stop in and go to the bar just for an order of calamari and a pomegranate ginger ale-- I hate them because I drink them like shots and be wanting more. Other menu items are good too but I usually go with my regular dish here. Prices are pretty decent too, most menu items are 10-15, but don't skip out on the calamari. I've gone here several times on dates and I never paid more than 60 or so.
(4)
David N.
Definitely, not my favorite Chinese/Thai place to dine at. The food is just OK, very bland and not a whole lot of flavor. I ordered a spicy, tofu green curry vegetable dish with Jasmine rice. I asked if they could make it extra spicy, i love flavor and spice in my food, especially when it comes to Thai. I was mildly disappointed though, when I tried it and it was not that flavorful or spicy. There are other Thai restaurants I have gone to that are a lot better and have a lot more flavor to their foods. I guess this place is OK, if you are a tourist and are already down in the city, but I will stick to going to some of my favorite Thai restaurants in lake view and other neighborhood areas.
(2)
Noah B.
I'm not sure how you can ruin chicken pad thai, but they did. I've tried it twice, just in case my taste buds were being extra snobbish, but I was gravely disappointed both times.
(2)
Lim K.
It is hard to find a good Chinese food around downtown Chicago. The first time I was walking by Big Bowl i was not sure if i wanted to eat there. But after trying a few dishes I became very fond of this restaurant. My favorite dish was the spicy Sichuan green beans. The chicken pot stickers were good, however i would like it to be a little more crispy on the outside. The BBQ pork fried rice; the sliced pork on a bed of rice with bbq sauce on top. The pork was tender and was very tasty but the rice did not have much flavor. Overall, it was very good and the great service.
(4)
Teresa M.
I love this place! Yes I know it is technically a chain restaurant but it is so good. On our trip to Chicago, the girls were looking through an activities book in the hotel room. One of them says "Hey this place looks good", so we put it on the list of things to do the next day. So we arrive for a late lunch after an afternoon on North Ave Beach, and boy are we hungry, hungry, HUNGRY! The ambiance is great. Red, black and bamboo with a mix of new music and old school classics playing in the background, not so loud as to be distracting though. The hostess seats us immediately. Our witty, attentive and very knowledgeable waiter asks "Have you ever dined with us before?" Response, "Nope we are Big Bowl newbies." He recommends trying one of their fresh (made on-site) flavored ginger ales. We each tried a different flavor (you should too) and we loved them all. After bringing our yummy ginger ales and giving us time to peruse the menu, he goes over it with us and recommends his favorite dishes. On to the food: Appetizers: *Chicken Potstickers - They were very good and the 3 dipping sauces were excellent. Our waiter also brought a small bowl of Big Bowl's special chili to same. Woo kicked up some heat but was 'OH SO GOOD!' *As we are finishing our first appetizer the manager comes over with another "Thanks for trying us" appetizer that was delicious and free of charge. Can't quite remember what they called it but it was chicken and portabella mushrooms in a teriyaki sauce served on a whole fried wonton. Main dishes: *Chicken Pad Thai- Acceptable Pad Thai, nothing to really WOOT WOOT about though. *Teriyaki fried Chicken - Very good fried rice dish, veggies and chicken. *Panang Curry Chicken - This was the piece de resistance (maybe I should try to find a Chinese or Thai term that expresses the correct sentiment...nah). Chicken and rice in a light peanut-coconut curry sauce with snow peas and green beans. If you can't find something on the menu that makes your taste buds salivate, Big Bowl also offers a do-it-yourself stir-fry bar. Complete with meats, seafood, veggies and spices. Big Bowl has several locations in the Chicago area as well as Minnesota and Virginia. I am hoping to get one in the Metro Detroit area soon. We liked Big Bowl so much that we planned to stop at the location in Schaumburg, IL on our way home from Wisconsin. 7/22/2012 We visited this wonderful place again this year on our yearly pilgrimage to Wisconsin and again they did not disappoint. My brother who had not had the privilege of eating here before says "Wow. The food is all fresh. This is the best restaurant I have eaten at in a long time."Yep that about says it all. The calamari was phenomenal, the potstickers fantastic. One word of advice, watch out for the wasabi infused mustard. It packs quite a kick. Oh and the deserts: try the lemon cake. Yes when you read the descriptions it won't even register as something interesting. We tried 4 different deserts (there were 4 of us- don't judge us) lol. The lemon cake was by far our favorite. If you like PF Changs, the Big Bowl will ruin it for you. When in Chicago, The Big Bowl is a must do for me!
(5)
Deanna R.
A girlfriend and I stopped in for a bite to eat. The food was delicious and our sever was very timely and attentive. At the end we decided to try the apple crisp. They were out...no big deal...however our sever offered us another desert on the house. The manager also stopped by to apologize and instead of one desert he brought us a sampler of all their delicious treats. I thought it was a very nice gesture and was worth sharing with others.
(5)
Christina S.
The wait was long, but the pomegranate ginger ale was cold. The food was definitely of the Americanized chain variety, but it was tasty, and the service was high-calibur. In short, I certainly wouldn't mind dining here again but with so many other places on my To Eat list, I may not make it back. UPDATE: I ate here again, when another friend suggested it. Same deal as before. I think it's safe to say that I won't ever argue someone out of eating here, but I'll never be the girl who suggests Big Bowl when we're dreaming up a night out.
(3)
Biff Y.
I like this place a lot for a "non-authentic Asian" restaurant. I particularly like the sweet ginger shrimp & scallop and the calamari appetizer. I take this place over PF Chang's any day. But I guess that might not be saying much.
(4)
Amy L.
Who doesn't love a big bowl on top of a restaurant? What a crowd pleaser! Although, i gotta say, Webber Grill Restaurant oddly looks the same as big bowl. They're both got big red round dishes on the side of the building. I wonder if they copied one another. I recently went to Big Bowl on a whim because me and my boyfriend found out Bamboo Garden was closing at 10 and since it was close to that time, we decided to come here. Good Choice. Since it is a franchised restaurant i would think everything would taste like all the same dishes we ever ate. But safely to say, this asian fusion restaurant was a bit different. I ordered the spicy sichuan beef. And man was this super spicy. Those fire breathing head indicators weren't lying about it being hot. I think it was too hot even for me. And i do like hot. But not to the point where i can't really taste the food anymore. It was good nonetheless, even though i had to blow my nose a couple of times(My nose runs when i eat super spicy foods). But here was the highlight of big bowl: my boyfriends dish. "sweet ginger sea scallops and shrimp". Simply to die for!....One of Big Bowl's signature dishes. I kept eating his dish i almost forgot that i had to eat mine. The scallops were excellent and with the sauce, it was heavenly. Perfect balance of savory and sweet. I am totally getting that next time. The only bad thing i noticed was the portions of the meals, it was a bit on the small side and might not please the people who are looking for leftovers the next morning. Initially, i though it would be more food, but hey, i never finish my food anyways so it was a perfect portion for me. I will also add that, ginger is really incorporated into every aspect of this restaurant; from the drinks to the food, to the desserts. I wonder why they didn't call it GINGER? But if you do go, please get the Orange Ginger Ale... I heard it was really good. I got the Passion Fruit Ginger Ale and it was ok. Next time it will be Orange.
(4)
Charles B.
Great place, great service, great food, and great prices. Been going here for two years now and never had Amy major problems. It's not authentic Asian food too. But that doesn't mean its bad. Still great.
(5)
Evann G.
Okay, maybe I should not be surprised that I didn't love Big Bowl, considering it is just another franchise Asian restaurant. Call me silly, though, but I really wanted to love this place. Probably because of my affinity for Asian food in general, and even certain other franchise Asian restaurants that I have been known to love in spite of myself. I wanted to love Big Bowl so much that I tried it twice before writing this review. But ultimately, although I thought it was okay, I didn't love it. The first time I went, we shared the pad thai and one of the curry dishes. Both of them were forgettable and would obviously have been better at a Thai place. I did think the bao appetizer was pretty good, though, and the hibiscus iced tea was refreshing and tasty. The second time, I tried the stir-fry. Again, it was pretty forgettable, although better than the Thai food we had tried the time before. I appreciated the "Mongolian BBQ"-style of picking your own mix-ins, but I've had much, much better. And if you want a meat, they just add it on top of the stir-fry rather than mixing it in. I had the sesame chicken, which was good, but I would have rather had it mixed in. My bf had the kung pao chicken, which was sort of ridiculously, over-the-top spicy. I admit I'm a wuss when it comes to spiciness, but even he thought it was a bit much. We also tried the homemade ginger ale, and I would NOT recommend it unless you really LOVE ginger. Lots of ginger. So much ginger that the drink itself was spicy. We couldn't finish it, I had to order another hibiscus iced tea instead. The bao was still good, though, and this time I also tried the dumpling noodle soup, which I LOVED. I was sick, and the soup and the bao made me feel a lot better! Other than that, though, I wouldn't say it's worth the super long wait that we had to endure to be seated.
(3)
lola d.
Big bowl to me was like kissing a boy while wearing beer goggles. At first it feels damn good, then later you go home feeling more busted and jacked up then when you first left the house! Well, this was my experience with big bowl. I tried this place for the first time after hearing from so many people that this place was the big cheese. No lovely cheese here! The curry was bland, the pad thai noodles tasted like they were cooked in some sort of chicken broth, and the pot stickers were slimy and tasteless. the result: I went home feeling all busted from spending the last of my money on big bowl :(
(2)
tom C.
Its ok, but poor service pretty consistently. The food is okay. Jst get a soft drink the house made drinks blow they are swill....the cocktails are also pretty weak but are served in a pretty glass...if thats what ur looking for.
(2)
Luis L.
No, the ambience isn't particularly great, nor is the food particularly amazing in any way, but it's pretty darn good. I wouldn't eat here if it wasn't. I usually get the Kung Pao because I love the taste of the blackened chilies, with a thing of ginger garlic sauce on the side, which I request extra. Things are usually not spicy enough for me, so I always add some of that lovely chile paste they have at each table. I think that what I like most about Big Bowl is that the menus are well written, and any question you might have about the ingredients in the dishes can be answered by well spoken, polite servers. Try getting that in Chinatown. "Excuse me, what kind of sauce does this dish have?" "Brown sauce!" "Uh... what's brown sauce?" "Is a asian brown sauce!" Mmmmhmmm... yeah. Brown sauce. I'll pay more for polite, clear speaking servers any day.
(4)
lauren F.
Great Place. I had a homemade ginger ale with splash of pomegranate and some Effen Vodka, very well balanced drink.We ordered the Barbecue pork Bao, little buns with flavorful filling, and they were 2 for 2.95, great deal and recommended. I had the Pad Thai and it was everything I expected and more! Large portions so no room for dessert :( Also, homemade noodles in some of the dishes, and all the veggies were fresh and perfectly cooked. Nice Value.
(4)
caroline e.
Stopped in here last night with some friends before a movie. It was fast (but not rushed), convenient to the theatre at 600 N. Michigan, inexpensive and the food was really pretty good. I think the best thing we tried was the Orange Chicken, but the Kung Pao Chicken with Noodles was a close second. They had $2 Tiger beer on Wednesday night. I'd never heard of the brand before, but it was pretty good. And you can't beat the price! When the manager heard it was our first time there, he even brought over a little complimentary appetizer to welcome us. Frankly I was plesently surprised to receive such good service at a chain restaurant. I'd definitely go back.
(3)
Lizzy S.
Not the best place if you are looking for some good Chinese. The food is a bit over priced and not amazing. The staff is quite nice and are good at helping you pick a new dish...although they cannot save their over cook lettuce wraps.
(2)
cara r.
Two stars for the drinks - love the ginger ale cocktails! I had both a passion fruit ginger ale AND an Effen vodka passion fruit ginger ale. Absolutely delicious with the homemade ginger ale. One star for the appetizers - our chicken potstickers were crazy good, and we gobbled them up pretty much as soon as they'd been delivered to the table. No stars for the entrees - boring, with too much black pepper, and the rice tasted a little off. Stop by and sit at the bar for a drink and an app, then head somewhere else for dinner.
(3)
Shannon M.
I was visiting Chicago on business shortly after receiving a marraige proposal. The service throughout dinner was great, the food was good. I noted I was going to celebrate my engagement with dessert and the server was sweet enough to chat with me about it for a bit and ended up comping the whole meal! Very personal, attentive service.
(5)
Karmen F.
Love the food and staff. The only reason I am giving them a 4 instead of a 5 star rating is that the they have adjusted the recipe for the Cosmopolitan. The new one is horrible.
(4)
Jill W.
Service is fine, I'm just not a fan of any of the food at big bowl. I think it's overpriced for the quality. Whenever I eat there, I think of the scene in National Lampoon's European vacation, when they eat at the French restaurant, and the chef microwaves frozen dinners for them -- dry, bland, and just nothing to bring me back. I don't know if they make any of the noodles fresh, but it definitely doesn't taste like it.
(1)
Josh W.
food was great and the price was great too......the hot was not as hot as I would have liked but other than that it was all good.....
(4)
D J.
Awesome asian fusion, and fresh ginger drinks
(4)
Cate C.
I've been going to Big Bowl restaurants since I was in high school and it has always been a good spot that everyone in my family can agree on. However, this trip stood out for me as it was my first gluten-free trip. I checked ahead of time and they have a great gluten-free menu (which they bring to the table with all of the other menus, without my even asking). But I am especially glad I checked their menu ahead of time because I saw that during the month of August they have a number of corn-inspired dishes. For my entree I had the Crab and Corn Soup, with a side of Jasmine rice. It was a fantastic dish, but be warned - quite spicy so be prepared. I was very impressed that my waiter brought out an extra glass of water with the soup, clearly he knew I would need it. The crowning achievement for me was dessert - the famed but short-lived Sweet Corn Gelato was amazing. It is only available during August and is made in conjunction with a local gelato shop. Online the treat got rave reviews but I was still a little wary of any dessert involving vegetables. Trust me this dish does not disapoint. It is a very sweet taste, like french vanilla with a little extra hint of movie-theater magic. I'd definitely recommend heading to the Big Bowl before the end of August.
(4)
Blanca J.
For dining in its a great place I love their panang curry chicken I've brought my entire family here... but for carry out their to slow it took long and it wasent busy at that time if u go its better if its for dining in
(3)
Mandy P.
All though I'm kind of embarrassed to admit it, I actually really like this place. I LOVE their Kung Pao w/ tofu and spinach and the fact that I can get vegetarian dumplings or pot stickers there rocks my world. I have never been all that into chain restaurants, which this basically is, but the fact that I can get so much good vegetarian, what? Chinese food? Is great. The people I've taken there have found their food to be pleasing as well, although none of us have had the stir fry, so perhaps that explains our success. I also love their ginger drinks and their hibiscus lemonade. Yummy! As for the wait, I have been fortunate enough to go at times where I haven't had to wait a long time. If you go early enough on a Friday, for example, you can get seated immediately -- I think that the last few times have been around 7 PM (which is great if you're going to see a movie in the area).
(4)
Mario S.
Surprising. I expected flavor-free PF Changs-style pan-asian microwave fusion fare. But the food here packed a punch. The spicy green bean appetizer was a knockout. The peanut noodle thing was a hit. Good for a big group. Service was great. Pomegranate ginger ale was killer.
(3)
S R.
Good ambience, very good food, great service and beautiful server!
(4)
Emily C.
Yuck. I had some sort of string bean thing that was barely passable as food, way to spicy without any flavor and mushy. Price - chain style expensive, as in I can't belive this is a chain restaurant that sucks and I spent so much here. I've been to 2 locations in Chicago and hated them both.
(2)
Bonnie L.
I tried Big Bowl last night for the first time. I always like going to places like this because there is always a good amount of vegetarian options. Big Bowl had a few, but not a lot. Fine with me as long as what they have is good. I decided to order off the menu and skip the "make it yourself" option. I have had some blah experiences trying to concoct something myself. I ordered vegetable potstickers and peanut noodles for starters. The peanut noodles were served cold and were spicy and were very good. My friends did not expect them to be cold and were not big fans of the dish. I liked them just fine. The potstickers were just ok for me. Friends also ordered the Calamari which they said was delicious. For dinner I ordered a Kung Pao with Tofu and Spinach. It was really good. It was served with these delicious spicy wide flat wheat noodles. It was a very good choice for me and I did not leave a morsel on my plate. My friends each ordered two different shrimp dishes that they really enjoyed. They also had a couple of desserts, one which was the ginger cake, which they said was really good. I had no room left for dessert since my entree was so good. I also ordered the Ginger Ginger Ale. Wow, was that good. If you are a Ginger fan, this is not to be skipped. All in all I really liked the food. So why only three stars? A couple of service snafus in my opinion. We had a 7:30 reservation. All of us showed up at 7:30 and we recieved our pager. We waited and waited and at like 5 minutes to eight we decided to see what was going on with our table, as we saw lots of empties. The hostess said that they were waiting for our whole party to arrive before they seated us. We all were there. We never said that we were waiting for anyone from the start, so not sure if they confused us with anyone else. The other thing that was kind of irritating in my opinion was that I parked in the lot that is attached to their building. The hostess gave me a second ticket to use at the garage when I checked in to get a discounted price on the parking. So after dinner, I went to the pay station and entered the ticket that the hostess gave me. It kept coming up invalid coupon. I tried it three times with the same response. So I had to walk back to the restaurant to find out what the problem was. Then they explained to me that I needed to enter the first ticket that I recieved from the parking garage, and aferwards enter the second ticket that I got from the hostess. How about telling me that from the start so that I know what to do in the first place. I think the hostess was what made my experience less than stellar.
(3)
Tony J.
Ordered Kung Pao Chicken for delivery. In the past, 2 people could split the order. When we got it, there was hardly any Kung Pao Chicken and 3/4 was rice. I called and spoke to the Manager at the Ohio location and he stated they portion it out at 4 oz. I think they have downsized their portions. $26 (had lettuce wraps too) is not worth it. Will never order from here again. I told him I would not order from there again and he said OK. Zero Stars.
(1)
Elif T.
I love this place. Their stir fry bar is great!!! Their servers are very nice and respectful. I can crave Big Bowl, Panang curry anytime and every time....
(5)
Lauren B.
The shrimp pad thai was amazzzzzing. They didn't have any gluten free menus at the time (said they are in the middle of revising), but the waitress was knowledgeable and told me what items I could order. There weren't many choices, but I don't think most celiacs are too demanding... The place itself is pretty cool inside, interesting lighting. Service was good, but it was pretty empty.
(5)
Mariana P.
This place loses three stars for several reasons. One: I went here on a Monday night and we had to wait for a table. Normally, no complaints about waiting for a table, however, this time there were several tables available, but none of them were cleaned off. Two: I had a stir fry bowl (where you create your own dish) but it was entirely devoid of flavor. It was so miserable. The Sangria was good, the waitress was nice, and I loved the decor, but the food was so bad. I won't be back to this location. I might try another one.
(2)
Natasha A.
A good place for a casual dinner. The waitress was very helpful with suggesting a beef dish with just the right amount of spice. Guests are given the option of creating their own rice or noodle bowl by selecting veggies, a protien and a sauce. Other thai and chinese standards such as pad thai, curry or kang pao are available as well. The pommegranite gigner ale was a unique and refreshing drink.
(3)
Brad W.
Despite being owned by the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group - this restaurant has definitely gone down in recent years. The stir fry is the key food option for this place - allowing the hungry to create their own dish. I was a former frequent patrons of the Big Bowl in Northbook, Illinois - but either the chefs are not quite as good at this location - or they've changed the way they make the stir fry bowls. This is not the best place for kids - but a decent place for a night on the town or a dinner meeting with business associates.
(2)
Cynthia A.
yummy. love the dumpling soup!
(5)
Saman S.
Extremely flavorful food!!
(4)
Kristina K.
The BF wanted Asian really bad last night, but do to some seriously annoying nonsense, I couldn't leave the house. So, I met him for lunch today. We'd thought about eating here the last time we had lunch together, but gone to CPK next door instead. Anyway, we sat down and looked around. The decour was nice, but obviously watered-down asian chain restaurant. We got some sort of spicy dumpling for an appetizer that really was not so spicy. Good flavor, but no heat. Our waitress told us the green curry was spicy too, but it wasn't either. It was really flavorful, and tasty. The cinnamon wantons with coconut ice cream was amazing! But small. One of my big criteria for good service is in drink refills. I know it sounds stupid, but if i'm paying for a drink, I expect refills. At least one. No refills on my tea. It was empty halfway through our entree, and never was filled. Why's that so hard?
(3)
Adam M.
Big Bowl... realistically, the best thing I can say about Big Bowl is that I'd have to smoke a big bowl before eating here again... case closed
(2)
Tari F.
Alright, so a key thing for me when eating ethnic food of any kind is the level of spiciness. Despite being six kinds of spicy in a metaphorical sense, sometimes black pepper can make me cry. No, seriously: there are Doritos that I can't even smell without feeling like someone's shoving needles into my tongue. I am a spice wuss. I'm okay with it. So, cut to last Friday's date night, and we wander into Big Bowl for some Asian-fusion-noodle-stir-fry action. For some reason, I'm in the mood for pad thai; usually the peanut butter spaghetti is not my favorite, but that night it sounded really good to me. On their menu, they bill their pad thai as "mildly spicy." This is always a red flag for me, since "mildly spicy" usually means my eyeballs will melt. So, I line up a couple clearly non-spicy backup options, and ask the waitress if they can do a totally non-spicy pad thai. She says sure, I do a dance of joy, all is right with the world. Long story short, whoever cooked my meal obviously didn't believe me when I said I wanted it not spicy, because what they brought out made my nose run, my face turn red, and the tears pour. I tried to tough it out (I hate sending back a meal), but it was too painful, so I grabbed the waitress and explained that my dinner was, in fact, spicy. Shortly thereafter, the cook comes out to explain to me that without the spices, the dish would be bland - clearly implying that he knows better than I do what my preferences should be. I love arguing with someone else about what I do or do not like. The second version they brought out was still too spicy, but I could at least eat more than a couple bites. The manager came over and tried to smooth things over, and the waitress was very sweet...but the whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth. An overpriced (not to mention weak) margarita didn't help rinse it out, and my suspicion that the cooking staff were discussing how many of them should spit in my food didn't either. While the food itself seemed okay, the attitude was abysmal, and my delicate pallette will not be visiting again.
(2)
Squirrel L.
I loved Big Bowl! All 3 of us decided to make our own stir fry. Our waitress was awesome! She was great about telling me which sauces were vegetarian and which weren't. I loved having the ability to pick and choose only those veggies that I like. YAY - no bell peppers!!!!! My meal ended up being awesome. Gotta love the bonus mochi for the first timers too. Yummy!
(4)
Larry B.
Pretty good pad Thai and barbeque pork. The portions are big enough yet not too much. They did just start using the biodegradeable cutlery (starch forks, etc.) so that's pretty cool. While it is not the cheapest place on the block, you usually get what you pay for around here, and Big Bowl is no exception.
(4)
Emily K.
yum! big bowl is like a fancier (and vastly better) mongolian barbecue. They make their own ginger ale (and if you like ginger, it is awesome! i love it). They have the options of make your own stir fry (which they actually make and bring to you, you just choose your meat, noodles or rice, sauce, and go up to a vegetable bar to choose your vegetables) or dishes. the service is friendly and the prices are reasonable. i thoroughly enjoyed my experience
(4)
Purnima M.
So here's the formula: take a large space, paint it with lots of dark tones, put up some oversized wall decor, pump up the music, squeeze in as many tables as possible, create a "spin" on the otherwise standard food, and...GO! Big Bowl sticks to the formula so closely, it's scary! Or maybe I've visited too many restaurants in the Lettuce Entertain You empire. Either way, nothing stands out in my memory about this meal other than its stunning average-ness. Food was okay, not too spicy, not too bland, the make-your-own-stir-fry stand was surprisingly boring, and that was sadly that.
(2)
Mateo S.
Inauthentic Disney-Asian for sure, and the service was of the bombastic "HI! I'M STEVE AND I'LL BE YOUR WAITER TONIGHT!!" variety. "Steve" asked us if we wanted drinks before we had sat down, and when he delivered our rushed order he simply hovered above us until we were ready with our entree selections. It was awkward to be sure. The poor guy... his internal clock just wasn't set with ours... he also continuously tried to clear plates before we had finished eating. All in all a harried experience, but the scallops and shrimp we had were well sauced and seasoned and definitely the right price. The wine I ordered, however, was around $30 and I have bought the same bottle at Whole Foods for $6. I know there's a markup, but 5X retail...??
(3)
Nicole G.
After wandering around the streets of Chicago for something a little less pricey and still delicious, my boyfriend and I found Big Bowl, and since neither of us had gone there, decided to try it! It all seemed normal at first... and then my boyfriend picked up his glass of water and the entire bottom of the glass just fell off! Clean right off! I couldn't even believed it happened... and though it was more awesome than awful. Our server felt so bad that it happened and was so nice and apologetic, even though we were laughing so hard... The food was pretty good asian food. Better than any take out place I have been. But the main focus here is the service... After we finished... they gave us free dessert! The triple mochi trio... which was fantastic. And they took $10 off our entire order! I was so surprised... The service here was fantastic and the food was delicious. I am definitely going to go back... and don't forget to laugh if something ridiculous happens to you!
(5)
Deb S.
Although I just got takeout at Big Bowl, I have to say they gave me the best hot and sour soup I've had in a long time--maybe ever. I think it is their combination emphasis on Chinese and Thai that did it. I am visiting Chicago and feel lousy with a completely stuffy head, and all I wanted was some very hot, spicy soup. Big Bowl did the job. The food was ready in 10 minutes, packaged in a sealed plastic bag around the container to prevent spillage, and piping hot when I got back to my hotel room. The big chunks of meat as well as ample cilantro made this a wonderful dish. I also had the Asian Chicken Salad with shredded chicken, which had two delicious dressings--a peanutty dressing and a little tub of satay sauce. Also delicious. When I come back to Chicago and feel better, I'll try eating at Big Bowl!
(4)
Phil Y.
Good service, good food. Nothing really that stands out
(3)
Nana H.
I think for the quality and creativity of the dish, the prices here should be much lower. I find their food to be uninspiring and boring. I've had asian food all my life and this is nothing special, sorry. My boyfriend's brother is a server there and I've had almost everything on the menu, and nothing was so good i would come back for it. I do like the decor and the drinks, its just the food really falls flat. When an asian person likes americanized asian food, they are called Bananas!
(3)
Amy J.
I love big bowl! I always make my own stirfry, and put a variety of vegetables and noodles and I get chicken. I switch sauces a lot but my favorite is Ginger Garlic. It's great. Also, as an appetizer, try the potstickers. They're great. Service is usually very prompt and the servers are knowledgable if you have any questions about the food. Also, they have a full menu besides creating your own stirfry if you don't want to make your own. They have a lot of unique drinks--both alcoholic and non-alcoholic (like tropical teas and whatnot) and there's almost never a wait. I have to say I've never had a bad meal here and always been very happy with the service.
(4)
seema s.
we were looking for a place to eat before going to see a movie, and big bowl happened to be across the street from where we needed to be. i am not a big fan of eating at chain-y places, but this place was ok compared to other horrendous franchises. sleek atmosphere for a friday night dinner. they gave us separate vegetarian menus when they realized that we might be. pitcher of pomegranate passion fruit white sangria. holla. i got the spicy thai green curry with tofu and veggies, it was pretty yummy flavor wise (though definitely not authentic tasting), though not very spicy on my scale. also got enough food to have a large lunch tomorrow, which is always a plus (except for having to carry around the box). overall a good dining experience, not amazing or overly memorable, but good.
(3)
Jennifer K.
Hmm...I must admit. The food is nothing to write home about, but it's a pretty good place for group gatherings. We ordered...I believe potstickers and stir fries. Or noodles in broth. I can't remember. Maybe that just goes to show you exactly how memorable the meal was. But anywho. I do know that I left satisfied. And not bitter about paying a certain amount. The ambience is laid back. And you can feel at ease here, whether you're with a group of friends or dining alone. The service is okay. Not too slow or prompt. It won't irritate you. And the price is pretty decent. I didn't complain when I shelled out cash.
(3)
Matt R.
Attention to the many heavy-handed reviewers out there: This is most obviously NOT an authentic Asian restaurant. It is a large chain of Americanized Asian food. They don't even claim to be some authentic restaurant. They are the "Rainforest Cafe" of Asian food. If you can just accept that ,you will realize that Big Bowl really delivers a decent offering. You grab a bowl, pick out all of the ingredients that you want, sauces, etc and they cook it for you. It is pricey stir-fry, but it is pretty good! Their rival chain "Mongolian Barbeque" doesn't even compare. So lighten up, grab a "big bowl"of stir-fry, and enjoy!
(4)
Aimee C.
The best Hot & Sour soup in river north - loop - gold cost - south of north area. They make the soup to order, so it's steamy hot, perfect combination of hot and sour without the it's been sitting in a vat for hours taste.
(4)
Cindy T.
A lot of pomp, but not much substance. Stopped by Big Bowl to kill time before a meeting. I ordered the signature orange ginger ale and the chicken pho (large). The orange ginger ale arrived in a pretty, tall, slender glass. Unfortunately, the drink itself tasted like neither orange nor ginger. It was more like slightly sweet, powdery water. Perhaps the pomegranate, the most popular of the ginger ales, would be have tasted better? The pho arrived in a glazed white ceramic pot with the standard lime, bean sprouts, basil and chilies served on the side. Feeling daring, I popped one of the chilies straight in my mouth. Chili novices beware - I love spice yet this chili lit my mouth on fire. Upon spooning out the broth, I saw lots of chicken and cilantro but where were the noodles? Surely, they must have forgotten the noodles... Poking around some more, I discovered a few forlorn strands floating around the bottom. Alas, this was no noodle soup. It was soup with noodle. I wouldn't order the lemonade or pho again. With that said, if I were in the neighborhood, I might check out the happy hour special , which runs from 3-6pm. Their spiel is "3 appetizers, 3 drinks, 3 hours". The cocktail selection looked pretty good and the thai lettuce wrap, one of the appetizers offered, smelled promising.
(2)
Ashish V.
Very bad service. They got my order wrong. The severs were rude and arrogant. I ordered a curry with brown rice but they gave me white rice. When I asked about it they just gave me an extra bowl of dry brown rice. We were sharing the dishes but they didn't give plates. Overall food was ok nothing that great but bad service made the overall experience bad.
(1)
Kammie G.
Ohh, I LOVE this place. My first time there I didn't expect to find such awesome options. I had no idea Big Bowl was all about being all-natural, organic, healthy, and sustainable. I LOVE this. That's exactly what I'm all about too so I definitely enjoyed my dinner here. The stir fry (made to order) was the best I've ever had. I've had made to order stir frys before but this one definitely won by a lot. Usually when I get stir fry, it comes out all dry and just mediocre. But this one was perfect - the sauce was still there (the sweet and sour lemon, yummmm) and the whole dish was moist and delicious. Their veggies were fresh and a good variety to choose from. Also, I'm all for their seasonal (strawberry) $6 sangria! Yummy in my tummy. The only thing I was no happy about was our server. He sucked. He didn't explain anything to me about how to do the self made stir fry and he wasn't very accomodating. But the food and place overall made the 5 stars worth it. I'll forget about the waiter occurance for this review :)
(5)
Karla R.
First visit to Big bowl. We had chicken potstickers, they were delicious also had the chicken satay's, they were delicious as well. Dinner we had the market bar, all ingredients were fresh. Service wasn't that great but it was a busy time.
(5)
Georgia W.
And you thought Stir Fry and Shandy's didn't go together! Well, they do. Big Bowl serves up the usual suspects...Curries, noodles, veggies and all the usual protein options ( chicken, shrimp, beef, tofu). Not overly BOWLED by the predictable menu but all is served hot and fast and there were some fun drink options ( did I mention the Shandy?) Attentive service. Did not balk over our Foursquare coupon or splitting the bill a few times. Most Thai seekers will leave happy. Just don't go looking for the unusual.
(3)
Amy B.
Relatively healthy, fresh food served fast and cheap? Yes, please! I came here for lunch with a friend and split the assorted dumplings to start, then enjoyed a tom yum shrimp soup. I was nursing a bit of a cold, so the soup was a perfect hot, slightly spicy treat. One gripe: I did not realize there'd be huge slices of ginger root in the soup and had the unpleasant experience of popping one in my mouth, then spitting it out in front of other people. At least I was able to semi-discreetly use my napkin. Oh, classy me. My friend pointed out that unlike many stir fry places, Big Bowl does not set their meats and fish out in the ingredient buffet, which helps it to stay fresher.
(3)
Myia B.
Service - rushed and not personable. The hostess was rude and so off on her wait time estimate. The server must have been her brother - cut from the same cloth. The food saved them. The drinks - DELICIOUS. All of the ginger ale cocktails are smart choices. Teriyaki glazed spare ribs? I could have had the whole plate! I ordered the Clay Pot Shrimp Panang and have been craving more since. Had a lemon bar type dessert that was tasty enough. The atmosphere is colorful. Would I go back? Heck yeah - that clay pot was something serious.
(5)
Ann G.
Stopped in on a waning summer's Wednesday night. Busy, busy, busy. Loved having the front wall open to fresh air and the night. Food was good/ potstickers, Mongolian beef and chicken pad Thai. Good atmosphere.
(3)
Steve G.
I was served raw chicken here a couple of years ago. I took a few bites before realizing that several of the pieces were raw or very undercooked. It got me a little bit ill for a few days. I was bummed because I half-enjoyed the dish otherwise. The server and manager apologized, naturally, but still. Raw chicken. Tighten up the ship. I wrote to corporate, and was told they were "reviewing the matter." I never heard back. I probably should have nagged them, but didn't feel like putting forth the effort.
(1)
Danielle B.
If you love asian food but are allergic to everything like me this is definitely the place to go. Do they not only have great food their staff is extremely knowledgable and accommodating. I was extremely impressed how serious they took my allergies and didnt seem to mind the special request. They have a great selection so there is something for everyone.
(5)
P S.
A day of errands and what's this? A $15 Lettuce gift card? Well boy howdy do I sure love some Thai food. Big Bowl... how YOU doin? Seated at the bar, the barkeep greeted me quick and friendly. House-made ginger ale (so friggin good) and some very yummy potstickers to follow, I ordered up my good old Panang curry with chicken. I could have done tofu but meh. No big. The rice arrives already *in* the curry sauce and there's a lot of it so my mind immediately flew to leftover arrangements. I can tell you now that as I sit here eating my lumpy, sticky bowl of reheated chicken Panang, they really should put the rice separate and let the diner concoct their own proportions. This stuff just doesn't heat up well at all since the rice becomes a sponge. Anyway, the flavors are good though not as much heat as you may want. They offer chili pepper sauce or soy sauce when an entree arrives (which kind of breaks my heart a little, what people do to their food). The highlights are the tender chicken, the bits of lemongrass and ginger adding a nice fresh zing, and the freshness of the veggies. It's good Panang. It's also a great spot to dine at alone, pay your bill, gather your stuff and 45 minutes later realize you left a bag behind. The host will keep it for you and not laugh at you when you frantically run back in an hour later and pick it up...
(3)
Monica B.
Good variety of menu items, including lots of veggies, grilled items, and other alternatives to "variations on General Tso." The veggie bar is interesting, although I just went with the Chef's Selection for my dish. I really liked the garlic sauce, too. Our server was very sweet and peppy, which normally annoys me (dude, it's my dinner, not yours) but she was so charming and cute that there was no way I could get annoyed at her. The wait for a table was a little long, and the place is definitely noisy, so not necessarily the best place for an intimate date, but good for groups.
(4)
Joanne K.
I've been here 3 times over the last week. I've had the panang curry, dumplings, pot stickers and summer spring rolls. I love how all the food comes from local farms. Everything has been delicious. Just a warning - everything comes with a little kick! I took away 1 star for the noise level and how the tables are close together.
(4)
Ting C.
So I call in a carry out order at 4:33pm. I was told 10 minutes. I arrive at 4:43pm. I paid for my order then was told it's not ready. As a trader my time is money. If you don't have something ready for me at the time YOU promised me then you get 1 star.
(1)
Andrew S.
Did recent take out during the blizzard. I knew I should have been worried when the best thai place recommended was pan asian. I ordered a spring roll and penang with chicken. The spring roll was average in all ways. It came with some decent dipping sauces but was generally forgettable. The penang I ordered was unfortunately slightly worse. While freshly cooked, the flavor was just slightly off. It wasnt inedible, but it was not really good. It was also short on peanuts which might have been pat of the problem. The staff was friendly and I was not wholly disappointed, but it fell short of taking care of my thai craving.
(2)
Al G.
Good quality food at very reasonable prices. Service is alway impeccable.
(4)
Amber P.
Big Bowl used to be in Colorado (on Dry Creek Road and I-25), but about 7 years ago it closed. The building is still empty. Every time I drive by, I mourn the loss and crave the stir fry. I have written more than one letter to the company pleading for their re-expansion. So, of course, upon visiting Chicago, I immediately sought it out. Favorite Dish: Build your own Stir Fry (whatever you do, make sure you insert EGGPLANT, add CHICKEN, and choose KUNG PAO sauce). Favorite Beverage: Ginger Ale (they make it themselves!)
(5)
Rod S.
Interesting mix of cultural cuisines. It features Thai, Indian, and Chinese dishes as well as a nice "make your own" Stir Fry bar. It also features home-made ginger ale and lemonaid, which were quite tasty. It had a pleasant atmosphere and friendly helpful waitstaff, all in all it was a very nice dining experience. The make your own stir fry (which is what I ordered) was very nice. You choose your meat (it also has tofu and vegetarian options), your sauce, and either rice or noodles, take a large bowl and choose several kinds of vegetables and toppings and they stir fry and deliver it fairly quickly. I prefer Mongolian Grills because they are much cheaper and more customizable, but this was very nice as well. It is a bit pricey for what you get. The portion sizes are decent, but not what you would expect from someplace calling itself the "BIG BOWL". But given the area, atmosphere, and service, the price is extremely reasonable. If I was in the area, I would definitly eat there again.
(4)
Raj B.
We went to Big Bowl twice when we visited Chicago for vacation last week. The first time we went (for dinner), we thought it would be interesting to fill up on just soup and appetizers, so we ordered Vietnamese noodle soup and Chicken dumpling noodle soup, both of which were very well prepared. The Vietnamese soup was nicely fragrant, with a generous portion of chicken. The dumplings were meaty and the broth tasted fantastic. Afterwards, we ordered the BBQ'd spareribs, and were genuinely impressed. The meat was tender, juicy, saucy, and came off the bone perfectly. It was so good, that we had another plate sent to our table. The service was impeccable. Our server, Jared was incredibly hospitable and made us feel special. He provided useful recommendations, and made our dining experience a true pleasure. The second time we went (for lunch), we requested a table in Jared's area, and had a repeat pleasant experience. The Kung-Pao Chicken with noodles were delicious, and Jared allowed us to tone down the spice so that we could make it through the whole dish without our hairs standing on end. We also ordered Chilly Hot Pepper Chicken Noodles and the Thai Yellow Curry. Each one of the dishes was satisfying. All in all, I hope and pray that a Big Bowl opens soon in New Jersey!!!
(5)
Gin Y.
Ordered the potsticker combo, and it was really a small portion. That was disappointing! The vegetable and chicken pad thai had flavor, but lacked that oomph! I wouldn't say there was a wow factor here! It was also pretty expensive for the type of food they serve! I might as well have gone to Chinatown to eat good Thai food! Won't be going back here, unless I'm desperate and really hungry! =P
(2)
Matthew W.
Chinese and Thai. Not authentic but pretty close. At first glance it seems like a crappy chain restaurant but the food and service convince you of otherwise. Not too spendy, especially considering the location. They make their own ginger ale...yum. They also have a Mongolian BBQ...not too shabby. If you're looking for a better than tourist meal in River North...check it out.
(3)
Eugene H.
too american chinese for my taste. nice service though
(1)
Tonya M.
This place has "create your own" wokked bowl of yummy goodness. You walk up to the "bar" select all the ingredients you want from a plethera of fresh veggies. then you tell the chef what kinda meat you want, the type of rice you like (jasmine is my fave) and presto chango, wokkalishiousness ALL in your mouth. They house chardonnay seemed to be the Sonoma Cutrer which is a fave of mine. And if you eat at the bar, you meet lots of nice and friendly people to converse with in between devouring your awesome bowl. Brian was my waiter the first time I ever went to Big Bowl and a major reason for my return on many occasions. I got my bowl the first time, and since its jasmine rice i requested, then I got it.... but wanted butter. Well even the sleaziest of Asian establishments don't usually carry butter, so Brian went to the Corner Bakery next door and snagged me some butter. AWESOME Service. I miss this place. we don't have any here in San Diego.
(4)
Ali L.
I think I just have a thing against chain Asian restaurants. Tried Big Bowl for the first time on Labor Day. It's kinda pricey (for 3 our total was 70ish? with one appetizer, pop/iced tea for drinks and a tiny dessert), the food wasn't great (I had chicken pad thai with tofu added in... very lime-y and not very peanut-y... too tangy for my liking I guess) but maybe I'm just a snob or something, I don't know. I don't like PF Chang's either so I just assume it's the same sort of thing. Anyway I'll just stick to local places from now on. However the hibiscus iced tea was fantastic, and our server was also great- brought new drinks as soon as ours were half gone, he was awesome. Food, no. Service, yes. I'd give a 2.5 if I could, right down the middle, but I can't, so I'll round up. :) The end.
(3)
Michael G.
Service is always great. The lemonades are good. The food is fresh, if a bit salty. I'll go back.
(4)
Craig M.
I had the orange ginger ale and the Thai chicken curry. Both were excellent. They also brought us an appetizer to try which was a nice touch. I would definitely return.
(4)
Lesley C.
YUM. This place was fabulous. We try Asian restaurants wherever we travel, and this one is one of the better ones we have been to. It's nice when you can taste the fresh ingredients (ginger, for example) in your food. The service is prompt but not too brisk, and they have a really good kids' menu. We'll definitely return here.
(5)
Lisa V.
My last Night in Chicago I found Big Bowl. I sat at the bar because I was a loner. =) No worries, I quickly made friends with the rest of the loners sitting next to me that were here on business. I liked the menu, they had the usual appetizers pot stickers and lettuce wraps, but what caught my eye is near the grill they have a veggie bar where you could pick the veggies that would go into your meal. I opted for that choice. I first picked my protein, then the sauce, you could stay Chinese and get the terriyaki or go for Thai with there lemon sauce. Next you chose your carb, which was a choice of noodles, Jazmin rice or brown rice. After that the waiter gives you a bowl to pick all your veggies that would be mixed in. The outcome DELI SH!!!!! I will try this place again when I go back, I loved the atmosphere, the help was nice and the crowd was great to chat with. Verdict: Will go back again.
(4)
Melinda L.
Interesting mini chain restaurant with a highly diverse wait staff. Our waitress was from Siberia with an accent - yes, at a Chinese restaurant! The ingredients here are fresh and the food tastes pretty authentic. Dishes tried were: Hot and Sour Soup, Lettuce Wraps, Beef with Noodles, Thai Fried Rice, Shrimp Curry, Chicken Skewers and Penang Chicken Curry. Savory stuff and good food. There was a Chicago-accent to all the dishes, but still good. Place can get packed, but fun to hang. Great drinks menu. I tried their pomegranate ginger ale and it was not bad.
(4)
Peter M.
Great! The stir fry with the coconut curry was delicious. I mixed two sauces the coconut curry and the lemon sauce....amazing. Also the hot and sour soup was the best I've ever had. I reccomend checking out Big Bowl if you're in Chicago and looking for Asian food.
(4)
Keerthi A.
I have been going here for years now. This place is easy-peasy, even on a weekend when you don't want to dress up or wait in line for hours somewhere. The place is nice, the waiters are helpful and quick, the food is great. Their ginger ale is very yummy. Food wise, their orange chicken, cashew chicken, mongolian beef, and stir fry are awesome. With the stir fry bar, you get to choose your meat and your sauce, then have the option of picking your own veggies at the veggie station or have the chef add his/her own. On their menu, when they have the fiery symbol indicating the dish is spicy, they are not messing around - they mean it! The portions are huge, and the food is very yummy. It is definitely americanized chinese/thai, but tasty. All their desserts are great, especially their Creme Brulee, definitely worth a shot. Definitely a place I will keep visiting over and over.
(4)
Rika H.
We love this place! After we moved out of Chicago this is one of the place I miss the most! I can't believe I didn't write a review for it, given how many times we've been there and how much we loved it. Always crowded, always good food. I took some Chinese relatives there, they loved it too!
(5)
Justin O.
I stopped in on a Monday out of the blue and tried the egg rolls (huge) and Kung Pao Chicken (just the right mount of spice for me). The food was good, the service was great (it was slow though), and half priced bottled wine deal was an unexpected perk.
(4)
Brian S.
I've decided that this place is pretty much a hit-or-miss proposition. I don't really see much middle ground. The first time I went there it was OK - not great but passable. The second time I went was on a Wednesday early in the evening. I ordered the chicken dumplings and ribs as appetizers. I ordered the hot, hot chicken noodles and Shezuan beef for entrees. Every dish was delicious. I was very impressed. I went there on Saturday evening the following week and ordered the same meal as on Wednesday to-go. When I got home I was looking for a repeat performance of Wednesday but instead got a lot of big surprises. The chicken dumplings were okay, but the ribs were absolutely tasteless. I searched for any kind of flavor whatsoever and found nothing. Then I opened up the hot, hot chicken noodles and found it to be completely inedible. The noodles were soaked in vinegar and floating in a huge puddle of oil. There was hardly any chicken in the dish and there was no spicy heat at all - nothing. I tossed it in the trash and moved on to the Schezuan beef. The only thing good about this dish was the rice - which was good because I was still hungry. The beef dish itself was completely tasteless. No flavor whatsoever. How they are able to accomplish this is beyond me. And... yes - it was floating in a huge puddle of oil. I picked at it for a bit but then threw it in the trash with the chicken noodles. I wound up spending $45 and was still hungry. When they're good - they're very good. But, when they're bad - it's criminal. You have been warned.
(2)
Tony G.
Steamed potstickers, beef with broccoli and homemade ginger ale...my downfall everytime! So good!
(4)
Jimmy G.
I love everyone at Big Bowl They treat me like family, and if something rotates off the menu, I can whimper about it and they will make it happen. The wine menu is well thought, balanced, and reasonably priced. I can duck in and out at lunch in as little as twenty minutes. Recently they got a new Manager named Rob, and he always checks in (along with the rest of the management staff) to make sure everything is to my liking... It always is. I just wanted to give them a shout out because they all work so hard to make sure my every experience there is better than the last one.... And it always is.
(5)
Blythe Z.
My second time there last week. I'm bored. Seriously, I have nothing bad to say..... but nothing great to say ( I THINK THAT IS WORSE). It's pricey and it's not the best around. Service was pretty lame.
(1)
Amy S.
This review is as much for me as it is for all of you. I am writing this to remind myself of two things. 1. Amy, the curry is not good. Doesn't matter the color, red, yellow, green, panang, it's just not good. Amy, DO NOT ORDER THE CURRY. 2. Amy, only go here if you have a gift certificate or some dining points because the prices are high for what you get. ....actually I have a third thing to remember. 3. Amy, it's just not that good and you are never happy when you go there, so just don't go. Sorry Big Bowl...I'm breaking up with you. Love, Amy
(2)
Sam K.
Big Bowl was a dear friend during a very cold winter working in the loop. I recall the days in December and January; it was still dark when I went into work, and after sitting at a desk all day, it was dark again (and freezing) when I came out. All I wanted to do was run home to a hot shower and plop down on my couch in a big sweatshirt. Hence Big Bowl, which is right near my ex work place. After work, when I was hit by the cold, I would run in to the counter at Big Bowl and order myself a bowl of their chicken pho. It was the best thing ever; it took the edge off my hunger, and rejuvenated me. After a bowl of that pho, I felt cheered and willing to go to the gym. I could run my errands, and use the rest of my day instead of just giving up on it. I am wary of chain restaurants though, especially when it comes to ethnic food. I doubted they would have good entrees, and never bothered to order a whole meal until my last visit. I overheard - (okay fine, I deliberately listened to) a conversation between a man and a woman near me. Man: Wow. That was surprisingly tasty. I mean I'm really surprised. That was a great meal. Woman: I know! I usually hate chain restaurants, but this was great. It actually tasted like my favorite thai place near my house. You know Sticky Rice? !!! Sticky Rice has a five star rating from me, so this comparison excited me. I finally got around to coming in for an entree this week, after some shopping. And this meal is what brings Big Bowl down from a five star rating. Mediocre food, with the WORST service. I ordered the green curry with rice, very spicy. I asked the waiter if they had brown rice, and he told me they didn't. Fine. A few moments after I ordered, another lone diner - a very friendly and nice tourist from the UK seated very near to me, ordered. We were close enough to talk and hear each other's orders. "Sir, would you like white rice or brown rice with your order? I strongly recommend the brown rice." This piqued my attention and I looked up just in time to catch the glance the waiter gave me. A passive aggressive glance to make sure I heard him. Um. So my food, which came with white rice, immediately took me back to my Air India flight of 2003. This flight is memorable for a few reasons, which I won't go into right now. But it tasted like airplane food, and *Indian* airplane food, no less. I could not taste any Thai basil, and it tasted more like defrosted mutter paneer than anything else. "Fresh" was the absolute last word I would use to describe it. And the white rice, which was supposedly Jasmine, had none of that fresh Jasmine taste to it. It tasted like regular long grain rice. I thought about salvaging it with some spice, since it wasn't spicy at all. The waiter never checked on me, but I managed to grab his attention when he walked by. I asked him if they had any red chili pepper I could add to my dish. He said they didn't. I then asked if they had any kind of hot sauce or chili paste I could use. He said they had no hot sauce in the restaurant. At this exact moment, my new British friend decided to pipe up "Waiter, could you bring me some hot sauce?" "Of course sir." and he walked away, at which the tourist looked at me and burst into giggles. Not funny, you damn Brit. I'm hungry and grumpy. But of course he gave me his hot sauce, and it didn't help. I didn't touch my meal after the second bite. When I finally got ahold of the waiter again, he asked me if I wanted to wrap it up. "No. Actually, I'm very unhappy with my meal. See, if you recall, I wanted brown rice - " "All right. I can clear that for you. Do you have room for dessert?" "Nope. But I would actually like to speak to a mana-" "Okay then. I will be right back with your check." When he dropped my check and ran away before I could say anything, I let it go. And the time it took from when the waiter cleared my table, dropped my check, took my credit card, and brought me my sign slip? No less than 25 minutes. Ugh. Between the disapproving looks and behavior of the elder waiter (my gut is that he was being sexist and disapproved of a female eating alone, but whatever. I've been a server and I know servers, like everyone, make judgments - but it's unprofessional to act on those judgments) and the mediocre food that wasn't even what I wanted to order, I'm less likely than ever to come back here. But the memory of all those wonderful cheap bowls of pho on those cold days with my shitty, stressful desk job over this past winter counts for something - they were not only a nutritional and sensuous pleasure, but provided an almost emotional reward for me each time I got through another day of thankless busy work at a computer. So I will leave you, Big Bowl, with an "A-OK" by Yelp standards. And maybe by next winter I will have forgiven this meal and will be back at your counter (hopefully with a better job).
(3)
#NAME?
This was my 2nd time eating here, both entrees I've had here have been good-Great service too- FOOD: First time I had the Mongolian Beef, it was pretty good, big portions too- Appetizer of Potstickers: combo of veggie and chicken, chicken was better and loved the sauces they came with- Shrimp and Scallops meal, was hestiant with the sauce it said came with it, but once it came out I was happy with it, very good-Shrimp and scallops were fresh and cooked perfectly- ENVIRONMENT: I think it's a tight fit for people-They utilize every spot too, tables at the bar area were used for seating, not first come first serve-What did bother me was the crying babies and kids in the place-We do not care for children nor are having them...*snip snip*-So I don't want to be out and hear kids screaming, throwing stuff and being bad- There were a lot here last night and after we were sat around 6:00 a huge line was at the door-Yet it is a place around a lot of hotels and it's cheap food so hence the reason for so many kids/families here- I would think if you go Mon-Thurs evening you are in the clear for a peaceful dining experience-
(4)
Krsna V.
Let me start off by saying that I have never tried the stir fry here. If I wanted to pick my own ingredients and hand it to the chef, I might as well cook at home. I do not see a point in going to a restaurant and preparing your meal. Now, lets get to the review part. I have been to Big Bowl a few times and have always been impressed. I have ordered most of the items on the menu and they all are tasty. I particularly like the thai hot basil chicken with basil and peanuts. Order it only if you can handle extreme amounts of heat. I always get a mai tai to go with my meal. The minus one star is for the long wait time. Definitely recommended
(4)
Rachel B.
I have eaten here multiple times, and even had a surprise engagement dinner hosted here. The staff has always been friendly and helpful. I didn't even know until recently, but they use a lot of organic food, (including organic chicken which is delicious) . Be sure to try the ginger ale drinks, they come with a few flavor options, I haven't tried one yet I didn't love. This is not an authentic Thai place, its Americanized, but still delicious!
(4)
Kat S.
Went here for the fist time this week for lunch to celebrate a birthday. Food was decent, nothing too great but nothing too bad. I had the steak and noodles. Portions are huge, plenty of left overs to take home for dinner.... or for later in the afternoon. Service was outstanding. Our waiter was more than willing to go over the menu with us and offer his favorites. Manager was also very attentive and came over to welcome us as well as throw down a free appetizer since it was our first time. Got 2 deserts also for it being one of our friends birthday. The corn something ice cream with blueberries might have been the best desert i have ever had. Not too pricey, friendly staff. I'll go back.
(4)
liam d.
Was decent Togo food. We are traveling with our son and by dinner time have been stuck ordering food to our room. I had searched yelp for the best Chinese food near our hotel, this seemed like one of the better ones, hopefully I was wrong! The stir fry was good, hot and sour soup was terrible and the dumplings left a lot to be desired!
(3)
Kathy L.
This place has such good memories! I don't understand some of the hatred for this place. One time, I went here with a friend and our waitress was so awesome. We got into a talk about the things I bought that day and I told her I got a magic bullet (the as seen on TV blender thing) and things got kind of uncomfortable. I showed her it was a blender and she said...."oh I thought you were talking about something else, I'm really embarrassed." She probably thought I was talking about a sex toy, but in any case, she felt so bad she got us appetizers and drinks on the house...both which were amazing along with our waitress. Side note: any of their ginger ale drinks are great, if you like ginger ale, if not, I'd probably pass. My favorite thing is the kung pow tofu and spinach...I know it sounds really weird, but it was actually delicious! I haven't ever done the make your own stir fry thing, I'm sure its good, but I like their prepared dishes so much I just leave the creations to the chefs.
(4)
Peter L.
First of all, the ginger ale is awesome -- ginger flavor, passion fruit, pomegranate, all of them. But the fact that an Asian place specializes in ginger ale should tell you something... So it may be a touristy, pan-Asian chain restaurant, but the food is surprisingly good. I wouldn't say that the red hot red pepper noodles are all that spicy, but the flavors are solid and it's my favorite thing here. The kung pao chicken noodles are spicier. I can't bring myself to order the pad thai or curries with Dao Thai down the street selling them for half the price, but the rest of the menu ain't bad. And it looks nice and trendy inside to impress the ladies.
(4)
Karren K.
Honestly a five star experience. Great ambiance. When asked if it was our first time we were presented with a summer roll sample to try. We shared two appys, featured lettuce wraps, mixed potsticker the veggie and chicken, then had the red hot pepper chicken noodles. It was the perfect amount of food for two. Do not let me forget the recommended Tai mohito. Every ingredient used in the food and drink was super fresh and popped with flavor. Happy with our experience it still got better we asked for the bill and what did we get....a complementary dessert of decadant mochi. Really, two samples it was heaven. Defiantely a new favourite place to dine. If you want superb service ask for Paige you will be very well taken care of she is excellent!
(5)
Einstein A.
I'm a fan of Big Bowl. Their food is good, and my water glass is always full. It's managed by Lettuce Entertain You, so you know the staff is going to treat you well and its prices are going to land on the expensive side of things (similar to Cheesecake Factory and California Pizza Kitchen). Everything is good, but try the sweet and sour soup, and of course, the create your own big bowl. I would really like to see more promotions and deals come out the doors of Lettuce Entertain You restaurants. Also, I'm disappointed that over the years the restaurant has downsized the portions (especially the soup) and increased the price. I know it's happened everywhere, and the economy isn't what it used to be, but I don't have to like it.
(4)
Erin K.
I have a new love. He goes by big bowl. Now, don't get carried away and think this is my only or favorite love. It's just an additional. I can be giving. Went here with some people from work for lunch. We had a great time. Food was deeelish! Started with calamari and pot stickers. Unfortunately the pot stickers were meat so I could not partake but they were well-received. But oh the calamari. Best. Ever. Seriously. The spicy dipping sauce was best but I coulda used a stronger kick as I'm a spicy fan. My entree was the crunchy cashew shrimp. Again, advertised as spicy but not so much. Which was a-ok with me as I just added tons of their hot sauce which, by the way, is miraculous. Do they sell it? If yes, will you but it for me for my bday please? Thanks. Dessert was coconut ice cream and a brownie. Ice cream tasted great but had actual coconut shavings in it which I personally don't like. I'm like woody harrelson- love the flavor, hate the texture. The brownie, though- yummo. AND no nuts! That NEVER happens at a restaurant! All in all, it was wonderful and I wish I was there right now.
(5)
Yingzi W.
Not the best Chinese food or Thai food. But overall pretty decent - very consistent food and service. I've always had a good time here.
(4)
Bassam W.
This place is very good for the money. It is cheap and has a very good atmosphere. We got a free appetizer for being our first time. Try the homemade Ginger ale it's great. My only complaint is that water was not immediately offered on a summer day. That was rather odd and was a turnoff for the whole experience.
(4)
Jayne B.
Despite the fact that Big Bowl is a chain, I was pleasantly surprised with this restaurant. The prices are reasonable, it's super close to the movie theater (which is how we ended up there), the service is good, and the food was actually pretty tasty. I'd highly recommend it if you're looking to grab a quick bite. And if you're deciding between Big Bowl and California Pizza Kitchen next door, I'd probably pick Big Bowl.
(4)
Leang E.
I had heard positive things from people in passing conversations, and really wanted to like the spot. Unfortunately, I can't say that I am a fan. I had gotten a pick up order. I had ordered the spicy string beans appetizer, the lettuce wraps, and the crispy orange chicken. The lettuce wraps were a little more on the salty side than I prefer. The cripsy orange chicken is made better by the food court chinese restaurants at malls. My boyfriend that usually likes orange chicken from most Chinese restaurant had a couple of bites and didn't care for it at all. I guess it's tough when I have expectations that it will be spicy and tangy, and the taste was off. It tasted more like lemon than orange to me. The best thing out of the three items was the string beans. The place is a bit pricey for Chinese food and the portions are kind of small compared to other Chinese restaurant spots I've gotten food from. At least now I can say I tried it, and no longer feel like I'm missing out. When I came in to get my food I did see people eating and drinking at the bar that sounded like regulars, and it wouldn't surprise me if people just came to drink here as well.
(2)
Krystsina D.
Well, first and all it is too cold inside, which makes it for an uncomfortable experience. Appetizer was pretty horrible, we took some salmon roll. If you like refrigerated rice paper, filled with some Cooked (not raw) salmon, it is for you. Otherwise, please avoid. Our dish was quite delicious. We got pork and shrimp entree. The best part of the deal was the fact that we had 15$ off from lettucentertainyou.com so our final bill was 10$. Otherwise, it is very O.K. and is not worth an extra effort.
(3)
Waddie G.
Customer service is really attentive. Food is scrumptious (but all I ever order is Kung Pao Beef...lol). The lemonade tastes so on point. I'm there at least three times per month.
(4)
Sentient Snacker S.
THIS IS IN REGARDS TO TAKE-OUT ONLY. If you're looking for bang-for-your-buck forget it! At least when it comes to their very tasty Kung Pao chicken. And they're not at all apologetic about charging $13 (plus delivery) for a children's portion. We should know, we called and spoke to them about it. A very unpleasant call given how many times we had ordered food from Big Bowl. A rather callous approach to customer service. I will thank them for giving me the impetus to learn how to mimic their recipe since we will not be ordering take-out from Big Blow any more.
(2)
Josh G.
Big Bowl was just ok for me. There was no wait on a weeknight and the atmosphere and idea behind it are cool. Our server was friendly but talked a little too much and had a vacant look on his face as if he had given the same speech about 300 times that day. He babbled on about different specials on the menu, how great certain things were, and then proceeded to make suggestions. Personally I like it when servers make suggestions. If I'm torn between two or three things on the menu I often ask them what they would order. But this guy was seriously giving a 15 minute presentation on the menu. I kept waiting for him to break out the slide show. But after we got through the menu intro everything was fine. He was attentive and even brought us a complimentary dessert sample since it was my first time. Nice touch. The food wasn't bad but it just didn't do anything for me. I ordered the BBQ Pork which is a WOW item on the menu which I learned during the menu presentation that WOW indicates a chef specialty. Well frankly, the chef should try a little harder. First thing I noticed was that my food was just warm. Thank goodness I'm a fast eater otherwise it would have been totally cold less than half way through the dish. Flavor was fine, the fried rice was good enough. I dunno, I just felt a little blah about it all. I'll probably go back and order something completely different just to give it another whirl but for now I have to go with a 3-star.
(3)
Dan K.
My wife is a thai food connoisseur and she loved this food so much that we went two (2) consecutive nights. We were visiting the Chi and this place was around the corner from our hotel so we gave it a try. After being full from deep dish pizza earlier, I was on a liquid diet for dinner so I ordered two (2) long island iced teas which were good. The bartenders were very friendly and polite. The next day, we started with the egg rolls as an appetizer and they were fresh, delicious and very flavorful. We ordered the Kapow/Gapow dish which is chicken with basil sauce. It was great and the rice was fresh too. The servings were very hearty and filling. I, definitely, would patron this establishment again if I'm ever visiting in this section of the Chi.
(5)
Amber W.
I know that I'm offending the gods to say I prefer Big Bowl to some of the other supposedly "authentic" Thai restaurants (Ruby of Siam's yellow curry is watery and not spicy at all). The yellow chicken curry with sweet green beans and jasmine rice is tasty. Its got the right level of spice for someone who likes a little bite to their sauce but doesn't want to cry over their meal. If you don't make a piggy of yourself the portion is enough for 2 meals. Servers were very nice and helpful.
(4)
Karen H.
For fast, fresh, delicious Chinese and Thai, this is the place to go. The chicken pad thai is my favorite, and you must try one of their ginger ales. The Green Tea Ginger Ale is very tasty and refreshing. 'Can't say enough good things about the service, too. Three cheers for Big Bowl!
(5)
Patti G.
Maybe the kitchen was having an off night or was a little careless. My daughter had the orange chicken, the chicken pieces were mostly overlooked, almost burnt, breading. Sauce was good but, eh. My pad Thai was quite oily and I couldn't finish it. Probably would have been better with a little more care.
(2)
Tina R.
Went to bb for lunch with family today and what a disappointment. The food was mediocre. We both got the pad Thai and could not finish it. We though that you couldn't go wrong but we did. It was so citrusy and the tofu was nasty. The service was underwhelming also. Very disappointed for a lettuce restaurant.
(1)
Elizabeth A.
I looooooooooove big bowl! They have delicious food, decent prices, and the ambiance is pretty sweet. It's not romantic but it's also not too rowdy, and did I mention the good food?
(5)
Nierka B.
On our last night in Chicago my boyfriend and I ate here, just randomly walked down the street of where we were staying and spotted Big Bowl. We don't have much of a Asian noodle place here in kc, so trying another in Chicago was a must. We made it clear to the waiter we were tourists, probably because he asked us if we had been here before and we said no, we are from out of town. The constant looking at our cameras probably was another good inclination. So right after we sat down, we ordered. Dumplings for an appetizer, and I had the yellow curry and my boyfriend ordered the pad Thai. Right after we placed the order a man who was not our waiter brought us out an amuse-bouche. It was very tasty, and given the decor and people in here, I didn't realize that the restaurant would have done something like that. I was pleasantly surprised. The dumplings were good, I will say that we do have a really good dumpling restaurant here in Kansas City so I wasn't super impressed. The sauce that came with them were also really tasty, even though i cant remember what they were now, there were three... Anyways, getting on to our meal, mine was excellent. I am a huge curry fan and this wasn't too sweet or even spicy. I loved the flavor and everything about it. My boyfriend's pad Thai was awesome. It was my first time trying it and we loved it. I will say that now, having tired a few pad Thia's, i am still. The sauce was really good and the noodles were amazing. I loved our waiter, it was near closing, and he was really nice and didn't make us feel rushed. I love that about a restaurant. Therefore, they get five stars.
(5)
Sonal R.
I have tried this place more than once cause most of my friends love it. In my opinion its okay, nothing to rave about. Food is descent nothing I would go out of my way for.
(2)
Vic R.
Nice interior, terrible food
(2)
Kristina K.
Not knowing that Big Bowl was part of the franchise family (I'm so naive), I had a good dinner experience. The food was decent, but it wasn't anything that blew me out of the water. The service was okay. I would recommend this place for reliable food and service.
(4)
Y C.
Just another venture in the pseudo Asian bistro world popularized by PF Chang's. I'll be honest, the only reason I ate here was because of the homemade ginger ale. I didn't come here for a taste of authentic Asian. If you like PF Chang, then you'll like this place. It's got a great happy hour vibe and yes, the ginger ale was yummy. The food is so so. I had the pad thai and it was liquidy and too sour when compared with a what a real thai joint would produce. The service was friendly and prompt and they gave me a free appetizer which was appreciated. Overall, I would come here for drinks and some munchies but would take my main meal elsewhere but I can see why people like it.
(3)
Marisa S.
Pretty good food and good sized portions. Also healthy and tasty vegetarian alternatives!
(3)
Noah L.
Consistently good food with strong flavor.
(4)
Don W.
Three years later, it's the same story. My wife loves it, I like it. They put too many chili peppers in my Tom Yum soup, but it was still good. There were four of us and we all left happy. Our server was awesome, too. If you like to complain about a restaurant not being authentic, don't go here. I don't think authenticity is on the menu but the food is good and my wife was happy. That's what I care about.
(4)
Mimi S.
this is one of my favorite little places to dine while shopping downtown. you can valet @ Texas De Brazil if you want because there is no valet here- you can also use a garage, they offer validation (just ask about it). The food is flavorful and fresh. We usually grab a booth because we need a booster seat for the baby. The people are friendly and the wait is generally short. FYI, if you order a full glass of wine, you will get half a glass : ( the waiter explained what he could but it made no sense to me- i ordered a full glass and i expected to get a full glass.. may be easier if they just downsized the glasses???
(3)
Allen R.
Started off with good beer and refills great potstickers!!! Pad Thai was on point! 5/5 will be back
(5)
Sarah H.
Great variety of choices. Love the wok your own stir-fry bar. A fresh option in the middle of a dining landscape dominated by heavy Italian and steak joints. My tween got dishes he liked, too.
(5)
Vira S.
This was my first visit to a seemingly busy and popular restaurant. The hostess was very nice as was the server and manager. The food and dining experience was all pretty normal and flowed really well. The thing that set me off was the initial tone set by the doorman. As the manager explained to me their security is through a separate company so I didn't really blame the restaurant. The waiting area around the host stand and bar is pretty small especially for 6 or so parties trying to wait for a table so we were all in a tight squeeze. People were eventually waiting inside by the tables by windows filling up any space between the entrance and host stand. I apparently stood somewhere not preferred by the restaurant so the doorman asked me to move. Fine. I saw people waiting for a table too standing exactly where I was standing. Nothing was said to them. From where I was standing I moved back a couple feet a little closer to my original position and then the doorman came back to me and got smart with me. He said that he had told me before to either move closer to the host stand or behind the door and then Proceeded to ask me, "so which one are you going to do?" at this point I honestly was shocked and felt singled out. There were so many other people before blocking so many tables by the door. Why now and why give only me trouble? Why I stayed I don't even know. At that point I was pissed and didn't want anything else to do with this restaurant. After my party sat I informed a manager and he was very apologetic and honestly tried to make it better for me. I appreciate the restaurant for their sincere efforts but I don't think I would be returning anytime soon and will be reticent to suggest this location. I didn't seek out to get anything for free I just wanted a nice dinner in a great city. The food was good but as long as that doorman is assigned there I don't think it's worth it for me to come back. Never have I been so offended and humiliated over something so stupid and menial while dining out before.
(3)
Jenna W.
The appetizers were great: dumplings, cripsy tofu and spare ribs. I ordered the Steak and Noodles, but they were too salty. My husband's Pork Fried Rice meal was delicious. I'm pretty satisfied with most LEYE restaurants, and this wasn't an exception.
(4)
Wesley R.
It had been a number of years since I've been to a Big Bowl (mostly the suburban ones), so I went with co-workers to the downtown one. After a short wait, we all got our food in a decent amount of time. It is "sanitized" ethnic cuisine? To a certain degree, yes. If you happen to be particular about what is "supposed" to be in certain dishes, you may get thrown off. For example, my vegetable-tofu pad thai was chock full of vegetables that I'm not accustomed to having in my pad thai (like beans) Still, it was a good universal selection for our office. Also, even though it doesn't appear on the menu anymore, they still can whip you up a Hibiscus iced tea. I've had it before and like it, but it can be an acquired taste.
(3)
Trinidad F.
Tee hee!!! Checked Big Bowl last nite after I lost my wallet at the theatre and it made me feel better. LOL. I walked in the host gave me and my friend an interesting look. A "why are THEY coming in here" look. But that may have just been me being paranoid. We were seated and immediately our waitress put water on the table. I had the Thai Green Curry with tofu and veggies...what can I say but "YUM"!!!!! It was very spicy which I love. I'm always upset at the fact that my curry at different place is bland. The serving was huge. Came with Jasmine rice and tons of veggies. I also tried the Ginger Ale. Awesome but not for me. I like the fake stuff. HEHEHE. My friend had the spicy sichuan beef which was pretty good except for the fact that the wine was over powering. Atmosphere was pretty cool and I had a good experience. Possibly stop by again since its so close to my job. Yay!!!
(3)
Yoon L.
I'd give it a 3.5. Pros: spacious, good casual place to go with a group of friends or family, good appetizers Cons: service can vary. the first time i went was with a 8-10 group of sisters and it was prompt, attentive, etc. the second was with my mom and it was slow despite the place being half vacant, our waiter didn't check up on us once, and he only tried to appeal to us when he brought over the check ready to be signed & the tip line filled in. the do-it-yourself stir fry is overpriced- Flat-Top Grill in Evanston has much more variety and it's unlimited (though this only really matters to guys).
(3)
Susan P.
Great food and family friendly. The kids love the "kid chopsticks" - makes eating alot easier for them. Always busy so a reservation is a must!
(4)
James Michael S.
Definitely a solid choice. Plenty of good Chinese and Thai options. Was hoping for a little more when it came to their Pad Thai but the Kung Pao Tofu was very good.
(3)
Alec S.
The food is okay, and the service was awkward at times. The manager started out by giving us complimentary app, which was very good and greatly appreciated. The potstickers and chicken satay app was very good, but the chicken pad thai main course was very bland. I asked to make it spicy and have a side of chili sauce, and they forgot to do both. Our server had a awkward demeanor, but he was very nice. Their Ginger Ale is great! I work just a block away, and every time I've ordered lunch they've messed up my order.
(3)
Salmaan T.
Good service, fast, and yet the food seems very fresh and flavorful. Overall, a very good experience even if the manager seemed a bit like a rookie. Good stuff.
(4)
Rachelle G.
Not great but not bad. Would I come back, probably not. Decent menu with a little bit of everything, nothing stood out though as something I really wanted to order. I ended up with the Schezwan Shrimp (at least that's what I think it was called), it was basically an assortment of carrots, onions, jicama and some other veggies doused in Siracha sauce with fried shrimp on top. Service was decent, however our server seemed to have a slight accent and didn't enunciate well which made it hard to understand what he was saying. Even when we would ask him to repeat things, we still couldn't quite make it out and would just order as we wanted.
(3)
Dave S.
I was quite torn about how I was going to review this place. I wasn't sure exactly how I was going to proceed because I never had a dining experience quite like this one. It was a meal of major extremes. Everything either sucked or was outstanding. There really was no middle ground here. This was not only a meal, it was an adventure. You never knew what was going to be around the next turn! Major Kudos: 1)Our server - He took very good care of us and was very fast, efficient and friendly. I could not ask for more. 2)Ginger Ale - It was a hot day and the homemade ginger ale was a hit! It was delicious and refreshing and hit the spot. 3)Shrimp Pad Thai - Not taking into consideration the shrimp, I really enjoyed the flavor medley in the noodles. I have never tasted Pad Thai quite like this. The flavors worked very well together and I am thinking that this is one of my favorites. 4)Pot stickers - They were grilled up perfectly and had an outstanding flavor. Major Suckage: 1)Atmosphere - The temperature in the place was not comfortable at all. It was way too hot in here to properly enjoy the rest of my meal. The layout is very funky too. You had to take a winding road to the restroom as they were not conveniently located. 2)Shrimp Pad Thai - I did thoroughly enjoy the noodle part of my Pad Thai. The shrimp was another story. The shrimp had an overpowering nearly repugnant overly fishy taste to them. 3)Orange Chicken - This dish was extremely underwhelming and disappointing. It did not have much flavor to it at all. As the dish sat, the sauce became extremely thick and took on a sludge like quality to it. Holy Crap and a Half: Our server recommended for dessert a blueberry and peach crisp with homemade whipped topping. It sounded right up my alley so I decide to give it a whirl. I am very particular about my desserts and this stuff blew me away. Whenever I order a dessert in a restaurant, I am going to judge it against this particular dessert. I am confident in saying that this is probably the finest dessert that I have ever ordered in a restaurant before. It was not overly sweet as the fruit provided a good amount of natural sweetness. The creaminess/crispness and cool/warm contrasts were perfect! The dessert is what made me give this place three stars instead of two.
(3)
Robyn T.
Good location but reservations are suggested for this area during peak times. I came on a Monday night after 8 and the place was empty with maybe 4 other tables...the service was equally vacant. Our server had one other table but would disappear for long periods of time, especially when we wanted something. Oh well. At least the food was pretty good. I loved my beef with broccoli -- loads of broccoli, tender beef morsels and mushrooms in a light wine sauce. The sauce was so good I was trying to get all my rice in the juices. Yummy. Lettuce wraps were good and I recommend them for sharing. I like that you can do the choose your own stir fry option as well. I like Big Bowl, but I have say I prefer the Gold Coast location to the River North one. The service seems to be better there and there aren't as many tourists (again this comes with the territory though).
(3)
Michelle S.
3 words: ginger mint tea mmmmmmmm
(4)
Ashique M.
The service was spectaular the food was pretty good. Ive been here twice and I just do not think I have found "MY" dish yet! Quality was good and fresh!
(3)
Chris B.
Fantastic food, great service - a superb find!
(4)
David G.
In Chicago on business and wanted a fast take-out wok bowl for the hotel room working lunch. I am from Seattle visiting. This was the closest place and they had a takeout counter in the restaurant. I ordered a yellow curry chicken with rice and veggie. It took less than 10 minutes and was packaged just right with everything needed to stand on its own. The meal was done very well, great flavor and quality veggie (string beans and peppers) and chicken. Well done! They have an extensive lunch take out menu and restaurant prices. I would be happy to go back and try more. I posted photos in the hotel room so you can see it firsthand.
(4)
L H.
They got 1 thing right which is why they get 1 star. The drinks were terrible - a real Mai Tai isn't bright yellow and doesn't have mint in it. The "strawberry mojito" which they said was a specialty was watery and chunky. The worst was finding a very hot pepper in the Mongolian beef dish - after chewing it! Immediate pain and hot sweats ensued. We had to leave without eating our meals. A total disaster. When the bill came we had to discuss the charges - it shouldn't need to be discussed. A real management team would recognize the potential severe damage that could have been done. What did they get right? The Chix and peanut egg rolls were great.
(1)
Tennille T.
I like Big Bowl very much. They use fresh ingredients and the spices are just right HOWEVER everytime I order my meal "without" peanuts this location ALWAYS adds them. For whatever reason I don't get this. I am not allergic but just don't like them as a personal preference but I wonder when this place will get sued for adding ingredients customers request not to add and someone has some major allergic reaction. Personally this is the only issue I have with this place. Manager/Owner please give the cooks training because if they continue to ignore customers food preferences and add a ingredient that causes harm, your establishment will get sued like nobody's business and I think if you are aware and step in you can avoid a butt load of trouble. P.S. If you have food allergies please don't eat at this location. My daughter has peanut allergies and had I gave her some of the food she would have probably had to be hospitalized or maybe even died because her allergy to peanuts is VERY high.
(3)
Jackie C.
This place was exactly what we were looking for. We had an amazing waitress, Emily who was just a great person and loved the restaurant. I had a special salad and it was just incredible. One of the best salads I have ever had! My husband had the Kung Pao and he basically licked the bowl! We will definitely be back.
(5)
Courtney F.
For a chain Chinese restaurant, I was REALLY surprised at how delicious and fresh everything here was! Fried rice was great and I had a watermelon sangria that was to die for. Would definitely return.
(4)
Mark-Allen E.
A decent Chinese takeout or eat in option. I normally order the Orange Chicken, white rice no scallions - extra chicken. Always good. Orange chicken can be a big hit or big miss and I feel I consistently get good food from here. I'm not giving Big Bowl 4 stars because the kitchen area( you can see back into the kitchen as you walk to the bathrooms) is by far one of the most filthiest restaurant kitchens I have ever seen. It's odd to me because the rest of the restaurant is clean. Service from wait staff is lackluster at best. We eat here once or twice a month and it's like I have to sacrifice my unborn child to get a drink refill. Also their alcohol drinks are terrible. I have only had one decent drink at Big Bowl. The food for the most part is enough to compensate for Big Bowls lackluster customer service and other downfalls.
(3)
Michael S.
Great place great people i use to work at the location on ceder 2yrs ago...these people are like family they do everything fresh no short cuts...must check it out its a must...best new school thai Chinese food in town.
(5)
Kevin C.
Fresh local ingredients sourced for all their menu items. No frozen foods. The quality was very good for a chain restaurant. Pleasantly surprised. I dined in a two occasions: work lunch and a dinner for some out of town visitors. They have a lunch menu with smaller portions which I'd recommend if you'd like to skip the food coma after getting back to the office. The pot stickers and dumplings are a good place to start a meal. Lettuce wraps are a large portion and would likely serve 3-4 people. I tried the shrimp and scallop entree for lunch. A bit on the sweet side even knowing it was a ginger soy dressing. Great tasting seafood. On the dinner occasion I went with the less adventurous sesame chicken. Good stuff, no grisly chicken, no thick breading, with a kick of spice. Overall I'd recommend a lunch visit or a affordable dinner alternative for the area. Service was attentive on both accounts and I can't share any negatives. Chop chop.
(4)
Joe K.
Visiting from out of town. Took the family and everything we ordered was fresh and flavorful. Service was outstanding and prices were great!!! I will defiantly be back for more!! Keep up the great work.
(5)
Hang T.
From the looks of the exterior, you already know that this place is not going to have authentic Asian food, but I still wanted to try it out. My final thoughts is that what the place lacks with the food, it makes up with the level of service. When we first got there, we were given free crab rangoon I believe because we were first timers. We were personally greeted by the manager before our meal began and they were so accommodating to our large group. The baby needed vegetables reheated to a certain consistency and they heated it twice for us so she could get it down. I ordered the chicken pad thai. While the flavors were there, I got more vegetable and beans sprouts than anything else. My husband ordered the pho appetizer and the bbq pork buns. The pho did not taste like traditional pho. It was like Asian Chicken noodle soup. I did like the bbq pork buns. They were tasty. All in all, I think if they were trying to be authentic with the food, it didn't work. If they were trying to bring a new twist to traditional dishes, that didn't work either. I think they just need to pick one direction and plan this recipes accordingly. The people from these China and Thailand would be very unhappy with the food here.
(3)
Trena R.
When traveling and in doubt of what you want to eat, ask the trendy 20-something working at the hotel, right? He was spot on. It was about a mile walk from the hotel and worth every step. The waiter was friendly, great at reading body language (knowing when to do a drive-by and when to engage us in chit chat). He was quick with drink recommendations and guidance on the food - local, organic, delicious! The food was incredible. I had the pad thai and sampled a friend's Sesame Chicken. OMG. I *must* get back to Chicago so I can eat my way through the menu. This is one of the restaurants where I could walk in, say "surprise me" and be over-the-moon happy. Ooops... I think I just drooled on my keyboard.
(5)
Jessie Elizabeth J.
Big Bowl is good, flavorful food depending on what you order. The make-your-own stirfry is a good bulky meal for the price. The Thai curries are tasty and well portioned. Avoid the "prime" beef dishes as the meat is not tender and the sauces for dark meat dishes can be bland. Is it solid thai and Chinese? Yes! But a wee bit overpriced and more about the atmosphere than the food.
(3)
Brianna L.
Let me start off by saying I absolutely love big bowl. This location had friendly and attentive staff. I prefer the flavor of the food at the woodfield location better tho. I also like the location in woodfield better esp since its FREE parking. Parking prices in Chicago are just redonk. I really disliked the seating situation. We had to sit at a high table, which is uncomfortable after a while. The seating was also super tight. Like if I moved I would have touched the person behind me and the person to my left. I don't think I'll be back to this location. A sweet treet was that they did give us chocolate covered strawberries on the house bc it was Valentine's day.
(4)
Arun C.
This was definitely the best Chinese food / Stir Fry place I've ever been to. Starting with the ambience, it was warm and friendly. Nothing too fancy but not like typical Chinese restaurants. This would almost hit the fine dining category in terms of ambience. The waitress was extremely friendly and explained everything very nicely. She was very pleasant. The food options weren't too overwhelming. They had 6-8 dishes in Chinese, the same number in Thai and the option of Stir Fry bowl. The appetizer menu looked interesting but we skipped that and so I cannot comment about that. I went for the Stir Fry bowl while my wife chose to go with Kung Pao noodles from the menu along with their Orange Ginger Ale, both of which she raved about. The stir fry bowl - The vegetable selection was quite good and the veggies looked fresh. Something different about this place is that they do not stir fry your choice of protein along with the veggies. Only the veggies are stir fried and served along with rice and meat which is prepared separately. It was delivered quickly and the taste was just amazing! The sauces they had used were just perfect and I cannot wait to go and have it again! Unfortunately that means making a trip to Chicago. They do not have one in Houston Overall, me and my wife completely loved the place and are looking forward to coming back here soon!
(5)
Belinda L.
On our last trip to the Windy City we decided to give this a try cos Eataly was too busy and this was just across the street on the way back to our hotel. It was pretty crowded when we stopped by so we thought that was a good sign. But I guess being a Saturday night and right downtown at Magnificent Mile, this did not mean much. The interior was nice and cool, semi-dark lighting with numerous TVs showing different sports channels. They also have a bar where you can order drinks and sit around while you wait for your table to be ready. We started with the calamari, thai-styled. That was good, it came with a sweet-sour dipping sauce. For main courses we ordered the BBQ pork fried rice, which is also char skew fried rice in asian terminology, and the pad-thai. According to the waiter those were good choices. To us those seemed pretty normal, which was unfortunate. Each time I go to Chicago one of the things I look forward to is the food, but this didn't leave me particularly satisfied. The service was great though, I have to credit them for that. Our waiter was friendly and knows the menu well. He also helped us pack the leftover fried rice to go and gave us some fresh dipping sauce to go with it. Next time I am in town I will make it a point to plan out where to go for meals, do some research etc on what is around the area, especially during peak periods where places will be busy...
(3)
Sadia H.
The Red Hot Pepper Chicken Noodles was great. Very spicy! Don't add the hot sauce to this. It's very flavorful and the portions are huge. Good place to go to after shopping in the Magnificent Mile area.
(3)
Prashanth M.
I have been to this place at least 50 times and I started loving the sangria and the stir fried that you can create by selecting own vegetables a lot. I don't know how many times it happened that I went out of the apartment to eat something and I ended up here. I like most of the things. I am giving 4 stars because they didn't tell me the first time that there was fish based sauce in the pad thai noodles and they can't do it without it.
(4)
N S.
Over ate but the quality is always great. This time I focused on the Chinese menu and all of it was great. Orange chicken was excellent but not as much chicken. I'll have to ask for extra chicken next time. This was carry out so maybe the box was smaller. Usually when we sit down to eat we always have extra chicken of the orange chicken !!!the bill for two take out was 78$$$ a little high but it was triple points. !!!!!
(5)
Christina S.
My boyfriend and I agree that this place is a fancy Panda Express. If you're looking for authentic food you won't find it here. If you're looking for a place to enjoy overpriced Asian cuisine with a nicer ambience than Panda Express, this is your place. We ordered the shrimp pad Thai and the spicy cashew chicken. Both were nice dishes but a little saltier than I liked. Portion sizes were good and we had leftovers to spare. I will probably stick to Panda over Big Bowl.
(3)
Dimple M.
Love the food but hate it that all curries are made in fish oil. Being a vegetarian that limits my options. Green curry is extremely spicy and would help if you offer to tone it down. Service is always awesome.
(4)
Hollina U.
Meh. I think I might have been biased going in because I typically don't like Asian chain restaurants... also very picky about my Asian cuisine. I ordered the Penang curry here... which was good--- the chicken was cooked perfectly, and wasn't dry like I was worried about-- I hate ordering chicken because I'm always expecting it to come out overcooked. But it was good-- the curry wasn't bad either. I requested them to add tofu as well (well, actually I requested for a mix of half tofu, half chicken, but they said they had to add it for an additional charge, which, fine, I guess makes sense), but the tofu was just meh and flavorless. But that's the thing--- tofu is often something that a lot of Western restaurants can't do right... and I count Big Bowl as one of them. But if it's cooked right it's delicious! But whatever, I guess maybe another tofu centric dish here could be good and I didn't know. Prices are higher than what I typically would pay for Asian food too... but I guess it's a nicer atmosphere than most Asian restaurants, so that's where the premium comes in? It's nice that they have a carry out area! (But then if I want carry out Asian food, I'd drag my feet over to Panda)
(3)
Emin S.
Full restaurant, I loved the crowd. Ambiance is great. Not too quiet, not too loud -- everyone around me was smiling and having a great time.. I had the pad Thai that was very unique, burst with fresh herbs and was also lighter healthier than any I have had. Tangy, and played with my tastebuds kept me guessing. I would be curious to taste their other dishes, that will have to wait until next time. Friendly service, affordable price, overall a great experience even when you are dining by yourself.
(5)
Karol N.
Decent spot for a quick lunch. Nothing special food wise, it's better to stick to Chinese options since their American versions are better than Americanized Thai food.
(3)
Fan Y.
I was looking for asian. I walked in thinking- gee not a single asian person in here, no worries, this isn't chinatown so I wouldn't expect that anyways. I mean the ambiance was great, there was a sitdown bar. The kitchen was within view. Service seemed friendly(everyone was american so english wasn't an issue).. I ordered the teriyaki friend rice, which looked appetizing with generous portions including lots of veggies and meat. They even included a pair of chopsticks! I really looked forward to it. Unfortunately, the dish was the saltiest thing I have had from a restuarant in years. It tasted like they doubled the portion of salt either by mistake or by design. I didn't complain at the time because I was hungry, had a cold and was coughing a lot, so I wanted to quickly eat and go home. So far, I've drank 2 liters of water after coming home and my thirst has not yet been quenched. It seems like this fit the stereotypical bad asian fusion restuarant- checked all the boxes except the food.
(2)
Chrissey N.
Love. The food is always flavorful, and Chris is such a nice waiter! I've been here quite a few times, and the food is like a chic re-invention of traditional Chinese and Thai dishes, don't go expecting authentic, but I like this even more than authentic! Love the spicy Kung pao chicken- it has to be my favorite dish!
(5)
Ben B.
Big Bowl is great upscale Asian fare. First thing you must do upon sitting down is to order a fresh ginger ginger ale. So crisp and clean with just enough ginger bite. I'm also a huge fan of the spicy Sichuan beef. On a spicy meter, I'd put this around a 6/10. A nice kick, but nothing where you'd be fanning your tongue or shooting steam out your ears. Atmosphere is dark and inviting, especially if you land a booth. For some reason, I always forget Big Bowl exists. Not sure why. It's delicious, well-cooked food at reasonable prices and a nice atmosphere. Great for dates, friends or business hang-outs.
(4)
Brianna D.
Was walking down Michigan avenue looking for a place to eat yelping every restaurant we walked past, walked past Big Bowls and didn't have a chance to yelp it before my boyfriend wondered in. Hands down best pad Thai I have ever had! Our server was absolutely wonderful! So nice and sweet and friendly. Will be craving this place every day
(5)
Hannah S.
I ordered out from Big Bowl this past Sunday evening through Grub Hub. This was my first time trying them. I ordered 2 of the Sesame Chickens. Once I place the order it said the wait time was 2 hours, so I immediately called the restaurant and canceled. I told the woman on the other end of the phone that I had ordered through Grub Hub and she assured me the order was canceled. I even asked "so it's canceled-there is nothing else I have to do?". Sure enough some time later there was a knock at our door. I told the delivery driver I called to cancel and sent the food back with him. So the next morning I filled out a dispute charge with Grub Hub and heard nothing back. I had to call Grub Hub 4 times to get the charge reversed, because Grub Hub would call the restaurant and the restaurant would shrug them off and say they had to look into it. Finally one woman from Grub Hub got back to me and said the restaurant claims they did not get the food back. So either the restaurant is lying or the delivery driver ate my food. I will never give this restaurant money again. Grub Hub refunded me not the restaurant. We did place a new order for pick up for the 2 Sesame Chickens before I knew the debacle I would face with the delivery mix up. They were mediocre at best the chicken was soggy and the fried rice lacked flavor. I can't imagine how bad it would have been if we waited for delivery.
(2)
Jill H.
Had lunch at Big Bowl while in town on business. Started with steamed dumplings that were served in a tasty sauce. I had the lunch portion of sesame chicken served in a bed of brown rice and thoroughly enjoyed it. Portion size was great, if not generous, and the sauce was tangy & delicious. My only wish is that there was one near Detroit so I have it more frequently!
(4)
Ayperish A.
I love Big Bowl. Food is always delicious!!!
(5)
Elizabeth P.
Excellent food + excellent service! We came for lunch and ended up getting an appetizer of the sampler potstickers (which were so yummy). We couldn't pass up the dessert sampler either which was equally as yummy. We definitely want to come back.
(5)
Doug W.
FOOD - I had a date here, and we split 1 entre and 1 main course dish. Both dishes consisted of spicy noodles with peanut sauce and peppers, and they were AMAZING. - Portions are small for the $. - Food quality is simply great. - Don't buy dessert here; $5 gets you about 3 bites of whatever you choose, since the portions are really small. SERVICE - The waitress we had was nice, but seated us at a 4ft-tall table, which was not the booth we requested. Inconvenient. RESTAURANT - The place is really nice inside. Decorated beautifully. - Nowhere to park besides parking garages; inconvenient. - Floors and tables were clean. OVERALL - Would go here again, but only after receiving a paycheck. Great food, but cost does not afford equal servings in my opinion.
(4)
John M.
What's up with no pork dumplings and chicken egg rolls? But the service is great and the food is not bad.
(2)
Izzy N.
Ok FINE it's been years now and big bowl has proven itself to me some. But.. I only order 2 things after a little absence. Shrimp pad thai with no peanuts, no cilantro, no beansprouts and no basil :) then I pile on the chili sauce.... maybe.. MAYBE some potstickers if the company I'm with wants to split it and or their ginger ale. That's it!! I don't veer towards any other version of their pad thai.. Cuz it's been disappointing in the past. Otherwise I'm not the biggest fan of their other dishes. I find it salty, meh and an atrocity. Recently I've been here on a date night and it's always dependable cuz I order the same thing over and over again and just low key enough without being a total dump atmosphere wise for some company otherwise I'm cool with eating food from a cart down the street. Mexican corn in a cup from a dirty cart is fucking delicious. So for a quick fix that's low maintenance cuz Lord knows we are lacking in delicious asian eats in this neighborhood and in Chicago in general... I'm allowed to be lazy after 40+ hours of work a week and not cook myself some asian flavors or trek to mediocre Chinatown or disappointing argyle. You're pretty good big bowl but if I were going home to Portland soon of course I wouldn't miss you. Risen from the dead for sure.
(3)
Salina L.
I wanted pho because I'm sick so sent hubby out. Big Bowl was the closest. Pho was nasty! Potstickers were terrible. Orange chicken was pathetic. The worst Chinese/ Vietnamese food EVER. I now feel worse than before the pho.
(1)
Jigna S.
Loved this place! (Better than flat top grill in my opinion)! I've only tried the stir fry bar option and it was delicious and in huge portions! You can choose your meat, sauce rice or noodles and veggies (or you can select the chef's choice of veggies and you don't have to get up to go to the stir fry bar). I got the sesame crusted chicken with sichuan sauce (so it had a nice spicy kick), fried rice and my own selection of veggies. It was soooo good!!! Will definitely be coming back to try their other dishes, especially the pad thai, which they are famous for.
(4)
Mike P.
Surprisingly good food and great staff for a chain restaurant located in the most crowded part of the city. Being around or on Michigan Ave during the holidays makes my skin crawl. This past weekend Big Bowl gave us a great lunch with really excellent service when the joint was absolutely packed. A needed oasis from all the crowded stores.
(4)
Chelsea F.
Atmosphere, ok. Food, good. Service, great. Came here hungry and was more than satisfied. I was torn between Kung Pao Shrimp and sesame chicken and our server Michal, the very handsome guy with tattoos, told me to get the sesame chicken and I was thoroughly pleased. I especially like how he was honest and not trying to simply up sale. He was very attentive and always kept up with our drinks! We tried each of the deserts and they were great!! Michal gets an A+
(4)
Mia F.
I liked the online order capability, speed and takeout service accommodation, but the food was mediocre.
(2)
JJ Q.
Comfort food with a distinct Asian flavor. Authentic? Not particularly. Good. Yes! A step up from P.F. Chang's, and a longish one at that...but then it's part of the Lettuce Entertain You chain. And that shows. That said, I'm hardly damning it with faint praise, although I suspect that one of the reasons I like it so, is because it's about a block from the Homewood Suites where I usually stay in Chicago. The food is NOT drowning in sugary sauces, that cheat of cut-rate faux Chinese restaurants, and the flavor of the ingredients does come through. The regular menu dishes are decent, though I've come to love the 'pick your own' section: you pre-select the meat (or tofu!) and the sauce, then when you're ready, go up to the selection of vegetables by the kitchen and select the blend you want. And the house-made ginger soda is delicious. I'll be back, never fear. And enjoy it.
(4)
Michael B.
Had a food emergency! The ladies stomach clock went off and they had to be fed immediately. Wanting ramen, we bolted towards the little Japanese place in Hotel Tokyo only to find it closed. Spotting Big Bowl just down the street, we got there just in time to avert a complete meltdown, but it came at a price...the food. It is what it is and I'm sure it has it following and tourist business. The staff are very nice!
(2)
Davin C.
Very first time at Big Bowl, and very pleased with the food, service, and ambiance! Highly recommended it and out waitress, Claudia, was very friendly, kind, helpful, and very pretty! Food was outstanding! Got the Mongolian Beef, and one of the best I've had! Will definitely be going back!
(5)
Sam P.
Came in after a horrible vibe and walking out of RPM ITALIAN. Vibe is great. Easy going and waitstaff is nice.
(4)
Brian M.
I stopped in to Big Bowl based on an extremely favorable review from a friend and I have to admit that despite it being a chain it was actually very good. The Chicken Pot Stickers and the Orange Chicken, however I decided to go with the Seven Flavor Chicken which was amazing. It was very unique, a little spicy, a little sweet, a little savory, it was just delicious. Now the pot stickers where great, very flavorful and the sauces were good, well at least two out of the three were. The one mustard based (I think) sauce did not go with the pot stickers at all however the other two were great. I decided to also order a Big Bowl Blonde Ale, which was pretty good. I was under the assumption that it was a specialty brew just for Big Bowl however I did some research and discovered its actually made by Wild Onion, and is available in 12oz cans. I might have to try to track this down! Overall Big Bowl offers good food, good service at reasonable prices for downtown Chicago. The service was fast and I have to admit that I will probably return on my next trip to Chicago. I think next time I will have to try the Orange Chicken.
(4)
Saahithi G.
Big Bowl is my favorite Thai place in the town. THey have a stirfry option as well. My favorites: Potstickers Spicy Thai Green Curry with Tofu Thai Hot Pepper with Rice with Shrimp/Chicken Ginger Ale is good as well.
(5)
Lynn H.
I got the sesame chicken stir fry. I haven't tried anything else, but I loved this! I loved how I got to choose all the veggies I wanted in my dish and the portions are huge. About $15, but it is very filling and tasty. For waiting something relatively quick and good, I would definitely come back here. That's why I gave it a 5-star...it's awesome for what it is.
(5)
Sara L.
I keep dreaming about this meal, even though it was only days ago. We walked and walked in the city to get here. I was so hungry and thirsty by the time we arrived. I got seltzer and lemon to drink. Tasted like the best thing I've ever had in my life. They do not skimp on lemon, let me tell you. Two big chunks. So fresh. I got vegetable teriaki, make your own stir fry. The veggies come from local farms. Love it. I can't wait to go back and get the same thing.
(5)
Jodie S.
I ordered the chicken pad thai and it was very yummy! The atmosphere of the restaurant was great. Our appetizer was delivered incorrectly, but our waiter quickly fixed the issue and let us keep the wrong one. We didn't wait too long for our food and the waiter was great about refilling our water.
(4)
Sacha F.
Eh. I had really quick and great service but I'm not a fan of this food. It's definitely better than China Star, or whatever crappy Chinese food branch is in Chicago, but it's definitely not authentic. I ordered the orange chicken, and I'd probably rate it a 6/10. Lunch portion size was fine, wasn't heavily sauced or fried but it wasn't in my top five and I probably wouldn't recommend this place or come back. Giving three stars based on the awesome bar tender.
(3)
Blaine T.
I really love their vegetable pad Thai a! Nom.
(3)
Kim B.
Great menu for a group who doesn't know what to choose. Dumplings, small Pho and pork buns all very good. Especially the dumpling and 3 sauces. Since I was there for first time, manager Justin stopped by with a little free app and said hello. Great touch and overall good service. Came back with a big group and did the group dinner. So much good and all very good. Service want as good this time but still worth coming again for sure.
(5)
Ravi N.
This is one of my new all time favorite asian restaurants. I had the orange chicken, and the others I say with had the cashew chicken, teriyaki shrimp and scallops, and the Mongolian beef. I also had some of the best tea and ginger ale in my life. Very good food and a great atmosphere.
(5)
Kathleen C.
Big Bowl is good, but not the best Asian food in the city. It is very much good for the casual lover of food, but not for someone who loves Asian food (at least as far as I can tell as I've found much better options elsewhere). However, it is relatively quick and easy and they are friendly at every location I've been at. I tried the pad thai with chicken and tried to get it spicy. It was a smidge spicy, but not overly so (probably catering to the typical customer that doesn't know their spice, so they are 'safe'). The atmosphere isn't great for a downtown restaurant, but it's a solid choice if you're hungry. Food - 3 Value - 4 Atmosphere - 3 Service - 4 Bathrooms - 3
(3)
Kristen W.
Don't be turned off that this is a chain restaurant, this restaurant is part of the Lettuce Entertain You group and doesn't disappoint! Service was great and the bar manager was awesome! The strawberry sangria was really great, I love any sangria with fresh fruit in it! We both had the chicken pad thai and it was really good, the ingredients were fresh. i can't wait to go again.
(4)
Maureen M.
Just one block from Michigan Avenue and the Mag Mile, the vibe on a weekday at lunch time is a blend of locals and out-of-town adults. There is a kids menu but it doesn't seem to attract kids despite hordes of them on the Mag Mile. The service was attentive and almost obsequious but not overboard. The lunch menu is limited but sufficient. I liked the option of jasmine rice, brown rice or fried rice. I love ginger ale but very seldom drink soft drinks. The ginger ale had a nice bite that paired well with the food but it was TOO sweet. A drier ginger ale would have been just perfect. The portions were reasonable and the food was high quality but the amount of chicken in our chicken dishes (Kung Pao and the seasonal special General Tsao) was small. On the other hand, there was an abundance of peanuts in one dish and more than enough onions in the other. Still looking for Chinese food in the neighborhood, I'll stick to Star of Siam for Thai.
(2)
John G.
For a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant this seems to have a lack of attention. This is the second time we've had a problem here. The staff tried to make things good but there is a problem in the kitchen. The last time they were out of brown rice. This time we started with a new item, BBQ pork buns. The meat was uneatable, tough and had chunks we both couldn't chew. The vegetables you choose for the stir fry were wilted and tired. I don't know what was in the spinach.
(1)
Sean C.
Chinese and Thai, trendy but I'm not bowled over. But we didn't eat that much a variety, admittedly. I am annoyed that the main dish of PAD THAI came out before the appetizer of CHICKEN DUMPLINGS. About the main dish, I do appreciate they use quality, organic and plump white chicken mixed in with the noodles. If you're here, do order the organic made-from-real-ginger GINGER ALE. #sincerity
(3)
Dina T.
Loved this place! We are here after finding a massive wait at the other restaurant we were thinking of going to. I'm so glad we ended up here. Our server was so sweet! She was super attentive, kept our drinks full, and even brought us an appetizer "on the house" after hearing it was our first time to one of their restaurants. My husband and daughter got the stir-fry which they both enjoyed immensely. I got the sesame chicken. It was the best sesame chicken I've ever had! Yum! We also had their edamame and their chicken peanut egg rolls for apps. All around a great experience. My husband thought it was a tad expensive but I thought it was decently priced considering the overall service and food as well as the location; smack dab in the center of Chi town.
(5)
Vee S.
My mom was a patient at NW hospital and hadn't had an appetite in days and wanted orange chicken so I choose this place because of the reviews and the proximity to the hospital. I order thru DinningIn orange chicken and the shrimp pad Thai. ANd it was AWFUL!! THE CHICKEN WAS Vinegary and and the pad thai was horrible and sticky BOTH DISHES were disappointing!!! my moms favorite place is Yummy Thai but I wanted to give this place a try and it ended up costing me $30.40 NEVER AGAIN!!!
(1)
Joel B.
The service was good but, dont eat here unless your white and you like crappy mall chinese food. The pad thai i got tasted like sweat. There was no flavor besides a hint of sour sauce and sweat. If you want good authentic thai/chinese steer clear. I had high hopes due to the good reviews but this place is garabage. So if you want some good ole greasy white people food then go ahead eat here. You will love it.
(2)
Tam D.
Went there yesterday and ordered the pho and thought, You've got to be joking. The menu said it served 2-3 people. The bowl I got barely served me. It was an average-size bowl of flavorless chicken broth with 3 or 4 pieces of chicken and a handful of noodles. That's it. And it cost 12 or 13 bucks. Seriously!
(1)
Miranda S.
Lunchtime was pretty quick and their portions were recently scaled back. I like the 'mongolian bbq' idea where you pick everything and have them cook it for you. It's delicious and healthy.
(4)
Joel T.
Horrible service and very inconsistent food and whoever heard of Asian restaurant wo soy sauce?
(1)
Danielle M.
In town for a conference and looking for a GF friendly restaurant near my hotel. Great choice. Food was delicious, with lots of GF choices (on a separate menu no less). Waiter was very friendly and a bonus was a nice bar so I could have a glass of wine with dinner. Prices were quite reasonable for prime downtown location. All around good experience.
(5)
Gigi D.
Here's what was really tasty: the chicken dumplings, twice-cooked green beans, mongolian beef, and yellow coconut curry with tofu. Everyone loved the fried rice, and the brown rice was great too. The portions are pretty big, so three of us shared two entrees and two small plates. Unlike at most Chinese places, the mongolian beef has lots more mushrooms than onions and beef, so if that isn't your thing, skip it. Even their spicy dishes aren't super spicy, but they offer some chili sauce to kick things up. Took off a star for slow service.
(4)
Tj W.
Went in for lunch on a Friday around 12:00. The service was good the food was pretty good as well. I recommend the east side drink, gin, cucumber, mint, and lime..: you won't regret it... Especially with a screaming baby.
(4)
Adrianne D.
Mickie is an excellent manager at this location, there was an issue with my carry out order, shrimp instead of chicken. He did not make an issue out of it. I corrected the situation and was friendly. I enjoy big bowl and will continue to support this location as I appreciate the customer service and love the food!!
(5)
Latoya M.
Really enjoyed my meal here!!! The Server was absolutely Amazing. Not a place I would have picked, However very pleased that my cousin picked this place. Will be back :)
(4)
Sara P.
Start from the appetizer the lettuce wrap was Good. I like the sauce that comes with it. I ordered yellow curry with supposed to have tofu in there but none. I tried to get attention with my server. He's gone right after the food came so I can't wait then I ate my wrong order and never checked with us until we asked for the bill.2stars from the appetizer and my friend's order she said hers was very good.
(2)
Francis R.
Big Bowl seems to be my number one stop to cash in on those Lettuce Entertain You rewards. Their service is always great and the staff always friendly. Make sure you get your free order of chicken or vegetable potstickers with the Foursquare app check-in! The dish comes with 5 pieces and an assortment of sauce to dip in. Nice flavors all around! I ordered the Spicy Sichuan Beef and boy was that spicy but delicious! If you aren't a fan of spicy, I'm sure you could ask them to tone it down a bit. Lucky our waitress had my water refilled regularly so it was doable. My date ordered the Panang Curry Chicken over noodles which I had recommended to her having order that on my last visit to a Big Bowl. The dish is typically served over rice, but over noodles is a nice change up from a traditional Thai curry dish. I forgot to mention the drinks! Their sangria is always spot on! On this past visit, they had the seasonal watermelon sangria, which was absolutely refreshing on these warm Chicago summer evenings. Definitely worth a try! Until next time, cheers!
(4)
Neha M.
I went for a friend's birthday celebration. I ordered green curry vegetables and it was awesome. The dessert we ordered was really good. All of us liked the food as well as the service.
(5)
Autumn L.
The Big Bowel restaurant is Asian restaurant, and concentrates in Chinese and Thai cuisine. They have really delicious Chinese and Thai food, the service is also fast, and atmosphere is really comfortable and attractive, as well as the location is very prosperous. I went to the restaurant with my friends for dinner. The restaurant is located in the center of Chicago, nearby Wabash and Michigan Street, which means they have a good location. There are also many customers that mean their food is really attractive. I ordered the Kong Pao Chicken which served by a unique plate, it was really delicious. In terms of my own experience, I recommend the "Spicy cashew chicken" which is crispy chicken, hot peppers fiery chill sauce, and it taste is really delicious. And, I love spicy food which the restaurant also offer many type of spicy food. For the atmosphere, the decoration with solid Chinese culture, as well as they have light music which makes people more enjoy the food. The menu is really easy for people to understand, because they have clearly and separate Chinese and Thai menu, also they separate their features. In addition, in terms of the level of service, the waiter is very friendly and kindly. However, I think that they still have to improve their service, the reason why is because when I ordered beverage, the cups is not really clean. Furthermore, for the location, because the Big Bowel restaurant is located in the downtown, so it is really hard for parking, but there still have the public parking place next by the restaurant, of course, it is very expensive, like 5 dollars for half hour, 15 dollars for an hour and half.
(4)
Carlo B.
Just finished dinner at the Big Bowl. Service was excellent. Good size portions and great taste. I had beef & broccoli with Jasmine rice. It hit the spot. Appetizers were pork dumplings and crab rolls. Again it was great. Great atmosphere and good for families.
(4)
Angel L.
Came here for my brothers birthday and absolutely loved it. The service was phenomenal, food was something different but still really good. Love the setting and environment. If you go ask for Naima as the server, she was the bomb!
(5)
David A.
Another lunch visit, another good meal. Kung Pao Chicken was just spicy enough. Despite being busy our server Piotr took great care of us, our drinks were always full and we got our order quickly. Will definitely visit again when in Chicago!
(4)
Jennifer G.
My husband and I go to Big Bowl a couple of times a year and had such a pleasant experience Christmas Eve. They had a 15 minute wait when we stopped in that night so we decided to just eat at the bar. Our bartender was very attentive and our mai tai and mojito were very nicely done...and sitting at the bar, very quick! We started with the spicy green beans, and they were delicious. In most places - chains especially - when you order spicy, it's not really spicy - it's Midwestern spicy. Big Bowl's spicy green beans were spicy and so good. We ate them up very quickly. We then had the Kung Pao Beef with green beans (it was a theme that night I guess!) and the Thai Hot Pepper with Rice and Shimp. The Kung Pao was good but the sauce was a little heavier than I usually like and I did have to add more chili paste to it. However, the Thai Hot Pepper dish was delicious and had a slow spiciness in your mouth. It was a really light sauce and very good. I would get that dish over and over. As I mentioned - our bartender / server was very good and the food came out really quickly. We will definitely go back - and maybe now that we have tried the spicy green beans and Thai Hot Pepper dish - maybe more than just a few times a year.
(4)
Marilee F.
Great spot for an Asian lunch or dinner. Wait staff was friendly and helpful with the menu. I found the menu limited, the only reason I didn't give a 5th star
(4)
Clarissa T.
This place was very good. Service was a bit slow, but that won't keep me from coming back. I had the pa gang curry and it was wonderful!
(4)
Jerrod K.
Overpriced, mediocre food that lacks any cultural authenticity. If you want mass-market Asian, Panda Express does it for about half the price, and is much kinder to your palate (and that's saying something!). We ordered a Pad Thai and Pho. The Pad Thai was pretty poor, with a flavor that I struggled to place. Thankfully I called a bit of an audible and special ordered it with the crunchy sesame chicken instead of the normal chopped chicken. Normally, pad thai can stand on its own, but I had to mix in the sesame chicken to make it edible. On the bright side, the crunchy sesame chicken was very good, and does offer at least some hope for other dishes. The Pho Bowl was advertised as being for "2-3 people". How, I have no idea - it wasn't even enough for one! Instead of the usual beef, it came with chicken. Ugh. The flavor was reminiscent of those $1 cans of instant soup you buy at a grocery store. In fact, I probably would have preferred a good Progresso or Campbell's Chunky over what these guys had to offer. Again, not a ringing endorsement.... The Sangria was good, but again, was expensive and fairly small/watered-down. Service was okay -- but we actually had to ask for chopsticks. And hoisin and hot sauce for the pho. Ugh. Chicago - you do not have to settle for this place. There are much better alternatives just a stone's throw away!
(1)
Ryan B.
The worst curry I've ever had. Terrible. They took 1 hour 45 minutes to deliver it too.
(1)
Christie M.
Wow really? This is pricey but I expected it since its Chicago. Portions are giant! Unfortunately we had no microwave at our hotel so had to leave the food. The place had a nice decor to it, kinda like how PF Changs but slightly more Asian. Taste was decent. Super busy there, but it doesn't excuse why our waiter never checked up on us and me having to flag him down 3 times for various things like straws for my kids' cups. Our boys just can't sit through 2-3 hrs worth of dining. Hoping to get in/out fast....yeaa no way.
(3)
Abby L.
Good atmosphere, decent food. Not exceptional cuisine but still pretty good food. The staff are polite and know what they're talking about, and the options on the menu are good. Pretty comfortable place for a well priced meal.
(4)
Stephanie L.
I got dragged here by my better half. I have never been to Big Bowl. I avoid chains like the plague. Especially chains downtown, but I was pleasantly surprised with Big Bowl. Our server was one of the best servers I have ever had. That is a HUGE compliment. He appropriately checked on us, brought condiments, cleared dishes, etc. Amazing. Its kind of sad for me to say that I got better service at a chain than most independent and expensive restaurants. The food was excellent as well. Lettuce wraps are delish. Great spice, sauce, crunchy and portion size. The potstickers are pretty standard and come with three dipping sauces. I am a potsticker junky and this did the trick. Our entree was the thai chicken with peanuts and basil. It was a decent portion with some kick! Not to mention, I added lots of the thai chili spice. The ginger, ginger ale was extremely refreshing. I hate to say it, but I wont have to be dragged here kicking and screaming next time :)
(4)
Patrick D.
After last visit decided to try again. 2nd visit was like a completely different place. Service was attentive, food was good. Pleasantly surprised.
(4)
Joe M.
Really really bad... The staff here is off the charts awful. A few things to keep in mind if you do decide to visit this Big Bowl... 1) DO NOT think about requesting a modification to any item on the menu (you will get a huge attitude and it probably won't come right anyway). 2) DO NOT be allergic to any ingredients on the menu (you have a 50/50 shot at still getting the allergen in your food). 3) DO NOT even think about ordering a take out order within 45 minutes of closing time (you will find yourself banging on a locked door 15 minutes later when you arrive to pick up your order). Not to mention the attitudes of the people that work here in the evening. I arrived at 9:45 to pick up my order and found the door locked (they close at 10). I had to bang on the door to get a staff member to acknowledge me. Once let inside, not a single word was spoken to me and my food was practically thrown at me, not even in a bag. I was handed a bill, charged and shown the door without so much as a thank you or good night. And then what happened, you guessed it, order wrong, as usual..... A little background.... I am a Lettuce Entertain You Frequent Diner Gold Member and order from this Big Bowl at least once a week the exact same order. This is typical of my experience here at least half the time.
(1)
Lucia F.
An extreme mediocrity. The service was excellent, and I was brought an extra seltzer water without asking! However, all the food was covered with this sickening, un-tasty brown sauce that made me sick just thinking about it! They took my chicken satay of the bill, which was fine. The chicken dumplings were no better, but after wiping the sauce off a bit, the rating went up just a bit. I would not return! However, the fortune cookies were yummy!
(2)
Jay F.
I have not had a return business trip to Chicago yet when I haven't fed my craving for Big Bowl fare. I absolutely love the Kung Pow Chicken & Noodles - never disappoints. The Chicken Pad Thai rocks as well. I always bring new visitors here if I have the choice of restaurant options.
(5)
Lauren S.
Great dinner last night. The place was packed and our food and service were still spot on. Getting seated took a bit as we wanted a booth but other parties waiting got seated quickly and with a smile. Our server was good. Picked up after us on our table so it was never left with a mess and brought drinks in a timely fashion. She was polite and working hard with many tables but she always had time for the table when she was taking orders or checking in. Food last night was great. We had egg rolls, satays, stir fry bar one with chicken the other with salmon and 7 flavor beef. Everything was pipping hot, flavorful and delicous. We dine at Big Bowl a few times a month and though they have made mistakes 9 times out of 10 they hit it out of the park. My only complaint is managers should get to know there customers better. We've been to BB at least 50 times and never once has a manager stopped by to say hi thank for coming in or anything.
(5)
Nick E.
Huge disappointment! I expected to have a great meal here but instead my food was terrible! The vegetable potstickers had nuts in them which mixed awful with the vegetables! It made me wan to vomit! Luckily the waitress took it off the bill. The dumpling soup had dumplings that were ok but the soup itself had barely any taste and what I could taste was like dishwater! Worst restaurant meal I've had in a long time
(1)
Joseph H.
My family needed a last minute restaurant with a gluten-free menu prior to a concert that evening so I called Big Bowl on Ohio street and the staff could not be more accommodating. I arrived 30 minutes prior to the rest of my party but I was seated promptly and the waitress was excellent. I received dinner orders from my family as they were driving to the restaurant and the waitress placed the orders and the food was being delivered as my family walked in. The food is excellent and not expensive. Overall we had a wonderful time with excellent service.
(5)
Chi N.
Good service but terrible food. Very much tastes like Panda Express. Don't come here if you want non greasy version of Asian food
(2)
G D.
This is a great Thai place if u need quick service. Food is delicious, prices r great, service is quick!! They also have a make-ur-own dish bar.
(5)
Steven K.
I'm a huge fan and I have been taking my kids to the downtown locations, they have two downtown, for years. The train ride to the city of peaceful and then it is a nice walk to the gold coast. The eggrolls are phenomenal but the kids can order a soup, off menu, which is a chicken noodle soup. It's around $5 and the noodles are very thick and the chicken is shredded in the soup. My kids love it. I love taking them to different places to share different cuisines and experiences.
(5)
Francois J.
Forget Fat Rice. Ginger Soda, Pot Stickers, spicy Sichuan and Orange Chicken are miles above that pretentious Chinese Fusion place that won Best New Restaurant. Really? Big Bowl Rocks.
(4)
Timothy H.
Went here to nurse a hangover and its exactly what we needed. I got the brothless ramen and the homemade ginger ale. Everything was good and our hangovers cured!
(4)
Mitch K.
It was a lazy Sunday afternoon and I Had a Lettuce Entertain You gift card to burn, so I figured I would give Big Bowl a try since it is nearby. Wasn't sure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised. The food was tasty (ate the Chicken Potstickers and Red Hot Pepper Chicken Noodles), the beer selection was well above average for a restaurant (drank a Anit-Hero) and the service was quick/friendly. Again, very pleased with Big Bowl and will definitely be going again soon.
(4)
Rick H.
I hate to say this, but I think this place is going downhill. This was always one of my "go to" restaurants when I had friends in from out of town. My last visit (Monday Sept 30th) was disappointing. I ordered the Shrimp Pad Thai, like I always do, and it just wasn't as good as in father past. The portion was smaller overall. They skimped on the shrimp as well. Usually the meal had whole pieces of shrimp, this time it was small bits & pieces. I saw very little peanuts & hardly any egg. Totally disappointed .
(3)
Ben And Nikki B.
WTF happened to you Big Bowl? Four years ago when I worked for LEYE I loved hitting this place up (granted the Cedar location...) after a double shift for a few cocktails & chicken potstickers- things have either changed or they were having a seriously OFF night last night. Let me preface this review with the fact we decided spur of the moment to have dinner downtown on a FRIDAY NIGHT WITHOUT RESERVATIONS (yes... I know.) After attempting to get seated at SEVEN other restaurants (lowest wait time well over an hour- up to three and half at 2 places!) we decided to give Big Bowl a shot since we've had some great cocktails & appetizers there in the past. I should have known walking in on a Friday night to NO WAIT was a red flag, I even second guessed myself at the last minute and wanted to escape to Eataly across the street (YES I KNOW- FAILLLL). But at this point we were pretty hungry, a little chilly & tired of running around so we decided to have a seat. Ben B (not to be confused with hubby- weird!) was our server and he was... well... an experience. After determining we had been there before he immediately asked if we knew what we wanted & didn't review anything with us- especially not any specials they may have had that evening. I FREAKING LOVE their chicken pot stickers so we started off with an order of those while we discussed appetizers. My Ben was pretty disappointed in the beer list (but this is to be expected @ an asian restaurant so I'm not deducting points for this). Once we finally decided on some beers we asked the server to explain the difference between the 2 Trippels on the menu which he had to ask the bartender about (fine- I also get that not all servers are beer experts, I wasn't either so again no points lost here). Once the beers were ordered and arrived @ the table we had decided on everything else (Chicken Dumplings & Kung Pao Chicken to share) Chicken Potstickers: Balls to the Walls AMAZING as always. Love the 3 sauces that come with this too! Honestly we should have just ordered 3 portions of these & called it a night! Chicken Dumplings: Why the fuck are these on the menu? These are EXACTLY LIKE THE CHICKEN POTSTICKERS BUT STEAMED WITH NO SALT, NO TEXTURE AND NO FLAVOR. FTN (fuck that noise)- never again. Kung Pao Chicken: Decent size portion for one or two (if the two are sharing something else). Decent flavor & spice profile although nothing special/different/out of the normal. We did really love the kale (@ least I believe it was kale) that came with this dish- it was honestly the best part of the dish. So- by this point in the meal I knew we were going to be going on Yelp to review this hot mess meal and was discussing our review points with hubby. Hubby is nearly sure that the manager overheard this conversation because immediately after he "just happens" to stop over @ our table to ask if we're interested in a "extra soup" "on him". Hubby says sure & I said thank you. This is the only time anyone ever checks on us- we are never asked how our meal is going, how the drinks are, the appetizers, the entrees- NOTHING. I know LEYE isn't supposed to ask "How is everything" but never once did he say "Is there anything else I can bring to the table" OR ANYTHING OF THE LIKE. Talk about "stellar" service...Anywho! The manager brings over said "free extra soup" -- Hot & Sour Soup which is the managers FAVORITE ITEM ON THE MENU- TO DIE FOR HE SAYS.... I LEGIT (AND I KID YOU NOT YELPERS) ALMOST VOMITED IN MY MOUTH JUST BY SMELLING THIS SOUP. I'm sure it is an acquired taste that clearly I do not possess but JESUS H CHRIST. NEVER EVER AGAIN. What happened to you Big Bowl? #NeverAgain
(2)
John H.
Great food! Shrimp spring rolls were very fresh and sauces were excellent. Spicy chicken noodles were spicy and a good portion. Service was OK.
(4)
Racquel D.
I tried this place out for the first time last night, and I must say this place was pretty good. I ordered one of their freshly made ginger ales, barbecue pork fried rice, fiery dumplings, and mango cheesecake. Mmmmm to all of it. My favorite out of what I ordered was probably the dumplings, but they were all really good. I got the green tea ginger ale, and you can totally taste the ginger so you know it's fresh. Service here was also really good. Our waiter was really attentive and checked on us often, even though it was pretty busy last night. And if we saw that he was busy with another table, either the manager or a food runner came by to drop off our food. Good location, too. You're not terribly far from the Magnificent Mile, Red Line Grand stop, a bunch of other restaurants, bars, and hotels, and Navy Pier. I guess my only con about this place is the price of the food, but I will say you get a lot of good food for the price. You're sort of paying for the ambiance of the place because it's a big space in a nice and busy area. Check this place out though.
(4)
Audu S.
The food was Excellent. I had the monopolies beef and my wife had the king pay chicken noodle. The service was excellent and the staff was friendly. Great first impression of Chicago cuisine..... I will go back again and again.
(4)
Paul K.
This place offers a Mongolian-style BBQ, where you pick your meat / veggies / noodles and they cook it for you. Pretty tasty, and fairly fast and reasonable. Had some dumplings for an appetizer too, though those were just OK.
(4)
Manuel I.
Business customer representative Ms. Susan J asked for my contact so that a manger could get some feedback on how to make things better for the restaurant. Days, weeks and months passed and no calls from any of them...so I suppose problem is not just in the restaurant itself. It's also due to poor management.
(1)
Larry B.
Decent food. Good after a long plane ride, but kind of a panda express version of the real thing. Overall though it was a good meal. I give it 3.5 stars. I have to say though I love their signage from the street, and although it wasn't the best meal of my trip, it really wasn't half bad, and I'd more than likely go back if I lived in Chi.
(3)
TM M.
My husband has a special needs diet so we thought an asian place with a gluten free menu would be great. Overall, portion sizes were small, pad thai and mongolian beef dishes were bland and the $33 bill was pricey. We were hoping this would be a lunch place we could depend on for our week long stay but we won't be back.
(1)
Nick G.
I cannot believe I ate here. It was possibly the worst food I have ever had. I could care less if it's "authentic" Asian food; that wasn't the issue. The food was just THAT awful. The pot-stickers weren't cooked all the way, and from their appearance it was obvious they were frozen and from a bag. They were the exact same things that I buy from the freezers in the Asian grocery stores. I can make better pot-stickers than this restaurant served me! As I said, it wasn't fully cooked; the dough was hard on the edges and obviously a tiny bit freezer-burnt. Just... awful. And six tiny pieces for $5? I can get a bagful of this cheap frozen crap from the Asian grocery stores. You should be ashamed to served this to your customers!! I ordered the Mongolian Beef.. and it tasted awful. I don't know what was in their sauce/marinade mix for this dish, but it tasted nothing like Mongolian Beef. It was very bitter and it barely had any flavor. I only ate 1/4 of it because it was 9:30 at night and I was absolutely starving.. I needed to eat something; otherwise I would have sent it back and had it taken off my bill. The person I was eating dinner with tasted my food and said it was awful, too. How do you mess up Mongolian Beef?! The service was spotty and the server didn't pay too much attention to us. I will never go back here. I should have known better, when every other restaurant in the city was packed and you needed to have a reservation, and this place was half full. A major disappointment and waste of money.
(1)
Naveed M.
Amazing Food - Service was okay but the food is great! Server was a little distracted. Forgot about our appetizers but no big deal. Can't wait to be back in Chicago to eat here again!
(4)
Joanne Y.
Nothing phenomenal. I had the kung pao chicken (the waitress said this was one of their more popular dishes. It was good, but I don't think I'll be returning again to order that. Not worth the $13 + tax. I might want to try their other menu items, don't think I would never come here again. Besides my entree, the space was clean and well kept.
(3)
John D.
I came after work one night and came for a drink and some Pad Thai. I had Dion as my bartender and he recommended a Panang Curry. I ordered the vegetable pad Thai and wasn't blown away. Dion asked me how the food was and I just said it was okay, and he ordered me the Panang Curry instead and wanted to make sure I was impressed with my dinner. Dion is the bartender you come back to. I'll come back for sure, maybe order something different.
(5)
Wesley K.
All the people bashing this place needs to cut them some slack. I'm Asian... and yes I understand this stuff is NOT authentic Asian food. But who said they're trying to be? Not to mention some stuff does not need to be "authentic" to still taste good. The food here is definitely "Americanized" Chinese food. But it doesn't mean it doesn't taste good. Places like this and PF changs? Very low yelp review yes. Not authentic at all yes. But opening hundreds of hundreds of locations and making tons and tons of money? Well if the food really tasted so bad... they wouldn't be operating at a profit and continuing to open more locations. Food is a-ok. Nothing orgasmic and mind blowing. But I was craving some Asian food, came in here and got the Cashew Shrimp and it tasted good enough for me to eat my whole plate and be satisfied.
(3)
Clinton S.
The meal here last night was absolutely delicious. I had the chicken curry and my significant other had the perch. Both were delicious. Drinks were excellent, would recommend the ginger screwdriver. Desert was something I never tried before, an ice cream mochi. Would certainly recommend. The area was excellent, close to our hotel and right by the magnificent mile. Will go back again if I'm in the area again!
(4)
Marie G.
We had a reservation on Open Table. My daughter requested a dinner there for her 16th b-day so I asked for a booth for 4 and a candle on the dessert that we were going to order and pay for. Made reservation a week in advance. She acknowledged the reservation and the birthday. They tried to sit us by a kitchen table, not a booth. Then the waiter tried to rush us. Asked us 3 times if we were ready to order as we were looking at the menu. We had already ordered drinks and two appetizers. We kept telling him no and that we were in no hurry. After we ate, he brings the check and never asked us about dessert. Rude! There is NO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE HOSTESS AND THE WAITER ABOUT THE BIRTHDAY CAKE. We just left and got dessert somewhere else. We were in and out in less than an hour. It is that type a place. Not good for any type of celebration. They want you in and out. Oh yeah, when our appetizers came we had to ask for silverware. Awful service, good food. Ruined the birthday celebration.
(2)
Dave S.
Surprised there wasn't a bigger lunch crowd here...maybe I caught them on a slow day. They have a pretty good lunch menu. I thought the portion was well fit for lunch and was under $10. My friend and I split the lettuce wraps which we both agreed were above average but the lettuce itself was a let down. The lettuce itself was a bit thin and soft, which doesn't make it really suited for a wrap. My friend got an entree portion the size of his meal looked in proportion to what he paid as well. Both of us left full and happy. Try their house made sauce as well - provide a nice kick with some heat but was not overpowering at all.
(4)
A C.
Combining Thai and Chinese into one restaurant is the best decision ever made!! I am vacationing in Chicago and the food here is so incredible that I've been twice in 24 hours! To top it off, the service is great. Highly recommend this place.
(5)
Neil R.
I love this place! I see a decent number of below average or average reviews but I've always had a great experience. I usually eat at the bar and get served very quickly. Its a diverse menu and I'm not sure if its authentic or not, but its very solid food. I tend to get the more Thai style dishes but their Chinese style appear to be good as well. Its a cool bar to grab a drink at as well. It can be very busy at peak dinner hours so getting a table or a seat at the bar can be tough. I would say its a bit pricey but I do feel you get your bang for your buck.
(5)
Gerald F.
Spicy. Way spicy. Great ingredients. Huge plate. Excellent shrimp. Too much oil and hot peppers. Wow. Very unique, very fresh, very big.
(4)
Rebecca B.
Some friends and I stopped at Big Bowl for dinner following a movie this past weekend. We had been walking around, trying to decide where to eat, when someone announced, "Let's just eat here." We all ended up very happy that we were standing outside of Big Bowl when she said this. We were promptly seated with no wait, but we were there pretty early, and the place was packed by the time we left. The food was good, and the service was great. Everyone, both meat eaters and our one vegetarian, left full and happy I appreciate that Big Bowl supports sustainable and local ingredients whenever possible, and I love that they prepare as much as possible in house. Everything tasted fresh and delicious. The fresh ginger ale, for example, is made in house, and it is awesome. It is sweet and spicy and refreshing. I have some food allergies that can make going to a new, unfamiliar restaurant somewhat challenging, but the folks at Big Bowl were lovely and more than willing to work with me to find something that I could enjoy. Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and didn't even have to be asked to check with the kitchen about certain ingredients or how something was prepared. This was one of the first times that I wasn't made to feel as though I was a hassle or a difficult customer. I ended up with a BBQ chicken dish with steamed rice and vegetables that was hot, fresh, and delicious. I will be back in the future, Big Bowl. My friends and I thank you for a wonderful meal.
(4)
Legarconla L.
Disappointed with the service especially during peak evening hours. Came here to have a good dinner with my friends but the service was very slow. First no plates were kept and had to eat the appetizers right from the served plate. Each order took more than 15 mins to be served. The waitress was running with wheels tied to her legs that we had to call her everytime we had to order a dish.would never visit any big bowl it's waste of time.
(1)
Courtneye B.
Okay--just finishing dinner at big bowl. I haven't been here in about two years, and maybe nostalgia got the best of me, but I was REALLY looking forward to some GREAT chow fun noodles.... AND--mediocre. I had a steak dish where the noodles were half crisp, half soggy. I suggest the chef choose a side and stick with it. The ginger ale was good, albeit a little sweet. Nice waitress, though. Too bad the food didn't live up to her efforts.
(3)
Susan W.
Went here twice in a 10 day period. First time had a green curry with shrimp & tofu. It was wonderful!!! Friend had a kung pao chicken with excellent greens. We each had a single scoop of their salted caramel gelato. MUST TRY!!! Our server was fantastic!!! Asked how long he had been there thinking he was going to say years. He shocked us letting us know it was his first server job & he had only been there a few months. I would imagine he eats out alot & knows what kind of service he appreciates & strives to provide the same. Second time I had the Shanghai Shrimp & Scallops with the fried rice. ($1 upcharge) The fried rice was NOT good. :( Way soggy. Mentioned not liking it to the server & he gave some lame excuse about it being organic rice. blah, blah, blah. I didn't like it, didn't eat half of it & he should have removed the extra charge from my bill, but whatever... Friend had their Pad Thai & it looked amazing!! I'm getting it next time. We both enjoyed their Shandy drink. A mix of honey, lemon, beer & vodka. It sounds weird as all get out but it was super refreshing with the spicy savory food. Great location near Nordstroms Rack & Trader Joes for shopping.
(4)
Allison W.
This place was great! We had so much fun. Got seated immediately on a Sunday. Food was great, definitely getting two meals out of our build-your-own stir fry. Our server Cam and the manager Justin were amazing! Super helpful, cheerful, and friendly. Very attentive and fun. We will for sure be back! Highly recommend this place. Thanks for the good time guys!
(5)
L M.
Excellent vegetable roll, yummy calamari. I tried their freshly made ginger ale and lived that too. I'll be back!
(5)
Thomas S.
Food was so delicious. Did the stir fry bar and was so fun putting all the vegetables in my own dish. The ginger ale was also so unique and delicious; a definite must have for diners. The service was slow, but the delicious food more than made up for it. Very cool atmosphere
(4)
Jay I.
This is a rip-off version of PF Chang. Since we had a very good experience at TRU and Joe's we decided to try another restaurant run by LEYE. What a miss on this one. When you are in the restaurant, you would think that the ambience is nice, and that they have nice bar with good menu and a grille station (for mongolian beef kinda thing). However, the food we ordered were at best ok. they weren't just good, and the portion was too small. If I have to pick this and PF Chang I will choose pf chang a hundred times.
(3)
Maria M.
Bartender was really nice in greeting us since the hostesses were not at front when we walked in the door.. Ordered an Arnold Palmer, had a fruit fly in it.. Waitress took it back & showed the manager.. Manager never came by the table to apologize nor ask if everything was ok.. He stood by the cooking area the entire time talking to staff hanging out & to the cooks.. I asked for my meal with no onions & the 1st thing I see, ONIONS!! Big whopping chunks..I didn't want to make a big deal about it so I just picked them out.. The waitress checked on us once..but at the end of the meal after I waived her down, I nicely let her know. After the poor service, nasty fly, and onion In my food, the waitress at least have us her employee discount. I was not asking for a refund nor a free meal, I simply stated the facts in a nice and educated manner. Since it seemed that the manager didn't care, she at least took matters into her hands and tried to make up for the mess.. That by itself made me give her a $9 tip (on a$20 meal after employee discount)..
(2)
Mike H.
Gave this place a shot and it was good. I tried a few things and they were all pretty good. Ordered a mai tai and it was great, ended up having three!! I wasn't a big fan of paying $1.50 for a side of rice with my entree, but oh well. Overall this place is good, I will be back.
(3)
Mimi N.
Nick is probably the only attentive bartender there. Eat at the bar for awesome service . Other bar tenders don't really pay attention to you and are too busy socializing and not bringing the bill or tending to you. Food is pretty great for Americanized asian food.
(5)
Natalie B.
The general manager reached out to me to apologize--I love it when restaurants really do care about your business and maintaining a high level of service. He also informed me that they now offer organic milk. I love that I can feel good about what we eat here. We will definitely go back very soon.
(5)
RC R.
Big Bowl just changed their menu on 10/14/14. They took away one of our favorite dishes - Seven Flavor Chicken. There is nothing similar on the menu now. I ordered the Ginger Beef Chow Fun and it had no ginger and no spice - the beef tasted bland. The carry out person was very helpful and nice though.
(2)
Meredith P.
We chose to stop in to Big Bowl on a Saturday night while we were wondering around Chicago. It was very busy the night we chose to come here, but we were seated fairly quickly. I really like the concept and the variety of offerings they had. The build-your-own stir-fry was intriguing, but I opted for a standard pad thai instead. It was good but kind of bland, nothing too exciting. And (this is just a me thing) I tend to add soy sauce on my pad thai and there wasn't any at the table which I thought was strange for an asian-style restaurant. There were nice drink offerings and I really enjoyed the ginger ale they make there. Overall, it was good but I wasn't overly impressed.
(3)
Jenny B.
Really one of the best Asian restaurants I've been to. There are options on the menu for almost anyone, and they support and participate in sustainability and humanely raised meats! There's even a drink menu! Food was delicious, the staff was friendly and helpful, and the modern design/atmosphere was relaxing. It is much bigger than I expected--we got there at 6:30 on a Friday and we were sat immediately.
(5)
Victoria W.
We came here a while ago to have a drink and get parking validation before heading to the actual restaurant we were going to for dinner. The plan worked great. I ordered my standard orange ginger ale, which was awesome as always. But the reason I'm writing a review here is to applaud the bartender, Nemanja, who was friendly and pleasant to such a degree, I made sure to jot down his name. I don't know if he even works there anymore, but I wanted to give a shout out into the void just in case.
(4)
Matthew K.
I had the thai hot pepper chicken. The ingredients were good quality but it was literally inedible. It was basically chicken drowned in lemon and cilantro. Seems like a good place but this particular dish was not to my taste.
(2)
Laurie C.
Food is good, lots of selection. Unfortunately the service at this location sucks every single time I go here. Everything from having to wait for long time to get served as I watch people that got there after us get served before us, being brought the wrong food, one time we actually had some billing issues and the manager promised to send us a gift card for their mistake and never did. So if you go expect the service to suck but at least the food will be good, maybe try pick up or delivery instead.
(3)
Jeremy C.
The bowls were fairly large... I would say they have "big bowls" :) I thought the food was good. I liked the steamed dumplings, the do it yourself stir fry, and they actually had some tasty beers on tap. The lady had some lettuce wraps. Any lettuce entertain you place.. you know the food and flavors will be there. Here is my (spicy) beef. I'm not exactly an old country buffet type of guy but... Chicago has Flat Top grill. At flat top you get the same style of create your own stir fry but... Flat top you can make the unlimited trips for seconds... Plus they have the flat bread there... oh yea.. So with that said.. This place is good. Great flavors, etc... but ... if I'm in chicago and I'm feeling DIY stir fry... Then it's Flat Top grill..
(3)
S S.
Food was excellent as usual but the service was extremely bad. It is 4th of July evening and the place was expectedly packed. The waiter was impatient and rude and did not wait to answer our Qs. She would ask what we wanted and before we answered, she would leave. She repeatedly that many times and forgot about us asking for Hot sauce, water, etc. overall experience was bad and something I did not expect from Big Bowl
(1)
Partha A.
Went there on a busy Friday evening. I could tell by the patrons, it had a high popularity among South Asians such as myself. The mix of spice and sweet and savory is perfect I guess and hits home nicely :). Man gripe was our food was way too salty - but it was prepared hot and was fresh. Fiery dumplings - nice and as it should be. I expected more fire but that was fine. The chicken wrapped in rice paper - chicken felt a little dry. But the dippings were okay. Penang Curry - absolutely fantasmic - smells of fenugreek and cumin with lemon and coconut. Heaven. Spicy Sichuan beef - Too salty and a little flavorless. Thai hot pepper chicken with basil and peanuts - I had it over noodles instead of rice - it was gooood. BUT once again, a tad overseasoned. Next time I go in, I should ask for lower salt content and I should be content.
(4)
Lori H.
Healthy eats, mix of spicy Thai and Chinese stir fry. Full bar. 3 blocks away from Michigan ave. breezy window views.
(4)
Jeremy D.
1. This is a Lettuce Entertain You joint. There is nothing wrong with that at all, but this is a corporate joint. 2. Thankfully it is NOT P.F. Changs But this IS pretty Guai-Lo cuisine though. Very good ingredients, but not particularly firery, earthy, sour... Recently had the Shrimp Pad-Thai... And just very one-noted. Pad-Thai (while become very ubiquitous and over done) is still a great dish and should be beguiling of tamarind and palm sugar... Lime and fish sauce... Chilies! The shrimp were very fresh... Butt he dish just didn't SING. It was just BORING. Even adding their Sambal Chili Sauce didn't do much for it. It's a nice enough place and the quality isn't suspect... But this isn't the best either.
(3)
Zi B.
Drinks were pretty good... excellent customer service...terrible food. Orange on the Orange Chicken was not fresh. It tasted rancid. The Ginger Shrimp and Scallops with pea pods and tomatoes smelled spoiled. Not overreacting, I couldn't finish it. After many times eating there, this is the first time something like this happens. Unfortunately it was so bad that I couldn't possibly bring myself to recommend this specific location.
(2)
Paul S.
Big Bowl is part of a series of chain restaurants which I had somehow managed to avoid unintentionally. When taking a date out recently, we were walking around downtown and she suggested it. I figured, why not? Here's the quick and dirty... Pros: + Our waiter knew his stuff and could easily explain the nuances of all the menu items, sauces and so forth, forgot to get his name though + They serve the food pipping hot, so it does taste fresh + Kung Pow for the win, 'nuff said Cons: - $40 for dinner for two at a place that seems like a slightly more upscale Panda Express, I'm missing the point here - My chicken dish had very little chicken on it, seriously, don't skimp In short, Big Bowl was tasty, even if they shorted on the meat given the price. Yes, it isn't high end eating, but for $20 per plate, you expect better. Perhaps I'll give one of their other locations a try, as I hear they have one in Schaumburg by the Woodfield Mall.
(3)
Amy Z.
I am a HUGE fan of pan-Asian food so I'm aware that the cuisine is merely inspired by Asian dishes and may not be in any means authentic. Despite this flexibility, both Big Bowl's pad thai and lettuce wraps were, to put it as delicately as possible, cringeworthy. LETTUCE WRAPS: Never having been to Big Bowl, my friend and I wanted to try something "noteworthy." Having been labeled with the logo WOW! next to it, we decided to try. And sure enough, it was "WOW!" WOW! in that it was sloppy gunk of dark matter with mostly softened rice noodles, sauce, green onions and sliced cabbage. It's hard to make a really good lettuce wrap filling, but it is even harder to butcher it completely. You're already serving this dish in lettuce, how can you be so cheap as to not even offer a little more substance? PAD THAI: Why would you put string beans and bok choy in pad thai? What's with the excessive use of red peppers and dressing? Where'd all the peanuts go? I may not be Thai, but I like to think of pad thai as a delicate dish where the combination of ingredients are individually subtle, but combine to create a slightly tangy with a hint of savory goodness. What I had the pleasure of eating was more like sour wet noodles with a consistently very much like that of jajangmyun. So explain to me, how has this restaurant gone so long with 4 stars? Either the chef was having a bad day or the reputation of Big Bowl truly is an embarrassment in and of itself, proving that the only people the food I had would attract are those who can't cook and eat microwave dinners for a living.
(1)
Hina Q.
My wife and I tried this place on a whim. We were walking around downtown and decided to go to this restaurant after looking at the menu. The restaurant has a nice ambiance and looks clean. It's located downtown Chicago near all the shopping areas so that's a plus. We were seated at the table and after a few minutes the waiter came by to take our order. Off the menu I saw that their gingerale was made in-house and fresh with fresh ginger. I decided to order that and my wife ordered the raspberry lemonade. We were surprised when our drinks came after taking the first sip. They were delicious drinks. The gingerale here is quite the popular drink and now I know why. Exquisite! The food we ordered was: veggie dumplings and teriyaki fried tofu; for main-course it was the shrimp pad thai and hot pot shrimp panang. Both of our dishes along with the appetizers were very good and fresh. We really enjoyed our dinner and drinks. For dessert we ordered the chocolate brownie with the homemade ice cream and the apple crisp with homemade whipped cream. Both of the desserts, like the main course, were delicious and freshly made. The staff is professional and very courteous. We really enjoyed our experience here and would definitely recommend this place and visit it again and again. A must try!
(4)
John M.
Im not sure if I got lucky. I looked back at the website and I thought maybe I ate somewhere else. But it was here that I had a really good meal. I ate on the fringe of outside and inside. I enjoyed the walk from Rush St seeing all the crowded outdoor seating to finally arrive here and be greeted by an open table. I like the Russian waitress. We nicknamed her Natashi. She was attentive. Had nice drinks and ate "asian fusion" I dont even know what that means. I just know it was fancier than regular Chinese food and it was very tasty. Tasty food, good service, nice lseating, good company. I liked my visit.
(4)
Neha A.
This was my first time in here and I liked this place a lo t. We ordered chicken lettuce wrap and chicken kung pao. Both were well made and yummy. The service is slow though. Wish they op en up one in Ann Arbor too.
(4)
Shradha A.
Another great stirfry experience and I just want to add (for myself too) that their Pad Thai is not and can't be vegetarian (fish sauce). The vegetable potstickers are good but the Kung Pao stirfry with noodles is my rockstar item! Their homemade gingerale is not too sweet and a nice complement to the spicy sauce!
(4)
Jana M.
Great service, food came promptly. Lively spot. Quality food- would go again without hesitation. The white pomegranate sangria was amazing! Beef lettuce wraps were also outstanding!
(4)
Odranre B.
This is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant. I occasionally eat here to earn points. Food is OK. Nothing spectacular. Located just west of Michigan Ave on Ontario. Friendly staff
(3)
Van T.
another faux Asian establishment...the entrees are mostly rice, and not the good kind of rice either. blech!
(2)
Pete P.
Good choice for lunch right off the Mile. We had potstickers combo, very good, I liked the funky spicy sauce in the middle best. Pad Thai Chicken, Asian Chicken Salad, Watermelon Salad, and Beef Lettuce Wraps. Everything was good, probably too Americanized as OP says. Very fresh and tasty. Watermelon Mojito, meh, no flavor at all. That and random service cost you a star. One block west just past the Harley-Davidson Shirt Shop.
(4)
Nahima D.
Happy hour is awesome. Spicy peanut noodles $2.99 special is delicious. Amazing service from Katie & Peter.
(5)
Crystal Z.
I had the most amazing beef lettuce wraps EVER at this place. Seriously, so good. I wasn't too impressed with the wonton soup, but it would've been hard for anything to measure up against just how good the beef lettuce wraps were. The peanut sauce that came with it was out of this world. I also got one of their cocktails made with the fresh ginger ale. It was refreshing and delicious. Service was also good and food came quickly. I will definitely be going back.
(5)
Jeanean M.
This was a lovely surprise. Food was good, service was good. I enjoyed it. The best thing is if you can't find your taste on the menu you can go create your own. Big plus!
(4)
Lizzie R.
This place was average. Came here for a casual dinner with a friend and the food was good, not mind-blowing. I had the pad thai which is one of my favorite dishes wherever I go and it was just okay. My friend asked for whatever tea they had that night and he asked for it to be sweetened. Got it and it was the most sour tea we'd ever had. Then I had run out of water. This was the only beverage I had asked for, so I asked two waitresses for a refill because mine was nowhere to be found. They send a bus boy who is cleaning off other tables to fill my water. He takes my glass and comes back with a glass of not warm but hot water! I quickly asked him to take it back and get me some ice water. I guess I need to specify that I will be drinking the water when they bring it out, rather than waiting for it to cool. At one point during the night, something had spilled on the table and I had to use my napkin to wipe it up because, you guessed it, no waitresses to be found. Another bus boy is near and I ask him for another napkin because mine had been used to clean up the table mess. He then hands me two little cocktail napkins. I was floored. The location is great, the place is nice looking, but for the food and service, I would say you're better off somewhere else! I may come back here again hoping it was just a one time bad experience but from my first, I was not happy.
(3)
Paul E.
The meal was great, the drinks were good, and our server Chris kicked ass. They gave us really good tasters to try since it was our first time too!
(5)
Stina T.
I was extremely sad when one of my favorite LEYE restaurants, Ben Pao, closed a few years ago. However, I am tickled pink that Big Bowl has infused their menu with a few of Ben Pao's most popular menu items (e.g., sesame chicken, cherry bomb shrimp, and the chicken and peanut egg roll). What I love about Big Bowl is their vast menu - there's something that truly can please everyone, including those with dietary restrictions/preferences. Additionally, I really like Big Bowl's dedication to using fresh ingredients in their dishes and that so many of their ingredients come from local farms. It's truly one of those restaurants you can eat at and feel satiated after you eat, but not sickeningly full. The portions are large enough so you can split them or just have left overs. I like their dessert menu because the serving size is "just right". Some of my favorite menu items include their hot and sour soup, sesame chicken, and shrimp summer rolls. The decor at Big Bowl is trendy and fresh, but still comfortable enough for diners of all ages. The service has always been hit-or-miss (sometimes attentive enough, other times not attentive enough), but I can't say I have any specific horror stories about bad service. Not feeling like dining out tonight? You can opt for pick up or delivery. Big Bowl offers delivery from Diningin.com ! I don't know about you, but a big bowl of hot and sour soup when I have a cold or am feeling under the weather is one of the most soothing things possible! The perk? Most of the times I've ordered Big Bowl from Dining In, the delivery fee is waived!
(4)
Jeremy A.
In downtown Chicago there's not many choices for Chinese food but nursing a hangover I knew I needed to get some noodles somewhere. We went in there for lunch and this place was absolutely slam packed. Its a pricey spot but its par for the course in downtown Chicago. Read this closely, unless you are a vegetarian you absolutely HAVE to try the spicy Szechuan pork belly noodles dish. I thought it was a bit weird when I ordered it but holy crap this was one of the tastiest Chinese dishes I have ever had in my life! They have a build your own bowl option as well so you can pretty much choose your destiny at this place.
(4)
Sky T.
Great place. Good food done right. We had dishes that tasted different from what we were used to. They tasted better than we were used to. The Sichuan green beans are over the top.
(5)
Diana M.
I was, for a while, a big bowl regular. Living only a few streets away, I was even going here up to 2-3 times a week. PROS: *Most of the food is solid. You could really pick anything on the menu and be satisfied. * The specials are always great, but I have my favorites: gyoza, spring/eggroll appetizer, yellow curry with pad thai noodles and pomegranate giner ale. After dining there so frequently, the servers new that we always order our 'usual'. * Servers are always very friendly. The place is always busy and you can tell the staff works hard. CONS: * Restaurant can be loud and most annoyingly, the hostesses are almost always snobby and not very friendly. They consistently make me question their continued employment and instantly trample on any excitement I had to be there. *A bit pricey for what it is. I never leave upset not satisfied with my food, but it's not unique. For a chain, I would have liked to have seen lower prices. Ultimately, this is why I stopped going as frequently. I havent dined there in months. * the seven flavor beef is inconsistent. When it's done well, it's delicious, but many times, it's been dry
(3)
Anay A.
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(3)
Evan K.
I came here for dinner one night with a friend, and I really enjoyed it. They basically let us pick our own table when they seated us, and the service was good. I decided that I wanted to try their in house ginger ale, and I really enjoyed it. It had a nice fresh taste and was a crisp refreshing drink. I ordered chicken pad thai, and it was satisfying. I haven't had a lot of thai food before, but out of the chicken pad thai that I've had in my time, I enjoyed this one probably the most. I liked the setting, and I enjoyed the idea of being able to have thai or chinese or both if I wanted it. I would like to go again sometime when I get a chance.
(4)
Lisa L.
Neat place where you can pick out all your own personal favorite vegetables, sauce, meats, etc. Service fast and very good. Good for kids. Kind of loud but fun place.
(4)
Maya G.
Pai Wai with a new name. I actually looked it up to see if they were the same owners because it is pretty much identical. I had the teriyaki bowl where you can fill up your own veggies. Tip: Fill up a ton of veggies to get a nice chicken/veggie proportion. Overall- not bad for really unhealthy, moderately tasty and completely nonauthentic asian food.
(3)
Dean O.
OK...I was just in Chicago on business and admit that I was drawn to the hustle-bustle of this place from peering in through the windows (not knowing it was a chain until I stepped inside). The truth is that it's neither a 1-star nor 4/5-star place...its a solid 2.5 stars, right in the middle. Completely average by all accounts. As such, most of the reviews here are valid and believable. Service will always vary based on luck of the draw. I happened to sit at the bar (being solo) and my server/bar maid was delightful...so no complaints there. The allure is really in the styling of the place (how exotic that we've suddenly landed in Shanghai!) as well as the energy it exudes...not the food. The food isn't dreadful as long as you set your expectations correctly. Just imagine that you've purchased a microwave dinner that you don't completely hate, nor does it really satisfy. Also, it somehow looks closer to the picture on the front of the box than micro-dinners do in reality, but it costs $15 instead of $3.75. If you get your mind straight on that, you'll be fine. On the plus side, you will have left-overs for lunch tomorrow and if you are with people you don't really enjoy, service is fast so you'll be in, out and on your way.
(2)
Eugene V.
Stopped by with the family after a day at the museums. Originally seated in dining room, however, waiter accommodated request to move to bar area corner table so we could order from happy hour menu (til 6pm). chicken satay, pork dumplings, lettuce wrap were satisfying. Best item was BBQ pork ribs. Bbq pork fried rice had decent flavor, portion size was on the smaller side. Service was excellent - very friendly and attentive!
(4)
Samantha E.
Came with a group of friends and it was A-OK (as the three stars indicate). There is actually a pretty hefty discount for Northwestern students so it makes it even more reasonably priced. My spicy food was not all that spicy, but what can you do. The flavor was good and the house ginger ale was on point.
(3)
steve l.
Good atmosphere, but the food is really, really bland. Pad Thai has no flavor. The spicy Thai shrimp had less heat and less flavor than the beef and broccoli. Sickening sweet as well. Shrimp wraps were soggy and bland. What happened to what used to be a solid choice? Oh well...
(1)
Tom F.
Chain pan-Asian - nothing special. Pretty greasy pad thai, average pho, fair teryaki ribs. Highlight was freshly made Ginger ale. Very good service - noisy so good for kids.
(2)
Genevieve S.
Spicy is spicy. Pretty good but nothing amazing.
(3)
Albert W.
People who are not chinese are going to like this place. It's like PF Changs. As for me, I really think there are other places that more interesting to go eat at like Purple Pig and all the other great food places in the general area. Come here if you want american asian food in a nice setting.
(3)
Channa P.
Went here for dinner. Got the very spicy, but delicious pepper chicken. It had a tangy flavor because it was seasoned with lemon juice. That lemon taste was a happy relief from the heat of the spices, and really works quite well with the rest of the dish. I had a heaping portion and after eating my weight had enough to box. Try it out. It's cheap, good, and decently authentic.
(4)
Grace N.
Generic, unauthentic, americanized asian food....but their decor is really pretty. Tables are pretty close to each other so often it makes it difficult for people to walk through. Pad thai w/chicken-missing the peanutty flavor that pad thai is supposed to have and had a really strong taste of lime already in it. What's the lime on the side supposed to be for then? Fried rice w/beef-vegetables and beef were cooked perfectly. veggies were crunchy, meat was tender, but finishing the last bit of my plate was tough. The rice was drenched in sauce which made it really unappetizing I only dined here because I was visiting from out of state and it was too late at night to travel to any other area outside of what was near my hotel. Customer service and dishes were cooked very well, but taste is just too americanized like "panda express"
(2)
Manan M.
Just finished dinner - the food was absolutely unpalatable-we ordered chefs choice vegetables with green curry ..absolutely horrible,no salt -extremely spicy as well ..it was almost as if the chef gave us the food in spite ..Been a regular here for years, but surely never coming back .
(1)
Stefania L.
My husband and I went to big bowl several time this winter....we were very happy because the food was very good and the vegetables was very fresh. My husband loves the hot granbeans that are very very spicy.
(4)
Lex M.
And now for the best part - we gave our wait person two credit cards and told her to put 1/2 the bill on one card and 1/2 the bill on the other card. Well, she ran two cards, but she ran the same card TWICE! This was just the end of a terrible experience!
(2)
Dina G.
Exactly what the name says: BIG BOWL. But my favourite bit; the big screen TVs mounted on the walls of the bar playing live NHL sport. Truth is I got so caught up in the black hawks game I forgot what I ordered or even when. Though we sat in the restaurant half- The screens were perfectly visible. Besides I wasnt the only hockey zombie there. There were more of us. One of us. One of us. Though I distinctively remember the waiters arrogance when he heard our accents. I made it my point to highlight the fact Ill be reviewing my experience here- suddenly like a leprechaun off a lucky charms cereal box, he turned into rainbows and marshmallows.....how convenient right? Now its up to the company who they chose to represent them, but I cannot doubt their taste and presentation of the food. Simply superb.
(4)
Mikee R.
Not sure why I didn't review this last year. We decided tonight that we won't be going back. The food is just OK. It tastes just bland for this kind of place, I would expect the food to just POP and be flavorful and fresh tasting. The service was just BAD! We had to ask for lemon for the water three times. Our server just didn't seem to care. Oh well. Their loss.
(2)
Keith C.
The steamed dumplings were good. The dumplings were cooked so that they were not soggy at all when brought out. I really like the sauce that they use for it. It's not exactly soy sauce but it's kind of similar. Maybe soy sauce with something else added but it really complemented the dumplings. Chicken pad thai was also good. Not fantastic but it did satisfy my thai food craving.
(3)
Peanut Q.
The worst food i have ever had in Chicago. Ordered from this place via grab hub.. The food came 20 minutes late than expected and semi cold. Small potion for the price .. Tastes so awful. It is not authentic asian food, not authentic american asian food either.
(1)
Rashmi P.
At times I feel walking into a restaurant without any preconceived notion is the way to experience the true value of it. All I knew about Big Bowl, was based on my Twitter communications with #spicychat and that they support sustainable local produce and enjoy well-seasoned food creations. Big Bowl is one of #SpicyChat's loyal foodie supporters. Needless to say, on my recent trip to Chi-Town I had to stop by and say hello. Co incidentally, I was in Chicago to attend the #IGC12 Independent Garden Center Show (world's largest trade show and conference for independent garden center owners, managers and buyers). It seemed befitting to pay a visit to a restaurant which not only supports foodies and serves locally grown produce, but have gotten more involved with their Seed to Table innovative approach by contracting with farmers to grow sustainable/organic crops. Crops that are grown from heirloom seeds, selected by Big Bowl, and cultivated on the farm with the help of the restaurant staff. Now they are serving more than 700 lbs each week to four of their Chicago Locations. I walked into a vibrant & modern restaurant proudly showcasing an open kitchen with fresh local seasonal produce bar. Over the course of my lunch I couldn't help notice how completely packed the restaurant got. Conveniently located on E Ohio Street, it is walking distance from Magnificent Mile, drawing clientele from both tourists and Chi Town residents. A quick glance over the menu displayed a familiar menu serving classic regional Chinese and Thai specialties. There was a 'Group Share' menu, Big Bowl menu and the Classic al carte dining. Oh I wish my boys were with me. After all how much can a girl eat? The Summer Harvest Celebration menu grabbed my attention. Each time you order from their specials, Big Bowl and Free bird donate $1 to growing homes. After all charity begins at home, so I ordered the spicy Sichuan eggplant. Locally grown eggplant, freebird chicken, sungold tomatoes dressed in a spicy Sichuan sauce - yes, it was indeed 'spicy' and I couldn't get enough of it. Hands down, one of the better eggplants I have tasted outside of China. I was told by our pleasant server that their 'ginger-ale' is homemade and it is the signature drink. Not being a ginger ale fan, I politely refused and enjoyed my refreshing and cool cocktail; a nice compliment to my spicy meal. Of course personally for me Cold Sesames Noodle is reminiscent of good old times in NYC, so I couldn't help ordering a bowl. Cold noodles lightly dressed in an addictive peanut sauce, garnished with cucumber julienne; yes it was light and refreshing. Though, I didn't quite grasp the lying down bowl concept in the presentation. A meal at Big Bowl is incomplete without their signature 'From our Farm to your Table' stir fry bar. What a fun and interactive way to enjoy your meal. Now, stir fry has been around for donkey years, what makes Big Bowl special? Allow me to elaborate. Fresh local produce, protein from small family farms, curries made from scratch, freshly toasted spices and all, authentically prepared capture the essence of flavors signature to Big Bowl. Need I say anymore? My signature Big Bowl: chicken, greens from the bar, panang curry, and jasmine rice. The flavor was lighter than any Thai curry I have been exposed too. While I was just pondering that, with great pride the sweet server informed me the curries are all made in-house from scratch starting from roasting the chilies. There is not a more comforting dish for me than the aroma of kaffir leaf infusing the chicken and perfectly cooked jasmine rice. Even though I was dining alone (indeed a rarity for me), I had a wonderful time. Between the vibrant energy of the restaurant and the friendly staff, I felt at home. Big Bowl manages to re-create authentic flavors producing bold and bright flavors with fresh produce, herbs, and clean flavors. So all you people hooked on heat and complex yet comforting flavors of Thai & Chinese cuisine has to offer, Big Bowl is one restaurant I am pleased to endorse is worth the trek, regardless of which suburb of Chicago you reside in.
(4)
Cindy T.
A lot of pomp, but not much substance. Stopped by Big Bowl to kill time before a meeting. I ordered the signature orange ginger ale and the chicken pho (large). The orange ginger ale arrived in a pretty, tall, slender glass. Unfortunately, the drink itself tasted like neither orange nor ginger. It was more like slightly sweet, powdery water. Perhaps the pomegranate, the most popular of the ginger ales, would be have tasted better? The pho arrived in a glazed white ceramic pot with the standard lime, bean sprouts, basil and chilies served on the side. Feeling daring, I popped one of the chilies straight in my mouth. Chili novices beware - I love spice yet this chili lit my mouth on fire. Upon spooning out the broth, I saw lots of chicken and cilantro but where were the noodles? Surely, they must have forgotten the noodles... Poking around some more, I discovered a few forlorn strands floating around the bottom. Alas, this was no noodle soup. It was soup with noodle. I wouldn't order the lemonade or pho again. With that said, if I were in the neighborhood, I might check out the happy hour special , which runs from 3-6pm. Their spiel is "3 appetizers, 3 drinks, 3 hours". The cocktail selection looked pretty good and the thai lettuce wrap, one of the appetizers offered, smelled promising.
(2)
Ashish V.
Very bad service. They got my order wrong. The severs were rude and arrogant. I ordered a curry with brown rice but they gave me white rice. When I asked about it they just gave me an extra bowl of dry brown rice. We were sharing the dishes but they didn't give plates. Overall food was ok nothing that great but bad service made the overall experience bad.
(1)
Kammie G.
Ohh, I LOVE this place. My first time there I didn't expect to find such awesome options. I had no idea Big Bowl was all about being all-natural, organic, healthy, and sustainable. I LOVE this. That's exactly what I'm all about too so I definitely enjoyed my dinner here. The stir fry (made to order) was the best I've ever had. I've had made to order stir frys before but this one definitely won by a lot. Usually when I get stir fry, it comes out all dry and just mediocre. But this one was perfect - the sauce was still there (the sweet and sour lemon, yummmm) and the whole dish was moist and delicious. Their veggies were fresh and a good variety to choose from. Also, I'm all for their seasonal (strawberry) $6 sangria! Yummy in my tummy. The only thing I was no happy about was our server. He sucked. He didn't explain anything to me about how to do the self made stir fry and he wasn't very accomodating. But the food and place overall made the 5 stars worth it. I'll forget about the waiter occurance for this review :)
(5)
Karla R.
First visit to Big bowl. We had chicken potstickers, they were delicious also had the chicken satay's, they were delicious as well. Dinner we had the market bar, all ingredients were fresh. Service wasn't that great but it was a busy time.
(5)
Georgia W.
And you thought Stir Fry and Shandy's didn't go together! Well, they do. Big Bowl serves up the usual suspects...Curries, noodles, veggies and all the usual protein options ( chicken, shrimp, beef, tofu). Not overly BOWLED by the predictable menu but all is served hot and fast and there were some fun drink options ( did I mention the Shandy?) Attentive service. Did not balk over our Foursquare coupon or splitting the bill a few times. Most Thai seekers will leave happy. Just don't go looking for the unusual.
(3)
Amy B.
Relatively healthy, fresh food served fast and cheap? Yes, please! I came here for lunch with a friend and split the assorted dumplings to start, then enjoyed a tom yum shrimp soup. I was nursing a bit of a cold, so the soup was a perfect hot, slightly spicy treat. One gripe: I did not realize there'd be huge slices of ginger root in the soup and had the unpleasant experience of popping one in my mouth, then spitting it out in front of other people. At least I was able to semi-discreetly use my napkin. Oh, classy me. My friend pointed out that unlike many stir fry places, Big Bowl does not set their meats and fish out in the ingredient buffet, which helps it to stay fresher.
(3)
Myia B.
Service - rushed and not personable. The hostess was rude and so off on her wait time estimate. The server must have been her brother - cut from the same cloth. The food saved them. The drinks - DELICIOUS. All of the ginger ale cocktails are smart choices. Teriyaki glazed spare ribs? I could have had the whole plate! I ordered the Clay Pot Shrimp Panang and have been craving more since. Had a lemon bar type dessert that was tasty enough. The atmosphere is colorful. Would I go back? Heck yeah - that clay pot was something serious.
(5)
Ann G.
Stopped in on a waning summer's Wednesday night. Busy, busy, busy. Loved having the front wall open to fresh air and the night. Food was good/ potstickers, Mongolian beef and chicken pad Thai. Good atmosphere.
(3)
P S.
A day of errands and what's this? A $15 Lettuce gift card? Well boy howdy do I sure love some Thai food. Big Bowl... how YOU doin? Seated at the bar, the barkeep greeted me quick and friendly. House-made ginger ale (so friggin good) and some very yummy potstickers to follow, I ordered up my good old Panang curry with chicken. I could have done tofu but meh. No big. The rice arrives already *in* the curry sauce and there's a lot of it so my mind immediately flew to leftover arrangements. I can tell you now that as I sit here eating my lumpy, sticky bowl of reheated chicken Panang, they really should put the rice separate and let the diner concoct their own proportions. This stuff just doesn't heat up well at all since the rice becomes a sponge. Anyway, the flavors are good though not as much heat as you may want. They offer chili pepper sauce or soy sauce when an entree arrives (which kind of breaks my heart a little, what people do to their food). The highlights are the tender chicken, the bits of lemongrass and ginger adding a nice fresh zing, and the freshness of the veggies. It's good Panang. It's also a great spot to dine at alone, pay your bill, gather your stuff and 45 minutes later realize you left a bag behind. The host will keep it for you and not laugh at you when you frantically run back in an hour later and pick it up...
(3)
Monica B.
Good variety of menu items, including lots of veggies, grilled items, and other alternatives to "variations on General Tso." The veggie bar is interesting, although I just went with the Chef's Selection for my dish. I really liked the garlic sauce, too. Our server was very sweet and peppy, which normally annoys me (dude, it's my dinner, not yours) but she was so charming and cute that there was no way I could get annoyed at her. The wait for a table was a little long, and the place is definitely noisy, so not necessarily the best place for an intimate date, but good for groups.
(4)
Joanne K.
I've been here 3 times over the last week. I've had the panang curry, dumplings, pot stickers and summer spring rolls. I love how all the food comes from local farms. Everything has been delicious. Just a warning - everything comes with a little kick! I took away 1 star for the noise level and how the tables are close together.
(4)
Ting C.
So I call in a carry out order at 4:33pm. I was told 10 minutes. I arrive at 4:43pm. I paid for my order then was told it's not ready. As a trader my time is money. If you don't have something ready for me at the time YOU promised me then you get 1 star.
(1)
Andrew S.
Did recent take out during the blizzard. I knew I should have been worried when the best thai place recommended was pan asian. I ordered a spring roll and penang with chicken. The spring roll was average in all ways. It came with some decent dipping sauces but was generally forgettable. The penang I ordered was unfortunately slightly worse. While freshly cooked, the flavor was just slightly off. It wasnt inedible, but it was not really good. It was also short on peanuts which might have been pat of the problem. The staff was friendly and I was not wholly disappointed, but it fell short of taking care of my thai craving.
(2)
Al G.
Good quality food at very reasonable prices. Service is alway impeccable.
(4)
Steve G.
I was served raw chicken here a couple of years ago. I took a few bites before realizing that several of the pieces were raw or very undercooked. It got me a little bit ill for a few days. I was bummed because I half-enjoyed the dish otherwise. The server and manager apologized, naturally, but still. Raw chicken. Tighten up the ship. I wrote to corporate, and was told they were "reviewing the matter." I never heard back. I probably should have nagged them, but didn't feel like putting forth the effort.
(1)
Danielle B.
If you love asian food but are allergic to everything like me this is definitely the place to go. Do they not only have great food their staff is extremely knowledgable and accommodating. I was extremely impressed how serious they took my allergies and didnt seem to mind the special request. They have a great selection so there is something for everyone.
(5)
Amber P.
Big Bowl used to be in Colorado (on Dry Creek Road and I-25), but about 7 years ago it closed. The building is still empty. Every time I drive by, I mourn the loss and crave the stir fry. I have written more than one letter to the company pleading for their re-expansion. So, of course, upon visiting Chicago, I immediately sought it out. Favorite Dish: Build your own Stir Fry (whatever you do, make sure you insert EGGPLANT, add CHICKEN, and choose KUNG PAO sauce). Favorite Beverage: Ginger Ale (they make it themselves!)
(5)
Rod S.
Interesting mix of cultural cuisines. It features Thai, Indian, and Chinese dishes as well as a nice "make your own" Stir Fry bar. It also features home-made ginger ale and lemonaid, which were quite tasty. It had a pleasant atmosphere and friendly helpful waitstaff, all in all it was a very nice dining experience. The make your own stir fry (which is what I ordered) was very nice. You choose your meat (it also has tofu and vegetarian options), your sauce, and either rice or noodles, take a large bowl and choose several kinds of vegetables and toppings and they stir fry and deliver it fairly quickly. I prefer Mongolian Grills because they are much cheaper and more customizable, but this was very nice as well. It is a bit pricey for what you get. The portion sizes are decent, but not what you would expect from someplace calling itself the "BIG BOWL". But given the area, atmosphere, and service, the price is extremely reasonable. If I was in the area, I would definitly eat there again.
(4)
Raj B.
We went to Big Bowl twice when we visited Chicago for vacation last week. The first time we went (for dinner), we thought it would be interesting to fill up on just soup and appetizers, so we ordered Vietnamese noodle soup and Chicken dumpling noodle soup, both of which were very well prepared. The Vietnamese soup was nicely fragrant, with a generous portion of chicken. The dumplings were meaty and the broth tasted fantastic. Afterwards, we ordered the BBQ'd spareribs, and were genuinely impressed. The meat was tender, juicy, saucy, and came off the bone perfectly. It was so good, that we had another plate sent to our table. The service was impeccable. Our server, Jared was incredibly hospitable and made us feel special. He provided useful recommendations, and made our dining experience a true pleasure. The second time we went (for lunch), we requested a table in Jared's area, and had a repeat pleasant experience. The Kung-Pao Chicken with noodles were delicious, and Jared allowed us to tone down the spice so that we could make it through the whole dish without our hairs standing on end. We also ordered Chilly Hot Pepper Chicken Noodles and the Thai Yellow Curry. Each one of the dishes was satisfying. All in all, I hope and pray that a Big Bowl opens soon in New Jersey!!!
(5)
Gin Y.
Ordered the potsticker combo, and it was really a small portion. That was disappointing! The vegetable and chicken pad thai had flavor, but lacked that oomph! I wouldn't say there was a wow factor here! It was also pretty expensive for the type of food they serve! I might as well have gone to Chinatown to eat good Thai food! Won't be going back here, unless I'm desperate and really hungry! =P
(2)
Matthew W.
Chinese and Thai. Not authentic but pretty close. At first glance it seems like a crappy chain restaurant but the food and service convince you of otherwise. Not too spendy, especially considering the location. They make their own ginger ale...yum. They also have a Mongolian BBQ...not too shabby. If you're looking for a better than tourist meal in River North...check it out.
(3)
Eugene H.
too american chinese for my taste. nice service though
(1)
Tonya M.
This place has "create your own" wokked bowl of yummy goodness. You walk up to the "bar" select all the ingredients you want from a plethera of fresh veggies. then you tell the chef what kinda meat you want, the type of rice you like (jasmine is my fave) and presto chango, wokkalishiousness ALL in your mouth. They house chardonnay seemed to be the Sonoma Cutrer which is a fave of mine. And if you eat at the bar, you meet lots of nice and friendly people to converse with in between devouring your awesome bowl. Brian was my waiter the first time I ever went to Big Bowl and a major reason for my return on many occasions. I got my bowl the first time, and since its jasmine rice i requested, then I got it.... but wanted butter. Well even the sleaziest of Asian establishments don't usually carry butter, so Brian went to the Corner Bakery next door and snagged me some butter. AWESOME Service. I miss this place. we don't have any here in San Diego.
(4)
Ali L.
I think I just have a thing against chain Asian restaurants. Tried Big Bowl for the first time on Labor Day. It's kinda pricey (for 3 our total was 70ish? with one appetizer, pop/iced tea for drinks and a tiny dessert), the food wasn't great (I had chicken pad thai with tofu added in... very lime-y and not very peanut-y... too tangy for my liking I guess) but maybe I'm just a snob or something, I don't know. I don't like PF Chang's either so I just assume it's the same sort of thing. Anyway I'll just stick to local places from now on. However the hibiscus iced tea was fantastic, and our server was also great- brought new drinks as soon as ours were half gone, he was awesome. Food, no. Service, yes. I'd give a 2.5 if I could, right down the middle, but I can't, so I'll round up. :) The end.
(3)
Michael G.
Service is always great. The lemonades are good. The food is fresh, if a bit salty. I'll go back.
(4)
Craig M.
I had the orange ginger ale and the Thai chicken curry. Both were excellent. They also brought us an appetizer to try which was a nice touch. I would definitely return.
(4)
Lesley C.
YUM. This place was fabulous. We try Asian restaurants wherever we travel, and this one is one of the better ones we have been to. It's nice when you can taste the fresh ingredients (ginger, for example) in your food. The service is prompt but not too brisk, and they have a really good kids' menu. We'll definitely return here.
(5)
Lisa V.
My last Night in Chicago I found Big Bowl. I sat at the bar because I was a loner. =) No worries, I quickly made friends with the rest of the loners sitting next to me that were here on business. I liked the menu, they had the usual appetizers pot stickers and lettuce wraps, but what caught my eye is near the grill they have a veggie bar where you could pick the veggies that would go into your meal. I opted for that choice. I first picked my protein, then the sauce, you could stay Chinese and get the terriyaki or go for Thai with there lemon sauce. Next you chose your carb, which was a choice of noodles, Jazmin rice or brown rice. After that the waiter gives you a bowl to pick all your veggies that would be mixed in. The outcome DELI SH!!!!! I will try this place again when I go back, I loved the atmosphere, the help was nice and the crowd was great to chat with. Verdict: Will go back again.
(4)
Melinda L.
Interesting mini chain restaurant with a highly diverse wait staff. Our waitress was from Siberia with an accent - yes, at a Chinese restaurant! The ingredients here are fresh and the food tastes pretty authentic. Dishes tried were: Hot and Sour Soup, Lettuce Wraps, Beef with Noodles, Thai Fried Rice, Shrimp Curry, Chicken Skewers and Penang Chicken Curry. Savory stuff and good food. There was a Chicago-accent to all the dishes, but still good. Place can get packed, but fun to hang. Great drinks menu. I tried their pomegranate ginger ale and it was not bad.
(4)
Peter M.
Great! The stir fry with the coconut curry was delicious. I mixed two sauces the coconut curry and the lemon sauce....amazing. Also the hot and sour soup was the best I've ever had. I reccomend checking out Big Bowl if you're in Chicago and looking for Asian food.
(4)
Keerthi A.
I have been going here for years now. This place is easy-peasy, even on a weekend when you don't want to dress up or wait in line for hours somewhere. The place is nice, the waiters are helpful and quick, the food is great. Their ginger ale is very yummy. Food wise, their orange chicken, cashew chicken, mongolian beef, and stir fry are awesome. With the stir fry bar, you get to choose your meat and your sauce, then have the option of picking your own veggies at the veggie station or have the chef add his/her own. On their menu, when they have the fiery symbol indicating the dish is spicy, they are not messing around - they mean it! The portions are huge, and the food is very yummy. It is definitely americanized chinese/thai, but tasty. All their desserts are great, especially their Creme Brulee, definitely worth a shot. Definitely a place I will keep visiting over and over.
(4)
Brian S.
I've decided that this place is pretty much a hit-or-miss proposition. I don't really see much middle ground. The first time I went there it was OK - not great but passable. The second time I went was on a Wednesday early in the evening. I ordered the chicken dumplings and ribs as appetizers. I ordered the hot, hot chicken noodles and Shezuan beef for entrees. Every dish was delicious. I was very impressed. I went there on Saturday evening the following week and ordered the same meal as on Wednesday to-go. When I got home I was looking for a repeat performance of Wednesday but instead got a lot of big surprises. The chicken dumplings were okay, but the ribs were absolutely tasteless. I searched for any kind of flavor whatsoever and found nothing. Then I opened up the hot, hot chicken noodles and found it to be completely inedible. The noodles were soaked in vinegar and floating in a huge puddle of oil. There was hardly any chicken in the dish and there was no spicy heat at all - nothing. I tossed it in the trash and moved on to the Schezuan beef. The only thing good about this dish was the rice - which was good because I was still hungry. The beef dish itself was completely tasteless. No flavor whatsoever. How they are able to accomplish this is beyond me. And... yes - it was floating in a huge puddle of oil. I picked at it for a bit but then threw it in the trash with the chicken noodles. I wound up spending $45 and was still hungry. When they're good - they're very good. But, when they're bad - it's criminal. You have been warned.
(2)
Tony G.
Steamed potstickers, beef with broccoli and homemade ginger ale...my downfall everytime! So good!
(4)
Jimmy G.
I love everyone at Big Bowl They treat me like family, and if something rotates off the menu, I can whimper about it and they will make it happen. The wine menu is well thought, balanced, and reasonably priced. I can duck in and out at lunch in as little as twenty minutes. Recently they got a new Manager named Rob, and he always checks in (along with the rest of the management staff) to make sure everything is to my liking... It always is. I just wanted to give them a shout out because they all work so hard to make sure my every experience there is better than the last one.... And it always is.
(5)
Blythe Z.
My second time there last week. I'm bored. Seriously, I have nothing bad to say..... but nothing great to say ( I THINK THAT IS WORSE). It's pricey and it's not the best around. Service was pretty lame.
(1)
Amy S.
This review is as much for me as it is for all of you. I am writing this to remind myself of two things. 1. Amy, the curry is not good. Doesn't matter the color, red, yellow, green, panang, it's just not good. Amy, DO NOT ORDER THE CURRY. 2. Amy, only go here if you have a gift certificate or some dining points because the prices are high for what you get. ....actually I have a third thing to remember. 3. Amy, it's just not that good and you are never happy when you go there, so just don't go. Sorry Big Bowl...I'm breaking up with you. Love, Amy
(2)
Sam K.
Big Bowl was a dear friend during a very cold winter working in the loop. I recall the days in December and January; it was still dark when I went into work, and after sitting at a desk all day, it was dark again (and freezing) when I came out. All I wanted to do was run home to a hot shower and plop down on my couch in a big sweatshirt. Hence Big Bowl, which is right near my ex work place. After work, when I was hit by the cold, I would run in to the counter at Big Bowl and order myself a bowl of their chicken pho. It was the best thing ever; it took the edge off my hunger, and rejuvenated me. After a bowl of that pho, I felt cheered and willing to go to the gym. I could run my errands, and use the rest of my day instead of just giving up on it. I am wary of chain restaurants though, especially when it comes to ethnic food. I doubted they would have good entrees, and never bothered to order a whole meal until my last visit. I overheard - (okay fine, I deliberately listened to) a conversation between a man and a woman near me. Man: Wow. That was surprisingly tasty. I mean I'm really surprised. That was a great meal. Woman: I know! I usually hate chain restaurants, but this was great. It actually tasted like my favorite thai place near my house. You know Sticky Rice? !!! Sticky Rice has a five star rating from me, so this comparison excited me. I finally got around to coming in for an entree this week, after some shopping. And this meal is what brings Big Bowl down from a five star rating. Mediocre food, with the WORST service. I ordered the green curry with rice, very spicy. I asked the waiter if they had brown rice, and he told me they didn't. Fine. A few moments after I ordered, another lone diner - a very friendly and nice tourist from the UK seated very near to me, ordered. We were close enough to talk and hear each other's orders. "Sir, would you like white rice or brown rice with your order? I strongly recommend the brown rice." This piqued my attention and I looked up just in time to catch the glance the waiter gave me. A passive aggressive glance to make sure I heard him. Um. So my food, which came with white rice, immediately took me back to my Air India flight of 2003. This flight is memorable for a few reasons, which I won't go into right now. But it tasted like airplane food, and *Indian* airplane food, no less. I could not taste any Thai basil, and it tasted more like defrosted mutter paneer than anything else. "Fresh" was the absolute last word I would use to describe it. And the white rice, which was supposedly Jasmine, had none of that fresh Jasmine taste to it. It tasted like regular long grain rice. I thought about salvaging it with some spice, since it wasn't spicy at all. The waiter never checked on me, but I managed to grab his attention when he walked by. I asked him if they had any red chili pepper I could add to my dish. He said they didn't. I then asked if they had any kind of hot sauce or chili paste I could use. He said they had no hot sauce in the restaurant. At this exact moment, my new British friend decided to pipe up "Waiter, could you bring me some hot sauce?" "Of course sir." and he walked away, at which the tourist looked at me and burst into giggles. Not funny, you damn Brit. I'm hungry and grumpy. But of course he gave me his hot sauce, and it didn't help. I didn't touch my meal after the second bite. When I finally got ahold of the waiter again, he asked me if I wanted to wrap it up. "No. Actually, I'm very unhappy with my meal. See, if you recall, I wanted brown rice - " "All right. I can clear that for you. Do you have room for dessert?" "Nope. But I would actually like to speak to a mana-" "Okay then. I will be right back with your check." When he dropped my check and ran away before I could say anything, I let it go. And the time it took from when the waiter cleared my table, dropped my check, took my credit card, and brought me my sign slip? No less than 25 minutes. Ugh. Between the disapproving looks and behavior of the elder waiter (my gut is that he was being sexist and disapproved of a female eating alone, but whatever. I've been a server and I know servers, like everyone, make judgments - but it's unprofessional to act on those judgments) and the mediocre food that wasn't even what I wanted to order, I'm less likely than ever to come back here. But the memory of all those wonderful cheap bowls of pho on those cold days with my shitty, stressful desk job over this past winter counts for something - they were not only a nutritional and sensuous pleasure, but provided an almost emotional reward for me each time I got through another day of thankless busy work at a computer. So I will leave you, Big Bowl, with an "A-OK" by Yelp standards. And maybe by next winter I will have forgiven this meal and will be back at your counter (hopefully with a better job).
(3)
#NAME?
This was my 2nd time eating here, both entrees I've had here have been good-Great service too- FOOD: First time I had the Mongolian Beef, it was pretty good, big portions too- Appetizer of Potstickers: combo of veggie and chicken, chicken was better and loved the sauces they came with- Shrimp and Scallops meal, was hestiant with the sauce it said came with it, but once it came out I was happy with it, very good-Shrimp and scallops were fresh and cooked perfectly- ENVIRONMENT: I think it's a tight fit for people-They utilize every spot too, tables at the bar area were used for seating, not first come first serve-What did bother me was the crying babies and kids in the place-We do not care for children nor are having them...*snip snip*-So I don't want to be out and hear kids screaming, throwing stuff and being bad- There were a lot here last night and after we were sat around 6:00 a huge line was at the door-Yet it is a place around a lot of hotels and it's cheap food so hence the reason for so many kids/families here- I would think if you go Mon-Thurs evening you are in the clear for a peaceful dining experience-
(4)
Krsna V.
Let me start off by saying that I have never tried the stir fry here. If I wanted to pick my own ingredients and hand it to the chef, I might as well cook at home. I do not see a point in going to a restaurant and preparing your meal. Now, lets get to the review part. I have been to Big Bowl a few times and have always been impressed. I have ordered most of the items on the menu and they all are tasty. I particularly like the thai hot basil chicken with basil and peanuts. Order it only if you can handle extreme amounts of heat. I always get a mai tai to go with my meal. The minus one star is for the long wait time. Definitely recommended
(4)
Rachel B.
I have eaten here multiple times, and even had a surprise engagement dinner hosted here. The staff has always been friendly and helpful. I didn't even know until recently, but they use a lot of organic food, (including organic chicken which is delicious) . Be sure to try the ginger ale drinks, they come with a few flavor options, I haven't tried one yet I didn't love. This is not an authentic Thai place, its Americanized, but still delicious!
(4)
Kat S.
Went here for the fist time this week for lunch to celebrate a birthday. Food was decent, nothing too great but nothing too bad. I had the steak and noodles. Portions are huge, plenty of left overs to take home for dinner.... or for later in the afternoon. Service was outstanding. Our waiter was more than willing to go over the menu with us and offer his favorites. Manager was also very attentive and came over to welcome us as well as throw down a free appetizer since it was our first time. Got 2 deserts also for it being one of our friends birthday. The corn something ice cream with blueberries might have been the best desert i have ever had. Not too pricey, friendly staff. I'll go back.
(4)
liam d.
Was decent Togo food. We are traveling with our son and by dinner time have been stuck ordering food to our room. I had searched yelp for the best Chinese food near our hotel, this seemed like one of the better ones, hopefully I was wrong! The stir fry was good, hot and sour soup was terrible and the dumplings left a lot to be desired!
(3)
Rika H.
We love this place! After we moved out of Chicago this is one of the place I miss the most! I can't believe I didn't write a review for it, given how many times we've been there and how much we loved it. Always crowded, always good food. I took some Chinese relatives there, they loved it too!
(5)
Justin O.
I stopped in on a Monday out of the blue and tried the egg rolls (huge) and Kung Pao Chicken (just the right mount of spice for me). The food was good, the service was great (it was slow though), and half priced bottled wine deal was an unexpected perk.
(4)
Kathy L.
This place has such good memories! I don't understand some of the hatred for this place. One time, I went here with a friend and our waitress was so awesome. We got into a talk about the things I bought that day and I told her I got a magic bullet (the as seen on TV blender thing) and things got kind of uncomfortable. I showed her it was a blender and she said...."oh I thought you were talking about something else, I'm really embarrassed." She probably thought I was talking about a sex toy, but in any case, she felt so bad she got us appetizers and drinks on the house...both which were amazing along with our waitress. Side note: any of their ginger ale drinks are great, if you like ginger ale, if not, I'd probably pass. My favorite thing is the kung pow tofu and spinach...I know it sounds really weird, but it was actually delicious! I haven't ever done the make your own stir fry thing, I'm sure its good, but I like their prepared dishes so much I just leave the creations to the chefs.
(4)
Peter L.
First of all, the ginger ale is awesome -- ginger flavor, passion fruit, pomegranate, all of them. But the fact that an Asian place specializes in ginger ale should tell you something... So it may be a touristy, pan-Asian chain restaurant, but the food is surprisingly good. I wouldn't say that the red hot red pepper noodles are all that spicy, but the flavors are solid and it's my favorite thing here. The kung pao chicken noodles are spicier. I can't bring myself to order the pad thai or curries with Dao Thai down the street selling them for half the price, but the rest of the menu ain't bad. And it looks nice and trendy inside to impress the ladies.
(4)
Karren K.
Honestly a five star experience. Great ambiance. When asked if it was our first time we were presented with a summer roll sample to try. We shared two appys, featured lettuce wraps, mixed potsticker the veggie and chicken, then had the red hot pepper chicken noodles. It was the perfect amount of food for two. Do not let me forget the recommended Tai mohito. Every ingredient used in the food and drink was super fresh and popped with flavor. Happy with our experience it still got better we asked for the bill and what did we get....a complementary dessert of decadant mochi. Really, two samples it was heaven. Defiantely a new favourite place to dine. If you want superb service ask for Paige you will be very well taken care of she is excellent!
(5)
Einstein A.
I'm a fan of Big Bowl. Their food is good, and my water glass is always full. It's managed by Lettuce Entertain You, so you know the staff is going to treat you well and its prices are going to land on the expensive side of things (similar to Cheesecake Factory and California Pizza Kitchen). Everything is good, but try the sweet and sour soup, and of course, the create your own big bowl. I would really like to see more promotions and deals come out the doors of Lettuce Entertain You restaurants. Also, I'm disappointed that over the years the restaurant has downsized the portions (especially the soup) and increased the price. I know it's happened everywhere, and the economy isn't what it used to be, but I don't have to like it.
(4)
Erin K.
I have a new love. He goes by big bowl. Now, don't get carried away and think this is my only or favorite love. It's just an additional. I can be giving. Went here with some people from work for lunch. We had a great time. Food was deeelish! Started with calamari and pot stickers. Unfortunately the pot stickers were meat so I could not partake but they were well-received. But oh the calamari. Best. Ever. Seriously. The spicy dipping sauce was best but I coulda used a stronger kick as I'm a spicy fan. My entree was the crunchy cashew shrimp. Again, advertised as spicy but not so much. Which was a-ok with me as I just added tons of their hot sauce which, by the way, is miraculous. Do they sell it? If yes, will you but it for me for my bday please? Thanks. Dessert was coconut ice cream and a brownie. Ice cream tasted great but had actual coconut shavings in it which I personally don't like. I'm like woody harrelson- love the flavor, hate the texture. The brownie, though- yummo. AND no nuts! That NEVER happens at a restaurant! All in all, it was wonderful and I wish I was there right now.
(5)
Yingzi W.
Not the best Chinese food or Thai food. But overall pretty decent - very consistent food and service. I've always had a good time here.
(4)
Bassam W.
This place is very good for the money. It is cheap and has a very good atmosphere. We got a free appetizer for being our first time. Try the homemade Ginger ale it's great. My only complaint is that water was not immediately offered on a summer day. That was rather odd and was a turnoff for the whole experience.
(4)
Jayne B.
Despite the fact that Big Bowl is a chain, I was pleasantly surprised with this restaurant. The prices are reasonable, it's super close to the movie theater (which is how we ended up there), the service is good, and the food was actually pretty tasty. I'd highly recommend it if you're looking to grab a quick bite. And if you're deciding between Big Bowl and California Pizza Kitchen next door, I'd probably pick Big Bowl.
(4)
Leang E.
I had heard positive things from people in passing conversations, and really wanted to like the spot. Unfortunately, I can't say that I am a fan. I had gotten a pick up order. I had ordered the spicy string beans appetizer, the lettuce wraps, and the crispy orange chicken. The lettuce wraps were a little more on the salty side than I prefer. The cripsy orange chicken is made better by the food court chinese restaurants at malls. My boyfriend that usually likes orange chicken from most Chinese restaurant had a couple of bites and didn't care for it at all. I guess it's tough when I have expectations that it will be spicy and tangy, and the taste was off. It tasted more like lemon than orange to me. The best thing out of the three items was the string beans. The place is a bit pricey for Chinese food and the portions are kind of small compared to other Chinese restaurant spots I've gotten food from. At least now I can say I tried it, and no longer feel like I'm missing out. When I came in to get my food I did see people eating and drinking at the bar that sounded like regulars, and it wouldn't surprise me if people just came to drink here as well.
(2)
Krystsina D.
Well, first and all it is too cold inside, which makes it for an uncomfortable experience. Appetizer was pretty horrible, we took some salmon roll. If you like refrigerated rice paper, filled with some Cooked (not raw) salmon, it is for you. Otherwise, please avoid. Our dish was quite delicious. We got pork and shrimp entree. The best part of the deal was the fact that we had 15$ off from lettucentertainyou.com so our final bill was 10$. Otherwise, it is very O.K. and is not worth an extra effort.
(3)
Waddie G.
Customer service is really attentive. Food is scrumptious (but all I ever order is Kung Pao Beef...lol). The lemonade tastes so on point. I'm there at least three times per month.
(4)
Sentient Snacker S.
THIS IS IN REGARDS TO TAKE-OUT ONLY. If you're looking for bang-for-your-buck forget it! At least when it comes to their very tasty Kung Pao chicken. And they're not at all apologetic about charging $13 (plus delivery) for a children's portion. We should know, we called and spoke to them about it. A very unpleasant call given how many times we had ordered food from Big Bowl. A rather callous approach to customer service. I will thank them for giving me the impetus to learn how to mimic their recipe since we will not be ordering take-out from Big Blow any more.
(2)
Josh G.
Big Bowl was just ok for me. There was no wait on a weeknight and the atmosphere and idea behind it are cool. Our server was friendly but talked a little too much and had a vacant look on his face as if he had given the same speech about 300 times that day. He babbled on about different specials on the menu, how great certain things were, and then proceeded to make suggestions. Personally I like it when servers make suggestions. If I'm torn between two or three things on the menu I often ask them what they would order. But this guy was seriously giving a 15 minute presentation on the menu. I kept waiting for him to break out the slide show. But after we got through the menu intro everything was fine. He was attentive and even brought us a complimentary dessert sample since it was my first time. Nice touch. The food wasn't bad but it just didn't do anything for me. I ordered the BBQ Pork which is a WOW item on the menu which I learned during the menu presentation that WOW indicates a chef specialty. Well frankly, the chef should try a little harder. First thing I noticed was that my food was just warm. Thank goodness I'm a fast eater otherwise it would have been totally cold less than half way through the dish. Flavor was fine, the fried rice was good enough. I dunno, I just felt a little blah about it all. I'll probably go back and order something completely different just to give it another whirl but for now I have to go with a 3-star.
(3)
Dan K.
My wife is a thai food connoisseur and she loved this food so much that we went two (2) consecutive nights. We were visiting the Chi and this place was around the corner from our hotel so we gave it a try. After being full from deep dish pizza earlier, I was on a liquid diet for dinner so I ordered two (2) long island iced teas which were good. The bartenders were very friendly and polite. The next day, we started with the egg rolls as an appetizer and they were fresh, delicious and very flavorful. We ordered the Kapow/Gapow dish which is chicken with basil sauce. It was great and the rice was fresh too. The servings were very hearty and filling. I, definitely, would patron this establishment again if I'm ever visiting in this section of the Chi.
(5)
Amber W.
I know that I'm offending the gods to say I prefer Big Bowl to some of the other supposedly "authentic" Thai restaurants (Ruby of Siam's yellow curry is watery and not spicy at all). The yellow chicken curry with sweet green beans and jasmine rice is tasty. Its got the right level of spice for someone who likes a little bite to their sauce but doesn't want to cry over their meal. If you don't make a piggy of yourself the portion is enough for 2 meals. Servers were very nice and helpful.
(4)
Karen H.
For fast, fresh, delicious Chinese and Thai, this is the place to go. The chicken pad thai is my favorite, and you must try one of their ginger ales. The Green Tea Ginger Ale is very tasty and refreshing. 'Can't say enough good things about the service, too. Three cheers for Big Bowl!
(5)
Patti G.
Maybe the kitchen was having an off night or was a little careless. My daughter had the orange chicken, the chicken pieces were mostly overlooked, almost burnt, breading. Sauce was good but, eh. My pad Thai was quite oily and I couldn't finish it. Probably would have been better with a little more care.
(2)
Tina R.
Went to bb for lunch with family today and what a disappointment. The food was mediocre. We both got the pad Thai and could not finish it. We though that you couldn't go wrong but we did. It was so citrusy and the tofu was nasty. The service was underwhelming also. Very disappointed for a lettuce restaurant.
(1)
Elizabeth A.
I looooooooooove big bowl! They have delicious food, decent prices, and the ambiance is pretty sweet. It's not romantic but it's also not too rowdy, and did I mention the good food?
(5)
Nierka B.
On our last night in Chicago my boyfriend and I ate here, just randomly walked down the street of where we were staying and spotted Big Bowl. We don't have much of a Asian noodle place here in kc, so trying another in Chicago was a must. We made it clear to the waiter we were tourists, probably because he asked us if we had been here before and we said no, we are from out of town. The constant looking at our cameras probably was another good inclination. So right after we sat down, we ordered. Dumplings for an appetizer, and I had the yellow curry and my boyfriend ordered the pad Thai. Right after we placed the order a man who was not our waiter brought us out an amuse-bouche. It was very tasty, and given the decor and people in here, I didn't realize that the restaurant would have done something like that. I was pleasantly surprised. The dumplings were good, I will say that we do have a really good dumpling restaurant here in Kansas City so I wasn't super impressed. The sauce that came with them were also really tasty, even though i cant remember what they were now, there were three... Anyways, getting on to our meal, mine was excellent. I am a huge curry fan and this wasn't too sweet or even spicy. I loved the flavor and everything about it. My boyfriend's pad Thai was awesome. It was my first time trying it and we loved it. I will say that now, having tired a few pad Thia's, i am still. The sauce was really good and the noodles were amazing. I loved our waiter, it was near closing, and he was really nice and didn't make us feel rushed. I love that about a restaurant. Therefore, they get five stars.
(5)
Sonal R.
I have tried this place more than once cause most of my friends love it. In my opinion its okay, nothing to rave about. Food is descent nothing I would go out of my way for.
(2)
Vic R.
Nice interior, terrible food
(2)
Kristina K.
Not knowing that Big Bowl was part of the franchise family (I'm so naive), I had a good dinner experience. The food was decent, but it wasn't anything that blew me out of the water. The service was okay. I would recommend this place for reliable food and service.
(4)
Y C.
Just another venture in the pseudo Asian bistro world popularized by PF Chang's. I'll be honest, the only reason I ate here was because of the homemade ginger ale. I didn't come here for a taste of authentic Asian. If you like PF Chang, then you'll like this place. It's got a great happy hour vibe and yes, the ginger ale was yummy. The food is so so. I had the pad thai and it was liquidy and too sour when compared with a what a real thai joint would produce. The service was friendly and prompt and they gave me a free appetizer which was appreciated. Overall, I would come here for drinks and some munchies but would take my main meal elsewhere but I can see why people like it.
(3)
Marisa S.
Pretty good food and good sized portions. Also healthy and tasty vegetarian alternatives!
(3)
Noah L.
Consistently good food with strong flavor.
(4)
Don W.
Three years later, it's the same story. My wife loves it, I like it. They put too many chili peppers in my Tom Yum soup, but it was still good. There were four of us and we all left happy. Our server was awesome, too. If you like to complain about a restaurant not being authentic, don't go here. I don't think authenticity is on the menu but the food is good and my wife was happy. That's what I care about.
(4)
Vira S.
This was my first visit to a seemingly busy and popular restaurant. The hostess was very nice as was the server and manager. The food and dining experience was all pretty normal and flowed really well. The thing that set me off was the initial tone set by the doorman. As the manager explained to me their security is through a separate company so I didn't really blame the restaurant. The waiting area around the host stand and bar is pretty small especially for 6 or so parties trying to wait for a table so we were all in a tight squeeze. People were eventually waiting inside by the tables by windows filling up any space between the entrance and host stand. I apparently stood somewhere not preferred by the restaurant so the doorman asked me to move. Fine. I saw people waiting for a table too standing exactly where I was standing. Nothing was said to them. From where I was standing I moved back a couple feet a little closer to my original position and then the doorman came back to me and got smart with me. He said that he had told me before to either move closer to the host stand or behind the door and then Proceeded to ask me, "so which one are you going to do?" at this point I honestly was shocked and felt singled out. There were so many other people before blocking so many tables by the door. Why now and why give only me trouble? Why I stayed I don't even know. At that point I was pissed and didn't want anything else to do with this restaurant. After my party sat I informed a manager and he was very apologetic and honestly tried to make it better for me. I appreciate the restaurant for their sincere efforts but I don't think I would be returning anytime soon and will be reticent to suggest this location. I didn't seek out to get anything for free I just wanted a nice dinner in a great city. The food was good but as long as that doorman is assigned there I don't think it's worth it for me to come back. Never have I been so offended and humiliated over something so stupid and menial while dining out before.
(3)
Jenna W.
The appetizers were great: dumplings, cripsy tofu and spare ribs. I ordered the Steak and Noodles, but they were too salty. My husband's Pork Fried Rice meal was delicious. I'm pretty satisfied with most LEYE restaurants, and this wasn't an exception.
(4)
Wesley R.
It had been a number of years since I've been to a Big Bowl (mostly the suburban ones), so I went with co-workers to the downtown one. After a short wait, we all got our food in a decent amount of time. It is "sanitized" ethnic cuisine? To a certain degree, yes. If you happen to be particular about what is "supposed" to be in certain dishes, you may get thrown off. For example, my vegetable-tofu pad thai was chock full of vegetables that I'm not accustomed to having in my pad thai (like beans) Still, it was a good universal selection for our office. Also, even though it doesn't appear on the menu anymore, they still can whip you up a Hibiscus iced tea. I've had it before and like it, but it can be an acquired taste.
(3)
Trinidad F.
Tee hee!!! Checked Big Bowl last nite after I lost my wallet at the theatre and it made me feel better. LOL. I walked in the host gave me and my friend an interesting look. A "why are THEY coming in here" look. But that may have just been me being paranoid. We were seated and immediately our waitress put water on the table. I had the Thai Green Curry with tofu and veggies...what can I say but "YUM"!!!!! It was very spicy which I love. I'm always upset at the fact that my curry at different place is bland. The serving was huge. Came with Jasmine rice and tons of veggies. I also tried the Ginger Ale. Awesome but not for me. I like the fake stuff. HEHEHE. My friend had the spicy sichuan beef which was pretty good except for the fact that the wine was over powering. Atmosphere was pretty cool and I had a good experience. Possibly stop by again since its so close to my job. Yay!!!
(3)
Yoon L.
I'd give it a 3.5. Pros: spacious, good casual place to go with a group of friends or family, good appetizers Cons: service can vary. the first time i went was with a 8-10 group of sisters and it was prompt, attentive, etc. the second was with my mom and it was slow despite the place being half vacant, our waiter didn't check up on us once, and he only tried to appeal to us when he brought over the check ready to be signed & the tip line filled in. the do-it-yourself stir fry is overpriced- Flat-Top Grill in Evanston has much more variety and it's unlimited (though this only really matters to guys).
(3)
Susan P.
Great food and family friendly. The kids love the "kid chopsticks" - makes eating alot easier for them. Always busy so a reservation is a must!
(4)
James Michael S.
Definitely a solid choice. Plenty of good Chinese and Thai options. Was hoping for a little more when it came to their Pad Thai but the Kung Pao Tofu was very good.
(3)
Alec S.
The food is okay, and the service was awkward at times. The manager started out by giving us complimentary app, which was very good and greatly appreciated. The potstickers and chicken satay app was very good, but the chicken pad thai main course was very bland. I asked to make it spicy and have a side of chili sauce, and they forgot to do both. Our server had a awkward demeanor, but he was very nice. Their Ginger Ale is great! I work just a block away, and every time I've ordered lunch they've messed up my order.
(3)
Dave S.
I was quite torn about how I was going to review this place. I wasn't sure exactly how I was going to proceed because I never had a dining experience quite like this one. It was a meal of major extremes. Everything either sucked or was outstanding. There really was no middle ground here. This was not only a meal, it was an adventure. You never knew what was going to be around the next turn! Major Kudos: 1)Our server - He took very good care of us and was very fast, efficient and friendly. I could not ask for more. 2)Ginger Ale - It was a hot day and the homemade ginger ale was a hit! It was delicious and refreshing and hit the spot. 3)Shrimp Pad Thai - Not taking into consideration the shrimp, I really enjoyed the flavor medley in the noodles. I have never tasted Pad Thai quite like this. The flavors worked very well together and I am thinking that this is one of my favorites. 4)Pot stickers - They were grilled up perfectly and had an outstanding flavor. Major Suckage: 1)Atmosphere - The temperature in the place was not comfortable at all. It was way too hot in here to properly enjoy the rest of my meal. The layout is very funky too. You had to take a winding road to the restroom as they were not conveniently located. 2)Shrimp Pad Thai - I did thoroughly enjoy the noodle part of my Pad Thai. The shrimp was another story. The shrimp had an overpowering nearly repugnant overly fishy taste to them. 3)Orange Chicken - This dish was extremely underwhelming and disappointing. It did not have much flavor to it at all. As the dish sat, the sauce became extremely thick and took on a sludge like quality to it. Holy Crap and a Half: Our server recommended for dessert a blueberry and peach crisp with homemade whipped topping. It sounded right up my alley so I decide to give it a whirl. I am very particular about my desserts and this stuff blew me away. Whenever I order a dessert in a restaurant, I am going to judge it against this particular dessert. I am confident in saying that this is probably the finest dessert that I have ever ordered in a restaurant before. It was not overly sweet as the fruit provided a good amount of natural sweetness. The creaminess/crispness and cool/warm contrasts were perfect! The dessert is what made me give this place three stars instead of two.
(3)
Robyn T.
Good location but reservations are suggested for this area during peak times. I came on a Monday night after 8 and the place was empty with maybe 4 other tables...the service was equally vacant. Our server had one other table but would disappear for long periods of time, especially when we wanted something. Oh well. At least the food was pretty good. I loved my beef with broccoli -- loads of broccoli, tender beef morsels and mushrooms in a light wine sauce. The sauce was so good I was trying to get all my rice in the juices. Yummy. Lettuce wraps were good and I recommend them for sharing. I like that you can do the choose your own stir fry option as well. I like Big Bowl, but I have say I prefer the Gold Coast location to the River North one. The service seems to be better there and there aren't as many tourists (again this comes with the territory though).
(3)
Michelle S.
3 words: ginger mint tea mmmmmmmm
(4)
Ashique M.
The service was spectaular the food was pretty good. Ive been here twice and I just do not think I have found "MY" dish yet! Quality was good and fresh!
(3)
Kevin A.
LETTUCE UNDERWHELM YOU Meh. Ultra-sanitized, Americanized, under-seasoned Chinese/Thai fare from the Lettuce Entertain You empire. I appreciate that the ingredients are fresh and that they are trying to do this PF Chang's fresh Chinese thing. Unfortunately at the end of the day the food just didn't impress. The orange peel chicken, while containing actual orange peels, didn't have any depth of flavor. Ditto on the Mongolian beef, or should I say the Mongolian onion as it was kind of lacking in the meat department. Also, beware the men's room as it's a concussion waiting to happen. The sink is right next to the door which despite a sign on the outside asking people to open it slowly, comes flying open at light speed.
(3)
Sarah B.
Just okay. I stopped in for lunch while running some errands. My server, Robert, was very nice. He suggested a few items and pointed out things on the menu. I also was offered a free appetizer since it was my first time in. Yay free stufff. I ordered the Chicken Pad Thai. Keeping in mind that if I wanted really great Pad Thai I should have gone to a more authentic restaurant, this was just meh. The noodles were almost kind of crispy..not good, the chicken was kinda gross, but overall, it was edible. Decent flavor. I dont know that this is somewhere I would go again but it wasnt horrible.
(3)
James K.
A great dinner at a good price.
(5)
caroline k.
PF Changs meets TGIF. Came for take out on a weekday night and it took forever. Ordered the hot and sour soup (not your typical/authentic in taste), sweet ginger scallops and shrimp entree (overly sweet and a bit 'fishy/seafood-y' in tste), and chicken and vegetable dumplings (5 little dumplings for $6 - not worth it). The ambiance is, as expected, lively and very themed (including a gi-normous white chinese take out box hanging overhead to the right of the entrance) - fun, but not necessarily worth it for the food.
(2)
M. D.
I love Thia food so much and Big Bowl Pad Thia is amazing. The Asian Chicken salad is to die for. They have the BEST pot-stickers...SO Yummy!
(5)
John L.
Boys & girls, it's time for a Haiku for Big Bowel (yes, I said "bowel"). Read it aloud in your best Arnold Schwartznegger voice: You concoct bland food. Why do you make us throw up? I shall not be back.
(1)
Bob V.
This place is excellent. Eat here every time we are in Chicago. Prices are real reasonable too.
(5)
Dorothy S.
How could one not love a place called Big Bowl with a ginormous red bowl and chop sticks sitting atop the entry way? I think I'm just in awe because we don't have this type of place in San Francisco and I'm giving this place a bunch of stars because when you have amazing company dining with you, the experience is all the better. Seriously, the pad thai was interesting because it really tasted as if there was kim chee in it, which I'm not really accustomed to but it tasted good enough. I think what I love most about BB was sitting in an open air spot where you could people watch and smell the fresh air from the outside. Fortunately, the horse and carriages didn't pass in front of the restaurant while we were dining there. Overall, nice place to eat but you need a token for the restroom, that's downstairs.
(4)
Chris B.
Fantastic food, great service - a superb find!
(4)
Maher A.
The food was ok. The forks and knives were unclean and the service is not that good.
(3)
Taylor G.
I'm not sure what to say about Big Bowl other than "meh". I went in for lunch and had my old stand-by: Panang Curry. Prices are a bit higher than I would have liked to pay (~$15 after tax and tip for the dish alone). The portions were quite considerable, but I would have much preferred a lower price in exchange for less food, rather than Americanized portions. Aside from that , I didn't find the curry inspiring at all. I requested extra heat, and got it, but it all fell on the tip of my tongue, rather than engulfing my whole mouth in flames - I would have preferred the latter. On the whole, it was very standard, though the chicken was very juicy. The rice was bland and heaped on the same plate as the curry, ensuring it turned into a large soupy mess. I would give Big Bowl one more chance. The food was just okay, but the prices don't reflect that fact. For $15, I want to be wowed and amazed. Big Bowl? I'll pass.
(2)
Jenny z.
Starving? If so, you might be able to actually eat something here and still be able to look at yourself in the mirror. Otherwise, stay away. It's in close contention with Penny's and Joy Yee's for most embarrassing and pathetic excuse for an Asian restaurant in Chicago. Ick.
(1)
M. P.
Best food ever!!!! Now this has a been a long overdue - like 10 years:-) That's how long me and my family, and our friends have been going to this place and have been loving it! We have had birthdays, special occasions, anniversaries and so many memories here! The service is decent but I dont really care as the food is phenomenal!!! We are big bowl food addicts! My husband has been eating Orange Peel Chicken for the last 10 years :-) I love the Schezwan Cashew Shrimp . I also try their stir fry bar several times. Also since I love Schezwan Sauce but it is not on the Stir Fry menu, I ask them to make it with it and they happily do it! My mom had green curry last time and loved it as well. Overall an amazing place that we love the most! If you are a regualr at this place and other of lettuce restaurants you must get their leye card (free customer loyalty card) and rake up lotsa dollars!!! Love it!
(5)
roderick h.
Always good food... lunch specials are always pretty good and the food is very fresh! I usually get the teriyaki chicken (i think) and its always soooo sooo good... which is why I havent tried much else :)!
(4)
Jennifer G.
I love Big Bowl. Their hot and sour soup is to die for. Skip the make your own stir fry deal and go for their pad thai or chinese dishes. They are much better. My husband had the Szechuan Beef and spent the whole meal with tears streaming and a runny nose - if you love heat - try the Szechuan Beef. Their Pad Thai could go up against any Thai restaurant. I love this location for somewhat easier parking as well as Puma across the street. I would visit the other location if I am in the mood for ESPN Zone.
(4)
Thongsy S.
I can not vouch for their regular dinner menu. I came here for the Fortune Hour event and they were passing around appetizers. They had these lettuce wraps and fruits on sticks. It was just okay. I usually LOVE free food but this time around, I was only able to eat 2 pieces of the lettuce wraps. The atmosphere is okay and the service seemed good. But considering I haven't tried their stir-fry, I will have to go back and give it a try.
(2)
Salmaan T.
Good service, fast, and yet the food seems very fresh and flavorful. Overall, a very good experience even if the manager seemed a bit like a rookie. Good stuff.
(4)
Maria S.
This review is definately influenced by the fact that my kids love this place with a capital LOVE. First why the kids love this place: - rubber bandy chopsticks to practice eating with - a "mad libs" type fill in-the-blank thingy on the kids menu - that has them in stitches every single time. We do it over and over and over. They just can't get enough. - fancy "red dragon" drinks (shirley temple) - a good selection on the kids' menu - it's right around the corner from the Lego store And why I like this place - I think the food is pretty tasty. I've tried several curries and they are yummy and have some kick. The lettuce leaf wrap appetizer is great. - The kids love it and will behave all day if we are going there. And then they behave in the restaurant because they are busy cracking themselves up over the mad libs thing. So there you go.
(4)
Matt G.
In the pseudo words of Jeff from Curb Your Enthusiasm "This is a Big Bowl of RIGHT!" I really enjoy this place. It is one of the few restaurants near Michigan Avenue that doesn't seem to be over crowded all the time. The portions are very generous and the prices are not awful. It is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant so I've used gift cards here, but it's also not one of those Lettuce Entertain You places that I will only go to if I have a gift card. I recommend the build your own stir fry, it's a good deal and you'll always have enough for lunch the next day. The potstickers and chicken eggrolls are also quite good! Perfect if you're going to catch a movie at 600 N. Michigan!
(4)
Kristina K.
Let's start with the food: ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! I always do the build your own stir fry. I stick to the all natural chicken, teriyaki, and egg noodles. You get to fill your own bowl with vegetables of your choice at a salad bar type thing. I've also tried the sesame chicken (I do not recommend it) and the beef...which is also quite delicious...I'm just more of a chicken person. The whole ambiance of the place is really cool too. Very modern but still a semi-oriental feel. Lots of TVs, and they are always playing the sports game. Normally, I go to the Big Bowl in Gold Coast, but I've tried the downtown one several times...I usually have Renee...and he is a great server! He is always very careful with my severe shellfish allergy. I'm finally writing a review about this place because last night I had an exceptional experience. My sister and her boyfriend were visiting from WV, so I took them there. Our server, Julie P, was absolutely great! She was so friendly, and by the time our meal was over I felt like we'd known her for years. She was very personable without being unprofessional. I feel like she just really went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time, and I hope that she sees this message. While I've always enjoyed my visits to Big Bowl, Julie made this experience especially fun! So, thanks Julie for an excellent experience! I have nothing bad to say about this restaurant...it is just absolutely delicious.
(5)
Rachelle G.
Not great but not bad. Would I come back, probably not. Decent menu with a little bit of everything, nothing stood out though as something I really wanted to order. I ended up with the Schezwan Shrimp (at least that's what I think it was called), it was basically an assortment of carrots, onions, jicama and some other veggies doused in Siracha sauce with fried shrimp on top. Service was decent, however our server seemed to have a slight accent and didn't enunciate well which made it hard to understand what he was saying. Even when we would ask him to repeat things, we still couldn't quite make it out and would just order as we wanted.
(3)
Mimi S.
this is one of my favorite little places to dine while shopping downtown. you can valet @ Texas De Brazil if you want because there is no valet here- you can also use a garage, they offer validation (just ask about it). The food is flavorful and fresh. We usually grab a booth because we need a booster seat for the baby. The people are friendly and the wait is generally short. FYI, if you order a full glass of wine, you will get half a glass : ( the waiter explained what he could but it made no sense to me- i ordered a full glass and i expected to get a full glass.. may be easier if they just downsized the glasses???
(3)
Allen R.
Started off with good beer and refills great potstickers!!! Pad Thai was on point! 5/5 will be back
(5)
Sarah H.
Great variety of choices. Love the wok your own stir-fry bar. A fresh option in the middle of a dining landscape dominated by heavy Italian and steak joints. My tween got dishes he liked, too.
Three strikes and you're out. This place has become a 'used to be good' restaurant. Three years ago, everything from the drinks to the dessert were excellent, now I'm left with watery sauces and hair in my food. The last meal I had there was the shrimp with basil and lemon---truly awful; it tasted like fish water and herbs. I have no idea if they have a new chef or new management, but all three items I have ordered in the last year during friends' events have been bland and poorly prepared. The decor is nice and the staff is pleasant, but the food is underwhelming at best.
(2)
D S.
Actually, it's probably more like three and a half stars, to be fair. I went here for lunch. My dish was pretty good (a crunchy, spicy shrimp dish, as I recall), but doesn't stand out in my memory. It was nice. The other member of my party had the salmon pad thai, which sounds intriguing enough on the menu, but in reality it's a complete disaster. The sum of adding salmon to traditional pad thai is simply fishy, malodorous noodles. We were there towards the end of the lunch hour rush, so the wait staff was busy, understandably. However, after our lunch was served, the waiter didn't have a chance to ask if everything was okay until he cleared our plates. At this point, we pointed out the acridity pad thai, and, to Big Bowl's credit, he removed the dish from our bill. BB has a comfortable atmosphere and is conveniently located. The fresh ginger ale, which comes in a variety of clever flavors, was brilliant. Therefore, I doubt our experience there was typical, though it's probably best to stick with the basics. Lesson learned.
(3)
Stephanie K.
What can I say? It's another Lettuce Entertain You place. Does anyone else feel like they're all kind of the same? That being said, the one exceptional thing on the menu at Big Bowl is the homemade ginger ales. They're fantastic. Other than that, I'd steer clear of the make-your-own stir fries and stick to their 'pretty good' appetizers. Some reco's include: Beef Lettuce Wraps, Potstickers, and Chicken Satay Skewers.
(3)
Jason P.
Very PF Chang-esq. I really enjoy the food here, but it seems like it's too comprable to PF Chang. The only thing PF does not have of course..is the stir-fry! This allows you to go up "mongolian bbq" style to make your own selections. The chef will help you pick out what you think you would like and create a great combination. The dinner options are also pretty good. They advertise "spicy" choices but i've never been thrilled as i've always had to have them go back and add to my dish to make it more hot.
(3)
Jahi J.
One of my favorite spots. I usually do the stir fry bowl with the salmon and I am always satisfied. I probably go here more than any other place for the thai herb calamari alone. When I am downtown I stop in and go to the bar just for an order of calamari and a pomegranate ginger ale-- I hate them because I drink them like shots and be wanting more. Other menu items are good too but I usually go with my regular dish here. Prices are pretty decent too, most menu items are 10-15, but don't skip out on the calamari. I've gone here several times on dates and I never paid more than 60 or so.
(4)
Teresa M.
I love this place! Yes I know it is technically a chain restaurant but it is so good. On our trip to Chicago, the girls were looking through an activities book in the hotel room. One of them says "Hey this place looks good", so we put it on the list of things to do the next day. So we arrive for a late lunch after an afternoon on North Ave Beach, and boy are we hungry, hungry, HUNGRY! The ambiance is great. Red, black and bamboo with a mix of new music and old school classics playing in the background, not so loud as to be distracting though. The hostess seats us immediately. Our witty, attentive and very knowledgeable waiter asks "Have you ever dined with us before?" Response, "Nope we are Big Bowl newbies." He recommends trying one of their fresh (made on-site) flavored ginger ales. We each tried a different flavor (you should too) and we loved them all. After bringing our yummy ginger ales and giving us time to peruse the menu, he goes over it with us and recommends his favorite dishes. On to the food: Appetizers: *Chicken Potstickers - They were very good and the 3 dipping sauces were excellent. Our waiter also brought a small bowl of Big Bowl's special chili to same. Woo kicked up some heat but was 'OH SO GOOD!' *As we are finishing our first appetizer the manager comes over with another "Thanks for trying us" appetizer that was delicious and free of charge. Can't quite remember what they called it but it was chicken and portabella mushrooms in a teriyaki sauce served on a whole fried wonton. Main dishes: *Chicken Pad Thai- Acceptable Pad Thai, nothing to really WOOT WOOT about though. *Teriyaki fried Chicken - Very good fried rice dish, veggies and chicken. *Panang Curry Chicken - This was the piece de resistance (maybe I should try to find a Chinese or Thai term that expresses the correct sentiment...nah). Chicken and rice in a light peanut-coconut curry sauce with snow peas and green beans. If you can't find something on the menu that makes your taste buds salivate, Big Bowl also offers a do-it-yourself stir-fry bar. Complete with meats, seafood, veggies and spices. Big Bowl has several locations in the Chicago area as well as Minnesota and Virginia. I am hoping to get one in the Metro Detroit area soon. We liked Big Bowl so much that we planned to stop at the location in Schaumburg, IL on our way home from Wisconsin. 7/22/2012 We visited this wonderful place again this year on our yearly pilgrimage to Wisconsin and again they did not disappoint. My brother who had not had the privilege of eating here before says "Wow. The food is all fresh. This is the best restaurant I have eaten at in a long time."Yep that about says it all. The calamari was phenomenal, the potstickers fantastic. One word of advice, watch out for the wasabi infused mustard. It packs quite a kick. Oh and the deserts: try the lemon cake. Yes when you read the descriptions it won't even register as something interesting. We tried 4 different deserts (there were 4 of us- don't judge us) lol. The lemon cake was by far our favorite. If you like PF Changs, the Big Bowl will ruin it for you. When in Chicago, The Big Bowl is a must do for me!
(5)
Linda N.
Had high hopes based on reviews here and on Open Table, but was disappointed. Had the Thai special which was alright although nothing special. Was initially excited to find rice pudding with coconut milk on the dessert menu, so I ordered one. Something similar was my favorite at a Chinese dessert place I used to visit in chinatown in Canada. I doubt it will become anyone's favorite at Big Bowl - it was horrible! Nothing like the chinese version! Our waiter was very nice, yet her efforts didn't seem sincere at all so that part didn't do it for me either. On top of this, the natural and healthy ingredients they advertise that they use left me feeling bloated and uncomfortable the rest of the evening. To sum up, I won't return next time I go to Chicago. There must be better alternatives out there than this for those who love Asian inspired food.
(2)
Akhil A.
Love their sesame chicken with red panang curry and fried rice...can't beat this combination....
(5)
Cara M.
Too bad I didn't read the reviews here before I ate... everyone was correct about the Pad Thai, it was terrible. :( I love Pad Thai and was excited to try it here, but it was bland, oily, didn't taste remotely like any I've had before, the noodles were overcooked (fell apart into little pieces every bite) and had things that don't belong in Pad Thai (I'm looking at you, Thai basil). Weird. If you're going to put the word Thai on your sign, you should probably learn how to make one of the cuisine's signature dishes. I gave it two stars instead of one because the apps we had were pretty tasty (calamari and chicken potstickers), and everyone else's dishes at least looked tasty?
(2)
Jonathan H.
Great decor, great food i love the curry chicken and had my birthday party here. The bar stools/chairs need a bit of maintenance while i was there last time but otherwise you really cant complain about the fast friendly service.
(4)
Kathy G.
I don't care if the food is Thai, Chinese, Japanese....whatever. All I know is that it tastes good. The build your own stir fry is great, I can fill up on my favorite vegetables and skip the ones I don't like and I can get the cook to help me out if I need it. The Kung Pao Chicken is delicious, the tien-tsin peppers add just the right spice. It is hard to decide what to order but that is my favorite menu item. Go there for the quality and the ambiance. The room is not over decorated or gaudy like some Asian-themed restaurants, it's a nice, inviting place.
(4)
Grace N.
The three of us went here with a $75 gift certificate and were able to get 2 apps, 3 entrees, and 4 beers for $74, which is pretty reasonable. The beef wraps were good. The potstickers were ok, but I'm never imrpessed with potstickers (they're never that much better than the frozen kind). What I appreciate about their entrees is that the meals they label as spicy are ACTUALLY spicy, including the pepper chicken, and any szechuan dish. I can handle a lot of spice, but my face was actually starting to turn red. No pain, no gain! I also like the brown rice option. The service is spotty, but I'd probably go back.
(3)
Jennifer R.
I went to Big Bowl for the first time 2 months and have returned 3 times since then. The service is great and the food is even better. The chicken lettuce wrap appetizer is so good and the honey ginger ale is both refreshing and tasty. I can't wait to go back soon. I went to Big Bowl for the first time 2 months and have returned 3 times since then. The service is great and the food is even better. The chicken lettuce wrap appetizer is so good and the honey ginger ale is both refreshing and tasty. I can't wait to go back soon. I went to Big Bowl for the first time 2 months and have returned 3 times since then. The service is great and the food is even better. The chicken lettuce wrap appetizer is so good and the honey ginger ale is both refreshing and tasty. I can't wait to go back soon.
(5)
Neetha V.
Very Tasty Food...Variety of options for all kinds of crowd, veg to meat lovers! MUST try their Ginerale, Made with fresh ginger made in-house, if you want to know, what real ginerale tasts like try this!! Very good! Flavorfull food, was never disappointed, tried several options and they all turned out pretty good!!! My husband loves their icecream dessert, I forget what it is called! Passion fruit..etc Overall a good place for an outing with family/friends!
(4)
Charles V.
Spicy Tofu, white rice, and spicy green beans....very delicious. Chicago friends said I would probably enjoy Big Bowl and I did. Yummy! I love spicy food, so I would try more dishes in a heartbeat. I'd like to sit down there at some point, but we were rushing so we got our food to-go. Other issue is I am only in Chicago for three days. Not sure when I will be back, but if I do ever visit again. I would surely try to make a pit stop.
(4)
Somchai S.
Overpriced for mediocre food. I had the munchies during my lunch hour so I decided to order some steamed dumplings and a shrimp summer roll. To my surprise the 5 dumplings were undersized and not all too tasty. The summer roll was edible however they only gave you one roll with 3-4 pieces of shrimp. My unsatisified stomach was still craving food. And my wallet was out $13. Next time Ill go to Wow Bao to curb my thai cravings. And Ill head up to Tank Noodle for some summer rolls that are worth the price!
(2)
Antonio R.
Went to Chicago with my senior class the first week of April 2013. Had the pot stickers and the chicken pad Thai with homemade ginger ale and let me say this.... Best Asian experience I ever had! The pad Thai was the freshest ever.. The pot stickers were great and the ginger ale tasted fresh as well!! If ever in downtown please goo here!!!!!
(5)
Mir E.
Penang chicken curry! Freakishly amazing and such a good choice last minute. It was so good and it was my first time eating curry and I am now a fan lol. Sort of spicy the more u eat but none the less still sooooo good!
(5)
Robin P.
So many great places to go eat in Chicago, but this isn't one. Average food with a nice interior.
(2)
Vineet S.
I am a fan of this place. Awesome food, service and ambience. Just simply love the Stir fry menu. They have one of the best gingerale in the town, the best thing about the gingerale are all the fresh ingrediets. The vegetarian stir fry is just damm mouth watery. The cashew chicken is also great. The vegetable potstickers are just average.
(5)
Kelly K.
This is a love story, about a girl, some spicy mustard, and some sweet customer service. I "discovered" Big Bowl way back in 1998, when I was working in a cubicle farm in the burbs with few food options nearby. I worked late. A lot. After a few nights of cuisine a'la Vending Menace, I placed a takeout order with Big Bowl. My boyfriend at the time had me addicted to potstickers, and Big Bowl serves theirs with this crazy crack mustard. It's probably just MSG and yellow #5, but I don't care. It makes my toes curl. My first time tasting this combination of potstickers and Crack Mustard, I ran around my cubible giggling. I'm not kidding. Fast forward to 2011. I've been living in the city since 2002 and I'm not allowed to like chain restaurants. I hide my occasional Cheesecake Factory cravings from my friends, from fear of being stabbed to death with a tightly-rolled copy of Time Out. Listen. I understand Chicago is home to a zillion amazing non-chain restaurants. But I need to remember my suburban roots lest I become one of those city-snobs that won't venture farther west than Irving and Pulaski for fear of being sucked into the strip mall vortex. So anyway, Big Bowl. For years, I quietly seek out others who enjoy this VERY Americanized Asian food for what it is: (Tasty) Americanized Asian food. We sometimes jump into cabs and sneak away for lunch, but it's rare. Then one day, I find out my boss also secretly likes Big Bowl and I'm on their website, looking for the number to the delivery service they use. They have a "store" link. I click it. THEY SELL THE CRACK MUSTARD. OHMYGOD THEY SELL THE CRACK MUSTARD!!! It's 93 degrees and humid. Don't care. I practically skip from my office to the location on Ohio. I pick up lunch. I buy a bottle of mustard. I get home that night ready to bathe in it. I look at the date on the bottle - it's expired by 2 months. Could I? Probably. Should I? Probably not. I call them to let them know they sold me bum mustard. The guy who answers the phone not only remembers me from earlier in the day, but goes to the store room, removes the rest of the bad mustard, and sends me a fresh bottle FREE OF CHARGE. Personalized service from a chain restaurant, peeps. He also called me the next week to make sure the mustard arrived intact. I think I have a crush on my Friendly Neighborhood Big Bowl Crack Mustard Peddler. I won't rate BB 5 stars, only because I think the Restaurant Police would evict me from my Edgewater apartment in the middle of the night, but deep in my heart, I'm a Big Bowl Lover.
(4)
Ramya P.
I've been here so many times and it serves a very Americanized version of real Thai food. But I'm not complaining! There are a few good options for vegetarians like the pot stickers, pad thai and you can customize your own stir fry... for me though, the highlight is the Green curry. Honestly, I've had green curry at so many places and I can't help but compare them to this one and most of the times they will not hold up against this one. Humongous portion size so, come here when you are absolutely starving after shopping all day in Michigan avenue!!
(4)
Kay P.
very average food...I ordered a chicken stir fry which was very sour...my colleague didn't like his noodles too...food was oily too...wil not go back
(2)
Dan A.
Oooh, I really liked my Big Bowl. I let them mix my greens for me and got beef in my bowl. I had a lot of "bowls" when I lived in L. A. so I wasn't expecting much but this was a really great experience. Their specialty ginger ales are absolutely worth a try... they are very strong but enjoyable if you like ginger drinks. I liked the orange especially. Great wait staff, nice folks, cool atmosphere... this place hit the spot during a busy downtown shopping afternoon.
(4)
Kin L.
Americanized Hybrid Asian Cuisine, or as I call it, Fake Asian Food! So this place specializes in Chinese and Thai cuisine? I'll be the judge of that! I only came here because I was extremely hungry and it was on the way home. Since it does sort of look fancy and well decorated inside, I figured the menu would have some neat and interesting items to order. Well, I was wrong. The menu was so run of the mill ordinary that I felt like leaving after I sat down. But I'm not an ass, so I stayed. The menu featured items such as Kung Pao Chicken, Pad Thai, Fried Rice, Beef & Broccoli, and other ordinary items. Seriously, other Chinese and Thai restaurants in the area serve the exact same thing, and I'm willing to bet the prices are lower, and the food tastes better. I guess you can classify the menu items as 'safe foods.' You know, you have to try really hard to F-up the dish when it's being cooked. I selected the Teriyaki Chicken Fried Rice...which isn't even Chinese or Thai. Teriyaki is Japanese! Whoever created the menu needs to attend Asian Cooking 101. Hell, I'll even pay for the class myself. I also got the potsticker combo (3 pieces of chicken and 2 pieces of vegetables) as an appetizer. Seriously, only 5 potstickers? Stingy! At least throw in one more vegetable potsticker to balance out the combo! Oh yeah, I can make way better potstickers from the freezer back home. Shame on you Big Bowl, you're an insult to Asian cuisine!
(2)
Rob J.
What is with all the families that come here? I know you gotta eat somewhere so I'm not knocking it, but it was FULL with families. A great spot for a quick meal before a movie up the street though...
(3)
Emann B.
Look, it's not the best Pan-Asian food you can get for the money, but when the fams in town, they love it. I've been going for years. Most recently I went on a Sunday around 7:30pm and the wait was about 35 minutes. By the time we sat down I was a bit irritated, but our cute guy server was so sweet and attentive, it more than made up for it. Great service really makes all the difference. Food is generously portioned and hits the spot. Had the potsticker combo, glazed salmon, and yellow curry with tofu and vegetables. Perfectly tasty and delicious. For dessert we shared the mochi combo, just enough to hit the spot.
(4)
Dwayne H.
Great hot Thai food exceptional service at great prices! Did I say great curry?
(5)
Morgan A.
I recently had a food sensitivity test done and have to eliminate a TON of things out of my diet for 90 days including wheat, dairy, yeast, eggs - the list goes on... I came to big bowl and they were beyond accommodating with my situation. They gave me a menu and told me what could be made catered to my food allergies. Most restaurants scoff at my list and tell me I can get __x__ and that's it. When the food comes it's boring, bland and I usually get charged extra for less food. Say waaa? Big Bowl was the complete opposite. I got a tasty lunch full of flavor and catered to my allergies. Multiple times I had someone coming out checking, is this ok for you? is that ingredient ok (yeast is a tricky one)? I felt very confident that my meal wasn't going to make me sick, and it didn't! Our waiter was fabulous and the entire staff was super friendly. Usually I dread going to eat out due to my limited diet right now but they made it a pleasure! I highly recommend this place to anyone that has special diet needs!
(4)
Jay S.
Years ago, when my husband and I first started visiting Chicago, we were sooo excited about BIG BOWL. We're from Seattle, and it excited me to see a good updated Asian/Asian fusion place in the Midwest at the time. "Bruce Cost is being a good ambassador for American Style Asian" - I thought. Sadly, times have changed. The lemon chicken that so impressed me with its fresh take on the old school mess has regressed. The hot and sour soup suffered from what everything I ate suffered from: overuse of sesame oil. Holy cow - someone needs to freshen the staff's palate! They've become desensitized to a very pungent ingredient. Ouch. My husband did like his "build-a-stir-fry" with salmon, so I can't fault that...but I can't praise it either. If a professional kitchen can't heat up the pre-made sauce and ingredients James picked for the $20 he put down...things would be 1 star indeed. And what happened to the all the chow fun? There was only one fat noodle on the menu. Where are the blazing beef noodles? There are too many delicious things in Chicago to bother with a visit to Big Bowl again. So farewell...thanks for the memories.
(2)
Kate D.
This place has delicious food. The orange chicken is my favorite; I've never had anything like it. Portions are just right for dinner. The pot stickers and the dumplings are pretty good as well. I enjoyed the pomegranate mojito a lot. We didn't have any particular problems with service-- it was average. I'll be back here for sure.
(4)
Jing C.
It's probably because I moved in down the street and started eating here more often but I've really come around to this place. The good: the ingredients are super fresh, reasonably health-conscious Asian food, and excellent ginger ale! I love good Chinese food but it's a meat-loving cuisine so sometimes it's difficult to eat Asian with vegetarian friends. Problem solved! Big Bowl has a section dedicated to vegetarian eats. And while I will never give up red meat and seafood, I've got to admit the Unfried Rice is a highlight.
(4)
Haley S.
Yes, it's chain Chinese. But, it's worth it for four things in my book. First of all the chicken potstickers are a fave. They're not at all greasy! Also love the teriyaki spareribs and green tea ginger ale. But what i really come here for is the vietnamese chicken noodle soup, which is AWESOME when you are sick!
(4)
Eric K.
I used to work down the block from this BIG BOWL and it has remained one of my favorite places to eat for YEARS. I went there last evening and got a table to order what I usually get. The chicken pot stickers with the awesome mustard dipping and other 2 sauces and the fiery chicken cashew dish as my main course. Imagine my surprise when I got the chicken pot stickers and it came with a new spicy chinese mustard sauce. The original sauce was a reason I came to the restaurant - I even would take bottles home. Now it comes with a spicy chinese mustard I could get at any cheap Chinese take out. The waiter said it might be because they were getting rid of peanut oil because of people's allergies. Um...let people with allergies order their own food - don't ruin mine! Then I got the fiery chicken dish which used to come with nice white chicken pieces ride and vegtables. Now it comes deep fried with a dark sauce on it. Yes SOGGY deep fried chicken. The flavor was ok but the whole experience was like bad chinese takeout. Not the flavors it used to have AT ALL. In GOOD NEWS - they added some things to the menu from the closed BEN PAO - Sesame Chicken and I'm happy about that. Maybe I will go back and eat the old Ben Pao dishes but BIG BOWL itself if kinda dead to me. This place is going downhill fast!
(2)
Teegan F.
We were seated quickly, the server was great, and the food was delicious. This place rocks!
(5)
Katherine R.
Pad Tai Noodles with chicken. Nice tea selection; infused teas with exotic fruits. Intriguing atmosphere with dim colored lights and a serene ambiance of tables in a a line and then an open area for larger groups for the round tables. The drinks are tropical and created in tall glasses with colorful juices. The concoctions are really well done here with or without alcohol. Our server was alert and very time oriented with our group on a weekend night especially.
(5)
Gayatri D.
Not many vegetarian options. But whatever they have tastes quite good! Great service and large portions. Perfect for a quick lunch!
(4)
M G.
Food is always delicious. Many different choices to choose from. Even the drinks are good. Place is mostly busy and the service can improve because they tend to be slow sometimes but that is because the place is busy. Overall, always a good experience when i eat there.
(4)
Kathy S.
This place is the epitome of overpriced "Asian" food. I've been there a handful of times because friends have wanted to go there but have never had any dish that I really loved. The only one that I kinda liked was the thai hot pepper chicken with basil and peanuts. However, it was so salty that I had to have lots of rice with each bite to overcome the crazy salty factor. So basically the only time I'll come back is when a group of friends really wants to come here.
(2)
Anthony S.
Good food, good selections, great prices and good service. I am always happy to come here! You absolutely must try their pumpkin ice cream mochi in the fall. It's to die for!
(5)
Karl S.
So i saw the Big Bowl sign and went in to bowl a few games. To my surprise not a single ball or lane to be found. I hate false advertising......kidding I usually try to avoid chain restaurants when I travel, but I always seem to make it to a Big Bowl for some Pad Thai Constantly good food.
(4)
A I.
For the price point, this is good. Setting: Seating reminded me of a big chain restaurant, but it was clean and plenty of space. If I have to turn more than one page on a menu, I lose interest. I really lose interest when it is an instruction manual. Food: Ginger ale was good and a plate of noodles was prepared and served quickly. Not the best Pad Thai on the planet, but the ingredients were fresh and the food was hot. Service: Very organized and friendly staff. I liked that the waiter basically telegraphed what was best on a very complicated menu.
(4)
Kevin Q.
Decent place with good restaurant ambience but just kind of wish that you could fully customize your own bowls like you would at Flat Top Grill since I could only choose the vegetables. Overall, I liked the place and thought it was an excellent choice to have a date at.
(4)
Sonali K.
Maybe it's because it has been so long, or because I couldn't eat Gran Luxe for lunch anymore (what work always seems to order), but we got Big Bowl today and it was SO good. I decided to try something new - the Vegetarian Dumpling soup (made extra spicy). I can't believe I hadn't tried this sooner! It was flavorful, the dumplings were fresh and delicious, and they definitely didn't skimp on the "extra spicy" request. They serve the dumpling on the side so they don't get soggy, and I have to admit I didn't add them to my soup. I ate them with a side of their peanut sauce and hot chili sauce - so yummy. I also got my usual order of spicy sesame peanut noodles - still good.
(3)
Jason P.
Definitely surprised by this place. It has been YEARS since I have been here... we're talking close to a decade, so I was expecting your average PF Chang's style chinese/japanese/thai offerings. I opted for the Sweet Ginger Scallops and Shrimp, and it was amazing. It was a little light on the scallops and shrimp, but the sauce was so good I gobbled up the mountain of rice that was on the plate just to get more of that sauce in my mouth. My wife had the pad thai, she was a fan, but I can't really comment on that because I'm not a fan of pad thai anywhere. Our friend had the Teriyaki Glazed Chicken Fried Rice, and that was very tasty as well. I love the fresh ginger ale, and the mai thais are awesome as well. Pot stickers are good, but you don't get many of them in the appetizer (I'm a big boy, I like my portions big as well). It's a tad pricey for what it is, but you're paying for the location. I'll definitely go back if I find myself with a reason to be in River North, but I probably wouldn't plan an outing solely around this restaurant.
(4)
Pinak B.
Like most entertain you restaurants, its a good spot to visit when no other option comes to mind. Feel like getting some good Asian inspired cuisine, but don't' really know where to go? Try out big bowl. They have a nice assortment of premade dishes, as well as a build your own bowl. Some favorites include Spicy Peanut Noodles, Kung Pao Tofu and the Chicken Satay. For entrees I would recommend staying away from the items on the menu and going with the 'build a bowl'. Its more interactive, fun and you can pick and choose exactly what you want. If you come with a group, its a good opportunity to mix and match items and try a little over everything.
(3)
Tiff B.
Can't believe I never wrote a review for Big Bowl. I love this place! Sure it's not authentic Asian food, but it's damn tasty and that's all that matters. I've never had bad service here and even though they're always packed. It doesn't seem like you have to wait long for a table. My best friend loves this place, so whenever she comes to town she insists on going here. The prices are very good as well. You can get a three course meal plus wine for about $20/person. That's cheap for restaurants downtown.
(5)
Cate W.
Delicious food, and excellent service! Having worked in at another upscale Chinese restaurant that also prioritizes fresh food and interesting flavors over the traditional msg fest, I was so glad to discover Big Bowl downtown! Sometimes the Loop restaurant reviews I read on Yelp are so depressing--truly mixed reviews-- that I hesitate to spend money or take a chance on any of 'em. Big Bowl is a fabulous alternative. We went out for supper on Wednesday night with a friend visiting town on business, and we all were incredibly pleased with our meals and the overall experience. Our server was great--pleasant but not smarmy, attentive without hovering. The food came out hot and on time. We started with vegetable potstickers (delicious) and I had a pomegranate- gingerale-vodka cocktail, which was good but a little too hot gingery for my taste, though the aftertaste was pleasant, and the thai chicken panang curry. Oh MY! That was an excellent dish! The curry was a lovely peanut-lemon grass, flavorful and full without being too heavy, the peapods were crisp and the chicken was lovely. It had a little heat (as I was warned) but the server warned me about the little red peppers I should avoid in the dish--the whole thing was great! And when I took home leftovers, I think the dish improved over night in the fridge. I got two lunches out of it. My fiance had the chicken pad thai, which he loved, and my friend, a vegetarian, tried the Big Bowl make-your-own stir fry. When she asked our server's advice about the many sauces available he was able to find out what she liked and make some good suggestions. Really, it will be no sacrifice to go back to this place. The restaurant was pretty busy even for an early Wednesday evening--can't say I'm surprised if this is theaverage dining experience.
(5)
Anna B.
The food and service was really great. Everything we ordered tasted really fresh, but managed to still be very flavorful and filling. Our waiter was great and the manager came to greet us with free appetizers too! I would definitely recommend it.
(4)
Justin S.
Not my favorite at all. The home made ginger ale was different but still pretty good. The food however, not really great. The pad thai wasn't that great and what made it worse was the price. No lunch specials that just sucks. Service was good but still food not so much. I'll keeping looking for some great pad thai....
(1)
meso s.
Placed an order for pick up on a very busy Thursday evening during a visit to the city. Wasn't familiar with the resturant but ordered the cashew chicken which was too spicy to eat. However enjoyed the Mogolian beef dish it was delish. The fortunate cookies nice sweetness to them.
(4)
Gen S.
I keep going back to this place for the fresh ginger ale. It's seriously delicious. (If you're looking for a buzz, the sangria is decent, but not fantastic. Their other drinks are pretty pricey.) Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the food. It's average at best. It's your typical americanized "Asian" food. I've never had the make-your-own stir fry bowl, but I'm consistently underwhelmed by their entrees. Most of their appetizers, like potstickers or egg rolls, are shipped frozen to the restaurant. My girlfriend found a huge chunk of wood in one of her potstickers, so eat with caution. This place gets three stars because I'm always seated immediately and the ginger ale is fantastic.
(3)
Erika G.
LUNCH: I love the stir fry at this place for lunch. A giant bowl of Chinese-style comfort food. It's not the most exotic fare, but yum - on a cold day, it hits the spot.
(3)
MNP K.
Very Impressed...all the food was awesome and the wine prices were low...BBQ hot bun starters were very tasty and the orange chicken was possibly the best I have had...can't wait to go back.
(4)
Maria R.
I would give it three stars for the calimari appetizer and the refreshing hibiscus tea, but our dinners were very unsatisfying. I kept thinking the chicken didn't look cooked enough. My husband and I ordered very different dishes and they both looked exactly the same except for the sauce. A disappointing experience.
(2)
Megan T.
I usually LOVE Big Bowl and frequent the Schaumburg Il location. We were there last Friday night and they sat us at a high top table in the entryway.... this would have been fine, but when the place filled up I had people interrupting our meal to ask up if the two chair that were part of our table were being used and if they could eat there. Aside from the rude people I ordered their special which the waiter talked up of Fresh Ahi tuna steak. I eat a lot of Ahi Tuna as it is my favorite fish, and I was really disappointed with this dish and then I came to find out it was $23.00 I wish I had stuck to my old favorite of Yellow curry or kung pao noodles. Our waiter was not great and didn't really know the menu well. He said that my order came with rice and green beans and when my meal came it had no rice. In the least I was disappointed at this experience and wish we had chose to dine at a different restaurant on this night.
(3)
Bryant C.
Nothing impressive. I felt like I was in an ultra commercialized restaurant. I can't really explain it. The place just wasn't that good though.
(2)
Lorraine D.
"I can't remember much, except for an overwhelming feeling of goodness" - is what my sister used to describe Big Bowl. I used to frequent this place during my time in Chicago, even though I'm generally not a big fan of pan asian. Here, however, the food is good, and it's a great place to visit. The place is really modern and it tends to get a bit loud. Also, it being close to the magnificent mile, it tends to get crowded on the weekends. When my friends came to visit me we went to this place a total of 3 times during their visit. Needless to say, there are tons of awesome restaurants in Chicago and this was one of our favorites.
(4)
Rob C.
Americanized asian stir fry, sort of a lesser version of Stir Crazy. Remember your positive or negative experience will be affected by the keyword -- americanized.
(2)
Henry A.
Seriously, if you like Thai food or "real" Chinese food, do not waste your time and money here. The menu essentially consists of some of the more popular items available at any of the thousands of Thai restaurants in the city, along with some Chinese noodle dishes and Mongolian grill items. The dishes are about 20% more expensive than what you would pay in a Thai restaurant and have about 20% of the flavor that you would get elsewhere too. We ordered the yellow curry and a pad thai, both dishes we normally love at regular Thai restaurants. After paying way more than we would normally, they were the worst versions of the dishes we had ever eaten anywhere. If you're looking for that kind of food in a nice atmosphere, please skip the Big Bowl and go to a nearby Thai restaurant instead, such as Dao, Star of Siam, or Silver Spoon. You will not only get MUCH better food, but you will also pay a lot less. On a positive note, the wonton noodle soup i had as an appetizer was really excellent. I would possibly consider going back here, but I would just get a large portion of that soup and that's it.
(2)
D S.
This place is great! I went last weekend with my girlfriend and two freinds and it was prefect. The wait was only 15 minutes, the service was great at the bar and table, and the food is out of this world. Also, for being located in the gold coast, the price was very good. I ate: chinese lettuce wraps an asian favorite, chicken, bibb lettuce, hoisin sauce teriyaki glazed steak filets teriyaki glazed filet mignon (3), chinese fried rice, baby asian vegetables I drank: Sapporo (20.3 oz) Beer
(5)
Nikki L.
Oh my god, my mouth is watering just looking at the pictures. I haven't ordered here in a while, but from what I can remember I LOVE THIS PLACE! I love their chicken dumpling and the chicken pad tai. They only offer delivery from Dining In, which can be more $$ than it should but...it's worth it!
(4)
A.S. V.
When Big Bowl first opened over a decade ago, I thought it was one of the best restaurants in the city. Now it's just another Lettuce Entertain you joint doing the same old thing. I don't imagine the food has changed all that much, but the prices have. For old time's sake, I'll keep it at four stars, but I wasn't too impressed by the stir fries last few times -- I swear they've blanded it out for the tourist crowds.
(4)
Lorelle L.
I love this place! Ever since I first visited Big Bowl while I was in Chicago for a quick vacation about 7 years ago, I have been a loyal customer. Sure its a chain and sure its not authentic Asian food, but it is damn tasty and affordable! The service has always been friendly and quick. The special cocktails are delicious and I've never had a dish I didn't like. Next time you're there, check out the Mochi for dessert! Yummy!
(5)
Ren H.
Here you can either order off the menu or go to the bar and pick veggies and meat for them to stirfry.. its perfect for everyone and its very cheap!
(5)
Linda N.
tried the stir fry option last night and it was delish! i had the chicken stir fry with chinese garlic ginger sauce (?...can't remember the sauce name) with the chefs choice veggies and jasmine rice. it was the perfect amount of everything. i also had the hong kong cosmo...super strong. i swear it was all alcohol and a splash of cranberry juice. i probably wouldn't get it again but at least i got my $$ worth. =)
(4)
Brad C.
I received a Lettuce Entertain you gift card for Christmas and since Big Bowl is now part of them I figured it was a perfect time to give them a try. Make sure you plan on waiting at least 30 minutes, Big Bowl is one of those restaurants tourists love going to. You get alot of food, but it isn't really worth taking a doggie bag home. Homemade ginger drinks are great and very good in cocktail form.
(3)
Pooja S.
Pre movie dinner? Near Michigan Ave, that wont break the bank... those were all the criteria we were looking for when we went in. Ordered the pot stickers with white wine sangria for me, sauvignon blanc for the husband. Server was very friendly. The highlight of my evening was finding lychees in the sangria, they were really good. Ordered the Thai veg green curry which was perfect for the two of us. The curry was amazing, really spicy with a lot of green chillies. The only reason I took off one star was because there wasn't very much actual curry. Would have been nice to get some more gravy in the dish. All of this ended up in costing about $35. Husband was comparing it to London and how little you get there in that amount. Gotta love America....
(3)
Gaurav M.
Good food. panang curry was average but kung pao chicken and spicy noodles were great.
(4)
Erin J.
You know, this place makes me feel like I'm eating "healthy" Americanized Chinese food. It all tastes good, but truly...I was kinda underwhelmed. Also, the price for the portion size is really off. After paying higher-than-average for an entree, I was still hungry after I was through. Probably a good place to go for a drink (their ginger ale is pretty good) or maybe a similarly-overpriced appetizer, but not worth a special trip.
(2)
Mike E.
Maybe this place is not for everyone. It is expensive, average food you can get elsewhere but the pot-stickers are quite delicious and the fresh ginger, ginger ale is truly worth a try ( I love ginger). Otherwise it is only worth going here if you are trendy, seems like that was their main client, or it is convenient and you are hungry.
(3)
Kat W.
This place is a joke, avoid at all cost (not cheap either). They don't know how to season Asian food. What amazes me (and the reason for 1 star) is the mere fact that so many people eat here.. it is just utterly unbelievable and I question the taste bud of every single person in that restaurant. At least, walk 2 blocks and go to P.F. Chang's.
(1)
Carrie B.
A good place for your thai/chinese/asian craving. Great appetizers, entrees, drinks. They've changed their menu a bit and seem a little strict on custom orders (I tried ordering the Kung Pao Chix less spicy and they wouldn't do it). It's pretty touristy, but decent. Good casual lunch or dinner spot.
(3)
Javier B.
This should really be a 5-star review as I think Big Bowl is awesome, but I will give it 4 stars for two reasons. 1-I have consistently gotten undercooked pieces of chicken the last few times I have been there, 2-I really hate that they give you an odd number of pot stickers (though they will add one if you request it). Aside from tthese two items (the chicken one being a biggie), the food here is delicious. I would highly recommend the Kung Pao chicken, the Thai hot pepper chicken, pad thai, panang curry is phenomenal and the coconut curry is excellent. From the appetizers, the pot sticker combo is great. I love the three sauces that they serve with them. I always end up dipping my fork in them after the pot stickers are gone! The hot and sour soup is exeptional! It is the tastiest one I've had and I am a huge fan of hot and sour soup. Their prices are not cheap, but not unreasonable. This is not a hole in the wall Chinese or Thai restaurant! I am sure some of their dishes are not that great as they need to have some bland stuff for the tourists (fried rice, Mogolian beef, orange chicken) but the majority of the menu items are really really good and very flavorful. I have no clue what some of the people that say this place is bland are talking about.
(4)
Jared L.
This place is pretty solid all around. You should be able to find something you like. Also, their orange chicken is the most orange tasting chicken I've ever had.
(4)
Sarah Q.
I like my food very spicy, and usually when I go out I still have to add chili sauce to my dishes because everything is Americanized spicy (which means: not spicy at all). But Big Bowl pleasantly surprised me--they will make your dish so spicy that you sweat! They also have tons of vegetarian options (and you can substitute tofu for any non-veg option) and a stir-fry bar which is amazing. Basically you fill your bowl with fresh veggies and garnishes (they have a huge selection), choose your protein and sauce, and if you want noodles, rice or fried rice. Then you leave your bowl of veggies with the chef and he'll whip up your dish. It's amazingly fresh and tasty--their sauces are homemade and are really good (I've tried kung pao, teriyaki, and green curry). Unfortunately, the shrimp is hit-or-miss--either they cook it well or not enough and it ends up tasting fishy, so I would avoid it. I've gone at different times of day and night and never had to wait for a table, but it probably gets busy earlier in the evening on weekends, so make a reservation just to be on the safe side.
(4)
brett m.
in the infamous words of michael kors, 'i'm underwhelmed'. big bowl was a letdown for me. the menu was unimpressive, even for a mainstream pan-asian-themed restaurant. the service was... okay. the portions were hefty - however, lest we forget, hefty portions of unimpressive food. the hibiscus lemonade (or whatever it's called) is excellent, but i hardly think i'd return just for a glass of lemonade. and p.s. i remember (though hazily) the dishes being quite mushroom heavy, and for those of us with shroom allergies or those with fungus aversions, it wasn't terribly easy finding something edible.
(2)
Karen L.
Big Bowl is nothing to write home about, but it's decent enough. As the name implies, they give you great quantities of food for the price. The food tastes fine, but it's nothing amazing in my book. This place gets kind of crowded at night, not only making it difficult to hear but also to scoot your chair out. Try it if it's convenient for you. Other wise, you won't be missing too much.
(3)
Julie M.
I LOVE Big Bowl. This is what I expect of a chain. You go in, they have good food that you can always count on, it's not crazy expensive. I've been here 4 times in the past 2 months. I really liked the steak red curry special they had in December. That thing was spicy! I went there 3 times in 1 weekend and ordered it twice. The 2nd time, it had some habenaros in it! Yum, yum! The ginger ale is good, too. I prefer my drinks a bit on the sweeter side, so I get the pomegranate flavor. I had the salmon pad thai the other day. Figured that would be hit or miss, but definitely a hit. The salmon was cooked pretty well. They also have a gluten free menu and there were no mix-ups there. My co-worker is very sensitive to gluten, and he had absolutely no issues (ie, food was separated properly, the noodles weren't cooked in water with noodles made of wheat, etc.). Another great staple when hanging out in Chicago.
(4)
Michael W.
A nice departure from traditional Chinese restaurants. My friend loves the Crispy Orange Peel Chicken. The service has always been prompt and friendly, and we've never had to wait for a table. The decorating scheme mirrors the food - a mix of traditional and contemporary. A fun place for lunch.
(4)
Christian R.
homemade lemonades and ginger ales hmmm, great food and good drink. i had the orange chicken and literally wanted to order a second to go haha. the waitor was a dork and never came around when i wanted him too.
(4)
Kali A.
I love big bowl! They have delicious food, great prices, and great service! I took my friend there for a surprise dinner. Fortunately, she too loved it and it is now a favorite of her's as well! :)
(5)
Marian L.
Love this place - great casual place to stop in while shopping on the magnificent mile! Service is decent and the dishes are fantastic. I personally recommend the Potstickers as an appetizer, as well as the Crispy Lemon Chicken as the entree. If your not too much into soda or alcohol - try the Hibiscus Iced tea or the Hibiscus Lemonade - mmmmm! Not a place to drive to - but just take the subway to the red line stop Grand!
(4)
Liliana S.
Decent food but not the most authentic. Definitely check out other restaurants before settling upon this one. If you're in the vicinity and are starving to death for some Thai then check this out..
(3)
Zach A.
Decent stir fry and pretty cheap. Also a good place to grab a drink for happy hour.
(3)
Kelli M.
Very decently priced. The lettuce wraps are a must-have. Also recommend the chicken satay. The dishes are ok, the servers always make a recommendation. Good service, very friendly and helpful. Several different teas for after dinner.
(4)
Allison K.
Compared to other stir fry restaurants I have been to in the past, I really was not impressed by the quality or taste of the food here. I have always heard about this "big hype" about eating at Big Bowl, but really the experience here was just blah. It's just like every other "stir fry place" where you get to pick out your own ingredients and etc, but something was just off about it. The only thing I did enjoy here was their iced tea. This place too was a little bit over priced too, (maybe because it's a Chicago touristy type of spot?)
(2)
Ramon R.
This restaurant isn't all that. There's too much to eat and too little worth eating. It's such processed Thai food! The seating is also terrible; my friend and I were squeezed in this tiny space near the cash register. Ugh. Go to a REAL Thai restaurant that (of course) isn't near the Magnificent Mile.
(2)
Mark P.
Americanized Asian food. Blech.
(1)
Joe S.
Average stir-fry joint. Food looks and sounds better than it tastes. Veggie dishes are the way to go here. Nasty, gristly chicken and bubblegum beef and pork. Why not use better quality and charge another dollar or two? I sure don't like a potsticker full of fat,or to have to pick through my chicken. They tend to over ginger and curry things, and the best cocktail was done away with years ago..the Ginger Blush. Homemade ginger ale is VERY GOOD. Iced tea and Lemonade good too. Too bad the beverages are better than the food. Seems hard to screw up noodles, but this place does. Melman must've lost interest after the first few years.
(2)
Sydney K.
The food here is palatable, but they've tried to make the cuisine too mainstream. As a result, it reminds me of an Asian themed Bennigan's. Not that there's anything wrong with that - sometimes you feel like something predictable. The drinks definitely lack kick though.
(2)
Doug p.
ive had nothing but great service every time, the coconut basil shrimp is one of my favorite meals, reasonably priced, and always a good time
(4)
Dom R.
i actually did check bigbowl a few years ago - nd was dissappointed.. but gave it a go today... entrance, welcome - nice ambiance - hip/ up to date/ modern service - my waiter was very attentive, caring nd answered all my questions nicely food - as a first course i had the chicken dumplings, tasty - but not too asian... as a main dish i ordered the kung pao beef wirh brown rice - delicous! spiceyy, beef quality was excellent! loved it. price wise totally ok. a/c as usual everywhere in the US - freezing - hate it
(5)
Sona P.
Service - very friendly and fast on a Saturday night. Food - decent but nothing to rave about. We split the fresh vegetable rolls (Vietnamese spring rolls) and the portion was small for $6.95. We also shared the panang curry with tofu, which was a good size and pretty spicy. Note that the panang curry is NOT vegetarian even with tofu. Overall - great location and service, food was just so-so but that's to be expected when you're in the heart of a tourist area.
(3)
Steve A.
It's easy to classify Big Bowl as another fast casual chain, but that really understates how nice this location is, with its elaborate and beautiful interior design and hands-on management and staff. The concept is a mix of Chinese, Thai and Mongolian barbecue, so there's likely to be something for most people. I enjoyed the very fresh tasting spring rolls, which were cut up like a sushi roll rather than served as a log; great idea. Pad Thai was tasty, heavy on the lime and cilantro. I had the shrimp version, but the chicken version might be a bit more traditional. There's a reasonable list of alcoholic beverages that match the food. House-made ginger ale is a good non-alcoholic choice. Service was fast and friendly. The manager visited and even comped me a cucumber amuse bouche as a first time visitor.
(4)
Ken O.
Having been to the Big Bowl on Cedar Street before the closing, I knew what to expect from the chain. I was not wrong. This location is just blocks west of Michigan Avenue so it's in a great location. The restaurant has a cool vibe. Trey T was my server. He was very attentive to me and all of his other diners. I had ordered the Luncheon Beef & Broccoli. Few minutes were the food was delivered and of course, the good was great. I would recommend this restaurant for the food and service.
(5)
Marie B.
I'll be honest, I'm a snob when it comes to chains. I know, it's a first world issue. That being said, I normally avoid chains. However we came here on the way home from work and it was delightful satisfying. The mussels which was on the specials was amazing! We couldn't get enough of the sauce that we used it on our rice. The general Tao chicken was also very good. Definitely will be back!
(4)
Padma A.
back up option to entertain guests on a weekday, always works. Met my childhood friend visiting town after a long work day for dinner. Easy stirfry, lots of conversation and the ever refershing ginger ale... we were.2 happy customers.
(4)
Shuang Z.
I'm a regular diner at Big Bowl. I give the food 3 star, the price, service, and atmosphere a 4 star. This is an Asian fusion restaurant, they seems to be known for their pad thai, but I found this dish too sweet, but I do love the tofu in the pad thai dish... I usually go for the stir-fry bar. This is really neat, because I can pick up my own vegetable. They have a huge variety of fresh local vegetables, from corns, peas, to leafy veges. You can also pick your own protein and sauce. For the sauce, I recommend Chinese Ginger soy. The lemon grass was way tooooo sweet. Green thai curry was toooo spicy. Teriyaki was ok. Thai yellow curry was pretty tasty though. Caution: The portion is huge!!
(4)
Sara M.
Decided to use one of the lettuce entertain you scratch off tickets to try Big Bowl. Good atmosphere and great menu selection. Chinese,Thai and build your own stir-fry bar. Friendly wait staff with good menu suggestions. Ordered the potstickers and kung pao chicken.
(4)
Zoe Y.
This review is long over-due. Big Bowl was okay. Decent in price and portion, however it is lacking something. We drove to Chicago from Ann Arbor to meet with friends and before going out, we were starving and decided to eat here. I was not impressed at all. The ambiance is okay but kind of misleading. I kept asking my boyfriend if it was an attempt to be a fine dining establishment or hometown, organic based restaurant. The service was pretty good, especially for us coming in so late. To start off, we had the pot stickers which were awful. I would rather eat Ling Ling's from Costco than whatever they served here. We ordered the sesame chicken and the stir fry - both were average. I would rather eat at P.F. Chang's than eat here. Next time I'll go out hungry rather than eat here. It wasn't a horrible experience but it was pretty average. The one thing I actually liked was the homemade ginger ale they make. It was tasty and you could definitely taste the ginger!
(3)
Jim B.
This was my first time at Big Bowl, but definitely won't be my last. Great location, interesting menu, fabulous food and fantastic service from Joe O! Joe is very personable and did a great job explaining the menu and specials and recommended a dinner that my brother absolutely loved. The service was flawless. Thanks, Joe!!! I highly recommend this place and and if you do stop by, be sure to ask for Joe's section...
(5)
Shahzad A.
Poorly managed place. Don't get me wrong, the place looks great but the food is what is miss managed. You will find shrimp dish with half shrimp with tail and the other without. It makes you question how well things are cleaned. I have been to this big bowl and returned food twice because one thing or the other was wrong. The other big bowl in Schaumburg does not have that problem and is a much better location if you like big bowl food.
(1)
Amy L.
We had Big Bowl for the first time a little over 2 yrs ago and I was hooked! We happened upon it right before they closed for the evening when we were out looking for a bite to eat. Fast forward..we return to Chi town and I must...repeat MUST go back. We actually ate here twice on this trip because we dont have this in Cincinnati. I ordered the same kung pao beef with noodles that I got on the first trip as well as the potstickers. The service was great. Our server recognized us on out second trip back. Very friendly, accommodating, and prompt. She brought refills of drinks before they were needed, which I love. The food was as amazing as I had remembered. The beef in my kung pao beef was super tender and the sauce was rich and spicy. My boyfriend got the kung pao chicken with jasmine rice. It was also delicious. The pork potstickers were delish! Crunchy bottom as they were cooked very well and the dipping sauces flavorful. Everything was just as good on the second visit but the food was a little less spicy this time. Service and food were still top notch. The second visit was lunch before we drove back to Ohio. I even got a meal to go!
(5)
Deanna R.
A girlfriend and I stopped in for a bite to eat. The food was delicious and our sever was very timely and attentive. At the end we decided to try the apple crisp. They were out...no big deal...however our sever offered us another desert on the house. The manager also stopped by to apologize and instead of one desert he brought us a sampler of all their delicious treats. I thought it was a very nice gesture and was worth sharing with others.
(5)
David N.
Definitely, not my favorite Chinese/Thai place to dine at. The food is just OK, very bland and not a whole lot of flavor. I ordered a spicy, tofu green curry vegetable dish with Jasmine rice. I asked if they could make it extra spicy, i love flavor and spice in my food, especially when it comes to Thai. I was mildly disappointed though, when I tried it and it was not that flavorful or spicy. There are other Thai restaurants I have gone to that are a lot better and have a lot more flavor to their foods. I guess this place is OK, if you are a tourist and are already down in the city, but I will stick to going to some of my favorite Thai restaurants in lake view and other neighborhood areas.
(2)
Noah B.
I'm not sure how you can ruin chicken pad thai, but they did. I've tried it twice, just in case my taste buds were being extra snobbish, but I was gravely disappointed both times.
(2)
Lim K.
It is hard to find a good Chinese food around downtown Chicago. The first time I was walking by Big Bowl i was not sure if i wanted to eat there. But after trying a few dishes I became very fond of this restaurant. My favorite dish was the spicy Sichuan green beans. The chicken pot stickers were good, however i would like it to be a little more crispy on the outside. The BBQ pork fried rice; the sliced pork on a bed of rice with bbq sauce on top. The pork was tender and was very tasty but the rice did not have much flavor. Overall, it was very good and the great service.
(4)
Christina S.
The wait was long, but the pomegranate ginger ale was cold. The food was definitely of the Americanized chain variety, but it was tasty, and the service was high-calibur. In short, I certainly wouldn't mind dining here again but with so many other places on my To Eat list, I may not make it back. UPDATE: I ate here again, when another friend suggested it. Same deal as before. I think it's safe to say that I won't ever argue someone out of eating here, but I'll never be the girl who suggests Big Bowl when we're dreaming up a night out.
(3)
Biff Y.
I like this place a lot for a "non-authentic Asian" restaurant. I particularly like the sweet ginger shrimp & scallop and the calamari appetizer. I take this place over PF Chang's any day. But I guess that might not be saying much.
(4)
Amy L.
Who doesn't love a big bowl on top of a restaurant? What a crowd pleaser! Although, i gotta say, Webber Grill Restaurant oddly looks the same as big bowl. They're both got big red round dishes on the side of the building. I wonder if they copied one another. I recently went to Big Bowl on a whim because me and my boyfriend found out Bamboo Garden was closing at 10 and since it was close to that time, we decided to come here. Good Choice. Since it is a franchised restaurant i would think everything would taste like all the same dishes we ever ate. But safely to say, this asian fusion restaurant was a bit different. I ordered the spicy sichuan beef. And man was this super spicy. Those fire breathing head indicators weren't lying about it being hot. I think it was too hot even for me. And i do like hot. But not to the point where i can't really taste the food anymore. It was good nonetheless, even though i had to blow my nose a couple of times(My nose runs when i eat super spicy foods). But here was the highlight of big bowl: my boyfriends dish. "sweet ginger sea scallops and shrimp". Simply to die for!....One of Big Bowl's signature dishes. I kept eating his dish i almost forgot that i had to eat mine. The scallops were excellent and with the sauce, it was heavenly. Perfect balance of savory and sweet. I am totally getting that next time. The only bad thing i noticed was the portions of the meals, it was a bit on the small side and might not please the people who are looking for leftovers the next morning. Initially, i though it would be more food, but hey, i never finish my food anyways so it was a perfect portion for me. I will also add that, ginger is really incorporated into every aspect of this restaurant; from the drinks to the food, to the desserts. I wonder why they didn't call it GINGER? But if you do go, please get the Orange Ginger Ale... I heard it was really good. I got the Passion Fruit Ginger Ale and it was ok. Next time it will be Orange.
(4)
Charles B.
Great place, great service, great food, and great prices. Been going here for two years now and never had Amy major problems. It's not authentic Asian food too. But that doesn't mean its bad. Still great.
(5)
Evann G.
Okay, maybe I should not be surprised that I didn't love Big Bowl, considering it is just another franchise Asian restaurant. Call me silly, though, but I really wanted to love this place. Probably because of my affinity for Asian food in general, and even certain other franchise Asian restaurants that I have been known to love in spite of myself. I wanted to love Big Bowl so much that I tried it twice before writing this review. But ultimately, although I thought it was okay, I didn't love it. The first time I went, we shared the pad thai and one of the curry dishes. Both of them were forgettable and would obviously have been better at a Thai place. I did think the bao appetizer was pretty good, though, and the hibiscus iced tea was refreshing and tasty. The second time, I tried the stir-fry. Again, it was pretty forgettable, although better than the Thai food we had tried the time before. I appreciated the "Mongolian BBQ"-style of picking your own mix-ins, but I've had much, much better. And if you want a meat, they just add it on top of the stir-fry rather than mixing it in. I had the sesame chicken, which was good, but I would have rather had it mixed in. My bf had the kung pao chicken, which was sort of ridiculously, over-the-top spicy. I admit I'm a wuss when it comes to spiciness, but even he thought it was a bit much. We also tried the homemade ginger ale, and I would NOT recommend it unless you really LOVE ginger. Lots of ginger. So much ginger that the drink itself was spicy. We couldn't finish it, I had to order another hibiscus iced tea instead. The bao was still good, though, and this time I also tried the dumpling noodle soup, which I LOVED. I was sick, and the soup and the bao made me feel a lot better! Other than that, though, I wouldn't say it's worth the super long wait that we had to endure to be seated.
(3)
lola d.
Big bowl to me was like kissing a boy while wearing beer goggles. At first it feels damn good, then later you go home feeling more busted and jacked up then when you first left the house! Well, this was my experience with big bowl. I tried this place for the first time after hearing from so many people that this place was the big cheese. No lovely cheese here! The curry was bland, the pad thai noodles tasted like they were cooked in some sort of chicken broth, and the pot stickers were slimy and tasteless. the result: I went home feeling all busted from spending the last of my money on big bowl :(
(2)
tom C.
Its ok, but poor service pretty consistently. The food is okay. Jst get a soft drink the house made drinks blow they are swill....the cocktails are also pretty weak but are served in a pretty glass...if thats what ur looking for.
(2)
Luis L.
No, the ambience isn't particularly great, nor is the food particularly amazing in any way, but it's pretty darn good. I wouldn't eat here if it wasn't. I usually get the Kung Pao because I love the taste of the blackened chilies, with a thing of ginger garlic sauce on the side, which I request extra. Things are usually not spicy enough for me, so I always add some of that lovely chile paste they have at each table. I think that what I like most about Big Bowl is that the menus are well written, and any question you might have about the ingredients in the dishes can be answered by well spoken, polite servers. Try getting that in Chinatown. "Excuse me, what kind of sauce does this dish have?" "Brown sauce!" "Uh... what's brown sauce?" "Is a asian brown sauce!" Mmmmhmmm... yeah. Brown sauce. I'll pay more for polite, clear speaking servers any day.
(4)
Stacy M.
Their gingerale was incredible, but the rest of our meal was left to be desired.
(3)
lauren F.
Great Place. I had a homemade ginger ale with splash of pomegranate and some Effen Vodka, very well balanced drink.We ordered the Barbecue pork Bao, little buns with flavorful filling, and they were 2 for 2.95, great deal and recommended. I had the Pad Thai and it was everything I expected and more! Large portions so no room for dessert :( Also, homemade noodles in some of the dishes, and all the veggies were fresh and perfectly cooked. Nice Value.
(4)
caroline e.
Stopped in here last night with some friends before a movie. It was fast (but not rushed), convenient to the theatre at 600 N. Michigan, inexpensive and the food was really pretty good. I think the best thing we tried was the Orange Chicken, but the Kung Pao Chicken with Noodles was a close second. They had $2 Tiger beer on Wednesday night. I'd never heard of the brand before, but it was pretty good. And you can't beat the price! When the manager heard it was our first time there, he even brought over a little complimentary appetizer to welcome us. Frankly I was plesently surprised to receive such good service at a chain restaurant. I'd definitely go back.
(3)
Lizzy S.
Not the best place if you are looking for some good Chinese. The food is a bit over priced and not amazing. The staff is quite nice and are good at helping you pick a new dish...although they cannot save their over cook lettuce wraps.
(2)
cara r.
Two stars for the drinks - love the ginger ale cocktails! I had both a passion fruit ginger ale AND an Effen vodka passion fruit ginger ale. Absolutely delicious with the homemade ginger ale. One star for the appetizers - our chicken potstickers were crazy good, and we gobbled them up pretty much as soon as they'd been delivered to the table. No stars for the entrees - boring, with too much black pepper, and the rice tasted a little off. Stop by and sit at the bar for a drink and an app, then head somewhere else for dinner.
(3)
Shannon M.
I was visiting Chicago on business shortly after receiving a marraige proposal. The service throughout dinner was great, the food was good. I noted I was going to celebrate my engagement with dessert and the server was sweet enough to chat with me about it for a bit and ended up comping the whole meal! Very personal, attentive service.
(5)
Karmen F.
Love the food and staff. The only reason I am giving them a 4 instead of a 5 star rating is that the they have adjusted the recipe for the Cosmopolitan. The new one is horrible.
(4)
Cate C.
I've been going to Big Bowl restaurants since I was in high school and it has always been a good spot that everyone in my family can agree on. However, this trip stood out for me as it was my first gluten-free trip. I checked ahead of time and they have a great gluten-free menu (which they bring to the table with all of the other menus, without my even asking). But I am especially glad I checked their menu ahead of time because I saw that during the month of August they have a number of corn-inspired dishes. For my entree I had the Crab and Corn Soup, with a side of Jasmine rice. It was a fantastic dish, but be warned - quite spicy so be prepared. I was very impressed that my waiter brought out an extra glass of water with the soup, clearly he knew I would need it. The crowning achievement for me was dessert - the famed but short-lived Sweet Corn Gelato was amazing. It is only available during August and is made in conjunction with a local gelato shop. Online the treat got rave reviews but I was still a little wary of any dessert involving vegetables. Trust me this dish does not disapoint. It is a very sweet taste, like french vanilla with a little extra hint of movie-theater magic. I'd definitely recommend heading to the Big Bowl before the end of August.
(4)
Blanca J.
For dining in its a great place I love their panang curry chicken I've brought my entire family here... but for carry out their to slow it took long and it wasent busy at that time if u go its better if its for dining in
(3)
Mandy P.
All though I'm kind of embarrassed to admit it, I actually really like this place. I LOVE their Kung Pao w/ tofu and spinach and the fact that I can get vegetarian dumplings or pot stickers there rocks my world. I have never been all that into chain restaurants, which this basically is, but the fact that I can get so much good vegetarian, what? Chinese food? Is great. The people I've taken there have found their food to be pleasing as well, although none of us have had the stir fry, so perhaps that explains our success. I also love their ginger drinks and their hibiscus lemonade. Yummy! As for the wait, I have been fortunate enough to go at times where I haven't had to wait a long time. If you go early enough on a Friday, for example, you can get seated immediately -- I think that the last few times have been around 7 PM (which is great if you're going to see a movie in the area).
(4)
Mario S.
Surprising. I expected flavor-free PF Changs-style pan-asian microwave fusion fare. But the food here packed a punch. The spicy green bean appetizer was a knockout. The peanut noodle thing was a hit. Good for a big group. Service was great. Pomegranate ginger ale was killer.
(3)
S R.
Good ambience, very good food, great service and beautiful server!
(4)
Emily C.
Yuck. I had some sort of string bean thing that was barely passable as food, way to spicy without any flavor and mushy. Price - chain style expensive, as in I can't belive this is a chain restaurant that sucks and I spent so much here. I've been to 2 locations in Chicago and hated them both.
(2)
Jill W.
Service is fine, I'm just not a fan of any of the food at big bowl. I think it's overpriced for the quality. Whenever I eat there, I think of the scene in National Lampoon's European vacation, when they eat at the French restaurant, and the chef microwaves frozen dinners for them -- dry, bland, and just nothing to bring me back. I don't know if they make any of the noodles fresh, but it definitely doesn't taste like it.
(1)
Josh W.
food was great and the price was great too......the hot was not as hot as I would have liked but other than that it was all good.....
(4)
D J.
Awesome asian fusion, and fresh ginger drinks
(4)
Bonnie L.
I tried Big Bowl last night for the first time. I always like going to places like this because there is always a good amount of vegetarian options. Big Bowl had a few, but not a lot. Fine with me as long as what they have is good. I decided to order off the menu and skip the "make it yourself" option. I have had some blah experiences trying to concoct something myself. I ordered vegetable potstickers and peanut noodles for starters. The peanut noodles were served cold and were spicy and were very good. My friends did not expect them to be cold and were not big fans of the dish. I liked them just fine. The potstickers were just ok for me. Friends also ordered the Calamari which they said was delicious. For dinner I ordered a Kung Pao with Tofu and Spinach. It was really good. It was served with these delicious spicy wide flat wheat noodles. It was a very good choice for me and I did not leave a morsel on my plate. My friends each ordered two different shrimp dishes that they really enjoyed. They also had a couple of desserts, one which was the ginger cake, which they said was really good. I had no room left for dessert since my entree was so good. I also ordered the Ginger Ginger Ale. Wow, was that good. If you are a Ginger fan, this is not to be skipped. All in all I really liked the food. So why only three stars? A couple of service snafus in my opinion. We had a 7:30 reservation. All of us showed up at 7:30 and we recieved our pager. We waited and waited and at like 5 minutes to eight we decided to see what was going on with our table, as we saw lots of empties. The hostess said that they were waiting for our whole party to arrive before they seated us. We all were there. We never said that we were waiting for anyone from the start, so not sure if they confused us with anyone else. The other thing that was kind of irritating in my opinion was that I parked in the lot that is attached to their building. The hostess gave me a second ticket to use at the garage when I checked in to get a discounted price on the parking. So after dinner, I went to the pay station and entered the ticket that the hostess gave me. It kept coming up invalid coupon. I tried it three times with the same response. So I had to walk back to the restaurant to find out what the problem was. Then they explained to me that I needed to enter the first ticket that I recieved from the parking garage, and aferwards enter the second ticket that I got from the hostess. How about telling me that from the start so that I know what to do in the first place. I think the hostess was what made my experience less than stellar.
(3)
Tony J.
Ordered Kung Pao Chicken for delivery. In the past, 2 people could split the order. When we got it, there was hardly any Kung Pao Chicken and 3/4 was rice. I called and spoke to the Manager at the Ohio location and he stated they portion it out at 4 oz. I think they have downsized their portions. $26 (had lettuce wraps too) is not worth it. Will never order from here again. I told him I would not order from there again and he said OK. Zero Stars.
(1)
Elif T.
I love this place. Their stir fry bar is great!!! Their servers are very nice and respectful. I can crave Big Bowl, Panang curry anytime and every time....
(5)
Lauren B.
The shrimp pad thai was amazzzzzing. They didn't have any gluten free menus at the time (said they are in the middle of revising), but the waitress was knowledgeable and told me what items I could order. There weren't many choices, but I don't think most celiacs are too demanding... The place itself is pretty cool inside, interesting lighting. Service was good, but it was pretty empty.
(5)
Mariana P.
This place loses three stars for several reasons. One: I went here on a Monday night and we had to wait for a table. Normally, no complaints about waiting for a table, however, this time there were several tables available, but none of them were cleaned off. Two: I had a stir fry bowl (where you create your own dish) but it was entirely devoid of flavor. It was so miserable. The Sangria was good, the waitress was nice, and I loved the decor, but the food was so bad. I won't be back to this location. I might try another one.
(2)
Natasha A.
A good place for a casual dinner. The waitress was very helpful with suggesting a beef dish with just the right amount of spice. Guests are given the option of creating their own rice or noodle bowl by selecting veggies, a protien and a sauce. Other thai and chinese standards such as pad thai, curry or kang pao are available as well. The pommegranite gigner ale was a unique and refreshing drink.
(3)
Brad W.
Despite being owned by the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group - this restaurant has definitely gone down in recent years. The stir fry is the key food option for this place - allowing the hungry to create their own dish. I was a former frequent patrons of the Big Bowl in Northbook, Illinois - but either the chefs are not quite as good at this location - or they've changed the way they make the stir fry bowls. This is not the best place for kids - but a decent place for a night on the town or a dinner meeting with business associates.
(2)
Cynthia A.
yummy. love the dumpling soup!
(5)
Saman S.
Extremely flavorful food!!
(4)
Kristina K.
The BF wanted Asian really bad last night, but do to some seriously annoying nonsense, I couldn't leave the house. So, I met him for lunch today. We'd thought about eating here the last time we had lunch together, but gone to CPK next door instead. Anyway, we sat down and looked around. The decour was nice, but obviously watered-down asian chain restaurant. We got some sort of spicy dumpling for an appetizer that really was not so spicy. Good flavor, but no heat. Our waitress told us the green curry was spicy too, but it wasn't either. It was really flavorful, and tasty. The cinnamon wantons with coconut ice cream was amazing! But small. One of my big criteria for good service is in drink refills. I know it sounds stupid, but if i'm paying for a drink, I expect refills. At least one. No refills on my tea. It was empty halfway through our entree, and never was filled. Why's that so hard?
(3)
Adam M.
Big Bowl... realistically, the best thing I can say about Big Bowl is that I'd have to smoke a big bowl before eating here again... case closed
(2)
Tari F.
Alright, so a key thing for me when eating ethnic food of any kind is the level of spiciness. Despite being six kinds of spicy in a metaphorical sense, sometimes black pepper can make me cry. No, seriously: there are Doritos that I can't even smell without feeling like someone's shoving needles into my tongue. I am a spice wuss. I'm okay with it. So, cut to last Friday's date night, and we wander into Big Bowl for some Asian-fusion-noodle-stir-fry action. For some reason, I'm in the mood for pad thai; usually the peanut butter spaghetti is not my favorite, but that night it sounded really good to me. On their menu, they bill their pad thai as "mildly spicy." This is always a red flag for me, since "mildly spicy" usually means my eyeballs will melt. So, I line up a couple clearly non-spicy backup options, and ask the waitress if they can do a totally non-spicy pad thai. She says sure, I do a dance of joy, all is right with the world. Long story short, whoever cooked my meal obviously didn't believe me when I said I wanted it not spicy, because what they brought out made my nose run, my face turn red, and the tears pour. I tried to tough it out (I hate sending back a meal), but it was too painful, so I grabbed the waitress and explained that my dinner was, in fact, spicy. Shortly thereafter, the cook comes out to explain to me that without the spices, the dish would be bland - clearly implying that he knows better than I do what my preferences should be. I love arguing with someone else about what I do or do not like. The second version they brought out was still too spicy, but I could at least eat more than a couple bites. The manager came over and tried to smooth things over, and the waitress was very sweet...but the whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth. An overpriced (not to mention weak) margarita didn't help rinse it out, and my suspicion that the cooking staff were discussing how many of them should spit in my food didn't either. While the food itself seemed okay, the attitude was abysmal, and my delicate pallette will not be visiting again.
(2)
Squirrel L.
I loved Big Bowl! All 3 of us decided to make our own stir fry. Our waitress was awesome! She was great about telling me which sauces were vegetarian and which weren't. I loved having the ability to pick and choose only those veggies that I like. YAY - no bell peppers!!!!! My meal ended up being awesome. Gotta love the bonus mochi for the first timers too. Yummy!
(4)
Larry B.
Pretty good pad Thai and barbeque pork. The portions are big enough yet not too much. They did just start using the biodegradeable cutlery (starch forks, etc.) so that's pretty cool. While it is not the cheapest place on the block, you usually get what you pay for around here, and Big Bowl is no exception.
(4)
Emily K.
yum! big bowl is like a fancier (and vastly better) mongolian barbecue. They make their own ginger ale (and if you like ginger, it is awesome! i love it). They have the options of make your own stir fry (which they actually make and bring to you, you just choose your meat, noodles or rice, sauce, and go up to a vegetable bar to choose your vegetables) or dishes. the service is friendly and the prices are reasonable. i thoroughly enjoyed my experience
(4)
Purnima M.
So here's the formula: take a large space, paint it with lots of dark tones, put up some oversized wall decor, pump up the music, squeeze in as many tables as possible, create a "spin" on the otherwise standard food, and...GO! Big Bowl sticks to the formula so closely, it's scary! Or maybe I've visited too many restaurants in the Lettuce Entertain You empire. Either way, nothing stands out in my memory about this meal other than its stunning average-ness. Food was okay, not too spicy, not too bland, the make-your-own-stir-fry stand was surprisingly boring, and that was sadly that.
(2)
Mateo S.
Inauthentic Disney-Asian for sure, and the service was of the bombastic "HI! I'M STEVE AND I'LL BE YOUR WAITER TONIGHT!!" variety. "Steve" asked us if we wanted drinks before we had sat down, and when he delivered our rushed order he simply hovered above us until we were ready with our entree selections. It was awkward to be sure. The poor guy... his internal clock just wasn't set with ours... he also continuously tried to clear plates before we had finished eating. All in all a harried experience, but the scallops and shrimp we had were well sauced and seasoned and definitely the right price. The wine I ordered, however, was around $30 and I have bought the same bottle at Whole Foods for $6. I know there's a markup, but 5X retail...??
(3)
Nicole G.
After wandering around the streets of Chicago for something a little less pricey and still delicious, my boyfriend and I found Big Bowl, and since neither of us had gone there, decided to try it! It all seemed normal at first... and then my boyfriend picked up his glass of water and the entire bottom of the glass just fell off! Clean right off! I couldn't even believed it happened... and though it was more awesome than awful. Our server felt so bad that it happened and was so nice and apologetic, even though we were laughing so hard... The food was pretty good asian food. Better than any take out place I have been. But the main focus here is the service... After we finished... they gave us free dessert! The triple mochi trio... which was fantastic. And they took $10 off our entire order! I was so surprised... The service here was fantastic and the food was delicious. I am definitely going to go back... and don't forget to laugh if something ridiculous happens to you!
(5)
Deb S.
Although I just got takeout at Big Bowl, I have to say they gave me the best hot and sour soup I've had in a long time--maybe ever. I think it is their combination emphasis on Chinese and Thai that did it. I am visiting Chicago and feel lousy with a completely stuffy head, and all I wanted was some very hot, spicy soup. Big Bowl did the job. The food was ready in 10 minutes, packaged in a sealed plastic bag around the container to prevent spillage, and piping hot when I got back to my hotel room. The big chunks of meat as well as ample cilantro made this a wonderful dish. I also had the Asian Chicken Salad with shredded chicken, which had two delicious dressings--a peanutty dressing and a little tub of satay sauce. Also delicious. When I come back to Chicago and feel better, I'll try eating at Big Bowl!
(4)
Phil Y.
Good service, good food. Nothing really that stands out
(3)
Nana H.
I think for the quality and creativity of the dish, the prices here should be much lower. I find their food to be uninspiring and boring. I've had asian food all my life and this is nothing special, sorry. My boyfriend's brother is a server there and I've had almost everything on the menu, and nothing was so good i would come back for it. I do like the decor and the drinks, its just the food really falls flat. When an asian person likes americanized asian food, they are called Bananas!
(3)
Amy J.
I love big bowl! I always make my own stirfry, and put a variety of vegetables and noodles and I get chicken. I switch sauces a lot but my favorite is Ginger Garlic. It's great. Also, as an appetizer, try the potstickers. They're great. Service is usually very prompt and the servers are knowledgable if you have any questions about the food. Also, they have a full menu besides creating your own stirfry if you don't want to make your own. They have a lot of unique drinks--both alcoholic and non-alcoholic (like tropical teas and whatnot) and there's almost never a wait. I have to say I've never had a bad meal here and always been very happy with the service.
(4)
seema s.
we were looking for a place to eat before going to see a movie, and big bowl happened to be across the street from where we needed to be. i am not a big fan of eating at chain-y places, but this place was ok compared to other horrendous franchises. sleek atmosphere for a friday night dinner. they gave us separate vegetarian menus when they realized that we might be. pitcher of pomegranate passion fruit white sangria. holla. i got the spicy thai green curry with tofu and veggies, it was pretty yummy flavor wise (though definitely not authentic tasting), though not very spicy on my scale. also got enough food to have a large lunch tomorrow, which is always a plus (except for having to carry around the box). overall a good dining experience, not amazing or overly memorable, but good.
(3)
Jennifer K.
Hmm...I must admit. The food is nothing to write home about, but it's a pretty good place for group gatherings. We ordered...I believe potstickers and stir fries. Or noodles in broth. I can't remember. Maybe that just goes to show you exactly how memorable the meal was. But anywho. I do know that I left satisfied. And not bitter about paying a certain amount. The ambience is laid back. And you can feel at ease here, whether you're with a group of friends or dining alone. The service is okay. Not too slow or prompt. It won't irritate you. And the price is pretty decent. I didn't complain when I shelled out cash.
(3)
Matt R.
Attention to the many heavy-handed reviewers out there: This is most obviously NOT an authentic Asian restaurant. It is a large chain of Americanized Asian food. They don't even claim to be some authentic restaurant. They are the "Rainforest Cafe" of Asian food. If you can just accept that ,you will realize that Big Bowl really delivers a decent offering. You grab a bowl, pick out all of the ingredients that you want, sauces, etc and they cook it for you. It is pricey stir-fry, but it is pretty good! Their rival chain "Mongolian Barbeque" doesn't even compare. So lighten up, grab a "big bowl"of stir-fry, and enjoy!
(4)
Aimee C.
The best Hot & Sour soup in river north - loop - gold cost - south of north area. They make the soup to order, so it's steamy hot, perfect combination of hot and sour without the it's been sitting in a vat for hours taste.
(4)
Ayesha K.
Great environment, even better food. Always fresh, tasty, and well prepared. Definitely one of my favorite spots to eat!
(4)
Liz K.
I am reviewing my second visit. (My first visit was during lunch rush and it went well but it was a long time ago I cannot remember). We went on a Saturday night and made reservations. We arrived early and still had to wait around... even after our reservation time (what was the point?). We were getting pretty upset because so many people who came after us were being seated first (did they forget about us?) Then we were given the worst table ever right by the line and people waiting. There were other empty tables so I asked the host if we could change tables but I guess not. Food: We ordered dumpling appetizers and they were good. I ordered a mojito and it was so fresh and delicious!! The vegetable curry was great. It had a good mix of vegetables. :-) However, the pork dish that was ordered was terrible and too oily. :-( For desert we ordered the Mochi oh my so goods! They are small but so flavorable and the chocolate/caramel sauce makes them so much better! Overall the food was decent but nothing spectacular. I was pretty disappointed because I always have such high hopes for a LEYE restaurant (we are LEYE frequent diner card members). However, even though service was not so good in the beginning...our waiter was great and so helpful.
(3)
Tricia Z.
I haven't visited this place in three years so this is not a recent review but it left such an impression I still remember it. I crave their ginger ale and their delicious appetizers. Some of the dishes were out of this world and the staff was super friendly. When I stayed in Chicago I went here after a bad day and it made the day 10x better. Then I went here the following night because it was that awesome. I miss Big Bowl..if I am in Chicago again you will find me here.
(5)
Christine F.
Mmmmmmno. I'm glad I didn't have to pay for this myself. I would have been pretty displeased. Our office was getting Big Bowl delivery, and I was excited. I was hoping I was going to discover a Thai place within delivery range that didn't make my stomach sad (Thalia, Panang and Siam all set sail to the land of fail). Big Bowl, unfortunately, got lumped into this group of Fail Whales. The delivery was prompt enough, but my Panang curry was a sorry situation. It was super watery and didn't even remotely taste like panang curry. If you had blindfolded me and asked me what this was, I probably would have responded that it was some kind of awful soup. That's how watery it was. I actually threw it out without taking more than a bite. It was that bad - and I'm a cheap bastard, guys. It takes a LOT for me to throw out food. My search for good River North thai continues...
(2)
Lisa B.
I want to give this place a 3 1/2. Four is my closest option and I'll for sure round up. The service was great, I forget our waitress' name but she was attentive, but left us to talk some. She told us the drink specials right away and paced her service. Great. I had the panang curry, which I would've given a 3 out of 5 as far as curries go, but the veggies were yummy, the chicken and rice in the dish were good, and the curry was flavorful, if not quite the consistency I would like. My fiance had the sesame chicken, and after tasting it, his was delicious! I recommend the big bowl blonde ale, a great beer at a great price, only $3 on Sundays! The restaurant was pretty busy, definitely not an intimate date vibe (we were listening to the woman next to us complain about her WHOLE LIFE and all the people she knows, if you know her, I'm so sorry, we heard her complain about you), but it was great for a fun, affordable tasty evening meal on the gold coast!
(4)
Vaidehi T.
I love this Americanized version of Asian food - dont judge me!! I have been here several times and never had a bad experience. Love their green curry and Kung Pao dishes. Also I absolutely love their stir-fry bar. This location is usually crowded because of the location. The service is pretty good here and the ambiance is pretty good too.
(4)
Haroun K.
3 stars seems correct. I was armed with my yelp app, and hoping to have a sort of authentic farewell-to-Chicago lunch downtown. I don't know how I ended up here. I had a vegetable curry, which was fine, but not great. The whole experience felt like a Thai TGI Fridays, actually. The passionfruit ginger ale was probably the best thing I had, though.
(3)
Prisca W.
The food, the drinks, the service at the bar, and the decor all made my evening! After a long day of walking and shopping, this place was perfect! I would definitely stop here the next time I'm in the city!
(5)
Gina S.
I've had the Ginger Garlic Chicken Stir Fry and the Thai Yellow Curry Chicken here. The food is good, but nothing sock-knocking out of this world amazing. However, my Gin & Ginger cocktail was mighty fine...sock-knocking fine, but that's just the alcohol talking. The menu offers a good variety of Thai/Chinese, something for the little guys and even something those with dietary restrictions (Gluten Free). The atmosphere is a little noisy and the servers must be busting some serious booty because we hardly saw ours except when our order was taken and delivered.
(3)
Irene G.
I've been here quite a few times now and while I love most Lettuce Entertain You restaurants, this place is just okay. I like the ambience and service is great. My work threw a bridal shower for one of my coworkers here and everything went smoothly. The food is just average-I know where to get better pad thai!
(2)
Phyllis S.
If you are in the mood for Asian food and can't make up your mind what you want, check this place out. Also a good choice if there are vegetarians (and perhaps vegans) in your party. Also, I did notice a Gluten-free section of the menu. I was in here on a Saturday afternoon and the place was rather busy. Decor was nice, sort of an Asian Bistro Hip-theme. However, I had trouble hearing the conversation with my friends at our table, cause it was so loud in there. Ditto for being able to hear the waiter clearly. Not the place to go for quiet conversation if the joint is jumpin'. I had the Thai Hot Pepper Shrimp with Basi & Peanuts. I was very pleased with the flavor. It was nicely balanced. I was also impressed with the fact that they brew their own lemonade and ginger ale ONSITE! (I LOVE ginger ale!) It was just good enough, I almost considered bringing home a 4pack! Evidently, t they take sustainability very seriously in regards to the ingredients they use in the food. I like to see that in a restaurant. It almost made up for the price of the food, which I found to be a little high. The portions are pretty generous if you order from the menu. However, my boyfriend did the "make yer own" stir-fry and was not pleased by the amount of food that he got for the price. FYI, "Fire-eaters" like me might find the little icons that indicate spicy food to be a tad misleading. The food was reasonably spicy, but to 'flames shooting out my mouth' levels. I felt the need to request some chili sauce to get the heat intensity to where I wanted it. (Which was no big deal.) Probably a good thing, given that we live in the Midwest, but thought I should mention it.
(3)
Sheri S.
I like this place;) It was not what I was expecting in the traditional sense of a Thai or a Chinese restaurant, but Big Bowl definitely made it's mark. The trade off's Instead of getting a traditional Thai Iced tea I got the Orange Ginger Ale that they specially make with freshly squeezed orange juice. Their lemonade was cool it was Instead of the typical Beef Fried Rice that I get in New York I got a Beef Fried Rice that actually tasted like beef that was grilled and then mixed into white rice with some sweet and sour sauce. The beef pieces were chunky pieces contrary to the shredded beef I am accustomed to. Spring rolls are pretty standard, but these were longer and more crispy. I also had the small Dumpling Noodle Soup, chicken dumplings with noodles, vegetables, tasty chicken broth. This was very yummy especially considering how cold it was outside. I was really happy for this wholesome soup. Big Bowl is a chill casual dining kind of restaurant. A very unique blend of Chinese and Thai food, so go with an open mind ;)
(3)
Norma G.
This place is amazing! I have never gone to Big Bowl and not loved what I ate. My husband is a cook and he loves this place! The Sangria is absolutely heavenly! This is a great place to come in groups as well. The service is always great and the food, well... I've already said it!
(5)
Randy R.
Look, if you are looking for authentic Chinese and Thai food, you'll need to go elsewhere. But the food is fairly flavorful and decently prepared, while our server was attentive and prompt. All in all, not a bad experience.
(3)
Ayako M.
Uhg. I should have known better. Here's the quick and dirty: Egg Roll: tasty but greasy and fell apart - also, it's just one HUGE eggroll though the menu says egg rolls-plural (lucky thing I wasn't sharing!) Veggie potstickers: no flavor, none. Veggie and Tofu Pad Thai: again, no flavor. Slimy and tofu seemed like it was straight out of the carton and fell apart when you tried to pick it up. Very few veggies. Cost: Expensive. Chances I'll order from here again: Zero
(2)
Tat S.
I went here a year ago at a different location and since then have wanted to go back! Unfortunately, in St. Louis we don't have Big Bowls aplenty like in Chicago. We have wonderful Thai and Vietnamese restaurants which I love but I am so STUCK on how lovely the Pho tastes at Big Bowl. I of course had Pho like last time and it was as great as I remember it. My little sister was envious since she had the dumpling soup which paled in comparison (I even took a taste. Not as good. :/ ) My mum had the summer rolls I think? They were really good and the sauce was amazing! It was really busy the night we came in and our food still arrived promptly, the server wasn't freaked out by the pace of the restaurant, rather he was calm. So here is to a second pleasant experience at Big Bowl! I am eager for the more to come!
(4)
Tom F.
Service was only OK... we had stopped in at the other location off Rush street in the past and thought it was better. Made a reservation here because they could accommodate a group of 8.... we were in town for a reunion. We ordered a shared meal for 7 adults (one child only had soup) and it seemed the portion size for the group matched our last visit as a group of 5!
(3)
A E.
I'm usually not sold on the idea of restaurants which specialize on two different types of cuisines. Big bowl does its best to try to split the difference and they are not entirely unsuccessful. They have a lot of options available, and their "pick your own vegetables for the stir fry" gives a lot of variation and I enjoyed my stir fry. I liked what I saw on the menu, and when I first left I wanted to try more. However, that aftermath left me spewing like a fire hydrant a few days. I can't be sure that this was the source, but this was the only meal that I didn't share with my traveling companion, and I was the only one affected. In the end, I don't think that what I enjoyed is worth even the idle risk of the day and a half of digestive issue that followed.
(2)
Dan R.
I go here for the Kung Pao Chicken but always ask that they make it the old way with cilantro. That is 5 stars. The rest is a cut above but not 5 star.
(4)
Steve G.
Food was excellent and service was prompt and courteous!
(4)
Kate J.
One of my friend's and I came here not too long ago for dinner. First, let me say, she has several food allergies, and Big Bowl was more than willing to work with us on that. I ordered the Sangria which was absolutely delicious; and got the Chicken Pad Thai for my main entree. My friend ordered something with chicken and veggies and no sauces or anything like that due to her allergies and both were large and very filling portions. I had never been here before, and have actually never even heard of the place until now. I like the fact that you can order pretty much whatever you want and they can make it for you however you would like. Definitely impressed with this place.
(4)
Nina B.
I came here for lunch with a friend. I ordered the Asian chicken salad, which had a pretty tangy dressing. If you eat one of the peppers they are really spicy! And I can usually take a decent amount of heat. The portion size was a bit small for the price. The salad did have a good amount of meat, however. I would probably get something else if I went back. Service was a bit slow. It's nice they take the Wildcard discount (20% off) for NW students. My friend got the yellow curry rice bowl which she loved. Overall a decent lunch experience but nothing spectacular.
(3)
John B.
This kind of location provides scrumptious meal. This lime rooster is my favorite; I've by no means got something think its great. Helpings are just right for dinner. This container peel off stickers plus the dumplings usually are pretty good also. I relished your pomegranate mojito a great deal. We all did not get almost any distinct difficulties with service-- it had been common.
(5)
Ruth S.
Food was great, pad Thai amazing, orange chicken, excellent. We ordered the crab cakes but they were gone for the night do we had really wonderful Calimari. I just wonder why no one mixes a good drink anymore. Always weak, too much mixer, out of balance. Disappointing when the food was so good
(3)
Barbara B.
Was brought some take out pad thai from here. Pad that was super bland, it was the worst pad thai I've ever had. Avoid!
(1)
Tony B.
The waiter forgot to put in our soup and appetizer order, so they brought out our meals 15 minutes after we sat down. Told the dude holding the food on his arm what was up and he took all the food back and trashed it. They then brought out the soup and appetizer and had us fill new bowls with our selected vegetables. Eventually we got our meals at the right time and they were excellent. As I am wont to do, I ordered mine spicy - it was so hot it was almost inedible. Then we got the check. It had an "On us" credit of $39.50. Wow. More than made up for the minor mistake. Thanks. We'll be back.
(4)
J. C.
We went here for lunch today, and I had never been at this restaurant before. So I really didn't know what to expect. But I was meeting some old college buddies, so I pretty much didn't really care where we were going to eat. I knew it was Chinese and Thai, which I love, but was extra delightfully surprised that you can pretty much make your own bowl of whatever ingredients you choose if that's the option you're looking for. Our waiter was super extra helpful and nice, and extremely patient since my dining buddies didn't immediately know how the whole system works (pick a sauce, pick a meat--which the kitchen puts in for you)--and walk up to the counter to load your bowl with whatever veggies you want. My hibiscus iced tea was very delicious, and the melange of items I ended up picking for my bowl turned out pretty good in the end taste-wise. The only things that make this not a five-star experience is that the bill ended up being a little on the pricey side. But I should have known better since the Near North neighborhood is usually all tourists on the weekends. Also, in my opinion, they seemed to skimp a little on the meat (I ordered chicken) that I got. It's a little different from Flat Top Grill (where you pick EVERYTHING), so I guess this is how Big Bowl does it. I would be back again if I'm back down here.
(4)
Melanie S.
Corporate, Americanized Chinese food notwithstanding, Big Bowl isn't actually half-bad. As long I go there with the mindset that I'm not attempting to eat authentic asian food, and just enjoy it for what it is; which is a decent, reasonably priced meal, then I can live with myself. The two things I always get when I go here, which averages about once a month, are the hibiscus lemonade tea (so refreshing) and the mixed green salad with some type of asian viniagrette. This dressing is so good, I would do shots of it if it were offered. It's a sesame, ginger, soy, rice wine vinegar concoction and it's simply delicious. From there, I usually order the mongolian beef or orange chicken. The mongolian beef has shiitake mushrooms, and while not a traditional ingredient in mongolian beef, adds a flavorful touch. The orange chicken is your basic garden-variety dish that you can find on any Panda Express in Anytown USA, but again, I'm not going to Big Bowl expecting to be transported to the heights of culinary wonder.
(3)
Richie D.
I'm not a big fan of chain restaurants (hence I can't give 5 stars), yet Big Bowl would be towards the top of my list if I were to recommend one. Yes, they have Americanized "Chinese" food, but I can claim that there were tourists from China sitting at the table next to be. I guess it can't be that bad! BB is all about their Ginger ale which was just alright. Picture a non-alcoholic, carbonation-infused mojito but with ginger instead of mint. I had the pomegranate flavored ginger ale but I wish I went for the passion fruit or green tea flavors. I did like that you can taste the real ginger. As for the rest of the experience. I absolutely LOVE the decor. I wish my house could be a Big Bowl, and don't get any ideas. The Asian theme is everywhere you look with perfect color combinations that look like what you see on the H&G Network. Food wise, the mongolian beef is definitely one of their tastiest dishes offered...probably not the healthiest. Also the Shrimp Summer Roll appetizer is also tasty. The rest of the items are fairly average. If you're starving and not willing to wait for a family-owned/non-chain restaurant in downtown Chicago, BB is not a bad choice.
(4)
John G.
It certainly exceeded my expectations. I had the appetizer calamari -- one of the freshest, tastiest fried calamari's I've enjoyed and I do love my squid. The veggie pot stickers were more like gyozas -- but the filling was freshly made and the gyozas were clearly hand formed. The wonton soup was an interesting mix of Viet and traditional won ton soup. All in all, I'd go back.
(4)
Tony M.
Make sure you try the combination chicken & vegetable dumplings. Very good and very fresh. The service was suspect. I had a couple of apps and the waiter tried to get me to try something else but I was full. He did not like it so he left the bill and I did not see him again. Someone else had to help cash me out. Avoid the waiters that try to up-sale you on somthing you don't want.
(3)
Viola Y.
Always go here when I am in town. Great dishes and drinks! I even picked up the cookbook.
(4)
Janelle C.
Love their food. Big plus is that you can create your own dishes and food is made fresh in front if you.
(4)
Laura P.
I LOVE this place. It is incredibly delicious and tasty and you can make it as healthy or unhealthy as you'd like. I've been here about twenty times and almost always order the stir-fry. When you get the stir-fry you pick the type of vegetables, meat, sauce, and rice you want. Either you can have the chef choose your veggies based on the meat/sauce/rice you're getting or you can grab a bowl and choose your own mix of whatever vegetables you'd like from the vegetable bar. I always go with this option. You have the choice of filling the bowl as much as you want and usually I pile it incredibly high and then drop it off at the stir-fry station (yes I've piled it so high that I've dropped things out of my bowl while taking it to the station). The vegetable bar has about 15 different veggies with all the standards and them some more seasonal specials. There are about 6 stir-fry sauces to choose from and all the typical meats (and tofu) are available. For rice you pick between white, brown, or fried. If you want your dish to be healthier, opt for the brown rice, pile on the veggies, opt out of meat, and ask for light oil/sauce. They are very accommodating with the oil/sauce and they really do make it light if you ask for it. Conversely, I've gone with people who have asked for extra sauce and they really did go heavy on the sauce. Basically, you can create whatever you want and the end result is delicious. You can also ask for chili paste on the side to make it more spicy. They also have amazing customer service. They once put peanuts on my stir-fry dish when I asked for no peanuts (the kung pao sauce comes with peanuts, but you can opt out of them). Not only did they promptly make me a new one, they gave me a complimentary dessert and took the stir-fry off the check. They also have great Chinese New Year specials during that entire week. Last year was the year of the rabbit and they gave every person born in that year an entirely free meal (drink, appetizer, entree, and dessert) on new year. It was amazing. They have a large variety of drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic and both Asian inspired and non-Asian inspired (like sangria)). Their portions are huge--not just with the create your own stir-fry, but if you order off the menu, too. It's not too big that you'll necessarily have to get a to-go box, but you will definitely leave full, which is important for me. The exception is dessert. The desserts are small and are not meant for sharing. They are big enough only for one person and they are certainly not hefty. But they are interesting and this way you can focus on the delicious entrees. I wouldn't make the claim that this place has authentic Asian food, but if you want delicious Asian food and don't care about it being Americanized and inauthentic, definitely give this place a try.
(5)
R.g. C.
I dined here the other day with my girlfriend and Carlos was our server. Even though this is just a casual "corporate" like restaurant he went above and beyond to make our lunch awsome!!! Everything he recommended from the wine to the dessert was superior. Great service! Oh I did not mention that was our first date, NOW shes my girlfriend!!!
(5)
Kaelyn P.
I ordered the steamed dumplings (chicken and veggie) and the shrimp summer roll. Yikes, as far as American Chinese goes, I'd rather pick up freezer dumplings from trader joes. Really average flavor and the sauces were meh. As for the summer roll: you get lettuce, noodles, a few shrimp, basil, red pepper, wrapped in a sticky rice roll.. with a soury sauce that overpowered the zero flavor roll. MIght as well go to jewel and buy the ingredients. Save your stomach from the disappointment and go anywhere else !
(1)
Jen S.
We have been here a few times over the years and have never been disappointed. We took a fairly large group for lunch and they were very accommodating. One person in our party had a peanut allergy and the waiter was extremely attentive and helpful in selecting items from the menu. The food was wonderfully prepared and came out hot and fresh, although it did take a while to arrive. Everyone enjoyed their selections and found the service to be very good. A little on the pricey side, but the food is excellent!
(5)
Candice H.
The fried Tofu is very delicious. One of their staff is amazingly nice. He has great passion for customers and always provide service before we ask.
(4)
H H.
Not the most amazing chain in the world....if you like chains, that is.
(2)
Anuj S.
I love Big Bowl's stir fry bar. I don't know why some people I've been with aren't as appreciative. Maybe it's just that I've hit the jackpot on just the right combination of veggies, sauce, etc. So here's what I always get and I've never been disappointed. I go for the stir fry and load up on all the veggies. They add tofu for you later. Then I go for the Spicy Kung Pao sauce. And actually, I request a bit of extra sauce. It's DELICIOUS. And then I get it with noodles. Once I get it, I add plenty of hot sauce. Oh man... cleans out the sinuses. When I was out in the burbs, we used to go to one out in Wheaton, but that closed down for some reason. It's strange, because it seemed pretty full when we'd go. Well anyways, the one downtown is close enough to me now.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
Maher A.
The food was ok. The forks and knives were unclean and the service is not that good.
(3)Stacy M.
Their gingerale was incredible, but the rest of our meal was left to be desired.
(3)Jason P.
Definitely surprised by this place. It has been YEARS since I have been here... we're talking close to a decade, so I was expecting your average PF Chang's style chinese/japanese/thai offerings. I opted for the Sweet Ginger Scallops and Shrimp, and it was amazing. It was a little light on the scallops and shrimp, but the sauce was so good I gobbled up the mountain of rice that was on the plate just to get more of that sauce in my mouth. My wife had the pad thai, she was a fan, but I can't really comment on that because I'm not a fan of pad thai anywhere. Our friend had the Teriyaki Glazed Chicken Fried Rice, and that was very tasty as well. I love the fresh ginger ale, and the mai thais are awesome as well. Pot stickers are good, but you don't get many of them in the appetizer (I'm a big boy, I like my portions big as well). It's a tad pricey for what it is, but you're paying for the location. I'll definitely go back if I find myself with a reason to be in River North, but I probably wouldn't plan an outing solely around this restaurant.
(4)Pinak B.
Like most entertain you restaurants, its a good spot to visit when no other option comes to mind. Feel like getting some good Asian inspired cuisine, but don't' really know where to go? Try out big bowl. They have a nice assortment of premade dishes, as well as a build your own bowl. Some favorites include Spicy Peanut Noodles, Kung Pao Tofu and the Chicken Satay. For entrees I would recommend staying away from the items on the menu and going with the 'build a bowl'. Its more interactive, fun and you can pick and choose exactly what you want. If you come with a group, its a good opportunity to mix and match items and try a little over everything.
(3)Tiff B.
Can't believe I never wrote a review for Big Bowl. I love this place! Sure it's not authentic Asian food, but it's damn tasty and that's all that matters. I've never had bad service here and even though they're always packed. It doesn't seem like you have to wait long for a table. My best friend loves this place, so whenever she comes to town she insists on going here. The prices are very good as well. You can get a three course meal plus wine for about $20/person. That's cheap for restaurants downtown.
(5)Erika G.
LUNCH: I love the stir fry at this place for lunch. A giant bowl of Chinese-style comfort food. It's not the most exotic fare, but yum - on a cold day, it hits the spot.
(3)MNP K.
Very Impressed...all the food was awesome and the wine prices were low...BBQ hot bun starters were very tasty and the orange chicken was possibly the best I have had...can't wait to go back.
(4)Maria R.
I would give it three stars for the calimari appetizer and the refreshing hibiscus tea, but our dinners were very unsatisfying. I kept thinking the chicken didn't look cooked enough. My husband and I ordered very different dishes and they both looked exactly the same except for the sauce. A disappointing experience.
(2)Cate W.
Delicious food, and excellent service! Having worked in at another upscale Chinese restaurant that also prioritizes fresh food and interesting flavors over the traditional msg fest, I was so glad to discover Big Bowl downtown! Sometimes the Loop restaurant reviews I read on Yelp are so depressing--truly mixed reviews-- that I hesitate to spend money or take a chance on any of 'em. Big Bowl is a fabulous alternative. We went out for supper on Wednesday night with a friend visiting town on business, and we all were incredibly pleased with our meals and the overall experience. Our server was great--pleasant but not smarmy, attentive without hovering. The food came out hot and on time. We started with vegetable potstickers (delicious) and I had a pomegranate- gingerale-vodka cocktail, which was good but a little too hot gingery for my taste, though the aftertaste was pleasant, and the thai chicken panang curry. Oh MY! That was an excellent dish! The curry was a lovely peanut-lemon grass, flavorful and full without being too heavy, the peapods were crisp and the chicken was lovely. It had a little heat (as I was warned) but the server warned me about the little red peppers I should avoid in the dish--the whole thing was great! And when I took home leftovers, I think the dish improved over night in the fridge. I got two lunches out of it. My fiance had the chicken pad thai, which he loved, and my friend, a vegetarian, tried the Big Bowl make-your-own stir fry. When she asked our server's advice about the many sauces available he was able to find out what she liked and make some good suggestions. Really, it will be no sacrifice to go back to this place. The restaurant was pretty busy even for an early Wednesday evening--can't say I'm surprised if this is theaverage dining experience.
(5)Anna B.
The food and service was really great. Everything we ordered tasted really fresh, but managed to still be very flavorful and filling. Our waiter was great and the manager came to greet us with free appetizers too! I would definitely recommend it.
(4)Justin S.
Not my favorite at all. The home made ginger ale was different but still pretty good. The food however, not really great. The pad thai wasn't that great and what made it worse was the price. No lunch specials that just sucks. Service was good but still food not so much. I'll keeping looking for some great pad thai....
(1)meso s.
Placed an order for pick up on a very busy Thursday evening during a visit to the city. Wasn't familiar with the resturant but ordered the cashew chicken which was too spicy to eat. However enjoyed the Mogolian beef dish it was delish. The fortunate cookies nice sweetness to them.
(4)Gen S.
I keep going back to this place for the fresh ginger ale. It's seriously delicious. (If you're looking for a buzz, the sangria is decent, but not fantastic. Their other drinks are pretty pricey.) Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the food. It's average at best. It's your typical americanized "Asian" food. I've never had the make-your-own stir fry bowl, but I'm consistently underwhelmed by their entrees. Most of their appetizers, like potstickers or egg rolls, are shipped frozen to the restaurant. My girlfriend found a huge chunk of wood in one of her potstickers, so eat with caution. This place gets three stars because I'm always seated immediately and the ginger ale is fantastic.
(3)Megan T.
I usually LOVE Big Bowl and frequent the Schaumburg Il location. We were there last Friday night and they sat us at a high top table in the entryway.... this would have been fine, but when the place filled up I had people interrupting our meal to ask up if the two chair that were part of our table were being used and if they could eat there. Aside from the rude people I ordered their special which the waiter talked up of Fresh Ahi tuna steak. I eat a lot of Ahi Tuna as it is my favorite fish, and I was really disappointed with this dish and then I came to find out it was $23.00 I wish I had stuck to my old favorite of Yellow curry or kung pao noodles. Our waiter was not great and didn't really know the menu well. He said that my order came with rice and green beans and when my meal came it had no rice. In the least I was disappointed at this experience and wish we had chose to dine at a different restaurant on this night.
(3)Bryant C.
Nothing impressive. I felt like I was in an ultra commercialized restaurant. I can't really explain it. The place just wasn't that good though.
(2)Lorraine D.
"I can't remember much, except for an overwhelming feeling of goodness" - is what my sister used to describe Big Bowl. I used to frequent this place during my time in Chicago, even though I'm generally not a big fan of pan asian. Here, however, the food is good, and it's a great place to visit. The place is really modern and it tends to get a bit loud. Also, it being close to the magnificent mile, it tends to get crowded on the weekends. When my friends came to visit me we went to this place a total of 3 times during their visit. Needless to say, there are tons of awesome restaurants in Chicago and this was one of our favorites.
(4)Rob C.
Americanized asian stir fry, sort of a lesser version of Stir Crazy. Remember your positive or negative experience will be affected by the keyword -- americanized.
(2)Henry A.
Seriously, if you like Thai food or "real" Chinese food, do not waste your time and money here. The menu essentially consists of some of the more popular items available at any of the thousands of Thai restaurants in the city, along with some Chinese noodle dishes and Mongolian grill items. The dishes are about 20% more expensive than what you would pay in a Thai restaurant and have about 20% of the flavor that you would get elsewhere too. We ordered the yellow curry and a pad thai, both dishes we normally love at regular Thai restaurants. After paying way more than we would normally, they were the worst versions of the dishes we had ever eaten anywhere. If you're looking for that kind of food in a nice atmosphere, please skip the Big Bowl and go to a nearby Thai restaurant instead, such as Dao, Star of Siam, or Silver Spoon. You will not only get MUCH better food, but you will also pay a lot less. On a positive note, the wonton noodle soup i had as an appetizer was really excellent. I would possibly consider going back here, but I would just get a large portion of that soup and that's it.
(2)D S.
This place is great! I went last weekend with my girlfriend and two freinds and it was prefect. The wait was only 15 minutes, the service was great at the bar and table, and the food is out of this world. Also, for being located in the gold coast, the price was very good. I ate: chinese lettuce wraps an asian favorite, chicken, bibb lettuce, hoisin sauce teriyaki glazed steak filets teriyaki glazed filet mignon (3), chinese fried rice, baby asian vegetables I drank: Sapporo (20.3 oz) Beer
(5)Nikki L.
Oh my god, my mouth is watering just looking at the pictures. I haven't ordered here in a while, but from what I can remember I LOVE THIS PLACE! I love their chicken dumpling and the chicken pad tai. They only offer delivery from Dining In, which can be more $$ than it should but...it's worth it!
(4)A.S. V.
When Big Bowl first opened over a decade ago, I thought it was one of the best restaurants in the city. Now it's just another Lettuce Entertain you joint doing the same old thing. I don't imagine the food has changed all that much, but the prices have. For old time's sake, I'll keep it at four stars, but I wasn't too impressed by the stir fries last few times -- I swear they've blanded it out for the tourist crowds.
(4)Lorelle L.
I love this place! Ever since I first visited Big Bowl while I was in Chicago for a quick vacation about 7 years ago, I have been a loyal customer. Sure its a chain and sure its not authentic Asian food, but it is damn tasty and affordable! The service has always been friendly and quick. The special cocktails are delicious and I've never had a dish I didn't like. Next time you're there, check out the Mochi for dessert! Yummy!
(5)Ren H.
Here you can either order off the menu or go to the bar and pick veggies and meat for them to stirfry.. its perfect for everyone and its very cheap!
(5)Linda N.
tried the stir fry option last night and it was delish! i had the chicken stir fry with chinese garlic ginger sauce (?...can't remember the sauce name) with the chefs choice veggies and jasmine rice. it was the perfect amount of everything. i also had the hong kong cosmo...super strong. i swear it was all alcohol and a splash of cranberry juice. i probably wouldn't get it again but at least i got my $$ worth. =)
(4)Brad C.
I received a Lettuce Entertain you gift card for Christmas and since Big Bowl is now part of them I figured it was a perfect time to give them a try. Make sure you plan on waiting at least 30 minutes, Big Bowl is one of those restaurants tourists love going to. You get alot of food, but it isn't really worth taking a doggie bag home. Homemade ginger drinks are great and very good in cocktail form.
(3)Pooja S.
Pre movie dinner? Near Michigan Ave, that wont break the bank... those were all the criteria we were looking for when we went in. Ordered the pot stickers with white wine sangria for me, sauvignon blanc for the husband. Server was very friendly. The highlight of my evening was finding lychees in the sangria, they were really good. Ordered the Thai veg green curry which was perfect for the two of us. The curry was amazing, really spicy with a lot of green chillies. The only reason I took off one star was because there wasn't very much actual curry. Would have been nice to get some more gravy in the dish. All of this ended up in costing about $35. Husband was comparing it to London and how little you get there in that amount. Gotta love America....
(3)Gaurav M.
Good food. panang curry was average but kung pao chicken and spicy noodles were great.
(4)Erin J.
You know, this place makes me feel like I'm eating "healthy" Americanized Chinese food. It all tastes good, but truly...I was kinda underwhelmed. Also, the price for the portion size is really off. After paying higher-than-average for an entree, I was still hungry after I was through. Probably a good place to go for a drink (their ginger ale is pretty good) or maybe a similarly-overpriced appetizer, but not worth a special trip.
(2)Mike E.
Maybe this place is not for everyone. It is expensive, average food you can get elsewhere but the pot-stickers are quite delicious and the fresh ginger, ginger ale is truly worth a try ( I love ginger). Otherwise it is only worth going here if you are trendy, seems like that was their main client, or it is convenient and you are hungry.
(3)Kat W.
This place is a joke, avoid at all cost (not cheap either). They don't know how to season Asian food. What amazes me (and the reason for 1 star) is the mere fact that so many people eat here.. it is just utterly unbelievable and I question the taste bud of every single person in that restaurant. At least, walk 2 blocks and go to P.F. Chang's.
(1)Carrie B.
A good place for your thai/chinese/asian craving. Great appetizers, entrees, drinks. They've changed their menu a bit and seem a little strict on custom orders (I tried ordering the Kung Pao Chix less spicy and they wouldn't do it). It's pretty touristy, but decent. Good casual lunch or dinner spot.
(3)Karen L.
Big Bowl is nothing to write home about, but it's decent enough. As the name implies, they give you great quantities of food for the price. The food tastes fine, but it's nothing amazing in my book. This place gets kind of crowded at night, not only making it difficult to hear but also to scoot your chair out. Try it if it's convenient for you. Other wise, you won't be missing too much.
(3)Javier B.
This should really be a 5-star review as I think Big Bowl is awesome, but I will give it 4 stars for two reasons. 1-I have consistently gotten undercooked pieces of chicken the last few times I have been there, 2-I really hate that they give you an odd number of pot stickers (though they will add one if you request it). Aside from tthese two items (the chicken one being a biggie), the food here is delicious. I would highly recommend the Kung Pao chicken, the Thai hot pepper chicken, pad thai, panang curry is phenomenal and the coconut curry is excellent. From the appetizers, the pot sticker combo is great. I love the three sauces that they serve with them. I always end up dipping my fork in them after the pot stickers are gone! The hot and sour soup is exeptional! It is the tastiest one I've had and I am a huge fan of hot and sour soup. Their prices are not cheap, but not unreasonable. This is not a hole in the wall Chinese or Thai restaurant! I am sure some of their dishes are not that great as they need to have some bland stuff for the tourists (fried rice, Mogolian beef, orange chicken) but the majority of the menu items are really really good and very flavorful. I have no clue what some of the people that say this place is bland are talking about.
(4)Jared L.
This place is pretty solid all around. You should be able to find something you like. Also, their orange chicken is the most orange tasting chicken I've ever had.
(4)Sarah Q.
I like my food very spicy, and usually when I go out I still have to add chili sauce to my dishes because everything is Americanized spicy (which means: not spicy at all). But Big Bowl pleasantly surprised me--they will make your dish so spicy that you sweat! They also have tons of vegetarian options (and you can substitute tofu for any non-veg option) and a stir-fry bar which is amazing. Basically you fill your bowl with fresh veggies and garnishes (they have a huge selection), choose your protein and sauce, and if you want noodles, rice or fried rice. Then you leave your bowl of veggies with the chef and he'll whip up your dish. It's amazingly fresh and tasty--their sauces are homemade and are really good (I've tried kung pao, teriyaki, and green curry). Unfortunately, the shrimp is hit-or-miss--either they cook it well or not enough and it ends up tasting fishy, so I would avoid it. I've gone at different times of day and night and never had to wait for a table, but it probably gets busy earlier in the evening on weekends, so make a reservation just to be on the safe side.
(4)brett m.
in the infamous words of michael kors, 'i'm underwhelmed'. big bowl was a letdown for me. the menu was unimpressive, even for a mainstream pan-asian-themed restaurant. the service was... okay. the portions were hefty - however, lest we forget, hefty portions of unimpressive food. the hibiscus lemonade (or whatever it's called) is excellent, but i hardly think i'd return just for a glass of lemonade. and p.s. i remember (though hazily) the dishes being quite mushroom heavy, and for those of us with shroom allergies or those with fungus aversions, it wasn't terribly easy finding something edible.
(2)Julie M.
I LOVE Big Bowl. This is what I expect of a chain. You go in, they have good food that you can always count on, it's not crazy expensive. I've been here 4 times in the past 2 months. I really liked the steak red curry special they had in December. That thing was spicy! I went there 3 times in 1 weekend and ordered it twice. The 2nd time, it had some habenaros in it! Yum, yum! The ginger ale is good, too. I prefer my drinks a bit on the sweeter side, so I get the pomegranate flavor. I had the salmon pad thai the other day. Figured that would be hit or miss, but definitely a hit. The salmon was cooked pretty well. They also have a gluten free menu and there were no mix-ups there. My co-worker is very sensitive to gluten, and he had absolutely no issues (ie, food was separated properly, the noodles weren't cooked in water with noodles made of wheat, etc.). Another great staple when hanging out in Chicago.
(4)Michael W.
A nice departure from traditional Chinese restaurants. My friend loves the Crispy Orange Peel Chicken. The service has always been prompt and friendly, and we've never had to wait for a table. The decorating scheme mirrors the food - a mix of traditional and contemporary. A fun place for lunch.
(4)Christian R.
homemade lemonades and ginger ales hmmm, great food and good drink. i had the orange chicken and literally wanted to order a second to go haha. the waitor was a dork and never came around when i wanted him too.
(4)Kali A.
I love big bowl! They have delicious food, great prices, and great service! I took my friend there for a surprise dinner. Fortunately, she too loved it and it is now a favorite of her's as well! :)
(5)Marian L.
Love this place - great casual place to stop in while shopping on the magnificent mile! Service is decent and the dishes are fantastic. I personally recommend the Potstickers as an appetizer, as well as the Crispy Lemon Chicken as the entree. If your not too much into soda or alcohol - try the Hibiscus Iced tea or the Hibiscus Lemonade - mmmmm! Not a place to drive to - but just take the subway to the red line stop Grand!
(4)Liliana S.
Decent food but not the most authentic. Definitely check out other restaurants before settling upon this one. If you're in the vicinity and are starving to death for some Thai then check this out..
(3)Zach A.
Decent stir fry and pretty cheap. Also a good place to grab a drink for happy hour.
(3)Kelli M.
Very decently priced. The lettuce wraps are a must-have. Also recommend the chicken satay. The dishes are ok, the servers always make a recommendation. Good service, very friendly and helpful. Several different teas for after dinner.
(4)Allison K.
Compared to other stir fry restaurants I have been to in the past, I really was not impressed by the quality or taste of the food here. I have always heard about this "big hype" about eating at Big Bowl, but really the experience here was just blah. It's just like every other "stir fry place" where you get to pick out your own ingredients and etc, but something was just off about it. The only thing I did enjoy here was their iced tea. This place too was a little bit over priced too, (maybe because it's a Chicago touristy type of spot?)
(2)Ramon R.
This restaurant isn't all that. There's too much to eat and too little worth eating. It's such processed Thai food! The seating is also terrible; my friend and I were squeezed in this tiny space near the cash register. Ugh. Go to a REAL Thai restaurant that (of course) isn't near the Magnificent Mile.
(2)Mark P.
Americanized Asian food. Blech.
(1)Joe S.
Average stir-fry joint. Food looks and sounds better than it tastes. Veggie dishes are the way to go here. Nasty, gristly chicken and bubblegum beef and pork. Why not use better quality and charge another dollar or two? I sure don't like a potsticker full of fat,or to have to pick through my chicken. They tend to over ginger and curry things, and the best cocktail was done away with years ago..the Ginger Blush. Homemade ginger ale is VERY GOOD. Iced tea and Lemonade good too. Too bad the beverages are better than the food. Seems hard to screw up noodles, but this place does. Melman must've lost interest after the first few years.
(2)Sydney K.
The food here is palatable, but they've tried to make the cuisine too mainstream. As a result, it reminds me of an Asian themed Bennigan's. Not that there's anything wrong with that - sometimes you feel like something predictable. The drinks definitely lack kick though.
(2)Doug p.
ive had nothing but great service every time, the coconut basil shrimp is one of my favorite meals, reasonably priced, and always a good time
(4)Dom R.
i actually did check bigbowl a few years ago - nd was dissappointed.. but gave it a go today... entrance, welcome - nice ambiance - hip/ up to date/ modern service - my waiter was very attentive, caring nd answered all my questions nicely food - as a first course i had the chicken dumplings, tasty - but not too asian... as a main dish i ordered the kung pao beef wirh brown rice - delicous! spiceyy, beef quality was excellent! loved it. price wise totally ok. a/c as usual everywhere in the US - freezing - hate it
(5)Sona P.
Service - very friendly and fast on a Saturday night. Food - decent but nothing to rave about. We split the fresh vegetable rolls (Vietnamese spring rolls) and the portion was small for $6.95. We also shared the panang curry with tofu, which was a good size and pretty spicy. Note that the panang curry is NOT vegetarian even with tofu. Overall - great location and service, food was just so-so but that's to be expected when you're in the heart of a tourist area.
(3)Steve A.
It's easy to classify Big Bowl as another fast casual chain, but that really understates how nice this location is, with its elaborate and beautiful interior design and hands-on management and staff. The concept is a mix of Chinese, Thai and Mongolian barbecue, so there's likely to be something for most people. I enjoyed the very fresh tasting spring rolls, which were cut up like a sushi roll rather than served as a log; great idea. Pad Thai was tasty, heavy on the lime and cilantro. I had the shrimp version, but the chicken version might be a bit more traditional. There's a reasonable list of alcoholic beverages that match the food. House-made ginger ale is a good non-alcoholic choice. Service was fast and friendly. The manager visited and even comped me a cucumber amuse bouche as a first time visitor.
(4)Ken O.
Having been to the Big Bowl on Cedar Street before the closing, I knew what to expect from the chain. I was not wrong. This location is just blocks west of Michigan Avenue so it's in a great location. The restaurant has a cool vibe. Trey T was my server. He was very attentive to me and all of his other diners. I had ordered the Luncheon Beef & Broccoli. Few minutes were the food was delivered and of course, the good was great. I would recommend this restaurant for the food and service.
(5)Ayesha K.
Great environment, even better food. Always fresh, tasty, and well prepared. Definitely one of my favorite spots to eat!
(4)Liz K.
I am reviewing my second visit. (My first visit was during lunch rush and it went well but it was a long time ago I cannot remember). We went on a Saturday night and made reservations. We arrived early and still had to wait around... even after our reservation time (what was the point?). We were getting pretty upset because so many people who came after us were being seated first (did they forget about us?) Then we were given the worst table ever right by the line and people waiting. There were other empty tables so I asked the host if we could change tables but I guess not. Food: We ordered dumpling appetizers and they were good. I ordered a mojito and it was so fresh and delicious!! The vegetable curry was great. It had a good mix of vegetables. :-) However, the pork dish that was ordered was terrible and too oily. :-( For desert we ordered the Mochi oh my so goods! They are small but so flavorable and the chocolate/caramel sauce makes them so much better! Overall the food was decent but nothing spectacular. I was pretty disappointed because I always have such high hopes for a LEYE restaurant (we are LEYE frequent diner card members). However, even though service was not so good in the beginning...our waiter was great and so helpful.
(3)Tricia Z.
I haven't visited this place in three years so this is not a recent review but it left such an impression I still remember it. I crave their ginger ale and their delicious appetizers. Some of the dishes were out of this world and the staff was super friendly. When I stayed in Chicago I went here after a bad day and it made the day 10x better. Then I went here the following night because it was that awesome. I miss Big Bowl..if I am in Chicago again you will find me here.
(5)Christine F.
Mmmmmmno. I'm glad I didn't have to pay for this myself. I would have been pretty displeased. Our office was getting Big Bowl delivery, and I was excited. I was hoping I was going to discover a Thai place within delivery range that didn't make my stomach sad (Thalia, Panang and Siam all set sail to the land of fail). Big Bowl, unfortunately, got lumped into this group of Fail Whales. The delivery was prompt enough, but my Panang curry was a sorry situation. It was super watery and didn't even remotely taste like panang curry. If you had blindfolded me and asked me what this was, I probably would have responded that it was some kind of awful soup. That's how watery it was. I actually threw it out without taking more than a bite. It was that bad - and I'm a cheap bastard, guys. It takes a LOT for me to throw out food. My search for good River North thai continues...
(2)Lisa B.
I want to give this place a 3 1/2. Four is my closest option and I'll for sure round up. The service was great, I forget our waitress' name but she was attentive, but left us to talk some. She told us the drink specials right away and paced her service. Great. I had the panang curry, which I would've given a 3 out of 5 as far as curries go, but the veggies were yummy, the chicken and rice in the dish were good, and the curry was flavorful, if not quite the consistency I would like. My fiance had the sesame chicken, and after tasting it, his was delicious! I recommend the big bowl blonde ale, a great beer at a great price, only $3 on Sundays! The restaurant was pretty busy, definitely not an intimate date vibe (we were listening to the woman next to us complain about her WHOLE LIFE and all the people she knows, if you know her, I'm so sorry, we heard her complain about you), but it was great for a fun, affordable tasty evening meal on the gold coast!
(4)Vaidehi T.
I love this Americanized version of Asian food - dont judge me!! I have been here several times and never had a bad experience. Love their green curry and Kung Pao dishes. Also I absolutely love their stir-fry bar. This location is usually crowded because of the location. The service is pretty good here and the ambiance is pretty good too.
(4)Haroun K.
3 stars seems correct. I was armed with my yelp app, and hoping to have a sort of authentic farewell-to-Chicago lunch downtown. I don't know how I ended up here. I had a vegetable curry, which was fine, but not great. The whole experience felt like a Thai TGI Fridays, actually. The passionfruit ginger ale was probably the best thing I had, though.
(3)Prisca W.
The food, the drinks, the service at the bar, and the decor all made my evening! After a long day of walking and shopping, this place was perfect! I would definitely stop here the next time I'm in the city!
(5)Gina S.
I've had the Ginger Garlic Chicken Stir Fry and the Thai Yellow Curry Chicken here. The food is good, but nothing sock-knocking out of this world amazing. However, my Gin & Ginger cocktail was mighty fine...sock-knocking fine, but that's just the alcohol talking. The menu offers a good variety of Thai/Chinese, something for the little guys and even something those with dietary restrictions (Gluten Free). The atmosphere is a little noisy and the servers must be busting some serious booty because we hardly saw ours except when our order was taken and delivered.
(3)Irene G.
I've been here quite a few times now and while I love most Lettuce Entertain You restaurants, this place is just okay. I like the ambience and service is great. My work threw a bridal shower for one of my coworkers here and everything went smoothly. The food is just average-I know where to get better pad thai!
(2)Phyllis S.
If you are in the mood for Asian food and can't make up your mind what you want, check this place out. Also a good choice if there are vegetarians (and perhaps vegans) in your party. Also, I did notice a Gluten-free section of the menu. I was in here on a Saturday afternoon and the place was rather busy. Decor was nice, sort of an Asian Bistro Hip-theme. However, I had trouble hearing the conversation with my friends at our table, cause it was so loud in there. Ditto for being able to hear the waiter clearly. Not the place to go for quiet conversation if the joint is jumpin'. I had the Thai Hot Pepper Shrimp with Basi & Peanuts. I was very pleased with the flavor. It was nicely balanced. I was also impressed with the fact that they brew their own lemonade and ginger ale ONSITE! (I LOVE ginger ale!) It was just good enough, I almost considered bringing home a 4pack! Evidently, t they take sustainability very seriously in regards to the ingredients they use in the food. I like to see that in a restaurant. It almost made up for the price of the food, which I found to be a little high. The portions are pretty generous if you order from the menu. However, my boyfriend did the "make yer own" stir-fry and was not pleased by the amount of food that he got for the price. FYI, "Fire-eaters" like me might find the little icons that indicate spicy food to be a tad misleading. The food was reasonably spicy, but to 'flames shooting out my mouth' levels. I felt the need to request some chili sauce to get the heat intensity to where I wanted it. (Which was no big deal.) Probably a good thing, given that we live in the Midwest, but thought I should mention it.
(3)Sheri S.
I like this place;) It was not what I was expecting in the traditional sense of a Thai or a Chinese restaurant, but Big Bowl definitely made it's mark. The trade off's Instead of getting a traditional Thai Iced tea I got the Orange Ginger Ale that they specially make with freshly squeezed orange juice. Their lemonade was cool it was Instead of the typical Beef Fried Rice that I get in New York I got a Beef Fried Rice that actually tasted like beef that was grilled and then mixed into white rice with some sweet and sour sauce. The beef pieces were chunky pieces contrary to the shredded beef I am accustomed to. Spring rolls are pretty standard, but these were longer and more crispy. I also had the small Dumpling Noodle Soup, chicken dumplings with noodles, vegetables, tasty chicken broth. This was very yummy especially considering how cold it was outside. I was really happy for this wholesome soup. Big Bowl is a chill casual dining kind of restaurant. A very unique blend of Chinese and Thai food, so go with an open mind ;)
(3)Norma G.
This place is amazing! I have never gone to Big Bowl and not loved what I ate. My husband is a cook and he loves this place! The Sangria is absolutely heavenly! This is a great place to come in groups as well. The service is always great and the food, well... I've already said it!
(5)Randy R.
Look, if you are looking for authentic Chinese and Thai food, you'll need to go elsewhere. But the food is fairly flavorful and decently prepared, while our server was attentive and prompt. All in all, not a bad experience.
(3)Ayako M.
Uhg. I should have known better. Here's the quick and dirty: Egg Roll: tasty but greasy and fell apart - also, it's just one HUGE eggroll though the menu says egg rolls-plural (lucky thing I wasn't sharing!) Veggie potstickers: no flavor, none. Veggie and Tofu Pad Thai: again, no flavor. Slimy and tofu seemed like it was straight out of the carton and fell apart when you tried to pick it up. Very few veggies. Cost: Expensive. Chances I'll order from here again: Zero
(2)Tat S.
I went here a year ago at a different location and since then have wanted to go back! Unfortunately, in St. Louis we don't have Big Bowls aplenty like in Chicago. We have wonderful Thai and Vietnamese restaurants which I love but I am so STUCK on how lovely the Pho tastes at Big Bowl. I of course had Pho like last time and it was as great as I remember it. My little sister was envious since she had the dumpling soup which paled in comparison (I even took a taste. Not as good. :/ ) My mum had the summer rolls I think? They were really good and the sauce was amazing! It was really busy the night we came in and our food still arrived promptly, the server wasn't freaked out by the pace of the restaurant, rather he was calm. So here is to a second pleasant experience at Big Bowl! I am eager for the more to come!
(4)Tom F.
Service was only OK... we had stopped in at the other location off Rush street in the past and thought it was better. Made a reservation here because they could accommodate a group of 8.... we were in town for a reunion. We ordered a shared meal for 7 adults (one child only had soup) and it seemed the portion size for the group matched our last visit as a group of 5!
(3)A E.
I'm usually not sold on the idea of restaurants which specialize on two different types of cuisines. Big bowl does its best to try to split the difference and they are not entirely unsuccessful. They have a lot of options available, and their "pick your own vegetables for the stir fry" gives a lot of variation and I enjoyed my stir fry. I liked what I saw on the menu, and when I first left I wanted to try more. However, that aftermath left me spewing like a fire hydrant a few days. I can't be sure that this was the source, but this was the only meal that I didn't share with my traveling companion, and I was the only one affected. In the end, I don't think that what I enjoyed is worth even the idle risk of the day and a half of digestive issue that followed.
(2)Dan R.
I go here for the Kung Pao Chicken but always ask that they make it the old way with cilantro. That is 5 stars. The rest is a cut above but not 5 star.
(4)Marie B.
I'll be honest, I'm a snob when it comes to chains. I know, it's a first world issue. That being said, I normally avoid chains. However we came here on the way home from work and it was delightful satisfying. The mussels which was on the specials was amazing! We couldn't get enough of the sauce that we used it on our rice. The general Tao chicken was also very good. Definitely will be back!
(4)Padma A.
back up option to entertain guests on a weekday, always works. Met my childhood friend visiting town after a long work day for dinner. Easy stirfry, lots of conversation and the ever refershing ginger ale... we were.2 happy customers.
(4)Shuang Z.
I'm a regular diner at Big Bowl. I give the food 3 star, the price, service, and atmosphere a 4 star. This is an Asian fusion restaurant, they seems to be known for their pad thai, but I found this dish too sweet, but I do love the tofu in the pad thai dish... I usually go for the stir-fry bar. This is really neat, because I can pick up my own vegetable. They have a huge variety of fresh local vegetables, from corns, peas, to leafy veges. You can also pick your own protein and sauce. For the sauce, I recommend Chinese Ginger soy. The lemon grass was way tooooo sweet. Green thai curry was toooo spicy. Teriyaki was ok. Thai yellow curry was pretty tasty though. Caution: The portion is huge!!
(4)Sara M.
Decided to use one of the lettuce entertain you scratch off tickets to try Big Bowl. Good atmosphere and great menu selection. Chinese,Thai and build your own stir-fry bar. Friendly wait staff with good menu suggestions. Ordered the potstickers and kung pao chicken.
(4)Zoe Y.
This review is long over-due. Big Bowl was okay. Decent in price and portion, however it is lacking something. We drove to Chicago from Ann Arbor to meet with friends and before going out, we were starving and decided to eat here. I was not impressed at all. The ambiance is okay but kind of misleading. I kept asking my boyfriend if it was an attempt to be a fine dining establishment or hometown, organic based restaurant. The service was pretty good, especially for us coming in so late. To start off, we had the pot stickers which were awful. I would rather eat Ling Ling's from Costco than whatever they served here. We ordered the sesame chicken and the stir fry - both were average. I would rather eat at P.F. Chang's than eat here. Next time I'll go out hungry rather than eat here. It wasn't a horrible experience but it was pretty average. The one thing I actually liked was the homemade ginger ale they make. It was tasty and you could definitely taste the ginger!
(3)Jim B.
This was my first time at Big Bowl, but definitely won't be my last. Great location, interesting menu, fabulous food and fantastic service from Joe O! Joe is very personable and did a great job explaining the menu and specials and recommended a dinner that my brother absolutely loved. The service was flawless. Thanks, Joe!!! I highly recommend this place and and if you do stop by, be sure to ask for Joe's section...
(5)Shahzad A.
Poorly managed place. Don't get me wrong, the place looks great but the food is what is miss managed. You will find shrimp dish with half shrimp with tail and the other without. It makes you question how well things are cleaned. I have been to this big bowl and returned food twice because one thing or the other was wrong. The other big bowl in Schaumburg does not have that problem and is a much better location if you like big bowl food.
(1)Amy L.
We had Big Bowl for the first time a little over 2 yrs ago and I was hooked! We happened upon it right before they closed for the evening when we were out looking for a bite to eat. Fast forward..we return to Chi town and I must...repeat MUST go back. We actually ate here twice on this trip because we dont have this in Cincinnati. I ordered the same kung pao beef with noodles that I got on the first trip as well as the potstickers. The service was great. Our server recognized us on out second trip back. Very friendly, accommodating, and prompt. She brought refills of drinks before they were needed, which I love. The food was as amazing as I had remembered. The beef in my kung pao beef was super tender and the sauce was rich and spicy. My boyfriend got the kung pao chicken with jasmine rice. It was also delicious. The pork potstickers were delish! Crunchy bottom as they were cooked very well and the dipping sauces flavorful. Everything was just as good on the second visit but the food was a little less spicy this time. Service and food were still top notch. The second visit was lunch before we drove back to Ohio. I even got a meal to go!
(5)David G.
In Chicago on business and wanted a fast take-out wok bowl for the hotel room working lunch. I am from Seattle visiting. This was the closest place and they had a takeout counter in the restaurant. I ordered a yellow curry chicken with rice and veggie. It took less than 10 minutes and was packaged just right with everything needed to stand on its own. The meal was done very well, great flavor and quality veggie (string beans and peppers) and chicken. Well done! They have an extensive lunch take out menu and restaurant prices. I would be happy to go back and try more. I posted photos in the hotel room so you can see it firsthand.
(4)L H.
They got 1 thing right which is why they get 1 star. The drinks were terrible - a real Mai Tai isn't bright yellow and doesn't have mint in it. The "strawberry mojito" which they said was a specialty was watery and chunky. The worst was finding a very hot pepper in the Mongolian beef dish - after chewing it! Immediate pain and hot sweats ensued. We had to leave without eating our meals. A total disaster. When the bill came we had to discuss the charges - it shouldn't need to be discussed. A real management team would recognize the potential severe damage that could have been done. What did they get right? The Chix and peanut egg rolls were great.
(1)Tennille T.
I like Big Bowl very much. They use fresh ingredients and the spices are just right HOWEVER everytime I order my meal "without" peanuts this location ALWAYS adds them. For whatever reason I don't get this. I am not allergic but just don't like them as a personal preference but I wonder when this place will get sued for adding ingredients customers request not to add and someone has some major allergic reaction. Personally this is the only issue I have with this place. Manager/Owner please give the cooks training because if they continue to ignore customers food preferences and add a ingredient that causes harm, your establishment will get sued like nobody's business and I think if you are aware and step in you can avoid a butt load of trouble. P.S. If you have food allergies please don't eat at this location. My daughter has peanut allergies and had I gave her some of the food she would have probably had to be hospitalized or maybe even died because her allergy to peanuts is VERY high.
(3)Jackie C.
This place was exactly what we were looking for. We had an amazing waitress, Emily who was just a great person and loved the restaurant. I had a special salad and it was just incredible. One of the best salads I have ever had! My husband had the Kung Pao and he basically licked the bowl! We will definitely be back.
(5)Courtney F.
For a chain Chinese restaurant, I was REALLY surprised at how delicious and fresh everything here was! Fried rice was great and I had a watermelon sangria that was to die for. Would definitely return.
(4)Mark-Allen E.
A decent Chinese takeout or eat in option. I normally order the Orange Chicken, white rice no scallions - extra chicken. Always good. Orange chicken can be a big hit or big miss and I feel I consistently get good food from here. I'm not giving Big Bowl 4 stars because the kitchen area( you can see back into the kitchen as you walk to the bathrooms) is by far one of the most filthiest restaurant kitchens I have ever seen. It's odd to me because the rest of the restaurant is clean. Service from wait staff is lackluster at best. We eat here once or twice a month and it's like I have to sacrifice my unborn child to get a drink refill. Also their alcohol drinks are terrible. I have only had one decent drink at Big Bowl. The food for the most part is enough to compensate for Big Bowls lackluster customer service and other downfalls.
(3)Michael S.
Great place great people i use to work at the location on ceder 2yrs ago...these people are like family they do everything fresh no short cuts...must check it out its a must...best new school thai Chinese food in town.
(5)Kevin C.
Fresh local ingredients sourced for all their menu items. No frozen foods. The quality was very good for a chain restaurant. Pleasantly surprised. I dined in a two occasions: work lunch and a dinner for some out of town visitors. They have a lunch menu with smaller portions which I'd recommend if you'd like to skip the food coma after getting back to the office. The pot stickers and dumplings are a good place to start a meal. Lettuce wraps are a large portion and would likely serve 3-4 people. I tried the shrimp and scallop entree for lunch. A bit on the sweet side even knowing it was a ginger soy dressing. Great tasting seafood. On the dinner occasion I went with the less adventurous sesame chicken. Good stuff, no grisly chicken, no thick breading, with a kick of spice. Overall I'd recommend a lunch visit or a affordable dinner alternative for the area. Service was attentive on both accounts and I can't share any negatives. Chop chop.
(4)Joe K.
Visiting from out of town. Took the family and everything we ordered was fresh and flavorful. Service was outstanding and prices were great!!! I will defiantly be back for more!! Keep up the great work.
(5)Hang T.
From the looks of the exterior, you already know that this place is not going to have authentic Asian food, but I still wanted to try it out. My final thoughts is that what the place lacks with the food, it makes up with the level of service. When we first got there, we were given free crab rangoon I believe because we were first timers. We were personally greeted by the manager before our meal began and they were so accommodating to our large group. The baby needed vegetables reheated to a certain consistency and they heated it twice for us so she could get it down. I ordered the chicken pad thai. While the flavors were there, I got more vegetable and beans sprouts than anything else. My husband ordered the pho appetizer and the bbq pork buns. The pho did not taste like traditional pho. It was like Asian Chicken noodle soup. I did like the bbq pork buns. They were tasty. All in all, I think if they were trying to be authentic with the food, it didn't work. If they were trying to bring a new twist to traditional dishes, that didn't work either. I think they just need to pick one direction and plan this recipes accordingly. The people from these China and Thailand would be very unhappy with the food here.
(3)Steve G.
Food was excellent and service was prompt and courteous!
(4)Kate J.
One of my friend's and I came here not too long ago for dinner. First, let me say, she has several food allergies, and Big Bowl was more than willing to work with us on that. I ordered the Sangria which was absolutely delicious; and got the Chicken Pad Thai for my main entree. My friend ordered something with chicken and veggies and no sauces or anything like that due to her allergies and both were large and very filling portions. I had never been here before, and have actually never even heard of the place until now. I like the fact that you can order pretty much whatever you want and they can make it for you however you would like. Definitely impressed with this place.
(4)Nina B.
I came here for lunch with a friend. I ordered the Asian chicken salad, which had a pretty tangy dressing. If you eat one of the peppers they are really spicy! And I can usually take a decent amount of heat. The portion size was a bit small for the price. The salad did have a good amount of meat, however. I would probably get something else if I went back. Service was a bit slow. It's nice they take the Wildcard discount (20% off) for NW students. My friend got the yellow curry rice bowl which she loved. Overall a decent lunch experience but nothing spectacular.
(3)John B.
This kind of location provides scrumptious meal. This lime rooster is my favorite; I've by no means got something think its great. Helpings are just right for dinner. This container peel off stickers plus the dumplings usually are pretty good also. I relished your pomegranate mojito a great deal. We all did not get almost any distinct difficulties with service-- it had been common.
(5)Ruth S.
Food was great, pad Thai amazing, orange chicken, excellent. We ordered the crab cakes but they were gone for the night do we had really wonderful Calimari. I just wonder why no one mixes a good drink anymore. Always weak, too much mixer, out of balance. Disappointing when the food was so good
(3)Barbara B.
Was brought some take out pad thai from here. Pad that was super bland, it was the worst pad thai I've ever had. Avoid!
(1)Tony B.
The waiter forgot to put in our soup and appetizer order, so they brought out our meals 15 minutes after we sat down. Told the dude holding the food on his arm what was up and he took all the food back and trashed it. They then brought out the soup and appetizer and had us fill new bowls with our selected vegetables. Eventually we got our meals at the right time and they were excellent. As I am wont to do, I ordered mine spicy - it was so hot it was almost inedible. Then we got the check. It had an "On us" credit of $39.50. Wow. More than made up for the minor mistake. Thanks. We'll be back.
(4)J. C.
We went here for lunch today, and I had never been at this restaurant before. So I really didn't know what to expect. But I was meeting some old college buddies, so I pretty much didn't really care where we were going to eat. I knew it was Chinese and Thai, which I love, but was extra delightfully surprised that you can pretty much make your own bowl of whatever ingredients you choose if that's the option you're looking for. Our waiter was super extra helpful and nice, and extremely patient since my dining buddies didn't immediately know how the whole system works (pick a sauce, pick a meat--which the kitchen puts in for you)--and walk up to the counter to load your bowl with whatever veggies you want. My hibiscus iced tea was very delicious, and the melange of items I ended up picking for my bowl turned out pretty good in the end taste-wise. The only things that make this not a five-star experience is that the bill ended up being a little on the pricey side. But I should have known better since the Near North neighborhood is usually all tourists on the weekends. Also, in my opinion, they seemed to skimp a little on the meat (I ordered chicken) that I got. It's a little different from Flat Top Grill (where you pick EVERYTHING), so I guess this is how Big Bowl does it. I would be back again if I'm back down here.
(4)Melanie S.
Corporate, Americanized Chinese food notwithstanding, Big Bowl isn't actually half-bad. As long I go there with the mindset that I'm not attempting to eat authentic asian food, and just enjoy it for what it is; which is a decent, reasonably priced meal, then I can live with myself. The two things I always get when I go here, which averages about once a month, are the hibiscus lemonade tea (so refreshing) and the mixed green salad with some type of asian viniagrette. This dressing is so good, I would do shots of it if it were offered. It's a sesame, ginger, soy, rice wine vinegar concoction and it's simply delicious. From there, I usually order the mongolian beef or orange chicken. The mongolian beef has shiitake mushrooms, and while not a traditional ingredient in mongolian beef, adds a flavorful touch. The orange chicken is your basic garden-variety dish that you can find on any Panda Express in Anytown USA, but again, I'm not going to Big Bowl expecting to be transported to the heights of culinary wonder.
(3)Richie D.
I'm not a big fan of chain restaurants (hence I can't give 5 stars), yet Big Bowl would be towards the top of my list if I were to recommend one. Yes, they have Americanized "Chinese" food, but I can claim that there were tourists from China sitting at the table next to be. I guess it can't be that bad! BB is all about their Ginger ale which was just alright. Picture a non-alcoholic, carbonation-infused mojito but with ginger instead of mint. I had the pomegranate flavored ginger ale but I wish I went for the passion fruit or green tea flavors. I did like that you can taste the real ginger. As for the rest of the experience. I absolutely LOVE the decor. I wish my house could be a Big Bowl, and don't get any ideas. The Asian theme is everywhere you look with perfect color combinations that look like what you see on the H&G Network. Food wise, the mongolian beef is definitely one of their tastiest dishes offered...probably not the healthiest. Also the Shrimp Summer Roll appetizer is also tasty. The rest of the items are fairly average. If you're starving and not willing to wait for a family-owned/non-chain restaurant in downtown Chicago, BB is not a bad choice.
(4)John G.
It certainly exceeded my expectations. I had the appetizer calamari -- one of the freshest, tastiest fried calamari's I've enjoyed and I do love my squid. The veggie pot stickers were more like gyozas -- but the filling was freshly made and the gyozas were clearly hand formed. The wonton soup was an interesting mix of Viet and traditional won ton soup. All in all, I'd go back.
(4)Tony M.
Make sure you try the combination chicken & vegetable dumplings. Very good and very fresh. The service was suspect. I had a couple of apps and the waiter tried to get me to try something else but I was full. He did not like it so he left the bill and I did not see him again. Someone else had to help cash me out. Avoid the waiters that try to up-sale you on somthing you don't want.
(3)Viola Y.
Always go here when I am in town. Great dishes and drinks! I even picked up the cookbook.
(4)Janelle C.
Love their food. Big plus is that you can create your own dishes and food is made fresh in front if you.
(4)Jen S.
We have been here a few times over the years and have never been disappointed. We took a fairly large group for lunch and they were very accommodating. One person in our party had a peanut allergy and the waiter was extremely attentive and helpful in selecting items from the menu. The food was wonderfully prepared and came out hot and fresh, although it did take a while to arrive. Everyone enjoyed their selections and found the service to be very good. A little on the pricey side, but the food is excellent!
(5)Candice H.
The fried Tofu is very delicious. One of their staff is amazingly nice. He has great passion for customers and always provide service before we ask.
(4)H H.
Not the most amazing chain in the world....if you like chains, that is.
(2)Anuj S.
I love Big Bowl's stir fry bar. I don't know why some people I've been with aren't as appreciative. Maybe it's just that I've hit the jackpot on just the right combination of veggies, sauce, etc. So here's what I always get and I've never been disappointed. I go for the stir fry and load up on all the veggies. They add tofu for you later. Then I go for the Spicy Kung Pao sauce. And actually, I request a bit of extra sauce. It's DELICIOUS. And then I get it with noodles. Once I get it, I add plenty of hot sauce. Oh man... cleans out the sinuses. When I was out in the burbs, we used to go to one out in Wheaton, but that closed down for some reason. It's strange, because it seemed pretty full when we'd go. Well anyways, the one downtown is close enough to me now.
(4)Laura P.
I LOVE this place. It is incredibly delicious and tasty and you can make it as healthy or unhealthy as you'd like. I've been here about twenty times and almost always order the stir-fry. When you get the stir-fry you pick the type of vegetables, meat, sauce, and rice you want. Either you can have the chef choose your veggies based on the meat/sauce/rice you're getting or you can grab a bowl and choose your own mix of whatever vegetables you'd like from the vegetable bar. I always go with this option. You have the choice of filling the bowl as much as you want and usually I pile it incredibly high and then drop it off at the stir-fry station (yes I've piled it so high that I've dropped things out of my bowl while taking it to the station). The vegetable bar has about 15 different veggies with all the standards and them some more seasonal specials. There are about 6 stir-fry sauces to choose from and all the typical meats (and tofu) are available. For rice you pick between white, brown, or fried. If you want your dish to be healthier, opt for the brown rice, pile on the veggies, opt out of meat, and ask for light oil/sauce. They are very accommodating with the oil/sauce and they really do make it light if you ask for it. Conversely, I've gone with people who have asked for extra sauce and they really did go heavy on the sauce. Basically, you can create whatever you want and the end result is delicious. You can also ask for chili paste on the side to make it more spicy. They also have amazing customer service. They once put peanuts on my stir-fry dish when I asked for no peanuts (the kung pao sauce comes with peanuts, but you can opt out of them). Not only did they promptly make me a new one, they gave me a complimentary dessert and took the stir-fry off the check. They also have great Chinese New Year specials during that entire week. Last year was the year of the rabbit and they gave every person born in that year an entirely free meal (drink, appetizer, entree, and dessert) on new year. It was amazing. They have a large variety of drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic and both Asian inspired and non-Asian inspired (like sangria)). Their portions are huge--not just with the create your own stir-fry, but if you order off the menu, too. It's not too big that you'll necessarily have to get a to-go box, but you will definitely leave full, which is important for me. The exception is dessert. The desserts are small and are not meant for sharing. They are big enough only for one person and they are certainly not hefty. But they are interesting and this way you can focus on the delicious entrees. I wouldn't make the claim that this place has authentic Asian food, but if you want delicious Asian food and don't care about it being Americanized and inauthentic, definitely give this place a try.
(5)R.g. C.
I dined here the other day with my girlfriend and Carlos was our server. Even though this is just a casual "corporate" like restaurant he went above and beyond to make our lunch awsome!!! Everything he recommended from the wine to the dessert was superior. Great service! Oh I did not mention that was our first date, NOW shes my girlfriend!!!
(5)Kaelyn P.
I ordered the steamed dumplings (chicken and veggie) and the shrimp summer roll. Yikes, as far as American Chinese goes, I'd rather pick up freezer dumplings from trader joes. Really average flavor and the sauces were meh. As for the summer roll: you get lettuce, noodles, a few shrimp, basil, red pepper, wrapped in a sticky rice roll.. with a soury sauce that overpowered the zero flavor roll. MIght as well go to jewel and buy the ingredients. Save your stomach from the disappointment and go anywhere else !
(1)Linda N.
Had high hopes based on reviews here and on Open Table, but was disappointed. Had the Thai special which was alright although nothing special. Was initially excited to find rice pudding with coconut milk on the dessert menu, so I ordered one. Something similar was my favorite at a Chinese dessert place I used to visit in chinatown in Canada. I doubt it will become anyone's favorite at Big Bowl - it was horrible! Nothing like the chinese version! Our waiter was very nice, yet her efforts didn't seem sincere at all so that part didn't do it for me either. On top of this, the natural and healthy ingredients they advertise that they use left me feeling bloated and uncomfortable the rest of the evening. To sum up, I won't return next time I go to Chicago. There must be better alternatives out there than this for those who love Asian inspired food.
(2)Akhil A.
Love their sesame chicken with red panang curry and fried rice...can't beat this combination....
(5)Cara M.
Too bad I didn't read the reviews here before I ate... everyone was correct about the Pad Thai, it was terrible. :( I love Pad Thai and was excited to try it here, but it was bland, oily, didn't taste remotely like any I've had before, the noodles were overcooked (fell apart into little pieces every bite) and had things that don't belong in Pad Thai (I'm looking at you, Thai basil). Weird. If you're going to put the word Thai on your sign, you should probably learn how to make one of the cuisine's signature dishes. I gave it two stars instead of one because the apps we had were pretty tasty (calamari and chicken potstickers), and everyone else's dishes at least looked tasty?
(2)Jonathan H.
Great decor, great food i love the curry chicken and had my birthday party here. The bar stools/chairs need a bit of maintenance while i was there last time but otherwise you really cant complain about the fast friendly service.
(4)Kathy G.
I don't care if the food is Thai, Chinese, Japanese....whatever. All I know is that it tastes good. The build your own stir fry is great, I can fill up on my favorite vegetables and skip the ones I don't like and I can get the cook to help me out if I need it. The Kung Pao Chicken is delicious, the tien-tsin peppers add just the right spice. It is hard to decide what to order but that is my favorite menu item. Go there for the quality and the ambiance. The room is not over decorated or gaudy like some Asian-themed restaurants, it's a nice, inviting place.
(4)Grace N.
The three of us went here with a $75 gift certificate and were able to get 2 apps, 3 entrees, and 4 beers for $74, which is pretty reasonable. The beef wraps were good. The potstickers were ok, but I'm never imrpessed with potstickers (they're never that much better than the frozen kind). What I appreciate about their entrees is that the meals they label as spicy are ACTUALLY spicy, including the pepper chicken, and any szechuan dish. I can handle a lot of spice, but my face was actually starting to turn red. No pain, no gain! I also like the brown rice option. The service is spotty, but I'd probably go back.
(3)Jennifer R.
I went to Big Bowl for the first time 2 months and have returned 3 times since then. The service is great and the food is even better. The chicken lettuce wrap appetizer is so good and the honey ginger ale is both refreshing and tasty. I can't wait to go back soon. I went to Big Bowl for the first time 2 months and have returned 3 times since then. The service is great and the food is even better. The chicken lettuce wrap appetizer is so good and the honey ginger ale is both refreshing and tasty. I can't wait to go back soon. I went to Big Bowl for the first time 2 months and have returned 3 times since then. The service is great and the food is even better. The chicken lettuce wrap appetizer is so good and the honey ginger ale is both refreshing and tasty. I can't wait to go back soon.
(5)Neetha V.
Very Tasty Food...Variety of options for all kinds of crowd, veg to meat lovers! MUST try their Ginerale, Made with fresh ginger made in-house, if you want to know, what real ginerale tasts like try this!! Very good! Flavorfull food, was never disappointed, tried several options and they all turned out pretty good!!! My husband loves their icecream dessert, I forget what it is called! Passion fruit..etc Overall a good place for an outing with family/friends!
(4)Charles V.
Spicy Tofu, white rice, and spicy green beans....very delicious. Chicago friends said I would probably enjoy Big Bowl and I did. Yummy! I love spicy food, so I would try more dishes in a heartbeat. I'd like to sit down there at some point, but we were rushing so we got our food to-go. Other issue is I am only in Chicago for three days. Not sure when I will be back, but if I do ever visit again. I would surely try to make a pit stop.
(4)Somchai S.
Overpriced for mediocre food. I had the munchies during my lunch hour so I decided to order some steamed dumplings and a shrimp summer roll. To my surprise the 5 dumplings were undersized and not all too tasty. The summer roll was edible however they only gave you one roll with 3-4 pieces of shrimp. My unsatisified stomach was still craving food. And my wallet was out $13. Next time Ill go to Wow Bao to curb my thai cravings. And Ill head up to Tank Noodle for some summer rolls that are worth the price!
(2)Antonio R.
Went to Chicago with my senior class the first week of April 2013. Had the pot stickers and the chicken pad Thai with homemade ginger ale and let me say this.... Best Asian experience I ever had! The pad Thai was the freshest ever.. The pot stickers were great and the ginger ale tasted fresh as well!! If ever in downtown please goo here!!!!!
(5)Mir E.
Penang chicken curry! Freakishly amazing and such a good choice last minute. It was so good and it was my first time eating curry and I am now a fan lol. Sort of spicy the more u eat but none the less still sooooo good!
(5)Robin P.
So many great places to go eat in Chicago, but this isn't one. Average food with a nice interior.
(2)Vineet S.
I am a fan of this place. Awesome food, service and ambience. Just simply love the Stir fry menu. They have one of the best gingerale in the town, the best thing about the gingerale are all the fresh ingrediets. The vegetarian stir fry is just damm mouth watery. The cashew chicken is also great. The vegetable potstickers are just average.
(5)Dan A.
Oooh, I really liked my Big Bowl. I let them mix my greens for me and got beef in my bowl. I had a lot of "bowls" when I lived in L. A. so I wasn't expecting much but this was a really great experience. Their specialty ginger ales are absolutely worth a try... they are very strong but enjoyable if you like ginger drinks. I liked the orange especially. Great wait staff, nice folks, cool atmosphere... this place hit the spot during a busy downtown shopping afternoon.
(4)Karl S.
So i saw the Big Bowl sign and went in to bowl a few games. To my surprise not a single ball or lane to be found. I hate false advertising......kidding I usually try to avoid chain restaurants when I travel, but I always seem to make it to a Big Bowl for some Pad Thai Constantly good food.
(4)A I.
For the price point, this is good. Setting: Seating reminded me of a big chain restaurant, but it was clean and plenty of space. If I have to turn more than one page on a menu, I lose interest. I really lose interest when it is an instruction manual. Food: Ginger ale was good and a plate of noodles was prepared and served quickly. Not the best Pad Thai on the planet, but the ingredients were fresh and the food was hot. Service: Very organized and friendly staff. I liked that the waiter basically telegraphed what was best on a very complicated menu.
(4)Kelly K.
This is a love story, about a girl, some spicy mustard, and some sweet customer service. I "discovered" Big Bowl way back in 1998, when I was working in a cubicle farm in the burbs with few food options nearby. I worked late. A lot. After a few nights of cuisine a'la Vending Menace, I placed a takeout order with Big Bowl. My boyfriend at the time had me addicted to potstickers, and Big Bowl serves theirs with this crazy crack mustard. It's probably just MSG and yellow #5, but I don't care. It makes my toes curl. My first time tasting this combination of potstickers and Crack Mustard, I ran around my cubible giggling. I'm not kidding. Fast forward to 2011. I've been living in the city since 2002 and I'm not allowed to like chain restaurants. I hide my occasional Cheesecake Factory cravings from my friends, from fear of being stabbed to death with a tightly-rolled copy of Time Out. Listen. I understand Chicago is home to a zillion amazing non-chain restaurants. But I need to remember my suburban roots lest I become one of those city-snobs that won't venture farther west than Irving and Pulaski for fear of being sucked into the strip mall vortex. So anyway, Big Bowl. For years, I quietly seek out others who enjoy this VERY Americanized Asian food for what it is: (Tasty) Americanized Asian food. We sometimes jump into cabs and sneak away for lunch, but it's rare. Then one day, I find out my boss also secretly likes Big Bowl and I'm on their website, looking for the number to the delivery service they use. They have a "store" link. I click it. THEY SELL THE CRACK MUSTARD. OHMYGOD THEY SELL THE CRACK MUSTARD!!! It's 93 degrees and humid. Don't care. I practically skip from my office to the location on Ohio. I pick up lunch. I buy a bottle of mustard. I get home that night ready to bathe in it. I look at the date on the bottle - it's expired by 2 months. Could I? Probably. Should I? Probably not. I call them to let them know they sold me bum mustard. The guy who answers the phone not only remembers me from earlier in the day, but goes to the store room, removes the rest of the bad mustard, and sends me a fresh bottle FREE OF CHARGE. Personalized service from a chain restaurant, peeps. He also called me the next week to make sure the mustard arrived intact. I think I have a crush on my Friendly Neighborhood Big Bowl Crack Mustard Peddler. I won't rate BB 5 stars, only because I think the Restaurant Police would evict me from my Edgewater apartment in the middle of the night, but deep in my heart, I'm a Big Bowl Lover.
(4)Ramya P.
I've been here so many times and it serves a very Americanized version of real Thai food. But I'm not complaining! There are a few good options for vegetarians like the pot stickers, pad thai and you can customize your own stir fry... for me though, the highlight is the Green curry. Honestly, I've had green curry at so many places and I can't help but compare them to this one and most of the times they will not hold up against this one. Humongous portion size so, come here when you are absolutely starving after shopping all day in Michigan avenue!!
(4)Kay P.
very average food...I ordered a chicken stir fry which was very sour...my colleague didn't like his noodles too...food was oily too...wil not go back
(2)Kin L.
Americanized Hybrid Asian Cuisine, or as I call it, Fake Asian Food! So this place specializes in Chinese and Thai cuisine? I'll be the judge of that! I only came here because I was extremely hungry and it was on the way home. Since it does sort of look fancy and well decorated inside, I figured the menu would have some neat and interesting items to order. Well, I was wrong. The menu was so run of the mill ordinary that I felt like leaving after I sat down. But I'm not an ass, so I stayed. The menu featured items such as Kung Pao Chicken, Pad Thai, Fried Rice, Beef & Broccoli, and other ordinary items. Seriously, other Chinese and Thai restaurants in the area serve the exact same thing, and I'm willing to bet the prices are lower, and the food tastes better. I guess you can classify the menu items as 'safe foods.' You know, you have to try really hard to F-up the dish when it's being cooked. I selected the Teriyaki Chicken Fried Rice...which isn't even Chinese or Thai. Teriyaki is Japanese! Whoever created the menu needs to attend Asian Cooking 101. Hell, I'll even pay for the class myself. I also got the potsticker combo (3 pieces of chicken and 2 pieces of vegetables) as an appetizer. Seriously, only 5 potstickers? Stingy! At least throw in one more vegetable potsticker to balance out the combo! Oh yeah, I can make way better potstickers from the freezer back home. Shame on you Big Bowl, you're an insult to Asian cuisine!
(2)Rob J.
What is with all the families that come here? I know you gotta eat somewhere so I'm not knocking it, but it was FULL with families. A great spot for a quick meal before a movie up the street though...
(3)Emann B.
Look, it's not the best Pan-Asian food you can get for the money, but when the fams in town, they love it. I've been going for years. Most recently I went on a Sunday around 7:30pm and the wait was about 35 minutes. By the time we sat down I was a bit irritated, but our cute guy server was so sweet and attentive, it more than made up for it. Great service really makes all the difference. Food is generously portioned and hits the spot. Had the potsticker combo, glazed salmon, and yellow curry with tofu and vegetables. Perfectly tasty and delicious. For dessert we shared the mochi combo, just enough to hit the spot.
(4)Dwayne H.
Great hot Thai food exceptional service at great prices! Did I say great curry?
(5)Morgan A.
I recently had a food sensitivity test done and have to eliminate a TON of things out of my diet for 90 days including wheat, dairy, yeast, eggs - the list goes on... I came to big bowl and they were beyond accommodating with my situation. They gave me a menu and told me what could be made catered to my food allergies. Most restaurants scoff at my list and tell me I can get __x__ and that's it. When the food comes it's boring, bland and I usually get charged extra for less food. Say waaa? Big Bowl was the complete opposite. I got a tasty lunch full of flavor and catered to my allergies. Multiple times I had someone coming out checking, is this ok for you? is that ingredient ok (yeast is a tricky one)? I felt very confident that my meal wasn't going to make me sick, and it didn't! Our waiter was fabulous and the entire staff was super friendly. Usually I dread going to eat out due to my limited diet right now but they made it a pleasure! I highly recommend this place to anyone that has special diet needs!
(4)Jay S.
Years ago, when my husband and I first started visiting Chicago, we were sooo excited about BIG BOWL. We're from Seattle, and it excited me to see a good updated Asian/Asian fusion place in the Midwest at the time. "Bruce Cost is being a good ambassador for American Style Asian" - I thought. Sadly, times have changed. The lemon chicken that so impressed me with its fresh take on the old school mess has regressed. The hot and sour soup suffered from what everything I ate suffered from: overuse of sesame oil. Holy cow - someone needs to freshen the staff's palate! They've become desensitized to a very pungent ingredient. Ouch. My husband did like his "build-a-stir-fry" with salmon, so I can't fault that...but I can't praise it either. If a professional kitchen can't heat up the pre-made sauce and ingredients James picked for the $20 he put down...things would be 1 star indeed. And what happened to the all the chow fun? There was only one fat noodle on the menu. Where are the blazing beef noodles? There are too many delicious things in Chicago to bother with a visit to Big Bowl again. So farewell...thanks for the memories.
(2)Kate D.
This place has delicious food. The orange chicken is my favorite; I've never had anything like it. Portions are just right for dinner. The pot stickers and the dumplings are pretty good as well. I enjoyed the pomegranate mojito a lot. We didn't have any particular problems with service-- it was average. I'll be back here for sure.
(4)Jing C.
It's probably because I moved in down the street and started eating here more often but I've really come around to this place. The good: the ingredients are super fresh, reasonably health-conscious Asian food, and excellent ginger ale! I love good Chinese food but it's a meat-loving cuisine so sometimes it's difficult to eat Asian with vegetarian friends. Problem solved! Big Bowl has a section dedicated to vegetarian eats. And while I will never give up red meat and seafood, I've got to admit the Unfried Rice is a highlight.
(4)Haley S.
Yes, it's chain Chinese. But, it's worth it for four things in my book. First of all the chicken potstickers are a fave. They're not at all greasy! Also love the teriyaki spareribs and green tea ginger ale. But what i really come here for is the vietnamese chicken noodle soup, which is AWESOME when you are sick!
(4)Kevin Q.
Decent place with good restaurant ambience but just kind of wish that you could fully customize your own bowls like you would at Flat Top Grill since I could only choose the vegetables. Overall, I liked the place and thought it was an excellent choice to have a date at.
(4)Sonali K.
Maybe it's because it has been so long, or because I couldn't eat Gran Luxe for lunch anymore (what work always seems to order), but we got Big Bowl today and it was SO good. I decided to try something new - the Vegetarian Dumpling soup (made extra spicy). I can't believe I hadn't tried this sooner! It was flavorful, the dumplings were fresh and delicious, and they definitely didn't skimp on the "extra spicy" request. They serve the dumpling on the side so they don't get soggy, and I have to admit I didn't add them to my soup. I ate them with a side of their peanut sauce and hot chili sauce - so yummy. I also got my usual order of spicy sesame peanut noodles - still good.
(3)Eric K.
I used to work down the block from this BIG BOWL and it has remained one of my favorite places to eat for YEARS. I went there last evening and got a table to order what I usually get. The chicken pot stickers with the awesome mustard dipping and other 2 sauces and the fiery chicken cashew dish as my main course. Imagine my surprise when I got the chicken pot stickers and it came with a new spicy chinese mustard sauce. The original sauce was a reason I came to the restaurant - I even would take bottles home. Now it comes with a spicy chinese mustard I could get at any cheap Chinese take out. The waiter said it might be because they were getting rid of peanut oil because of people's allergies. Um...let people with allergies order their own food - don't ruin mine! Then I got the fiery chicken dish which used to come with nice white chicken pieces ride and vegtables. Now it comes deep fried with a dark sauce on it. Yes SOGGY deep fried chicken. The flavor was ok but the whole experience was like bad chinese takeout. Not the flavors it used to have AT ALL. In GOOD NEWS - they added some things to the menu from the closed BEN PAO - Sesame Chicken and I'm happy about that. Maybe I will go back and eat the old Ben Pao dishes but BIG BOWL itself if kinda dead to me. This place is going downhill fast!
(2)Teegan F.
We were seated quickly, the server was great, and the food was delicious. This place rocks!
(5)Katherine R.
Pad Tai Noodles with chicken. Nice tea selection; infused teas with exotic fruits. Intriguing atmosphere with dim colored lights and a serene ambiance of tables in a a line and then an open area for larger groups for the round tables. The drinks are tropical and created in tall glasses with colorful juices. The concoctions are really well done here with or without alcohol. Our server was alert and very time oriented with our group on a weekend night especially.
(5)Gayatri D.
Not many vegetarian options. But whatever they have tastes quite good! Great service and large portions. Perfect for a quick lunch!
(4)M G.
Food is always delicious. Many different choices to choose from. Even the drinks are good. Place is mostly busy and the service can improve because they tend to be slow sometimes but that is because the place is busy. Overall, always a good experience when i eat there.
(4)Kathy S.
This place is the epitome of overpriced "Asian" food. I've been there a handful of times because friends have wanted to go there but have never had any dish that I really loved. The only one that I kinda liked was the thai hot pepper chicken with basil and peanuts. However, it was so salty that I had to have lots of rice with each bite to overcome the crazy salty factor. So basically the only time I'll come back is when a group of friends really wants to come here.
(2)Anthony S.
Good food, good selections, great prices and good service. I am always happy to come here! You absolutely must try their pumpkin ice cream mochi in the fall. It's to die for!
(5)Trena R.
When traveling and in doubt of what you want to eat, ask the trendy 20-something working at the hotel, right? He was spot on. It was about a mile walk from the hotel and worth every step. The waiter was friendly, great at reading body language (knowing when to do a drive-by and when to engage us in chit chat). He was quick with drink recommendations and guidance on the food - local, organic, delicious! The food was incredible. I had the pad thai and sampled a friend's Sesame Chicken. OMG. I *must* get back to Chicago so I can eat my way through the menu. This is one of the restaurants where I could walk in, say "surprise me" and be over-the-moon happy. Ooops... I think I just drooled on my keyboard.
(5)Jessie Elizabeth J.
Big Bowl is good, flavorful food depending on what you order. The make-your-own stirfry is a good bulky meal for the price. The Thai curries are tasty and well portioned. Avoid the "prime" beef dishes as the meat is not tender and the sauces for dark meat dishes can be bland. Is it solid thai and Chinese? Yes! But a wee bit overpriced and more about the atmosphere than the food.
(3)Brianna L.
Let me start off by saying I absolutely love big bowl. This location had friendly and attentive staff. I prefer the flavor of the food at the woodfield location better tho. I also like the location in woodfield better esp since its FREE parking. Parking prices in Chicago are just redonk. I really disliked the seating situation. We had to sit at a high table, which is uncomfortable after a while. The seating was also super tight. Like if I moved I would have touched the person behind me and the person to my left. I don't think I'll be back to this location. A sweet treet was that they did give us chocolate covered strawberries on the house bc it was Valentine's day.
(4)Arun C.
This was definitely the best Chinese food / Stir Fry place I've ever been to. Starting with the ambience, it was warm and friendly. Nothing too fancy but not like typical Chinese restaurants. This would almost hit the fine dining category in terms of ambience. The waitress was extremely friendly and explained everything very nicely. She was very pleasant. The food options weren't too overwhelming. They had 6-8 dishes in Chinese, the same number in Thai and the option of Stir Fry bowl. The appetizer menu looked interesting but we skipped that and so I cannot comment about that. I went for the Stir Fry bowl while my wife chose to go with Kung Pao noodles from the menu along with their Orange Ginger Ale, both of which she raved about. The stir fry bowl - The vegetable selection was quite good and the veggies looked fresh. Something different about this place is that they do not stir fry your choice of protein along with the veggies. Only the veggies are stir fried and served along with rice and meat which is prepared separately. It was delivered quickly and the taste was just amazing! The sauces they had used were just perfect and I cannot wait to go and have it again! Unfortunately that means making a trip to Chicago. They do not have one in Houston Overall, me and my wife completely loved the place and are looking forward to coming back here soon!
(5)Belinda L.
On our last trip to the Windy City we decided to give this a try cos Eataly was too busy and this was just across the street on the way back to our hotel. It was pretty crowded when we stopped by so we thought that was a good sign. But I guess being a Saturday night and right downtown at Magnificent Mile, this did not mean much. The interior was nice and cool, semi-dark lighting with numerous TVs showing different sports channels. They also have a bar where you can order drinks and sit around while you wait for your table to be ready. We started with the calamari, thai-styled. That was good, it came with a sweet-sour dipping sauce. For main courses we ordered the BBQ pork fried rice, which is also char skew fried rice in asian terminology, and the pad-thai. According to the waiter those were good choices. To us those seemed pretty normal, which was unfortunate. Each time I go to Chicago one of the things I look forward to is the food, but this didn't leave me particularly satisfied. The service was great though, I have to credit them for that. Our waiter was friendly and knows the menu well. He also helped us pack the leftover fried rice to go and gave us some fresh dipping sauce to go with it. Next time I am in town I will make it a point to plan out where to go for meals, do some research etc on what is around the area, especially during peak periods where places will be busy...
(3)Sadia H.
The Red Hot Pepper Chicken Noodles was great. Very spicy! Don't add the hot sauce to this. It's very flavorful and the portions are huge. Good place to go to after shopping in the Magnificent Mile area.
(3)Prashanth M.
I have been to this place at least 50 times and I started loving the sangria and the stir fried that you can create by selecting own vegetables a lot. I don't know how many times it happened that I went out of the apartment to eat something and I ended up here. I like most of the things. I am giving 4 stars because they didn't tell me the first time that there was fish based sauce in the pad thai noodles and they can't do it without it.
(4)N S.
Over ate but the quality is always great. This time I focused on the Chinese menu and all of it was great. Orange chicken was excellent but not as much chicken. I'll have to ask for extra chicken next time. This was carry out so maybe the box was smaller. Usually when we sit down to eat we always have extra chicken of the orange chicken !!!the bill for two take out was 78$$$ a little high but it was triple points. !!!!!
(5)Christina S.
My boyfriend and I agree that this place is a fancy Panda Express. If you're looking for authentic food you won't find it here. If you're looking for a place to enjoy overpriced Asian cuisine with a nicer ambience than Panda Express, this is your place. We ordered the shrimp pad Thai and the spicy cashew chicken. Both were nice dishes but a little saltier than I liked. Portion sizes were good and we had leftovers to spare. I will probably stick to Panda over Big Bowl.
(3)Dimple M.
Love the food but hate it that all curries are made in fish oil. Being a vegetarian that limits my options. Green curry is extremely spicy and would help if you offer to tone it down. Service is always awesome.
(4)Hollina U.
Meh. I think I might have been biased going in because I typically don't like Asian chain restaurants... also very picky about my Asian cuisine. I ordered the Penang curry here... which was good--- the chicken was cooked perfectly, and wasn't dry like I was worried about-- I hate ordering chicken because I'm always expecting it to come out overcooked. But it was good-- the curry wasn't bad either. I requested them to add tofu as well (well, actually I requested for a mix of half tofu, half chicken, but they said they had to add it for an additional charge, which, fine, I guess makes sense), but the tofu was just meh and flavorless. But that's the thing--- tofu is often something that a lot of Western restaurants can't do right... and I count Big Bowl as one of them. But if it's cooked right it's delicious! But whatever, I guess maybe another tofu centric dish here could be good and I didn't know. Prices are higher than what I typically would pay for Asian food too... but I guess it's a nicer atmosphere than most Asian restaurants, so that's where the premium comes in? It's nice that they have a carry out area! (But then if I want carry out Asian food, I'd drag my feet over to Panda)
(3)Emin S.
Full restaurant, I loved the crowd. Ambiance is great. Not too quiet, not too loud -- everyone around me was smiling and having a great time.. I had the pad Thai that was very unique, burst with fresh herbs and was also lighter healthier than any I have had. Tangy, and played with my tastebuds kept me guessing. I would be curious to taste their other dishes, that will have to wait until next time. Friendly service, affordable price, overall a great experience even when you are dining by yourself.
(5)Karol N.
Decent spot for a quick lunch. Nothing special food wise, it's better to stick to Chinese options since their American versions are better than Americanized Thai food.
(3)Fan Y.
I was looking for asian. I walked in thinking- gee not a single asian person in here, no worries, this isn't chinatown so I wouldn't expect that anyways. I mean the ambiance was great, there was a sitdown bar. The kitchen was within view. Service seemed friendly(everyone was american so english wasn't an issue).. I ordered the teriyaki friend rice, which looked appetizing with generous portions including lots of veggies and meat. They even included a pair of chopsticks! I really looked forward to it. Unfortunately, the dish was the saltiest thing I have had from a restuarant in years. It tasted like they doubled the portion of salt either by mistake or by design. I didn't complain at the time because I was hungry, had a cold and was coughing a lot, so I wanted to quickly eat and go home. So far, I've drank 2 liters of water after coming home and my thirst has not yet been quenched. It seems like this fit the stereotypical bad asian fusion restuarant- checked all the boxes except the food.
(2)Chrissey N.
Love. The food is always flavorful, and Chris is such a nice waiter! I've been here quite a few times, and the food is like a chic re-invention of traditional Chinese and Thai dishes, don't go expecting authentic, but I like this even more than authentic! Love the spicy Kung pao chicken- it has to be my favorite dish!
(5)Ben B.
Big Bowl is great upscale Asian fare. First thing you must do upon sitting down is to order a fresh ginger ginger ale. So crisp and clean with just enough ginger bite. I'm also a huge fan of the spicy Sichuan beef. On a spicy meter, I'd put this around a 6/10. A nice kick, but nothing where you'd be fanning your tongue or shooting steam out your ears. Atmosphere is dark and inviting, especially if you land a booth. For some reason, I always forget Big Bowl exists. Not sure why. It's delicious, well-cooked food at reasonable prices and a nice atmosphere. Great for dates, friends or business hang-outs.
(4)Brianna D.
Was walking down Michigan avenue looking for a place to eat yelping every restaurant we walked past, walked past Big Bowls and didn't have a chance to yelp it before my boyfriend wondered in. Hands down best pad Thai I have ever had! Our server was absolutely wonderful! So nice and sweet and friendly. Will be craving this place every day
(5)Hannah S.
I ordered out from Big Bowl this past Sunday evening through Grub Hub. This was my first time trying them. I ordered 2 of the Sesame Chickens. Once I place the order it said the wait time was 2 hours, so I immediately called the restaurant and canceled. I told the woman on the other end of the phone that I had ordered through Grub Hub and she assured me the order was canceled. I even asked "so it's canceled-there is nothing else I have to do?". Sure enough some time later there was a knock at our door. I told the delivery driver I called to cancel and sent the food back with him. So the next morning I filled out a dispute charge with Grub Hub and heard nothing back. I had to call Grub Hub 4 times to get the charge reversed, because Grub Hub would call the restaurant and the restaurant would shrug them off and say they had to look into it. Finally one woman from Grub Hub got back to me and said the restaurant claims they did not get the food back. So either the restaurant is lying or the delivery driver ate my food. I will never give this restaurant money again. Grub Hub refunded me not the restaurant. We did place a new order for pick up for the 2 Sesame Chickens before I knew the debacle I would face with the delivery mix up. They were mediocre at best the chicken was soggy and the fried rice lacked flavor. I can't imagine how bad it would have been if we waited for delivery.
(2)Jill H.
Had lunch at Big Bowl while in town on business. Started with steamed dumplings that were served in a tasty sauce. I had the lunch portion of sesame chicken served in a bed of brown rice and thoroughly enjoyed it. Portion size was great, if not generous, and the sauce was tangy & delicious. My only wish is that there was one near Detroit so I have it more frequently!
(4)Ayperish A.
I love Big Bowl. Food is always delicious!!!
(5)Elizabeth P.
Excellent food + excellent service! We came for lunch and ended up getting an appetizer of the sampler potstickers (which were so yummy). We couldn't pass up the dessert sampler either which was equally as yummy. We definitely want to come back.
(5)Doug W.
FOOD - I had a date here, and we split 1 entre and 1 main course dish. Both dishes consisted of spicy noodles with peanut sauce and peppers, and they were AMAZING. - Portions are small for the $. - Food quality is simply great. - Don't buy dessert here; $5 gets you about 3 bites of whatever you choose, since the portions are really small. SERVICE - The waitress we had was nice, but seated us at a 4ft-tall table, which was not the booth we requested. Inconvenient. RESTAURANT - The place is really nice inside. Decorated beautifully. - Nowhere to park besides parking garages; inconvenient. - Floors and tables were clean. OVERALL - Would go here again, but only after receiving a paycheck. Great food, but cost does not afford equal servings in my opinion.
(4)John M.
What's up with no pork dumplings and chicken egg rolls? But the service is great and the food is not bad.
(2)Izzy N.
Ok FINE it's been years now and big bowl has proven itself to me some. But.. I only order 2 things after a little absence. Shrimp pad thai with no peanuts, no cilantro, no beansprouts and no basil :) then I pile on the chili sauce.... maybe.. MAYBE some potstickers if the company I'm with wants to split it and or their ginger ale. That's it!! I don't veer towards any other version of their pad thai.. Cuz it's been disappointing in the past. Otherwise I'm not the biggest fan of their other dishes. I find it salty, meh and an atrocity. Recently I've been here on a date night and it's always dependable cuz I order the same thing over and over again and just low key enough without being a total dump atmosphere wise for some company otherwise I'm cool with eating food from a cart down the street. Mexican corn in a cup from a dirty cart is fucking delicious. So for a quick fix that's low maintenance cuz Lord knows we are lacking in delicious asian eats in this neighborhood and in Chicago in general... I'm allowed to be lazy after 40+ hours of work a week and not cook myself some asian flavors or trek to mediocre Chinatown or disappointing argyle. You're pretty good big bowl but if I were going home to Portland soon of course I wouldn't miss you. Risen from the dead for sure.
(3)Salina L.
I wanted pho because I'm sick so sent hubby out. Big Bowl was the closest. Pho was nasty! Potstickers were terrible. Orange chicken was pathetic. The worst Chinese/ Vietnamese food EVER. I now feel worse than before the pho.
(1)Jigna S.
Loved this place! (Better than flat top grill in my opinion)! I've only tried the stir fry bar option and it was delicious and in huge portions! You can choose your meat, sauce rice or noodles and veggies (or you can select the chef's choice of veggies and you don't have to get up to go to the stir fry bar). I got the sesame crusted chicken with sichuan sauce (so it had a nice spicy kick), fried rice and my own selection of veggies. It was soooo good!!! Will definitely be coming back to try their other dishes, especially the pad thai, which they are famous for.
(4)Mike P.
Surprisingly good food and great staff for a chain restaurant located in the most crowded part of the city. Being around or on Michigan Ave during the holidays makes my skin crawl. This past weekend Big Bowl gave us a great lunch with really excellent service when the joint was absolutely packed. A needed oasis from all the crowded stores.
(4)Chelsea F.
Atmosphere, ok. Food, good. Service, great. Came here hungry and was more than satisfied. I was torn between Kung Pao Shrimp and sesame chicken and our server Michal, the very handsome guy with tattoos, told me to get the sesame chicken and I was thoroughly pleased. I especially like how he was honest and not trying to simply up sale. He was very attentive and always kept up with our drinks! We tried each of the deserts and they were great!! Michal gets an A+
(4)Mia F.
I liked the online order capability, speed and takeout service accommodation, but the food was mediocre.
(2)JJ Q.
Comfort food with a distinct Asian flavor. Authentic? Not particularly. Good. Yes! A step up from P.F. Chang's, and a longish one at that...but then it's part of the Lettuce Entertain You chain. And that shows. That said, I'm hardly damning it with faint praise, although I suspect that one of the reasons I like it so, is because it's about a block from the Homewood Suites where I usually stay in Chicago. The food is NOT drowning in sugary sauces, that cheat of cut-rate faux Chinese restaurants, and the flavor of the ingredients does come through. The regular menu dishes are decent, though I've come to love the 'pick your own' section: you pre-select the meat (or tofu!) and the sauce, then when you're ready, go up to the selection of vegetables by the kitchen and select the blend you want. And the house-made ginger soda is delicious. I'll be back, never fear. And enjoy it.
(4)Michael B.
Had a food emergency! The ladies stomach clock went off and they had to be fed immediately. Wanting ramen, we bolted towards the little Japanese place in Hotel Tokyo only to find it closed. Spotting Big Bowl just down the street, we got there just in time to avert a complete meltdown, but it came at a price...the food. It is what it is and I'm sure it has it following and tourist business. The staff are very nice!
(2)Davin C.
Very first time at Big Bowl, and very pleased with the food, service, and ambiance! Highly recommended it and out waitress, Claudia, was very friendly, kind, helpful, and very pretty! Food was outstanding! Got the Mongolian Beef, and one of the best I've had! Will definitely be going back!
(5)Sam P.
Came in after a horrible vibe and walking out of RPM ITALIAN. Vibe is great. Easy going and waitstaff is nice.
(4)Kim B.
Great menu for a group who doesn't know what to choose. Dumplings, small Pho and pork buns all very good. Especially the dumpling and 3 sauces. Since I was there for first time, manager Justin stopped by with a little free app and said hello. Great touch and overall good service. Came back with a big group and did the group dinner. So much good and all very good. Service want as good this time but still worth coming again for sure.
(5)Ravi N.
This is one of my new all time favorite asian restaurants. I had the orange chicken, and the others I say with had the cashew chicken, teriyaki shrimp and scallops, and the Mongolian beef. I also had some of the best tea and ginger ale in my life. Very good food and a great atmosphere.
(5)Brian M.
I stopped in to Big Bowl based on an extremely favorable review from a friend and I have to admit that despite it being a chain it was actually very good. The Chicken Pot Stickers and the Orange Chicken, however I decided to go with the Seven Flavor Chicken which was amazing. It was very unique, a little spicy, a little sweet, a little savory, it was just delicious. Now the pot stickers where great, very flavorful and the sauces were good, well at least two out of the three were. The one mustard based (I think) sauce did not go with the pot stickers at all however the other two were great. I decided to also order a Big Bowl Blonde Ale, which was pretty good. I was under the assumption that it was a specialty brew just for Big Bowl however I did some research and discovered its actually made by Wild Onion, and is available in 12oz cans. I might have to try to track this down! Overall Big Bowl offers good food, good service at reasonable prices for downtown Chicago. The service was fast and I have to admit that I will probably return on my next trip to Chicago. I think next time I will have to try the Orange Chicken.
(4)Saahithi G.
Big Bowl is my favorite Thai place in the town. THey have a stirfry option as well. My favorites: Potstickers Spicy Thai Green Curry with Tofu Thai Hot Pepper with Rice with Shrimp/Chicken Ginger Ale is good as well.
(5)Lynn H.
I got the sesame chicken stir fry. I haven't tried anything else, but I loved this! I loved how I got to choose all the veggies I wanted in my dish and the portions are huge. About $15, but it is very filling and tasty. For waiting something relatively quick and good, I would definitely come back here. That's why I gave it a 5-star...it's awesome for what it is.
(5)Sara L.
I keep dreaming about this meal, even though it was only days ago. We walked and walked in the city to get here. I was so hungry and thirsty by the time we arrived. I got seltzer and lemon to drink. Tasted like the best thing I've ever had in my life. They do not skimp on lemon, let me tell you. Two big chunks. So fresh. I got vegetable teriaki, make your own stir fry. The veggies come from local farms. Love it. I can't wait to go back and get the same thing.
(5)Jodie S.
I ordered the chicken pad thai and it was very yummy! The atmosphere of the restaurant was great. Our appetizer was delivered incorrectly, but our waiter quickly fixed the issue and let us keep the wrong one. We didn't wait too long for our food and the waiter was great about refilling our water.
(4)Sacha F.
Eh. I had really quick and great service but I'm not a fan of this food. It's definitely better than China Star, or whatever crappy Chinese food branch is in Chicago, but it's definitely not authentic. I ordered the orange chicken, and I'd probably rate it a 6/10. Lunch portion size was fine, wasn't heavily sauced or fried but it wasn't in my top five and I probably wouldn't recommend this place or come back. Giving three stars based on the awesome bar tender.
(3)Blaine T.
I really love their vegetable pad Thai a! Nom.
(3)Kathleen C.
Big Bowl is good, but not the best Asian food in the city. It is very much good for the casual lover of food, but not for someone who loves Asian food (at least as far as I can tell as I've found much better options elsewhere). However, it is relatively quick and easy and they are friendly at every location I've been at. I tried the pad thai with chicken and tried to get it spicy. It was a smidge spicy, but not overly so (probably catering to the typical customer that doesn't know their spice, so they are 'safe'). The atmosphere isn't great for a downtown restaurant, but it's a solid choice if you're hungry. Food - 3 Value - 4 Atmosphere - 3 Service - 4 Bathrooms - 3
(3)Kristen W.
Don't be turned off that this is a chain restaurant, this restaurant is part of the Lettuce Entertain You group and doesn't disappoint! Service was great and the bar manager was awesome! The strawberry sangria was really great, I love any sangria with fresh fruit in it! We both had the chicken pad thai and it was really good, the ingredients were fresh. i can't wait to go again.
(4)Maureen M.
Just one block from Michigan Avenue and the Mag Mile, the vibe on a weekday at lunch time is a blend of locals and out-of-town adults. There is a kids menu but it doesn't seem to attract kids despite hordes of them on the Mag Mile. The service was attentive and almost obsequious but not overboard. The lunch menu is limited but sufficient. I liked the option of jasmine rice, brown rice or fried rice. I love ginger ale but very seldom drink soft drinks. The ginger ale had a nice bite that paired well with the food but it was TOO sweet. A drier ginger ale would have been just perfect. The portions were reasonable and the food was high quality but the amount of chicken in our chicken dishes (Kung Pao and the seasonal special General Tsao) was small. On the other hand, there was an abundance of peanuts in one dish and more than enough onions in the other. Still looking for Chinese food in the neighborhood, I'll stick to Star of Siam for Thai.
(2)John G.
For a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant this seems to have a lack of attention. This is the second time we've had a problem here. The staff tried to make things good but there is a problem in the kitchen. The last time they were out of brown rice. This time we started with a new item, BBQ pork buns. The meat was uneatable, tough and had chunks we both couldn't chew. The vegetables you choose for the stir fry were wilted and tired. I don't know what was in the spinach.
(1)Sean C.
Chinese and Thai, trendy but I'm not bowled over. But we didn't eat that much a variety, admittedly. I am annoyed that the main dish of PAD THAI came out before the appetizer of CHICKEN DUMPLINGS. About the main dish, I do appreciate they use quality, organic and plump white chicken mixed in with the noodles. If you're here, do order the organic made-from-real-ginger GINGER ALE. #sincerity
(3)Dina T.
Loved this place! We are here after finding a massive wait at the other restaurant we were thinking of going to. I'm so glad we ended up here. Our server was so sweet! She was super attentive, kept our drinks full, and even brought us an appetizer "on the house" after hearing it was our first time to one of their restaurants. My husband and daughter got the stir-fry which they both enjoyed immensely. I got the sesame chicken. It was the best sesame chicken I've ever had! Yum! We also had their edamame and their chicken peanut egg rolls for apps. All around a great experience. My husband thought it was a tad expensive but I thought it was decently priced considering the overall service and food as well as the location; smack dab in the center of Chi town.
(5)Vee S.
My mom was a patient at NW hospital and hadn't had an appetite in days and wanted orange chicken so I choose this place because of the reviews and the proximity to the hospital. I order thru DinningIn orange chicken and the shrimp pad Thai. ANd it was AWFUL!! THE CHICKEN WAS Vinegary and and the pad thai was horrible and sticky BOTH DISHES were disappointing!!! my moms favorite place is Yummy Thai but I wanted to give this place a try and it ended up costing me $30.40 NEVER AGAIN!!!
(1)Joel B.
The service was good but, dont eat here unless your white and you like crappy mall chinese food. The pad thai i got tasted like sweat. There was no flavor besides a hint of sour sauce and sweat. If you want good authentic thai/chinese steer clear. I had high hopes due to the good reviews but this place is garabage. So if you want some good ole greasy white people food then go ahead eat here. You will love it.
(2)Tam D.
Went there yesterday and ordered the pho and thought, You've got to be joking. The menu said it served 2-3 people. The bowl I got barely served me. It was an average-size bowl of flavorless chicken broth with 3 or 4 pieces of chicken and a handful of noodles. That's it. And it cost 12 or 13 bucks. Seriously!
(1)Miranda S.
Lunchtime was pretty quick and their portions were recently scaled back. I like the 'mongolian bbq' idea where you pick everything and have them cook it for you. It's delicious and healthy.
(4)Joel T.
Horrible service and very inconsistent food and whoever heard of Asian restaurant wo soy sauce?
(1)Danielle M.
In town for a conference and looking for a GF friendly restaurant near my hotel. Great choice. Food was delicious, with lots of GF choices (on a separate menu no less). Waiter was very friendly and a bonus was a nice bar so I could have a glass of wine with dinner. Prices were quite reasonable for prime downtown location. All around good experience.
(5)Gigi D.
Here's what was really tasty: the chicken dumplings, twice-cooked green beans, mongolian beef, and yellow coconut curry with tofu. Everyone loved the fried rice, and the brown rice was great too. The portions are pretty big, so three of us shared two entrees and two small plates. Unlike at most Chinese places, the mongolian beef has lots more mushrooms than onions and beef, so if that isn't your thing, skip it. Even their spicy dishes aren't super spicy, but they offer some chili sauce to kick things up. Took off a star for slow service.
(4)Tj W.
Went in for lunch on a Friday around 12:00. The service was good the food was pretty good as well. I recommend the east side drink, gin, cucumber, mint, and lime..: you won't regret it... Especially with a screaming baby.
(4)Adrianne D.
Mickie is an excellent manager at this location, there was an issue with my carry out order, shrimp instead of chicken. He did not make an issue out of it. I corrected the situation and was friendly. I enjoy big bowl and will continue to support this location as I appreciate the customer service and love the food!!
(5)Latoya M.
Really enjoyed my meal here!!! The Server was absolutely Amazing. Not a place I would have picked, However very pleased that my cousin picked this place. Will be back :)
(4)Sara P.
Start from the appetizer the lettuce wrap was Good. I like the sauce that comes with it. I ordered yellow curry with supposed to have tofu in there but none. I tried to get attention with my server. He's gone right after the food came so I can't wait then I ate my wrong order and never checked with us until we asked for the bill.2stars from the appetizer and my friend's order she said hers was very good.
(2)Francis R.
Big Bowl seems to be my number one stop to cash in on those Lettuce Entertain You rewards. Their service is always great and the staff always friendly. Make sure you get your free order of chicken or vegetable potstickers with the Foursquare app check-in! The dish comes with 5 pieces and an assortment of sauce to dip in. Nice flavors all around! I ordered the Spicy Sichuan Beef and boy was that spicy but delicious! If you aren't a fan of spicy, I'm sure you could ask them to tone it down a bit. Lucky our waitress had my water refilled regularly so it was doable. My date ordered the Panang Curry Chicken over noodles which I had recommended to her having order that on my last visit to a Big Bowl. The dish is typically served over rice, but over noodles is a nice change up from a traditional Thai curry dish. I forgot to mention the drinks! Their sangria is always spot on! On this past visit, they had the seasonal watermelon sangria, which was absolutely refreshing on these warm Chicago summer evenings. Definitely worth a try! Until next time, cheers!
(4)Neha M.
I went for a friend's birthday celebration. I ordered green curry vegetables and it was awesome. The dessert we ordered was really good. All of us liked the food as well as the service.
(5)Mitch K.
It was a lazy Sunday afternoon and I Had a Lettuce Entertain You gift card to burn, so I figured I would give Big Bowl a try since it is nearby. Wasn't sure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised. The food was tasty (ate the Chicken Potstickers and Red Hot Pepper Chicken Noodles), the beer selection was well above average for a restaurant (drank a Anit-Hero) and the service was quick/friendly. Again, very pleased with Big Bowl and will definitely be going again soon.
(4)Autumn L.
The Big Bowel restaurant is Asian restaurant, and concentrates in Chinese and Thai cuisine. They have really delicious Chinese and Thai food, the service is also fast, and atmosphere is really comfortable and attractive, as well as the location is very prosperous. I went to the restaurant with my friends for dinner. The restaurant is located in the center of Chicago, nearby Wabash and Michigan Street, which means they have a good location. There are also many customers that mean their food is really attractive. I ordered the Kong Pao Chicken which served by a unique plate, it was really delicious. In terms of my own experience, I recommend the "Spicy cashew chicken" which is crispy chicken, hot peppers fiery chill sauce, and it taste is really delicious. And, I love spicy food which the restaurant also offer many type of spicy food. For the atmosphere, the decoration with solid Chinese culture, as well as they have light music which makes people more enjoy the food. The menu is really easy for people to understand, because they have clearly and separate Chinese and Thai menu, also they separate their features. In addition, in terms of the level of service, the waiter is very friendly and kindly. However, I think that they still have to improve their service, the reason why is because when I ordered beverage, the cups is not really clean. Furthermore, for the location, because the Big Bowel restaurant is located in the downtown, so it is really hard for parking, but there still have the public parking place next by the restaurant, of course, it is very expensive, like 5 dollars for half hour, 15 dollars for an hour and half.
(4)Carlo B.
Just finished dinner at the Big Bowl. Service was excellent. Good size portions and great taste. I had beef & broccoli with Jasmine rice. It hit the spot. Appetizers were pork dumplings and crab rolls. Again it was great. Great atmosphere and good for families.
(4)Angel L.
Came here for my brothers birthday and absolutely loved it. The service was phenomenal, food was something different but still really good. Love the setting and environment. If you go ask for Naima as the server, she was the bomb!
(5)David A.
Another lunch visit, another good meal. Kung Pao Chicken was just spicy enough. Despite being busy our server Piotr took great care of us, our drinks were always full and we got our order quickly. Will definitely visit again when in Chicago!
(4)Christie M.
Wow really? This is pricey but I expected it since its Chicago. Portions are giant! Unfortunately we had no microwave at our hotel so had to leave the food. The place had a nice decor to it, kinda like how PF Changs but slightly more Asian. Taste was decent. Super busy there, but it doesn't excuse why our waiter never checked up on us and me having to flag him down 3 times for various things like straws for my kids' cups. Our boys just can't sit through 2-3 hrs worth of dining. Hoping to get in/out fast....yeaa no way.
(3)Abby L.
Good atmosphere, decent food. Not exceptional cuisine but still pretty good food. The staff are polite and know what they're talking about, and the options on the menu are good. Pretty comfortable place for a well priced meal.
(4)Jennifer G.
My husband and I go to Big Bowl a couple of times a year and had such a pleasant experience Christmas Eve. They had a 15 minute wait when we stopped in that night so we decided to just eat at the bar. Our bartender was very attentive and our mai tai and mojito were very nicely done...and sitting at the bar, very quick! We started with the spicy green beans, and they were delicious. In most places - chains especially - when you order spicy, it's not really spicy - it's Midwestern spicy. Big Bowl's spicy green beans were spicy and so good. We ate them up very quickly. We then had the Kung Pao Beef with green beans (it was a theme that night I guess!) and the Thai Hot Pepper with Rice and Shimp. The Kung Pao was good but the sauce was a little heavier than I usually like and I did have to add more chili paste to it. However, the Thai Hot Pepper dish was delicious and had a slow spiciness in your mouth. It was a really light sauce and very good. I would get that dish over and over. As I mentioned - our bartender / server was very good and the food came out really quickly. We will definitely go back - and maybe now that we have tried the spicy green beans and Thai Hot Pepper dish - maybe more than just a few times a year.
(4)Marilee F.
Great spot for an Asian lunch or dinner. Wait staff was friendly and helpful with the menu. I found the menu limited, the only reason I didn't give a 5th star
(4)Clarissa T.
This place was very good. Service was a bit slow, but that won't keep me from coming back. I had the pa gang curry and it was wonderful!
(4)Jerrod K.
Overpriced, mediocre food that lacks any cultural authenticity. If you want mass-market Asian, Panda Express does it for about half the price, and is much kinder to your palate (and that's saying something!). We ordered a Pad Thai and Pho. The Pad Thai was pretty poor, with a flavor that I struggled to place. Thankfully I called a bit of an audible and special ordered it with the crunchy sesame chicken instead of the normal chopped chicken. Normally, pad thai can stand on its own, but I had to mix in the sesame chicken to make it edible. On the bright side, the crunchy sesame chicken was very good, and does offer at least some hope for other dishes. The Pho Bowl was advertised as being for "2-3 people". How, I have no idea - it wasn't even enough for one! Instead of the usual beef, it came with chicken. Ugh. The flavor was reminiscent of those $1 cans of instant soup you buy at a grocery store. In fact, I probably would have preferred a good Progresso or Campbell's Chunky over what these guys had to offer. Again, not a ringing endorsement.... The Sangria was good, but again, was expensive and fairly small/watered-down. Service was okay -- but we actually had to ask for chopsticks. And hoisin and hot sauce for the pho. Ugh. Chicago - you do not have to settle for this place. There are much better alternatives just a stone's throw away!
(1)Ryan B.
The worst curry I've ever had. Terrible. They took 1 hour 45 minutes to deliver it too.
(1)Stephanie L.
I got dragged here by my better half. I have never been to Big Bowl. I avoid chains like the plague. Especially chains downtown, but I was pleasantly surprised with Big Bowl. Our server was one of the best servers I have ever had. That is a HUGE compliment. He appropriately checked on us, brought condiments, cleared dishes, etc. Amazing. Its kind of sad for me to say that I got better service at a chain than most independent and expensive restaurants. The food was excellent as well. Lettuce wraps are delish. Great spice, sauce, crunchy and portion size. The potstickers are pretty standard and come with three dipping sauces. I am a potsticker junky and this did the trick. Our entree was the thai chicken with peanuts and basil. It was a decent portion with some kick! Not to mention, I added lots of the thai chili spice. The ginger, ginger ale was extremely refreshing. I hate to say it, but I wont have to be dragged here kicking and screaming next time :)
(4)Patrick D.
After last visit decided to try again. 2nd visit was like a completely different place. Service was attentive, food was good. Pleasantly surprised.
(4)Joe M.
Really really bad... The staff here is off the charts awful. A few things to keep in mind if you do decide to visit this Big Bowl... 1) DO NOT think about requesting a modification to any item on the menu (you will get a huge attitude and it probably won't come right anyway). 2) DO NOT be allergic to any ingredients on the menu (you have a 50/50 shot at still getting the allergen in your food). 3) DO NOT even think about ordering a take out order within 45 minutes of closing time (you will find yourself banging on a locked door 15 minutes later when you arrive to pick up your order). Not to mention the attitudes of the people that work here in the evening. I arrived at 9:45 to pick up my order and found the door locked (they close at 10). I had to bang on the door to get a staff member to acknowledge me. Once let inside, not a single word was spoken to me and my food was practically thrown at me, not even in a bag. I was handed a bill, charged and shown the door without so much as a thank you or good night. And then what happened, you guessed it, order wrong, as usual..... A little background.... I am a Lettuce Entertain You Frequent Diner Gold Member and order from this Big Bowl at least once a week the exact same order. This is typical of my experience here at least half the time.
(1)Lucia F.
An extreme mediocrity. The service was excellent, and I was brought an extra seltzer water without asking! However, all the food was covered with this sickening, un-tasty brown sauce that made me sick just thinking about it! They took my chicken satay of the bill, which was fine. The chicken dumplings were no better, but after wiping the sauce off a bit, the rating went up just a bit. I would not return! However, the fortune cookies were yummy!
(2)Jay F.
I have not had a return business trip to Chicago yet when I haven't fed my craving for Big Bowl fare. I absolutely love the Kung Pow Chicken & Noodles - never disappoints. The Chicken Pad Thai rocks as well. I always bring new visitors here if I have the choice of restaurant options.
(5)Lauren S.
Great dinner last night. The place was packed and our food and service were still spot on. Getting seated took a bit as we wanted a booth but other parties waiting got seated quickly and with a smile. Our server was good. Picked up after us on our table so it was never left with a mess and brought drinks in a timely fashion. She was polite and working hard with many tables but she always had time for the table when she was taking orders or checking in. Food last night was great. We had egg rolls, satays, stir fry bar one with chicken the other with salmon and 7 flavor beef. Everything was pipping hot, flavorful and delicous. We dine at Big Bowl a few times a month and though they have made mistakes 9 times out of 10 they hit it out of the park. My only complaint is managers should get to know there customers better. We've been to BB at least 50 times and never once has a manager stopped by to say hi thank for coming in or anything.
(5)Nick E.
Huge disappointment! I expected to have a great meal here but instead my food was terrible! The vegetable potstickers had nuts in them which mixed awful with the vegetables! It made me wan to vomit! Luckily the waitress took it off the bill. The dumpling soup had dumplings that were ok but the soup itself had barely any taste and what I could taste was like dishwater! Worst restaurant meal I've had in a long time
(1)Joseph H.
My family needed a last minute restaurant with a gluten-free menu prior to a concert that evening so I called Big Bowl on Ohio street and the staff could not be more accommodating. I arrived 30 minutes prior to the rest of my party but I was seated promptly and the waitress was excellent. I received dinner orders from my family as they were driving to the restaurant and the waitress placed the orders and the food was being delivered as my family walked in. The food is excellent and not expensive. Overall we had a wonderful time with excellent service.
(5)Chi N.
Good service but terrible food. Very much tastes like Panda Express. Don't come here if you want non greasy version of Asian food
(2)G D.
This is a great Thai place if u need quick service. Food is delicious, prices r great, service is quick!! They also have a make-ur-own dish bar.
(5)Steven K.
I'm a huge fan and I have been taking my kids to the downtown locations, they have two downtown, for years. The train ride to the city of peaceful and then it is a nice walk to the gold coast. The eggrolls are phenomenal but the kids can order a soup, off menu, which is a chicken noodle soup. It's around $5 and the noodles are very thick and the chicken is shredded in the soup. My kids love it. I love taking them to different places to share different cuisines and experiences.
(5)Francois J.
Forget Fat Rice. Ginger Soda, Pot Stickers, spicy Sichuan and Orange Chicken are miles above that pretentious Chinese Fusion place that won Best New Restaurant. Really? Big Bowl Rocks.
(4)Timothy H.
Went here to nurse a hangover and its exactly what we needed. I got the brothless ramen and the homemade ginger ale. Everything was good and our hangovers cured!
(4)Rick H.
I hate to say this, but I think this place is going downhill. This was always one of my "go to" restaurants when I had friends in from out of town. My last visit (Monday Sept 30th) was disappointing. I ordered the Shrimp Pad Thai, like I always do, and it just wasn't as good as in father past. The portion was smaller overall. They skimped on the shrimp as well. Usually the meal had whole pieces of shrimp, this time it was small bits & pieces. I saw very little peanuts & hardly any egg. Totally disappointed .
(3)Racquel D.
I tried this place out for the first time last night, and I must say this place was pretty good. I ordered one of their freshly made ginger ales, barbecue pork fried rice, fiery dumplings, and mango cheesecake. Mmmmm to all of it. My favorite out of what I ordered was probably the dumplings, but they were all really good. I got the green tea ginger ale, and you can totally taste the ginger so you know it's fresh. Service here was also really good. Our waiter was really attentive and checked on us often, even though it was pretty busy last night. And if we saw that he was busy with another table, either the manager or a food runner came by to drop off our food. Good location, too. You're not terribly far from the Magnificent Mile, Red Line Grand stop, a bunch of other restaurants, bars, and hotels, and Navy Pier. I guess my only con about this place is the price of the food, but I will say you get a lot of good food for the price. You're sort of paying for the ambiance of the place because it's a big space in a nice and busy area. Check this place out though.
(4)Audu S.
The food was Excellent. I had the monopolies beef and my wife had the king pay chicken noodle. The service was excellent and the staff was friendly. Great first impression of Chicago cuisine..... I will go back again and again.
(4)Paul K.
This place offers a Mongolian-style BBQ, where you pick your meat / veggies / noodles and they cook it for you. Pretty tasty, and fairly fast and reasonable. Had some dumplings for an appetizer too, though those were just OK.
(4)Manuel I.
Business customer representative Ms. Susan J asked for my contact so that a manger could get some feedback on how to make things better for the restaurant. Days, weeks and months passed and no calls from any of them...so I suppose problem is not just in the restaurant itself. It's also due to poor management.
(1)Larry B.
Decent food. Good after a long plane ride, but kind of a panda express version of the real thing. Overall though it was a good meal. I give it 3.5 stars. I have to say though I love their signage from the street, and although it wasn't the best meal of my trip, it really wasn't half bad, and I'd more than likely go back if I lived in Chi.
(3)TM M.
My husband has a special needs diet so we thought an asian place with a gluten free menu would be great. Overall, portion sizes were small, pad thai and mongolian beef dishes were bland and the $33 bill was pricey. We were hoping this would be a lunch place we could depend on for our week long stay but we won't be back.
(1)Ben And Nikki B.
WTF happened to you Big Bowl? Four years ago when I worked for LEYE I loved hitting this place up (granted the Cedar location...) after a double shift for a few cocktails & chicken potstickers- things have either changed or they were having a seriously OFF night last night. Let me preface this review with the fact we decided spur of the moment to have dinner downtown on a FRIDAY NIGHT WITHOUT RESERVATIONS (yes... I know.) After attempting to get seated at SEVEN other restaurants (lowest wait time well over an hour- up to three and half at 2 places!) we decided to give Big Bowl a shot since we've had some great cocktails & appetizers there in the past. I should have known walking in on a Friday night to NO WAIT was a red flag, I even second guessed myself at the last minute and wanted to escape to Eataly across the street (YES I KNOW- FAILLLL). But at this point we were pretty hungry, a little chilly & tired of running around so we decided to have a seat. Ben B (not to be confused with hubby- weird!) was our server and he was... well... an experience. After determining we had been there before he immediately asked if we knew what we wanted & didn't review anything with us- especially not any specials they may have had that evening. I FREAKING LOVE their chicken pot stickers so we started off with an order of those while we discussed appetizers. My Ben was pretty disappointed in the beer list (but this is to be expected @ an asian restaurant so I'm not deducting points for this). Once we finally decided on some beers we asked the server to explain the difference between the 2 Trippels on the menu which he had to ask the bartender about (fine- I also get that not all servers are beer experts, I wasn't either so again no points lost here). Once the beers were ordered and arrived @ the table we had decided on everything else (Chicken Dumplings & Kung Pao Chicken to share) Chicken Potstickers: Balls to the Walls AMAZING as always. Love the 3 sauces that come with this too! Honestly we should have just ordered 3 portions of these & called it a night! Chicken Dumplings: Why the fuck are these on the menu? These are EXACTLY LIKE THE CHICKEN POTSTICKERS BUT STEAMED WITH NO SALT, NO TEXTURE AND NO FLAVOR. FTN (fuck that noise)- never again. Kung Pao Chicken: Decent size portion for one or two (if the two are sharing something else). Decent flavor & spice profile although nothing special/different/out of the normal. We did really love the kale (@ least I believe it was kale) that came with this dish- it was honestly the best part of the dish. So- by this point in the meal I knew we were going to be going on Yelp to review this hot mess meal and was discussing our review points with hubby. Hubby is nearly sure that the manager overheard this conversation because immediately after he "just happens" to stop over @ our table to ask if we're interested in a "extra soup" "on him". Hubby says sure & I said thank you. This is the only time anyone ever checks on us- we are never asked how our meal is going, how the drinks are, the appetizers, the entrees- NOTHING. I know LEYE isn't supposed to ask "How is everything" but never once did he say "Is there anything else I can bring to the table" OR ANYTHING OF THE LIKE. Talk about "stellar" service...Anywho! The manager brings over said "free extra soup" -- Hot & Sour Soup which is the managers FAVORITE ITEM ON THE MENU- TO DIE FOR HE SAYS.... I LEGIT (AND I KID YOU NOT YELPERS) ALMOST VOMITED IN MY MOUTH JUST BY SMELLING THIS SOUP. I'm sure it is an acquired taste that clearly I do not possess but JESUS H CHRIST. NEVER EVER AGAIN. What happened to you Big Bowl? #NeverAgain
(2)John H.
Great food! Shrimp spring rolls were very fresh and sauces were excellent. Spicy chicken noodles were spicy and a good portion. Service was OK.
(4)Nick G.
I cannot believe I ate here. It was possibly the worst food I have ever had. I could care less if it's "authentic" Asian food; that wasn't the issue. The food was just THAT awful. The pot-stickers weren't cooked all the way, and from their appearance it was obvious they were frozen and from a bag. They were the exact same things that I buy from the freezers in the Asian grocery stores. I can make better pot-stickers than this restaurant served me! As I said, it wasn't fully cooked; the dough was hard on the edges and obviously a tiny bit freezer-burnt. Just... awful. And six tiny pieces for $5? I can get a bagful of this cheap frozen crap from the Asian grocery stores. You should be ashamed to served this to your customers!! I ordered the Mongolian Beef.. and it tasted awful. I don't know what was in their sauce/marinade mix for this dish, but it tasted nothing like Mongolian Beef. It was very bitter and it barely had any flavor. I only ate 1/4 of it because it was 9:30 at night and I was absolutely starving.. I needed to eat something; otherwise I would have sent it back and had it taken off my bill. The person I was eating dinner with tasted my food and said it was awful, too. How do you mess up Mongolian Beef?! The service was spotty and the server didn't pay too much attention to us. I will never go back here. I should have known better, when every other restaurant in the city was packed and you needed to have a reservation, and this place was half full. A major disappointment and waste of money.
(1)Naveed M.
Amazing Food - Service was okay but the food is great! Server was a little distracted. Forgot about our appetizers but no big deal. Can't wait to be back in Chicago to eat here again!
(4)Joanne Y.
Nothing phenomenal. I had the kung pao chicken (the waitress said this was one of their more popular dishes. It was good, but I don't think I'll be returning again to order that. Not worth the $13 + tax. I might want to try their other menu items, don't think I would never come here again. Besides my entree, the space was clean and well kept.
(3)John D.
I came after work one night and came for a drink and some Pad Thai. I had Dion as my bartender and he recommended a Panang Curry. I ordered the vegetable pad Thai and wasn't blown away. Dion asked me how the food was and I just said it was okay, and he ordered me the Panang Curry instead and wanted to make sure I was impressed with my dinner. Dion is the bartender you come back to. I'll come back for sure, maybe order something different.
(5)Wesley K.
All the people bashing this place needs to cut them some slack. I'm Asian... and yes I understand this stuff is NOT authentic Asian food. But who said they're trying to be? Not to mention some stuff does not need to be "authentic" to still taste good. The food here is definitely "Americanized" Chinese food. But it doesn't mean it doesn't taste good. Places like this and PF changs? Very low yelp review yes. Not authentic at all yes. But opening hundreds of hundreds of locations and making tons and tons of money? Well if the food really tasted so bad... they wouldn't be operating at a profit and continuing to open more locations. Food is a-ok. Nothing orgasmic and mind blowing. But I was craving some Asian food, came in here and got the Cashew Shrimp and it tasted good enough for me to eat my whole plate and be satisfied.
(3)Clinton S.
The meal here last night was absolutely delicious. I had the chicken curry and my significant other had the perch. Both were delicious. Drinks were excellent, would recommend the ginger screwdriver. Desert was something I never tried before, an ice cream mochi. Would certainly recommend. The area was excellent, close to our hotel and right by the magnificent mile. Will go back again if I'm in the area again!
(4)Marie G.
We had a reservation on Open Table. My daughter requested a dinner there for her 16th b-day so I asked for a booth for 4 and a candle on the dessert that we were going to order and pay for. Made reservation a week in advance. She acknowledged the reservation and the birthday. They tried to sit us by a kitchen table, not a booth. Then the waiter tried to rush us. Asked us 3 times if we were ready to order as we were looking at the menu. We had already ordered drinks and two appetizers. We kept telling him no and that we were in no hurry. After we ate, he brings the check and never asked us about dessert. Rude! There is NO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE HOSTESS AND THE WAITER ABOUT THE BIRTHDAY CAKE. We just left and got dessert somewhere else. We were in and out in less than an hour. It is that type a place. Not good for any type of celebration. They want you in and out. Oh yeah, when our appetizers came we had to ask for silverware. Awful service, good food. Ruined the birthday celebration.
(2)Dave S.
Surprised there wasn't a bigger lunch crowd here...maybe I caught them on a slow day. They have a pretty good lunch menu. I thought the portion was well fit for lunch and was under $10. My friend and I split the lettuce wraps which we both agreed were above average but the lettuce itself was a let down. The lettuce itself was a bit thin and soft, which doesn't make it really suited for a wrap. My friend got an entree portion the size of his meal looked in proportion to what he paid as well. Both of us left full and happy. Try their house made sauce as well - provide a nice kick with some heat but was not overpowering at all.
(4)A C.
Combining Thai and Chinese into one restaurant is the best decision ever made!! I am vacationing in Chicago and the food here is so incredible that I've been twice in 24 hours! To top it off, the service is great. Highly recommend this place.
(5)Neil R.
I love this place! I see a decent number of below average or average reviews but I've always had a great experience. I usually eat at the bar and get served very quickly. Its a diverse menu and I'm not sure if its authentic or not, but its very solid food. I tend to get the more Thai style dishes but their Chinese style appear to be good as well. Its a cool bar to grab a drink at as well. It can be very busy at peak dinner hours so getting a table or a seat at the bar can be tough. I would say its a bit pricey but I do feel you get your bang for your buck.
(5)Gerald F.
Spicy. Way spicy. Great ingredients. Huge plate. Excellent shrimp. Too much oil and hot peppers. Wow. Very unique, very fresh, very big.
(4)Rebecca B.
Some friends and I stopped at Big Bowl for dinner following a movie this past weekend. We had been walking around, trying to decide where to eat, when someone announced, "Let's just eat here." We all ended up very happy that we were standing outside of Big Bowl when she said this. We were promptly seated with no wait, but we were there pretty early, and the place was packed by the time we left. The food was good, and the service was great. Everyone, both meat eaters and our one vegetarian, left full and happy I appreciate that Big Bowl supports sustainable and local ingredients whenever possible, and I love that they prepare as much as possible in house. Everything tasted fresh and delicious. The fresh ginger ale, for example, is made in house, and it is awesome. It is sweet and spicy and refreshing. I have some food allergies that can make going to a new, unfamiliar restaurant somewhat challenging, but the folks at Big Bowl were lovely and more than willing to work with me to find something that I could enjoy. Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and didn't even have to be asked to check with the kitchen about certain ingredients or how something was prepared. This was one of the first times that I wasn't made to feel as though I was a hassle or a difficult customer. I ended up with a BBQ chicken dish with steamed rice and vegetables that was hot, fresh, and delicious. I will be back in the future, Big Bowl. My friends and I thank you for a wonderful meal.
(4)Legarconla L.
Disappointed with the service especially during peak evening hours. Came here to have a good dinner with my friends but the service was very slow. First no plates were kept and had to eat the appetizers right from the served plate. Each order took more than 15 mins to be served. The waitress was running with wheels tied to her legs that we had to call her everytime we had to order a dish.would never visit any big bowl it's waste of time.
(1)Courtneye B.
Okay--just finishing dinner at big bowl. I haven't been here in about two years, and maybe nostalgia got the best of me, but I was REALLY looking forward to some GREAT chow fun noodles.... AND--mediocre. I had a steak dish where the noodles were half crisp, half soggy. I suggest the chef choose a side and stick with it. The ginger ale was good, albeit a little sweet. Nice waitress, though. Too bad the food didn't live up to her efforts.
(3)Susan W.
Went here twice in a 10 day period. First time had a green curry with shrimp & tofu. It was wonderful!!! Friend had a kung pao chicken with excellent greens. We each had a single scoop of their salted caramel gelato. MUST TRY!!! Our server was fantastic!!! Asked how long he had been there thinking he was going to say years. He shocked us letting us know it was his first server job & he had only been there a few months. I would imagine he eats out alot & knows what kind of service he appreciates & strives to provide the same. Second time I had the Shanghai Shrimp & Scallops with the fried rice. ($1 upcharge) The fried rice was NOT good. :( Way soggy. Mentioned not liking it to the server & he gave some lame excuse about it being organic rice. blah, blah, blah. I didn't like it, didn't eat half of it & he should have removed the extra charge from my bill, but whatever... Friend had their Pad Thai & it looked amazing!! I'm getting it next time. We both enjoyed their Shandy drink. A mix of honey, lemon, beer & vodka. It sounds weird as all get out but it was super refreshing with the spicy savory food. Great location near Nordstroms Rack & Trader Joes for shopping.
(4)Allison W.
This place was great! We had so much fun. Got seated immediately on a Sunday. Food was great, definitely getting two meals out of our build-your-own stir fry. Our server Cam and the manager Justin were amazing! Super helpful, cheerful, and friendly. Very attentive and fun. We will for sure be back! Highly recommend this place. Thanks for the good time guys!
(5)L M.
Excellent vegetable roll, yummy calamari. I tried their freshly made ginger ale and lived that too. I'll be back!
(5)Thomas S.
Food was so delicious. Did the stir fry bar and was so fun putting all the vegetables in my own dish. The ginger ale was also so unique and delicious; a definite must have for diners. The service was slow, but the delicious food more than made up for it. Very cool atmosphere
(4)Jay I.
This is a rip-off version of PF Chang. Since we had a very good experience at TRU and Joe's we decided to try another restaurant run by LEYE. What a miss on this one. When you are in the restaurant, you would think that the ambience is nice, and that they have nice bar with good menu and a grille station (for mongolian beef kinda thing). However, the food we ordered were at best ok. they weren't just good, and the portion was too small. If I have to pick this and PF Chang I will choose pf chang a hundred times.
(3)Maria M.
Bartender was really nice in greeting us since the hostesses were not at front when we walked in the door.. Ordered an Arnold Palmer, had a fruit fly in it.. Waitress took it back & showed the manager.. Manager never came by the table to apologize nor ask if everything was ok.. He stood by the cooking area the entire time talking to staff hanging out & to the cooks.. I asked for my meal with no onions & the 1st thing I see, ONIONS!! Big whopping chunks..I didn't want to make a big deal about it so I just picked them out.. The waitress checked on us once..but at the end of the meal after I waived her down, I nicely let her know. After the poor service, nasty fly, and onion In my food, the waitress at least have us her employee discount. I was not asking for a refund nor a free meal, I simply stated the facts in a nice and educated manner. Since it seemed that the manager didn't care, she at least took matters into her hands and tried to make up for the mess.. That by itself made me give her a $9 tip (on a$20 meal after employee discount)..
(2)Mike H.
Gave this place a shot and it was good. I tried a few things and they were all pretty good. Ordered a mai tai and it was great, ended up having three!! I wasn't a big fan of paying $1.50 for a side of rice with my entree, but oh well. Overall this place is good, I will be back.
(3)Mimi N.
Nick is probably the only attentive bartender there. Eat at the bar for awesome service . Other bar tenders don't really pay attention to you and are too busy socializing and not bringing the bill or tending to you. Food is pretty great for Americanized asian food.
(5)Natalie B.
The general manager reached out to me to apologize--I love it when restaurants really do care about your business and maintaining a high level of service. He also informed me that they now offer organic milk. I love that I can feel good about what we eat here. We will definitely go back very soon.
(5)RC R.
Big Bowl just changed their menu on 10/14/14. They took away one of our favorite dishes - Seven Flavor Chicken. There is nothing similar on the menu now. I ordered the Ginger Beef Chow Fun and it had no ginger and no spice - the beef tasted bland. The carry out person was very helpful and nice though.
(2)Meredith P.
We chose to stop in to Big Bowl on a Saturday night while we were wondering around Chicago. It was very busy the night we chose to come here, but we were seated fairly quickly. I really like the concept and the variety of offerings they had. The build-your-own stir-fry was intriguing, but I opted for a standard pad thai instead. It was good but kind of bland, nothing too exciting. And (this is just a me thing) I tend to add soy sauce on my pad thai and there wasn't any at the table which I thought was strange for an asian-style restaurant. There were nice drink offerings and I really enjoyed the ginger ale they make there. Overall, it was good but I wasn't overly impressed.
(3)Jenny B.
Really one of the best Asian restaurants I've been to. There are options on the menu for almost anyone, and they support and participate in sustainability and humanely raised meats! There's even a drink menu! Food was delicious, the staff was friendly and helpful, and the modern design/atmosphere was relaxing. It is much bigger than I expected--we got there at 6:30 on a Friday and we were sat immediately.
(5)Victoria W.
We came here a while ago to have a drink and get parking validation before heading to the actual restaurant we were going to for dinner. The plan worked great. I ordered my standard orange ginger ale, which was awesome as always. But the reason I'm writing a review here is to applaud the bartender, Nemanja, who was friendly and pleasant to such a degree, I made sure to jot down his name. I don't know if he even works there anymore, but I wanted to give a shout out into the void just in case.
(4)Matthew K.
I had the thai hot pepper chicken. The ingredients were good quality but it was literally inedible. It was basically chicken drowned in lemon and cilantro. Seems like a good place but this particular dish was not to my taste.
(2)Laurie C.
Food is good, lots of selection. Unfortunately the service at this location sucks every single time I go here. Everything from having to wait for long time to get served as I watch people that got there after us get served before us, being brought the wrong food, one time we actually had some billing issues and the manager promised to send us a gift card for their mistake and never did. So if you go expect the service to suck but at least the food will be good, maybe try pick up or delivery instead.
(3)Anay A.
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(3)Jeremy C.
The bowls were fairly large... I would say they have "big bowls" :) I thought the food was good. I liked the steamed dumplings, the do it yourself stir fry, and they actually had some tasty beers on tap. The lady had some lettuce wraps. Any lettuce entertain you place.. you know the food and flavors will be there. Here is my (spicy) beef. I'm not exactly an old country buffet type of guy but... Chicago has Flat Top grill. At flat top you get the same style of create your own stir fry but... Flat top you can make the unlimited trips for seconds... Plus they have the flat bread there... oh yea.. So with that said.. This place is good. Great flavors, etc... but ... if I'm in chicago and I'm feeling DIY stir fry... Then it's Flat Top grill..
(3)S S.
Food was excellent as usual but the service was extremely bad. It is 4th of July evening and the place was expectedly packed. The waiter was impatient and rude and did not wait to answer our Qs. She would ask what we wanted and before we answered, she would leave. She repeatedly that many times and forgot about us asking for Hot sauce, water, etc. overall experience was bad and something I did not expect from Big Bowl
(1)Partha A.
Went there on a busy Friday evening. I could tell by the patrons, it had a high popularity among South Asians such as myself. The mix of spice and sweet and savory is perfect I guess and hits home nicely :). Man gripe was our food was way too salty - but it was prepared hot and was fresh. Fiery dumplings - nice and as it should be. I expected more fire but that was fine. The chicken wrapped in rice paper - chicken felt a little dry. But the dippings were okay. Penang Curry - absolutely fantasmic - smells of fenugreek and cumin with lemon and coconut. Heaven. Spicy Sichuan beef - Too salty and a little flavorless. Thai hot pepper chicken with basil and peanuts - I had it over noodles instead of rice - it was gooood. BUT once again, a tad overseasoned. Next time I go in, I should ask for lower salt content and I should be content.
(4)Lori H.
Healthy eats, mix of spicy Thai and Chinese stir fry. Full bar. 3 blocks away from Michigan ave. breezy window views.
(4)Jeremy D.
1. This is a Lettuce Entertain You joint. There is nothing wrong with that at all, but this is a corporate joint. 2. Thankfully it is NOT P.F. Changs But this IS pretty Guai-Lo cuisine though. Very good ingredients, but not particularly firery, earthy, sour... Recently had the Shrimp Pad-Thai... And just very one-noted. Pad-Thai (while become very ubiquitous and over done) is still a great dish and should be beguiling of tamarind and palm sugar... Lime and fish sauce... Chilies! The shrimp were very fresh... Butt he dish just didn't SING. It was just BORING. Even adding their Sambal Chili Sauce didn't do much for it. It's a nice enough place and the quality isn't suspect... But this isn't the best either.
(3)Zi B.
Drinks were pretty good... excellent customer service...terrible food. Orange on the Orange Chicken was not fresh. It tasted rancid. The Ginger Shrimp and Scallops with pea pods and tomatoes smelled spoiled. Not overreacting, I couldn't finish it. After many times eating there, this is the first time something like this happens. Unfortunately it was so bad that I couldn't possibly bring myself to recommend this specific location.
(2)Paul S.
Big Bowl is part of a series of chain restaurants which I had somehow managed to avoid unintentionally. When taking a date out recently, we were walking around downtown and she suggested it. I figured, why not? Here's the quick and dirty... Pros: + Our waiter knew his stuff and could easily explain the nuances of all the menu items, sauces and so forth, forgot to get his name though + They serve the food pipping hot, so it does taste fresh + Kung Pow for the win, 'nuff said Cons: - $40 for dinner for two at a place that seems like a slightly more upscale Panda Express, I'm missing the point here - My chicken dish had very little chicken on it, seriously, don't skimp In short, Big Bowl was tasty, even if they shorted on the meat given the price. Yes, it isn't high end eating, but for $20 per plate, you expect better. Perhaps I'll give one of their other locations a try, as I hear they have one in Schaumburg by the Woodfield Mall.
(3)Amy Z.
I am a HUGE fan of pan-Asian food so I'm aware that the cuisine is merely inspired by Asian dishes and may not be in any means authentic. Despite this flexibility, both Big Bowl's pad thai and lettuce wraps were, to put it as delicately as possible, cringeworthy. LETTUCE WRAPS: Never having been to Big Bowl, my friend and I wanted to try something "noteworthy." Having been labeled with the logo WOW! next to it, we decided to try. And sure enough, it was "WOW!" WOW! in that it was sloppy gunk of dark matter with mostly softened rice noodles, sauce, green onions and sliced cabbage. It's hard to make a really good lettuce wrap filling, but it is even harder to butcher it completely. You're already serving this dish in lettuce, how can you be so cheap as to not even offer a little more substance? PAD THAI: Why would you put string beans and bok choy in pad thai? What's with the excessive use of red peppers and dressing? Where'd all the peanuts go? I may not be Thai, but I like to think of pad thai as a delicate dish where the combination of ingredients are individually subtle, but combine to create a slightly tangy with a hint of savory goodness. What I had the pleasure of eating was more like sour wet noodles with a consistently very much like that of jajangmyun. So explain to me, how has this restaurant gone so long with 4 stars? Either the chef was having a bad day or the reputation of Big Bowl truly is an embarrassment in and of itself, proving that the only people the food I had would attract are those who can't cook and eat microwave dinners for a living.
(1)Pete P.
Good choice for lunch right off the Mile. We had potstickers combo, very good, I liked the funky spicy sauce in the middle best. Pad Thai Chicken, Asian Chicken Salad, Watermelon Salad, and Beef Lettuce Wraps. Everything was good, probably too Americanized as OP says. Very fresh and tasty. Watermelon Mojito, meh, no flavor at all. That and random service cost you a star. One block west just past the Harley-Davidson Shirt Shop.
(4)Nahima D.
Happy hour is awesome. Spicy peanut noodles $2.99 special is delicious. Amazing service from Katie & Peter.
(5)Hina Q.
My wife and I tried this place on a whim. We were walking around downtown and decided to go to this restaurant after looking at the menu. The restaurant has a nice ambiance and looks clean. It's located downtown Chicago near all the shopping areas so that's a plus. We were seated at the table and after a few minutes the waiter came by to take our order. Off the menu I saw that their gingerale was made in-house and fresh with fresh ginger. I decided to order that and my wife ordered the raspberry lemonade. We were surprised when our drinks came after taking the first sip. They were delicious drinks. The gingerale here is quite the popular drink and now I know why. Exquisite! The food we ordered was: veggie dumplings and teriyaki fried tofu; for main-course it was the shrimp pad thai and hot pot shrimp panang. Both of our dishes along with the appetizers were very good and fresh. We really enjoyed our dinner and drinks. For dessert we ordered the chocolate brownie with the homemade ice cream and the apple crisp with homemade whipped cream. Both of the desserts, like the main course, were delicious and freshly made. The staff is professional and very courteous. We really enjoyed our experience here and would definitely recommend this place and visit it again and again. A must try!
(4)John M.
Im not sure if I got lucky. I looked back at the website and I thought maybe I ate somewhere else. But it was here that I had a really good meal. I ate on the fringe of outside and inside. I enjoyed the walk from Rush St seeing all the crowded outdoor seating to finally arrive here and be greeted by an open table. I like the Russian waitress. We nicknamed her Natashi. She was attentive. Had nice drinks and ate "asian fusion" I dont even know what that means. I just know it was fancier than regular Chinese food and it was very tasty. Tasty food, good service, nice lseating, good company. I liked my visit.
(4)Neha A.
This was my first time in here and I liked this place a lo t. We ordered chicken lettuce wrap and chicken kung pao. Both were well made and yummy. The service is slow though. Wish they op en up one in Ann Arbor too.
(4)Shradha A.
Another great stirfry experience and I just want to add (for myself too) that their Pad Thai is not and can't be vegetarian (fish sauce). The vegetable potstickers are good but the Kung Pao stirfry with noodles is my rockstar item! Their homemade gingerale is not too sweet and a nice complement to the spicy sauce!
(4)Jana M.
Great service, food came promptly. Lively spot. Quality food- would go again without hesitation. The white pomegranate sangria was amazing! Beef lettuce wraps were also outstanding!
(4)Odranre B.
This is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant. I occasionally eat here to earn points. Food is OK. Nothing spectacular. Located just west of Michigan Ave on Ontario. Friendly staff
(3)Van T.
another faux Asian establishment...the entrees are mostly rice, and not the good kind of rice either. blech!
(2)Crystal Z.
I had the most amazing beef lettuce wraps EVER at this place. Seriously, so good. I wasn't too impressed with the wonton soup, but it would've been hard for anything to measure up against just how good the beef lettuce wraps were. The peanut sauce that came with it was out of this world. I also got one of their cocktails made with the fresh ginger ale. It was refreshing and delicious. Service was also good and food came quickly. I will definitely be going back.
(5)Jeanean M.
This was a lovely surprise. Food was good, service was good. I enjoyed it. The best thing is if you can't find your taste on the menu you can go create your own. Big plus!
(4)Lizzie R.
This place was average. Came here for a casual dinner with a friend and the food was good, not mind-blowing. I had the pad thai which is one of my favorite dishes wherever I go and it was just okay. My friend asked for whatever tea they had that night and he asked for it to be sweetened. Got it and it was the most sour tea we'd ever had. Then I had run out of water. This was the only beverage I had asked for, so I asked two waitresses for a refill because mine was nowhere to be found. They send a bus boy who is cleaning off other tables to fill my water. He takes my glass and comes back with a glass of not warm but hot water! I quickly asked him to take it back and get me some ice water. I guess I need to specify that I will be drinking the water when they bring it out, rather than waiting for it to cool. At one point during the night, something had spilled on the table and I had to use my napkin to wipe it up because, you guessed it, no waitresses to be found. Another bus boy is near and I ask him for another napkin because mine had been used to clean up the table mess. He then hands me two little cocktail napkins. I was floored. The location is great, the place is nice looking, but for the food and service, I would say you're better off somewhere else! I may come back here again hoping it was just a one time bad experience but from my first, I was not happy.
(3)Paul E.
The meal was great, the drinks were good, and our server Chris kicked ass. They gave us really good tasters to try since it was our first time too!
(5)Evan K.
I came here for dinner one night with a friend, and I really enjoyed it. They basically let us pick our own table when they seated us, and the service was good. I decided that I wanted to try their in house ginger ale, and I really enjoyed it. It had a nice fresh taste and was a crisp refreshing drink. I ordered chicken pad thai, and it was satisfying. I haven't had a lot of thai food before, but out of the chicken pad thai that I've had in my time, I enjoyed this one probably the most. I liked the setting, and I enjoyed the idea of being able to have thai or chinese or both if I wanted it. I would like to go again sometime when I get a chance.
(4)Lisa L.
Neat place where you can pick out all your own personal favorite vegetables, sauce, meats, etc. Service fast and very good. Good for kids. Kind of loud but fun place.
(4)Stina T.
I was extremely sad when one of my favorite LEYE restaurants, Ben Pao, closed a few years ago. However, I am tickled pink that Big Bowl has infused their menu with a few of Ben Pao's most popular menu items (e.g., sesame chicken, cherry bomb shrimp, and the chicken and peanut egg roll). What I love about Big Bowl is their vast menu - there's something that truly can please everyone, including those with dietary restrictions/preferences. Additionally, I really like Big Bowl's dedication to using fresh ingredients in their dishes and that so many of their ingredients come from local farms. It's truly one of those restaurants you can eat at and feel satiated after you eat, but not sickeningly full. The portions are large enough so you can split them or just have left overs. I like their dessert menu because the serving size is "just right". Some of my favorite menu items include their hot and sour soup, sesame chicken, and shrimp summer rolls. The decor at Big Bowl is trendy and fresh, but still comfortable enough for diners of all ages. The service has always been hit-or-miss (sometimes attentive enough, other times not attentive enough), but I can't say I have any specific horror stories about bad service. Not feeling like dining out tonight? You can opt for pick up or delivery. Big Bowl offers delivery from Diningin.com ! I don't know about you, but a big bowl of hot and sour soup when I have a cold or am feeling under the weather is one of the most soothing things possible! The perk? Most of the times I've ordered Big Bowl from Dining In, the delivery fee is waived!
(4)Jeremy A.
In downtown Chicago there's not many choices for Chinese food but nursing a hangover I knew I needed to get some noodles somewhere. We went in there for lunch and this place was absolutely slam packed. Its a pricey spot but its par for the course in downtown Chicago. Read this closely, unless you are a vegetarian you absolutely HAVE to try the spicy Szechuan pork belly noodles dish. I thought it was a bit weird when I ordered it but holy crap this was one of the tastiest Chinese dishes I have ever had in my life! They have a build your own bowl option as well so you can pretty much choose your destiny at this place.
(4)Sky T.
Great place. Good food done right. We had dishes that tasted different from what we were used to. They tasted better than we were used to. The Sichuan green beans are over the top.
(5)Diana M.
I was, for a while, a big bowl regular. Living only a few streets away, I was even going here up to 2-3 times a week. PROS: *Most of the food is solid. You could really pick anything on the menu and be satisfied. * The specials are always great, but I have my favorites: gyoza, spring/eggroll appetizer, yellow curry with pad thai noodles and pomegranate giner ale. After dining there so frequently, the servers new that we always order our 'usual'. * Servers are always very friendly. The place is always busy and you can tell the staff works hard. CONS: * Restaurant can be loud and most annoyingly, the hostesses are almost always snobby and not very friendly. They consistently make me question their continued employment and instantly trample on any excitement I had to be there. *A bit pricey for what it is. I never leave upset not satisfied with my food, but it's not unique. For a chain, I would have liked to have seen lower prices. Ultimately, this is why I stopped going as frequently. I havent dined there in months. * the seven flavor beef is inconsistent. When it's done well, it's delicious, but many times, it's been dry
(3)Maya G.
Pai Wai with a new name. I actually looked it up to see if they were the same owners because it is pretty much identical. I had the teriyaki bowl where you can fill up your own veggies. Tip: Fill up a ton of veggies to get a nice chicken/veggie proportion. Overall- not bad for really unhealthy, moderately tasty and completely nonauthentic asian food.
(3)Dean O.
OK...I was just in Chicago on business and admit that I was drawn to the hustle-bustle of this place from peering in through the windows (not knowing it was a chain until I stepped inside). The truth is that it's neither a 1-star nor 4/5-star place...its a solid 2.5 stars, right in the middle. Completely average by all accounts. As such, most of the reviews here are valid and believable. Service will always vary based on luck of the draw. I happened to sit at the bar (being solo) and my server/bar maid was delightful...so no complaints there. The allure is really in the styling of the place (how exotic that we've suddenly landed in Shanghai!) as well as the energy it exudes...not the food. The food isn't dreadful as long as you set your expectations correctly. Just imagine that you've purchased a microwave dinner that you don't completely hate, nor does it really satisfy. Also, it somehow looks closer to the picture on the front of the box than micro-dinners do in reality, but it costs $15 instead of $3.75. If you get your mind straight on that, you'll be fine. On the plus side, you will have left-overs for lunch tomorrow and if you are with people you don't really enjoy, service is fast so you'll be in, out and on your way.
(2)Eugene V.
Stopped by with the family after a day at the museums. Originally seated in dining room, however, waiter accommodated request to move to bar area corner table so we could order from happy hour menu (til 6pm). chicken satay, pork dumplings, lettuce wrap were satisfying. Best item was BBQ pork ribs. Bbq pork fried rice had decent flavor, portion size was on the smaller side. Service was excellent - very friendly and attentive!
(4)Samantha E.
Came with a group of friends and it was A-OK (as the three stars indicate). There is actually a pretty hefty discount for Northwestern students so it makes it even more reasonably priced. My spicy food was not all that spicy, but what can you do. The flavor was good and the house ginger ale was on point.
(3)steve l.
Good atmosphere, but the food is really, really bland. Pad Thai has no flavor. The spicy Thai shrimp had less heat and less flavor than the beef and broccoli. Sickening sweet as well. Shrimp wraps were soggy and bland. What happened to what used to be a solid choice? Oh well...
(1)Tom F.
Chain pan-Asian - nothing special. Pretty greasy pad thai, average pho, fair teryaki ribs. Highlight was freshly made Ginger ale. Very good service - noisy so good for kids.
(2)Genevieve S.
Spicy is spicy. Pretty good but nothing amazing.
(3)Albert W.
People who are not chinese are going to like this place. It's like PF Changs. As for me, I really think there are other places that more interesting to go eat at like Purple Pig and all the other great food places in the general area. Come here if you want american asian food in a nice setting.
(3)Channa P.
Went here for dinner. Got the very spicy, but delicious pepper chicken. It had a tangy flavor because it was seasoned with lemon juice. That lemon taste was a happy relief from the heat of the spices, and really works quite well with the rest of the dish. I had a heaping portion and after eating my weight had enough to box. Try it out. It's cheap, good, and decently authentic.
(4)Grace N.
Generic, unauthentic, americanized asian food....but their decor is really pretty. Tables are pretty close to each other so often it makes it difficult for people to walk through. Pad thai w/chicken-missing the peanutty flavor that pad thai is supposed to have and had a really strong taste of lime already in it. What's the lime on the side supposed to be for then? Fried rice w/beef-vegetables and beef were cooked perfectly. veggies were crunchy, meat was tender, but finishing the last bit of my plate was tough. The rice was drenched in sauce which made it really unappetizing I only dined here because I was visiting from out of state and it was too late at night to travel to any other area outside of what was near my hotel. Customer service and dishes were cooked very well, but taste is just too americanized like "panda express"
(2)Manan M.
Just finished dinner - the food was absolutely unpalatable-we ordered chefs choice vegetables with green curry ..absolutely horrible,no salt -extremely spicy as well ..it was almost as if the chef gave us the food in spite ..Been a regular here for years, but surely never coming back .
(1)Stefania L.
My husband and I went to big bowl several time this winter....we were very happy because the food was very good and the vegetables was very fresh. My husband loves the hot granbeans that are very very spicy.
(4)Lex M.
And now for the best part - we gave our wait person two credit cards and told her to put 1/2 the bill on one card and 1/2 the bill on the other card. Well, she ran two cards, but she ran the same card TWICE! This was just the end of a terrible experience!
(2)Dina G.
Exactly what the name says: BIG BOWL. But my favourite bit; the big screen TVs mounted on the walls of the bar playing live NHL sport. Truth is I got so caught up in the black hawks game I forgot what I ordered or even when. Though we sat in the restaurant half- The screens were perfectly visible. Besides I wasnt the only hockey zombie there. There were more of us. One of us. One of us. Though I distinctively remember the waiters arrogance when he heard our accents. I made it my point to highlight the fact Ill be reviewing my experience here- suddenly like a leprechaun off a lucky charms cereal box, he turned into rainbows and marshmallows.....how convenient right? Now its up to the company who they chose to represent them, but I cannot doubt their taste and presentation of the food. Simply superb.
(4)Mikee R.
Not sure why I didn't review this last year. We decided tonight that we won't be going back. The food is just OK. It tastes just bland for this kind of place, I would expect the food to just POP and be flavorful and fresh tasting. The service was just BAD! We had to ask for lemon for the water three times. Our server just didn't seem to care. Oh well. Their loss.
(2)Keith C.
The steamed dumplings were good. The dumplings were cooked so that they were not soggy at all when brought out. I really like the sauce that they use for it. It's not exactly soy sauce but it's kind of similar. Maybe soy sauce with something else added but it really complemented the dumplings. Chicken pad thai was also good. Not fantastic but it did satisfy my thai food craving.
(3)Peanut Q.
The worst food i have ever had in Chicago. Ordered from this place via grab hub.. The food came 20 minutes late than expected and semi cold. Small potion for the price .. Tastes so awful. It is not authentic asian food, not authentic american asian food either.
(1)Rashmi P.
At times I feel walking into a restaurant without any preconceived notion is the way to experience the true value of it. All I knew about Big Bowl, was based on my Twitter communications with #spicychat and that they support sustainable local produce and enjoy well-seasoned food creations. Big Bowl is one of #SpicyChat's loyal foodie supporters. Needless to say, on my recent trip to Chi-Town I had to stop by and say hello. Co incidentally, I was in Chicago to attend the #IGC12 Independent Garden Center Show (world's largest trade show and conference for independent garden center owners, managers and buyers). It seemed befitting to pay a visit to a restaurant which not only supports foodies and serves locally grown produce, but have gotten more involved with their Seed to Table innovative approach by contracting with farmers to grow sustainable/organic crops. Crops that are grown from heirloom seeds, selected by Big Bowl, and cultivated on the farm with the help of the restaurant staff. Now they are serving more than 700 lbs each week to four of their Chicago Locations. I walked into a vibrant & modern restaurant proudly showcasing an open kitchen with fresh local seasonal produce bar. Over the course of my lunch I couldn't help notice how completely packed the restaurant got. Conveniently located on E Ohio Street, it is walking distance from Magnificent Mile, drawing clientele from both tourists and Chi Town residents. A quick glance over the menu displayed a familiar menu serving classic regional Chinese and Thai specialties. There was a 'Group Share' menu, Big Bowl menu and the Classic al carte dining. Oh I wish my boys were with me. After all how much can a girl eat? The Summer Harvest Celebration menu grabbed my attention. Each time you order from their specials, Big Bowl and Free bird donate $1 to growing homes. After all charity begins at home, so I ordered the spicy Sichuan eggplant. Locally grown eggplant, freebird chicken, sungold tomatoes dressed in a spicy Sichuan sauce - yes, it was indeed 'spicy' and I couldn't get enough of it. Hands down, one of the better eggplants I have tasted outside of China. I was told by our pleasant server that their 'ginger-ale' is homemade and it is the signature drink. Not being a ginger ale fan, I politely refused and enjoyed my refreshing and cool cocktail; a nice compliment to my spicy meal. Of course personally for me Cold Sesames Noodle is reminiscent of good old times in NYC, so I couldn't help ordering a bowl. Cold noodles lightly dressed in an addictive peanut sauce, garnished with cucumber julienne; yes it was light and refreshing. Though, I didn't quite grasp the lying down bowl concept in the presentation. A meal at Big Bowl is incomplete without their signature 'From our Farm to your Table' stir fry bar. What a fun and interactive way to enjoy your meal. Now, stir fry has been around for donkey years, what makes Big Bowl special? Allow me to elaborate. Fresh local produce, protein from small family farms, curries made from scratch, freshly toasted spices and all, authentically prepared capture the essence of flavors signature to Big Bowl. Need I say anymore? My signature Big Bowl: chicken, greens from the bar, panang curry, and jasmine rice. The flavor was lighter than any Thai curry I have been exposed too. While I was just pondering that, with great pride the sweet server informed me the curries are all made in-house from scratch starting from roasting the chilies. There is not a more comforting dish for me than the aroma of kaffir leaf infusing the chicken and perfectly cooked jasmine rice. Even though I was dining alone (indeed a rarity for me), I had a wonderful time. Between the vibrant energy of the restaurant and the friendly staff, I felt at home. Big Bowl manages to re-create authentic flavors producing bold and bright flavors with fresh produce, herbs, and clean flavors. So all you people hooked on heat and complex yet comforting flavors of Thai & Chinese cuisine has to offer, Big Bowl is one restaurant I am pleased to endorse is worth the trek, regardless of which suburb of Chicago you reside in.
(4)Kevin A.
LETTUCE UNDERWHELM YOU Meh. Ultra-sanitized, Americanized, under-seasoned Chinese/Thai fare from the Lettuce Entertain You empire. I appreciate that the ingredients are fresh and that they are trying to do this PF Chang's fresh Chinese thing. Unfortunately at the end of the day the food just didn't impress. The orange peel chicken, while containing actual orange peels, didn't have any depth of flavor. Ditto on the Mongolian beef, or should I say the Mongolian onion as it was kind of lacking in the meat department. Also, beware the men's room as it's a concussion waiting to happen. The sink is right next to the door which despite a sign on the outside asking people to open it slowly, comes flying open at light speed.
(3)Sarah B.
Just okay. I stopped in for lunch while running some errands. My server, Robert, was very nice. He suggested a few items and pointed out things on the menu. I also was offered a free appetizer since it was my first time in. Yay free stufff. I ordered the Chicken Pad Thai. Keeping in mind that if I wanted really great Pad Thai I should have gone to a more authentic restaurant, this was just meh. The noodles were almost kind of crispy..not good, the chicken was kinda gross, but overall, it was edible. Decent flavor. I dont know that this is somewhere I would go again but it wasnt horrible.
(3)James K.
A great dinner at a good price.
(5)caroline k.
PF Changs meets TGIF. Came for take out on a weekday night and it took forever. Ordered the hot and sour soup (not your typical/authentic in taste), sweet ginger scallops and shrimp entree (overly sweet and a bit 'fishy/seafood-y' in tste), and chicken and vegetable dumplings (5 little dumplings for $6 - not worth it). The ambiance is, as expected, lively and very themed (including a gi-normous white chinese take out box hanging overhead to the right of the entrance) - fun, but not necessarily worth it for the food.
(2)M. D.
I love Thia food so much and Big Bowl Pad Thia is amazing. The Asian Chicken salad is to die for. They have the BEST pot-stickers...SO Yummy!
(5)John L.
Boys & girls, it's time for a Haiku for Big Bowel (yes, I said "bowel"). Read it aloud in your best Arnold Schwartznegger voice: You concoct bland food. Why do you make us throw up? I shall not be back.
(1)Bob V.
This place is excellent. Eat here every time we are in Chicago. Prices are real reasonable too.
(5)Dorothy S.
How could one not love a place called Big Bowl with a ginormous red bowl and chop sticks sitting atop the entry way? I think I'm just in awe because we don't have this type of place in San Francisco and I'm giving this place a bunch of stars because when you have amazing company dining with you, the experience is all the better. Seriously, the pad thai was interesting because it really tasted as if there was kim chee in it, which I'm not really accustomed to but it tasted good enough. I think what I love most about BB was sitting in an open air spot where you could people watch and smell the fresh air from the outside. Fortunately, the horse and carriages didn't pass in front of the restaurant while we were dining there. Overall, nice place to eat but you need a token for the restroom, that's downstairs.
(4)Taylor G.
I'm not sure what to say about Big Bowl other than "meh". I went in for lunch and had my old stand-by: Panang Curry. Prices are a bit higher than I would have liked to pay (~$15 after tax and tip for the dish alone). The portions were quite considerable, but I would have much preferred a lower price in exchange for less food, rather than Americanized portions. Aside from that , I didn't find the curry inspiring at all. I requested extra heat, and got it, but it all fell on the tip of my tongue, rather than engulfing my whole mouth in flames - I would have preferred the latter. On the whole, it was very standard, though the chicken was very juicy. The rice was bland and heaped on the same plate as the curry, ensuring it turned into a large soupy mess. I would give Big Bowl one more chance. The food was just okay, but the prices don't reflect that fact. For $15, I want to be wowed and amazed. Big Bowl? I'll pass.
(2)Jenny z.
Starving? If so, you might be able to actually eat something here and still be able to look at yourself in the mirror. Otherwise, stay away. It's in close contention with Penny's and Joy Yee's for most embarrassing and pathetic excuse for an Asian restaurant in Chicago. Ick.
(1)M. P.
Best food ever!!!! Now this has a been a long overdue - like 10 years:-) That's how long me and my family, and our friends have been going to this place and have been loving it! We have had birthdays, special occasions, anniversaries and so many memories here! The service is decent but I dont really care as the food is phenomenal!!! We are big bowl food addicts! My husband has been eating Orange Peel Chicken for the last 10 years :-) I love the Schezwan Cashew Shrimp . I also try their stir fry bar several times. Also since I love Schezwan Sauce but it is not on the Stir Fry menu, I ask them to make it with it and they happily do it! My mom had green curry last time and loved it as well. Overall an amazing place that we love the most! If you are a regualr at this place and other of lettuce restaurants you must get their leye card (free customer loyalty card) and rake up lotsa dollars!!! Love it!
(5)roderick h.
Always good food... lunch specials are always pretty good and the food is very fresh! I usually get the teriyaki chicken (i think) and its always soooo sooo good... which is why I havent tried much else :)!
(4)Jennifer G.
I love Big Bowl. Their hot and sour soup is to die for. Skip the make your own stir fry deal and go for their pad thai or chinese dishes. They are much better. My husband had the Szechuan Beef and spent the whole meal with tears streaming and a runny nose - if you love heat - try the Szechuan Beef. Their Pad Thai could go up against any Thai restaurant. I love this location for somewhat easier parking as well as Puma across the street. I would visit the other location if I am in the mood for ESPN Zone.
(4)Thongsy S.
I can not vouch for their regular dinner menu. I came here for the Fortune Hour event and they were passing around appetizers. They had these lettuce wraps and fruits on sticks. It was just okay. I usually LOVE free food but this time around, I was only able to eat 2 pieces of the lettuce wraps. The atmosphere is okay and the service seemed good. But considering I haven't tried their stir-fry, I will have to go back and give it a try.
(2)Maria S.
This review is definately influenced by the fact that my kids love this place with a capital LOVE. First why the kids love this place: - rubber bandy chopsticks to practice eating with - a "mad libs" type fill in-the-blank thingy on the kids menu - that has them in stitches every single time. We do it over and over and over. They just can't get enough. - fancy "red dragon" drinks (shirley temple) - a good selection on the kids' menu - it's right around the corner from the Lego store And why I like this place - I think the food is pretty tasty. I've tried several curries and they are yummy and have some kick. The lettuce leaf wrap appetizer is great. - The kids love it and will behave all day if we are going there. And then they behave in the restaurant because they are busy cracking themselves up over the mad libs thing. So there you go.
(4)Matt G.
In the pseudo words of Jeff from Curb Your Enthusiasm "This is a Big Bowl of RIGHT!" I really enjoy this place. It is one of the few restaurants near Michigan Avenue that doesn't seem to be over crowded all the time. The portions are very generous and the prices are not awful. It is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant so I've used gift cards here, but it's also not one of those Lettuce Entertain You places that I will only go to if I have a gift card. I recommend the build your own stir fry, it's a good deal and you'll always have enough for lunch the next day. The potstickers and chicken eggrolls are also quite good! Perfect if you're going to catch a movie at 600 N. Michigan!
(4)Kristina K.
Let's start with the food: ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! I always do the build your own stir fry. I stick to the all natural chicken, teriyaki, and egg noodles. You get to fill your own bowl with vegetables of your choice at a salad bar type thing. I've also tried the sesame chicken (I do not recommend it) and the beef...which is also quite delicious...I'm just more of a chicken person. The whole ambiance of the place is really cool too. Very modern but still a semi-oriental feel. Lots of TVs, and they are always playing the sports game. Normally, I go to the Big Bowl in Gold Coast, but I've tried the downtown one several times...I usually have Renee...and he is a great server! He is always very careful with my severe shellfish allergy. I'm finally writing a review about this place because last night I had an exceptional experience. My sister and her boyfriend were visiting from WV, so I took them there. Our server, Julie P, was absolutely great! She was so friendly, and by the time our meal was over I felt like we'd known her for years. She was very personable without being unprofessional. I feel like she just really went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time, and I hope that she sees this message. While I've always enjoyed my visits to Big Bowl, Julie made this experience especially fun! So, thanks Julie for an excellent experience! I have nothing bad to say about this restaurant...it is just absolutely delicious.
(5)Laura K.
Had my first experience at Big Bowl today, and it was a big disappointment. I've never been to this place before, but the name, branding, and outside décor speak "casual diner" to me. I walk in there shocked to find a dim-lighted sit down restaurant! It probably would have been better if I looked at their website for carry-out ordering, but I figured since I was there already and had such a small request, it wouldn't be a big deal... I ordered the chicken dumpling soup (small), and fresh ginger ale. I never eat a heavy lunch and wanted to use my last LEYE scratch off so there was no turning back now. So I wait....and wait....and, what the heck is going on? How long does it take to whip up a bowl of soup and ginger ale?! Finally the woman at the carry out counter comes back with a brown box and salad and she says, "potstickers and salad". And I'm like, "no I ordered the soup and ginger ale". OH!.....??? Just an uh oh look and walks away, and FIVE minutes later she comes back with my correct order. Seriously, I could have been out of there in FIVE minutes instead of 18!!!! At this point I am very upset and just wanted to get out of there, but instead of directly apologizing and admitting the mistake, she kept asking if I needed utensils, cookie, blah blah. Just put the damn cookie in the bag as an apology, don't ask me! I hinted that I was already late for work - thanks by the way, so I grabbed my order and got out of there. The soup and ginger ale were pretty good, but unfortunately I don't feel like going back to try their other food or dine-in service. Oh well, plenty of other Asian food in the area.
(2)Victoria A.
Three strikes and you're out. This place has become a 'used to be good' restaurant. Three years ago, everything from the drinks to the dessert were excellent, now I'm left with watery sauces and hair in my food. The last meal I had there was the shrimp with basil and lemon---truly awful; it tasted like fish water and herbs. I have no idea if they have a new chef or new management, but all three items I have ordered in the last year during friends' events have been bland and poorly prepared. The decor is nice and the staff is pleasant, but the food is underwhelming at best.
(2)D S.
Actually, it's probably more like three and a half stars, to be fair. I went here for lunch. My dish was pretty good (a crunchy, spicy shrimp dish, as I recall), but doesn't stand out in my memory. It was nice. The other member of my party had the salmon pad thai, which sounds intriguing enough on the menu, but in reality it's a complete disaster. The sum of adding salmon to traditional pad thai is simply fishy, malodorous noodles. We were there towards the end of the lunch hour rush, so the wait staff was busy, understandably. However, after our lunch was served, the waiter didn't have a chance to ask if everything was okay until he cleared our plates. At this point, we pointed out the acridity pad thai, and, to Big Bowl's credit, he removed the dish from our bill. BB has a comfortable atmosphere and is conveniently located. The fresh ginger ale, which comes in a variety of clever flavors, was brilliant. Therefore, I doubt our experience there was typical, though it's probably best to stick with the basics. Lesson learned.
(3)Stephanie K.
What can I say? It's another Lettuce Entertain You place. Does anyone else feel like they're all kind of the same? That being said, the one exceptional thing on the menu at Big Bowl is the homemade ginger ales. They're fantastic. Other than that, I'd steer clear of the make-your-own stir fries and stick to their 'pretty good' appetizers. Some reco's include: Beef Lettuce Wraps, Potstickers, and Chicken Satay Skewers.
(3)Jason P.
Very PF Chang-esq. I really enjoy the food here, but it seems like it's too comprable to PF Chang. The only thing PF does not have of course..is the stir-fry! This allows you to go up "mongolian bbq" style to make your own selections. The chef will help you pick out what you think you would like and create a great combination. The dinner options are also pretty good. They advertise "spicy" choices but i've never been thrilled as i've always had to have them go back and add to my dish to make it more hot.
(3)Jahi J.
One of my favorite spots. I usually do the stir fry bowl with the salmon and I am always satisfied. I probably go here more than any other place for the thai herb calamari alone. When I am downtown I stop in and go to the bar just for an order of calamari and a pomegranate ginger ale-- I hate them because I drink them like shots and be wanting more. Other menu items are good too but I usually go with my regular dish here. Prices are pretty decent too, most menu items are 10-15, but don't skip out on the calamari. I've gone here several times on dates and I never paid more than 60 or so.
(4)David N.
Definitely, not my favorite Chinese/Thai place to dine at. The food is just OK, very bland and not a whole lot of flavor. I ordered a spicy, tofu green curry vegetable dish with Jasmine rice. I asked if they could make it extra spicy, i love flavor and spice in my food, especially when it comes to Thai. I was mildly disappointed though, when I tried it and it was not that flavorful or spicy. There are other Thai restaurants I have gone to that are a lot better and have a lot more flavor to their foods. I guess this place is OK, if you are a tourist and are already down in the city, but I will stick to going to some of my favorite Thai restaurants in lake view and other neighborhood areas.
(2)Noah B.
I'm not sure how you can ruin chicken pad thai, but they did. I've tried it twice, just in case my taste buds were being extra snobbish, but I was gravely disappointed both times.
(2)Lim K.
It is hard to find a good Chinese food around downtown Chicago. The first time I was walking by Big Bowl i was not sure if i wanted to eat there. But after trying a few dishes I became very fond of this restaurant. My favorite dish was the spicy Sichuan green beans. The chicken pot stickers were good, however i would like it to be a little more crispy on the outside. The BBQ pork fried rice; the sliced pork on a bed of rice with bbq sauce on top. The pork was tender and was very tasty but the rice did not have much flavor. Overall, it was very good and the great service.
(4)Teresa M.
I love this place! Yes I know it is technically a chain restaurant but it is so good. On our trip to Chicago, the girls were looking through an activities book in the hotel room. One of them says "Hey this place looks good", so we put it on the list of things to do the next day. So we arrive for a late lunch after an afternoon on North Ave Beach, and boy are we hungry, hungry, HUNGRY! The ambiance is great. Red, black and bamboo with a mix of new music and old school classics playing in the background, not so loud as to be distracting though. The hostess seats us immediately. Our witty, attentive and very knowledgeable waiter asks "Have you ever dined with us before?" Response, "Nope we are Big Bowl newbies." He recommends trying one of their fresh (made on-site) flavored ginger ales. We each tried a different flavor (you should too) and we loved them all. After bringing our yummy ginger ales and giving us time to peruse the menu, he goes over it with us and recommends his favorite dishes. On to the food: Appetizers: *Chicken Potstickers - They were very good and the 3 dipping sauces were excellent. Our waiter also brought a small bowl of Big Bowl's special chili to same. Woo kicked up some heat but was 'OH SO GOOD!' *As we are finishing our first appetizer the manager comes over with another "Thanks for trying us" appetizer that was delicious and free of charge. Can't quite remember what they called it but it was chicken and portabella mushrooms in a teriyaki sauce served on a whole fried wonton. Main dishes: *Chicken Pad Thai- Acceptable Pad Thai, nothing to really WOOT WOOT about though. *Teriyaki fried Chicken - Very good fried rice dish, veggies and chicken. *Panang Curry Chicken - This was the piece de resistance (maybe I should try to find a Chinese or Thai term that expresses the correct sentiment...nah). Chicken and rice in a light peanut-coconut curry sauce with snow peas and green beans. If you can't find something on the menu that makes your taste buds salivate, Big Bowl also offers a do-it-yourself stir-fry bar. Complete with meats, seafood, veggies and spices. Big Bowl has several locations in the Chicago area as well as Minnesota and Virginia. I am hoping to get one in the Metro Detroit area soon. We liked Big Bowl so much that we planned to stop at the location in Schaumburg, IL on our way home from Wisconsin. 7/22/2012 We visited this wonderful place again this year on our yearly pilgrimage to Wisconsin and again they did not disappoint. My brother who had not had the privilege of eating here before says "Wow. The food is all fresh. This is the best restaurant I have eaten at in a long time."Yep that about says it all. The calamari was phenomenal, the potstickers fantastic. One word of advice, watch out for the wasabi infused mustard. It packs quite a kick. Oh and the deserts: try the lemon cake. Yes when you read the descriptions it won't even register as something interesting. We tried 4 different deserts (there were 4 of us- don't judge us) lol. The lemon cake was by far our favorite. If you like PF Changs, the Big Bowl will ruin it for you. When in Chicago, The Big Bowl is a must do for me!
(5)Deanna R.
A girlfriend and I stopped in for a bite to eat. The food was delicious and our sever was very timely and attentive. At the end we decided to try the apple crisp. They were out...no big deal...however our sever offered us another desert on the house. The manager also stopped by to apologize and instead of one desert he brought us a sampler of all their delicious treats. I thought it was a very nice gesture and was worth sharing with others.
(5)Christina S.
The wait was long, but the pomegranate ginger ale was cold. The food was definitely of the Americanized chain variety, but it was tasty, and the service was high-calibur. In short, I certainly wouldn't mind dining here again but with so many other places on my To Eat list, I may not make it back. UPDATE: I ate here again, when another friend suggested it. Same deal as before. I think it's safe to say that I won't ever argue someone out of eating here, but I'll never be the girl who suggests Big Bowl when we're dreaming up a night out.
(3)Biff Y.
I like this place a lot for a "non-authentic Asian" restaurant. I particularly like the sweet ginger shrimp & scallop and the calamari appetizer. I take this place over PF Chang's any day. But I guess that might not be saying much.
(4)Amy L.
Who doesn't love a big bowl on top of a restaurant? What a crowd pleaser! Although, i gotta say, Webber Grill Restaurant oddly looks the same as big bowl. They're both got big red round dishes on the side of the building. I wonder if they copied one another. I recently went to Big Bowl on a whim because me and my boyfriend found out Bamboo Garden was closing at 10 and since it was close to that time, we decided to come here. Good Choice. Since it is a franchised restaurant i would think everything would taste like all the same dishes we ever ate. But safely to say, this asian fusion restaurant was a bit different. I ordered the spicy sichuan beef. And man was this super spicy. Those fire breathing head indicators weren't lying about it being hot. I think it was too hot even for me. And i do like hot. But not to the point where i can't really taste the food anymore. It was good nonetheless, even though i had to blow my nose a couple of times(My nose runs when i eat super spicy foods). But here was the highlight of big bowl: my boyfriends dish. "sweet ginger sea scallops and shrimp". Simply to die for!....One of Big Bowl's signature dishes. I kept eating his dish i almost forgot that i had to eat mine. The scallops were excellent and with the sauce, it was heavenly. Perfect balance of savory and sweet. I am totally getting that next time. The only bad thing i noticed was the portions of the meals, it was a bit on the small side and might not please the people who are looking for leftovers the next morning. Initially, i though it would be more food, but hey, i never finish my food anyways so it was a perfect portion for me. I will also add that, ginger is really incorporated into every aspect of this restaurant; from the drinks to the food, to the desserts. I wonder why they didn't call it GINGER? But if you do go, please get the Orange Ginger Ale... I heard it was really good. I got the Passion Fruit Ginger Ale and it was ok. Next time it will be Orange.
(4)Charles B.
Great place, great service, great food, and great prices. Been going here for two years now and never had Amy major problems. It's not authentic Asian food too. But that doesn't mean its bad. Still great.
(5)Evann G.
Okay, maybe I should not be surprised that I didn't love Big Bowl, considering it is just another franchise Asian restaurant. Call me silly, though, but I really wanted to love this place. Probably because of my affinity for Asian food in general, and even certain other franchise Asian restaurants that I have been known to love in spite of myself. I wanted to love Big Bowl so much that I tried it twice before writing this review. But ultimately, although I thought it was okay, I didn't love it. The first time I went, we shared the pad thai and one of the curry dishes. Both of them were forgettable and would obviously have been better at a Thai place. I did think the bao appetizer was pretty good, though, and the hibiscus iced tea was refreshing and tasty. The second time, I tried the stir-fry. Again, it was pretty forgettable, although better than the Thai food we had tried the time before. I appreciated the "Mongolian BBQ"-style of picking your own mix-ins, but I've had much, much better. And if you want a meat, they just add it on top of the stir-fry rather than mixing it in. I had the sesame chicken, which was good, but I would have rather had it mixed in. My bf had the kung pao chicken, which was sort of ridiculously, over-the-top spicy. I admit I'm a wuss when it comes to spiciness, but even he thought it was a bit much. We also tried the homemade ginger ale, and I would NOT recommend it unless you really LOVE ginger. Lots of ginger. So much ginger that the drink itself was spicy. We couldn't finish it, I had to order another hibiscus iced tea instead. The bao was still good, though, and this time I also tried the dumpling noodle soup, which I LOVED. I was sick, and the soup and the bao made me feel a lot better! Other than that, though, I wouldn't say it's worth the super long wait that we had to endure to be seated.
(3)lola d.
Big bowl to me was like kissing a boy while wearing beer goggles. At first it feels damn good, then later you go home feeling more busted and jacked up then when you first left the house! Well, this was my experience with big bowl. I tried this place for the first time after hearing from so many people that this place was the big cheese. No lovely cheese here! The curry was bland, the pad thai noodles tasted like they were cooked in some sort of chicken broth, and the pot stickers were slimy and tasteless. the result: I went home feeling all busted from spending the last of my money on big bowl :(
(2)tom C.
Its ok, but poor service pretty consistently. The food is okay. Jst get a soft drink the house made drinks blow they are swill....the cocktails are also pretty weak but are served in a pretty glass...if thats what ur looking for.
(2)Luis L.
No, the ambience isn't particularly great, nor is the food particularly amazing in any way, but it's pretty darn good. I wouldn't eat here if it wasn't. I usually get the Kung Pao because I love the taste of the blackened chilies, with a thing of ginger garlic sauce on the side, which I request extra. Things are usually not spicy enough for me, so I always add some of that lovely chile paste they have at each table. I think that what I like most about Big Bowl is that the menus are well written, and any question you might have about the ingredients in the dishes can be answered by well spoken, polite servers. Try getting that in Chinatown. "Excuse me, what kind of sauce does this dish have?" "Brown sauce!" "Uh... what's brown sauce?" "Is a asian brown sauce!" Mmmmhmmm... yeah. Brown sauce. I'll pay more for polite, clear speaking servers any day.
(4)lauren F.
Great Place. I had a homemade ginger ale with splash of pomegranate and some Effen Vodka, very well balanced drink.We ordered the Barbecue pork Bao, little buns with flavorful filling, and they were 2 for 2.95, great deal and recommended. I had the Pad Thai and it was everything I expected and more! Large portions so no room for dessert :( Also, homemade noodles in some of the dishes, and all the veggies were fresh and perfectly cooked. Nice Value.
(4)caroline e.
Stopped in here last night with some friends before a movie. It was fast (but not rushed), convenient to the theatre at 600 N. Michigan, inexpensive and the food was really pretty good. I think the best thing we tried was the Orange Chicken, but the Kung Pao Chicken with Noodles was a close second. They had $2 Tiger beer on Wednesday night. I'd never heard of the brand before, but it was pretty good. And you can't beat the price! When the manager heard it was our first time there, he even brought over a little complimentary appetizer to welcome us. Frankly I was plesently surprised to receive such good service at a chain restaurant. I'd definitely go back.
(3)Lizzy S.
Not the best place if you are looking for some good Chinese. The food is a bit over priced and not amazing. The staff is quite nice and are good at helping you pick a new dish...although they cannot save their over cook lettuce wraps.
(2)cara r.
Two stars for the drinks - love the ginger ale cocktails! I had both a passion fruit ginger ale AND an Effen vodka passion fruit ginger ale. Absolutely delicious with the homemade ginger ale. One star for the appetizers - our chicken potstickers were crazy good, and we gobbled them up pretty much as soon as they'd been delivered to the table. No stars for the entrees - boring, with too much black pepper, and the rice tasted a little off. Stop by and sit at the bar for a drink and an app, then head somewhere else for dinner.
(3)Shannon M.
I was visiting Chicago on business shortly after receiving a marraige proposal. The service throughout dinner was great, the food was good. I noted I was going to celebrate my engagement with dessert and the server was sweet enough to chat with me about it for a bit and ended up comping the whole meal! Very personal, attentive service.
(5)Karmen F.
Love the food and staff. The only reason I am giving them a 4 instead of a 5 star rating is that the they have adjusted the recipe for the Cosmopolitan. The new one is horrible.
(4)Jill W.
Service is fine, I'm just not a fan of any of the food at big bowl. I think it's overpriced for the quality. Whenever I eat there, I think of the scene in National Lampoon's European vacation, when they eat at the French restaurant, and the chef microwaves frozen dinners for them -- dry, bland, and just nothing to bring me back. I don't know if they make any of the noodles fresh, but it definitely doesn't taste like it.
(1)Josh W.
food was great and the price was great too......the hot was not as hot as I would have liked but other than that it was all good.....
(4)D J.
Awesome asian fusion, and fresh ginger drinks
(4)Cate C.
I've been going to Big Bowl restaurants since I was in high school and it has always been a good spot that everyone in my family can agree on. However, this trip stood out for me as it was my first gluten-free trip. I checked ahead of time and they have a great gluten-free menu (which they bring to the table with all of the other menus, without my even asking). But I am especially glad I checked their menu ahead of time because I saw that during the month of August they have a number of corn-inspired dishes. For my entree I had the Crab and Corn Soup, with a side of Jasmine rice. It was a fantastic dish, but be warned - quite spicy so be prepared. I was very impressed that my waiter brought out an extra glass of water with the soup, clearly he knew I would need it. The crowning achievement for me was dessert - the famed but short-lived Sweet Corn Gelato was amazing. It is only available during August and is made in conjunction with a local gelato shop. Online the treat got rave reviews but I was still a little wary of any dessert involving vegetables. Trust me this dish does not disapoint. It is a very sweet taste, like french vanilla with a little extra hint of movie-theater magic. I'd definitely recommend heading to the Big Bowl before the end of August.
(4)Blanca J.
For dining in its a great place I love their panang curry chicken I've brought my entire family here... but for carry out their to slow it took long and it wasent busy at that time if u go its better if its for dining in
(3)Mandy P.
All though I'm kind of embarrassed to admit it, I actually really like this place. I LOVE their Kung Pao w/ tofu and spinach and the fact that I can get vegetarian dumplings or pot stickers there rocks my world. I have never been all that into chain restaurants, which this basically is, but the fact that I can get so much good vegetarian, what? Chinese food? Is great. The people I've taken there have found their food to be pleasing as well, although none of us have had the stir fry, so perhaps that explains our success. I also love their ginger drinks and their hibiscus lemonade. Yummy! As for the wait, I have been fortunate enough to go at times where I haven't had to wait a long time. If you go early enough on a Friday, for example, you can get seated immediately -- I think that the last few times have been around 7 PM (which is great if you're going to see a movie in the area).
(4)Mario S.
Surprising. I expected flavor-free PF Changs-style pan-asian microwave fusion fare. But the food here packed a punch. The spicy green bean appetizer was a knockout. The peanut noodle thing was a hit. Good for a big group. Service was great. Pomegranate ginger ale was killer.
(3)S R.
Good ambience, very good food, great service and beautiful server!
(4)Emily C.
Yuck. I had some sort of string bean thing that was barely passable as food, way to spicy without any flavor and mushy. Price - chain style expensive, as in I can't belive this is a chain restaurant that sucks and I spent so much here. I've been to 2 locations in Chicago and hated them both.
(2)Bonnie L.
I tried Big Bowl last night for the first time. I always like going to places like this because there is always a good amount of vegetarian options. Big Bowl had a few, but not a lot. Fine with me as long as what they have is good. I decided to order off the menu and skip the "make it yourself" option. I have had some blah experiences trying to concoct something myself. I ordered vegetable potstickers and peanut noodles for starters. The peanut noodles were served cold and were spicy and were very good. My friends did not expect them to be cold and were not big fans of the dish. I liked them just fine. The potstickers were just ok for me. Friends also ordered the Calamari which they said was delicious. For dinner I ordered a Kung Pao with Tofu and Spinach. It was really good. It was served with these delicious spicy wide flat wheat noodles. It was a very good choice for me and I did not leave a morsel on my plate. My friends each ordered two different shrimp dishes that they really enjoyed. They also had a couple of desserts, one which was the ginger cake, which they said was really good. I had no room left for dessert since my entree was so good. I also ordered the Ginger Ginger Ale. Wow, was that good. If you are a Ginger fan, this is not to be skipped. All in all I really liked the food. So why only three stars? A couple of service snafus in my opinion. We had a 7:30 reservation. All of us showed up at 7:30 and we recieved our pager. We waited and waited and at like 5 minutes to eight we decided to see what was going on with our table, as we saw lots of empties. The hostess said that they were waiting for our whole party to arrive before they seated us. We all were there. We never said that we were waiting for anyone from the start, so not sure if they confused us with anyone else. The other thing that was kind of irritating in my opinion was that I parked in the lot that is attached to their building. The hostess gave me a second ticket to use at the garage when I checked in to get a discounted price on the parking. So after dinner, I went to the pay station and entered the ticket that the hostess gave me. It kept coming up invalid coupon. I tried it three times with the same response. So I had to walk back to the restaurant to find out what the problem was. Then they explained to me that I needed to enter the first ticket that I recieved from the parking garage, and aferwards enter the second ticket that I got from the hostess. How about telling me that from the start so that I know what to do in the first place. I think the hostess was what made my experience less than stellar.
(3)Tony J.
Ordered Kung Pao Chicken for delivery. In the past, 2 people could split the order. When we got it, there was hardly any Kung Pao Chicken and 3/4 was rice. I called and spoke to the Manager at the Ohio location and he stated they portion it out at 4 oz. I think they have downsized their portions. $26 (had lettuce wraps too) is not worth it. Will never order from here again. I told him I would not order from there again and he said OK. Zero Stars.
(1)Elif T.
I love this place. Their stir fry bar is great!!! Their servers are very nice and respectful. I can crave Big Bowl, Panang curry anytime and every time....
(5)Lauren B.
The shrimp pad thai was amazzzzzing. They didn't have any gluten free menus at the time (said they are in the middle of revising), but the waitress was knowledgeable and told me what items I could order. There weren't many choices, but I don't think most celiacs are too demanding... The place itself is pretty cool inside, interesting lighting. Service was good, but it was pretty empty.
(5)Mariana P.
This place loses three stars for several reasons. One: I went here on a Monday night and we had to wait for a table. Normally, no complaints about waiting for a table, however, this time there were several tables available, but none of them were cleaned off. Two: I had a stir fry bowl (where you create your own dish) but it was entirely devoid of flavor. It was so miserable. The Sangria was good, the waitress was nice, and I loved the decor, but the food was so bad. I won't be back to this location. I might try another one.
(2)Natasha A.
A good place for a casual dinner. The waitress was very helpful with suggesting a beef dish with just the right amount of spice. Guests are given the option of creating their own rice or noodle bowl by selecting veggies, a protien and a sauce. Other thai and chinese standards such as pad thai, curry or kang pao are available as well. The pommegranite gigner ale was a unique and refreshing drink.
(3)Brad W.
Despite being owned by the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group - this restaurant has definitely gone down in recent years. The stir fry is the key food option for this place - allowing the hungry to create their own dish. I was a former frequent patrons of the Big Bowl in Northbook, Illinois - but either the chefs are not quite as good at this location - or they've changed the way they make the stir fry bowls. This is not the best place for kids - but a decent place for a night on the town or a dinner meeting with business associates.
(2)Cynthia A.
yummy. love the dumpling soup!
(5)Saman S.
Extremely flavorful food!!
(4)Kristina K.
The BF wanted Asian really bad last night, but do to some seriously annoying nonsense, I couldn't leave the house. So, I met him for lunch today. We'd thought about eating here the last time we had lunch together, but gone to CPK next door instead. Anyway, we sat down and looked around. The decour was nice, but obviously watered-down asian chain restaurant. We got some sort of spicy dumpling for an appetizer that really was not so spicy. Good flavor, but no heat. Our waitress told us the green curry was spicy too, but it wasn't either. It was really flavorful, and tasty. The cinnamon wantons with coconut ice cream was amazing! But small. One of my big criteria for good service is in drink refills. I know it sounds stupid, but if i'm paying for a drink, I expect refills. At least one. No refills on my tea. It was empty halfway through our entree, and never was filled. Why's that so hard?
(3)Adam M.
Big Bowl... realistically, the best thing I can say about Big Bowl is that I'd have to smoke a big bowl before eating here again... case closed
(2)Tari F.
Alright, so a key thing for me when eating ethnic food of any kind is the level of spiciness. Despite being six kinds of spicy in a metaphorical sense, sometimes black pepper can make me cry. No, seriously: there are Doritos that I can't even smell without feeling like someone's shoving needles into my tongue. I am a spice wuss. I'm okay with it. So, cut to last Friday's date night, and we wander into Big Bowl for some Asian-fusion-noodle-stir-fry action. For some reason, I'm in the mood for pad thai; usually the peanut butter spaghetti is not my favorite, but that night it sounded really good to me. On their menu, they bill their pad thai as "mildly spicy." This is always a red flag for me, since "mildly spicy" usually means my eyeballs will melt. So, I line up a couple clearly non-spicy backup options, and ask the waitress if they can do a totally non-spicy pad thai. She says sure, I do a dance of joy, all is right with the world. Long story short, whoever cooked my meal obviously didn't believe me when I said I wanted it not spicy, because what they brought out made my nose run, my face turn red, and the tears pour. I tried to tough it out (I hate sending back a meal), but it was too painful, so I grabbed the waitress and explained that my dinner was, in fact, spicy. Shortly thereafter, the cook comes out to explain to me that without the spices, the dish would be bland - clearly implying that he knows better than I do what my preferences should be. I love arguing with someone else about what I do or do not like. The second version they brought out was still too spicy, but I could at least eat more than a couple bites. The manager came over and tried to smooth things over, and the waitress was very sweet...but the whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth. An overpriced (not to mention weak) margarita didn't help rinse it out, and my suspicion that the cooking staff were discussing how many of them should spit in my food didn't either. While the food itself seemed okay, the attitude was abysmal, and my delicate pallette will not be visiting again.
(2)Squirrel L.
I loved Big Bowl! All 3 of us decided to make our own stir fry. Our waitress was awesome! She was great about telling me which sauces were vegetarian and which weren't. I loved having the ability to pick and choose only those veggies that I like. YAY - no bell peppers!!!!! My meal ended up being awesome. Gotta love the bonus mochi for the first timers too. Yummy!
(4)Larry B.
Pretty good pad Thai and barbeque pork. The portions are big enough yet not too much. They did just start using the biodegradeable cutlery (starch forks, etc.) so that's pretty cool. While it is not the cheapest place on the block, you usually get what you pay for around here, and Big Bowl is no exception.
(4)Emily K.
yum! big bowl is like a fancier (and vastly better) mongolian barbecue. They make their own ginger ale (and if you like ginger, it is awesome! i love it). They have the options of make your own stir fry (which they actually make and bring to you, you just choose your meat, noodles or rice, sauce, and go up to a vegetable bar to choose your vegetables) or dishes. the service is friendly and the prices are reasonable. i thoroughly enjoyed my experience
(4)Purnima M.
So here's the formula: take a large space, paint it with lots of dark tones, put up some oversized wall decor, pump up the music, squeeze in as many tables as possible, create a "spin" on the otherwise standard food, and...GO! Big Bowl sticks to the formula so closely, it's scary! Or maybe I've visited too many restaurants in the Lettuce Entertain You empire. Either way, nothing stands out in my memory about this meal other than its stunning average-ness. Food was okay, not too spicy, not too bland, the make-your-own-stir-fry stand was surprisingly boring, and that was sadly that.
(2)Mateo S.
Inauthentic Disney-Asian for sure, and the service was of the bombastic "HI! I'M STEVE AND I'LL BE YOUR WAITER TONIGHT!!" variety. "Steve" asked us if we wanted drinks before we had sat down, and when he delivered our rushed order he simply hovered above us until we were ready with our entree selections. It was awkward to be sure. The poor guy... his internal clock just wasn't set with ours... he also continuously tried to clear plates before we had finished eating. All in all a harried experience, but the scallops and shrimp we had were well sauced and seasoned and definitely the right price. The wine I ordered, however, was around $30 and I have bought the same bottle at Whole Foods for $6. I know there's a markup, but 5X retail...??
(3)Nicole G.
After wandering around the streets of Chicago for something a little less pricey and still delicious, my boyfriend and I found Big Bowl, and since neither of us had gone there, decided to try it! It all seemed normal at first... and then my boyfriend picked up his glass of water and the entire bottom of the glass just fell off! Clean right off! I couldn't even believed it happened... and though it was more awesome than awful. Our server felt so bad that it happened and was so nice and apologetic, even though we were laughing so hard... The food was pretty good asian food. Better than any take out place I have been. But the main focus here is the service... After we finished... they gave us free dessert! The triple mochi trio... which was fantastic. And they took $10 off our entire order! I was so surprised... The service here was fantastic and the food was delicious. I am definitely going to go back... and don't forget to laugh if something ridiculous happens to you!
(5)Deb S.
Although I just got takeout at Big Bowl, I have to say they gave me the best hot and sour soup I've had in a long time--maybe ever. I think it is their combination emphasis on Chinese and Thai that did it. I am visiting Chicago and feel lousy with a completely stuffy head, and all I wanted was some very hot, spicy soup. Big Bowl did the job. The food was ready in 10 minutes, packaged in a sealed plastic bag around the container to prevent spillage, and piping hot when I got back to my hotel room. The big chunks of meat as well as ample cilantro made this a wonderful dish. I also had the Asian Chicken Salad with shredded chicken, which had two delicious dressings--a peanutty dressing and a little tub of satay sauce. Also delicious. When I come back to Chicago and feel better, I'll try eating at Big Bowl!
(4)Phil Y.
Good service, good food. Nothing really that stands out
(3)Nana H.
I think for the quality and creativity of the dish, the prices here should be much lower. I find their food to be uninspiring and boring. I've had asian food all my life and this is nothing special, sorry. My boyfriend's brother is a server there and I've had almost everything on the menu, and nothing was so good i would come back for it. I do like the decor and the drinks, its just the food really falls flat. When an asian person likes americanized asian food, they are called Bananas!
(3)Amy J.
I love big bowl! I always make my own stirfry, and put a variety of vegetables and noodles and I get chicken. I switch sauces a lot but my favorite is Ginger Garlic. It's great. Also, as an appetizer, try the potstickers. They're great. Service is usually very prompt and the servers are knowledgable if you have any questions about the food. Also, they have a full menu besides creating your own stirfry if you don't want to make your own. They have a lot of unique drinks--both alcoholic and non-alcoholic (like tropical teas and whatnot) and there's almost never a wait. I have to say I've never had a bad meal here and always been very happy with the service.
(4)seema s.
we were looking for a place to eat before going to see a movie, and big bowl happened to be across the street from where we needed to be. i am not a big fan of eating at chain-y places, but this place was ok compared to other horrendous franchises. sleek atmosphere for a friday night dinner. they gave us separate vegetarian menus when they realized that we might be. pitcher of pomegranate passion fruit white sangria. holla. i got the spicy thai green curry with tofu and veggies, it was pretty yummy flavor wise (though definitely not authentic tasting), though not very spicy on my scale. also got enough food to have a large lunch tomorrow, which is always a plus (except for having to carry around the box). overall a good dining experience, not amazing or overly memorable, but good.
(3)Jennifer K.
Hmm...I must admit. The food is nothing to write home about, but it's a pretty good place for group gatherings. We ordered...I believe potstickers and stir fries. Or noodles in broth. I can't remember. Maybe that just goes to show you exactly how memorable the meal was. But anywho. I do know that I left satisfied. And not bitter about paying a certain amount. The ambience is laid back. And you can feel at ease here, whether you're with a group of friends or dining alone. The service is okay. Not too slow or prompt. It won't irritate you. And the price is pretty decent. I didn't complain when I shelled out cash.
(3)Matt R.
Attention to the many heavy-handed reviewers out there: This is most obviously NOT an authentic Asian restaurant. It is a large chain of Americanized Asian food. They don't even claim to be some authentic restaurant. They are the "Rainforest Cafe" of Asian food. If you can just accept that ,you will realize that Big Bowl really delivers a decent offering. You grab a bowl, pick out all of the ingredients that you want, sauces, etc and they cook it for you. It is pricey stir-fry, but it is pretty good! Their rival chain "Mongolian Barbeque" doesn't even compare. So lighten up, grab a "big bowl"of stir-fry, and enjoy!
(4)Aimee C.
The best Hot & Sour soup in river north - loop - gold cost - south of north area. They make the soup to order, so it's steamy hot, perfect combination of hot and sour without the it's been sitting in a vat for hours taste.
(4)Cindy T.
A lot of pomp, but not much substance. Stopped by Big Bowl to kill time before a meeting. I ordered the signature orange ginger ale and the chicken pho (large). The orange ginger ale arrived in a pretty, tall, slender glass. Unfortunately, the drink itself tasted like neither orange nor ginger. It was more like slightly sweet, powdery water. Perhaps the pomegranate, the most popular of the ginger ales, would be have tasted better? The pho arrived in a glazed white ceramic pot with the standard lime, bean sprouts, basil and chilies served on the side. Feeling daring, I popped one of the chilies straight in my mouth. Chili novices beware - I love spice yet this chili lit my mouth on fire. Upon spooning out the broth, I saw lots of chicken and cilantro but where were the noodles? Surely, they must have forgotten the noodles... Poking around some more, I discovered a few forlorn strands floating around the bottom. Alas, this was no noodle soup. It was soup with noodle. I wouldn't order the lemonade or pho again. With that said, if I were in the neighborhood, I might check out the happy hour special , which runs from 3-6pm. Their spiel is "3 appetizers, 3 drinks, 3 hours". The cocktail selection looked pretty good and the thai lettuce wrap, one of the appetizers offered, smelled promising.
(2)Ashish V.
Very bad service. They got my order wrong. The severs were rude and arrogant. I ordered a curry with brown rice but they gave me white rice. When I asked about it they just gave me an extra bowl of dry brown rice. We were sharing the dishes but they didn't give plates. Overall food was ok nothing that great but bad service made the overall experience bad.
(1)Kammie G.
Ohh, I LOVE this place. My first time there I didn't expect to find such awesome options. I had no idea Big Bowl was all about being all-natural, organic, healthy, and sustainable. I LOVE this. That's exactly what I'm all about too so I definitely enjoyed my dinner here. The stir fry (made to order) was the best I've ever had. I've had made to order stir frys before but this one definitely won by a lot. Usually when I get stir fry, it comes out all dry and just mediocre. But this one was perfect - the sauce was still there (the sweet and sour lemon, yummmm) and the whole dish was moist and delicious. Their veggies were fresh and a good variety to choose from. Also, I'm all for their seasonal (strawberry) $6 sangria! Yummy in my tummy. The only thing I was no happy about was our server. He sucked. He didn't explain anything to me about how to do the self made stir fry and he wasn't very accomodating. But the food and place overall made the 5 stars worth it. I'll forget about the waiter occurance for this review :)
(5)Karla R.
First visit to Big bowl. We had chicken potstickers, they were delicious also had the chicken satay's, they were delicious as well. Dinner we had the market bar, all ingredients were fresh. Service wasn't that great but it was a busy time.
(5)Georgia W.
And you thought Stir Fry and Shandy's didn't go together! Well, they do. Big Bowl serves up the usual suspects...Curries, noodles, veggies and all the usual protein options ( chicken, shrimp, beef, tofu). Not overly BOWLED by the predictable menu but all is served hot and fast and there were some fun drink options ( did I mention the Shandy?) Attentive service. Did not balk over our Foursquare coupon or splitting the bill a few times. Most Thai seekers will leave happy. Just don't go looking for the unusual.
(3)Amy B.
Relatively healthy, fresh food served fast and cheap? Yes, please! I came here for lunch with a friend and split the assorted dumplings to start, then enjoyed a tom yum shrimp soup. I was nursing a bit of a cold, so the soup was a perfect hot, slightly spicy treat. One gripe: I did not realize there'd be huge slices of ginger root in the soup and had the unpleasant experience of popping one in my mouth, then spitting it out in front of other people. At least I was able to semi-discreetly use my napkin. Oh, classy me. My friend pointed out that unlike many stir fry places, Big Bowl does not set their meats and fish out in the ingredient buffet, which helps it to stay fresher.
(3)Myia B.
Service - rushed and not personable. The hostess was rude and so off on her wait time estimate. The server must have been her brother - cut from the same cloth. The food saved them. The drinks - DELICIOUS. All of the ginger ale cocktails are smart choices. Teriyaki glazed spare ribs? I could have had the whole plate! I ordered the Clay Pot Shrimp Panang and have been craving more since. Had a lemon bar type dessert that was tasty enough. The atmosphere is colorful. Would I go back? Heck yeah - that clay pot was something serious.
(5)Ann G.
Stopped in on a waning summer's Wednesday night. Busy, busy, busy. Loved having the front wall open to fresh air and the night. Food was good/ potstickers, Mongolian beef and chicken pad Thai. Good atmosphere.
(3)Steve G.
I was served raw chicken here a couple of years ago. I took a few bites before realizing that several of the pieces were raw or very undercooked. It got me a little bit ill for a few days. I was bummed because I half-enjoyed the dish otherwise. The server and manager apologized, naturally, but still. Raw chicken. Tighten up the ship. I wrote to corporate, and was told they were "reviewing the matter." I never heard back. I probably should have nagged them, but didn't feel like putting forth the effort.
(1)Danielle B.
If you love asian food but are allergic to everything like me this is definitely the place to go. Do they not only have great food their staff is extremely knowledgable and accommodating. I was extremely impressed how serious they took my allergies and didnt seem to mind the special request. They have a great selection so there is something for everyone.
(5)P S.
A day of errands and what's this? A $15 Lettuce gift card? Well boy howdy do I sure love some Thai food. Big Bowl... how YOU doin? Seated at the bar, the barkeep greeted me quick and friendly. House-made ginger ale (so friggin good) and some very yummy potstickers to follow, I ordered up my good old Panang curry with chicken. I could have done tofu but meh. No big. The rice arrives already *in* the curry sauce and there's a lot of it so my mind immediately flew to leftover arrangements. I can tell you now that as I sit here eating my lumpy, sticky bowl of reheated chicken Panang, they really should put the rice separate and let the diner concoct their own proportions. This stuff just doesn't heat up well at all since the rice becomes a sponge. Anyway, the flavors are good though not as much heat as you may want. They offer chili pepper sauce or soy sauce when an entree arrives (which kind of breaks my heart a little, what people do to their food). The highlights are the tender chicken, the bits of lemongrass and ginger adding a nice fresh zing, and the freshness of the veggies. It's good Panang. It's also a great spot to dine at alone, pay your bill, gather your stuff and 45 minutes later realize you left a bag behind. The host will keep it for you and not laugh at you when you frantically run back in an hour later and pick it up...
(3)Monica B.
Good variety of menu items, including lots of veggies, grilled items, and other alternatives to "variations on General Tso." The veggie bar is interesting, although I just went with the Chef's Selection for my dish. I really liked the garlic sauce, too. Our server was very sweet and peppy, which normally annoys me (dude, it's my dinner, not yours) but she was so charming and cute that there was no way I could get annoyed at her. The wait for a table was a little long, and the place is definitely noisy, so not necessarily the best place for an intimate date, but good for groups.
(4)Joanne K.
I've been here 3 times over the last week. I've had the panang curry, dumplings, pot stickers and summer spring rolls. I love how all the food comes from local farms. Everything has been delicious. Just a warning - everything comes with a little kick! I took away 1 star for the noise level and how the tables are close together.
(4)Ting C.
So I call in a carry out order at 4:33pm. I was told 10 minutes. I arrive at 4:43pm. I paid for my order then was told it's not ready. As a trader my time is money. If you don't have something ready for me at the time YOU promised me then you get 1 star.
(1)Andrew S.
Did recent take out during the blizzard. I knew I should have been worried when the best thai place recommended was pan asian. I ordered a spring roll and penang with chicken. The spring roll was average in all ways. It came with some decent dipping sauces but was generally forgettable. The penang I ordered was unfortunately slightly worse. While freshly cooked, the flavor was just slightly off. It wasnt inedible, but it was not really good. It was also short on peanuts which might have been pat of the problem. The staff was friendly and I was not wholly disappointed, but it fell short of taking care of my thai craving.
(2)Al G.
Good quality food at very reasonable prices. Service is alway impeccable.
(4)Amber P.
Big Bowl used to be in Colorado (on Dry Creek Road and I-25), but about 7 years ago it closed. The building is still empty. Every time I drive by, I mourn the loss and crave the stir fry. I have written more than one letter to the company pleading for their re-expansion. So, of course, upon visiting Chicago, I immediately sought it out. Favorite Dish: Build your own Stir Fry (whatever you do, make sure you insert EGGPLANT, add CHICKEN, and choose KUNG PAO sauce). Favorite Beverage: Ginger Ale (they make it themselves!)
(5)Rod S.
Interesting mix of cultural cuisines. It features Thai, Indian, and Chinese dishes as well as a nice "make your own" Stir Fry bar. It also features home-made ginger ale and lemonaid, which were quite tasty. It had a pleasant atmosphere and friendly helpful waitstaff, all in all it was a very nice dining experience. The make your own stir fry (which is what I ordered) was very nice. You choose your meat (it also has tofu and vegetarian options), your sauce, and either rice or noodles, take a large bowl and choose several kinds of vegetables and toppings and they stir fry and deliver it fairly quickly. I prefer Mongolian Grills because they are much cheaper and more customizable, but this was very nice as well. It is a bit pricey for what you get. The portion sizes are decent, but not what you would expect from someplace calling itself the "BIG BOWL". But given the area, atmosphere, and service, the price is extremely reasonable. If I was in the area, I would definitly eat there again.
(4)Raj B.
We went to Big Bowl twice when we visited Chicago for vacation last week. The first time we went (for dinner), we thought it would be interesting to fill up on just soup and appetizers, so we ordered Vietnamese noodle soup and Chicken dumpling noodle soup, both of which were very well prepared. The Vietnamese soup was nicely fragrant, with a generous portion of chicken. The dumplings were meaty and the broth tasted fantastic. Afterwards, we ordered the BBQ'd spareribs, and were genuinely impressed. The meat was tender, juicy, saucy, and came off the bone perfectly. It was so good, that we had another plate sent to our table. The service was impeccable. Our server, Jared was incredibly hospitable and made us feel special. He provided useful recommendations, and made our dining experience a true pleasure. The second time we went (for lunch), we requested a table in Jared's area, and had a repeat pleasant experience. The Kung-Pao Chicken with noodles were delicious, and Jared allowed us to tone down the spice so that we could make it through the whole dish without our hairs standing on end. We also ordered Chilly Hot Pepper Chicken Noodles and the Thai Yellow Curry. Each one of the dishes was satisfying. All in all, I hope and pray that a Big Bowl opens soon in New Jersey!!!
(5)Gin Y.
Ordered the potsticker combo, and it was really a small portion. That was disappointing! The vegetable and chicken pad thai had flavor, but lacked that oomph! I wouldn't say there was a wow factor here! It was also pretty expensive for the type of food they serve! I might as well have gone to Chinatown to eat good Thai food! Won't be going back here, unless I'm desperate and really hungry! =P
(2)Matthew W.
Chinese and Thai. Not authentic but pretty close. At first glance it seems like a crappy chain restaurant but the food and service convince you of otherwise. Not too spendy, especially considering the location. They make their own ginger ale...yum. They also have a Mongolian BBQ...not too shabby. If you're looking for a better than tourist meal in River North...check it out.
(3)Eugene H.
too american chinese for my taste. nice service though
(1)Tonya M.
This place has "create your own" wokked bowl of yummy goodness. You walk up to the "bar" select all the ingredients you want from a plethera of fresh veggies. then you tell the chef what kinda meat you want, the type of rice you like (jasmine is my fave) and presto chango, wokkalishiousness ALL in your mouth. They house chardonnay seemed to be the Sonoma Cutrer which is a fave of mine. And if you eat at the bar, you meet lots of nice and friendly people to converse with in between devouring your awesome bowl. Brian was my waiter the first time I ever went to Big Bowl and a major reason for my return on many occasions. I got my bowl the first time, and since its jasmine rice i requested, then I got it.... but wanted butter. Well even the sleaziest of Asian establishments don't usually carry butter, so Brian went to the Corner Bakery next door and snagged me some butter. AWESOME Service. I miss this place. we don't have any here in San Diego.
(4)Ali L.
I think I just have a thing against chain Asian restaurants. Tried Big Bowl for the first time on Labor Day. It's kinda pricey (for 3 our total was 70ish? with one appetizer, pop/iced tea for drinks and a tiny dessert), the food wasn't great (I had chicken pad thai with tofu added in... very lime-y and not very peanut-y... too tangy for my liking I guess) but maybe I'm just a snob or something, I don't know. I don't like PF Chang's either so I just assume it's the same sort of thing. Anyway I'll just stick to local places from now on. However the hibiscus iced tea was fantastic, and our server was also great- brought new drinks as soon as ours were half gone, he was awesome. Food, no. Service, yes. I'd give a 2.5 if I could, right down the middle, but I can't, so I'll round up. :) The end.
(3)Michael G.
Service is always great. The lemonades are good. The food is fresh, if a bit salty. I'll go back.
(4)Craig M.
I had the orange ginger ale and the Thai chicken curry. Both were excellent. They also brought us an appetizer to try which was a nice touch. I would definitely return.
(4)Lesley C.
YUM. This place was fabulous. We try Asian restaurants wherever we travel, and this one is one of the better ones we have been to. It's nice when you can taste the fresh ingredients (ginger, for example) in your food. The service is prompt but not too brisk, and they have a really good kids' menu. We'll definitely return here.
(5)Lisa V.
My last Night in Chicago I found Big Bowl. I sat at the bar because I was a loner. =) No worries, I quickly made friends with the rest of the loners sitting next to me that were here on business. I liked the menu, they had the usual appetizers pot stickers and lettuce wraps, but what caught my eye is near the grill they have a veggie bar where you could pick the veggies that would go into your meal. I opted for that choice. I first picked my protein, then the sauce, you could stay Chinese and get the terriyaki or go for Thai with there lemon sauce. Next you chose your carb, which was a choice of noodles, Jazmin rice or brown rice. After that the waiter gives you a bowl to pick all your veggies that would be mixed in. The outcome DELI SH!!!!! I will try this place again when I go back, I loved the atmosphere, the help was nice and the crowd was great to chat with. Verdict: Will go back again.
(4)Melinda L.
Interesting mini chain restaurant with a highly diverse wait staff. Our waitress was from Siberia with an accent - yes, at a Chinese restaurant! The ingredients here are fresh and the food tastes pretty authentic. Dishes tried were: Hot and Sour Soup, Lettuce Wraps, Beef with Noodles, Thai Fried Rice, Shrimp Curry, Chicken Skewers and Penang Chicken Curry. Savory stuff and good food. There was a Chicago-accent to all the dishes, but still good. Place can get packed, but fun to hang. Great drinks menu. I tried their pomegranate ginger ale and it was not bad.
(4)Peter M.
Great! The stir fry with the coconut curry was delicious. I mixed two sauces the coconut curry and the lemon sauce....amazing. Also the hot and sour soup was the best I've ever had. I reccomend checking out Big Bowl if you're in Chicago and looking for Asian food.
(4)Keerthi A.
I have been going here for years now. This place is easy-peasy, even on a weekend when you don't want to dress up or wait in line for hours somewhere. The place is nice, the waiters are helpful and quick, the food is great. Their ginger ale is very yummy. Food wise, their orange chicken, cashew chicken, mongolian beef, and stir fry are awesome. With the stir fry bar, you get to choose your meat and your sauce, then have the option of picking your own veggies at the veggie station or have the chef add his/her own. On their menu, when they have the fiery symbol indicating the dish is spicy, they are not messing around - they mean it! The portions are huge, and the food is very yummy. It is definitely americanized chinese/thai, but tasty. All their desserts are great, especially their Creme Brulee, definitely worth a shot. Definitely a place I will keep visiting over and over.
(4)Rika H.
We love this place! After we moved out of Chicago this is one of the place I miss the most! I can't believe I didn't write a review for it, given how many times we've been there and how much we loved it. Always crowded, always good food. I took some Chinese relatives there, they loved it too!
(5)Justin O.
I stopped in on a Monday out of the blue and tried the egg rolls (huge) and Kung Pao Chicken (just the right mount of spice for me). The food was good, the service was great (it was slow though), and half priced bottled wine deal was an unexpected perk.
(4)Brian S.
I've decided that this place is pretty much a hit-or-miss proposition. I don't really see much middle ground. The first time I went there it was OK - not great but passable. The second time I went was on a Wednesday early in the evening. I ordered the chicken dumplings and ribs as appetizers. I ordered the hot, hot chicken noodles and Shezuan beef for entrees. Every dish was delicious. I was very impressed. I went there on Saturday evening the following week and ordered the same meal as on Wednesday to-go. When I got home I was looking for a repeat performance of Wednesday but instead got a lot of big surprises. The chicken dumplings were okay, but the ribs were absolutely tasteless. I searched for any kind of flavor whatsoever and found nothing. Then I opened up the hot, hot chicken noodles and found it to be completely inedible. The noodles were soaked in vinegar and floating in a huge puddle of oil. There was hardly any chicken in the dish and there was no spicy heat at all - nothing. I tossed it in the trash and moved on to the Schezuan beef. The only thing good about this dish was the rice - which was good because I was still hungry. The beef dish itself was completely tasteless. No flavor whatsoever. How they are able to accomplish this is beyond me. And... yes - it was floating in a huge puddle of oil. I picked at it for a bit but then threw it in the trash with the chicken noodles. I wound up spending $45 and was still hungry. When they're good - they're very good. But, when they're bad - it's criminal. You have been warned.
(2)Tony G.
Steamed potstickers, beef with broccoli and homemade ginger ale...my downfall everytime! So good!
(4)Jimmy G.
I love everyone at Big Bowl They treat me like family, and if something rotates off the menu, I can whimper about it and they will make it happen. The wine menu is well thought, balanced, and reasonably priced. I can duck in and out at lunch in as little as twenty minutes. Recently they got a new Manager named Rob, and he always checks in (along with the rest of the management staff) to make sure everything is to my liking... It always is. I just wanted to give them a shout out because they all work so hard to make sure my every experience there is better than the last one.... And it always is.
(5)Blythe Z.
My second time there last week. I'm bored. Seriously, I have nothing bad to say..... but nothing great to say ( I THINK THAT IS WORSE). It's pricey and it's not the best around. Service was pretty lame.
(1)Amy S.
This review is as much for me as it is for all of you. I am writing this to remind myself of two things. 1. Amy, the curry is not good. Doesn't matter the color, red, yellow, green, panang, it's just not good. Amy, DO NOT ORDER THE CURRY. 2. Amy, only go here if you have a gift certificate or some dining points because the prices are high for what you get. ....actually I have a third thing to remember. 3. Amy, it's just not that good and you are never happy when you go there, so just don't go. Sorry Big Bowl...I'm breaking up with you. Love, Amy
(2)Sam K.
Big Bowl was a dear friend during a very cold winter working in the loop. I recall the days in December and January; it was still dark when I went into work, and after sitting at a desk all day, it was dark again (and freezing) when I came out. All I wanted to do was run home to a hot shower and plop down on my couch in a big sweatshirt. Hence Big Bowl, which is right near my ex work place. After work, when I was hit by the cold, I would run in to the counter at Big Bowl and order myself a bowl of their chicken pho. It was the best thing ever; it took the edge off my hunger, and rejuvenated me. After a bowl of that pho, I felt cheered and willing to go to the gym. I could run my errands, and use the rest of my day instead of just giving up on it. I am wary of chain restaurants though, especially when it comes to ethnic food. I doubted they would have good entrees, and never bothered to order a whole meal until my last visit. I overheard - (okay fine, I deliberately listened to) a conversation between a man and a woman near me. Man: Wow. That was surprisingly tasty. I mean I'm really surprised. That was a great meal. Woman: I know! I usually hate chain restaurants, but this was great. It actually tasted like my favorite thai place near my house. You know Sticky Rice? !!! Sticky Rice has a five star rating from me, so this comparison excited me. I finally got around to coming in for an entree this week, after some shopping. And this meal is what brings Big Bowl down from a five star rating. Mediocre food, with the WORST service. I ordered the green curry with rice, very spicy. I asked the waiter if they had brown rice, and he told me they didn't. Fine. A few moments after I ordered, another lone diner - a very friendly and nice tourist from the UK seated very near to me, ordered. We were close enough to talk and hear each other's orders. "Sir, would you like white rice or brown rice with your order? I strongly recommend the brown rice." This piqued my attention and I looked up just in time to catch the glance the waiter gave me. A passive aggressive glance to make sure I heard him. Um. So my food, which came with white rice, immediately took me back to my Air India flight of 2003. This flight is memorable for a few reasons, which I won't go into right now. But it tasted like airplane food, and *Indian* airplane food, no less. I could not taste any Thai basil, and it tasted more like defrosted mutter paneer than anything else. "Fresh" was the absolute last word I would use to describe it. And the white rice, which was supposedly Jasmine, had none of that fresh Jasmine taste to it. It tasted like regular long grain rice. I thought about salvaging it with some spice, since it wasn't spicy at all. The waiter never checked on me, but I managed to grab his attention when he walked by. I asked him if they had any red chili pepper I could add to my dish. He said they didn't. I then asked if they had any kind of hot sauce or chili paste I could use. He said they had no hot sauce in the restaurant. At this exact moment, my new British friend decided to pipe up "Waiter, could you bring me some hot sauce?" "Of course sir." and he walked away, at which the tourist looked at me and burst into giggles. Not funny, you damn Brit. I'm hungry and grumpy. But of course he gave me his hot sauce, and it didn't help. I didn't touch my meal after the second bite. When I finally got ahold of the waiter again, he asked me if I wanted to wrap it up. "No. Actually, I'm very unhappy with my meal. See, if you recall, I wanted brown rice - " "All right. I can clear that for you. Do you have room for dessert?" "Nope. But I would actually like to speak to a mana-" "Okay then. I will be right back with your check." When he dropped my check and ran away before I could say anything, I let it go. And the time it took from when the waiter cleared my table, dropped my check, took my credit card, and brought me my sign slip? No less than 25 minutes. Ugh. Between the disapproving looks and behavior of the elder waiter (my gut is that he was being sexist and disapproved of a female eating alone, but whatever. I've been a server and I know servers, like everyone, make judgments - but it's unprofessional to act on those judgments) and the mediocre food that wasn't even what I wanted to order, I'm less likely than ever to come back here. But the memory of all those wonderful cheap bowls of pho on those cold days with my shitty, stressful desk job over this past winter counts for something - they were not only a nutritional and sensuous pleasure, but provided an almost emotional reward for me each time I got through another day of thankless busy work at a computer. So I will leave you, Big Bowl, with an "A-OK" by Yelp standards. And maybe by next winter I will have forgiven this meal and will be back at your counter (hopefully with a better job).
(3)#NAME?
This was my 2nd time eating here, both entrees I've had here have been good-Great service too- FOOD: First time I had the Mongolian Beef, it was pretty good, big portions too- Appetizer of Potstickers: combo of veggie and chicken, chicken was better and loved the sauces they came with- Shrimp and Scallops meal, was hestiant with the sauce it said came with it, but once it came out I was happy with it, very good-Shrimp and scallops were fresh and cooked perfectly- ENVIRONMENT: I think it's a tight fit for people-They utilize every spot too, tables at the bar area were used for seating, not first come first serve-What did bother me was the crying babies and kids in the place-We do not care for children nor are having them...*snip snip*-So I don't want to be out and hear kids screaming, throwing stuff and being bad- There were a lot here last night and after we were sat around 6:00 a huge line was at the door-Yet it is a place around a lot of hotels and it's cheap food so hence the reason for so many kids/families here- I would think if you go Mon-Thurs evening you are in the clear for a peaceful dining experience-
(4)Krsna V.
Let me start off by saying that I have never tried the stir fry here. If I wanted to pick my own ingredients and hand it to the chef, I might as well cook at home. I do not see a point in going to a restaurant and preparing your meal. Now, lets get to the review part. I have been to Big Bowl a few times and have always been impressed. I have ordered most of the items on the menu and they all are tasty. I particularly like the thai hot basil chicken with basil and peanuts. Order it only if you can handle extreme amounts of heat. I always get a mai tai to go with my meal. The minus one star is for the long wait time. Definitely recommended
(4)Rachel B.
I have eaten here multiple times, and even had a surprise engagement dinner hosted here. The staff has always been friendly and helpful. I didn't even know until recently, but they use a lot of organic food, (including organic chicken which is delicious) . Be sure to try the ginger ale drinks, they come with a few flavor options, I haven't tried one yet I didn't love. This is not an authentic Thai place, its Americanized, but still delicious!
(4)Kat S.
Went here for the fist time this week for lunch to celebrate a birthday. Food was decent, nothing too great but nothing too bad. I had the steak and noodles. Portions are huge, plenty of left overs to take home for dinner.... or for later in the afternoon. Service was outstanding. Our waiter was more than willing to go over the menu with us and offer his favorites. Manager was also very attentive and came over to welcome us as well as throw down a free appetizer since it was our first time. Got 2 deserts also for it being one of our friends birthday. The corn something ice cream with blueberries might have been the best desert i have ever had. Not too pricey, friendly staff. I'll go back.
(4)liam d.
Was decent Togo food. We are traveling with our son and by dinner time have been stuck ordering food to our room. I had searched yelp for the best Chinese food near our hotel, this seemed like one of the better ones, hopefully I was wrong! The stir fry was good, hot and sour soup was terrible and the dumplings left a lot to be desired!
(3)Kathy L.
This place has such good memories! I don't understand some of the hatred for this place. One time, I went here with a friend and our waitress was so awesome. We got into a talk about the things I bought that day and I told her I got a magic bullet (the as seen on TV blender thing) and things got kind of uncomfortable. I showed her it was a blender and she said...."oh I thought you were talking about something else, I'm really embarrassed." She probably thought I was talking about a sex toy, but in any case, she felt so bad she got us appetizers and drinks on the house...both which were amazing along with our waitress. Side note: any of their ginger ale drinks are great, if you like ginger ale, if not, I'd probably pass. My favorite thing is the kung pow tofu and spinach...I know it sounds really weird, but it was actually delicious! I haven't ever done the make your own stir fry thing, I'm sure its good, but I like their prepared dishes so much I just leave the creations to the chefs.
(4)Peter L.
First of all, the ginger ale is awesome -- ginger flavor, passion fruit, pomegranate, all of them. But the fact that an Asian place specializes in ginger ale should tell you something... So it may be a touristy, pan-Asian chain restaurant, but the food is surprisingly good. I wouldn't say that the red hot red pepper noodles are all that spicy, but the flavors are solid and it's my favorite thing here. The kung pao chicken noodles are spicier. I can't bring myself to order the pad thai or curries with Dao Thai down the street selling them for half the price, but the rest of the menu ain't bad. And it looks nice and trendy inside to impress the ladies.
(4)Karren K.
Honestly a five star experience. Great ambiance. When asked if it was our first time we were presented with a summer roll sample to try. We shared two appys, featured lettuce wraps, mixed potsticker the veggie and chicken, then had the red hot pepper chicken noodles. It was the perfect amount of food for two. Do not let me forget the recommended Tai mohito. Every ingredient used in the food and drink was super fresh and popped with flavor. Happy with our experience it still got better we asked for the bill and what did we get....a complementary dessert of decadant mochi. Really, two samples it was heaven. Defiantely a new favourite place to dine. If you want superb service ask for Paige you will be very well taken care of she is excellent!
(5)Einstein A.
I'm a fan of Big Bowl. Their food is good, and my water glass is always full. It's managed by Lettuce Entertain You, so you know the staff is going to treat you well and its prices are going to land on the expensive side of things (similar to Cheesecake Factory and California Pizza Kitchen). Everything is good, but try the sweet and sour soup, and of course, the create your own big bowl. I would really like to see more promotions and deals come out the doors of Lettuce Entertain You restaurants. Also, I'm disappointed that over the years the restaurant has downsized the portions (especially the soup) and increased the price. I know it's happened everywhere, and the economy isn't what it used to be, but I don't have to like it.
(4)Erin K.
I have a new love. He goes by big bowl. Now, don't get carried away and think this is my only or favorite love. It's just an additional. I can be giving. Went here with some people from work for lunch. We had a great time. Food was deeelish! Started with calamari and pot stickers. Unfortunately the pot stickers were meat so I could not partake but they were well-received. But oh the calamari. Best. Ever. Seriously. The spicy dipping sauce was best but I coulda used a stronger kick as I'm a spicy fan. My entree was the crunchy cashew shrimp. Again, advertised as spicy but not so much. Which was a-ok with me as I just added tons of their hot sauce which, by the way, is miraculous. Do they sell it? If yes, will you but it for me for my bday please? Thanks. Dessert was coconut ice cream and a brownie. Ice cream tasted great but had actual coconut shavings in it which I personally don't like. I'm like woody harrelson- love the flavor, hate the texture. The brownie, though- yummo. AND no nuts! That NEVER happens at a restaurant! All in all, it was wonderful and I wish I was there right now.
(5)Yingzi W.
Not the best Chinese food or Thai food. But overall pretty decent - very consistent food and service. I've always had a good time here.
(4)Bassam W.
This place is very good for the money. It is cheap and has a very good atmosphere. We got a free appetizer for being our first time. Try the homemade Ginger ale it's great. My only complaint is that water was not immediately offered on a summer day. That was rather odd and was a turnoff for the whole experience.
(4)Jayne B.
Despite the fact that Big Bowl is a chain, I was pleasantly surprised with this restaurant. The prices are reasonable, it's super close to the movie theater (which is how we ended up there), the service is good, and the food was actually pretty tasty. I'd highly recommend it if you're looking to grab a quick bite. And if you're deciding between Big Bowl and California Pizza Kitchen next door, I'd probably pick Big Bowl.
(4)Leang E.
I had heard positive things from people in passing conversations, and really wanted to like the spot. Unfortunately, I can't say that I am a fan. I had gotten a pick up order. I had ordered the spicy string beans appetizer, the lettuce wraps, and the crispy orange chicken. The lettuce wraps were a little more on the salty side than I prefer. The cripsy orange chicken is made better by the food court chinese restaurants at malls. My boyfriend that usually likes orange chicken from most Chinese restaurant had a couple of bites and didn't care for it at all. I guess it's tough when I have expectations that it will be spicy and tangy, and the taste was off. It tasted more like lemon than orange to me. The best thing out of the three items was the string beans. The place is a bit pricey for Chinese food and the portions are kind of small compared to other Chinese restaurant spots I've gotten food from. At least now I can say I tried it, and no longer feel like I'm missing out. When I came in to get my food I did see people eating and drinking at the bar that sounded like regulars, and it wouldn't surprise me if people just came to drink here as well.
(2)Krystsina D.
Well, first and all it is too cold inside, which makes it for an uncomfortable experience. Appetizer was pretty horrible, we took some salmon roll. If you like refrigerated rice paper, filled with some Cooked (not raw) salmon, it is for you. Otherwise, please avoid. Our dish was quite delicious. We got pork and shrimp entree. The best part of the deal was the fact that we had 15$ off from lettucentertainyou.com so our final bill was 10$. Otherwise, it is very O.K. and is not worth an extra effort.
(3)Waddie G.
Customer service is really attentive. Food is scrumptious (but all I ever order is Kung Pao Beef...lol). The lemonade tastes so on point. I'm there at least three times per month.
(4)Sentient Snacker S.
THIS IS IN REGARDS TO TAKE-OUT ONLY. If you're looking for bang-for-your-buck forget it! At least when it comes to their very tasty Kung Pao chicken. And they're not at all apologetic about charging $13 (plus delivery) for a children's portion. We should know, we called and spoke to them about it. A very unpleasant call given how many times we had ordered food from Big Bowl. A rather callous approach to customer service. I will thank them for giving me the impetus to learn how to mimic their recipe since we will not be ordering take-out from Big Blow any more.
(2)Josh G.
Big Bowl was just ok for me. There was no wait on a weeknight and the atmosphere and idea behind it are cool. Our server was friendly but talked a little too much and had a vacant look on his face as if he had given the same speech about 300 times that day. He babbled on about different specials on the menu, how great certain things were, and then proceeded to make suggestions. Personally I like it when servers make suggestions. If I'm torn between two or three things on the menu I often ask them what they would order. But this guy was seriously giving a 15 minute presentation on the menu. I kept waiting for him to break out the slide show. But after we got through the menu intro everything was fine. He was attentive and even brought us a complimentary dessert sample since it was my first time. Nice touch. The food wasn't bad but it just didn't do anything for me. I ordered the BBQ Pork which is a WOW item on the menu which I learned during the menu presentation that WOW indicates a chef specialty. Well frankly, the chef should try a little harder. First thing I noticed was that my food was just warm. Thank goodness I'm a fast eater otherwise it would have been totally cold less than half way through the dish. Flavor was fine, the fried rice was good enough. I dunno, I just felt a little blah about it all. I'll probably go back and order something completely different just to give it another whirl but for now I have to go with a 3-star.
(3)Dan K.
My wife is a thai food connoisseur and she loved this food so much that we went two (2) consecutive nights. We were visiting the Chi and this place was around the corner from our hotel so we gave it a try. After being full from deep dish pizza earlier, I was on a liquid diet for dinner so I ordered two (2) long island iced teas which were good. The bartenders were very friendly and polite. The next day, we started with the egg rolls as an appetizer and they were fresh, delicious and very flavorful. We ordered the Kapow/Gapow dish which is chicken with basil sauce. It was great and the rice was fresh too. The servings were very hearty and filling. I, definitely, would patron this establishment again if I'm ever visiting in this section of the Chi.
(5)Amber W.
I know that I'm offending the gods to say I prefer Big Bowl to some of the other supposedly "authentic" Thai restaurants (Ruby of Siam's yellow curry is watery and not spicy at all). The yellow chicken curry with sweet green beans and jasmine rice is tasty. Its got the right level of spice for someone who likes a little bite to their sauce but doesn't want to cry over their meal. If you don't make a piggy of yourself the portion is enough for 2 meals. Servers were very nice and helpful.
(4)Karen H.
For fast, fresh, delicious Chinese and Thai, this is the place to go. The chicken pad thai is my favorite, and you must try one of their ginger ales. The Green Tea Ginger Ale is very tasty and refreshing. 'Can't say enough good things about the service, too. Three cheers for Big Bowl!
(5)Patti G.
Maybe the kitchen was having an off night or was a little careless. My daughter had the orange chicken, the chicken pieces were mostly overlooked, almost burnt, breading. Sauce was good but, eh. My pad Thai was quite oily and I couldn't finish it. Probably would have been better with a little more care.
(2)Tina R.
Went to bb for lunch with family today and what a disappointment. The food was mediocre. We both got the pad Thai and could not finish it. We though that you couldn't go wrong but we did. It was so citrusy and the tofu was nasty. The service was underwhelming also. Very disappointed for a lettuce restaurant.
(1)Elizabeth A.
I looooooooooove big bowl! They have delicious food, decent prices, and the ambiance is pretty sweet. It's not romantic but it's also not too rowdy, and did I mention the good food?
(5)Nierka B.
On our last night in Chicago my boyfriend and I ate here, just randomly walked down the street of where we were staying and spotted Big Bowl. We don't have much of a Asian noodle place here in kc, so trying another in Chicago was a must. We made it clear to the waiter we were tourists, probably because he asked us if we had been here before and we said no, we are from out of town. The constant looking at our cameras probably was another good inclination. So right after we sat down, we ordered. Dumplings for an appetizer, and I had the yellow curry and my boyfriend ordered the pad Thai. Right after we placed the order a man who was not our waiter brought us out an amuse-bouche. It was very tasty, and given the decor and people in here, I didn't realize that the restaurant would have done something like that. I was pleasantly surprised. The dumplings were good, I will say that we do have a really good dumpling restaurant here in Kansas City so I wasn't super impressed. The sauce that came with them were also really tasty, even though i cant remember what they were now, there were three... Anyways, getting on to our meal, mine was excellent. I am a huge curry fan and this wasn't too sweet or even spicy. I loved the flavor and everything about it. My boyfriend's pad Thai was awesome. It was my first time trying it and we loved it. I will say that now, having tired a few pad Thia's, i am still. The sauce was really good and the noodles were amazing. I loved our waiter, it was near closing, and he was really nice and didn't make us feel rushed. I love that about a restaurant. Therefore, they get five stars.
(5)Sonal R.
I have tried this place more than once cause most of my friends love it. In my opinion its okay, nothing to rave about. Food is descent nothing I would go out of my way for.
(2)Vic R.
Nice interior, terrible food
(2)Kristina K.
Not knowing that Big Bowl was part of the franchise family (I'm so naive), I had a good dinner experience. The food was decent, but it wasn't anything that blew me out of the water. The service was okay. I would recommend this place for reliable food and service.
(4)Y C.
Just another venture in the pseudo Asian bistro world popularized by PF Chang's. I'll be honest, the only reason I ate here was because of the homemade ginger ale. I didn't come here for a taste of authentic Asian. If you like PF Chang, then you'll like this place. It's got a great happy hour vibe and yes, the ginger ale was yummy. The food is so so. I had the pad thai and it was liquidy and too sour when compared with a what a real thai joint would produce. The service was friendly and prompt and they gave me a free appetizer which was appreciated. Overall, I would come here for drinks and some munchies but would take my main meal elsewhere but I can see why people like it.
(3)Marisa S.
Pretty good food and good sized portions. Also healthy and tasty vegetarian alternatives!
(3)Noah L.
Consistently good food with strong flavor.
(4)Don W.
Three years later, it's the same story. My wife loves it, I like it. They put too many chili peppers in my Tom Yum soup, but it was still good. There were four of us and we all left happy. Our server was awesome, too. If you like to complain about a restaurant not being authentic, don't go here. I don't think authenticity is on the menu but the food is good and my wife was happy. That's what I care about.
(4)Mimi S.
this is one of my favorite little places to dine while shopping downtown. you can valet @ Texas De Brazil if you want because there is no valet here- you can also use a garage, they offer validation (just ask about it). The food is flavorful and fresh. We usually grab a booth because we need a booster seat for the baby. The people are friendly and the wait is generally short. FYI, if you order a full glass of wine, you will get half a glass : ( the waiter explained what he could but it made no sense to me- i ordered a full glass and i expected to get a full glass.. may be easier if they just downsized the glasses???
(3)Allen R.
Started off with good beer and refills great potstickers!!! Pad Thai was on point! 5/5 will be back
(5)Sarah H.
Great variety of choices. Love the wok your own stir-fry bar. A fresh option in the middle of a dining landscape dominated by heavy Italian and steak joints. My tween got dishes he liked, too.
(5)Vira S.
This was my first visit to a seemingly busy and popular restaurant. The hostess was very nice as was the server and manager. The food and dining experience was all pretty normal and flowed really well. The thing that set me off was the initial tone set by the doorman. As the manager explained to me their security is through a separate company so I didn't really blame the restaurant. The waiting area around the host stand and bar is pretty small especially for 6 or so parties trying to wait for a table so we were all in a tight squeeze. People were eventually waiting inside by the tables by windows filling up any space between the entrance and host stand. I apparently stood somewhere not preferred by the restaurant so the doorman asked me to move. Fine. I saw people waiting for a table too standing exactly where I was standing. Nothing was said to them. From where I was standing I moved back a couple feet a little closer to my original position and then the doorman came back to me and got smart with me. He said that he had told me before to either move closer to the host stand or behind the door and then Proceeded to ask me, "so which one are you going to do?" at this point I honestly was shocked and felt singled out. There were so many other people before blocking so many tables by the door. Why now and why give only me trouble? Why I stayed I don't even know. At that point I was pissed and didn't want anything else to do with this restaurant. After my party sat I informed a manager and he was very apologetic and honestly tried to make it better for me. I appreciate the restaurant for their sincere efforts but I don't think I would be returning anytime soon and will be reticent to suggest this location. I didn't seek out to get anything for free I just wanted a nice dinner in a great city. The food was good but as long as that doorman is assigned there I don't think it's worth it for me to come back. Never have I been so offended and humiliated over something so stupid and menial while dining out before.
(3)Jenna W.
The appetizers were great: dumplings, cripsy tofu and spare ribs. I ordered the Steak and Noodles, but they were too salty. My husband's Pork Fried Rice meal was delicious. I'm pretty satisfied with most LEYE restaurants, and this wasn't an exception.
(4)Wesley R.
It had been a number of years since I've been to a Big Bowl (mostly the suburban ones), so I went with co-workers to the downtown one. After a short wait, we all got our food in a decent amount of time. It is "sanitized" ethnic cuisine? To a certain degree, yes. If you happen to be particular about what is "supposed" to be in certain dishes, you may get thrown off. For example, my vegetable-tofu pad thai was chock full of vegetables that I'm not accustomed to having in my pad thai (like beans) Still, it was a good universal selection for our office. Also, even though it doesn't appear on the menu anymore, they still can whip you up a Hibiscus iced tea. I've had it before and like it, but it can be an acquired taste.
(3)Trinidad F.
Tee hee!!! Checked Big Bowl last nite after I lost my wallet at the theatre and it made me feel better. LOL. I walked in the host gave me and my friend an interesting look. A "why are THEY coming in here" look. But that may have just been me being paranoid. We were seated and immediately our waitress put water on the table. I had the Thai Green Curry with tofu and veggies...what can I say but "YUM"!!!!! It was very spicy which I love. I'm always upset at the fact that my curry at different place is bland. The serving was huge. Came with Jasmine rice and tons of veggies. I also tried the Ginger Ale. Awesome but not for me. I like the fake stuff. HEHEHE. My friend had the spicy sichuan beef which was pretty good except for the fact that the wine was over powering. Atmosphere was pretty cool and I had a good experience. Possibly stop by again since its so close to my job. Yay!!!
(3)Yoon L.
I'd give it a 3.5. Pros: spacious, good casual place to go with a group of friends or family, good appetizers Cons: service can vary. the first time i went was with a 8-10 group of sisters and it was prompt, attentive, etc. the second was with my mom and it was slow despite the place being half vacant, our waiter didn't check up on us once, and he only tried to appeal to us when he brought over the check ready to be signed & the tip line filled in. the do-it-yourself stir fry is overpriced- Flat-Top Grill in Evanston has much more variety and it's unlimited (though this only really matters to guys).
(3)Susan P.
Great food and family friendly. The kids love the "kid chopsticks" - makes eating alot easier for them. Always busy so a reservation is a must!
(4)James Michael S.
Definitely a solid choice. Plenty of good Chinese and Thai options. Was hoping for a little more when it came to their Pad Thai but the Kung Pao Tofu was very good.
(3)Alec S.
The food is okay, and the service was awkward at times. The manager started out by giving us complimentary app, which was very good and greatly appreciated. The potstickers and chicken satay app was very good, but the chicken pad thai main course was very bland. I asked to make it spicy and have a side of chili sauce, and they forgot to do both. Our server had a awkward demeanor, but he was very nice. Their Ginger Ale is great! I work just a block away, and every time I've ordered lunch they've messed up my order.
(3)Salmaan T.
Good service, fast, and yet the food seems very fresh and flavorful. Overall, a very good experience even if the manager seemed a bit like a rookie. Good stuff.
(4)Rachelle G.
Not great but not bad. Would I come back, probably not. Decent menu with a little bit of everything, nothing stood out though as something I really wanted to order. I ended up with the Schezwan Shrimp (at least that's what I think it was called), it was basically an assortment of carrots, onions, jicama and some other veggies doused in Siracha sauce with fried shrimp on top. Service was decent, however our server seemed to have a slight accent and didn't enunciate well which made it hard to understand what he was saying. Even when we would ask him to repeat things, we still couldn't quite make it out and would just order as we wanted.
(3)Dave S.
I was quite torn about how I was going to review this place. I wasn't sure exactly how I was going to proceed because I never had a dining experience quite like this one. It was a meal of major extremes. Everything either sucked or was outstanding. There really was no middle ground here. This was not only a meal, it was an adventure. You never knew what was going to be around the next turn! Major Kudos: 1)Our server - He took very good care of us and was very fast, efficient and friendly. I could not ask for more. 2)Ginger Ale - It was a hot day and the homemade ginger ale was a hit! It was delicious and refreshing and hit the spot. 3)Shrimp Pad Thai - Not taking into consideration the shrimp, I really enjoyed the flavor medley in the noodles. I have never tasted Pad Thai quite like this. The flavors worked very well together and I am thinking that this is one of my favorites. 4)Pot stickers - They were grilled up perfectly and had an outstanding flavor. Major Suckage: 1)Atmosphere - The temperature in the place was not comfortable at all. It was way too hot in here to properly enjoy the rest of my meal. The layout is very funky too. You had to take a winding road to the restroom as they were not conveniently located. 2)Shrimp Pad Thai - I did thoroughly enjoy the noodle part of my Pad Thai. The shrimp was another story. The shrimp had an overpowering nearly repugnant overly fishy taste to them. 3)Orange Chicken - This dish was extremely underwhelming and disappointing. It did not have much flavor to it at all. As the dish sat, the sauce became extremely thick and took on a sludge like quality to it. Holy Crap and a Half: Our server recommended for dessert a blueberry and peach crisp with homemade whipped topping. It sounded right up my alley so I decide to give it a whirl. I am very particular about my desserts and this stuff blew me away. Whenever I order a dessert in a restaurant, I am going to judge it against this particular dessert. I am confident in saying that this is probably the finest dessert that I have ever ordered in a restaurant before. It was not overly sweet as the fruit provided a good amount of natural sweetness. The creaminess/crispness and cool/warm contrasts were perfect! The dessert is what made me give this place three stars instead of two.
(3)Robyn T.
Good location but reservations are suggested for this area during peak times. I came on a Monday night after 8 and the place was empty with maybe 4 other tables...the service was equally vacant. Our server had one other table but would disappear for long periods of time, especially when we wanted something. Oh well. At least the food was pretty good. I loved my beef with broccoli -- loads of broccoli, tender beef morsels and mushrooms in a light wine sauce. The sauce was so good I was trying to get all my rice in the juices. Yummy. Lettuce wraps were good and I recommend them for sharing. I like that you can do the choose your own stir fry option as well. I like Big Bowl, but I have say I prefer the Gold Coast location to the River North one. The service seems to be better there and there aren't as many tourists (again this comes with the territory though).
(3)Michelle S.
3 words: ginger mint tea mmmmmmmm
(4)Ashique M.
The service was spectaular the food was pretty good. Ive been here twice and I just do not think I have found "MY" dish yet! Quality was good and fresh!
(3)Chris B.
Fantastic food, great service - a superb find!
(4)David G.
In Chicago on business and wanted a fast take-out wok bowl for the hotel room working lunch. I am from Seattle visiting. This was the closest place and they had a takeout counter in the restaurant. I ordered a yellow curry chicken with rice and veggie. It took less than 10 minutes and was packaged just right with everything needed to stand on its own. The meal was done very well, great flavor and quality veggie (string beans and peppers) and chicken. Well done! They have an extensive lunch take out menu and restaurant prices. I would be happy to go back and try more. I posted photos in the hotel room so you can see it firsthand.
(4)L H.
They got 1 thing right which is why they get 1 star. The drinks were terrible - a real Mai Tai isn't bright yellow and doesn't have mint in it. The "strawberry mojito" which they said was a specialty was watery and chunky. The worst was finding a very hot pepper in the Mongolian beef dish - after chewing it! Immediate pain and hot sweats ensued. We had to leave without eating our meals. A total disaster. When the bill came we had to discuss the charges - it shouldn't need to be discussed. A real management team would recognize the potential severe damage that could have been done. What did they get right? The Chix and peanut egg rolls were great.
(1)Tennille T.
I like Big Bowl very much. They use fresh ingredients and the spices are just right HOWEVER everytime I order my meal "without" peanuts this location ALWAYS adds them. For whatever reason I don't get this. I am not allergic but just don't like them as a personal preference but I wonder when this place will get sued for adding ingredients customers request not to add and someone has some major allergic reaction. Personally this is the only issue I have with this place. Manager/Owner please give the cooks training because if they continue to ignore customers food preferences and add a ingredient that causes harm, your establishment will get sued like nobody's business and I think if you are aware and step in you can avoid a butt load of trouble. P.S. If you have food allergies please don't eat at this location. My daughter has peanut allergies and had I gave her some of the food she would have probably had to be hospitalized or maybe even died because her allergy to peanuts is VERY high.
(3)Jackie C.
This place was exactly what we were looking for. We had an amazing waitress, Emily who was just a great person and loved the restaurant. I had a special salad and it was just incredible. One of the best salads I have ever had! My husband had the Kung Pao and he basically licked the bowl! We will definitely be back.
(5)Courtney F.
For a chain Chinese restaurant, I was REALLY surprised at how delicious and fresh everything here was! Fried rice was great and I had a watermelon sangria that was to die for. Would definitely return.
(4)Mark-Allen E.
A decent Chinese takeout or eat in option. I normally order the Orange Chicken, white rice no scallions - extra chicken. Always good. Orange chicken can be a big hit or big miss and I feel I consistently get good food from here. I'm not giving Big Bowl 4 stars because the kitchen area( you can see back into the kitchen as you walk to the bathrooms) is by far one of the most filthiest restaurant kitchens I have ever seen. It's odd to me because the rest of the restaurant is clean. Service from wait staff is lackluster at best. We eat here once or twice a month and it's like I have to sacrifice my unborn child to get a drink refill. Also their alcohol drinks are terrible. I have only had one decent drink at Big Bowl. The food for the most part is enough to compensate for Big Bowls lackluster customer service and other downfalls.
(3)Michael S.
Great place great people i use to work at the location on ceder 2yrs ago...these people are like family they do everything fresh no short cuts...must check it out its a must...best new school thai Chinese food in town.
(5)Kevin C.
Fresh local ingredients sourced for all their menu items. No frozen foods. The quality was very good for a chain restaurant. Pleasantly surprised. I dined in a two occasions: work lunch and a dinner for some out of town visitors. They have a lunch menu with smaller portions which I'd recommend if you'd like to skip the food coma after getting back to the office. The pot stickers and dumplings are a good place to start a meal. Lettuce wraps are a large portion and would likely serve 3-4 people. I tried the shrimp and scallop entree for lunch. A bit on the sweet side even knowing it was a ginger soy dressing. Great tasting seafood. On the dinner occasion I went with the less adventurous sesame chicken. Good stuff, no grisly chicken, no thick breading, with a kick of spice. Overall I'd recommend a lunch visit or a affordable dinner alternative for the area. Service was attentive on both accounts and I can't share any negatives. Chop chop.
(4)Joe K.
Visiting from out of town. Took the family and everything we ordered was fresh and flavorful. Service was outstanding and prices were great!!! I will defiantly be back for more!! Keep up the great work.
(5)Hang T.
From the looks of the exterior, you already know that this place is not going to have authentic Asian food, but I still wanted to try it out. My final thoughts is that what the place lacks with the food, it makes up with the level of service. When we first got there, we were given free crab rangoon I believe because we were first timers. We were personally greeted by the manager before our meal began and they were so accommodating to our large group. The baby needed vegetables reheated to a certain consistency and they heated it twice for us so she could get it down. I ordered the chicken pad thai. While the flavors were there, I got more vegetable and beans sprouts than anything else. My husband ordered the pho appetizer and the bbq pork buns. The pho did not taste like traditional pho. It was like Asian Chicken noodle soup. I did like the bbq pork buns. They were tasty. All in all, I think if they were trying to be authentic with the food, it didn't work. If they were trying to bring a new twist to traditional dishes, that didn't work either. I think they just need to pick one direction and plan this recipes accordingly. The people from these China and Thailand would be very unhappy with the food here.
(3)Trena R.
When traveling and in doubt of what you want to eat, ask the trendy 20-something working at the hotel, right? He was spot on. It was about a mile walk from the hotel and worth every step. The waiter was friendly, great at reading body language (knowing when to do a drive-by and when to engage us in chit chat). He was quick with drink recommendations and guidance on the food - local, organic, delicious! The food was incredible. I had the pad thai and sampled a friend's Sesame Chicken. OMG. I *must* get back to Chicago so I can eat my way through the menu. This is one of the restaurants where I could walk in, say "surprise me" and be over-the-moon happy. Ooops... I think I just drooled on my keyboard.
(5)Jessie Elizabeth J.
Big Bowl is good, flavorful food depending on what you order. The make-your-own stirfry is a good bulky meal for the price. The Thai curries are tasty and well portioned. Avoid the "prime" beef dishes as the meat is not tender and the sauces for dark meat dishes can be bland. Is it solid thai and Chinese? Yes! But a wee bit overpriced and more about the atmosphere than the food.
(3)Brianna L.
Let me start off by saying I absolutely love big bowl. This location had friendly and attentive staff. I prefer the flavor of the food at the woodfield location better tho. I also like the location in woodfield better esp since its FREE parking. Parking prices in Chicago are just redonk. I really disliked the seating situation. We had to sit at a high table, which is uncomfortable after a while. The seating was also super tight. Like if I moved I would have touched the person behind me and the person to my left. I don't think I'll be back to this location. A sweet treet was that they did give us chocolate covered strawberries on the house bc it was Valentine's day.
(4)Arun C.
This was definitely the best Chinese food / Stir Fry place I've ever been to. Starting with the ambience, it was warm and friendly. Nothing too fancy but not like typical Chinese restaurants. This would almost hit the fine dining category in terms of ambience. The waitress was extremely friendly and explained everything very nicely. She was very pleasant. The food options weren't too overwhelming. They had 6-8 dishes in Chinese, the same number in Thai and the option of Stir Fry bowl. The appetizer menu looked interesting but we skipped that and so I cannot comment about that. I went for the Stir Fry bowl while my wife chose to go with Kung Pao noodles from the menu along with their Orange Ginger Ale, both of which she raved about. The stir fry bowl - The vegetable selection was quite good and the veggies looked fresh. Something different about this place is that they do not stir fry your choice of protein along with the veggies. Only the veggies are stir fried and served along with rice and meat which is prepared separately. It was delivered quickly and the taste was just amazing! The sauces they had used were just perfect and I cannot wait to go and have it again! Unfortunately that means making a trip to Chicago. They do not have one in Houston Overall, me and my wife completely loved the place and are looking forward to coming back here soon!
(5)Belinda L.
On our last trip to the Windy City we decided to give this a try cos Eataly was too busy and this was just across the street on the way back to our hotel. It was pretty crowded when we stopped by so we thought that was a good sign. But I guess being a Saturday night and right downtown at Magnificent Mile, this did not mean much. The interior was nice and cool, semi-dark lighting with numerous TVs showing different sports channels. They also have a bar where you can order drinks and sit around while you wait for your table to be ready. We started with the calamari, thai-styled. That was good, it came with a sweet-sour dipping sauce. For main courses we ordered the BBQ pork fried rice, which is also char skew fried rice in asian terminology, and the pad-thai. According to the waiter those were good choices. To us those seemed pretty normal, which was unfortunate. Each time I go to Chicago one of the things I look forward to is the food, but this didn't leave me particularly satisfied. The service was great though, I have to credit them for that. Our waiter was friendly and knows the menu well. He also helped us pack the leftover fried rice to go and gave us some fresh dipping sauce to go with it. Next time I am in town I will make it a point to plan out where to go for meals, do some research etc on what is around the area, especially during peak periods where places will be busy...
(3)Sadia H.
The Red Hot Pepper Chicken Noodles was great. Very spicy! Don't add the hot sauce to this. It's very flavorful and the portions are huge. Good place to go to after shopping in the Magnificent Mile area.
(3)Prashanth M.
I have been to this place at least 50 times and I started loving the sangria and the stir fried that you can create by selecting own vegetables a lot. I don't know how many times it happened that I went out of the apartment to eat something and I ended up here. I like most of the things. I am giving 4 stars because they didn't tell me the first time that there was fish based sauce in the pad thai noodles and they can't do it without it.
(4)N S.
Over ate but the quality is always great. This time I focused on the Chinese menu and all of it was great. Orange chicken was excellent but not as much chicken. I'll have to ask for extra chicken next time. This was carry out so maybe the box was smaller. Usually when we sit down to eat we always have extra chicken of the orange chicken !!!the bill for two take out was 78$$$ a little high but it was triple points. !!!!!
(5)Christina S.
My boyfriend and I agree that this place is a fancy Panda Express. If you're looking for authentic food you won't find it here. If you're looking for a place to enjoy overpriced Asian cuisine with a nicer ambience than Panda Express, this is your place. We ordered the shrimp pad Thai and the spicy cashew chicken. Both were nice dishes but a little saltier than I liked. Portion sizes were good and we had leftovers to spare. I will probably stick to Panda over Big Bowl.
(3)Dimple M.
Love the food but hate it that all curries are made in fish oil. Being a vegetarian that limits my options. Green curry is extremely spicy and would help if you offer to tone it down. Service is always awesome.
(4)Hollina U.
Meh. I think I might have been biased going in because I typically don't like Asian chain restaurants... also very picky about my Asian cuisine. I ordered the Penang curry here... which was good--- the chicken was cooked perfectly, and wasn't dry like I was worried about-- I hate ordering chicken because I'm always expecting it to come out overcooked. But it was good-- the curry wasn't bad either. I requested them to add tofu as well (well, actually I requested for a mix of half tofu, half chicken, but they said they had to add it for an additional charge, which, fine, I guess makes sense), but the tofu was just meh and flavorless. But that's the thing--- tofu is often something that a lot of Western restaurants can't do right... and I count Big Bowl as one of them. But if it's cooked right it's delicious! But whatever, I guess maybe another tofu centric dish here could be good and I didn't know. Prices are higher than what I typically would pay for Asian food too... but I guess it's a nicer atmosphere than most Asian restaurants, so that's where the premium comes in? It's nice that they have a carry out area! (But then if I want carry out Asian food, I'd drag my feet over to Panda)
(3)Emin S.
Full restaurant, I loved the crowd. Ambiance is great. Not too quiet, not too loud -- everyone around me was smiling and having a great time.. I had the pad Thai that was very unique, burst with fresh herbs and was also lighter healthier than any I have had. Tangy, and played with my tastebuds kept me guessing. I would be curious to taste their other dishes, that will have to wait until next time. Friendly service, affordable price, overall a great experience even when you are dining by yourself.
(5)Karol N.
Decent spot for a quick lunch. Nothing special food wise, it's better to stick to Chinese options since their American versions are better than Americanized Thai food.
(3)Fan Y.
I was looking for asian. I walked in thinking- gee not a single asian person in here, no worries, this isn't chinatown so I wouldn't expect that anyways. I mean the ambiance was great, there was a sitdown bar. The kitchen was within view. Service seemed friendly(everyone was american so english wasn't an issue).. I ordered the teriyaki friend rice, which looked appetizing with generous portions including lots of veggies and meat. They even included a pair of chopsticks! I really looked forward to it. Unfortunately, the dish was the saltiest thing I have had from a restuarant in years. It tasted like they doubled the portion of salt either by mistake or by design. I didn't complain at the time because I was hungry, had a cold and was coughing a lot, so I wanted to quickly eat and go home. So far, I've drank 2 liters of water after coming home and my thirst has not yet been quenched. It seems like this fit the stereotypical bad asian fusion restuarant- checked all the boxes except the food.
(2)Chrissey N.
Love. The food is always flavorful, and Chris is such a nice waiter! I've been here quite a few times, and the food is like a chic re-invention of traditional Chinese and Thai dishes, don't go expecting authentic, but I like this even more than authentic! Love the spicy Kung pao chicken- it has to be my favorite dish!
(5)Ben B.
Big Bowl is great upscale Asian fare. First thing you must do upon sitting down is to order a fresh ginger ginger ale. So crisp and clean with just enough ginger bite. I'm also a huge fan of the spicy Sichuan beef. On a spicy meter, I'd put this around a 6/10. A nice kick, but nothing where you'd be fanning your tongue or shooting steam out your ears. Atmosphere is dark and inviting, especially if you land a booth. For some reason, I always forget Big Bowl exists. Not sure why. It's delicious, well-cooked food at reasonable prices and a nice atmosphere. Great for dates, friends or business hang-outs.
(4)Brianna D.
Was walking down Michigan avenue looking for a place to eat yelping every restaurant we walked past, walked past Big Bowls and didn't have a chance to yelp it before my boyfriend wondered in. Hands down best pad Thai I have ever had! Our server was absolutely wonderful! So nice and sweet and friendly. Will be craving this place every day
(5)Hannah S.
I ordered out from Big Bowl this past Sunday evening through Grub Hub. This was my first time trying them. I ordered 2 of the Sesame Chickens. Once I place the order it said the wait time was 2 hours, so I immediately called the restaurant and canceled. I told the woman on the other end of the phone that I had ordered through Grub Hub and she assured me the order was canceled. I even asked "so it's canceled-there is nothing else I have to do?". Sure enough some time later there was a knock at our door. I told the delivery driver I called to cancel and sent the food back with him. So the next morning I filled out a dispute charge with Grub Hub and heard nothing back. I had to call Grub Hub 4 times to get the charge reversed, because Grub Hub would call the restaurant and the restaurant would shrug them off and say they had to look into it. Finally one woman from Grub Hub got back to me and said the restaurant claims they did not get the food back. So either the restaurant is lying or the delivery driver ate my food. I will never give this restaurant money again. Grub Hub refunded me not the restaurant. We did place a new order for pick up for the 2 Sesame Chickens before I knew the debacle I would face with the delivery mix up. They were mediocre at best the chicken was soggy and the fried rice lacked flavor. I can't imagine how bad it would have been if we waited for delivery.
(2)Jill H.
Had lunch at Big Bowl while in town on business. Started with steamed dumplings that were served in a tasty sauce. I had the lunch portion of sesame chicken served in a bed of brown rice and thoroughly enjoyed it. Portion size was great, if not generous, and the sauce was tangy & delicious. My only wish is that there was one near Detroit so I have it more frequently!
(4)Ayperish A.
I love Big Bowl. Food is always delicious!!!
(5)Elizabeth P.
Excellent food + excellent service! We came for lunch and ended up getting an appetizer of the sampler potstickers (which were so yummy). We couldn't pass up the dessert sampler either which was equally as yummy. We definitely want to come back.
(5)Doug W.
FOOD - I had a date here, and we split 1 entre and 1 main course dish. Both dishes consisted of spicy noodles with peanut sauce and peppers, and they were AMAZING. - Portions are small for the $. - Food quality is simply great. - Don't buy dessert here; $5 gets you about 3 bites of whatever you choose, since the portions are really small. SERVICE - The waitress we had was nice, but seated us at a 4ft-tall table, which was not the booth we requested. Inconvenient. RESTAURANT - The place is really nice inside. Decorated beautifully. - Nowhere to park besides parking garages; inconvenient. - Floors and tables were clean. OVERALL - Would go here again, but only after receiving a paycheck. Great food, but cost does not afford equal servings in my opinion.
(4)John M.
What's up with no pork dumplings and chicken egg rolls? But the service is great and the food is not bad.
(2)Izzy N.
Ok FINE it's been years now and big bowl has proven itself to me some. But.. I only order 2 things after a little absence. Shrimp pad thai with no peanuts, no cilantro, no beansprouts and no basil :) then I pile on the chili sauce.... maybe.. MAYBE some potstickers if the company I'm with wants to split it and or their ginger ale. That's it!! I don't veer towards any other version of their pad thai.. Cuz it's been disappointing in the past. Otherwise I'm not the biggest fan of their other dishes. I find it salty, meh and an atrocity. Recently I've been here on a date night and it's always dependable cuz I order the same thing over and over again and just low key enough without being a total dump atmosphere wise for some company otherwise I'm cool with eating food from a cart down the street. Mexican corn in a cup from a dirty cart is fucking delicious. So for a quick fix that's low maintenance cuz Lord knows we are lacking in delicious asian eats in this neighborhood and in Chicago in general... I'm allowed to be lazy after 40+ hours of work a week and not cook myself some asian flavors or trek to mediocre Chinatown or disappointing argyle. You're pretty good big bowl but if I were going home to Portland soon of course I wouldn't miss you. Risen from the dead for sure.
(3)Salina L.
I wanted pho because I'm sick so sent hubby out. Big Bowl was the closest. Pho was nasty! Potstickers were terrible. Orange chicken was pathetic. The worst Chinese/ Vietnamese food EVER. I now feel worse than before the pho.
(1)Jigna S.
Loved this place! (Better than flat top grill in my opinion)! I've only tried the stir fry bar option and it was delicious and in huge portions! You can choose your meat, sauce rice or noodles and veggies (or you can select the chef's choice of veggies and you don't have to get up to go to the stir fry bar). I got the sesame crusted chicken with sichuan sauce (so it had a nice spicy kick), fried rice and my own selection of veggies. It was soooo good!!! Will definitely be coming back to try their other dishes, especially the pad thai, which they are famous for.
(4)Mike P.
Surprisingly good food and great staff for a chain restaurant located in the most crowded part of the city. Being around or on Michigan Ave during the holidays makes my skin crawl. This past weekend Big Bowl gave us a great lunch with really excellent service when the joint was absolutely packed. A needed oasis from all the crowded stores.
(4)Chelsea F.
Atmosphere, ok. Food, good. Service, great. Came here hungry and was more than satisfied. I was torn between Kung Pao Shrimp and sesame chicken and our server Michal, the very handsome guy with tattoos, told me to get the sesame chicken and I was thoroughly pleased. I especially like how he was honest and not trying to simply up sale. He was very attentive and always kept up with our drinks! We tried each of the deserts and they were great!! Michal gets an A+
(4)Mia F.
I liked the online order capability, speed and takeout service accommodation, but the food was mediocre.
(2)JJ Q.
Comfort food with a distinct Asian flavor. Authentic? Not particularly. Good. Yes! A step up from P.F. Chang's, and a longish one at that...but then it's part of the Lettuce Entertain You chain. And that shows. That said, I'm hardly damning it with faint praise, although I suspect that one of the reasons I like it so, is because it's about a block from the Homewood Suites where I usually stay in Chicago. The food is NOT drowning in sugary sauces, that cheat of cut-rate faux Chinese restaurants, and the flavor of the ingredients does come through. The regular menu dishes are decent, though I've come to love the 'pick your own' section: you pre-select the meat (or tofu!) and the sauce, then when you're ready, go up to the selection of vegetables by the kitchen and select the blend you want. And the house-made ginger soda is delicious. I'll be back, never fear. And enjoy it.
(4)Michael B.
Had a food emergency! The ladies stomach clock went off and they had to be fed immediately. Wanting ramen, we bolted towards the little Japanese place in Hotel Tokyo only to find it closed. Spotting Big Bowl just down the street, we got there just in time to avert a complete meltdown, but it came at a price...the food. It is what it is and I'm sure it has it following and tourist business. The staff are very nice!
(2)Davin C.
Very first time at Big Bowl, and very pleased with the food, service, and ambiance! Highly recommended it and out waitress, Claudia, was very friendly, kind, helpful, and very pretty! Food was outstanding! Got the Mongolian Beef, and one of the best I've had! Will definitely be going back!
(5)Sam P.
Came in after a horrible vibe and walking out of RPM ITALIAN. Vibe is great. Easy going and waitstaff is nice.
(4)Brian M.
I stopped in to Big Bowl based on an extremely favorable review from a friend and I have to admit that despite it being a chain it was actually very good. The Chicken Pot Stickers and the Orange Chicken, however I decided to go with the Seven Flavor Chicken which was amazing. It was very unique, a little spicy, a little sweet, a little savory, it was just delicious. Now the pot stickers where great, very flavorful and the sauces were good, well at least two out of the three were. The one mustard based (I think) sauce did not go with the pot stickers at all however the other two were great. I decided to also order a Big Bowl Blonde Ale, which was pretty good. I was under the assumption that it was a specialty brew just for Big Bowl however I did some research and discovered its actually made by Wild Onion, and is available in 12oz cans. I might have to try to track this down! Overall Big Bowl offers good food, good service at reasonable prices for downtown Chicago. The service was fast and I have to admit that I will probably return on my next trip to Chicago. I think next time I will have to try the Orange Chicken.
(4)Saahithi G.
Big Bowl is my favorite Thai place in the town. THey have a stirfry option as well. My favorites: Potstickers Spicy Thai Green Curry with Tofu Thai Hot Pepper with Rice with Shrimp/Chicken Ginger Ale is good as well.
(5)Lynn H.
I got the sesame chicken stir fry. I haven't tried anything else, but I loved this! I loved how I got to choose all the veggies I wanted in my dish and the portions are huge. About $15, but it is very filling and tasty. For waiting something relatively quick and good, I would definitely come back here. That's why I gave it a 5-star...it's awesome for what it is.
(5)Sara L.
I keep dreaming about this meal, even though it was only days ago. We walked and walked in the city to get here. I was so hungry and thirsty by the time we arrived. I got seltzer and lemon to drink. Tasted like the best thing I've ever had in my life. They do not skimp on lemon, let me tell you. Two big chunks. So fresh. I got vegetable teriaki, make your own stir fry. The veggies come from local farms. Love it. I can't wait to go back and get the same thing.
(5)Jodie S.
I ordered the chicken pad thai and it was very yummy! The atmosphere of the restaurant was great. Our appetizer was delivered incorrectly, but our waiter quickly fixed the issue and let us keep the wrong one. We didn't wait too long for our food and the waiter was great about refilling our water.
(4)Sacha F.
Eh. I had really quick and great service but I'm not a fan of this food. It's definitely better than China Star, or whatever crappy Chinese food branch is in Chicago, but it's definitely not authentic. I ordered the orange chicken, and I'd probably rate it a 6/10. Lunch portion size was fine, wasn't heavily sauced or fried but it wasn't in my top five and I probably wouldn't recommend this place or come back. Giving three stars based on the awesome bar tender.
(3)Blaine T.
I really love their vegetable pad Thai a! Nom.
(3)Kim B.
Great menu for a group who doesn't know what to choose. Dumplings, small Pho and pork buns all very good. Especially the dumpling and 3 sauces. Since I was there for first time, manager Justin stopped by with a little free app and said hello. Great touch and overall good service. Came back with a big group and did the group dinner. So much good and all very good. Service want as good this time but still worth coming again for sure.
(5)Ravi N.
This is one of my new all time favorite asian restaurants. I had the orange chicken, and the others I say with had the cashew chicken, teriyaki shrimp and scallops, and the Mongolian beef. I also had some of the best tea and ginger ale in my life. Very good food and a great atmosphere.
(5)Kathleen C.
Big Bowl is good, but not the best Asian food in the city. It is very much good for the casual lover of food, but not for someone who loves Asian food (at least as far as I can tell as I've found much better options elsewhere). However, it is relatively quick and easy and they are friendly at every location I've been at. I tried the pad thai with chicken and tried to get it spicy. It was a smidge spicy, but not overly so (probably catering to the typical customer that doesn't know their spice, so they are 'safe'). The atmosphere isn't great for a downtown restaurant, but it's a solid choice if you're hungry. Food - 3 Value - 4 Atmosphere - 3 Service - 4 Bathrooms - 3
(3)Kristen W.
Don't be turned off that this is a chain restaurant, this restaurant is part of the Lettuce Entertain You group and doesn't disappoint! Service was great and the bar manager was awesome! The strawberry sangria was really great, I love any sangria with fresh fruit in it! We both had the chicken pad thai and it was really good, the ingredients were fresh. i can't wait to go again.
(4)Maureen M.
Just one block from Michigan Avenue and the Mag Mile, the vibe on a weekday at lunch time is a blend of locals and out-of-town adults. There is a kids menu but it doesn't seem to attract kids despite hordes of them on the Mag Mile. The service was attentive and almost obsequious but not overboard. The lunch menu is limited but sufficient. I liked the option of jasmine rice, brown rice or fried rice. I love ginger ale but very seldom drink soft drinks. The ginger ale had a nice bite that paired well with the food but it was TOO sweet. A drier ginger ale would have been just perfect. The portions were reasonable and the food was high quality but the amount of chicken in our chicken dishes (Kung Pao and the seasonal special General Tsao) was small. On the other hand, there was an abundance of peanuts in one dish and more than enough onions in the other. Still looking for Chinese food in the neighborhood, I'll stick to Star of Siam for Thai.
(2)John G.
For a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant this seems to have a lack of attention. This is the second time we've had a problem here. The staff tried to make things good but there is a problem in the kitchen. The last time they were out of brown rice. This time we started with a new item, BBQ pork buns. The meat was uneatable, tough and had chunks we both couldn't chew. The vegetables you choose for the stir fry were wilted and tired. I don't know what was in the spinach.
(1)Sean C.
Chinese and Thai, trendy but I'm not bowled over. But we didn't eat that much a variety, admittedly. I am annoyed that the main dish of PAD THAI came out before the appetizer of CHICKEN DUMPLINGS. About the main dish, I do appreciate they use quality, organic and plump white chicken mixed in with the noodles. If you're here, do order the organic made-from-real-ginger GINGER ALE. #sincerity
(3)Dina T.
Loved this place! We are here after finding a massive wait at the other restaurant we were thinking of going to. I'm so glad we ended up here. Our server was so sweet! She was super attentive, kept our drinks full, and even brought us an appetizer "on the house" after hearing it was our first time to one of their restaurants. My husband and daughter got the stir-fry which they both enjoyed immensely. I got the sesame chicken. It was the best sesame chicken I've ever had! Yum! We also had their edamame and their chicken peanut egg rolls for apps. All around a great experience. My husband thought it was a tad expensive but I thought it was decently priced considering the overall service and food as well as the location; smack dab in the center of Chi town.
(5)Vee S.
My mom was a patient at NW hospital and hadn't had an appetite in days and wanted orange chicken so I choose this place because of the reviews and the proximity to the hospital. I order thru DinningIn orange chicken and the shrimp pad Thai. ANd it was AWFUL!! THE CHICKEN WAS Vinegary and and the pad thai was horrible and sticky BOTH DISHES were disappointing!!! my moms favorite place is Yummy Thai but I wanted to give this place a try and it ended up costing me $30.40 NEVER AGAIN!!!
(1)Joel B.
The service was good but, dont eat here unless your white and you like crappy mall chinese food. The pad thai i got tasted like sweat. There was no flavor besides a hint of sour sauce and sweat. If you want good authentic thai/chinese steer clear. I had high hopes due to the good reviews but this place is garabage. So if you want some good ole greasy white people food then go ahead eat here. You will love it.
(2)Tam D.
Went there yesterday and ordered the pho and thought, You've got to be joking. The menu said it served 2-3 people. The bowl I got barely served me. It was an average-size bowl of flavorless chicken broth with 3 or 4 pieces of chicken and a handful of noodles. That's it. And it cost 12 or 13 bucks. Seriously!
(1)Miranda S.
Lunchtime was pretty quick and their portions were recently scaled back. I like the 'mongolian bbq' idea where you pick everything and have them cook it for you. It's delicious and healthy.
(4)Joel T.
Horrible service and very inconsistent food and whoever heard of Asian restaurant wo soy sauce?
(1)Danielle M.
In town for a conference and looking for a GF friendly restaurant near my hotel. Great choice. Food was delicious, with lots of GF choices (on a separate menu no less). Waiter was very friendly and a bonus was a nice bar so I could have a glass of wine with dinner. Prices were quite reasonable for prime downtown location. All around good experience.
(5)Gigi D.
Here's what was really tasty: the chicken dumplings, twice-cooked green beans, mongolian beef, and yellow coconut curry with tofu. Everyone loved the fried rice, and the brown rice was great too. The portions are pretty big, so three of us shared two entrees and two small plates. Unlike at most Chinese places, the mongolian beef has lots more mushrooms than onions and beef, so if that isn't your thing, skip it. Even their spicy dishes aren't super spicy, but they offer some chili sauce to kick things up. Took off a star for slow service.
(4)Tj W.
Went in for lunch on a Friday around 12:00. The service was good the food was pretty good as well. I recommend the east side drink, gin, cucumber, mint, and lime..: you won't regret it... Especially with a screaming baby.
(4)Adrianne D.
Mickie is an excellent manager at this location, there was an issue with my carry out order, shrimp instead of chicken. He did not make an issue out of it. I corrected the situation and was friendly. I enjoy big bowl and will continue to support this location as I appreciate the customer service and love the food!!
(5)Latoya M.
Really enjoyed my meal here!!! The Server was absolutely Amazing. Not a place I would have picked, However very pleased that my cousin picked this place. Will be back :)
(4)Sara P.
Start from the appetizer the lettuce wrap was Good. I like the sauce that comes with it. I ordered yellow curry with supposed to have tofu in there but none. I tried to get attention with my server. He's gone right after the food came so I can't wait then I ate my wrong order and never checked with us until we asked for the bill.2stars from the appetizer and my friend's order she said hers was very good.
(2)Francis R.
Big Bowl seems to be my number one stop to cash in on those Lettuce Entertain You rewards. Their service is always great and the staff always friendly. Make sure you get your free order of chicken or vegetable potstickers with the Foursquare app check-in! The dish comes with 5 pieces and an assortment of sauce to dip in. Nice flavors all around! I ordered the Spicy Sichuan Beef and boy was that spicy but delicious! If you aren't a fan of spicy, I'm sure you could ask them to tone it down a bit. Lucky our waitress had my water refilled regularly so it was doable. My date ordered the Panang Curry Chicken over noodles which I had recommended to her having order that on my last visit to a Big Bowl. The dish is typically served over rice, but over noodles is a nice change up from a traditional Thai curry dish. I forgot to mention the drinks! Their sangria is always spot on! On this past visit, they had the seasonal watermelon sangria, which was absolutely refreshing on these warm Chicago summer evenings. Definitely worth a try! Until next time, cheers!
(4)Neha M.
I went for a friend's birthday celebration. I ordered green curry vegetables and it was awesome. The dessert we ordered was really good. All of us liked the food as well as the service.
(5)Autumn L.
The Big Bowel restaurant is Asian restaurant, and concentrates in Chinese and Thai cuisine. They have really delicious Chinese and Thai food, the service is also fast, and atmosphere is really comfortable and attractive, as well as the location is very prosperous. I went to the restaurant with my friends for dinner. The restaurant is located in the center of Chicago, nearby Wabash and Michigan Street, which means they have a good location. There are also many customers that mean their food is really attractive. I ordered the Kong Pao Chicken which served by a unique plate, it was really delicious. In terms of my own experience, I recommend the "Spicy cashew chicken" which is crispy chicken, hot peppers fiery chill sauce, and it taste is really delicious. And, I love spicy food which the restaurant also offer many type of spicy food. For the atmosphere, the decoration with solid Chinese culture, as well as they have light music which makes people more enjoy the food. The menu is really easy for people to understand, because they have clearly and separate Chinese and Thai menu, also they separate their features. In addition, in terms of the level of service, the waiter is very friendly and kindly. However, I think that they still have to improve their service, the reason why is because when I ordered beverage, the cups is not really clean. Furthermore, for the location, because the Big Bowel restaurant is located in the downtown, so it is really hard for parking, but there still have the public parking place next by the restaurant, of course, it is very expensive, like 5 dollars for half hour, 15 dollars for an hour and half.
(4)Carlo B.
Just finished dinner at the Big Bowl. Service was excellent. Good size portions and great taste. I had beef & broccoli with Jasmine rice. It hit the spot. Appetizers were pork dumplings and crab rolls. Again it was great. Great atmosphere and good for families.
(4)Angel L.
Came here for my brothers birthday and absolutely loved it. The service was phenomenal, food was something different but still really good. Love the setting and environment. If you go ask for Naima as the server, she was the bomb!
(5)David A.
Another lunch visit, another good meal. Kung Pao Chicken was just spicy enough. Despite being busy our server Piotr took great care of us, our drinks were always full and we got our order quickly. Will definitely visit again when in Chicago!
(4)Jennifer G.
My husband and I go to Big Bowl a couple of times a year and had such a pleasant experience Christmas Eve. They had a 15 minute wait when we stopped in that night so we decided to just eat at the bar. Our bartender was very attentive and our mai tai and mojito were very nicely done...and sitting at the bar, very quick! We started with the spicy green beans, and they were delicious. In most places - chains especially - when you order spicy, it's not really spicy - it's Midwestern spicy. Big Bowl's spicy green beans were spicy and so good. We ate them up very quickly. We then had the Kung Pao Beef with green beans (it was a theme that night I guess!) and the Thai Hot Pepper with Rice and Shimp. The Kung Pao was good but the sauce was a little heavier than I usually like and I did have to add more chili paste to it. However, the Thai Hot Pepper dish was delicious and had a slow spiciness in your mouth. It was a really light sauce and very good. I would get that dish over and over. As I mentioned - our bartender / server was very good and the food came out really quickly. We will definitely go back - and maybe now that we have tried the spicy green beans and Thai Hot Pepper dish - maybe more than just a few times a year.
(4)Marilee F.
Great spot for an Asian lunch or dinner. Wait staff was friendly and helpful with the menu. I found the menu limited, the only reason I didn't give a 5th star
(4)Clarissa T.
This place was very good. Service was a bit slow, but that won't keep me from coming back. I had the pa gang curry and it was wonderful!
(4)Jerrod K.
Overpriced, mediocre food that lacks any cultural authenticity. If you want mass-market Asian, Panda Express does it for about half the price, and is much kinder to your palate (and that's saying something!). We ordered a Pad Thai and Pho. The Pad Thai was pretty poor, with a flavor that I struggled to place. Thankfully I called a bit of an audible and special ordered it with the crunchy sesame chicken instead of the normal chopped chicken. Normally, pad thai can stand on its own, but I had to mix in the sesame chicken to make it edible. On the bright side, the crunchy sesame chicken was very good, and does offer at least some hope for other dishes. The Pho Bowl was advertised as being for "2-3 people". How, I have no idea - it wasn't even enough for one! Instead of the usual beef, it came with chicken. Ugh. The flavor was reminiscent of those $1 cans of instant soup you buy at a grocery store. In fact, I probably would have preferred a good Progresso or Campbell's Chunky over what these guys had to offer. Again, not a ringing endorsement.... The Sangria was good, but again, was expensive and fairly small/watered-down. Service was okay -- but we actually had to ask for chopsticks. And hoisin and hot sauce for the pho. Ugh. Chicago - you do not have to settle for this place. There are much better alternatives just a stone's throw away!
(1)Ryan B.
The worst curry I've ever had. Terrible. They took 1 hour 45 minutes to deliver it too.
(1)Christie M.
Wow really? This is pricey but I expected it since its Chicago. Portions are giant! Unfortunately we had no microwave at our hotel so had to leave the food. The place had a nice decor to it, kinda like how PF Changs but slightly more Asian. Taste was decent. Super busy there, but it doesn't excuse why our waiter never checked up on us and me having to flag him down 3 times for various things like straws for my kids' cups. Our boys just can't sit through 2-3 hrs worth of dining. Hoping to get in/out fast....yeaa no way.
(3)Abby L.
Good atmosphere, decent food. Not exceptional cuisine but still pretty good food. The staff are polite and know what they're talking about, and the options on the menu are good. Pretty comfortable place for a well priced meal.
(4)Stephanie L.
I got dragged here by my better half. I have never been to Big Bowl. I avoid chains like the plague. Especially chains downtown, but I was pleasantly surprised with Big Bowl. Our server was one of the best servers I have ever had. That is a HUGE compliment. He appropriately checked on us, brought condiments, cleared dishes, etc. Amazing. Its kind of sad for me to say that I got better service at a chain than most independent and expensive restaurants. The food was excellent as well. Lettuce wraps are delish. Great spice, sauce, crunchy and portion size. The potstickers are pretty standard and come with three dipping sauces. I am a potsticker junky and this did the trick. Our entree was the thai chicken with peanuts and basil. It was a decent portion with some kick! Not to mention, I added lots of the thai chili spice. The ginger, ginger ale was extremely refreshing. I hate to say it, but I wont have to be dragged here kicking and screaming next time :)
(4)Patrick D.
After last visit decided to try again. 2nd visit was like a completely different place. Service was attentive, food was good. Pleasantly surprised.
(4)Joe M.
Really really bad... The staff here is off the charts awful. A few things to keep in mind if you do decide to visit this Big Bowl... 1) DO NOT think about requesting a modification to any item on the menu (you will get a huge attitude and it probably won't come right anyway). 2) DO NOT be allergic to any ingredients on the menu (you have a 50/50 shot at still getting the allergen in your food). 3) DO NOT even think about ordering a take out order within 45 minutes of closing time (you will find yourself banging on a locked door 15 minutes later when you arrive to pick up your order). Not to mention the attitudes of the people that work here in the evening. I arrived at 9:45 to pick up my order and found the door locked (they close at 10). I had to bang on the door to get a staff member to acknowledge me. Once let inside, not a single word was spoken to me and my food was practically thrown at me, not even in a bag. I was handed a bill, charged and shown the door without so much as a thank you or good night. And then what happened, you guessed it, order wrong, as usual..... A little background.... I am a Lettuce Entertain You Frequent Diner Gold Member and order from this Big Bowl at least once a week the exact same order. This is typical of my experience here at least half the time.
(1)Lucia F.
An extreme mediocrity. The service was excellent, and I was brought an extra seltzer water without asking! However, all the food was covered with this sickening, un-tasty brown sauce that made me sick just thinking about it! They took my chicken satay of the bill, which was fine. The chicken dumplings were no better, but after wiping the sauce off a bit, the rating went up just a bit. I would not return! However, the fortune cookies were yummy!
(2)Jay F.
I have not had a return business trip to Chicago yet when I haven't fed my craving for Big Bowl fare. I absolutely love the Kung Pow Chicken & Noodles - never disappoints. The Chicken Pad Thai rocks as well. I always bring new visitors here if I have the choice of restaurant options.
(5)Lauren S.
Great dinner last night. The place was packed and our food and service were still spot on. Getting seated took a bit as we wanted a booth but other parties waiting got seated quickly and with a smile. Our server was good. Picked up after us on our table so it was never left with a mess and brought drinks in a timely fashion. She was polite and working hard with many tables but she always had time for the table when she was taking orders or checking in. Food last night was great. We had egg rolls, satays, stir fry bar one with chicken the other with salmon and 7 flavor beef. Everything was pipping hot, flavorful and delicous. We dine at Big Bowl a few times a month and though they have made mistakes 9 times out of 10 they hit it out of the park. My only complaint is managers should get to know there customers better. We've been to BB at least 50 times and never once has a manager stopped by to say hi thank for coming in or anything.
(5)Nick E.
Huge disappointment! I expected to have a great meal here but instead my food was terrible! The vegetable potstickers had nuts in them which mixed awful with the vegetables! It made me wan to vomit! Luckily the waitress took it off the bill. The dumpling soup had dumplings that were ok but the soup itself had barely any taste and what I could taste was like dishwater! Worst restaurant meal I've had in a long time
(1)Joseph H.
My family needed a last minute restaurant with a gluten-free menu prior to a concert that evening so I called Big Bowl on Ohio street and the staff could not be more accommodating. I arrived 30 minutes prior to the rest of my party but I was seated promptly and the waitress was excellent. I received dinner orders from my family as they were driving to the restaurant and the waitress placed the orders and the food was being delivered as my family walked in. The food is excellent and not expensive. Overall we had a wonderful time with excellent service.
(5)Chi N.
Good service but terrible food. Very much tastes like Panda Express. Don't come here if you want non greasy version of Asian food
(2)G D.
This is a great Thai place if u need quick service. Food is delicious, prices r great, service is quick!! They also have a make-ur-own dish bar.
(5)Steven K.
I'm a huge fan and I have been taking my kids to the downtown locations, they have two downtown, for years. The train ride to the city of peaceful and then it is a nice walk to the gold coast. The eggrolls are phenomenal but the kids can order a soup, off menu, which is a chicken noodle soup. It's around $5 and the noodles are very thick and the chicken is shredded in the soup. My kids love it. I love taking them to different places to share different cuisines and experiences.
(5)Francois J.
Forget Fat Rice. Ginger Soda, Pot Stickers, spicy Sichuan and Orange Chicken are miles above that pretentious Chinese Fusion place that won Best New Restaurant. Really? Big Bowl Rocks.
(4)Timothy H.
Went here to nurse a hangover and its exactly what we needed. I got the brothless ramen and the homemade ginger ale. Everything was good and our hangovers cured!
(4)Mitch K.
It was a lazy Sunday afternoon and I Had a Lettuce Entertain You gift card to burn, so I figured I would give Big Bowl a try since it is nearby. Wasn't sure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised. The food was tasty (ate the Chicken Potstickers and Red Hot Pepper Chicken Noodles), the beer selection was well above average for a restaurant (drank a Anit-Hero) and the service was quick/friendly. Again, very pleased with Big Bowl and will definitely be going again soon.
(4)Rick H.
I hate to say this, but I think this place is going downhill. This was always one of my "go to" restaurants when I had friends in from out of town. My last visit (Monday Sept 30th) was disappointing. I ordered the Shrimp Pad Thai, like I always do, and it just wasn't as good as in father past. The portion was smaller overall. They skimped on the shrimp as well. Usually the meal had whole pieces of shrimp, this time it was small bits & pieces. I saw very little peanuts & hardly any egg. Totally disappointed .
(3)Ben And Nikki B.
WTF happened to you Big Bowl? Four years ago when I worked for LEYE I loved hitting this place up (granted the Cedar location...) after a double shift for a few cocktails & chicken potstickers- things have either changed or they were having a seriously OFF night last night. Let me preface this review with the fact we decided spur of the moment to have dinner downtown on a FRIDAY NIGHT WITHOUT RESERVATIONS (yes... I know.) After attempting to get seated at SEVEN other restaurants (lowest wait time well over an hour- up to three and half at 2 places!) we decided to give Big Bowl a shot since we've had some great cocktails & appetizers there in the past. I should have known walking in on a Friday night to NO WAIT was a red flag, I even second guessed myself at the last minute and wanted to escape to Eataly across the street (YES I KNOW- FAILLLL). But at this point we were pretty hungry, a little chilly & tired of running around so we decided to have a seat. Ben B (not to be confused with hubby- weird!) was our server and he was... well... an experience. After determining we had been there before he immediately asked if we knew what we wanted & didn't review anything with us- especially not any specials they may have had that evening. I FREAKING LOVE their chicken pot stickers so we started off with an order of those while we discussed appetizers. My Ben was pretty disappointed in the beer list (but this is to be expected @ an asian restaurant so I'm not deducting points for this). Once we finally decided on some beers we asked the server to explain the difference between the 2 Trippels on the menu which he had to ask the bartender about (fine- I also get that not all servers are beer experts, I wasn't either so again no points lost here). Once the beers were ordered and arrived @ the table we had decided on everything else (Chicken Dumplings & Kung Pao Chicken to share) Chicken Potstickers: Balls to the Walls AMAZING as always. Love the 3 sauces that come with this too! Honestly we should have just ordered 3 portions of these & called it a night! Chicken Dumplings: Why the fuck are these on the menu? These are EXACTLY LIKE THE CHICKEN POTSTICKERS BUT STEAMED WITH NO SALT, NO TEXTURE AND NO FLAVOR. FTN (fuck that noise)- never again. Kung Pao Chicken: Decent size portion for one or two (if the two are sharing something else). Decent flavor & spice profile although nothing special/different/out of the normal. We did really love the kale (@ least I believe it was kale) that came with this dish- it was honestly the best part of the dish. So- by this point in the meal I knew we were going to be going on Yelp to review this hot mess meal and was discussing our review points with hubby. Hubby is nearly sure that the manager overheard this conversation because immediately after he "just happens" to stop over @ our table to ask if we're interested in a "extra soup" "on him". Hubby says sure & I said thank you. This is the only time anyone ever checks on us- we are never asked how our meal is going, how the drinks are, the appetizers, the entrees- NOTHING. I know LEYE isn't supposed to ask "How is everything" but never once did he say "Is there anything else I can bring to the table" OR ANYTHING OF THE LIKE. Talk about "stellar" service...Anywho! The manager brings over said "free extra soup" -- Hot & Sour Soup which is the managers FAVORITE ITEM ON THE MENU- TO DIE FOR HE SAYS.... I LEGIT (AND I KID YOU NOT YELPERS) ALMOST VOMITED IN MY MOUTH JUST BY SMELLING THIS SOUP. I'm sure it is an acquired taste that clearly I do not possess but JESUS H CHRIST. NEVER EVER AGAIN. What happened to you Big Bowl? #NeverAgain
(2)John H.
Great food! Shrimp spring rolls were very fresh and sauces were excellent. Spicy chicken noodles were spicy and a good portion. Service was OK.
(4)Racquel D.
I tried this place out for the first time last night, and I must say this place was pretty good. I ordered one of their freshly made ginger ales, barbecue pork fried rice, fiery dumplings, and mango cheesecake. Mmmmm to all of it. My favorite out of what I ordered was probably the dumplings, but they were all really good. I got the green tea ginger ale, and you can totally taste the ginger so you know it's fresh. Service here was also really good. Our waiter was really attentive and checked on us often, even though it was pretty busy last night. And if we saw that he was busy with another table, either the manager or a food runner came by to drop off our food. Good location, too. You're not terribly far from the Magnificent Mile, Red Line Grand stop, a bunch of other restaurants, bars, and hotels, and Navy Pier. I guess my only con about this place is the price of the food, but I will say you get a lot of good food for the price. You're sort of paying for the ambiance of the place because it's a big space in a nice and busy area. Check this place out though.
(4)Audu S.
The food was Excellent. I had the monopolies beef and my wife had the king pay chicken noodle. The service was excellent and the staff was friendly. Great first impression of Chicago cuisine..... I will go back again and again.
(4)Paul K.
This place offers a Mongolian-style BBQ, where you pick your meat / veggies / noodles and they cook it for you. Pretty tasty, and fairly fast and reasonable. Had some dumplings for an appetizer too, though those were just OK.
(4)Manuel I.
Business customer representative Ms. Susan J asked for my contact so that a manger could get some feedback on how to make things better for the restaurant. Days, weeks and months passed and no calls from any of them...so I suppose problem is not just in the restaurant itself. It's also due to poor management.
(1)Larry B.
Decent food. Good after a long plane ride, but kind of a panda express version of the real thing. Overall though it was a good meal. I give it 3.5 stars. I have to say though I love their signage from the street, and although it wasn't the best meal of my trip, it really wasn't half bad, and I'd more than likely go back if I lived in Chi.
(3)TM M.
My husband has a special needs diet so we thought an asian place with a gluten free menu would be great. Overall, portion sizes were small, pad thai and mongolian beef dishes were bland and the $33 bill was pricey. We were hoping this would be a lunch place we could depend on for our week long stay but we won't be back.
(1)Nick G.
I cannot believe I ate here. It was possibly the worst food I have ever had. I could care less if it's "authentic" Asian food; that wasn't the issue. The food was just THAT awful. The pot-stickers weren't cooked all the way, and from their appearance it was obvious they were frozen and from a bag. They were the exact same things that I buy from the freezers in the Asian grocery stores. I can make better pot-stickers than this restaurant served me! As I said, it wasn't fully cooked; the dough was hard on the edges and obviously a tiny bit freezer-burnt. Just... awful. And six tiny pieces for $5? I can get a bagful of this cheap frozen crap from the Asian grocery stores. You should be ashamed to served this to your customers!! I ordered the Mongolian Beef.. and it tasted awful. I don't know what was in their sauce/marinade mix for this dish, but it tasted nothing like Mongolian Beef. It was very bitter and it barely had any flavor. I only ate 1/4 of it because it was 9:30 at night and I was absolutely starving.. I needed to eat something; otherwise I would have sent it back and had it taken off my bill. The person I was eating dinner with tasted my food and said it was awful, too. How do you mess up Mongolian Beef?! The service was spotty and the server didn't pay too much attention to us. I will never go back here. I should have known better, when every other restaurant in the city was packed and you needed to have a reservation, and this place was half full. A major disappointment and waste of money.
(1)Naveed M.
Amazing Food - Service was okay but the food is great! Server was a little distracted. Forgot about our appetizers but no big deal. Can't wait to be back in Chicago to eat here again!
(4)Joanne Y.
Nothing phenomenal. I had the kung pao chicken (the waitress said this was one of their more popular dishes. It was good, but I don't think I'll be returning again to order that. Not worth the $13 + tax. I might want to try their other menu items, don't think I would never come here again. Besides my entree, the space was clean and well kept.
(3)John D.
I came after work one night and came for a drink and some Pad Thai. I had Dion as my bartender and he recommended a Panang Curry. I ordered the vegetable pad Thai and wasn't blown away. Dion asked me how the food was and I just said it was okay, and he ordered me the Panang Curry instead and wanted to make sure I was impressed with my dinner. Dion is the bartender you come back to. I'll come back for sure, maybe order something different.
(5)Wesley K.
All the people bashing this place needs to cut them some slack. I'm Asian... and yes I understand this stuff is NOT authentic Asian food. But who said they're trying to be? Not to mention some stuff does not need to be "authentic" to still taste good. The food here is definitely "Americanized" Chinese food. But it doesn't mean it doesn't taste good. Places like this and PF changs? Very low yelp review yes. Not authentic at all yes. But opening hundreds of hundreds of locations and making tons and tons of money? Well if the food really tasted so bad... they wouldn't be operating at a profit and continuing to open more locations. Food is a-ok. Nothing orgasmic and mind blowing. But I was craving some Asian food, came in here and got the Cashew Shrimp and it tasted good enough for me to eat my whole plate and be satisfied.
(3)Clinton S.
The meal here last night was absolutely delicious. I had the chicken curry and my significant other had the perch. Both were delicious. Drinks were excellent, would recommend the ginger screwdriver. Desert was something I never tried before, an ice cream mochi. Would certainly recommend. The area was excellent, close to our hotel and right by the magnificent mile. Will go back again if I'm in the area again!
(4)Marie G.
We had a reservation on Open Table. My daughter requested a dinner there for her 16th b-day so I asked for a booth for 4 and a candle on the dessert that we were going to order and pay for. Made reservation a week in advance. She acknowledged the reservation and the birthday. They tried to sit us by a kitchen table, not a booth. Then the waiter tried to rush us. Asked us 3 times if we were ready to order as we were looking at the menu. We had already ordered drinks and two appetizers. We kept telling him no and that we were in no hurry. After we ate, he brings the check and never asked us about dessert. Rude! There is NO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE HOSTESS AND THE WAITER ABOUT THE BIRTHDAY CAKE. We just left and got dessert somewhere else. We were in and out in less than an hour. It is that type a place. Not good for any type of celebration. They want you in and out. Oh yeah, when our appetizers came we had to ask for silverware. Awful service, good food. Ruined the birthday celebration.
(2)Dave S.
Surprised there wasn't a bigger lunch crowd here...maybe I caught them on a slow day. They have a pretty good lunch menu. I thought the portion was well fit for lunch and was under $10. My friend and I split the lettuce wraps which we both agreed were above average but the lettuce itself was a let down. The lettuce itself was a bit thin and soft, which doesn't make it really suited for a wrap. My friend got an entree portion the size of his meal looked in proportion to what he paid as well. Both of us left full and happy. Try their house made sauce as well - provide a nice kick with some heat but was not overpowering at all.
(4)A C.
Combining Thai and Chinese into one restaurant is the best decision ever made!! I am vacationing in Chicago and the food here is so incredible that I've been twice in 24 hours! To top it off, the service is great. Highly recommend this place.
(5)Neil R.
I love this place! I see a decent number of below average or average reviews but I've always had a great experience. I usually eat at the bar and get served very quickly. Its a diverse menu and I'm not sure if its authentic or not, but its very solid food. I tend to get the more Thai style dishes but their Chinese style appear to be good as well. Its a cool bar to grab a drink at as well. It can be very busy at peak dinner hours so getting a table or a seat at the bar can be tough. I would say its a bit pricey but I do feel you get your bang for your buck.
(5)Gerald F.
Spicy. Way spicy. Great ingredients. Huge plate. Excellent shrimp. Too much oil and hot peppers. Wow. Very unique, very fresh, very big.
(4)Rebecca B.
Some friends and I stopped at Big Bowl for dinner following a movie this past weekend. We had been walking around, trying to decide where to eat, when someone announced, "Let's just eat here." We all ended up very happy that we were standing outside of Big Bowl when she said this. We were promptly seated with no wait, but we were there pretty early, and the place was packed by the time we left. The food was good, and the service was great. Everyone, both meat eaters and our one vegetarian, left full and happy I appreciate that Big Bowl supports sustainable and local ingredients whenever possible, and I love that they prepare as much as possible in house. Everything tasted fresh and delicious. The fresh ginger ale, for example, is made in house, and it is awesome. It is sweet and spicy and refreshing. I have some food allergies that can make going to a new, unfamiliar restaurant somewhat challenging, but the folks at Big Bowl were lovely and more than willing to work with me to find something that I could enjoy. Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and didn't even have to be asked to check with the kitchen about certain ingredients or how something was prepared. This was one of the first times that I wasn't made to feel as though I was a hassle or a difficult customer. I ended up with a BBQ chicken dish with steamed rice and vegetables that was hot, fresh, and delicious. I will be back in the future, Big Bowl. My friends and I thank you for a wonderful meal.
(4)Legarconla L.
Disappointed with the service especially during peak evening hours. Came here to have a good dinner with my friends but the service was very slow. First no plates were kept and had to eat the appetizers right from the served plate. Each order took more than 15 mins to be served. The waitress was running with wheels tied to her legs that we had to call her everytime we had to order a dish.would never visit any big bowl it's waste of time.
(1)Courtneye B.
Okay--just finishing dinner at big bowl. I haven't been here in about two years, and maybe nostalgia got the best of me, but I was REALLY looking forward to some GREAT chow fun noodles.... AND--mediocre. I had a steak dish where the noodles were half crisp, half soggy. I suggest the chef choose a side and stick with it. The ginger ale was good, albeit a little sweet. Nice waitress, though. Too bad the food didn't live up to her efforts.
(3)Susan W.
Went here twice in a 10 day period. First time had a green curry with shrimp & tofu. It was wonderful!!! Friend had a kung pao chicken with excellent greens. We each had a single scoop of their salted caramel gelato. MUST TRY!!! Our server was fantastic!!! Asked how long he had been there thinking he was going to say years. He shocked us letting us know it was his first server job & he had only been there a few months. I would imagine he eats out alot & knows what kind of service he appreciates & strives to provide the same. Second time I had the Shanghai Shrimp & Scallops with the fried rice. ($1 upcharge) The fried rice was NOT good. :( Way soggy. Mentioned not liking it to the server & he gave some lame excuse about it being organic rice. blah, blah, blah. I didn't like it, didn't eat half of it & he should have removed the extra charge from my bill, but whatever... Friend had their Pad Thai & it looked amazing!! I'm getting it next time. We both enjoyed their Shandy drink. A mix of honey, lemon, beer & vodka. It sounds weird as all get out but it was super refreshing with the spicy savory food. Great location near Nordstroms Rack & Trader Joes for shopping.
(4)Allison W.
This place was great! We had so much fun. Got seated immediately on a Sunday. Food was great, definitely getting two meals out of our build-your-own stir fry. Our server Cam and the manager Justin were amazing! Super helpful, cheerful, and friendly. Very attentive and fun. We will for sure be back! Highly recommend this place. Thanks for the good time guys!
(5)L M.
Excellent vegetable roll, yummy calamari. I tried their freshly made ginger ale and lived that too. I'll be back!
(5)Thomas S.
Food was so delicious. Did the stir fry bar and was so fun putting all the vegetables in my own dish. The ginger ale was also so unique and delicious; a definite must have for diners. The service was slow, but the delicious food more than made up for it. Very cool atmosphere
(4)Jay I.
This is a rip-off version of PF Chang. Since we had a very good experience at TRU and Joe's we decided to try another restaurant run by LEYE. What a miss on this one. When you are in the restaurant, you would think that the ambience is nice, and that they have nice bar with good menu and a grille station (for mongolian beef kinda thing). However, the food we ordered were at best ok. they weren't just good, and the portion was too small. If I have to pick this and PF Chang I will choose pf chang a hundred times.
(3)Maria M.
Bartender was really nice in greeting us since the hostesses were not at front when we walked in the door.. Ordered an Arnold Palmer, had a fruit fly in it.. Waitress took it back & showed the manager.. Manager never came by the table to apologize nor ask if everything was ok.. He stood by the cooking area the entire time talking to staff hanging out & to the cooks.. I asked for my meal with no onions & the 1st thing I see, ONIONS!! Big whopping chunks..I didn't want to make a big deal about it so I just picked them out.. The waitress checked on us once..but at the end of the meal after I waived her down, I nicely let her know. After the poor service, nasty fly, and onion In my food, the waitress at least have us her employee discount. I was not asking for a refund nor a free meal, I simply stated the facts in a nice and educated manner. Since it seemed that the manager didn't care, she at least took matters into her hands and tried to make up for the mess.. That by itself made me give her a $9 tip (on a$20 meal after employee discount)..
(2)Mike H.
Gave this place a shot and it was good. I tried a few things and they were all pretty good. Ordered a mai tai and it was great, ended up having three!! I wasn't a big fan of paying $1.50 for a side of rice with my entree, but oh well. Overall this place is good, I will be back.
(3)Mimi N.
Nick is probably the only attentive bartender there. Eat at the bar for awesome service . Other bar tenders don't really pay attention to you and are too busy socializing and not bringing the bill or tending to you. Food is pretty great for Americanized asian food.
(5)Natalie B.
The general manager reached out to me to apologize--I love it when restaurants really do care about your business and maintaining a high level of service. He also informed me that they now offer organic milk. I love that I can feel good about what we eat here. We will definitely go back very soon.
(5)RC R.
Big Bowl just changed their menu on 10/14/14. They took away one of our favorite dishes - Seven Flavor Chicken. There is nothing similar on the menu now. I ordered the Ginger Beef Chow Fun and it had no ginger and no spice - the beef tasted bland. The carry out person was very helpful and nice though.
(2)Meredith P.
We chose to stop in to Big Bowl on a Saturday night while we were wondering around Chicago. It was very busy the night we chose to come here, but we were seated fairly quickly. I really like the concept and the variety of offerings they had. The build-your-own stir-fry was intriguing, but I opted for a standard pad thai instead. It was good but kind of bland, nothing too exciting. And (this is just a me thing) I tend to add soy sauce on my pad thai and there wasn't any at the table which I thought was strange for an asian-style restaurant. There were nice drink offerings and I really enjoyed the ginger ale they make there. Overall, it was good but I wasn't overly impressed.
(3)Jenny B.
Really one of the best Asian restaurants I've been to. There are options on the menu for almost anyone, and they support and participate in sustainability and humanely raised meats! There's even a drink menu! Food was delicious, the staff was friendly and helpful, and the modern design/atmosphere was relaxing. It is much bigger than I expected--we got there at 6:30 on a Friday and we were sat immediately.
(5)Victoria W.
We came here a while ago to have a drink and get parking validation before heading to the actual restaurant we were going to for dinner. The plan worked great. I ordered my standard orange ginger ale, which was awesome as always. But the reason I'm writing a review here is to applaud the bartender, Nemanja, who was friendly and pleasant to such a degree, I made sure to jot down his name. I don't know if he even works there anymore, but I wanted to give a shout out into the void just in case.
(4)Matthew K.
I had the thai hot pepper chicken. The ingredients were good quality but it was literally inedible. It was basically chicken drowned in lemon and cilantro. Seems like a good place but this particular dish was not to my taste.
(2)Laurie C.
Food is good, lots of selection. Unfortunately the service at this location sucks every single time I go here. Everything from having to wait for long time to get served as I watch people that got there after us get served before us, being brought the wrong food, one time we actually had some billing issues and the manager promised to send us a gift card for their mistake and never did. So if you go expect the service to suck but at least the food will be good, maybe try pick up or delivery instead.
(3)Jeremy C.
The bowls were fairly large... I would say they have "big bowls" :) I thought the food was good. I liked the steamed dumplings, the do it yourself stir fry, and they actually had some tasty beers on tap. The lady had some lettuce wraps. Any lettuce entertain you place.. you know the food and flavors will be there. Here is my (spicy) beef. I'm not exactly an old country buffet type of guy but... Chicago has Flat Top grill. At flat top you get the same style of create your own stir fry but... Flat top you can make the unlimited trips for seconds... Plus they have the flat bread there... oh yea.. So with that said.. This place is good. Great flavors, etc... but ... if I'm in chicago and I'm feeling DIY stir fry... Then it's Flat Top grill..
(3)S S.
Food was excellent as usual but the service was extremely bad. It is 4th of July evening and the place was expectedly packed. The waiter was impatient and rude and did not wait to answer our Qs. She would ask what we wanted and before we answered, she would leave. She repeatedly that many times and forgot about us asking for Hot sauce, water, etc. overall experience was bad and something I did not expect from Big Bowl
(1)Partha A.
Went there on a busy Friday evening. I could tell by the patrons, it had a high popularity among South Asians such as myself. The mix of spice and sweet and savory is perfect I guess and hits home nicely :). Man gripe was our food was way too salty - but it was prepared hot and was fresh. Fiery dumplings - nice and as it should be. I expected more fire but that was fine. The chicken wrapped in rice paper - chicken felt a little dry. But the dippings were okay. Penang Curry - absolutely fantasmic - smells of fenugreek and cumin with lemon and coconut. Heaven. Spicy Sichuan beef - Too salty and a little flavorless. Thai hot pepper chicken with basil and peanuts - I had it over noodles instead of rice - it was gooood. BUT once again, a tad overseasoned. Next time I go in, I should ask for lower salt content and I should be content.
(4)Lori H.
Healthy eats, mix of spicy Thai and Chinese stir fry. Full bar. 3 blocks away from Michigan ave. breezy window views.
(4)Jeremy D.
1. This is a Lettuce Entertain You joint. There is nothing wrong with that at all, but this is a corporate joint. 2. Thankfully it is NOT P.F. Changs But this IS pretty Guai-Lo cuisine though. Very good ingredients, but not particularly firery, earthy, sour... Recently had the Shrimp Pad-Thai... And just very one-noted. Pad-Thai (while become very ubiquitous and over done) is still a great dish and should be beguiling of tamarind and palm sugar... Lime and fish sauce... Chilies! The shrimp were very fresh... Butt he dish just didn't SING. It was just BORING. Even adding their Sambal Chili Sauce didn't do much for it. It's a nice enough place and the quality isn't suspect... But this isn't the best either.
(3)Zi B.
Drinks were pretty good... excellent customer service...terrible food. Orange on the Orange Chicken was not fresh. It tasted rancid. The Ginger Shrimp and Scallops with pea pods and tomatoes smelled spoiled. Not overreacting, I couldn't finish it. After many times eating there, this is the first time something like this happens. Unfortunately it was so bad that I couldn't possibly bring myself to recommend this specific location.
(2)Paul S.
Big Bowl is part of a series of chain restaurants which I had somehow managed to avoid unintentionally. When taking a date out recently, we were walking around downtown and she suggested it. I figured, why not? Here's the quick and dirty... Pros: + Our waiter knew his stuff and could easily explain the nuances of all the menu items, sauces and so forth, forgot to get his name though + They serve the food pipping hot, so it does taste fresh + Kung Pow for the win, 'nuff said Cons: - $40 for dinner for two at a place that seems like a slightly more upscale Panda Express, I'm missing the point here - My chicken dish had very little chicken on it, seriously, don't skimp In short, Big Bowl was tasty, even if they shorted on the meat given the price. Yes, it isn't high end eating, but for $20 per plate, you expect better. Perhaps I'll give one of their other locations a try, as I hear they have one in Schaumburg by the Woodfield Mall.
(3)Amy Z.
I am a HUGE fan of pan-Asian food so I'm aware that the cuisine is merely inspired by Asian dishes and may not be in any means authentic. Despite this flexibility, both Big Bowl's pad thai and lettuce wraps were, to put it as delicately as possible, cringeworthy. LETTUCE WRAPS: Never having been to Big Bowl, my friend and I wanted to try something "noteworthy." Having been labeled with the logo WOW! next to it, we decided to try. And sure enough, it was "WOW!" WOW! in that it was sloppy gunk of dark matter with mostly softened rice noodles, sauce, green onions and sliced cabbage. It's hard to make a really good lettuce wrap filling, but it is even harder to butcher it completely. You're already serving this dish in lettuce, how can you be so cheap as to not even offer a little more substance? PAD THAI: Why would you put string beans and bok choy in pad thai? What's with the excessive use of red peppers and dressing? Where'd all the peanuts go? I may not be Thai, but I like to think of pad thai as a delicate dish where the combination of ingredients are individually subtle, but combine to create a slightly tangy with a hint of savory goodness. What I had the pleasure of eating was more like sour wet noodles with a consistently very much like that of jajangmyun. So explain to me, how has this restaurant gone so long with 4 stars? Either the chef was having a bad day or the reputation of Big Bowl truly is an embarrassment in and of itself, proving that the only people the food I had would attract are those who can't cook and eat microwave dinners for a living.
(1)Hina Q.
My wife and I tried this place on a whim. We were walking around downtown and decided to go to this restaurant after looking at the menu. The restaurant has a nice ambiance and looks clean. It's located downtown Chicago near all the shopping areas so that's a plus. We were seated at the table and after a few minutes the waiter came by to take our order. Off the menu I saw that their gingerale was made in-house and fresh with fresh ginger. I decided to order that and my wife ordered the raspberry lemonade. We were surprised when our drinks came after taking the first sip. They were delicious drinks. The gingerale here is quite the popular drink and now I know why. Exquisite! The food we ordered was: veggie dumplings and teriyaki fried tofu; for main-course it was the shrimp pad thai and hot pot shrimp panang. Both of our dishes along with the appetizers were very good and fresh. We really enjoyed our dinner and drinks. For dessert we ordered the chocolate brownie with the homemade ice cream and the apple crisp with homemade whipped cream. Both of the desserts, like the main course, were delicious and freshly made. The staff is professional and very courteous. We really enjoyed our experience here and would definitely recommend this place and visit it again and again. A must try!
(4)John M.
Im not sure if I got lucky. I looked back at the website and I thought maybe I ate somewhere else. But it was here that I had a really good meal. I ate on the fringe of outside and inside. I enjoyed the walk from Rush St seeing all the crowded outdoor seating to finally arrive here and be greeted by an open table. I like the Russian waitress. We nicknamed her Natashi. She was attentive. Had nice drinks and ate "asian fusion" I dont even know what that means. I just know it was fancier than regular Chinese food and it was very tasty. Tasty food, good service, nice lseating, good company. I liked my visit.
(4)Neha A.
This was my first time in here and I liked this place a lo t. We ordered chicken lettuce wrap and chicken kung pao. Both were well made and yummy. The service is slow though. Wish they op en up one in Ann Arbor too.
(4)Shradha A.
Another great stirfry experience and I just want to add (for myself too) that their Pad Thai is not and can't be vegetarian (fish sauce). The vegetable potstickers are good but the Kung Pao stirfry with noodles is my rockstar item! Their homemade gingerale is not too sweet and a nice complement to the spicy sauce!
(4)Jana M.
Great service, food came promptly. Lively spot. Quality food- would go again without hesitation. The white pomegranate sangria was amazing! Beef lettuce wraps were also outstanding!
(4)Odranre B.
This is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant. I occasionally eat here to earn points. Food is OK. Nothing spectacular. Located just west of Michigan Ave on Ontario. Friendly staff
(3)Van T.
another faux Asian establishment...the entrees are mostly rice, and not the good kind of rice either. blech!
(2)Pete P.
Good choice for lunch right off the Mile. We had potstickers combo, very good, I liked the funky spicy sauce in the middle best. Pad Thai Chicken, Asian Chicken Salad, Watermelon Salad, and Beef Lettuce Wraps. Everything was good, probably too Americanized as OP says. Very fresh and tasty. Watermelon Mojito, meh, no flavor at all. That and random service cost you a star. One block west just past the Harley-Davidson Shirt Shop.
(4)Nahima D.
Happy hour is awesome. Spicy peanut noodles $2.99 special is delicious. Amazing service from Katie & Peter.
(5)Crystal Z.
I had the most amazing beef lettuce wraps EVER at this place. Seriously, so good. I wasn't too impressed with the wonton soup, but it would've been hard for anything to measure up against just how good the beef lettuce wraps were. The peanut sauce that came with it was out of this world. I also got one of their cocktails made with the fresh ginger ale. It was refreshing and delicious. Service was also good and food came quickly. I will definitely be going back.
(5)Jeanean M.
This was a lovely surprise. Food was good, service was good. I enjoyed it. The best thing is if you can't find your taste on the menu you can go create your own. Big plus!
(4)Lizzie R.
This place was average. Came here for a casual dinner with a friend and the food was good, not mind-blowing. I had the pad thai which is one of my favorite dishes wherever I go and it was just okay. My friend asked for whatever tea they had that night and he asked for it to be sweetened. Got it and it was the most sour tea we'd ever had. Then I had run out of water. This was the only beverage I had asked for, so I asked two waitresses for a refill because mine was nowhere to be found. They send a bus boy who is cleaning off other tables to fill my water. He takes my glass and comes back with a glass of not warm but hot water! I quickly asked him to take it back and get me some ice water. I guess I need to specify that I will be drinking the water when they bring it out, rather than waiting for it to cool. At one point during the night, something had spilled on the table and I had to use my napkin to wipe it up because, you guessed it, no waitresses to be found. Another bus boy is near and I ask him for another napkin because mine had been used to clean up the table mess. He then hands me two little cocktail napkins. I was floored. The location is great, the place is nice looking, but for the food and service, I would say you're better off somewhere else! I may come back here again hoping it was just a one time bad experience but from my first, I was not happy.
(3)Paul E.
The meal was great, the drinks were good, and our server Chris kicked ass. They gave us really good tasters to try since it was our first time too!
(5)Stina T.
I was extremely sad when one of my favorite LEYE restaurants, Ben Pao, closed a few years ago. However, I am tickled pink that Big Bowl has infused their menu with a few of Ben Pao's most popular menu items (e.g., sesame chicken, cherry bomb shrimp, and the chicken and peanut egg roll). What I love about Big Bowl is their vast menu - there's something that truly can please everyone, including those with dietary restrictions/preferences. Additionally, I really like Big Bowl's dedication to using fresh ingredients in their dishes and that so many of their ingredients come from local farms. It's truly one of those restaurants you can eat at and feel satiated after you eat, but not sickeningly full. The portions are large enough so you can split them or just have left overs. I like their dessert menu because the serving size is "just right". Some of my favorite menu items include their hot and sour soup, sesame chicken, and shrimp summer rolls. The decor at Big Bowl is trendy and fresh, but still comfortable enough for diners of all ages. The service has always been hit-or-miss (sometimes attentive enough, other times not attentive enough), but I can't say I have any specific horror stories about bad service. Not feeling like dining out tonight? You can opt for pick up or delivery. Big Bowl offers delivery from Diningin.com ! I don't know about you, but a big bowl of hot and sour soup when I have a cold or am feeling under the weather is one of the most soothing things possible! The perk? Most of the times I've ordered Big Bowl from Dining In, the delivery fee is waived!
(4)Jeremy A.
In downtown Chicago there's not many choices for Chinese food but nursing a hangover I knew I needed to get some noodles somewhere. We went in there for lunch and this place was absolutely slam packed. Its a pricey spot but its par for the course in downtown Chicago. Read this closely, unless you are a vegetarian you absolutely HAVE to try the spicy Szechuan pork belly noodles dish. I thought it was a bit weird when I ordered it but holy crap this was one of the tastiest Chinese dishes I have ever had in my life! They have a build your own bowl option as well so you can pretty much choose your destiny at this place.
(4)Sky T.
Great place. Good food done right. We had dishes that tasted different from what we were used to. They tasted better than we were used to. The Sichuan green beans are over the top.
(5)Diana M.
I was, for a while, a big bowl regular. Living only a few streets away, I was even going here up to 2-3 times a week. PROS: *Most of the food is solid. You could really pick anything on the menu and be satisfied. * The specials are always great, but I have my favorites: gyoza, spring/eggroll appetizer, yellow curry with pad thai noodles and pomegranate giner ale. After dining there so frequently, the servers new that we always order our 'usual'. * Servers are always very friendly. The place is always busy and you can tell the staff works hard. CONS: * Restaurant can be loud and most annoyingly, the hostesses are almost always snobby and not very friendly. They consistently make me question their continued employment and instantly trample on any excitement I had to be there. *A bit pricey for what it is. I never leave upset not satisfied with my food, but it's not unique. For a chain, I would have liked to have seen lower prices. Ultimately, this is why I stopped going as frequently. I havent dined there in months. * the seven flavor beef is inconsistent. When it's done well, it's delicious, but many times, it's been dry
(3)Anay A.
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(3)Evan K.
I came here for dinner one night with a friend, and I really enjoyed it. They basically let us pick our own table when they seated us, and the service was good. I decided that I wanted to try their in house ginger ale, and I really enjoyed it. It had a nice fresh taste and was a crisp refreshing drink. I ordered chicken pad thai, and it was satisfying. I haven't had a lot of thai food before, but out of the chicken pad thai that I've had in my time, I enjoyed this one probably the most. I liked the setting, and I enjoyed the idea of being able to have thai or chinese or both if I wanted it. I would like to go again sometime when I get a chance.
(4)Lisa L.
Neat place where you can pick out all your own personal favorite vegetables, sauce, meats, etc. Service fast and very good. Good for kids. Kind of loud but fun place.
(4)Maya G.
Pai Wai with a new name. I actually looked it up to see if they were the same owners because it is pretty much identical. I had the teriyaki bowl where you can fill up your own veggies. Tip: Fill up a ton of veggies to get a nice chicken/veggie proportion. Overall- not bad for really unhealthy, moderately tasty and completely nonauthentic asian food.
(3)Dean O.
OK...I was just in Chicago on business and admit that I was drawn to the hustle-bustle of this place from peering in through the windows (not knowing it was a chain until I stepped inside). The truth is that it's neither a 1-star nor 4/5-star place...its a solid 2.5 stars, right in the middle. Completely average by all accounts. As such, most of the reviews here are valid and believable. Service will always vary based on luck of the draw. I happened to sit at the bar (being solo) and my server/bar maid was delightful...so no complaints there. The allure is really in the styling of the place (how exotic that we've suddenly landed in Shanghai!) as well as the energy it exudes...not the food. The food isn't dreadful as long as you set your expectations correctly. Just imagine that you've purchased a microwave dinner that you don't completely hate, nor does it really satisfy. Also, it somehow looks closer to the picture on the front of the box than micro-dinners do in reality, but it costs $15 instead of $3.75. If you get your mind straight on that, you'll be fine. On the plus side, you will have left-overs for lunch tomorrow and if you are with people you don't really enjoy, service is fast so you'll be in, out and on your way.
(2)Eugene V.
Stopped by with the family after a day at the museums. Originally seated in dining room, however, waiter accommodated request to move to bar area corner table so we could order from happy hour menu (til 6pm). chicken satay, pork dumplings, lettuce wrap were satisfying. Best item was BBQ pork ribs. Bbq pork fried rice had decent flavor, portion size was on the smaller side. Service was excellent - very friendly and attentive!
(4)Samantha E.
Came with a group of friends and it was A-OK (as the three stars indicate). There is actually a pretty hefty discount for Northwestern students so it makes it even more reasonably priced. My spicy food was not all that spicy, but what can you do. The flavor was good and the house ginger ale was on point.
(3)steve l.
Good atmosphere, but the food is really, really bland. Pad Thai has no flavor. The spicy Thai shrimp had less heat and less flavor than the beef and broccoli. Sickening sweet as well. Shrimp wraps were soggy and bland. What happened to what used to be a solid choice? Oh well...
(1)Tom F.
Chain pan-Asian - nothing special. Pretty greasy pad thai, average pho, fair teryaki ribs. Highlight was freshly made Ginger ale. Very good service - noisy so good for kids.
(2)Genevieve S.
Spicy is spicy. Pretty good but nothing amazing.
(3)Albert W.
People who are not chinese are going to like this place. It's like PF Changs. As for me, I really think there are other places that more interesting to go eat at like Purple Pig and all the other great food places in the general area. Come here if you want american asian food in a nice setting.
(3)Channa P.
Went here for dinner. Got the very spicy, but delicious pepper chicken. It had a tangy flavor because it was seasoned with lemon juice. That lemon taste was a happy relief from the heat of the spices, and really works quite well with the rest of the dish. I had a heaping portion and after eating my weight had enough to box. Try it out. It's cheap, good, and decently authentic.
(4)Grace N.
Generic, unauthentic, americanized asian food....but their decor is really pretty. Tables are pretty close to each other so often it makes it difficult for people to walk through. Pad thai w/chicken-missing the peanutty flavor that pad thai is supposed to have and had a really strong taste of lime already in it. What's the lime on the side supposed to be for then? Fried rice w/beef-vegetables and beef were cooked perfectly. veggies were crunchy, meat was tender, but finishing the last bit of my plate was tough. The rice was drenched in sauce which made it really unappetizing I only dined here because I was visiting from out of state and it was too late at night to travel to any other area outside of what was near my hotel. Customer service and dishes were cooked very well, but taste is just too americanized like "panda express"
(2)Manan M.
Just finished dinner - the food was absolutely unpalatable-we ordered chefs choice vegetables with green curry ..absolutely horrible,no salt -extremely spicy as well ..it was almost as if the chef gave us the food in spite ..Been a regular here for years, but surely never coming back .
(1)Stefania L.
My husband and I went to big bowl several time this winter....we were very happy because the food was very good and the vegetables was very fresh. My husband loves the hot granbeans that are very very spicy.
(4)Lex M.
And now for the best part - we gave our wait person two credit cards and told her to put 1/2 the bill on one card and 1/2 the bill on the other card. Well, she ran two cards, but she ran the same card TWICE! This was just the end of a terrible experience!
(2)Dina G.
Exactly what the name says: BIG BOWL. But my favourite bit; the big screen TVs mounted on the walls of the bar playing live NHL sport. Truth is I got so caught up in the black hawks game I forgot what I ordered or even when. Though we sat in the restaurant half- The screens were perfectly visible. Besides I wasnt the only hockey zombie there. There were more of us. One of us. One of us. Though I distinctively remember the waiters arrogance when he heard our accents. I made it my point to highlight the fact Ill be reviewing my experience here- suddenly like a leprechaun off a lucky charms cereal box, he turned into rainbows and marshmallows.....how convenient right? Now its up to the company who they chose to represent them, but I cannot doubt their taste and presentation of the food. Simply superb.
(4)Mikee R.
Not sure why I didn't review this last year. We decided tonight that we won't be going back. The food is just OK. It tastes just bland for this kind of place, I would expect the food to just POP and be flavorful and fresh tasting. The service was just BAD! We had to ask for lemon for the water three times. Our server just didn't seem to care. Oh well. Their loss.
(2)Keith C.
The steamed dumplings were good. The dumplings were cooked so that they were not soggy at all when brought out. I really like the sauce that they use for it. It's not exactly soy sauce but it's kind of similar. Maybe soy sauce with something else added but it really complemented the dumplings. Chicken pad thai was also good. Not fantastic but it did satisfy my thai food craving.
(3)Peanut Q.
The worst food i have ever had in Chicago. Ordered from this place via grab hub.. The food came 20 minutes late than expected and semi cold. Small potion for the price .. Tastes so awful. It is not authentic asian food, not authentic american asian food either.
(1)Rashmi P.
At times I feel walking into a restaurant without any preconceived notion is the way to experience the true value of it. All I knew about Big Bowl, was based on my Twitter communications with #spicychat and that they support sustainable local produce and enjoy well-seasoned food creations. Big Bowl is one of #SpicyChat's loyal foodie supporters. Needless to say, on my recent trip to Chi-Town I had to stop by and say hello. Co incidentally, I was in Chicago to attend the #IGC12 Independent Garden Center Show (world's largest trade show and conference for independent garden center owners, managers and buyers). It seemed befitting to pay a visit to a restaurant which not only supports foodies and serves locally grown produce, but have gotten more involved with their Seed to Table innovative approach by contracting with farmers to grow sustainable/organic crops. Crops that are grown from heirloom seeds, selected by Big Bowl, and cultivated on the farm with the help of the restaurant staff. Now they are serving more than 700 lbs each week to four of their Chicago Locations. I walked into a vibrant & modern restaurant proudly showcasing an open kitchen with fresh local seasonal produce bar. Over the course of my lunch I couldn't help notice how completely packed the restaurant got. Conveniently located on E Ohio Street, it is walking distance from Magnificent Mile, drawing clientele from both tourists and Chi Town residents. A quick glance over the menu displayed a familiar menu serving classic regional Chinese and Thai specialties. There was a 'Group Share' menu, Big Bowl menu and the Classic al carte dining. Oh I wish my boys were with me. After all how much can a girl eat? The Summer Harvest Celebration menu grabbed my attention. Each time you order from their specials, Big Bowl and Free bird donate $1 to growing homes. After all charity begins at home, so I ordered the spicy Sichuan eggplant. Locally grown eggplant, freebird chicken, sungold tomatoes dressed in a spicy Sichuan sauce - yes, it was indeed 'spicy' and I couldn't get enough of it. Hands down, one of the better eggplants I have tasted outside of China. I was told by our pleasant server that their 'ginger-ale' is homemade and it is the signature drink. Not being a ginger ale fan, I politely refused and enjoyed my refreshing and cool cocktail; a nice compliment to my spicy meal. Of course personally for me Cold Sesames Noodle is reminiscent of good old times in NYC, so I couldn't help ordering a bowl. Cold noodles lightly dressed in an addictive peanut sauce, garnished with cucumber julienne; yes it was light and refreshing. Though, I didn't quite grasp the lying down bowl concept in the presentation. A meal at Big Bowl is incomplete without their signature 'From our Farm to your Table' stir fry bar. What a fun and interactive way to enjoy your meal. Now, stir fry has been around for donkey years, what makes Big Bowl special? Allow me to elaborate. Fresh local produce, protein from small family farms, curries made from scratch, freshly toasted spices and all, authentically prepared capture the essence of flavors signature to Big Bowl. Need I say anymore? My signature Big Bowl: chicken, greens from the bar, panang curry, and jasmine rice. The flavor was lighter than any Thai curry I have been exposed too. While I was just pondering that, with great pride the sweet server informed me the curries are all made in-house from scratch starting from roasting the chilies. There is not a more comforting dish for me than the aroma of kaffir leaf infusing the chicken and perfectly cooked jasmine rice. Even though I was dining alone (indeed a rarity for me), I had a wonderful time. Between the vibrant energy of the restaurant and the friendly staff, I felt at home. Big Bowl manages to re-create authentic flavors producing bold and bright flavors with fresh produce, herbs, and clean flavors. So all you people hooked on heat and complex yet comforting flavors of Thai & Chinese cuisine has to offer, Big Bowl is one restaurant I am pleased to endorse is worth the trek, regardless of which suburb of Chicago you reside in.
(4)Cindy T.
A lot of pomp, but not much substance. Stopped by Big Bowl to kill time before a meeting. I ordered the signature orange ginger ale and the chicken pho (large). The orange ginger ale arrived in a pretty, tall, slender glass. Unfortunately, the drink itself tasted like neither orange nor ginger. It was more like slightly sweet, powdery water. Perhaps the pomegranate, the most popular of the ginger ales, would be have tasted better? The pho arrived in a glazed white ceramic pot with the standard lime, bean sprouts, basil and chilies served on the side. Feeling daring, I popped one of the chilies straight in my mouth. Chili novices beware - I love spice yet this chili lit my mouth on fire. Upon spooning out the broth, I saw lots of chicken and cilantro but where were the noodles? Surely, they must have forgotten the noodles... Poking around some more, I discovered a few forlorn strands floating around the bottom. Alas, this was no noodle soup. It was soup with noodle. I wouldn't order the lemonade or pho again. With that said, if I were in the neighborhood, I might check out the happy hour special , which runs from 3-6pm. Their spiel is "3 appetizers, 3 drinks, 3 hours". The cocktail selection looked pretty good and the thai lettuce wrap, one of the appetizers offered, smelled promising.
(2)Ashish V.
Very bad service. They got my order wrong. The severs were rude and arrogant. I ordered a curry with brown rice but they gave me white rice. When I asked about it they just gave me an extra bowl of dry brown rice. We were sharing the dishes but they didn't give plates. Overall food was ok nothing that great but bad service made the overall experience bad.
(1)Kammie G.
Ohh, I LOVE this place. My first time there I didn't expect to find such awesome options. I had no idea Big Bowl was all about being all-natural, organic, healthy, and sustainable. I LOVE this. That's exactly what I'm all about too so I definitely enjoyed my dinner here. The stir fry (made to order) was the best I've ever had. I've had made to order stir frys before but this one definitely won by a lot. Usually when I get stir fry, it comes out all dry and just mediocre. But this one was perfect - the sauce was still there (the sweet and sour lemon, yummmm) and the whole dish was moist and delicious. Their veggies were fresh and a good variety to choose from. Also, I'm all for their seasonal (strawberry) $6 sangria! Yummy in my tummy. The only thing I was no happy about was our server. He sucked. He didn't explain anything to me about how to do the self made stir fry and he wasn't very accomodating. But the food and place overall made the 5 stars worth it. I'll forget about the waiter occurance for this review :)
(5)Karla R.
First visit to Big bowl. We had chicken potstickers, they were delicious also had the chicken satay's, they were delicious as well. Dinner we had the market bar, all ingredients were fresh. Service wasn't that great but it was a busy time.
(5)Georgia W.
And you thought Stir Fry and Shandy's didn't go together! Well, they do. Big Bowl serves up the usual suspects...Curries, noodles, veggies and all the usual protein options ( chicken, shrimp, beef, tofu). Not overly BOWLED by the predictable menu but all is served hot and fast and there were some fun drink options ( did I mention the Shandy?) Attentive service. Did not balk over our Foursquare coupon or splitting the bill a few times. Most Thai seekers will leave happy. Just don't go looking for the unusual.
(3)Amy B.
Relatively healthy, fresh food served fast and cheap? Yes, please! I came here for lunch with a friend and split the assorted dumplings to start, then enjoyed a tom yum shrimp soup. I was nursing a bit of a cold, so the soup was a perfect hot, slightly spicy treat. One gripe: I did not realize there'd be huge slices of ginger root in the soup and had the unpleasant experience of popping one in my mouth, then spitting it out in front of other people. At least I was able to semi-discreetly use my napkin. Oh, classy me. My friend pointed out that unlike many stir fry places, Big Bowl does not set their meats and fish out in the ingredient buffet, which helps it to stay fresher.
(3)Myia B.
Service - rushed and not personable. The hostess was rude and so off on her wait time estimate. The server must have been her brother - cut from the same cloth. The food saved them. The drinks - DELICIOUS. All of the ginger ale cocktails are smart choices. Teriyaki glazed spare ribs? I could have had the whole plate! I ordered the Clay Pot Shrimp Panang and have been craving more since. Had a lemon bar type dessert that was tasty enough. The atmosphere is colorful. Would I go back? Heck yeah - that clay pot was something serious.
(5)Ann G.
Stopped in on a waning summer's Wednesday night. Busy, busy, busy. Loved having the front wall open to fresh air and the night. Food was good/ potstickers, Mongolian beef and chicken pad Thai. Good atmosphere.
(3)P S.
A day of errands and what's this? A $15 Lettuce gift card? Well boy howdy do I sure love some Thai food. Big Bowl... how YOU doin? Seated at the bar, the barkeep greeted me quick and friendly. House-made ginger ale (so friggin good) and some very yummy potstickers to follow, I ordered up my good old Panang curry with chicken. I could have done tofu but meh. No big. The rice arrives already *in* the curry sauce and there's a lot of it so my mind immediately flew to leftover arrangements. I can tell you now that as I sit here eating my lumpy, sticky bowl of reheated chicken Panang, they really should put the rice separate and let the diner concoct their own proportions. This stuff just doesn't heat up well at all since the rice becomes a sponge. Anyway, the flavors are good though not as much heat as you may want. They offer chili pepper sauce or soy sauce when an entree arrives (which kind of breaks my heart a little, what people do to their food). The highlights are the tender chicken, the bits of lemongrass and ginger adding a nice fresh zing, and the freshness of the veggies. It's good Panang. It's also a great spot to dine at alone, pay your bill, gather your stuff and 45 minutes later realize you left a bag behind. The host will keep it for you and not laugh at you when you frantically run back in an hour later and pick it up...
(3)Monica B.
Good variety of menu items, including lots of veggies, grilled items, and other alternatives to "variations on General Tso." The veggie bar is interesting, although I just went with the Chef's Selection for my dish. I really liked the garlic sauce, too. Our server was very sweet and peppy, which normally annoys me (dude, it's my dinner, not yours) but she was so charming and cute that there was no way I could get annoyed at her. The wait for a table was a little long, and the place is definitely noisy, so not necessarily the best place for an intimate date, but good for groups.
(4)Joanne K.
I've been here 3 times over the last week. I've had the panang curry, dumplings, pot stickers and summer spring rolls. I love how all the food comes from local farms. Everything has been delicious. Just a warning - everything comes with a little kick! I took away 1 star for the noise level and how the tables are close together.
(4)Ting C.
So I call in a carry out order at 4:33pm. I was told 10 minutes. I arrive at 4:43pm. I paid for my order then was told it's not ready. As a trader my time is money. If you don't have something ready for me at the time YOU promised me then you get 1 star.
(1)Andrew S.
Did recent take out during the blizzard. I knew I should have been worried when the best thai place recommended was pan asian. I ordered a spring roll and penang with chicken. The spring roll was average in all ways. It came with some decent dipping sauces but was generally forgettable. The penang I ordered was unfortunately slightly worse. While freshly cooked, the flavor was just slightly off. It wasnt inedible, but it was not really good. It was also short on peanuts which might have been pat of the problem. The staff was friendly and I was not wholly disappointed, but it fell short of taking care of my thai craving.
(2)Al G.
Good quality food at very reasonable prices. Service is alway impeccable.
(4)Steve G.
I was served raw chicken here a couple of years ago. I took a few bites before realizing that several of the pieces were raw or very undercooked. It got me a little bit ill for a few days. I was bummed because I half-enjoyed the dish otherwise. The server and manager apologized, naturally, but still. Raw chicken. Tighten up the ship. I wrote to corporate, and was told they were "reviewing the matter." I never heard back. I probably should have nagged them, but didn't feel like putting forth the effort.
(1)Danielle B.
If you love asian food but are allergic to everything like me this is definitely the place to go. Do they not only have great food their staff is extremely knowledgable and accommodating. I was extremely impressed how serious they took my allergies and didnt seem to mind the special request. They have a great selection so there is something for everyone.
(5)Amber P.
Big Bowl used to be in Colorado (on Dry Creek Road and I-25), but about 7 years ago it closed. The building is still empty. Every time I drive by, I mourn the loss and crave the stir fry. I have written more than one letter to the company pleading for their re-expansion. So, of course, upon visiting Chicago, I immediately sought it out. Favorite Dish: Build your own Stir Fry (whatever you do, make sure you insert EGGPLANT, add CHICKEN, and choose KUNG PAO sauce). Favorite Beverage: Ginger Ale (they make it themselves!)
(5)Rod S.
Interesting mix of cultural cuisines. It features Thai, Indian, and Chinese dishes as well as a nice "make your own" Stir Fry bar. It also features home-made ginger ale and lemonaid, which were quite tasty. It had a pleasant atmosphere and friendly helpful waitstaff, all in all it was a very nice dining experience. The make your own stir fry (which is what I ordered) was very nice. You choose your meat (it also has tofu and vegetarian options), your sauce, and either rice or noodles, take a large bowl and choose several kinds of vegetables and toppings and they stir fry and deliver it fairly quickly. I prefer Mongolian Grills because they are much cheaper and more customizable, but this was very nice as well. It is a bit pricey for what you get. The portion sizes are decent, but not what you would expect from someplace calling itself the "BIG BOWL". But given the area, atmosphere, and service, the price is extremely reasonable. If I was in the area, I would definitly eat there again.
(4)Raj B.
We went to Big Bowl twice when we visited Chicago for vacation last week. The first time we went (for dinner), we thought it would be interesting to fill up on just soup and appetizers, so we ordered Vietnamese noodle soup and Chicken dumpling noodle soup, both of which were very well prepared. The Vietnamese soup was nicely fragrant, with a generous portion of chicken. The dumplings were meaty and the broth tasted fantastic. Afterwards, we ordered the BBQ'd spareribs, and were genuinely impressed. The meat was tender, juicy, saucy, and came off the bone perfectly. It was so good, that we had another plate sent to our table. The service was impeccable. Our server, Jared was incredibly hospitable and made us feel special. He provided useful recommendations, and made our dining experience a true pleasure. The second time we went (for lunch), we requested a table in Jared's area, and had a repeat pleasant experience. The Kung-Pao Chicken with noodles were delicious, and Jared allowed us to tone down the spice so that we could make it through the whole dish without our hairs standing on end. We also ordered Chilly Hot Pepper Chicken Noodles and the Thai Yellow Curry. Each one of the dishes was satisfying. All in all, I hope and pray that a Big Bowl opens soon in New Jersey!!!
(5)Gin Y.
Ordered the potsticker combo, and it was really a small portion. That was disappointing! The vegetable and chicken pad thai had flavor, but lacked that oomph! I wouldn't say there was a wow factor here! It was also pretty expensive for the type of food they serve! I might as well have gone to Chinatown to eat good Thai food! Won't be going back here, unless I'm desperate and really hungry! =P
(2)Matthew W.
Chinese and Thai. Not authentic but pretty close. At first glance it seems like a crappy chain restaurant but the food and service convince you of otherwise. Not too spendy, especially considering the location. They make their own ginger ale...yum. They also have a Mongolian BBQ...not too shabby. If you're looking for a better than tourist meal in River North...check it out.
(3)Eugene H.
too american chinese for my taste. nice service though
(1)Tonya M.
This place has "create your own" wokked bowl of yummy goodness. You walk up to the "bar" select all the ingredients you want from a plethera of fresh veggies. then you tell the chef what kinda meat you want, the type of rice you like (jasmine is my fave) and presto chango, wokkalishiousness ALL in your mouth. They house chardonnay seemed to be the Sonoma Cutrer which is a fave of mine. And if you eat at the bar, you meet lots of nice and friendly people to converse with in between devouring your awesome bowl. Brian was my waiter the first time I ever went to Big Bowl and a major reason for my return on many occasions. I got my bowl the first time, and since its jasmine rice i requested, then I got it.... but wanted butter. Well even the sleaziest of Asian establishments don't usually carry butter, so Brian went to the Corner Bakery next door and snagged me some butter. AWESOME Service. I miss this place. we don't have any here in San Diego.
(4)Ali L.
I think I just have a thing against chain Asian restaurants. Tried Big Bowl for the first time on Labor Day. It's kinda pricey (for 3 our total was 70ish? with one appetizer, pop/iced tea for drinks and a tiny dessert), the food wasn't great (I had chicken pad thai with tofu added in... very lime-y and not very peanut-y... too tangy for my liking I guess) but maybe I'm just a snob or something, I don't know. I don't like PF Chang's either so I just assume it's the same sort of thing. Anyway I'll just stick to local places from now on. However the hibiscus iced tea was fantastic, and our server was also great- brought new drinks as soon as ours were half gone, he was awesome. Food, no. Service, yes. I'd give a 2.5 if I could, right down the middle, but I can't, so I'll round up. :) The end.
(3)Michael G.
Service is always great. The lemonades are good. The food is fresh, if a bit salty. I'll go back.
(4)Craig M.
I had the orange ginger ale and the Thai chicken curry. Both were excellent. They also brought us an appetizer to try which was a nice touch. I would definitely return.
(4)Lesley C.
YUM. This place was fabulous. We try Asian restaurants wherever we travel, and this one is one of the better ones we have been to. It's nice when you can taste the fresh ingredients (ginger, for example) in your food. The service is prompt but not too brisk, and they have a really good kids' menu. We'll definitely return here.
(5)Lisa V.
My last Night in Chicago I found Big Bowl. I sat at the bar because I was a loner. =) No worries, I quickly made friends with the rest of the loners sitting next to me that were here on business. I liked the menu, they had the usual appetizers pot stickers and lettuce wraps, but what caught my eye is near the grill they have a veggie bar where you could pick the veggies that would go into your meal. I opted for that choice. I first picked my protein, then the sauce, you could stay Chinese and get the terriyaki or go for Thai with there lemon sauce. Next you chose your carb, which was a choice of noodles, Jazmin rice or brown rice. After that the waiter gives you a bowl to pick all your veggies that would be mixed in. The outcome DELI SH!!!!! I will try this place again when I go back, I loved the atmosphere, the help was nice and the crowd was great to chat with. Verdict: Will go back again.
(4)Melinda L.
Interesting mini chain restaurant with a highly diverse wait staff. Our waitress was from Siberia with an accent - yes, at a Chinese restaurant! The ingredients here are fresh and the food tastes pretty authentic. Dishes tried were: Hot and Sour Soup, Lettuce Wraps, Beef with Noodles, Thai Fried Rice, Shrimp Curry, Chicken Skewers and Penang Chicken Curry. Savory stuff and good food. There was a Chicago-accent to all the dishes, but still good. Place can get packed, but fun to hang. Great drinks menu. I tried their pomegranate ginger ale and it was not bad.
(4)Peter M.
Great! The stir fry with the coconut curry was delicious. I mixed two sauces the coconut curry and the lemon sauce....amazing. Also the hot and sour soup was the best I've ever had. I reccomend checking out Big Bowl if you're in Chicago and looking for Asian food.
(4)Keerthi A.
I have been going here for years now. This place is easy-peasy, even on a weekend when you don't want to dress up or wait in line for hours somewhere. The place is nice, the waiters are helpful and quick, the food is great. Their ginger ale is very yummy. Food wise, their orange chicken, cashew chicken, mongolian beef, and stir fry are awesome. With the stir fry bar, you get to choose your meat and your sauce, then have the option of picking your own veggies at the veggie station or have the chef add his/her own. On their menu, when they have the fiery symbol indicating the dish is spicy, they are not messing around - they mean it! The portions are huge, and the food is very yummy. It is definitely americanized chinese/thai, but tasty. All their desserts are great, especially their Creme Brulee, definitely worth a shot. Definitely a place I will keep visiting over and over.
(4)Brian S.
I've decided that this place is pretty much a hit-or-miss proposition. I don't really see much middle ground. The first time I went there it was OK - not great but passable. The second time I went was on a Wednesday early in the evening. I ordered the chicken dumplings and ribs as appetizers. I ordered the hot, hot chicken noodles and Shezuan beef for entrees. Every dish was delicious. I was very impressed. I went there on Saturday evening the following week and ordered the same meal as on Wednesday to-go. When I got home I was looking for a repeat performance of Wednesday but instead got a lot of big surprises. The chicken dumplings were okay, but the ribs were absolutely tasteless. I searched for any kind of flavor whatsoever and found nothing. Then I opened up the hot, hot chicken noodles and found it to be completely inedible. The noodles were soaked in vinegar and floating in a huge puddle of oil. There was hardly any chicken in the dish and there was no spicy heat at all - nothing. I tossed it in the trash and moved on to the Schezuan beef. The only thing good about this dish was the rice - which was good because I was still hungry. The beef dish itself was completely tasteless. No flavor whatsoever. How they are able to accomplish this is beyond me. And... yes - it was floating in a huge puddle of oil. I picked at it for a bit but then threw it in the trash with the chicken noodles. I wound up spending $45 and was still hungry. When they're good - they're very good. But, when they're bad - it's criminal. You have been warned.
(2)Tony G.
Steamed potstickers, beef with broccoli and homemade ginger ale...my downfall everytime! So good!
(4)Jimmy G.
I love everyone at Big Bowl They treat me like family, and if something rotates off the menu, I can whimper about it and they will make it happen. The wine menu is well thought, balanced, and reasonably priced. I can duck in and out at lunch in as little as twenty minutes. Recently they got a new Manager named Rob, and he always checks in (along with the rest of the management staff) to make sure everything is to my liking... It always is. I just wanted to give them a shout out because they all work so hard to make sure my every experience there is better than the last one.... And it always is.
(5)Blythe Z.
My second time there last week. I'm bored. Seriously, I have nothing bad to say..... but nothing great to say ( I THINK THAT IS WORSE). It's pricey and it's not the best around. Service was pretty lame.
(1)Amy S.
This review is as much for me as it is for all of you. I am writing this to remind myself of two things. 1. Amy, the curry is not good. Doesn't matter the color, red, yellow, green, panang, it's just not good. Amy, DO NOT ORDER THE CURRY. 2. Amy, only go here if you have a gift certificate or some dining points because the prices are high for what you get. ....actually I have a third thing to remember. 3. Amy, it's just not that good and you are never happy when you go there, so just don't go. Sorry Big Bowl...I'm breaking up with you. Love, Amy
(2)Sam K.
Big Bowl was a dear friend during a very cold winter working in the loop. I recall the days in December and January; it was still dark when I went into work, and after sitting at a desk all day, it was dark again (and freezing) when I came out. All I wanted to do was run home to a hot shower and plop down on my couch in a big sweatshirt. Hence Big Bowl, which is right near my ex work place. After work, when I was hit by the cold, I would run in to the counter at Big Bowl and order myself a bowl of their chicken pho. It was the best thing ever; it took the edge off my hunger, and rejuvenated me. After a bowl of that pho, I felt cheered and willing to go to the gym. I could run my errands, and use the rest of my day instead of just giving up on it. I am wary of chain restaurants though, especially when it comes to ethnic food. I doubted they would have good entrees, and never bothered to order a whole meal until my last visit. I overheard - (okay fine, I deliberately listened to) a conversation between a man and a woman near me. Man: Wow. That was surprisingly tasty. I mean I'm really surprised. That was a great meal. Woman: I know! I usually hate chain restaurants, but this was great. It actually tasted like my favorite thai place near my house. You know Sticky Rice? !!! Sticky Rice has a five star rating from me, so this comparison excited me. I finally got around to coming in for an entree this week, after some shopping. And this meal is what brings Big Bowl down from a five star rating. Mediocre food, with the WORST service. I ordered the green curry with rice, very spicy. I asked the waiter if they had brown rice, and he told me they didn't. Fine. A few moments after I ordered, another lone diner - a very friendly and nice tourist from the UK seated very near to me, ordered. We were close enough to talk and hear each other's orders. "Sir, would you like white rice or brown rice with your order? I strongly recommend the brown rice." This piqued my attention and I looked up just in time to catch the glance the waiter gave me. A passive aggressive glance to make sure I heard him. Um. So my food, which came with white rice, immediately took me back to my Air India flight of 2003. This flight is memorable for a few reasons, which I won't go into right now. But it tasted like airplane food, and *Indian* airplane food, no less. I could not taste any Thai basil, and it tasted more like defrosted mutter paneer than anything else. "Fresh" was the absolute last word I would use to describe it. And the white rice, which was supposedly Jasmine, had none of that fresh Jasmine taste to it. It tasted like regular long grain rice. I thought about salvaging it with some spice, since it wasn't spicy at all. The waiter never checked on me, but I managed to grab his attention when he walked by. I asked him if they had any red chili pepper I could add to my dish. He said they didn't. I then asked if they had any kind of hot sauce or chili paste I could use. He said they had no hot sauce in the restaurant. At this exact moment, my new British friend decided to pipe up "Waiter, could you bring me some hot sauce?" "Of course sir." and he walked away, at which the tourist looked at me and burst into giggles. Not funny, you damn Brit. I'm hungry and grumpy. But of course he gave me his hot sauce, and it didn't help. I didn't touch my meal after the second bite. When I finally got ahold of the waiter again, he asked me if I wanted to wrap it up. "No. Actually, I'm very unhappy with my meal. See, if you recall, I wanted brown rice - " "All right. I can clear that for you. Do you have room for dessert?" "Nope. But I would actually like to speak to a mana-" "Okay then. I will be right back with your check." When he dropped my check and ran away before I could say anything, I let it go. And the time it took from when the waiter cleared my table, dropped my check, took my credit card, and brought me my sign slip? No less than 25 minutes. Ugh. Between the disapproving looks and behavior of the elder waiter (my gut is that he was being sexist and disapproved of a female eating alone, but whatever. I've been a server and I know servers, like everyone, make judgments - but it's unprofessional to act on those judgments) and the mediocre food that wasn't even what I wanted to order, I'm less likely than ever to come back here. But the memory of all those wonderful cheap bowls of pho on those cold days with my shitty, stressful desk job over this past winter counts for something - they were not only a nutritional and sensuous pleasure, but provided an almost emotional reward for me each time I got through another day of thankless busy work at a computer. So I will leave you, Big Bowl, with an "A-OK" by Yelp standards. And maybe by next winter I will have forgiven this meal and will be back at your counter (hopefully with a better job).
(3)#NAME?
This was my 2nd time eating here, both entrees I've had here have been good-Great service too- FOOD: First time I had the Mongolian Beef, it was pretty good, big portions too- Appetizer of Potstickers: combo of veggie and chicken, chicken was better and loved the sauces they came with- Shrimp and Scallops meal, was hestiant with the sauce it said came with it, but once it came out I was happy with it, very good-Shrimp and scallops were fresh and cooked perfectly- ENVIRONMENT: I think it's a tight fit for people-They utilize every spot too, tables at the bar area were used for seating, not first come first serve-What did bother me was the crying babies and kids in the place-We do not care for children nor are having them...*snip snip*-So I don't want to be out and hear kids screaming, throwing stuff and being bad- There were a lot here last night and after we were sat around 6:00 a huge line was at the door-Yet it is a place around a lot of hotels and it's cheap food so hence the reason for so many kids/families here- I would think if you go Mon-Thurs evening you are in the clear for a peaceful dining experience-
(4)Krsna V.
Let me start off by saying that I have never tried the stir fry here. If I wanted to pick my own ingredients and hand it to the chef, I might as well cook at home. I do not see a point in going to a restaurant and preparing your meal. Now, lets get to the review part. I have been to Big Bowl a few times and have always been impressed. I have ordered most of the items on the menu and they all are tasty. I particularly like the thai hot basil chicken with basil and peanuts. Order it only if you can handle extreme amounts of heat. I always get a mai tai to go with my meal. The minus one star is for the long wait time. Definitely recommended
(4)Rachel B.
I have eaten here multiple times, and even had a surprise engagement dinner hosted here. The staff has always been friendly and helpful. I didn't even know until recently, but they use a lot of organic food, (including organic chicken which is delicious) . Be sure to try the ginger ale drinks, they come with a few flavor options, I haven't tried one yet I didn't love. This is not an authentic Thai place, its Americanized, but still delicious!
(4)Kat S.
Went here for the fist time this week for lunch to celebrate a birthday. Food was decent, nothing too great but nothing too bad. I had the steak and noodles. Portions are huge, plenty of left overs to take home for dinner.... or for later in the afternoon. Service was outstanding. Our waiter was more than willing to go over the menu with us and offer his favorites. Manager was also very attentive and came over to welcome us as well as throw down a free appetizer since it was our first time. Got 2 deserts also for it being one of our friends birthday. The corn something ice cream with blueberries might have been the best desert i have ever had. Not too pricey, friendly staff. I'll go back.
(4)liam d.
Was decent Togo food. We are traveling with our son and by dinner time have been stuck ordering food to our room. I had searched yelp for the best Chinese food near our hotel, this seemed like one of the better ones, hopefully I was wrong! The stir fry was good, hot and sour soup was terrible and the dumplings left a lot to be desired!
(3)Rika H.
We love this place! After we moved out of Chicago this is one of the place I miss the most! I can't believe I didn't write a review for it, given how many times we've been there and how much we loved it. Always crowded, always good food. I took some Chinese relatives there, they loved it too!
(5)Justin O.
I stopped in on a Monday out of the blue and tried the egg rolls (huge) and Kung Pao Chicken (just the right mount of spice for me). The food was good, the service was great (it was slow though), and half priced bottled wine deal was an unexpected perk.
(4)Kathy L.
This place has such good memories! I don't understand some of the hatred for this place. One time, I went here with a friend and our waitress was so awesome. We got into a talk about the things I bought that day and I told her I got a magic bullet (the as seen on TV blender thing) and things got kind of uncomfortable. I showed her it was a blender and she said...."oh I thought you were talking about something else, I'm really embarrassed." She probably thought I was talking about a sex toy, but in any case, she felt so bad she got us appetizers and drinks on the house...both which were amazing along with our waitress. Side note: any of their ginger ale drinks are great, if you like ginger ale, if not, I'd probably pass. My favorite thing is the kung pow tofu and spinach...I know it sounds really weird, but it was actually delicious! I haven't ever done the make your own stir fry thing, I'm sure its good, but I like their prepared dishes so much I just leave the creations to the chefs.
(4)Peter L.
First of all, the ginger ale is awesome -- ginger flavor, passion fruit, pomegranate, all of them. But the fact that an Asian place specializes in ginger ale should tell you something... So it may be a touristy, pan-Asian chain restaurant, but the food is surprisingly good. I wouldn't say that the red hot red pepper noodles are all that spicy, but the flavors are solid and it's my favorite thing here. The kung pao chicken noodles are spicier. I can't bring myself to order the pad thai or curries with Dao Thai down the street selling them for half the price, but the rest of the menu ain't bad. And it looks nice and trendy inside to impress the ladies.
(4)Karren K.
Honestly a five star experience. Great ambiance. When asked if it was our first time we were presented with a summer roll sample to try. We shared two appys, featured lettuce wraps, mixed potsticker the veggie and chicken, then had the red hot pepper chicken noodles. It was the perfect amount of food for two. Do not let me forget the recommended Tai mohito. Every ingredient used in the food and drink was super fresh and popped with flavor. Happy with our experience it still got better we asked for the bill and what did we get....a complementary dessert of decadant mochi. Really, two samples it was heaven. Defiantely a new favourite place to dine. If you want superb service ask for Paige you will be very well taken care of she is excellent!
(5)Einstein A.
I'm a fan of Big Bowl. Their food is good, and my water glass is always full. It's managed by Lettuce Entertain You, so you know the staff is going to treat you well and its prices are going to land on the expensive side of things (similar to Cheesecake Factory and California Pizza Kitchen). Everything is good, but try the sweet and sour soup, and of course, the create your own big bowl. I would really like to see more promotions and deals come out the doors of Lettuce Entertain You restaurants. Also, I'm disappointed that over the years the restaurant has downsized the portions (especially the soup) and increased the price. I know it's happened everywhere, and the economy isn't what it used to be, but I don't have to like it.
(4)Erin K.
I have a new love. He goes by big bowl. Now, don't get carried away and think this is my only or favorite love. It's just an additional. I can be giving. Went here with some people from work for lunch. We had a great time. Food was deeelish! Started with calamari and pot stickers. Unfortunately the pot stickers were meat so I could not partake but they were well-received. But oh the calamari. Best. Ever. Seriously. The spicy dipping sauce was best but I coulda used a stronger kick as I'm a spicy fan. My entree was the crunchy cashew shrimp. Again, advertised as spicy but not so much. Which was a-ok with me as I just added tons of their hot sauce which, by the way, is miraculous. Do they sell it? If yes, will you but it for me for my bday please? Thanks. Dessert was coconut ice cream and a brownie. Ice cream tasted great but had actual coconut shavings in it which I personally don't like. I'm like woody harrelson- love the flavor, hate the texture. The brownie, though- yummo. AND no nuts! That NEVER happens at a restaurant! All in all, it was wonderful and I wish I was there right now.
(5)Yingzi W.
Not the best Chinese food or Thai food. But overall pretty decent - very consistent food and service. I've always had a good time here.
(4)Bassam W.
This place is very good for the money. It is cheap and has a very good atmosphere. We got a free appetizer for being our first time. Try the homemade Ginger ale it's great. My only complaint is that water was not immediately offered on a summer day. That was rather odd and was a turnoff for the whole experience.
(4)Jayne B.
Despite the fact that Big Bowl is a chain, I was pleasantly surprised with this restaurant. The prices are reasonable, it's super close to the movie theater (which is how we ended up there), the service is good, and the food was actually pretty tasty. I'd highly recommend it if you're looking to grab a quick bite. And if you're deciding between Big Bowl and California Pizza Kitchen next door, I'd probably pick Big Bowl.
(4)Leang E.
I had heard positive things from people in passing conversations, and really wanted to like the spot. Unfortunately, I can't say that I am a fan. I had gotten a pick up order. I had ordered the spicy string beans appetizer, the lettuce wraps, and the crispy orange chicken. The lettuce wraps were a little more on the salty side than I prefer. The cripsy orange chicken is made better by the food court chinese restaurants at malls. My boyfriend that usually likes orange chicken from most Chinese restaurant had a couple of bites and didn't care for it at all. I guess it's tough when I have expectations that it will be spicy and tangy, and the taste was off. It tasted more like lemon than orange to me. The best thing out of the three items was the string beans. The place is a bit pricey for Chinese food and the portions are kind of small compared to other Chinese restaurant spots I've gotten food from. At least now I can say I tried it, and no longer feel like I'm missing out. When I came in to get my food I did see people eating and drinking at the bar that sounded like regulars, and it wouldn't surprise me if people just came to drink here as well.
(2)Krystsina D.
Well, first and all it is too cold inside, which makes it for an uncomfortable experience. Appetizer was pretty horrible, we took some salmon roll. If you like refrigerated rice paper, filled with some Cooked (not raw) salmon, it is for you. Otherwise, please avoid. Our dish was quite delicious. We got pork and shrimp entree. The best part of the deal was the fact that we had 15$ off from lettucentertainyou.com so our final bill was 10$. Otherwise, it is very O.K. and is not worth an extra effort.
(3)Waddie G.
Customer service is really attentive. Food is scrumptious (but all I ever order is Kung Pao Beef...lol). The lemonade tastes so on point. I'm there at least three times per month.
(4)Sentient Snacker S.
THIS IS IN REGARDS TO TAKE-OUT ONLY. If you're looking for bang-for-your-buck forget it! At least when it comes to their very tasty Kung Pao chicken. And they're not at all apologetic about charging $13 (plus delivery) for a children's portion. We should know, we called and spoke to them about it. A very unpleasant call given how many times we had ordered food from Big Bowl. A rather callous approach to customer service. I will thank them for giving me the impetus to learn how to mimic their recipe since we will not be ordering take-out from Big Blow any more.
(2)Josh G.
Big Bowl was just ok for me. There was no wait on a weeknight and the atmosphere and idea behind it are cool. Our server was friendly but talked a little too much and had a vacant look on his face as if he had given the same speech about 300 times that day. He babbled on about different specials on the menu, how great certain things were, and then proceeded to make suggestions. Personally I like it when servers make suggestions. If I'm torn between two or three things on the menu I often ask them what they would order. But this guy was seriously giving a 15 minute presentation on the menu. I kept waiting for him to break out the slide show. But after we got through the menu intro everything was fine. He was attentive and even brought us a complimentary dessert sample since it was my first time. Nice touch. The food wasn't bad but it just didn't do anything for me. I ordered the BBQ Pork which is a WOW item on the menu which I learned during the menu presentation that WOW indicates a chef specialty. Well frankly, the chef should try a little harder. First thing I noticed was that my food was just warm. Thank goodness I'm a fast eater otherwise it would have been totally cold less than half way through the dish. Flavor was fine, the fried rice was good enough. I dunno, I just felt a little blah about it all. I'll probably go back and order something completely different just to give it another whirl but for now I have to go with a 3-star.
(3)Dan K.
My wife is a thai food connoisseur and she loved this food so much that we went two (2) consecutive nights. We were visiting the Chi and this place was around the corner from our hotel so we gave it a try. After being full from deep dish pizza earlier, I was on a liquid diet for dinner so I ordered two (2) long island iced teas which were good. The bartenders were very friendly and polite. The next day, we started with the egg rolls as an appetizer and they were fresh, delicious and very flavorful. We ordered the Kapow/Gapow dish which is chicken with basil sauce. It was great and the rice was fresh too. The servings were very hearty and filling. I, definitely, would patron this establishment again if I'm ever visiting in this section of the Chi.
(5)Amber W.
I know that I'm offending the gods to say I prefer Big Bowl to some of the other supposedly "authentic" Thai restaurants (Ruby of Siam's yellow curry is watery and not spicy at all). The yellow chicken curry with sweet green beans and jasmine rice is tasty. Its got the right level of spice for someone who likes a little bite to their sauce but doesn't want to cry over their meal. If you don't make a piggy of yourself the portion is enough for 2 meals. Servers were very nice and helpful.
(4)Karen H.
For fast, fresh, delicious Chinese and Thai, this is the place to go. The chicken pad thai is my favorite, and you must try one of their ginger ales. The Green Tea Ginger Ale is very tasty and refreshing. 'Can't say enough good things about the service, too. Three cheers for Big Bowl!
(5)Patti G.
Maybe the kitchen was having an off night or was a little careless. My daughter had the orange chicken, the chicken pieces were mostly overlooked, almost burnt, breading. Sauce was good but, eh. My pad Thai was quite oily and I couldn't finish it. Probably would have been better with a little more care.
(2)Tina R.
Went to bb for lunch with family today and what a disappointment. The food was mediocre. We both got the pad Thai and could not finish it. We though that you couldn't go wrong but we did. It was so citrusy and the tofu was nasty. The service was underwhelming also. Very disappointed for a lettuce restaurant.
(1)Elizabeth A.
I looooooooooove big bowl! They have delicious food, decent prices, and the ambiance is pretty sweet. It's not romantic but it's also not too rowdy, and did I mention the good food?
(5)Nierka B.
On our last night in Chicago my boyfriend and I ate here, just randomly walked down the street of where we were staying and spotted Big Bowl. We don't have much of a Asian noodle place here in kc, so trying another in Chicago was a must. We made it clear to the waiter we were tourists, probably because he asked us if we had been here before and we said no, we are from out of town. The constant looking at our cameras probably was another good inclination. So right after we sat down, we ordered. Dumplings for an appetizer, and I had the yellow curry and my boyfriend ordered the pad Thai. Right after we placed the order a man who was not our waiter brought us out an amuse-bouche. It was very tasty, and given the decor and people in here, I didn't realize that the restaurant would have done something like that. I was pleasantly surprised. The dumplings were good, I will say that we do have a really good dumpling restaurant here in Kansas City so I wasn't super impressed. The sauce that came with them were also really tasty, even though i cant remember what they were now, there were three... Anyways, getting on to our meal, mine was excellent. I am a huge curry fan and this wasn't too sweet or even spicy. I loved the flavor and everything about it. My boyfriend's pad Thai was awesome. It was my first time trying it and we loved it. I will say that now, having tired a few pad Thia's, i am still. The sauce was really good and the noodles were amazing. I loved our waiter, it was near closing, and he was really nice and didn't make us feel rushed. I love that about a restaurant. Therefore, they get five stars.
(5)Sonal R.
I have tried this place more than once cause most of my friends love it. In my opinion its okay, nothing to rave about. Food is descent nothing I would go out of my way for.
(2)Vic R.
Nice interior, terrible food
(2)Kristina K.
Not knowing that Big Bowl was part of the franchise family (I'm so naive), I had a good dinner experience. The food was decent, but it wasn't anything that blew me out of the water. The service was okay. I would recommend this place for reliable food and service.
(4)Y C.
Just another venture in the pseudo Asian bistro world popularized by PF Chang's. I'll be honest, the only reason I ate here was because of the homemade ginger ale. I didn't come here for a taste of authentic Asian. If you like PF Chang, then you'll like this place. It's got a great happy hour vibe and yes, the ginger ale was yummy. The food is so so. I had the pad thai and it was liquidy and too sour when compared with a what a real thai joint would produce. The service was friendly and prompt and they gave me a free appetizer which was appreciated. Overall, I would come here for drinks and some munchies but would take my main meal elsewhere but I can see why people like it.
(3)Marisa S.
Pretty good food and good sized portions. Also healthy and tasty vegetarian alternatives!
(3)Noah L.
Consistently good food with strong flavor.
(4)Don W.
Three years later, it's the same story. My wife loves it, I like it. They put too many chili peppers in my Tom Yum soup, but it was still good. There were four of us and we all left happy. Our server was awesome, too. If you like to complain about a restaurant not being authentic, don't go here. I don't think authenticity is on the menu but the food is good and my wife was happy. That's what I care about.
(4)Vira S.
This was my first visit to a seemingly busy and popular restaurant. The hostess was very nice as was the server and manager. The food and dining experience was all pretty normal and flowed really well. The thing that set me off was the initial tone set by the doorman. As the manager explained to me their security is through a separate company so I didn't really blame the restaurant. The waiting area around the host stand and bar is pretty small especially for 6 or so parties trying to wait for a table so we were all in a tight squeeze. People were eventually waiting inside by the tables by windows filling up any space between the entrance and host stand. I apparently stood somewhere not preferred by the restaurant so the doorman asked me to move. Fine. I saw people waiting for a table too standing exactly where I was standing. Nothing was said to them. From where I was standing I moved back a couple feet a little closer to my original position and then the doorman came back to me and got smart with me. He said that he had told me before to either move closer to the host stand or behind the door and then Proceeded to ask me, "so which one are you going to do?" at this point I honestly was shocked and felt singled out. There were so many other people before blocking so many tables by the door. Why now and why give only me trouble? Why I stayed I don't even know. At that point I was pissed and didn't want anything else to do with this restaurant. After my party sat I informed a manager and he was very apologetic and honestly tried to make it better for me. I appreciate the restaurant for their sincere efforts but I don't think I would be returning anytime soon and will be reticent to suggest this location. I didn't seek out to get anything for free I just wanted a nice dinner in a great city. The food was good but as long as that doorman is assigned there I don't think it's worth it for me to come back. Never have I been so offended and humiliated over something so stupid and menial while dining out before.
(3)Jenna W.
The appetizers were great: dumplings, cripsy tofu and spare ribs. I ordered the Steak and Noodles, but they were too salty. My husband's Pork Fried Rice meal was delicious. I'm pretty satisfied with most LEYE restaurants, and this wasn't an exception.
(4)Wesley R.
It had been a number of years since I've been to a Big Bowl (mostly the suburban ones), so I went with co-workers to the downtown one. After a short wait, we all got our food in a decent amount of time. It is "sanitized" ethnic cuisine? To a certain degree, yes. If you happen to be particular about what is "supposed" to be in certain dishes, you may get thrown off. For example, my vegetable-tofu pad thai was chock full of vegetables that I'm not accustomed to having in my pad thai (like beans) Still, it was a good universal selection for our office. Also, even though it doesn't appear on the menu anymore, they still can whip you up a Hibiscus iced tea. I've had it before and like it, but it can be an acquired taste.
(3)Trinidad F.
Tee hee!!! Checked Big Bowl last nite after I lost my wallet at the theatre and it made me feel better. LOL. I walked in the host gave me and my friend an interesting look. A "why are THEY coming in here" look. But that may have just been me being paranoid. We were seated and immediately our waitress put water on the table. I had the Thai Green Curry with tofu and veggies...what can I say but "YUM"!!!!! It was very spicy which I love. I'm always upset at the fact that my curry at different place is bland. The serving was huge. Came with Jasmine rice and tons of veggies. I also tried the Ginger Ale. Awesome but not for me. I like the fake stuff. HEHEHE. My friend had the spicy sichuan beef which was pretty good except for the fact that the wine was over powering. Atmosphere was pretty cool and I had a good experience. Possibly stop by again since its so close to my job. Yay!!!
(3)Yoon L.
I'd give it a 3.5. Pros: spacious, good casual place to go with a group of friends or family, good appetizers Cons: service can vary. the first time i went was with a 8-10 group of sisters and it was prompt, attentive, etc. the second was with my mom and it was slow despite the place being half vacant, our waiter didn't check up on us once, and he only tried to appeal to us when he brought over the check ready to be signed & the tip line filled in. the do-it-yourself stir fry is overpriced- Flat-Top Grill in Evanston has much more variety and it's unlimited (though this only really matters to guys).
(3)Susan P.
Great food and family friendly. The kids love the "kid chopsticks" - makes eating alot easier for them. Always busy so a reservation is a must!
(4)James Michael S.
Definitely a solid choice. Plenty of good Chinese and Thai options. Was hoping for a little more when it came to their Pad Thai but the Kung Pao Tofu was very good.
(3)Alec S.
The food is okay, and the service was awkward at times. The manager started out by giving us complimentary app, which was very good and greatly appreciated. The potstickers and chicken satay app was very good, but the chicken pad thai main course was very bland. I asked to make it spicy and have a side of chili sauce, and they forgot to do both. Our server had a awkward demeanor, but he was very nice. Their Ginger Ale is great! I work just a block away, and every time I've ordered lunch they've messed up my order.
(3)Dave S.
I was quite torn about how I was going to review this place. I wasn't sure exactly how I was going to proceed because I never had a dining experience quite like this one. It was a meal of major extremes. Everything either sucked or was outstanding. There really was no middle ground here. This was not only a meal, it was an adventure. You never knew what was going to be around the next turn! Major Kudos: 1)Our server - He took very good care of us and was very fast, efficient and friendly. I could not ask for more. 2)Ginger Ale - It was a hot day and the homemade ginger ale was a hit! It was delicious and refreshing and hit the spot. 3)Shrimp Pad Thai - Not taking into consideration the shrimp, I really enjoyed the flavor medley in the noodles. I have never tasted Pad Thai quite like this. The flavors worked very well together and I am thinking that this is one of my favorites. 4)Pot stickers - They were grilled up perfectly and had an outstanding flavor. Major Suckage: 1)Atmosphere - The temperature in the place was not comfortable at all. It was way too hot in here to properly enjoy the rest of my meal. The layout is very funky too. You had to take a winding road to the restroom as they were not conveniently located. 2)Shrimp Pad Thai - I did thoroughly enjoy the noodle part of my Pad Thai. The shrimp was another story. The shrimp had an overpowering nearly repugnant overly fishy taste to them. 3)Orange Chicken - This dish was extremely underwhelming and disappointing. It did not have much flavor to it at all. As the dish sat, the sauce became extremely thick and took on a sludge like quality to it. Holy Crap and a Half: Our server recommended for dessert a blueberry and peach crisp with homemade whipped topping. It sounded right up my alley so I decide to give it a whirl. I am very particular about my desserts and this stuff blew me away. Whenever I order a dessert in a restaurant, I am going to judge it against this particular dessert. I am confident in saying that this is probably the finest dessert that I have ever ordered in a restaurant before. It was not overly sweet as the fruit provided a good amount of natural sweetness. The creaminess/crispness and cool/warm contrasts were perfect! The dessert is what made me give this place three stars instead of two.
(3)Robyn T.
Good location but reservations are suggested for this area during peak times. I came on a Monday night after 8 and the place was empty with maybe 4 other tables...the service was equally vacant. Our server had one other table but would disappear for long periods of time, especially when we wanted something. Oh well. At least the food was pretty good. I loved my beef with broccoli -- loads of broccoli, tender beef morsels and mushrooms in a light wine sauce. The sauce was so good I was trying to get all my rice in the juices. Yummy. Lettuce wraps were good and I recommend them for sharing. I like that you can do the choose your own stir fry option as well. I like Big Bowl, but I have say I prefer the Gold Coast location to the River North one. The service seems to be better there and there aren't as many tourists (again this comes with the territory though).
(3)Michelle S.
3 words: ginger mint tea mmmmmmmm
(4)Ashique M.
The service was spectaular the food was pretty good. Ive been here twice and I just do not think I have found "MY" dish yet! Quality was good and fresh!
(3)Kevin A.
LETTUCE UNDERWHELM YOU Meh. Ultra-sanitized, Americanized, under-seasoned Chinese/Thai fare from the Lettuce Entertain You empire. I appreciate that the ingredients are fresh and that they are trying to do this PF Chang's fresh Chinese thing. Unfortunately at the end of the day the food just didn't impress. The orange peel chicken, while containing actual orange peels, didn't have any depth of flavor. Ditto on the Mongolian beef, or should I say the Mongolian onion as it was kind of lacking in the meat department. Also, beware the men's room as it's a concussion waiting to happen. The sink is right next to the door which despite a sign on the outside asking people to open it slowly, comes flying open at light speed.
(3)Sarah B.
Just okay. I stopped in for lunch while running some errands. My server, Robert, was very nice. He suggested a few items and pointed out things on the menu. I also was offered a free appetizer since it was my first time in. Yay free stufff. I ordered the Chicken Pad Thai. Keeping in mind that if I wanted really great Pad Thai I should have gone to a more authentic restaurant, this was just meh. The noodles were almost kind of crispy..not good, the chicken was kinda gross, but overall, it was edible. Decent flavor. I dont know that this is somewhere I would go again but it wasnt horrible.
(3)James K.
A great dinner at a good price.
(5)caroline k.
PF Changs meets TGIF. Came for take out on a weekday night and it took forever. Ordered the hot and sour soup (not your typical/authentic in taste), sweet ginger scallops and shrimp entree (overly sweet and a bit 'fishy/seafood-y' in tste), and chicken and vegetable dumplings (5 little dumplings for $6 - not worth it). The ambiance is, as expected, lively and very themed (including a gi-normous white chinese take out box hanging overhead to the right of the entrance) - fun, but not necessarily worth it for the food.
(2)M. D.
I love Thia food so much and Big Bowl Pad Thia is amazing. The Asian Chicken salad is to die for. They have the BEST pot-stickers...SO Yummy!
(5)John L.
Boys & girls, it's time for a Haiku for Big Bowel (yes, I said "bowel"). Read it aloud in your best Arnold Schwartznegger voice: You concoct bland food. Why do you make us throw up? I shall not be back.
(1)Bob V.
This place is excellent. Eat here every time we are in Chicago. Prices are real reasonable too.
(5)Dorothy S.
How could one not love a place called Big Bowl with a ginormous red bowl and chop sticks sitting atop the entry way? I think I'm just in awe because we don't have this type of place in San Francisco and I'm giving this place a bunch of stars because when you have amazing company dining with you, the experience is all the better. Seriously, the pad thai was interesting because it really tasted as if there was kim chee in it, which I'm not really accustomed to but it tasted good enough. I think what I love most about BB was sitting in an open air spot where you could people watch and smell the fresh air from the outside. Fortunately, the horse and carriages didn't pass in front of the restaurant while we were dining there. Overall, nice place to eat but you need a token for the restroom, that's downstairs.
(4)Chris B.
Fantastic food, great service - a superb find!
(4)Maher A.
The food was ok. The forks and knives were unclean and the service is not that good.
(3)Taylor G.
I'm not sure what to say about Big Bowl other than "meh". I went in for lunch and had my old stand-by: Panang Curry. Prices are a bit higher than I would have liked to pay (~$15 after tax and tip for the dish alone). The portions were quite considerable, but I would have much preferred a lower price in exchange for less food, rather than Americanized portions. Aside from that , I didn't find the curry inspiring at all. I requested extra heat, and got it, but it all fell on the tip of my tongue, rather than engulfing my whole mouth in flames - I would have preferred the latter. On the whole, it was very standard, though the chicken was very juicy. The rice was bland and heaped on the same plate as the curry, ensuring it turned into a large soupy mess. I would give Big Bowl one more chance. The food was just okay, but the prices don't reflect that fact. For $15, I want to be wowed and amazed. Big Bowl? I'll pass.
(2)Jenny z.
Starving? If so, you might be able to actually eat something here and still be able to look at yourself in the mirror. Otherwise, stay away. It's in close contention with Penny's and Joy Yee's for most embarrassing and pathetic excuse for an Asian restaurant in Chicago. Ick.
(1)M. P.
Best food ever!!!! Now this has a been a long overdue - like 10 years:-) That's how long me and my family, and our friends have been going to this place and have been loving it! We have had birthdays, special occasions, anniversaries and so many memories here! The service is decent but I dont really care as the food is phenomenal!!! We are big bowl food addicts! My husband has been eating Orange Peel Chicken for the last 10 years :-) I love the Schezwan Cashew Shrimp . I also try their stir fry bar several times. Also since I love Schezwan Sauce but it is not on the Stir Fry menu, I ask them to make it with it and they happily do it! My mom had green curry last time and loved it as well. Overall an amazing place that we love the most! If you are a regualr at this place and other of lettuce restaurants you must get their leye card (free customer loyalty card) and rake up lotsa dollars!!! Love it!
(5)roderick h.
Always good food... lunch specials are always pretty good and the food is very fresh! I usually get the teriyaki chicken (i think) and its always soooo sooo good... which is why I havent tried much else :)!
(4)Jennifer G.
I love Big Bowl. Their hot and sour soup is to die for. Skip the make your own stir fry deal and go for their pad thai or chinese dishes. They are much better. My husband had the Szechuan Beef and spent the whole meal with tears streaming and a runny nose - if you love heat - try the Szechuan Beef. Their Pad Thai could go up against any Thai restaurant. I love this location for somewhat easier parking as well as Puma across the street. I would visit the other location if I am in the mood for ESPN Zone.
(4)Thongsy S.
I can not vouch for their regular dinner menu. I came here for the Fortune Hour event and they were passing around appetizers. They had these lettuce wraps and fruits on sticks. It was just okay. I usually LOVE free food but this time around, I was only able to eat 2 pieces of the lettuce wraps. The atmosphere is okay and the service seemed good. But considering I haven't tried their stir-fry, I will have to go back and give it a try.
(2)Salmaan T.
Good service, fast, and yet the food seems very fresh and flavorful. Overall, a very good experience even if the manager seemed a bit like a rookie. Good stuff.
(4)Maria S.
This review is definately influenced by the fact that my kids love this place with a capital LOVE. First why the kids love this place: - rubber bandy chopsticks to practice eating with - a "mad libs" type fill in-the-blank thingy on the kids menu - that has them in stitches every single time. We do it over and over and over. They just can't get enough. - fancy "red dragon" drinks (shirley temple) - a good selection on the kids' menu - it's right around the corner from the Lego store And why I like this place - I think the food is pretty tasty. I've tried several curries and they are yummy and have some kick. The lettuce leaf wrap appetizer is great. - The kids love it and will behave all day if we are going there. And then they behave in the restaurant because they are busy cracking themselves up over the mad libs thing. So there you go.
(4)Matt G.
In the pseudo words of Jeff from Curb Your Enthusiasm "This is a Big Bowl of RIGHT!" I really enjoy this place. It is one of the few restaurants near Michigan Avenue that doesn't seem to be over crowded all the time. The portions are very generous and the prices are not awful. It is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant so I've used gift cards here, but it's also not one of those Lettuce Entertain You places that I will only go to if I have a gift card. I recommend the build your own stir fry, it's a good deal and you'll always have enough for lunch the next day. The potstickers and chicken eggrolls are also quite good! Perfect if you're going to catch a movie at 600 N. Michigan!
(4)Kristina K.
Let's start with the food: ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! I always do the build your own stir fry. I stick to the all natural chicken, teriyaki, and egg noodles. You get to fill your own bowl with vegetables of your choice at a salad bar type thing. I've also tried the sesame chicken (I do not recommend it) and the beef...which is also quite delicious...I'm just more of a chicken person. The whole ambiance of the place is really cool too. Very modern but still a semi-oriental feel. Lots of TVs, and they are always playing the sports game. Normally, I go to the Big Bowl in Gold Coast, but I've tried the downtown one several times...I usually have Renee...and he is a great server! He is always very careful with my severe shellfish allergy. I'm finally writing a review about this place because last night I had an exceptional experience. My sister and her boyfriend were visiting from WV, so I took them there. Our server, Julie P, was absolutely great! She was so friendly, and by the time our meal was over I felt like we'd known her for years. She was very personable without being unprofessional. I feel like she just really went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time, and I hope that she sees this message. While I've always enjoyed my visits to Big Bowl, Julie made this experience especially fun! So, thanks Julie for an excellent experience! I have nothing bad to say about this restaurant...it is just absolutely delicious.
(5)Rachelle G.
Not great but not bad. Would I come back, probably not. Decent menu with a little bit of everything, nothing stood out though as something I really wanted to order. I ended up with the Schezwan Shrimp (at least that's what I think it was called), it was basically an assortment of carrots, onions, jicama and some other veggies doused in Siracha sauce with fried shrimp on top. Service was decent, however our server seemed to have a slight accent and didn't enunciate well which made it hard to understand what he was saying. Even when we would ask him to repeat things, we still couldn't quite make it out and would just order as we wanted.
(3)Mimi S.
this is one of my favorite little places to dine while shopping downtown. you can valet @ Texas De Brazil if you want because there is no valet here- you can also use a garage, they offer validation (just ask about it). The food is flavorful and fresh. We usually grab a booth because we need a booster seat for the baby. The people are friendly and the wait is generally short. FYI, if you order a full glass of wine, you will get half a glass : ( the waiter explained what he could but it made no sense to me- i ordered a full glass and i expected to get a full glass.. may be easier if they just downsized the glasses???
(3)Allen R.
Started off with good beer and refills great potstickers!!! Pad Thai was on point! 5/5 will be back
(5)Sarah H.
Great variety of choices. Love the wok your own stir-fry bar. A fresh option in the middle of a dining landscape dominated by heavy Italian and steak joints. My tween got dishes he liked, too.
(5)Laura K.
Had my first experience at Big Bowl today, and it was a big disappointment. I've never been to this place before, but the name, branding, and outside décor speak "casual diner" to me. I walk in there shocked to find a dim-lighted sit down restaurant! It probably would have been better if I looked at their website for carry-out ordering, but I figured since I was there already and had such a small request, it wouldn't be a big deal... I ordered the chicken dumpling soup (small), and fresh ginger ale. I never eat a heavy lunch and wanted to use my last LEYE scratch off so there was no turning back now. So I wait....and wait....and, what the heck is going on? How long does it take to whip up a bowl of soup and ginger ale?! Finally the woman at the carry out counter comes back with a brown box and salad and she says, "potstickers and salad". And I'm like, "no I ordered the soup and ginger ale". OH!.....??? Just an uh oh look and walks away, and FIVE minutes later she comes back with my correct order. Seriously, I could have been out of there in FIVE minutes instead of 18!!!! At this point I am very upset and just wanted to get out of there, but instead of directly apologizing and admitting the mistake, she kept asking if I needed utensils, cookie, blah blah. Just put the damn cookie in the bag as an apology, don't ask me! I hinted that I was already late for work - thanks by the way, so I grabbed my order and got out of there. The soup and ginger ale were pretty good, but unfortunately I don't feel like going back to try their other food or dine-in service. Oh well, plenty of other Asian food in the area.
(2)Victoria A.
Three strikes and you're out. This place has become a 'used to be good' restaurant. Three years ago, everything from the drinks to the dessert were excellent, now I'm left with watery sauces and hair in my food. The last meal I had there was the shrimp with basil and lemon---truly awful; it tasted like fish water and herbs. I have no idea if they have a new chef or new management, but all three items I have ordered in the last year during friends' events have been bland and poorly prepared. The decor is nice and the staff is pleasant, but the food is underwhelming at best.
(2)D S.
Actually, it's probably more like three and a half stars, to be fair. I went here for lunch. My dish was pretty good (a crunchy, spicy shrimp dish, as I recall), but doesn't stand out in my memory. It was nice. The other member of my party had the salmon pad thai, which sounds intriguing enough on the menu, but in reality it's a complete disaster. The sum of adding salmon to traditional pad thai is simply fishy, malodorous noodles. We were there towards the end of the lunch hour rush, so the wait staff was busy, understandably. However, after our lunch was served, the waiter didn't have a chance to ask if everything was okay until he cleared our plates. At this point, we pointed out the acridity pad thai, and, to Big Bowl's credit, he removed the dish from our bill. BB has a comfortable atmosphere and is conveniently located. The fresh ginger ale, which comes in a variety of clever flavors, was brilliant. Therefore, I doubt our experience there was typical, though it's probably best to stick with the basics. Lesson learned.
(3)Stephanie K.
What can I say? It's another Lettuce Entertain You place. Does anyone else feel like they're all kind of the same? That being said, the one exceptional thing on the menu at Big Bowl is the homemade ginger ales. They're fantastic. Other than that, I'd steer clear of the make-your-own stir fries and stick to their 'pretty good' appetizers. Some reco's include: Beef Lettuce Wraps, Potstickers, and Chicken Satay Skewers.
(3)Jason P.
Very PF Chang-esq. I really enjoy the food here, but it seems like it's too comprable to PF Chang. The only thing PF does not have of course..is the stir-fry! This allows you to go up "mongolian bbq" style to make your own selections. The chef will help you pick out what you think you would like and create a great combination. The dinner options are also pretty good. They advertise "spicy" choices but i've never been thrilled as i've always had to have them go back and add to my dish to make it more hot.
(3)Jahi J.
One of my favorite spots. I usually do the stir fry bowl with the salmon and I am always satisfied. I probably go here more than any other place for the thai herb calamari alone. When I am downtown I stop in and go to the bar just for an order of calamari and a pomegranate ginger ale-- I hate them because I drink them like shots and be wanting more. Other menu items are good too but I usually go with my regular dish here. Prices are pretty decent too, most menu items are 10-15, but don't skip out on the calamari. I've gone here several times on dates and I never paid more than 60 or so.
(4)Teresa M.
I love this place! Yes I know it is technically a chain restaurant but it is so good. On our trip to Chicago, the girls were looking through an activities book in the hotel room. One of them says "Hey this place looks good", so we put it on the list of things to do the next day. So we arrive for a late lunch after an afternoon on North Ave Beach, and boy are we hungry, hungry, HUNGRY! The ambiance is great. Red, black and bamboo with a mix of new music and old school classics playing in the background, not so loud as to be distracting though. The hostess seats us immediately. Our witty, attentive and very knowledgeable waiter asks "Have you ever dined with us before?" Response, "Nope we are Big Bowl newbies." He recommends trying one of their fresh (made on-site) flavored ginger ales. We each tried a different flavor (you should too) and we loved them all. After bringing our yummy ginger ales and giving us time to peruse the menu, he goes over it with us and recommends his favorite dishes. On to the food: Appetizers: *Chicken Potstickers - They were very good and the 3 dipping sauces were excellent. Our waiter also brought a small bowl of Big Bowl's special chili to same. Woo kicked up some heat but was 'OH SO GOOD!' *As we are finishing our first appetizer the manager comes over with another "Thanks for trying us" appetizer that was delicious and free of charge. Can't quite remember what they called it but it was chicken and portabella mushrooms in a teriyaki sauce served on a whole fried wonton. Main dishes: *Chicken Pad Thai- Acceptable Pad Thai, nothing to really WOOT WOOT about though. *Teriyaki fried Chicken - Very good fried rice dish, veggies and chicken. *Panang Curry Chicken - This was the piece de resistance (maybe I should try to find a Chinese or Thai term that expresses the correct sentiment...nah). Chicken and rice in a light peanut-coconut curry sauce with snow peas and green beans. If you can't find something on the menu that makes your taste buds salivate, Big Bowl also offers a do-it-yourself stir-fry bar. Complete with meats, seafood, veggies and spices. Big Bowl has several locations in the Chicago area as well as Minnesota and Virginia. I am hoping to get one in the Metro Detroit area soon. We liked Big Bowl so much that we planned to stop at the location in Schaumburg, IL on our way home from Wisconsin. 7/22/2012 We visited this wonderful place again this year on our yearly pilgrimage to Wisconsin and again they did not disappoint. My brother who had not had the privilege of eating here before says "Wow. The food is all fresh. This is the best restaurant I have eaten at in a long time."Yep that about says it all. The calamari was phenomenal, the potstickers fantastic. One word of advice, watch out for the wasabi infused mustard. It packs quite a kick. Oh and the deserts: try the lemon cake. Yes when you read the descriptions it won't even register as something interesting. We tried 4 different deserts (there were 4 of us- don't judge us) lol. The lemon cake was by far our favorite. If you like PF Changs, the Big Bowl will ruin it for you. When in Chicago, The Big Bowl is a must do for me!
(5)Linda N.
Had high hopes based on reviews here and on Open Table, but was disappointed. Had the Thai special which was alright although nothing special. Was initially excited to find rice pudding with coconut milk on the dessert menu, so I ordered one. Something similar was my favorite at a Chinese dessert place I used to visit in chinatown in Canada. I doubt it will become anyone's favorite at Big Bowl - it was horrible! Nothing like the chinese version! Our waiter was very nice, yet her efforts didn't seem sincere at all so that part didn't do it for me either. On top of this, the natural and healthy ingredients they advertise that they use left me feeling bloated and uncomfortable the rest of the evening. To sum up, I won't return next time I go to Chicago. There must be better alternatives out there than this for those who love Asian inspired food.
(2)Akhil A.
Love their sesame chicken with red panang curry and fried rice...can't beat this combination....
(5)Cara M.
Too bad I didn't read the reviews here before I ate... everyone was correct about the Pad Thai, it was terrible. :( I love Pad Thai and was excited to try it here, but it was bland, oily, didn't taste remotely like any I've had before, the noodles were overcooked (fell apart into little pieces every bite) and had things that don't belong in Pad Thai (I'm looking at you, Thai basil). Weird. If you're going to put the word Thai on your sign, you should probably learn how to make one of the cuisine's signature dishes. I gave it two stars instead of one because the apps we had were pretty tasty (calamari and chicken potstickers), and everyone else's dishes at least looked tasty?
(2)Jonathan H.
Great decor, great food i love the curry chicken and had my birthday party here. The bar stools/chairs need a bit of maintenance while i was there last time but otherwise you really cant complain about the fast friendly service.
(4)Kathy G.
I don't care if the food is Thai, Chinese, Japanese....whatever. All I know is that it tastes good. The build your own stir fry is great, I can fill up on my favorite vegetables and skip the ones I don't like and I can get the cook to help me out if I need it. The Kung Pao Chicken is delicious, the tien-tsin peppers add just the right spice. It is hard to decide what to order but that is my favorite menu item. Go there for the quality and the ambiance. The room is not over decorated or gaudy like some Asian-themed restaurants, it's a nice, inviting place.
(4)Grace N.
The three of us went here with a $75 gift certificate and were able to get 2 apps, 3 entrees, and 4 beers for $74, which is pretty reasonable. The beef wraps were good. The potstickers were ok, but I'm never imrpessed with potstickers (they're never that much better than the frozen kind). What I appreciate about their entrees is that the meals they label as spicy are ACTUALLY spicy, including the pepper chicken, and any szechuan dish. I can handle a lot of spice, but my face was actually starting to turn red. No pain, no gain! I also like the brown rice option. The service is spotty, but I'd probably go back.
(3)Jennifer R.
I went to Big Bowl for the first time 2 months and have returned 3 times since then. The service is great and the food is even better. The chicken lettuce wrap appetizer is so good and the honey ginger ale is both refreshing and tasty. I can't wait to go back soon. I went to Big Bowl for the first time 2 months and have returned 3 times since then. The service is great and the food is even better. The chicken lettuce wrap appetizer is so good and the honey ginger ale is both refreshing and tasty. I can't wait to go back soon. I went to Big Bowl for the first time 2 months and have returned 3 times since then. The service is great and the food is even better. The chicken lettuce wrap appetizer is so good and the honey ginger ale is both refreshing and tasty. I can't wait to go back soon.
(5)Neetha V.
Very Tasty Food...Variety of options for all kinds of crowd, veg to meat lovers! MUST try their Ginerale, Made with fresh ginger made in-house, if you want to know, what real ginerale tasts like try this!! Very good! Flavorfull food, was never disappointed, tried several options and they all turned out pretty good!!! My husband loves their icecream dessert, I forget what it is called! Passion fruit..etc Overall a good place for an outing with family/friends!
(4)Charles V.
Spicy Tofu, white rice, and spicy green beans....very delicious. Chicago friends said I would probably enjoy Big Bowl and I did. Yummy! I love spicy food, so I would try more dishes in a heartbeat. I'd like to sit down there at some point, but we were rushing so we got our food to-go. Other issue is I am only in Chicago for three days. Not sure when I will be back, but if I do ever visit again. I would surely try to make a pit stop.
(4)Somchai S.
Overpriced for mediocre food. I had the munchies during my lunch hour so I decided to order some steamed dumplings and a shrimp summer roll. To my surprise the 5 dumplings were undersized and not all too tasty. The summer roll was edible however they only gave you one roll with 3-4 pieces of shrimp. My unsatisified stomach was still craving food. And my wallet was out $13. Next time Ill go to Wow Bao to curb my thai cravings. And Ill head up to Tank Noodle for some summer rolls that are worth the price!
(2)Antonio R.
Went to Chicago with my senior class the first week of April 2013. Had the pot stickers and the chicken pad Thai with homemade ginger ale and let me say this.... Best Asian experience I ever had! The pad Thai was the freshest ever.. The pot stickers were great and the ginger ale tasted fresh as well!! If ever in downtown please goo here!!!!!
(5)Mir E.
Penang chicken curry! Freakishly amazing and such a good choice last minute. It was so good and it was my first time eating curry and I am now a fan lol. Sort of spicy the more u eat but none the less still sooooo good!
(5)Robin P.
So many great places to go eat in Chicago, but this isn't one. Average food with a nice interior.
(2)Vineet S.
I am a fan of this place. Awesome food, service and ambience. Just simply love the Stir fry menu. They have one of the best gingerale in the town, the best thing about the gingerale are all the fresh ingrediets. The vegetarian stir fry is just damm mouth watery. The cashew chicken is also great. The vegetable potstickers are just average.
(5)Kelly K.
This is a love story, about a girl, some spicy mustard, and some sweet customer service. I "discovered" Big Bowl way back in 1998, when I was working in a cubicle farm in the burbs with few food options nearby. I worked late. A lot. After a few nights of cuisine a'la Vending Menace, I placed a takeout order with Big Bowl. My boyfriend at the time had me addicted to potstickers, and Big Bowl serves theirs with this crazy crack mustard. It's probably just MSG and yellow #5, but I don't care. It makes my toes curl. My first time tasting this combination of potstickers and Crack Mustard, I ran around my cubible giggling. I'm not kidding. Fast forward to 2011. I've been living in the city since 2002 and I'm not allowed to like chain restaurants. I hide my occasional Cheesecake Factory cravings from my friends, from fear of being stabbed to death with a tightly-rolled copy of Time Out. Listen. I understand Chicago is home to a zillion amazing non-chain restaurants. But I need to remember my suburban roots lest I become one of those city-snobs that won't venture farther west than Irving and Pulaski for fear of being sucked into the strip mall vortex. So anyway, Big Bowl. For years, I quietly seek out others who enjoy this VERY Americanized Asian food for what it is: (Tasty) Americanized Asian food. We sometimes jump into cabs and sneak away for lunch, but it's rare. Then one day, I find out my boss also secretly likes Big Bowl and I'm on their website, looking for the number to the delivery service they use. They have a "store" link. I click it. THEY SELL THE CRACK MUSTARD. OHMYGOD THEY SELL THE CRACK MUSTARD!!! It's 93 degrees and humid. Don't care. I practically skip from my office to the location on Ohio. I pick up lunch. I buy a bottle of mustard. I get home that night ready to bathe in it. I look at the date on the bottle - it's expired by 2 months. Could I? Probably. Should I? Probably not. I call them to let them know they sold me bum mustard. The guy who answers the phone not only remembers me from earlier in the day, but goes to the store room, removes the rest of the bad mustard, and sends me a fresh bottle FREE OF CHARGE. Personalized service from a chain restaurant, peeps. He also called me the next week to make sure the mustard arrived intact. I think I have a crush on my Friendly Neighborhood Big Bowl Crack Mustard Peddler. I won't rate BB 5 stars, only because I think the Restaurant Police would evict me from my Edgewater apartment in the middle of the night, but deep in my heart, I'm a Big Bowl Lover.
(4)Ramya P.
I've been here so many times and it serves a very Americanized version of real Thai food. But I'm not complaining! There are a few good options for vegetarians like the pot stickers, pad thai and you can customize your own stir fry... for me though, the highlight is the Green curry. Honestly, I've had green curry at so many places and I can't help but compare them to this one and most of the times they will not hold up against this one. Humongous portion size so, come here when you are absolutely starving after shopping all day in Michigan avenue!!
(4)Kay P.
very average food...I ordered a chicken stir fry which was very sour...my colleague didn't like his noodles too...food was oily too...wil not go back
(2)Dan A.
Oooh, I really liked my Big Bowl. I let them mix my greens for me and got beef in my bowl. I had a lot of "bowls" when I lived in L. A. so I wasn't expecting much but this was a really great experience. Their specialty ginger ales are absolutely worth a try... they are very strong but enjoyable if you like ginger drinks. I liked the orange especially. Great wait staff, nice folks, cool atmosphere... this place hit the spot during a busy downtown shopping afternoon.
(4)Kin L.
Americanized Hybrid Asian Cuisine, or as I call it, Fake Asian Food! So this place specializes in Chinese and Thai cuisine? I'll be the judge of that! I only came here because I was extremely hungry and it was on the way home. Since it does sort of look fancy and well decorated inside, I figured the menu would have some neat and interesting items to order. Well, I was wrong. The menu was so run of the mill ordinary that I felt like leaving after I sat down. But I'm not an ass, so I stayed. The menu featured items such as Kung Pao Chicken, Pad Thai, Fried Rice, Beef & Broccoli, and other ordinary items. Seriously, other Chinese and Thai restaurants in the area serve the exact same thing, and I'm willing to bet the prices are lower, and the food tastes better. I guess you can classify the menu items as 'safe foods.' You know, you have to try really hard to F-up the dish when it's being cooked. I selected the Teriyaki Chicken Fried Rice...which isn't even Chinese or Thai. Teriyaki is Japanese! Whoever created the menu needs to attend Asian Cooking 101. Hell, I'll even pay for the class myself. I also got the potsticker combo (3 pieces of chicken and 2 pieces of vegetables) as an appetizer. Seriously, only 5 potstickers? Stingy! At least throw in one more vegetable potsticker to balance out the combo! Oh yeah, I can make way better potstickers from the freezer back home. Shame on you Big Bowl, you're an insult to Asian cuisine!
(2)Rob J.
What is with all the families that come here? I know you gotta eat somewhere so I'm not knocking it, but it was FULL with families. A great spot for a quick meal before a movie up the street though...
(3)Emann B.
Look, it's not the best Pan-Asian food you can get for the money, but when the fams in town, they love it. I've been going for years. Most recently I went on a Sunday around 7:30pm and the wait was about 35 minutes. By the time we sat down I was a bit irritated, but our cute guy server was so sweet and attentive, it more than made up for it. Great service really makes all the difference. Food is generously portioned and hits the spot. Had the potsticker combo, glazed salmon, and yellow curry with tofu and vegetables. Perfectly tasty and delicious. For dessert we shared the mochi combo, just enough to hit the spot.
(4)Dwayne H.
Great hot Thai food exceptional service at great prices! Did I say great curry?
(5)Morgan A.
I recently had a food sensitivity test done and have to eliminate a TON of things out of my diet for 90 days including wheat, dairy, yeast, eggs - the list goes on... I came to big bowl and they were beyond accommodating with my situation. They gave me a menu and told me what could be made catered to my food allergies. Most restaurants scoff at my list and tell me I can get __x__ and that's it. When the food comes it's boring, bland and I usually get charged extra for less food. Say waaa? Big Bowl was the complete opposite. I got a tasty lunch full of flavor and catered to my allergies. Multiple times I had someone coming out checking, is this ok for you? is that ingredient ok (yeast is a tricky one)? I felt very confident that my meal wasn't going to make me sick, and it didn't! Our waiter was fabulous and the entire staff was super friendly. Usually I dread going to eat out due to my limited diet right now but they made it a pleasure! I highly recommend this place to anyone that has special diet needs!
(4)Jay S.
Years ago, when my husband and I first started visiting Chicago, we were sooo excited about BIG BOWL. We're from Seattle, and it excited me to see a good updated Asian/Asian fusion place in the Midwest at the time. "Bruce Cost is being a good ambassador for American Style Asian" - I thought. Sadly, times have changed. The lemon chicken that so impressed me with its fresh take on the old school mess has regressed. The hot and sour soup suffered from what everything I ate suffered from: overuse of sesame oil. Holy cow - someone needs to freshen the staff's palate! They've become desensitized to a very pungent ingredient. Ouch. My husband did like his "build-a-stir-fry" with salmon, so I can't fault that...but I can't praise it either. If a professional kitchen can't heat up the pre-made sauce and ingredients James picked for the $20 he put down...things would be 1 star indeed. And what happened to the all the chow fun? There was only one fat noodle on the menu. Where are the blazing beef noodles? There are too many delicious things in Chicago to bother with a visit to Big Bowl again. So farewell...thanks for the memories.
(2)Kate D.
This place has delicious food. The orange chicken is my favorite; I've never had anything like it. Portions are just right for dinner. The pot stickers and the dumplings are pretty good as well. I enjoyed the pomegranate mojito a lot. We didn't have any particular problems with service-- it was average. I'll be back here for sure.
(4)Jing C.
It's probably because I moved in down the street and started eating here more often but I've really come around to this place. The good: the ingredients are super fresh, reasonably health-conscious Asian food, and excellent ginger ale! I love good Chinese food but it's a meat-loving cuisine so sometimes it's difficult to eat Asian with vegetarian friends. Problem solved! Big Bowl has a section dedicated to vegetarian eats. And while I will never give up red meat and seafood, I've got to admit the Unfried Rice is a highlight.
(4)Haley S.
Yes, it's chain Chinese. But, it's worth it for four things in my book. First of all the chicken potstickers are a fave. They're not at all greasy! Also love the teriyaki spareribs and green tea ginger ale. But what i really come here for is the vietnamese chicken noodle soup, which is AWESOME when you are sick!
(4)Eric K.
I used to work down the block from this BIG BOWL and it has remained one of my favorite places to eat for YEARS. I went there last evening and got a table to order what I usually get. The chicken pot stickers with the awesome mustard dipping and other 2 sauces and the fiery chicken cashew dish as my main course. Imagine my surprise when I got the chicken pot stickers and it came with a new spicy chinese mustard sauce. The original sauce was a reason I came to the restaurant - I even would take bottles home. Now it comes with a spicy chinese mustard I could get at any cheap Chinese take out. The waiter said it might be because they were getting rid of peanut oil because of people's allergies. Um...let people with allergies order their own food - don't ruin mine! Then I got the fiery chicken dish which used to come with nice white chicken pieces ride and vegtables. Now it comes deep fried with a dark sauce on it. Yes SOGGY deep fried chicken. The flavor was ok but the whole experience was like bad chinese takeout. Not the flavors it used to have AT ALL. In GOOD NEWS - they added some things to the menu from the closed BEN PAO - Sesame Chicken and I'm happy about that. Maybe I will go back and eat the old Ben Pao dishes but BIG BOWL itself if kinda dead to me. This place is going downhill fast!
(2)Teegan F.
We were seated quickly, the server was great, and the food was delicious. This place rocks!
(5)Katherine R.
Pad Tai Noodles with chicken. Nice tea selection; infused teas with exotic fruits. Intriguing atmosphere with dim colored lights and a serene ambiance of tables in a a line and then an open area for larger groups for the round tables. The drinks are tropical and created in tall glasses with colorful juices. The concoctions are really well done here with or without alcohol. Our server was alert and very time oriented with our group on a weekend night especially.
(5)Gayatri D.
Not many vegetarian options. But whatever they have tastes quite good! Great service and large portions. Perfect for a quick lunch!
(4)M G.
Food is always delicious. Many different choices to choose from. Even the drinks are good. Place is mostly busy and the service can improve because they tend to be slow sometimes but that is because the place is busy. Overall, always a good experience when i eat there.
(4)Kathy S.
This place is the epitome of overpriced "Asian" food. I've been there a handful of times because friends have wanted to go there but have never had any dish that I really loved. The only one that I kinda liked was the thai hot pepper chicken with basil and peanuts. However, it was so salty that I had to have lots of rice with each bite to overcome the crazy salty factor. So basically the only time I'll come back is when a group of friends really wants to come here.
(2)Anthony S.
Good food, good selections, great prices and good service. I am always happy to come here! You absolutely must try their pumpkin ice cream mochi in the fall. It's to die for!
(5)Karl S.
So i saw the Big Bowl sign and went in to bowl a few games. To my surprise not a single ball or lane to be found. I hate false advertising......kidding I usually try to avoid chain restaurants when I travel, but I always seem to make it to a Big Bowl for some Pad Thai Constantly good food.
(4)A I.
For the price point, this is good. Setting: Seating reminded me of a big chain restaurant, but it was clean and plenty of space. If I have to turn more than one page on a menu, I lose interest. I really lose interest when it is an instruction manual. Food: Ginger ale was good and a plate of noodles was prepared and served quickly. Not the best Pad Thai on the planet, but the ingredients were fresh and the food was hot. Service: Very organized and friendly staff. I liked that the waiter basically telegraphed what was best on a very complicated menu.
(4)Kevin Q.
Decent place with good restaurant ambience but just kind of wish that you could fully customize your own bowls like you would at Flat Top Grill since I could only choose the vegetables. Overall, I liked the place and thought it was an excellent choice to have a date at.
(4)Sonali K.
Maybe it's because it has been so long, or because I couldn't eat Gran Luxe for lunch anymore (what work always seems to order), but we got Big Bowl today and it was SO good. I decided to try something new - the Vegetarian Dumpling soup (made extra spicy). I can't believe I hadn't tried this sooner! It was flavorful, the dumplings were fresh and delicious, and they definitely didn't skimp on the "extra spicy" request. They serve the dumpling on the side so they don't get soggy, and I have to admit I didn't add them to my soup. I ate them with a side of their peanut sauce and hot chili sauce - so yummy. I also got my usual order of spicy sesame peanut noodles - still good.
(3)Jason P.
Definitely surprised by this place. It has been YEARS since I have been here... we're talking close to a decade, so I was expecting your average PF Chang's style chinese/japanese/thai offerings. I opted for the Sweet Ginger Scallops and Shrimp, and it was amazing. It was a little light on the scallops and shrimp, but the sauce was so good I gobbled up the mountain of rice that was on the plate just to get more of that sauce in my mouth. My wife had the pad thai, she was a fan, but I can't really comment on that because I'm not a fan of pad thai anywhere. Our friend had the Teriyaki Glazed Chicken Fried Rice, and that was very tasty as well. I love the fresh ginger ale, and the mai thais are awesome as well. Pot stickers are good, but you don't get many of them in the appetizer (I'm a big boy, I like my portions big as well). It's a tad pricey for what it is, but you're paying for the location. I'll definitely go back if I find myself with a reason to be in River North, but I probably wouldn't plan an outing solely around this restaurant.
(4)Pinak B.
Like most entertain you restaurants, its a good spot to visit when no other option comes to mind. Feel like getting some good Asian inspired cuisine, but don't' really know where to go? Try out big bowl. They have a nice assortment of premade dishes, as well as a build your own bowl. Some favorites include Spicy Peanut Noodles, Kung Pao Tofu and the Chicken Satay. For entrees I would recommend staying away from the items on the menu and going with the 'build a bowl'. Its more interactive, fun and you can pick and choose exactly what you want. If you come with a group, its a good opportunity to mix and match items and try a little over everything.
(3)Tiff B.
Can't believe I never wrote a review for Big Bowl. I love this place! Sure it's not authentic Asian food, but it's damn tasty and that's all that matters. I've never had bad service here and even though they're always packed. It doesn't seem like you have to wait long for a table. My best friend loves this place, so whenever she comes to town she insists on going here. The prices are very good as well. You can get a three course meal plus wine for about $20/person. That's cheap for restaurants downtown.
(5)Cate W.
Delicious food, and excellent service! Having worked in at another upscale Chinese restaurant that also prioritizes fresh food and interesting flavors over the traditional msg fest, I was so glad to discover Big Bowl downtown! Sometimes the Loop restaurant reviews I read on Yelp are so depressing--truly mixed reviews-- that I hesitate to spend money or take a chance on any of 'em. Big Bowl is a fabulous alternative. We went out for supper on Wednesday night with a friend visiting town on business, and we all were incredibly pleased with our meals and the overall experience. Our server was great--pleasant but not smarmy, attentive without hovering. The food came out hot and on time. We started with vegetable potstickers (delicious) and I had a pomegranate- gingerale-vodka cocktail, which was good but a little too hot gingery for my taste, though the aftertaste was pleasant, and the thai chicken panang curry. Oh MY! That was an excellent dish! The curry was a lovely peanut-lemon grass, flavorful and full without being too heavy, the peapods were crisp and the chicken was lovely. It had a little heat (as I was warned) but the server warned me about the little red peppers I should avoid in the dish--the whole thing was great! And when I took home leftovers, I think the dish improved over night in the fridge. I got two lunches out of it. My fiance had the chicken pad thai, which he loved, and my friend, a vegetarian, tried the Big Bowl make-your-own stir fry. When she asked our server's advice about the many sauces available he was able to find out what she liked and make some good suggestions. Really, it will be no sacrifice to go back to this place. The restaurant was pretty busy even for an early Wednesday evening--can't say I'm surprised if this is theaverage dining experience.
(5)Anna B.
The food and service was really great. Everything we ordered tasted really fresh, but managed to still be very flavorful and filling. Our waiter was great and the manager came to greet us with free appetizers too! I would definitely recommend it.
(4)Justin S.
Not my favorite at all. The home made ginger ale was different but still pretty good. The food however, not really great. The pad thai wasn't that great and what made it worse was the price. No lunch specials that just sucks. Service was good but still food not so much. I'll keeping looking for some great pad thai....
(1)meso s.
Placed an order for pick up on a very busy Thursday evening during a visit to the city. Wasn't familiar with the resturant but ordered the cashew chicken which was too spicy to eat. However enjoyed the Mogolian beef dish it was delish. The fortunate cookies nice sweetness to them.
(4)Gen S.
I keep going back to this place for the fresh ginger ale. It's seriously delicious. (If you're looking for a buzz, the sangria is decent, but not fantastic. Their other drinks are pretty pricey.) Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the food. It's average at best. It's your typical americanized "Asian" food. I've never had the make-your-own stir fry bowl, but I'm consistently underwhelmed by their entrees. Most of their appetizers, like potstickers or egg rolls, are shipped frozen to the restaurant. My girlfriend found a huge chunk of wood in one of her potstickers, so eat with caution. This place gets three stars because I'm always seated immediately and the ginger ale is fantastic.
(3)Erika G.
LUNCH: I love the stir fry at this place for lunch. A giant bowl of Chinese-style comfort food. It's not the most exotic fare, but yum - on a cold day, it hits the spot.
(3)MNP K.
Very Impressed...all the food was awesome and the wine prices were low...BBQ hot bun starters were very tasty and the orange chicken was possibly the best I have had...can't wait to go back.
(4)Maria R.
I would give it three stars for the calimari appetizer and the refreshing hibiscus tea, but our dinners were very unsatisfying. I kept thinking the chicken didn't look cooked enough. My husband and I ordered very different dishes and they both looked exactly the same except for the sauce. A disappointing experience.
(2)Megan T.
I usually LOVE Big Bowl and frequent the Schaumburg Il location. We were there last Friday night and they sat us at a high top table in the entryway.... this would have been fine, but when the place filled up I had people interrupting our meal to ask up if the two chair that were part of our table were being used and if they could eat there. Aside from the rude people I ordered their special which the waiter talked up of Fresh Ahi tuna steak. I eat a lot of Ahi Tuna as it is my favorite fish, and I was really disappointed with this dish and then I came to find out it was $23.00 I wish I had stuck to my old favorite of Yellow curry or kung pao noodles. Our waiter was not great and didn't really know the menu well. He said that my order came with rice and green beans and when my meal came it had no rice. In the least I was disappointed at this experience and wish we had chose to dine at a different restaurant on this night.
(3)Bryant C.
Nothing impressive. I felt like I was in an ultra commercialized restaurant. I can't really explain it. The place just wasn't that good though.
(2)Lorraine D.
"I can't remember much, except for an overwhelming feeling of goodness" - is what my sister used to describe Big Bowl. I used to frequent this place during my time in Chicago, even though I'm generally not a big fan of pan asian. Here, however, the food is good, and it's a great place to visit. The place is really modern and it tends to get a bit loud. Also, it being close to the magnificent mile, it tends to get crowded on the weekends. When my friends came to visit me we went to this place a total of 3 times during their visit. Needless to say, there are tons of awesome restaurants in Chicago and this was one of our favorites.
(4)Rob C.
Americanized asian stir fry, sort of a lesser version of Stir Crazy. Remember your positive or negative experience will be affected by the keyword -- americanized.
(2)Henry A.
Seriously, if you like Thai food or "real" Chinese food, do not waste your time and money here. The menu essentially consists of some of the more popular items available at any of the thousands of Thai restaurants in the city, along with some Chinese noodle dishes and Mongolian grill items. The dishes are about 20% more expensive than what you would pay in a Thai restaurant and have about 20% of the flavor that you would get elsewhere too. We ordered the yellow curry and a pad thai, both dishes we normally love at regular Thai restaurants. After paying way more than we would normally, they were the worst versions of the dishes we had ever eaten anywhere. If you're looking for that kind of food in a nice atmosphere, please skip the Big Bowl and go to a nearby Thai restaurant instead, such as Dao, Star of Siam, or Silver Spoon. You will not only get MUCH better food, but you will also pay a lot less. On a positive note, the wonton noodle soup i had as an appetizer was really excellent. I would possibly consider going back here, but I would just get a large portion of that soup and that's it.
(2)D S.
This place is great! I went last weekend with my girlfriend and two freinds and it was prefect. The wait was only 15 minutes, the service was great at the bar and table, and the food is out of this world. Also, for being located in the gold coast, the price was very good. I ate: chinese lettuce wraps an asian favorite, chicken, bibb lettuce, hoisin sauce teriyaki glazed steak filets teriyaki glazed filet mignon (3), chinese fried rice, baby asian vegetables I drank: Sapporo (20.3 oz) Beer
(5)Nikki L.
Oh my god, my mouth is watering just looking at the pictures. I haven't ordered here in a while, but from what I can remember I LOVE THIS PLACE! I love their chicken dumpling and the chicken pad tai. They only offer delivery from Dining In, which can be more $$ than it should but...it's worth it!
(4)A.S. V.
When Big Bowl first opened over a decade ago, I thought it was one of the best restaurants in the city. Now it's just another Lettuce Entertain you joint doing the same old thing. I don't imagine the food has changed all that much, but the prices have. For old time's sake, I'll keep it at four stars, but I wasn't too impressed by the stir fries last few times -- I swear they've blanded it out for the tourist crowds.
(4)Lorelle L.
I love this place! Ever since I first visited Big Bowl while I was in Chicago for a quick vacation about 7 years ago, I have been a loyal customer. Sure its a chain and sure its not authentic Asian food, but it is damn tasty and affordable! The service has always been friendly and quick. The special cocktails are delicious and I've never had a dish I didn't like. Next time you're there, check out the Mochi for dessert! Yummy!
(5)Ren H.
Here you can either order off the menu or go to the bar and pick veggies and meat for them to stirfry.. its perfect for everyone and its very cheap!
(5)Linda N.
tried the stir fry option last night and it was delish! i had the chicken stir fry with chinese garlic ginger sauce (?...can't remember the sauce name) with the chefs choice veggies and jasmine rice. it was the perfect amount of everything. i also had the hong kong cosmo...super strong. i swear it was all alcohol and a splash of cranberry juice. i probably wouldn't get it again but at least i got my $$ worth. =)
(4)Brad C.
I received a Lettuce Entertain you gift card for Christmas and since Big Bowl is now part of them I figured it was a perfect time to give them a try. Make sure you plan on waiting at least 30 minutes, Big Bowl is one of those restaurants tourists love going to. You get alot of food, but it isn't really worth taking a doggie bag home. Homemade ginger drinks are great and very good in cocktail form.
(3)Pooja S.
Pre movie dinner? Near Michigan Ave, that wont break the bank... those were all the criteria we were looking for when we went in. Ordered the pot stickers with white wine sangria for me, sauvignon blanc for the husband. Server was very friendly. The highlight of my evening was finding lychees in the sangria, they were really good. Ordered the Thai veg green curry which was perfect for the two of us. The curry was amazing, really spicy with a lot of green chillies. The only reason I took off one star was because there wasn't very much actual curry. Would have been nice to get some more gravy in the dish. All of this ended up in costing about $35. Husband was comparing it to London and how little you get there in that amount. Gotta love America....
(3)Gaurav M.
Good food. panang curry was average but kung pao chicken and spicy noodles were great.
(4)Erin J.
You know, this place makes me feel like I'm eating "healthy" Americanized Chinese food. It all tastes good, but truly...I was kinda underwhelmed. Also, the price for the portion size is really off. After paying higher-than-average for an entree, I was still hungry after I was through. Probably a good place to go for a drink (their ginger ale is pretty good) or maybe a similarly-overpriced appetizer, but not worth a special trip.
(2)Mike E.
Maybe this place is not for everyone. It is expensive, average food you can get elsewhere but the pot-stickers are quite delicious and the fresh ginger, ginger ale is truly worth a try ( I love ginger). Otherwise it is only worth going here if you are trendy, seems like that was their main client, or it is convenient and you are hungry.
(3)Kat W.
This place is a joke, avoid at all cost (not cheap either). They don't know how to season Asian food. What amazes me (and the reason for 1 star) is the mere fact that so many people eat here.. it is just utterly unbelievable and I question the taste bud of every single person in that restaurant. At least, walk 2 blocks and go to P.F. Chang's.
(1)Carrie B.
A good place for your thai/chinese/asian craving. Great appetizers, entrees, drinks. They've changed their menu a bit and seem a little strict on custom orders (I tried ordering the Kung Pao Chix less spicy and they wouldn't do it). It's pretty touristy, but decent. Good casual lunch or dinner spot.
(3)Javier B.
This should really be a 5-star review as I think Big Bowl is awesome, but I will give it 4 stars for two reasons. 1-I have consistently gotten undercooked pieces of chicken the last few times I have been there, 2-I really hate that they give you an odd number of pot stickers (though they will add one if you request it). Aside from tthese two items (the chicken one being a biggie), the food here is delicious. I would highly recommend the Kung Pao chicken, the Thai hot pepper chicken, pad thai, panang curry is phenomenal and the coconut curry is excellent. From the appetizers, the pot sticker combo is great. I love the three sauces that they serve with them. I always end up dipping my fork in them after the pot stickers are gone! The hot and sour soup is exeptional! It is the tastiest one I've had and I am a huge fan of hot and sour soup. Their prices are not cheap, but not unreasonable. This is not a hole in the wall Chinese or Thai restaurant! I am sure some of their dishes are not that great as they need to have some bland stuff for the tourists (fried rice, Mogolian beef, orange chicken) but the majority of the menu items are really really good and very flavorful. I have no clue what some of the people that say this place is bland are talking about.
(4)Jared L.
This place is pretty solid all around. You should be able to find something you like. Also, their orange chicken is the most orange tasting chicken I've ever had.
(4)Sarah Q.
I like my food very spicy, and usually when I go out I still have to add chili sauce to my dishes because everything is Americanized spicy (which means: not spicy at all). But Big Bowl pleasantly surprised me--they will make your dish so spicy that you sweat! They also have tons of vegetarian options (and you can substitute tofu for any non-veg option) and a stir-fry bar which is amazing. Basically you fill your bowl with fresh veggies and garnishes (they have a huge selection), choose your protein and sauce, and if you want noodles, rice or fried rice. Then you leave your bowl of veggies with the chef and he'll whip up your dish. It's amazingly fresh and tasty--their sauces are homemade and are really good (I've tried kung pao, teriyaki, and green curry). Unfortunately, the shrimp is hit-or-miss--either they cook it well or not enough and it ends up tasting fishy, so I would avoid it. I've gone at different times of day and night and never had to wait for a table, but it probably gets busy earlier in the evening on weekends, so make a reservation just to be on the safe side.
(4)brett m.
in the infamous words of michael kors, 'i'm underwhelmed'. big bowl was a letdown for me. the menu was unimpressive, even for a mainstream pan-asian-themed restaurant. the service was... okay. the portions were hefty - however, lest we forget, hefty portions of unimpressive food. the hibiscus lemonade (or whatever it's called) is excellent, but i hardly think i'd return just for a glass of lemonade. and p.s. i remember (though hazily) the dishes being quite mushroom heavy, and for those of us with shroom allergies or those with fungus aversions, it wasn't terribly easy finding something edible.
(2)Karen L.
Big Bowl is nothing to write home about, but it's decent enough. As the name implies, they give you great quantities of food for the price. The food tastes fine, but it's nothing amazing in my book. This place gets kind of crowded at night, not only making it difficult to hear but also to scoot your chair out. Try it if it's convenient for you. Other wise, you won't be missing too much.
(3)Julie M.
I LOVE Big Bowl. This is what I expect of a chain. You go in, they have good food that you can always count on, it's not crazy expensive. I've been here 4 times in the past 2 months. I really liked the steak red curry special they had in December. That thing was spicy! I went there 3 times in 1 weekend and ordered it twice. The 2nd time, it had some habenaros in it! Yum, yum! The ginger ale is good, too. I prefer my drinks a bit on the sweeter side, so I get the pomegranate flavor. I had the salmon pad thai the other day. Figured that would be hit or miss, but definitely a hit. The salmon was cooked pretty well. They also have a gluten free menu and there were no mix-ups there. My co-worker is very sensitive to gluten, and he had absolutely no issues (ie, food was separated properly, the noodles weren't cooked in water with noodles made of wheat, etc.). Another great staple when hanging out in Chicago.
(4)Michael W.
A nice departure from traditional Chinese restaurants. My friend loves the Crispy Orange Peel Chicken. The service has always been prompt and friendly, and we've never had to wait for a table. The decorating scheme mirrors the food - a mix of traditional and contemporary. A fun place for lunch.
(4)Christian R.
homemade lemonades and ginger ales hmmm, great food and good drink. i had the orange chicken and literally wanted to order a second to go haha. the waitor was a dork and never came around when i wanted him too.
(4)Kali A.
I love big bowl! They have delicious food, great prices, and great service! I took my friend there for a surprise dinner. Fortunately, she too loved it and it is now a favorite of her's as well! :)
(5)Marian L.
Love this place - great casual place to stop in while shopping on the magnificent mile! Service is decent and the dishes are fantastic. I personally recommend the Potstickers as an appetizer, as well as the Crispy Lemon Chicken as the entree. If your not too much into soda or alcohol - try the Hibiscus Iced tea or the Hibiscus Lemonade - mmmmm! Not a place to drive to - but just take the subway to the red line stop Grand!
(4)Liliana S.
Decent food but not the most authentic. Definitely check out other restaurants before settling upon this one. If you're in the vicinity and are starving to death for some Thai then check this out..
(3)Zach A.
Decent stir fry and pretty cheap. Also a good place to grab a drink for happy hour.
(3)Kelli M.
Very decently priced. The lettuce wraps are a must-have. Also recommend the chicken satay. The dishes are ok, the servers always make a recommendation. Good service, very friendly and helpful. Several different teas for after dinner.
(4)Allison K.
Compared to other stir fry restaurants I have been to in the past, I really was not impressed by the quality or taste of the food here. I have always heard about this "big hype" about eating at Big Bowl, but really the experience here was just blah. It's just like every other "stir fry place" where you get to pick out your own ingredients and etc, but something was just off about it. The only thing I did enjoy here was their iced tea. This place too was a little bit over priced too, (maybe because it's a Chicago touristy type of spot?)
(2)Ramon R.
This restaurant isn't all that. There's too much to eat and too little worth eating. It's such processed Thai food! The seating is also terrible; my friend and I were squeezed in this tiny space near the cash register. Ugh. Go to a REAL Thai restaurant that (of course) isn't near the Magnificent Mile.
(2)Mark P.
Americanized Asian food. Blech.
(1)Joe S.
Average stir-fry joint. Food looks and sounds better than it tastes. Veggie dishes are the way to go here. Nasty, gristly chicken and bubblegum beef and pork. Why not use better quality and charge another dollar or two? I sure don't like a potsticker full of fat,or to have to pick through my chicken. They tend to over ginger and curry things, and the best cocktail was done away with years ago..the Ginger Blush. Homemade ginger ale is VERY GOOD. Iced tea and Lemonade good too. Too bad the beverages are better than the food. Seems hard to screw up noodles, but this place does. Melman must've lost interest after the first few years.
(2)Sydney K.
The food here is palatable, but they've tried to make the cuisine too mainstream. As a result, it reminds me of an Asian themed Bennigan's. Not that there's anything wrong with that - sometimes you feel like something predictable. The drinks definitely lack kick though.
(2)Doug p.
ive had nothing but great service every time, the coconut basil shrimp is one of my favorite meals, reasonably priced, and always a good time
(4)Dom R.
i actually did check bigbowl a few years ago - nd was dissappointed.. but gave it a go today... entrance, welcome - nice ambiance - hip/ up to date/ modern service - my waiter was very attentive, caring nd answered all my questions nicely food - as a first course i had the chicken dumplings, tasty - but not too asian... as a main dish i ordered the kung pao beef wirh brown rice - delicous! spiceyy, beef quality was excellent! loved it. price wise totally ok. a/c as usual everywhere in the US - freezing - hate it
(5)Sona P.
Service - very friendly and fast on a Saturday night. Food - decent but nothing to rave about. We split the fresh vegetable rolls (Vietnamese spring rolls) and the portion was small for $6.95. We also shared the panang curry with tofu, which was a good size and pretty spicy. Note that the panang curry is NOT vegetarian even with tofu. Overall - great location and service, food was just so-so but that's to be expected when you're in the heart of a tourist area.
(3)Steve A.
It's easy to classify Big Bowl as another fast casual chain, but that really understates how nice this location is, with its elaborate and beautiful interior design and hands-on management and staff. The concept is a mix of Chinese, Thai and Mongolian barbecue, so there's likely to be something for most people. I enjoyed the very fresh tasting spring rolls, which were cut up like a sushi roll rather than served as a log; great idea. Pad Thai was tasty, heavy on the lime and cilantro. I had the shrimp version, but the chicken version might be a bit more traditional. There's a reasonable list of alcoholic beverages that match the food. House-made ginger ale is a good non-alcoholic choice. Service was fast and friendly. The manager visited and even comped me a cucumber amuse bouche as a first time visitor.
(4)Ken O.
Having been to the Big Bowl on Cedar Street before the closing, I knew what to expect from the chain. I was not wrong. This location is just blocks west of Michigan Avenue so it's in a great location. The restaurant has a cool vibe. Trey T was my server. He was very attentive to me and all of his other diners. I had ordered the Luncheon Beef & Broccoli. Few minutes were the food was delivered and of course, the good was great. I would recommend this restaurant for the food and service.
(5)Marie B.
I'll be honest, I'm a snob when it comes to chains. I know, it's a first world issue. That being said, I normally avoid chains. However we came here on the way home from work and it was delightful satisfying. The mussels which was on the specials was amazing! We couldn't get enough of the sauce that we used it on our rice. The general Tao chicken was also very good. Definitely will be back!
(4)Padma A.
back up option to entertain guests on a weekday, always works. Met my childhood friend visiting town after a long work day for dinner. Easy stirfry, lots of conversation and the ever refershing ginger ale... we were.2 happy customers.
(4)Shuang Z.
I'm a regular diner at Big Bowl. I give the food 3 star, the price, service, and atmosphere a 4 star. This is an Asian fusion restaurant, they seems to be known for their pad thai, but I found this dish too sweet, but I do love the tofu in the pad thai dish... I usually go for the stir-fry bar. This is really neat, because I can pick up my own vegetable. They have a huge variety of fresh local vegetables, from corns, peas, to leafy veges. You can also pick your own protein and sauce. For the sauce, I recommend Chinese Ginger soy. The lemon grass was way tooooo sweet. Green thai curry was toooo spicy. Teriyaki was ok. Thai yellow curry was pretty tasty though. Caution: The portion is huge!!
(4)Sara M.
Decided to use one of the lettuce entertain you scratch off tickets to try Big Bowl. Good atmosphere and great menu selection. Chinese,Thai and build your own stir-fry bar. Friendly wait staff with good menu suggestions. Ordered the potstickers and kung pao chicken.
(4)Zoe Y.
This review is long over-due. Big Bowl was okay. Decent in price and portion, however it is lacking something. We drove to Chicago from Ann Arbor to meet with friends and before going out, we were starving and decided to eat here. I was not impressed at all. The ambiance is okay but kind of misleading. I kept asking my boyfriend if it was an attempt to be a fine dining establishment or hometown, organic based restaurant. The service was pretty good, especially for us coming in so late. To start off, we had the pot stickers which were awful. I would rather eat Ling Ling's from Costco than whatever they served here. We ordered the sesame chicken and the stir fry - both were average. I would rather eat at P.F. Chang's than eat here. Next time I'll go out hungry rather than eat here. It wasn't a horrible experience but it was pretty average. The one thing I actually liked was the homemade ginger ale they make. It was tasty and you could definitely taste the ginger!
(3)Jim B.
This was my first time at Big Bowl, but definitely won't be my last. Great location, interesting menu, fabulous food and fantastic service from Joe O! Joe is very personable and did a great job explaining the menu and specials and recommended a dinner that my brother absolutely loved. The service was flawless. Thanks, Joe!!! I highly recommend this place and and if you do stop by, be sure to ask for Joe's section...
(5)Shahzad A.
Poorly managed place. Don't get me wrong, the place looks great but the food is what is miss managed. You will find shrimp dish with half shrimp with tail and the other without. It makes you question how well things are cleaned. I have been to this big bowl and returned food twice because one thing or the other was wrong. The other big bowl in Schaumburg does not have that problem and is a much better location if you like big bowl food.
(1)Amy L.
We had Big Bowl for the first time a little over 2 yrs ago and I was hooked! We happened upon it right before they closed for the evening when we were out looking for a bite to eat. Fast forward..we return to Chi town and I must...repeat MUST go back. We actually ate here twice on this trip because we dont have this in Cincinnati. I ordered the same kung pao beef with noodles that I got on the first trip as well as the potstickers. The service was great. Our server recognized us on out second trip back. Very friendly, accommodating, and prompt. She brought refills of drinks before they were needed, which I love. The food was as amazing as I had remembered. The beef in my kung pao beef was super tender and the sauce was rich and spicy. My boyfriend got the kung pao chicken with jasmine rice. It was also delicious. The pork potstickers were delish! Crunchy bottom as they were cooked very well and the dipping sauces flavorful. Everything was just as good on the second visit but the food was a little less spicy this time. Service and food were still top notch. The second visit was lunch before we drove back to Ohio. I even got a meal to go!
(5)Deanna R.
A girlfriend and I stopped in for a bite to eat. The food was delicious and our sever was very timely and attentive. At the end we decided to try the apple crisp. They were out...no big deal...however our sever offered us another desert on the house. The manager also stopped by to apologize and instead of one desert he brought us a sampler of all their delicious treats. I thought it was a very nice gesture and was worth sharing with others.
(5)David N.
Definitely, not my favorite Chinese/Thai place to dine at. The food is just OK, very bland and not a whole lot of flavor. I ordered a spicy, tofu green curry vegetable dish with Jasmine rice. I asked if they could make it extra spicy, i love flavor and spice in my food, especially when it comes to Thai. I was mildly disappointed though, when I tried it and it was not that flavorful or spicy. There are other Thai restaurants I have gone to that are a lot better and have a lot more flavor to their foods. I guess this place is OK, if you are a tourist and are already down in the city, but I will stick to going to some of my favorite Thai restaurants in lake view and other neighborhood areas.
(2)Noah B.
I'm not sure how you can ruin chicken pad thai, but they did. I've tried it twice, just in case my taste buds were being extra snobbish, but I was gravely disappointed both times.
(2)Lim K.
It is hard to find a good Chinese food around downtown Chicago. The first time I was walking by Big Bowl i was not sure if i wanted to eat there. But after trying a few dishes I became very fond of this restaurant. My favorite dish was the spicy Sichuan green beans. The chicken pot stickers were good, however i would like it to be a little more crispy on the outside. The BBQ pork fried rice; the sliced pork on a bed of rice with bbq sauce on top. The pork was tender and was very tasty but the rice did not have much flavor. Overall, it was very good and the great service.
(4)Christina S.
The wait was long, but the pomegranate ginger ale was cold. The food was definitely of the Americanized chain variety, but it was tasty, and the service was high-calibur. In short, I certainly wouldn't mind dining here again but with so many other places on my To Eat list, I may not make it back. UPDATE: I ate here again, when another friend suggested it. Same deal as before. I think it's safe to say that I won't ever argue someone out of eating here, but I'll never be the girl who suggests Big Bowl when we're dreaming up a night out.
(3)Biff Y.
I like this place a lot for a "non-authentic Asian" restaurant. I particularly like the sweet ginger shrimp & scallop and the calamari appetizer. I take this place over PF Chang's any day. But I guess that might not be saying much.
(4)Amy L.
Who doesn't love a big bowl on top of a restaurant? What a crowd pleaser! Although, i gotta say, Webber Grill Restaurant oddly looks the same as big bowl. They're both got big red round dishes on the side of the building. I wonder if they copied one another. I recently went to Big Bowl on a whim because me and my boyfriend found out Bamboo Garden was closing at 10 and since it was close to that time, we decided to come here. Good Choice. Since it is a franchised restaurant i would think everything would taste like all the same dishes we ever ate. But safely to say, this asian fusion restaurant was a bit different. I ordered the spicy sichuan beef. And man was this super spicy. Those fire breathing head indicators weren't lying about it being hot. I think it was too hot even for me. And i do like hot. But not to the point where i can't really taste the food anymore. It was good nonetheless, even though i had to blow my nose a couple of times(My nose runs when i eat super spicy foods). But here was the highlight of big bowl: my boyfriends dish. "sweet ginger sea scallops and shrimp". Simply to die for!....One of Big Bowl's signature dishes. I kept eating his dish i almost forgot that i had to eat mine. The scallops were excellent and with the sauce, it was heavenly. Perfect balance of savory and sweet. I am totally getting that next time. The only bad thing i noticed was the portions of the meals, it was a bit on the small side and might not please the people who are looking for leftovers the next morning. Initially, i though it would be more food, but hey, i never finish my food anyways so it was a perfect portion for me. I will also add that, ginger is really incorporated into every aspect of this restaurant; from the drinks to the food, to the desserts. I wonder why they didn't call it GINGER? But if you do go, please get the Orange Ginger Ale... I heard it was really good. I got the Passion Fruit Ginger Ale and it was ok. Next time it will be Orange.
(4)Charles B.
Great place, great service, great food, and great prices. Been going here for two years now and never had Amy major problems. It's not authentic Asian food too. But that doesn't mean its bad. Still great.
(5)Evann G.
Okay, maybe I should not be surprised that I didn't love Big Bowl, considering it is just another franchise Asian restaurant. Call me silly, though, but I really wanted to love this place. Probably because of my affinity for Asian food in general, and even certain other franchise Asian restaurants that I have been known to love in spite of myself. I wanted to love Big Bowl so much that I tried it twice before writing this review. But ultimately, although I thought it was okay, I didn't love it. The first time I went, we shared the pad thai and one of the curry dishes. Both of them were forgettable and would obviously have been better at a Thai place. I did think the bao appetizer was pretty good, though, and the hibiscus iced tea was refreshing and tasty. The second time, I tried the stir-fry. Again, it was pretty forgettable, although better than the Thai food we had tried the time before. I appreciated the "Mongolian BBQ"-style of picking your own mix-ins, but I've had much, much better. And if you want a meat, they just add it on top of the stir-fry rather than mixing it in. I had the sesame chicken, which was good, but I would have rather had it mixed in. My bf had the kung pao chicken, which was sort of ridiculously, over-the-top spicy. I admit I'm a wuss when it comes to spiciness, but even he thought it was a bit much. We also tried the homemade ginger ale, and I would NOT recommend it unless you really LOVE ginger. Lots of ginger. So much ginger that the drink itself was spicy. We couldn't finish it, I had to order another hibiscus iced tea instead. The bao was still good, though, and this time I also tried the dumpling noodle soup, which I LOVED. I was sick, and the soup and the bao made me feel a lot better! Other than that, though, I wouldn't say it's worth the super long wait that we had to endure to be seated.
(3)lola d.
Big bowl to me was like kissing a boy while wearing beer goggles. At first it feels damn good, then later you go home feeling more busted and jacked up then when you first left the house! Well, this was my experience with big bowl. I tried this place for the first time after hearing from so many people that this place was the big cheese. No lovely cheese here! The curry was bland, the pad thai noodles tasted like they were cooked in some sort of chicken broth, and the pot stickers were slimy and tasteless. the result: I went home feeling all busted from spending the last of my money on big bowl :(
(2)tom C.
Its ok, but poor service pretty consistently. The food is okay. Jst get a soft drink the house made drinks blow they are swill....the cocktails are also pretty weak but are served in a pretty glass...if thats what ur looking for.
(2)Luis L.
No, the ambience isn't particularly great, nor is the food particularly amazing in any way, but it's pretty darn good. I wouldn't eat here if it wasn't. I usually get the Kung Pao because I love the taste of the blackened chilies, with a thing of ginger garlic sauce on the side, which I request extra. Things are usually not spicy enough for me, so I always add some of that lovely chile paste they have at each table. I think that what I like most about Big Bowl is that the menus are well written, and any question you might have about the ingredients in the dishes can be answered by well spoken, polite servers. Try getting that in Chinatown. "Excuse me, what kind of sauce does this dish have?" "Brown sauce!" "Uh... what's brown sauce?" "Is a asian brown sauce!" Mmmmhmmm... yeah. Brown sauce. I'll pay more for polite, clear speaking servers any day.
(4)Stacy M.
Their gingerale was incredible, but the rest of our meal was left to be desired.
(3)lauren F.
Great Place. I had a homemade ginger ale with splash of pomegranate and some Effen Vodka, very well balanced drink.We ordered the Barbecue pork Bao, little buns with flavorful filling, and they were 2 for 2.95, great deal and recommended. I had the Pad Thai and it was everything I expected and more! Large portions so no room for dessert :( Also, homemade noodles in some of the dishes, and all the veggies were fresh and perfectly cooked. Nice Value.
(4)caroline e.
Stopped in here last night with some friends before a movie. It was fast (but not rushed), convenient to the theatre at 600 N. Michigan, inexpensive and the food was really pretty good. I think the best thing we tried was the Orange Chicken, but the Kung Pao Chicken with Noodles was a close second. They had $2 Tiger beer on Wednesday night. I'd never heard of the brand before, but it was pretty good. And you can't beat the price! When the manager heard it was our first time there, he even brought over a little complimentary appetizer to welcome us. Frankly I was plesently surprised to receive such good service at a chain restaurant. I'd definitely go back.
(3)Lizzy S.
Not the best place if you are looking for some good Chinese. The food is a bit over priced and not amazing. The staff is quite nice and are good at helping you pick a new dish...although they cannot save their over cook lettuce wraps.
(2)cara r.
Two stars for the drinks - love the ginger ale cocktails! I had both a passion fruit ginger ale AND an Effen vodka passion fruit ginger ale. Absolutely delicious with the homemade ginger ale. One star for the appetizers - our chicken potstickers were crazy good, and we gobbled them up pretty much as soon as they'd been delivered to the table. No stars for the entrees - boring, with too much black pepper, and the rice tasted a little off. Stop by and sit at the bar for a drink and an app, then head somewhere else for dinner.
(3)Shannon M.
I was visiting Chicago on business shortly after receiving a marraige proposal. The service throughout dinner was great, the food was good. I noted I was going to celebrate my engagement with dessert and the server was sweet enough to chat with me about it for a bit and ended up comping the whole meal! Very personal, attentive service.
(5)Karmen F.
Love the food and staff. The only reason I am giving them a 4 instead of a 5 star rating is that the they have adjusted the recipe for the Cosmopolitan. The new one is horrible.
(4)Cate C.
I've been going to Big Bowl restaurants since I was in high school and it has always been a good spot that everyone in my family can agree on. However, this trip stood out for me as it was my first gluten-free trip. I checked ahead of time and they have a great gluten-free menu (which they bring to the table with all of the other menus, without my even asking). But I am especially glad I checked their menu ahead of time because I saw that during the month of August they have a number of corn-inspired dishes. For my entree I had the Crab and Corn Soup, with a side of Jasmine rice. It was a fantastic dish, but be warned - quite spicy so be prepared. I was very impressed that my waiter brought out an extra glass of water with the soup, clearly he knew I would need it. The crowning achievement for me was dessert - the famed but short-lived Sweet Corn Gelato was amazing. It is only available during August and is made in conjunction with a local gelato shop. Online the treat got rave reviews but I was still a little wary of any dessert involving vegetables. Trust me this dish does not disapoint. It is a very sweet taste, like french vanilla with a little extra hint of movie-theater magic. I'd definitely recommend heading to the Big Bowl before the end of August.
(4)Blanca J.
For dining in its a great place I love their panang curry chicken I've brought my entire family here... but for carry out their to slow it took long and it wasent busy at that time if u go its better if its for dining in
(3)Mandy P.
All though I'm kind of embarrassed to admit it, I actually really like this place. I LOVE their Kung Pao w/ tofu and spinach and the fact that I can get vegetarian dumplings or pot stickers there rocks my world. I have never been all that into chain restaurants, which this basically is, but the fact that I can get so much good vegetarian, what? Chinese food? Is great. The people I've taken there have found their food to be pleasing as well, although none of us have had the stir fry, so perhaps that explains our success. I also love their ginger drinks and their hibiscus lemonade. Yummy! As for the wait, I have been fortunate enough to go at times where I haven't had to wait a long time. If you go early enough on a Friday, for example, you can get seated immediately -- I think that the last few times have been around 7 PM (which is great if you're going to see a movie in the area).
(4)Mario S.
Surprising. I expected flavor-free PF Changs-style pan-asian microwave fusion fare. But the food here packed a punch. The spicy green bean appetizer was a knockout. The peanut noodle thing was a hit. Good for a big group. Service was great. Pomegranate ginger ale was killer.
(3)S R.
Good ambience, very good food, great service and beautiful server!
(4)Emily C.
Yuck. I had some sort of string bean thing that was barely passable as food, way to spicy without any flavor and mushy. Price - chain style expensive, as in I can't belive this is a chain restaurant that sucks and I spent so much here. I've been to 2 locations in Chicago and hated them both.
(2)Jill W.
Service is fine, I'm just not a fan of any of the food at big bowl. I think it's overpriced for the quality. Whenever I eat there, I think of the scene in National Lampoon's European vacation, when they eat at the French restaurant, and the chef microwaves frozen dinners for them -- dry, bland, and just nothing to bring me back. I don't know if they make any of the noodles fresh, but it definitely doesn't taste like it.
(1)Josh W.
food was great and the price was great too......the hot was not as hot as I would have liked but other than that it was all good.....
(4)D J.
Awesome asian fusion, and fresh ginger drinks
(4)Bonnie L.
I tried Big Bowl last night for the first time. I always like going to places like this because there is always a good amount of vegetarian options. Big Bowl had a few, but not a lot. Fine with me as long as what they have is good. I decided to order off the menu and skip the "make it yourself" option. I have had some blah experiences trying to concoct something myself. I ordered vegetable potstickers and peanut noodles for starters. The peanut noodles were served cold and were spicy and were very good. My friends did not expect them to be cold and were not big fans of the dish. I liked them just fine. The potstickers were just ok for me. Friends also ordered the Calamari which they said was delicious. For dinner I ordered a Kung Pao with Tofu and Spinach. It was really good. It was served with these delicious spicy wide flat wheat noodles. It was a very good choice for me and I did not leave a morsel on my plate. My friends each ordered two different shrimp dishes that they really enjoyed. They also had a couple of desserts, one which was the ginger cake, which they said was really good. I had no room left for dessert since my entree was so good. I also ordered the Ginger Ginger Ale. Wow, was that good. If you are a Ginger fan, this is not to be skipped. All in all I really liked the food. So why only three stars? A couple of service snafus in my opinion. We had a 7:30 reservation. All of us showed up at 7:30 and we recieved our pager. We waited and waited and at like 5 minutes to eight we decided to see what was going on with our table, as we saw lots of empties. The hostess said that they were waiting for our whole party to arrive before they seated us. We all were there. We never said that we were waiting for anyone from the start, so not sure if they confused us with anyone else. The other thing that was kind of irritating in my opinion was that I parked in the lot that is attached to their building. The hostess gave me a second ticket to use at the garage when I checked in to get a discounted price on the parking. So after dinner, I went to the pay station and entered the ticket that the hostess gave me. It kept coming up invalid coupon. I tried it three times with the same response. So I had to walk back to the restaurant to find out what the problem was. Then they explained to me that I needed to enter the first ticket that I recieved from the parking garage, and aferwards enter the second ticket that I got from the hostess. How about telling me that from the start so that I know what to do in the first place. I think the hostess was what made my experience less than stellar.
(3)Tony J.
Ordered Kung Pao Chicken for delivery. In the past, 2 people could split the order. When we got it, there was hardly any Kung Pao Chicken and 3/4 was rice. I called and spoke to the Manager at the Ohio location and he stated they portion it out at 4 oz. I think they have downsized their portions. $26 (had lettuce wraps too) is not worth it. Will never order from here again. I told him I would not order from there again and he said OK. Zero Stars.
(1)Elif T.
I love this place. Their stir fry bar is great!!! Their servers are very nice and respectful. I can crave Big Bowl, Panang curry anytime and every time....
(5)Lauren B.
The shrimp pad thai was amazzzzzing. They didn't have any gluten free menus at the time (said they are in the middle of revising), but the waitress was knowledgeable and told me what items I could order. There weren't many choices, but I don't think most celiacs are too demanding... The place itself is pretty cool inside, interesting lighting. Service was good, but it was pretty empty.
(5)Mariana P.
This place loses three stars for several reasons. One: I went here on a Monday night and we had to wait for a table. Normally, no complaints about waiting for a table, however, this time there were several tables available, but none of them were cleaned off. Two: I had a stir fry bowl (where you create your own dish) but it was entirely devoid of flavor. It was so miserable. The Sangria was good, the waitress was nice, and I loved the decor, but the food was so bad. I won't be back to this location. I might try another one.
(2)Natasha A.
A good place for a casual dinner. The waitress was very helpful with suggesting a beef dish with just the right amount of spice. Guests are given the option of creating their own rice or noodle bowl by selecting veggies, a protien and a sauce. Other thai and chinese standards such as pad thai, curry or kang pao are available as well. The pommegranite gigner ale was a unique and refreshing drink.
(3)Brad W.
Despite being owned by the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group - this restaurant has definitely gone down in recent years. The stir fry is the key food option for this place - allowing the hungry to create their own dish. I was a former frequent patrons of the Big Bowl in Northbook, Illinois - but either the chefs are not quite as good at this location - or they've changed the way they make the stir fry bowls. This is not the best place for kids - but a decent place for a night on the town or a dinner meeting with business associates.
(2)Cynthia A.
yummy. love the dumpling soup!
(5)Saman S.
Extremely flavorful food!!
(4)Kristina K.
The BF wanted Asian really bad last night, but do to some seriously annoying nonsense, I couldn't leave the house. So, I met him for lunch today. We'd thought about eating here the last time we had lunch together, but gone to CPK next door instead. Anyway, we sat down and looked around. The decour was nice, but obviously watered-down asian chain restaurant. We got some sort of spicy dumpling for an appetizer that really was not so spicy. Good flavor, but no heat. Our waitress told us the green curry was spicy too, but it wasn't either. It was really flavorful, and tasty. The cinnamon wantons with coconut ice cream was amazing! But small. One of my big criteria for good service is in drink refills. I know it sounds stupid, but if i'm paying for a drink, I expect refills. At least one. No refills on my tea. It was empty halfway through our entree, and never was filled. Why's that so hard?
(3)Adam M.
Big Bowl... realistically, the best thing I can say about Big Bowl is that I'd have to smoke a big bowl before eating here again... case closed
(2)Tari F.
Alright, so a key thing for me when eating ethnic food of any kind is the level of spiciness. Despite being six kinds of spicy in a metaphorical sense, sometimes black pepper can make me cry. No, seriously: there are Doritos that I can't even smell without feeling like someone's shoving needles into my tongue. I am a spice wuss. I'm okay with it. So, cut to last Friday's date night, and we wander into Big Bowl for some Asian-fusion-noodle-stir-fry action. For some reason, I'm in the mood for pad thai; usually the peanut butter spaghetti is not my favorite, but that night it sounded really good to me. On their menu, they bill their pad thai as "mildly spicy." This is always a red flag for me, since "mildly spicy" usually means my eyeballs will melt. So, I line up a couple clearly non-spicy backup options, and ask the waitress if they can do a totally non-spicy pad thai. She says sure, I do a dance of joy, all is right with the world. Long story short, whoever cooked my meal obviously didn't believe me when I said I wanted it not spicy, because what they brought out made my nose run, my face turn red, and the tears pour. I tried to tough it out (I hate sending back a meal), but it was too painful, so I grabbed the waitress and explained that my dinner was, in fact, spicy. Shortly thereafter, the cook comes out to explain to me that without the spices, the dish would be bland - clearly implying that he knows better than I do what my preferences should be. I love arguing with someone else about what I do or do not like. The second version they brought out was still too spicy, but I could at least eat more than a couple bites. The manager came over and tried to smooth things over, and the waitress was very sweet...but the whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth. An overpriced (not to mention weak) margarita didn't help rinse it out, and my suspicion that the cooking staff were discussing how many of them should spit in my food didn't either. While the food itself seemed okay, the attitude was abysmal, and my delicate pallette will not be visiting again.
(2)Squirrel L.
I loved Big Bowl! All 3 of us decided to make our own stir fry. Our waitress was awesome! She was great about telling me which sauces were vegetarian and which weren't. I loved having the ability to pick and choose only those veggies that I like. YAY - no bell peppers!!!!! My meal ended up being awesome. Gotta love the bonus mochi for the first timers too. Yummy!
(4)Larry B.
Pretty good pad Thai and barbeque pork. The portions are big enough yet not too much. They did just start using the biodegradeable cutlery (starch forks, etc.) so that's pretty cool. While it is not the cheapest place on the block, you usually get what you pay for around here, and Big Bowl is no exception.
(4)Emily K.
yum! big bowl is like a fancier (and vastly better) mongolian barbecue. They make their own ginger ale (and if you like ginger, it is awesome! i love it). They have the options of make your own stir fry (which they actually make and bring to you, you just choose your meat, noodles or rice, sauce, and go up to a vegetable bar to choose your vegetables) or dishes. the service is friendly and the prices are reasonable. i thoroughly enjoyed my experience
(4)Purnima M.
So here's the formula: take a large space, paint it with lots of dark tones, put up some oversized wall decor, pump up the music, squeeze in as many tables as possible, create a "spin" on the otherwise standard food, and...GO! Big Bowl sticks to the formula so closely, it's scary! Or maybe I've visited too many restaurants in the Lettuce Entertain You empire. Either way, nothing stands out in my memory about this meal other than its stunning average-ness. Food was okay, not too spicy, not too bland, the make-your-own-stir-fry stand was surprisingly boring, and that was sadly that.
(2)Mateo S.
Inauthentic Disney-Asian for sure, and the service was of the bombastic "HI! I'M STEVE AND I'LL BE YOUR WAITER TONIGHT!!" variety. "Steve" asked us if we wanted drinks before we had sat down, and when he delivered our rushed order he simply hovered above us until we were ready with our entree selections. It was awkward to be sure. The poor guy... his internal clock just wasn't set with ours... he also continuously tried to clear plates before we had finished eating. All in all a harried experience, but the scallops and shrimp we had were well sauced and seasoned and definitely the right price. The wine I ordered, however, was around $30 and I have bought the same bottle at Whole Foods for $6. I know there's a markup, but 5X retail...??
(3)Nicole G.
After wandering around the streets of Chicago for something a little less pricey and still delicious, my boyfriend and I found Big Bowl, and since neither of us had gone there, decided to try it! It all seemed normal at first... and then my boyfriend picked up his glass of water and the entire bottom of the glass just fell off! Clean right off! I couldn't even believed it happened... and though it was more awesome than awful. Our server felt so bad that it happened and was so nice and apologetic, even though we were laughing so hard... The food was pretty good asian food. Better than any take out place I have been. But the main focus here is the service... After we finished... they gave us free dessert! The triple mochi trio... which was fantastic. And they took $10 off our entire order! I was so surprised... The service here was fantastic and the food was delicious. I am definitely going to go back... and don't forget to laugh if something ridiculous happens to you!
(5)Deb S.
Although I just got takeout at Big Bowl, I have to say they gave me the best hot and sour soup I've had in a long time--maybe ever. I think it is their combination emphasis on Chinese and Thai that did it. I am visiting Chicago and feel lousy with a completely stuffy head, and all I wanted was some very hot, spicy soup. Big Bowl did the job. The food was ready in 10 minutes, packaged in a sealed plastic bag around the container to prevent spillage, and piping hot when I got back to my hotel room. The big chunks of meat as well as ample cilantro made this a wonderful dish. I also had the Asian Chicken Salad with shredded chicken, which had two delicious dressings--a peanutty dressing and a little tub of satay sauce. Also delicious. When I come back to Chicago and feel better, I'll try eating at Big Bowl!
(4)Phil Y.
Good service, good food. Nothing really that stands out
(3)Nana H.
I think for the quality and creativity of the dish, the prices here should be much lower. I find their food to be uninspiring and boring. I've had asian food all my life and this is nothing special, sorry. My boyfriend's brother is a server there and I've had almost everything on the menu, and nothing was so good i would come back for it. I do like the decor and the drinks, its just the food really falls flat. When an asian person likes americanized asian food, they are called Bananas!
(3)Amy J.
I love big bowl! I always make my own stirfry, and put a variety of vegetables and noodles and I get chicken. I switch sauces a lot but my favorite is Ginger Garlic. It's great. Also, as an appetizer, try the potstickers. They're great. Service is usually very prompt and the servers are knowledgable if you have any questions about the food. Also, they have a full menu besides creating your own stirfry if you don't want to make your own. They have a lot of unique drinks--both alcoholic and non-alcoholic (like tropical teas and whatnot) and there's almost never a wait. I have to say I've never had a bad meal here and always been very happy with the service.
(4)seema s.
we were looking for a place to eat before going to see a movie, and big bowl happened to be across the street from where we needed to be. i am not a big fan of eating at chain-y places, but this place was ok compared to other horrendous franchises. sleek atmosphere for a friday night dinner. they gave us separate vegetarian menus when they realized that we might be. pitcher of pomegranate passion fruit white sangria. holla. i got the spicy thai green curry with tofu and veggies, it was pretty yummy flavor wise (though definitely not authentic tasting), though not very spicy on my scale. also got enough food to have a large lunch tomorrow, which is always a plus (except for having to carry around the box). overall a good dining experience, not amazing or overly memorable, but good.
(3)Jennifer K.
Hmm...I must admit. The food is nothing to write home about, but it's a pretty good place for group gatherings. We ordered...I believe potstickers and stir fries. Or noodles in broth. I can't remember. Maybe that just goes to show you exactly how memorable the meal was. But anywho. I do know that I left satisfied. And not bitter about paying a certain amount. The ambience is laid back. And you can feel at ease here, whether you're with a group of friends or dining alone. The service is okay. Not too slow or prompt. It won't irritate you. And the price is pretty decent. I didn't complain when I shelled out cash.
(3)Matt R.
Attention to the many heavy-handed reviewers out there: This is most obviously NOT an authentic Asian restaurant. It is a large chain of Americanized Asian food. They don't even claim to be some authentic restaurant. They are the "Rainforest Cafe" of Asian food. If you can just accept that ,you will realize that Big Bowl really delivers a decent offering. You grab a bowl, pick out all of the ingredients that you want, sauces, etc and they cook it for you. It is pricey stir-fry, but it is pretty good! Their rival chain "Mongolian Barbeque" doesn't even compare. So lighten up, grab a "big bowl"of stir-fry, and enjoy!
(4)Aimee C.
The best Hot & Sour soup in river north - loop - gold cost - south of north area. They make the soup to order, so it's steamy hot, perfect combination of hot and sour without the it's been sitting in a vat for hours taste.
(4)Ayesha K.
Great environment, even better food. Always fresh, tasty, and well prepared. Definitely one of my favorite spots to eat!
(4)Liz K.
I am reviewing my second visit. (My first visit was during lunch rush and it went well but it was a long time ago I cannot remember). We went on a Saturday night and made reservations. We arrived early and still had to wait around... even after our reservation time (what was the point?). We were getting pretty upset because so many people who came after us were being seated first (did they forget about us?) Then we were given the worst table ever right by the line and people waiting. There were other empty tables so I asked the host if we could change tables but I guess not. Food: We ordered dumpling appetizers and they were good. I ordered a mojito and it was so fresh and delicious!! The vegetable curry was great. It had a good mix of vegetables. :-) However, the pork dish that was ordered was terrible and too oily. :-( For desert we ordered the Mochi oh my so goods! They are small but so flavorable and the chocolate/caramel sauce makes them so much better! Overall the food was decent but nothing spectacular. I was pretty disappointed because I always have such high hopes for a LEYE restaurant (we are LEYE frequent diner card members). However, even though service was not so good in the beginning...our waiter was great and so helpful.
(3)Tricia Z.
I haven't visited this place in three years so this is not a recent review but it left such an impression I still remember it. I crave their ginger ale and their delicious appetizers. Some of the dishes were out of this world and the staff was super friendly. When I stayed in Chicago I went here after a bad day and it made the day 10x better. Then I went here the following night because it was that awesome. I miss Big Bowl..if I am in Chicago again you will find me here.
(5)Christine F.
Mmmmmmno. I'm glad I didn't have to pay for this myself. I would have been pretty displeased. Our office was getting Big Bowl delivery, and I was excited. I was hoping I was going to discover a Thai place within delivery range that didn't make my stomach sad (Thalia, Panang and Siam all set sail to the land of fail). Big Bowl, unfortunately, got lumped into this group of Fail Whales. The delivery was prompt enough, but my Panang curry was a sorry situation. It was super watery and didn't even remotely taste like panang curry. If you had blindfolded me and asked me what this was, I probably would have responded that it was some kind of awful soup. That's how watery it was. I actually threw it out without taking more than a bite. It was that bad - and I'm a cheap bastard, guys. It takes a LOT for me to throw out food. My search for good River North thai continues...
(2)Lisa B.
I want to give this place a 3 1/2. Four is my closest option and I'll for sure round up. The service was great, I forget our waitress' name but she was attentive, but left us to talk some. She told us the drink specials right away and paced her service. Great. I had the panang curry, which I would've given a 3 out of 5 as far as curries go, but the veggies were yummy, the chicken and rice in the dish were good, and the curry was flavorful, if not quite the consistency I would like. My fiance had the sesame chicken, and after tasting it, his was delicious! I recommend the big bowl blonde ale, a great beer at a great price, only $3 on Sundays! The restaurant was pretty busy, definitely not an intimate date vibe (we were listening to the woman next to us complain about her WHOLE LIFE and all the people she knows, if you know her, I'm so sorry, we heard her complain about you), but it was great for a fun, affordable tasty evening meal on the gold coast!
(4)Vaidehi T.
I love this Americanized version of Asian food - dont judge me!! I have been here several times and never had a bad experience. Love their green curry and Kung Pao dishes. Also I absolutely love their stir-fry bar. This location is usually crowded because of the location. The service is pretty good here and the ambiance is pretty good too.
(4)Haroun K.
3 stars seems correct. I was armed with my yelp app, and hoping to have a sort of authentic farewell-to-Chicago lunch downtown. I don't know how I ended up here. I had a vegetable curry, which was fine, but not great. The whole experience felt like a Thai TGI Fridays, actually. The passionfruit ginger ale was probably the best thing I had, though.
(3)Prisca W.
The food, the drinks, the service at the bar, and the decor all made my evening! After a long day of walking and shopping, this place was perfect! I would definitely stop here the next time I'm in the city!
(5)Gina S.
I've had the Ginger Garlic Chicken Stir Fry and the Thai Yellow Curry Chicken here. The food is good, but nothing sock-knocking out of this world amazing. However, my Gin & Ginger cocktail was mighty fine...sock-knocking fine, but that's just the alcohol talking. The menu offers a good variety of Thai/Chinese, something for the little guys and even something those with dietary restrictions (Gluten Free). The atmosphere is a little noisy and the servers must be busting some serious booty because we hardly saw ours except when our order was taken and delivered.
(3)Irene G.
I've been here quite a few times now and while I love most Lettuce Entertain You restaurants, this place is just okay. I like the ambience and service is great. My work threw a bridal shower for one of my coworkers here and everything went smoothly. The food is just average-I know where to get better pad thai!
(2)Phyllis S.
If you are in the mood for Asian food and can't make up your mind what you want, check this place out. Also a good choice if there are vegetarians (and perhaps vegans) in your party. Also, I did notice a Gluten-free section of the menu. I was in here on a Saturday afternoon and the place was rather busy. Decor was nice, sort of an Asian Bistro Hip-theme. However, I had trouble hearing the conversation with my friends at our table, cause it was so loud in there. Ditto for being able to hear the waiter clearly. Not the place to go for quiet conversation if the joint is jumpin'. I had the Thai Hot Pepper Shrimp with Basi & Peanuts. I was very pleased with the flavor. It was nicely balanced. I was also impressed with the fact that they brew their own lemonade and ginger ale ONSITE! (I LOVE ginger ale!) It was just good enough, I almost considered bringing home a 4pack! Evidently, t they take sustainability very seriously in regards to the ingredients they use in the food. I like to see that in a restaurant. It almost made up for the price of the food, which I found to be a little high. The portions are pretty generous if you order from the menu. However, my boyfriend did the "make yer own" stir-fry and was not pleased by the amount of food that he got for the price. FYI, "Fire-eaters" like me might find the little icons that indicate spicy food to be a tad misleading. The food was reasonably spicy, but to 'flames shooting out my mouth' levels. I felt the need to request some chili sauce to get the heat intensity to where I wanted it. (Which was no big deal.) Probably a good thing, given that we live in the Midwest, but thought I should mention it.
(3)Sheri S.
I like this place;) It was not what I was expecting in the traditional sense of a Thai or a Chinese restaurant, but Big Bowl definitely made it's mark. The trade off's Instead of getting a traditional Thai Iced tea I got the Orange Ginger Ale that they specially make with freshly squeezed orange juice. Their lemonade was cool it was Instead of the typical Beef Fried Rice that I get in New York I got a Beef Fried Rice that actually tasted like beef that was grilled and then mixed into white rice with some sweet and sour sauce. The beef pieces were chunky pieces contrary to the shredded beef I am accustomed to. Spring rolls are pretty standard, but these were longer and more crispy. I also had the small Dumpling Noodle Soup, chicken dumplings with noodles, vegetables, tasty chicken broth. This was very yummy especially considering how cold it was outside. I was really happy for this wholesome soup. Big Bowl is a chill casual dining kind of restaurant. A very unique blend of Chinese and Thai food, so go with an open mind ;)
(3)Norma G.
This place is amazing! I have never gone to Big Bowl and not loved what I ate. My husband is a cook and he loves this place! The Sangria is absolutely heavenly! This is a great place to come in groups as well. The service is always great and the food, well... I've already said it!
(5)Randy R.
Look, if you are looking for authentic Chinese and Thai food, you'll need to go elsewhere. But the food is fairly flavorful and decently prepared, while our server was attentive and prompt. All in all, not a bad experience.
(3)Ayako M.
Uhg. I should have known better. Here's the quick and dirty: Egg Roll: tasty but greasy and fell apart - also, it's just one HUGE eggroll though the menu says egg rolls-plural (lucky thing I wasn't sharing!) Veggie potstickers: no flavor, none. Veggie and Tofu Pad Thai: again, no flavor. Slimy and tofu seemed like it was straight out of the carton and fell apart when you tried to pick it up. Very few veggies. Cost: Expensive. Chances I'll order from here again: Zero
(2)Tat S.
I went here a year ago at a different location and since then have wanted to go back! Unfortunately, in St. Louis we don't have Big Bowls aplenty like in Chicago. We have wonderful Thai and Vietnamese restaurants which I love but I am so STUCK on how lovely the Pho tastes at Big Bowl. I of course had Pho like last time and it was as great as I remember it. My little sister was envious since she had the dumpling soup which paled in comparison (I even took a taste. Not as good. :/ ) My mum had the summer rolls I think? They were really good and the sauce was amazing! It was really busy the night we came in and our food still arrived promptly, the server wasn't freaked out by the pace of the restaurant, rather he was calm. So here is to a second pleasant experience at Big Bowl! I am eager for the more to come!
(4)Tom F.
Service was only OK... we had stopped in at the other location off Rush street in the past and thought it was better. Made a reservation here because they could accommodate a group of 8.... we were in town for a reunion. We ordered a shared meal for 7 adults (one child only had soup) and it seemed the portion size for the group matched our last visit as a group of 5!
(3)A E.
I'm usually not sold on the idea of restaurants which specialize on two different types of cuisines. Big bowl does its best to try to split the difference and they are not entirely unsuccessful. They have a lot of options available, and their "pick your own vegetables for the stir fry" gives a lot of variation and I enjoyed my stir fry. I liked what I saw on the menu, and when I first left I wanted to try more. However, that aftermath left me spewing like a fire hydrant a few days. I can't be sure that this was the source, but this was the only meal that I didn't share with my traveling companion, and I was the only one affected. In the end, I don't think that what I enjoyed is worth even the idle risk of the day and a half of digestive issue that followed.
(2)Dan R.
I go here for the Kung Pao Chicken but always ask that they make it the old way with cilantro. That is 5 stars. The rest is a cut above but not 5 star.
(4)Steve G.
Food was excellent and service was prompt and courteous!
(4)Kate J.
One of my friend's and I came here not too long ago for dinner. First, let me say, she has several food allergies, and Big Bowl was more than willing to work with us on that. I ordered the Sangria which was absolutely delicious; and got the Chicken Pad Thai for my main entree. My friend ordered something with chicken and veggies and no sauces or anything like that due to her allergies and both were large and very filling portions. I had never been here before, and have actually never even heard of the place until now. I like the fact that you can order pretty much whatever you want and they can make it for you however you would like. Definitely impressed with this place.
(4)Nina B.
I came here for lunch with a friend. I ordered the Asian chicken salad, which had a pretty tangy dressing. If you eat one of the peppers they are really spicy! And I can usually take a decent amount of heat. The portion size was a bit small for the price. The salad did have a good amount of meat, however. I would probably get something else if I went back. Service was a bit slow. It's nice they take the Wildcard discount (20% off) for NW students. My friend got the yellow curry rice bowl which she loved. Overall a decent lunch experience but nothing spectacular.
(3)John B.
This kind of location provides scrumptious meal. This lime rooster is my favorite; I've by no means got something think its great. Helpings are just right for dinner. This container peel off stickers plus the dumplings usually are pretty good also. I relished your pomegranate mojito a great deal. We all did not get almost any distinct difficulties with service-- it had been common.
(5)Ruth S.
Food was great, pad Thai amazing, orange chicken, excellent. We ordered the crab cakes but they were gone for the night do we had really wonderful Calimari. I just wonder why no one mixes a good drink anymore. Always weak, too much mixer, out of balance. Disappointing when the food was so good
(3)Barbara B.
Was brought some take out pad thai from here. Pad that was super bland, it was the worst pad thai I've ever had. Avoid!
(1)Tony B.
The waiter forgot to put in our soup and appetizer order, so they brought out our meals 15 minutes after we sat down. Told the dude holding the food on his arm what was up and he took all the food back and trashed it. They then brought out the soup and appetizer and had us fill new bowls with our selected vegetables. Eventually we got our meals at the right time and they were excellent. As I am wont to do, I ordered mine spicy - it was so hot it was almost inedible. Then we got the check. It had an "On us" credit of $39.50. Wow. More than made up for the minor mistake. Thanks. We'll be back.
(4)J. C.
We went here for lunch today, and I had never been at this restaurant before. So I really didn't know what to expect. But I was meeting some old college buddies, so I pretty much didn't really care where we were going to eat. I knew it was Chinese and Thai, which I love, but was extra delightfully surprised that you can pretty much make your own bowl of whatever ingredients you choose if that's the option you're looking for. Our waiter was super extra helpful and nice, and extremely patient since my dining buddies didn't immediately know how the whole system works (pick a sauce, pick a meat--which the kitchen puts in for you)--and walk up to the counter to load your bowl with whatever veggies you want. My hibiscus iced tea was very delicious, and the melange of items I ended up picking for my bowl turned out pretty good in the end taste-wise. The only things that make this not a five-star experience is that the bill ended up being a little on the pricey side. But I should have known better since the Near North neighborhood is usually all tourists on the weekends. Also, in my opinion, they seemed to skimp a little on the meat (I ordered chicken) that I got. It's a little different from Flat Top Grill (where you pick EVERYTHING), so I guess this is how Big Bowl does it. I would be back again if I'm back down here.
(4)Melanie S.
Corporate, Americanized Chinese food notwithstanding, Big Bowl isn't actually half-bad. As long I go there with the mindset that I'm not attempting to eat authentic asian food, and just enjoy it for what it is; which is a decent, reasonably priced meal, then I can live with myself. The two things I always get when I go here, which averages about once a month, are the hibiscus lemonade tea (so refreshing) and the mixed green salad with some type of asian viniagrette. This dressing is so good, I would do shots of it if it were offered. It's a sesame, ginger, soy, rice wine vinegar concoction and it's simply delicious. From there, I usually order the mongolian beef or orange chicken. The mongolian beef has shiitake mushrooms, and while not a traditional ingredient in mongolian beef, adds a flavorful touch. The orange chicken is your basic garden-variety dish that you can find on any Panda Express in Anytown USA, but again, I'm not going to Big Bowl expecting to be transported to the heights of culinary wonder.
(3)Richie D.
I'm not a big fan of chain restaurants (hence I can't give 5 stars), yet Big Bowl would be towards the top of my list if I were to recommend one. Yes, they have Americanized "Chinese" food, but I can claim that there were tourists from China sitting at the table next to be. I guess it can't be that bad! BB is all about their Ginger ale which was just alright. Picture a non-alcoholic, carbonation-infused mojito but with ginger instead of mint. I had the pomegranate flavored ginger ale but I wish I went for the passion fruit or green tea flavors. I did like that you can taste the real ginger. As for the rest of the experience. I absolutely LOVE the decor. I wish my house could be a Big Bowl, and don't get any ideas. The Asian theme is everywhere you look with perfect color combinations that look like what you see on the H&G Network. Food wise, the mongolian beef is definitely one of their tastiest dishes offered...probably not the healthiest. Also the Shrimp Summer Roll appetizer is also tasty. The rest of the items are fairly average. If you're starving and not willing to wait for a family-owned/non-chain restaurant in downtown Chicago, BB is not a bad choice.
(4)John G.
It certainly exceeded my expectations. I had the appetizer calamari -- one of the freshest, tastiest fried calamari's I've enjoyed and I do love my squid. The veggie pot stickers were more like gyozas -- but the filling was freshly made and the gyozas were clearly hand formed. The wonton soup was an interesting mix of Viet and traditional won ton soup. All in all, I'd go back.
(4)Tony M.
Make sure you try the combination chicken & vegetable dumplings. Very good and very fresh. The service was suspect. I had a couple of apps and the waiter tried to get me to try something else but I was full. He did not like it so he left the bill and I did not see him again. Someone else had to help cash me out. Avoid the waiters that try to up-sale you on somthing you don't want.
(3)Viola Y.
Always go here when I am in town. Great dishes and drinks! I even picked up the cookbook.
(4)Janelle C.
Love their food. Big plus is that you can create your own dishes and food is made fresh in front if you.
(4)Laura P.
I LOVE this place. It is incredibly delicious and tasty and you can make it as healthy or unhealthy as you'd like. I've been here about twenty times and almost always order the stir-fry. When you get the stir-fry you pick the type of vegetables, meat, sauce, and rice you want. Either you can have the chef choose your veggies based on the meat/sauce/rice you're getting or you can grab a bowl and choose your own mix of whatever vegetables you'd like from the vegetable bar. I always go with this option. You have the choice of filling the bowl as much as you want and usually I pile it incredibly high and then drop it off at the stir-fry station (yes I've piled it so high that I've dropped things out of my bowl while taking it to the station). The vegetable bar has about 15 different veggies with all the standards and them some more seasonal specials. There are about 6 stir-fry sauces to choose from and all the typical meats (and tofu) are available. For rice you pick between white, brown, or fried. If you want your dish to be healthier, opt for the brown rice, pile on the veggies, opt out of meat, and ask for light oil/sauce. They are very accommodating with the oil/sauce and they really do make it light if you ask for it. Conversely, I've gone with people who have asked for extra sauce and they really did go heavy on the sauce. Basically, you can create whatever you want and the end result is delicious. You can also ask for chili paste on the side to make it more spicy. They also have amazing customer service. They once put peanuts on my stir-fry dish when I asked for no peanuts (the kung pao sauce comes with peanuts, but you can opt out of them). Not only did they promptly make me a new one, they gave me a complimentary dessert and took the stir-fry off the check. They also have great Chinese New Year specials during that entire week. Last year was the year of the rabbit and they gave every person born in that year an entirely free meal (drink, appetizer, entree, and dessert) on new year. It was amazing. They have a large variety of drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic and both Asian inspired and non-Asian inspired (like sangria)). Their portions are huge--not just with the create your own stir-fry, but if you order off the menu, too. It's not too big that you'll necessarily have to get a to-go box, but you will definitely leave full, which is important for me. The exception is dessert. The desserts are small and are not meant for sharing. They are big enough only for one person and they are certainly not hefty. But they are interesting and this way you can focus on the delicious entrees. I wouldn't make the claim that this place has authentic Asian food, but if you want delicious Asian food and don't care about it being Americanized and inauthentic, definitely give this place a try.
(5)R.g. C.
I dined here the other day with my girlfriend and Carlos was our server. Even though this is just a casual "corporate" like restaurant he went above and beyond to make our lunch awsome!!! Everything he recommended from the wine to the dessert was superior. Great service! Oh I did not mention that was our first date, NOW shes my girlfriend!!!
(5)Kaelyn P.
I ordered the steamed dumplings (chicken and veggie) and the shrimp summer roll. Yikes, as far as American Chinese goes, I'd rather pick up freezer dumplings from trader joes. Really average flavor and the sauces were meh. As for the summer roll: you get lettuce, noodles, a few shrimp, basil, red pepper, wrapped in a sticky rice roll.. with a soury sauce that overpowered the zero flavor roll. MIght as well go to jewel and buy the ingredients. Save your stomach from the disappointment and go anywhere else !
(1)Jen S.
We have been here a few times over the years and have never been disappointed. We took a fairly large group for lunch and they were very accommodating. One person in our party had a peanut allergy and the waiter was extremely attentive and helpful in selecting items from the menu. The food was wonderfully prepared and came out hot and fresh, although it did take a while to arrive. Everyone enjoyed their selections and found the service to be very good. A little on the pricey side, but the food is excellent!
(5)Candice H.
The fried Tofu is very delicious. One of their staff is amazingly nice. He has great passion for customers and always provide service before we ask.
(4)H H.
Not the most amazing chain in the world....if you like chains, that is.
(2)Anuj S.
I love Big Bowl's stir fry bar. I don't know why some people I've been with aren't as appreciative. Maybe it's just that I've hit the jackpot on just the right combination of veggies, sauce, etc. So here's what I always get and I've never been disappointed. I go for the stir fry and load up on all the veggies. They add tofu for you later. Then I go for the Spicy Kung Pao sauce. And actually, I request a bit of extra sauce. It's DELICIOUS. And then I get it with noodles. Once I get it, I add plenty of hot sauce. Oh man... cleans out the sinuses. When I was out in the burbs, we used to go to one out in Wheaton, but that closed down for some reason. It's strange, because it seemed pretty full when we'd go. Well anyways, the one downtown is close enough to me now.
(4)