I came to Chicago for the weekend and crashed at a friends place north of town. After spending the last two days walking all over town, I wanted to eat some place close by. Just by accident I stumbled upon Argyle, with all the Asian shops and restaurants. Not knowing which to try, I popped into Hon Kee because it shared the same name as a popular noodle place in Vancouver, B.C., Canada... I know, lame reason but I was getting hungry. As others had mentioned, the decor leaves much to be desired but it did remind me of the Chinese places my parents took me back in the 70's. The tea was the standard black Chinese restaurant variety. Dark in color but lacking in character. It actually worked quite well with the whole 70's thing going on in my mind. I asked the waiter, in Cantonese, what he would suggest for me, he responded, "That's a tough one. How about some soup, noodles, or congee?", and then proceeded to walk away. I ended up ordering the rice stick noodles with bbq duck. For the money, I really can't complain. I have larger bowls at many other places and I've had more flavorful duck at many other places but nowhere in recent memory do I recall getting this dish for four bucks!. As I recall, everything on the menu was very cheaply priced. It could be that Chinese food is just cheaper in Chicago that it is in on the west coast but I wouldn't mind coming back to try some of the other things on the menu.
(3)
Renato P.
I've been going to this place for roast duck , BBQ pork and chicken wings , roast pork and pork ribs since before I could see over the counter. I can't say that the food quality is the best , but it is consistently good .I rarely eat inside the dining room, the place is really shabby. Hit the counter , order a little of everything , take home and enjoy . I recommend the BBQ pork , BBQ chicken wings , BBQ ribs , roast pork , and Especially the roast duck. Be wary of what we inappropriately dubbed "the round-eye special" . My family noticed when the butcher doesn't recognize you (and you coincidentally are white) and they are busy, sometimes he will give you the fattier cuts of meat. Maybe I am imagining that , but keep a look out for it.
(3)
PJ K.
Decent carry out/dine in Chinese place serving BBQ items. Suffers by comparison to Sun Wah on the other side of the El tracks. Decent, but Sun Wah offers better variety and better quality for the same (cheap) price.
(3)
A T.
Yummy. And they don't bother you if you read a book and look out of the window. The food is great. It reminds me of New York's Chinatown. Yea I did grow up there. Apart from Won Kow and Three Happness I will continue to frequent this place. It is closer and very friendly.
(5)
Terri N.
Tamia and I are a big fan of this place. My sister had introduced me to this place years back. Now, we make it a lunch date on fridays to come here and eat with the kids. It's not a fine dining place but it's a great place to eat at and is extremely reasonably priced. For under $5, Tamia and I usually share their soy sauce chicken, chinese sausage, one egg, and vegetables over rice. It's our favorite and we are always satisfied and full at the end of our meal. Usually, we'll order their fried rice, 1/2 of pork and duck for Tony to go and that would bring our total up to $18. Not bad at all for dining in and dinner for a family of three. My sister and her kids loves their won ton noodles, seafood or beef chow fun and congee. The food are in huge portions and the great part about it is that her kids love the food. We've never been disappointed with their service and they are definitely kid friendly. Such a great place to eat at especially during these tough economic times.
(4)
Jay K.
Took a walking tour of Viet-Chinatown in Argyle this weekend and visited all local bakeries, groceries and BBQ joints. Carried-out a roast duck from here which was/is very tasty and fairly priced at $11 ($12 w/ tax - half a duck is $5.50). You order at a "plastic-barriered" window at the register any type of Chinese BBQ item such as roast duck, braised chickens, braised ducks, BBQ pork, roast pork, braised duck feet, braised duck wings, BBQ chicken wings, roast cuttlefish, braised chitlins, etc. A whole-duck is chopped into pieces and separated into two foil containers, which include a small plastic container of "sauce" - which is essentially the marinade that is evacuated from the interior of the duck after it is roasted. Have not dined here, but the roast duck is pretty good.
(3)
Hanh B.
this is my favor place to go and i hate chinese food.this place has great bbq pork fried rice ...a must and everything is super cheap...the exterior and interior arent much to see but its the food that matters
(5)
Stephanie M.
This is an average Chinese restaurant...focusing on cantonese food. The bbq here is okay, but I wouldnt recommend eating here. Last time my family and some family friends went here, they didnt eat much and came back to the house for wine and cheese. I guess they were still hungry :)
(2)
Tian Y.
Came here for peking duck when cravings struck on a Thursday, when Sun Wah is closed. Used to walk by this place all the time in Argyle but was repelled by the appearance and always opted for other, better decorated restaurants down the street instead. But Yelpers, I trusted y'all, and you didn't disappoint! I could see myself coming back to try more things as an alternative to other packed restaurants. The duck is a suitable alternative to Sun Wah, but the skin is a little less crispy, the color is a little less vibrant, the texture a bit too chewy, and the flavor is just a little less spot on. It's good, but not amazing. In my book, it goes Sun Wah, Mom, THEN Hon Kee. But Mom lives hundreds of miles away, so Hon Kee it is. Can't complain for the price though. Around $15 I think, but no pancakes/ganishes/hoisin - not sure if they serve those here. Also got some pretty decent seafood noodle soup. Nice assortment of everything. And bbq pork with veggies over rice, a huge portion for a ridiculous price, and pretty good. Good place for a nice casual meal. On Thursdays and other days of the week.
(4)
Feb S.
Taste: 4/5 Location: 3.5/5 Cleanliness: 2.5/5 Ambience: 2.5/5 Value for Money: 4/5 (Price, given the Food Taste) Service: 3/5 If you crave Chinese food and are looking for an affordable place, Hon Kee is one of those restaurants that meet these requirements. I ordered the BBQ Pork with Scrambled Egg over Rice ( goo.gl/xJA7E ), Beef with Tofu over Rice ( goo.gl/G4v6s ), and Roast Duck Noodles Soup ( goo.gl/olXuD ). The tastiest among all was the BBQ Pork with Scrambled Egg over Rice. I think this is one of their signature dishes as well. Overall, great taste for the price.
(4)
Brian G.
I've been coming here for as long as I remember. It is one of my all time favorites. Whenever I'm in the area I have to stop by. Same owner since forever, family run. I always get the Barbecued Pork w/ Scrambled Eggs over rice. A lot of people know it as 554 from Seven Treasures Chinatown but it is definitely prepared differently. In my opinion it it's better than 554 but then again I've been eating it from here since I was a wee lad. So not knocking 554, it's just different. Also the Special Mami aka Wonton noodle soup is the best. Their broth has real flavor, wonton dumplings are fresh. We also usually get the roast duck which is good. This place is excellent for getting BBQ pork, roast duck, etc. from the window display. It's funny to see passers-by who aren't used to seeing that stuff react to seeing whole ducks with their heads still on. I think most people tend to forget that the food we eat were actual living animals at one point haha. The only knock is the restaurant itself needs updating but I feel the food itself and the cheap prices make up for it. If you have $5 I'd rather fill up on the Barbecued Pork w/ Scrambled eggs over rice than getting a value meal from McDonald's for $6
(5)
Amy L.
I have been coming here since I was kid - it's my go to for authentic Cantonese food. Food: 3/3 Stars My favorite Wonton Noodle Soup place - the soup tastes like it should - like it's been cooked for hours with hints of chicken. And the wonton is amazing - just the right amount of pork and shrimp! And for less than 5 bucks? Yes please! And the BBQ pork. Wow. I've avoided BBQ pork since I had it in Vietnam, but this place does it right! Great consistency - moist and tender. And the flavor hits the nail on the head. Service: 1/1 Stars Service is what you would typically find at an Asian restaurant, but I must say the older, male waiter is pretty friendly. Environment: .5/1 Stars Plenty of seating, but the place could use an upgrade in furniture and design.
(5)
Hannah P.
My parents use to go here a long time ago...I mean like 10 years ago and since then we've found other favorites. Went her due to a friends suggestion and I had to idea there was a mami special soup. I love soup and had to try it. I love Mami soup and can't believe I found it...thanks to someone who took a pic of it and posted here on yelp. When in need of hot soup, I'm here instead of going all the way to Chinatown.
(4)
Lizzy R.
We stumbled into this place on a frigid snowy day, after a morning of shopping on Argyle, because we were told that they had the best wonton noodle soup outside of Chinatown. We sat down (after standing around awkwardly for a few minutes before we realized that we were supposed to seat ourselves) and were promptly given a pot of piping hot tea, which was a godsend, as we were freezing our butts off! After a 2-second look at the menu, I ordered the wonton noodle soup with the addition of barbecued pork. The waiter gave me one of those knowing smiles, as if to say "Good job, tiny white girl, you just ordered the best thing on the menu." And he was not wrong. The soup came out quickly and was everything I wanted it to be. Piping hot, full of perfectly chewy noodles, very flavorful broth, and wontons with just the right mix of pork and shrimp. And don't even get me started on the barbecued pork! The portion was big enough that I took home enough for lunch the next day. I will definitely be back for soup again very soon!
(5)
Sambath M.
My family and I have been going to Hon Kee for over 30 years now. We are loyal customers for various reasons: great food, great service, and the hospitality we receive from the family that owns the restaurant. It's one of our favorite places to eat, and we're never disappointed.
(5)
Miguel A.
Tried this place because Sun Wah was closed (on a Thursday? Interesting.) I have heard the hype about this place so decided to make my way here. Basically you get what you paid for--prices are dirt cheap and the portions are filling however the quality of the ingredients are not the finest. Definitely recommend the noodle soups but the BBQ duck was too dry/tasted overcooked. Restaurant lacks general cleanliness but the service is good.
(3)
Robert H.
I have to say that upon entering I was thoroughly underwhelmed by both the employees and the decor of this establishment. I stood there for what felt like an uncomfortable amount of time waiting for one of the employees milling about to either seat me or to indicate that I should seat myself. When it became apparent nobody was going to acknowledge me I found an empty table and sat down. From that point on then things started to improve. A man quickly arrived at my table and provided me with a menu. By this time I was a little unhappy and just decided to play it safe and went with the sweet and sour shrimp with a couple eggrolls added to it and was not expecting much based on my initial impressions of the service and decor. As far as the decor goes to be fair to the restaurant there really was nothing wrong with it, it just wasn't anything that you'd notice and appreciate. First to arrive were the eggrolls. I was very pleasantly surprised that they actually tasted good. Granted they definitely appeared to be the pre-made variety that all Chinese restaurants here in the city seem to serve. They were pretty decent sized and unlike most other places theirs actually had good flavor to them and I enjoyed them! Most eggrolls I've had here in Chicago are pretty flavorless. The sauce they served with the eggrolls was excellent and took a good item up into the very good category. Next came my sweet and sour shrimp and rice. I was really amazed at the excellent flavor of the shrimp. I can't put my finger on what the extra flavor they put in it was, but I sure can say it was delicious! Another thing it had going for it was that there were decent sized shrimp inside it which is huge with me since I hate getting a big mound of breading and then not hardly being able to find tiny little shrimp in it. Thankfully that was not the case here. The rice was pretty flavorless and I suspect they were using cheap American rice instead of the more flavorful Asian types. Overall it was a very good meal and I can see myself stopping back in if I'm in the area, but due to the lackluster welcome and the uninspiring decor I don't see myself ever taking company from out of state there to eat.
(4)
Justine M.
Inside didn't leave much to the imagination - was small and a bit unkept...I came to pick up food I ordered (pros is that it only took 10 min to make). Got Roast duck on rice plate. They gave me quite a helpful amount of food for $5. It was a bit of overload on the rice, though. came with just a bit of bok choy. It was alright - not the best. They don't take card for orders under $12. I had to go to an ATM to pay. I wasn't pre-warned either. Had to leave and come back...
(2)
Audre L.
Ha! I'm amazed to see that this place has earned 4 stars on yelp. I was expecting yelpers to bash this place, but lo and behold, Yelp tells the truth! This place is a bit of a dive for sure, but with really solid food. My family comes here, often for take out but often for eating in as well. When Sun Wah is packed, this is our backup plan. Get what looks good to you, but here are some solid recommendations: Clams with Black Bean Sauce Water Spinach with Garlic Tofu and Pork Roasted Duck - 1/2 a duck for 4 people
(4)
Hannah E.
I can remember the day I first saw this place like it was yesterday. My mom and I were trying out Pho 777 across the street (not recommended) and when we got up to leave it was pouring outside, pouring so violently that even though our car was right out front, we didn't want to make a run for it. So we stood in the doorway, waiting for it to clear, and when it did, the first thing we were able to see through the lessening rain was a big sign: Hon Kee Restaurant. We giggled about that one for about a half hour. A Chinese restaurant called, basically, Honky? MUST TRY. Well, I was unable to try it - it was closed both times I went, and then I had to go back home to Colorado, then California. A year passed. But yesterday was the day. There's nothing particularly special about this place, though, other than the name... and the price! We got 1/4 roast duck and BBQ pork over scrambled eggs and rice for $10, tea included. Some say the duck here is better than Sun Wah - I wouldn't go that far. There are three things I look for in roast duck: not overcooked, a crispy, fatty skin, and sauce that isn't too sweet. Sun Wah fulfills all three of these briefs, and Hon Kee only two (they do overcook the duck a bit). However, for $4.75, I don't think I've got the right to complain. It's still tasty, with near-perfect skin. The BBQ pork dish has so-fatty-it's practically-translucent red-skinned pork over flavorful scrambled eggs, and for my tastes, I liked the layered flavors of this dish better. If you want duck or pork that may not be wonderful but is definitely better than the 5 bucks you've got, this is the place to get it.
(3)
Arlene G.
i cant keep writing reviews about this place everytime i visit cuz i would have at least 5o reviews of it then! but my fam ate here this weekend & everythin we ate was soooo yummy! bbq pork, lechon, roast duck, noodle soup with dumplins, chinese broccoli & kang kong! (not sure if thats the english name or not) i ate until i was about 2 throw up! i walked out with such a full belly that i didnt even wanna look at food anymore! yummy yummy yummy!!!
(5)
Jeremy C.
I've been coming here with my family since the 80s, well before this stretch of Argyle Street became a foodie paradise. Their won ton noodle soup is better than anything I've had in Chinatown. If you're a meat eater, their roast meats hanging in their storefront never fail to impress. Even something simple as congee -rice soup- is absolutely delicious. One thing that you must get is the fried smelt. You'll thank me later.
(5)
Lina W.
They have the best won ton noodle soup and lean pork-thousand year egg congee in uptown! The restaurant offers pretty tasty food for relatively cheap price. The service is fast and nice.
(4)
George T.
We did come to have lunch where we ordered shrimp won ton added roast pork and noodles to soups, gai lan chow fun with beef, salt pepper shrimp,rice. Service was lack luster seems like they had one waiter for 8 tables he was doing everything busing tables, taking order. Feeling bad that they were understaffed, we did get up to get water. The restaurant was hot I'm guessing the AC was out. Food was, as expected, a great value. This might be just an odd/off day.
(3)
Melody L.
This rating is based entirely on their menu. I've been coming here since I was a wee baby and have been ordering pretty much the same thing for 27 years. Start off with a bowl of their wonton soup with no noodles, then onto the roasted duck with rice. My parents always ordered the seafood combination and then chinese broccoli which was also appetizing. This is quite the 'hole in the wall' type of restaurant, but the food is well worth it!
(4)
Michael V.
This is your favorite Chinese restaurants favorite Chinese restaurant. I also love saying Hon Kee.
(5)
Lauren B.
One of the better Chinese places in the area. Duck is great and I love their egg rolls. Not much else to say! We always to take out and haven't had any issues.
(4)
Michael G.
So, where can two poor, white dudes go for inexpensive Chinese food in Chicago? Why, Hon Kee of course (because Kra Kur and Wi Tee don't exist). True story. While sitting and watching a new movie exhibit at the Chicago History Museum called, "My Chinatown," I turned to my father (who was visiting from Michigan) and said, "is it just me or do you crave Chinese food now?" Being as we're family and have the same stomach, he did. Since I wanted to show my dad the less touristy Asian section of town, the CHM is off the 36 bus, and we're both too poor to afford south side Chinatown, we headed to Uptown for a good, authentic meal. Hon Kee is the Chinese (Cantonese to be specific) equivalent of a taqueria. It's a little hole in the wall practically under the Red Line on Argyle. The only thing to separate it from any of the other restaurants on the street is the ducks in the window (it also serves as a deli counter). But the food is just about every bit as good as everywhere else I've tried up there - Chinese and Vietnamese - except about half the price. Fried rices, noodle dishes, huge soups, and basically the rest of the menu except for the dinners are all right around $5.00. And they don't skimp. My father got shrimp and vegetables over rice, and there were full sized, carefully prepared, shrimp swarming (or whatever shrimp do when they travel in packs) over the top. My egg foo young consisted of three patties. It wasn't the greatest I've ever had (it was a tiny bit flavorless) but it was definitely worth $5.00. Neither of us left with anything on our plates but for lesser eaters (again, we're family, so we've both got bottomless stomachs) there would probably have been enough left for dinner. Service was a little spotty at times. For example, we didn't get water until we requested it midway through the meal. But they give free tea at every table. It wouldn't be the first place I'd choose on Argyle. But not because the name is in any way derogatory or anything, mostly just because it's not really a special treat sort of place (and Uptown isn't a neighborhood I regularly visit except on special occasions). Still if I'm in the market for bargain Chinese food again, I would go here in a hot (or freezing cold) minute.
(4)
iddells E.
I have been eating here for over 2 decades and Hon Kee's food is consistently amazing! I always order the roasted duck, hot and sour soup, beef chow mein, and fried rice. Hon Kee is far from your typical Americanized Chinese restaurant...they are better than that, much better! The roasted duck is so tender and the skin is so juicy! I love sucking on the bones! The hot and sour soup sets the bar for all the other restaurants. The soup is hot as it is sour, just as it should be! The fried rice isn't oily and it has that grilled taste to it. As for the beef chow mein, I'm loving the crunchy noodles and large pieces of beef! I also enjoy their roasted lechon. True, this restaurant lacks ambiance, but who the hell cares? It's not about that here, it's about the food!! Wonderful, delicious, Chinese food. Oh, and this place is CHEAP!!!
(5)
Jean P.
living in the north shore, when we have a craving for wonton noodle soup and don't feel like going all the way to Chinatown, this is just as good alternative. They're Peking duck is pretty good too
(4)
Ken I.
I have been going to this restaurant for the last 15 years ... every Saturday or Sunday. Hands down, they have the best noodle soups in town. It's very hard to recreate the stock - don't know what they have in it, but it is truly delicious. Try the shrimp dumpling with noodles. Their soya chicken is phenomenal, so are the duck and roast pork (lechon). Also, shrimp and scrambled eggs - tell the waiter to use big shrimp and separate from the rice - is very good here too, and finally their egg foo young and their congees are also good. For about six bucks for noodles, you can have a great meal! They have a huge Filipino following that I call this as the best Filipino restaurant in town - they have even some Filipino dishes like pancit canton and special mami (not in the menu) - a big bowl of yellow noodles with shrimp dumpling and beef. (Early in their existence, I remember them asking their customers what they wanted to be served so they can put them in the menu - so the Flip dishes.)
(5)
John K.
Hon Kee is my favorite place to eat in Argyle. It greatly prefer Hon Kee than Sun Wah because: 1. Cheaper prices. Hon Kee only raised prices moderately recently, while Sun Wah has raised price multiple times since reopening, taking advantage of their popularity. Note that both are still very affordable, but as a college student, I am happy to save that few $ for a meal. 2. Excellent roast duck (and cheaper). Both Hon Kee and Sun Wah sell excellent roast duck that goes up and down in terms of quality. Since I'm sure not many people can't tell them apart (I can't), so why not buy save a few bucks and get Hon Kee's roast duck? 3. Not crowded unlike Sun Wah. I've always gotten seats immediately at Hon Kee, but at Sun Wah I've waited up to 45 minutes. 4. Hon Kee's staff seems more earnest, while Sun Wah's staff has an attitude problem. I've also seen Sun Wah's owner (elder daughter) and one senior looking waitress publicly berate their junior staff. You might think that since Sun Wah is always more crowded, their food must be better than Hon Kee's. WRONG. I suspect the reason why Sun Wah is crowded is because most non-Asian Americans appreciate Sun Wah's (seemingly) cleaner premise and newer decor. And also because Sun Wah's menu comes with colorful pictures, and of course their more prominent location along Broadway. If you take the time to walk further east from Broadway and the L to Hon Kee, you will be rewarded with a less hectic, significantly cheaper and equally delicious meal!
(5)
Weisun C.
This is the same as "Hon Kee Chinese" here on Yelp. In the Argyle-Broadway Chinatown/VietNam-town neighborhood, you've got essentially two choices for Cantonese-style barbeque: Hon Kee or Sun Wah (now north on Broadway). In the opinion of those whose tastes matter to me, it's Hon Kee, hands down. This place is tops for their roast pork (the crispy skinned, hanging side of pig), bar-b-q pork (strips of pork in reddish marinate), roast duck, and roast chicken. Always buy from the order window, have them chop it up for you, and take it home. As others have cautioned, this is not a place for sit-down dining, even for lunch. If you crave some good Cantonese food served to you in a nice setting, go to their competition, Sun Wah. And in a spirit of co-operation and mutual profit, Hon Kee and Sun Wah have worked their schedules out so that we diners seeking Chinese BBQ can get our cravings for bar-b-qued pork, roast chicken or duck, or mixed pork innards, 7-days-a-week. When Hon Kee is closed on Tuesdays, you'll find that Sun Wah is open, while Hon Kee stays open on Thursdays when Sun Wah is closed. Nice, huh?
(4)
George O.
I have only ever ordered meat for takeout. I actually like Hon Kee better than Sun Wah. Why? 1 - The prices are way better. 2 - While Sun Wah roast pork and BBQ pork can be better, they seem to be somehow inconsistent. Hon Kee is consistently good, and Sun Wah has been not as good as Hon Kee more often than not. 3 - That duck sauce is good. Real good. Some issues? 1 - Credit card minimum. It takes something like a pound of bbq pork and a whole duck to reach it. 2 - It's kinda dirty looking. And the service doesn't seem too great, which hasn't been an issue for me, but if you're sitting, that could be a problem. 3 - Cute new cashier dude is I'm pretty sure jailbait. Or at least close to it. 2/2 of my Chinese friends that have tried their stuff have responded very favorably. I should probably tell the rest of them about this place...
(4)
Monica M.
This is a classic argyle staple. Used to live in the neighborhood in my younger years and it's still where my family stops and gets won ton noodles. They have roasted ducks and pigs in the window. both are legit. No this isn't what you would call fine dining. The place is dingy and old. You don't go for the atmosphere. You go food the family that works there. I've been told they make the egg noodles in the back. Make them as in produce sell and distribute to all over the city....thats pretty cool.
(4)
Marvin A.
Rule number 1: Do not compare this place to your Panda Express or even your american-esque (yeah I'm talking to you sweet and sour chicken!) chinese restaurants. Rule number 2: Service is a luxury. Rule number 3: Appearances can be deceiving. With all these rules considered, Hon Kee is by far the best place for some cheap authentic Chinese grub. It's comfort food! Chinese Soul Food if you will! I have gone here with my family ever since I was little and it's become a family favorite. I usually get the beef flank noodle soup or the wonton soup. Don't forget to add BBQ pork Siopao (meat bun) to your order! We also love the roasted duck but we usually order a half duck for takeaway. If you feel the sanitation is suspect, remember to go to the bathroom prior to entering this place. You could also pour yourself a nice cup of hot tea and bathe your utensils in it if you so please.
(4)
Minh D.
Decent Chinese restaurant in the north side. Excellent Chinese food is found in China town, not in uptown. This is authentic Chinese good but not refined like that found in China town. Living in the north side I come here almost every weekend. My favorite... chow fun, seafood chow fun, noodles with beef stew. ground beef with rice. beef stew with rice. side order of the roast pork - FRESH! Cheap quality Chinese food for north siders!
(4)
Michelle L.
Best Chinese restaurant! Seriously good food, and great price. I love love love their wanton noodles soup. It tastes authentic, and has large dumplings stuffed with pork and shrimp. Although the price has risen a little, but it's still cheaper than sun wah's. And also get their roast meats, it's awesome.
(5)
Melissa G.
I've been coming here my whole life and it is STILL my favorite Chinese restaurant ever! It's not classy, but it has extremely tasty food. You can get delicious noodle soups with your choice of meat (I love the simple won ton with rice noodles), and their fried rice is the best! They also have less popular Chinese favorites like Beef with Salted and Picked Vegetables and Fish with Bittermelon which my family and I LOVE. The prices are unbeatable and the portions are huge. If you're not comfortable dining in, since the decor is minimal and purely functional, definitely get it as take out! Writing this review has made me hungry... I know what I am having for dinner tomorrow!
(5)
Nikki C.
for those that know, this is it. there is a menu not on the menu. its all in the way you order to make this place the place. you see the lechon all in its glory carried out from the back of heaven's grill and to the front it is chopped up with krispy skin to feed your soul. you see the ducks enticing and just as beautiful as an episode of baywatch with curvaceous bodies and meaty breasts all ready for the mouth orgy. the odors of the day tell you this is not about the cerebral, but more about the primal. the place to feed the beast which does not care about the eye f8ck, but more the mouth and tummy f8ck as you close your eyes and stuff the meat hole into moisturizing passion. not a place for the gf to impress, but more for the soul partner to share in a moment of primal lust and dirty durty.
(4)
Marcus Z.
I know this place for one thing. BBQ Pork with scramble egg. I've been coming here for 15 years now. Place still looks the same and they've got the same staff still working there. Prices haven't changed much so that's a bonus :)
(4)
Jacob Y.
Ok...Hon Kee is DEFINITELY not one of those places you go to admire the ambiance...that's for sure...but this dive Chinese restaurant is one of my favorites. So if you expect linens and flowers on the tables...go somewhere else. With that out of the way...Hon Kee is great in my opinions for three main reasons: 1) They sell traditional Chinese BBQ delicacies like BBQ Pork, Roast Pork, Roast Duck and Soy Sauce Chickens. 2) They have a wide variety of rice and noodle dishes, in addition to traditional Chinese stews and soups (like congee!). 3) You get a decent sized delicious meal without spending an arm and a leg. So, for $5, you can get a plate of rice with half a duck and a cup of tea! McDonald's step aside. I just wish they would deliver because I would order them EVERY day!
(3)
Janet E.
A great alternative to Sun Wah! I came here because Sun Wah had moved and I didnt know where it had moved to (now I know...). The duck and roasted pork tasted delicious! I even think it was less fatty than Sun Wah (but maybe it was just the cut I had randomly gotten). I also ordered bbq beef chow fun and fish filet with chinese broccoli. Both were yummie too! Overall reasonably priced. Half a duck is $7. I forget how much half a pound of roast pork was...I think maybe $3? Definitely cheap! The service was fast and staff understands English. Its also clean which is a BIG plus!
(4)
Alisa N.
Great place to eat authentic Chinese food! The place inside isn't much, but the food definitely makes up for it. Also, the prices are super cheap :) I will go back for sure!
(4)
Liz P.
Man, I dunno about this place. It has such rave reviews, and yet my experience left much to be desired. For one thing, there were screaming children running around and, yes, screaming, all throughout dinner. It made my dining partner and myself extremely agitated, anxious and annoyed that we had to deal with that sort of ambiance. We both opted for wonton soup, assuming that it would be a smaller portion. Nope, we were wrong--if you want soup as an appetizer, share a bowl between two, maybe even three, people. It's a huge serving. It wasn't that good, though. I believe they used a fish broth which didn't really work with the flavors. Moving on....for our entrees, we both got BBQ duck on rice, and it just was not good! I can't help but compare to Sun Wah, which does duck and rice perfectly. This place used odd spices/seasonings that did not work well, and the rice had an odd flavor. I really wanted to like this place, because hole-in-the-wall Chinese joints tend to be awesome. Sadly, not so for Hon Kee.
(2)
Adam F.
The absolute best duck in the neighborhood. On Thursday.
(3)
Mike L.
A couple of friends and I ordered take-out from Hon Kee last night (Sunday). First impression - a few roasted birds hanging in the window, one of which had a long neck on it (turkey?),. Like pretty much everything else on that stretch of Argyle, you get the feeling the health inspectors don't come by too often...There was literally nobody in the place, and I was glad we were just picking up the food and getting out of there. As for the food, it was definitely cheap, which I am a huge fan of. We started with an order of egg rolls, and they were greasy and great, just what I was in the mood for. I guess we didn't get too adventurous with the order: sweet & sour chicken, lo mein (veggie I think), and broccoli (stalks of some kind). It was all just-ok, nothing special. I'm pretty sure the lo mein was just a bunch of ramen noodles with some oil and veggies thrown in. I've had better Chinese, but maybe we just didn't order right. Not going to rush back, but it didn't make me rush to the bathroom...
(3)
Zack W.
This is a traditional Hong Kong style restaurant serving decent cheap authentic southern cuisine with big portion. The ambiance and deco are not holes-on-the-wall but not too far off... Cleanness is typical Asian style... not for the weak-hearted. The menu is simple. Nothing fancy here. There is BBQ meat hanging by the windows. We sample seaweed soup, shrimp over pan-fried egg noodles, and curry chicken. It comes in large portion. The soup is "small" but enough for 4 easily. Imagine what a "large" will do. The curry chicken is standard, and it will please the American easily, with a bit sweetness (onion) and not too heavy on spices. The pan-friend egg noodles are done good, with adequate bok choy, vegetables, and shrimps. Guess what, we have doggy bags. So diners, there is nothing fancy here but a good decent traditional HK style foods, in New Chinatown.
(4)
Melanie V.
It was Christmas Eve. My dad needed bbq pork for his fried rice. So, he sent us to Argyle. He did a Google search and found the reviews for Hon Kee on Yelp! I was amused. Anyway, $5.50/lb for bbq pork! For a whole pound! They had all this other fun stuff, too - duck, soy sauce chicken, fried pork...mmmmm. Soy sauce chicken is definitely one of my favs, so so good.
(3)
The C.
Seriously, the food here is totally awesome and beyond reasonable in terms of price. The place is a little Mom and Pop hole in the wall establishment with excellent food. I have recently been on a huge mega binge of salt and pepper shrimp, and I've gone to a bazillion locations all over Chicago in search of the best, and believe me - I've been almost everywhere. Hon Kee has it - and I'm not going broke for them here either! I so adore them here... Seriously give this place a try. Its appearance is nothing special, but the food here is great!
(5)
Shane P.
Went here for lunch before a Bears game. Was hard to find and then get change for street parking, but around here it's all the same. So I ordered the duck and it was amazing! Easily the best duck I've ever had. The portions with rice are large and we ordered way too much for 4. Paid only 50$ and was stuffed with left overs, except the duck was all gone. Cleaner restaurant would have boosted my rating, but then again it's a Chinese joint.
(3)
Jenni Q.
I come here all the time to get my BBQ pork fix (bbq pork with fried egg over rice, bbq pork lo mein with oyster sauce, bbq pork with wonton noodle soup). The food always tastes great and the prices are unbeatable! They have several rice dishes and noodle soups for less than $4. I've only physcially eaten there a few times (we usually do takeout) and never expect much from a chinese restaurant but the place is actually pretty clean and the service is really good. Their wonton noodle soup isn't as good as Seven Treasures (but still good). The beef and broccoli chow fun is absolutely delicious. The meat is good (not questionable like at other chinese restaurants) and they give you a ton of sauce so its not dried out. I always split with my sister because they give you so much food. Overall a tasty dependable chinese restaurant with unbeatable prices.
(4)
Carolyn T.
Yes, I know the linoleum is all ripped up. Yes, I know that guy standing there with the butcher's knife and bloodied apron looks mean. But man, this is Chinese comfort food through and through, just like I remember from my childhood. I adore their congee. Like Goldilocks says, "This congee is juuuuust right!" It's not watered down, it's got a generous amount of tastiness added (meat, fish, preserved egg, whatever), and it smells of good yummy ginger. My other favorite dish is the water spinach with spicy bean curd. They give you heaps and heaps and heaps of it, and unlike many places, the veg is fresh and crisp, not drowned in yesterday's cooking oil. Where to next...butcher counter. Duck, chicken, pork, wings, unidentifiable animal gizzards, tripe... If you're not an adventurous eater, skip this next sentence. The tripe is fantastic and the best I've had in Chicago. Whatever they season it with, whatever method they use to cook it, it's awesome. If you're Chinese, then my goodness, if this just isn't a taste of home. The bbq pork (char siu) is also really good. I hate it when restaurants overcook it so it's dry. Hong Kee does it really well. And, if you're not adventurous, try any of their noodle dishes. This is such a great weeknight restaurant for those chilly fall days!
(5)
Frankie J.
Top three questionably named Asian restaurants in Chicago: 3. Hong Kee 2. Poong Mee (now defunct) 1. Hoe Toy NUMBER 3 Aside from all the obvious jokes, this is, and I am guessing, a Szechuan style Chinese restaurant. This is important, since Argyle has a number of mixed or alternate origin restaurants (Double Happiness is Chinese Vietnamese - see review). HOW MUCH IS THAT DUCK IN THE WINDOW Like Sun Wah, this is a barbecue and meat place. You buy pre-cooked meat from here and eat it either in the store or at home. See Sun Wah review. The meat here is very tasty and I highly recommend you try the char siu (barbecue pork) or any of the poultry dishes. SIT & EAT The menu consists of noodle soups, congees (rice porridge), rice plates, and individual family style dishes. Family style means you SHARE. We had the noodle soup with bbq pork. The noodles were perfect, the pork was flavored nicely, and the soup was a tad salty, but good. The other dishes that came by looked plentiful and well prepared. Everyone around us was ordering a lot. CAVEATS Understand that this is a traditional Chinese place, so you can also order something on the menu and you won't know whats in it. Ask the waiter if it is what you THINK it is. All in all, this place is clean, quick, and tasty. Just don't ask for the boss and ask him if he is the number one...
(3)
Albert H.
This place is a block east of the Argyle Red line stop and I gotta say I really enjoyed my food here. This place is definitely a hole-in-the-wall kind of joint. Nothing too fancy about it, just traditional Chinese cuisine. I got the BBQ Pork and scrambled eggs on rice for about $9 and It was sooo good. I was only able to eat like half of it, but I would recommend this place to anyone in the area.
(5)
Chicago g.
Prices went up a little bit but is still cheap and totally worth it.
(5)
Kevin A.
ANALYST DOWNGRADE: HOW DO YOU MESS UP JOOK? I'm not sure how you mess up jook/congee. After all the primary ingredients are rice and water. In any case, this was the worst jook I've ever had. Gloppy and utterly tasteless, I felt like I was eating a bowl of Elmer's glue. Also, the BBQ, while good just can't compare to Sun Wah down the street.
(3)
Tricia R.
There is really nothing fantastic about this place other than the bbq pork with scrambled eggs over rice. I know it's the green onions and sesame oil that really makes it awesome, but there's something about this dish that really hits the spot every time. This is probably one of the few Chinese places in Chicago where you find more Filipinos than Chinese people. Why? Because this place serves some pretty good Filipino special mami, which is off the menu. Again, this place is nothing too special, but it's dirt cheap.
(4)
Dan C.
Excellent place overall! Fast service, super-friendly staff, great prices, and good food. Don't expect the finest ingredients ever, but rest assured they will not serve gamey meat or old vegetables . The chicken, for example, is far better quality than similarly priced places around the city. And the portions are huge! I highly recommend anything with BBQ pork.
(5)
Ivan G.
Ahhh Chinese comfort food. Seriously, for under $5 you can get a filling and melt-in-your-mouth BBQ Pork w/ Scrambled eggs platter, tofu with BBQ pork, etc. The only reason for the missing star is probably the atmosphere. Well this ain't exactly a place to bring a date, with BBQ'ed animals hanging on the wall and a Chinatown dive feel. I generally take out.... This is a place to recuperate after a bout of soulless expensive tiny foods on giant plates, chefs are friendly and funny, kinda like the restaurant name itself
(4)
Amy X.
picture this: a chinese daughter searching on argyle for something to bring back to her chinese mother (in the land of nothingness: MICHIGAN). after seeing sign after sign advertising pho and bahn mi, her filial heart felt like deflating. but fear not! hon kee and the shiny barbeque'd ducks in the window glisten like the rising moon of tomorrow. the story continues. i walked inside to a dark dining room (yes, the story i about me!). people are eating fragrant roast duck and tea eggs on rice and chatting. i inquire about prices, pay less than ten dollars for two bags of chicken feet and duck tongues, and skip on home to mommy. there's a credit minimum you might find hard to overcome. be ready when your order is being taken, or you may need to exert yourself to be served later. this place is about food -- not service. okay now just go suck on some duck tongues already.
(3)
Art T.
It's my first time in Chicago and I only had one day to check out the city. My nice and nephew took me to the city to see some of the sites. Their Father recommended that they should take me to this place. It appears that this place is multi-asian dishes. We ordered: 1. Mami special 2. Crispy Duck 3. Seafood combination 4. Combination fried rice 5. BBQ pork and tofu Let's just say that we had a lot to take home. The food was great! I can't wait to come back again.
(5)
Jingles J.
Affordable and tasty food . Good service !!! Love the location ! I always order egg drop soup or wonton soup , EXTRA CRISPY smelt fish , Combination fried rice and the fried watercress with sauce !!! Yum ! Yum ! :)
(4)
Angelica C.
No frill authentic Chinese food that won't break the bank! I visited this establishment many times as a child, so it's very nostalgic for me. Check out their menu online, call ahead, and it'll be ready for pickup within 10-15 mins. Would be wise to bring a partner in the car, so you don't have to pay those ridiculous meters. We ordered the beef fried rice and the roast pork over rice. Both dishes were good and comforting in momma's cooking sorta way. Although, they did not give a plethora of meat. They stay open til 9pm, which appears to be late for most Argyle restaurants.
(4)
Kimmy N.
Average place for roasted pig and Peking duck. I only come here whenever sun wah is closed. The past few times I've been here...their food has been a little disappointing. Maybe I've been spoiled by sun wah but who knows. The past couple of times the food has been extremely salty or bland. I'm not sure what they're doing wrong but they just need to balance it. The roasted pork has been lack in flavor too. I'll give them a try again if the other place is closed.
(3)
Annie V.
My daughter's and my favorite place for duck. The restaurant itself isn't the most modern (hence the 4 stars), but it is clean and they are nice, and they are always fast. They are also fairly priced and have a large menu. My ultimate comfort food is wonton noodle soup, and/or roast duck with a side of water spinach cooked with garlic and white rice. We eat here all the time, the kids love it, I love it, love it love it love it.
(4)
Ryan B.
One of the best hole in the wall Chinese restaurants in Chicago. The prices are amazing, the portions are great and the taste is even better.
(5)
Lily Z.
Definitely a hole-in-the wall restaurant. The dishes are so cheap. Kind of amazed at how much food you can order for under $60. They do have your typical roast pork, duck and pig. It sounds so simple, but I really liked their egg and bbq pork. Kind of a nice break from all the Vietnamese and pho restaurants.
(3)
Sarah G.
There's no fanfare here. There were three Chinese gentleman in their 70s working. Jasmine tea, linoleum floors, generic art. But this food is damn good. The Chinese broccoli with garlic, the duck, the soup, very flavorful and not too heavy or rich. Hot and delicious on a below zero night, the waiter who was old enough to be my grandpa was prompt and courteous. The other 15 or so people in here on a Friday know what's up. We got a huge dinner plus a dish to go for $30. These folks work so hard and the food is simple and amazing. Sun Wah has lots of business- try Hon Kee.
(5)
Tony J.
Best duck in town. The skin is crispy, but not greasy, and it's extremely flavorful, but not overly salty. They also do chicken feet, roasted pork, intestines, and marinated tripe, among other warm noodle dishes and stuff. Great place, great vibe, and the butchers are always friendly. My family has been coming here since 1990 so it's good to see that the family business is continuing strong as usual.
(5)
Henry N.
My family and I have been coming here since 1991 and up to this day the food has been amazing. Super authentic chinese. Roasted duck, beef chow fun, smelt fish, mami special, chinese brocolli in oyster sauce and the shrimp fried rice is what we always order. Very affordable as well. Hopefully once the owners retire they can pass on the recipes and keep this place open!
(5)
Nancy T.
Delicious food, cheap and the service is very good. I've been eating here ever since I was young. My favorite is the pork and the shrimp fried rice!
(5)
Linh L.
Good and comforting. Their food is comparable to Sun Wah for sure. It's a little more on the saltier side though.
(4)
Bethany A.
Chinese comfort food, yes. I can easily see this stuff being whipped up in my mom's kitchen. The staff was friendly and accommodated all the people I came with. The decor is nothing to be impressed at, but this is a no frills place. The prices are awesome for what they give you. I tried the barbecue pork with scrambled eggs (sounds kind of like a weird combination, but it works!), roast duck with rice, Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce and seafood over crispy noodles. We also ordered more stuff but I got full before I got around to trying their food. The only dish I could really taste MSG in was the seafood noodles dish, I recommend skipping that one. The duck was okay - nothing special, but it wasn't bad and it was easily the cheapest duck I've ever had. Overall, pretty good food (nothing I'd go to Argyle especially for), but the fact that we fed 10 people for 88 bucks not including tip was pretty amazing.
(3)
Pha Nhia Y.
The food here is always great, and whenever I'm in Chicago I always stop here to purchase my roast duck, pork and chicken. But the last time I was here there was a little bit of a language barrier and instead of trying to explain the price of the items I was buying he got annoyed with me and rolled his eyes. The started speaking in a different language and it made me feel very uncomfortable. I have always enjoyed their food, but the last time I was there made the food taste less special. Hopefully next time it will be different.
(4)
Michael C.
No frills, good food, cheap prices, nice staff. I'd probably recommend better as a take out option. I'll definitely be going back. And yes, I recommend the BBQ pork with scrambled eggs!
(4)
M M.
This place is awesome. Definitely my ex-boyfriend and I'd go-to spot. Cheap and delicious. Compared to SunWah's down the street, not as packed (truly a hidden/ forgotten gem). We love the $5-6 combo meals- I always get the roast duck and roast pork combo. YUM! their spicy fried shrimp is superb as well. To top it off, their waiters are hilarious.
(5)
Yvonne H.
This is a no frills restaurant. I don't go for the service or ambiance, I go for dem hanging meats. I usually order to go, but I don't mind eating here once in a blue moon. If you aren't greeted, don't be shy and speak up or go to a table yourself. What I usually order: -BBQ Pork & Scrambled Egg over Rice: I *love* this dish. There's something about the way they cook their scrambled eggs that makes me come back for theirs as opposed to making it at home myself. You can also ask for a sunny side egg instead, which is pretty good too. -Soy sauce chicken, Chinese sausage, and a fried egg over rice: the amount of meat they give you is great, especially for the price. -Wonton noodle soup (egg noodles): huge bowl of piping hot broth with delicious little pockets of meat and noodles. Classic. Their bbq pork is consistently good. Feel free to be adventurous and try the other rice plates available since you won't spend anymore than $7. I've had some other rice plates and they're great.
(4)
Julie F.
Stop by their booth at and Argyle Night Market, GREAT Sesame ball! They had the most unique (non American Chinese) options at the Market. I'll be stopping in this restaurant some time for sure!
(4)
Joe K.
Service is quick. Place is not fancy or glamorous but those are the best places to eat. I tried about 8 dishes Top dishes to try are the BBQ pork, Roasted Pork, and wonton soup. (Good food at a CHEAP ass price) My opinion the other foods that I tried are 2.5/5 stars Overall a good place to eat for quick and cheap.
(4)
Nikki K.
The only thing negative about this place is that it's a total dive. But other than that their bbq pork with scrambled eggs over rice is a-ma-zing.
(5)
Jennifer J.
OMG I love this place. Special Beef Mami Soup is amazing! It's not on the menu but Ed (the owner) will happily bring you a giant bowl if you ask for it. I love their shredded duck lo mein and the fried watercress with garlic sauce. I love love love this place. So authentic and so YUM.
(4)
Kevin M.
It wasn't very good. When you walk in, it smells pretty bad from the mini Asian slaughter house that they have at the front. The sauce for my meal wasn't bad, but the chicken it self did not taste right. There are better Chinese places that I will go to in the future.
(3)
Patrick D.
This so far has been my most disappointing review of a restaurant on Argyle. The tea, though free, was just average. My entree was the duck and noodle soup. The duck was mostly bone and cartilage. The noodles were a quality similar to Raman as was the extremely salty broth. My friend got the chicken fried rice and did not enjoy it enough to finish it. The floor had visible amounts of dirt on it, and although the food came out quickly, the staff was ambivalent to us the entire time. There apparently was a credit card minimum, and I had to pay cash, which is a testament to how cheap their food is.
(3)
Jacob J.
After hearing so much about Peking duck and Chinese BBQ, a pal and I decided on Sun Wah BBQ; but those bums were quoting us a forty five minute wait at 6 pm on a Friday evening. On top of that it was mostly dead and they kept reserved signs on 75% of their tables. WTF. So, since we already paid for parking at a lot nearby (only $2 mind you, close to this Hon Kee restaurant) we decided to walk around and find another place. Since Argyle is around the corner from Sun Wah, we walked up and down the street, peeking in windows at their fare and finally decided on this spot. Okay, after a quick consult with the Yelp app on my smart phone and seeing a few mentions, we came to the conclusion to check out this spot. This is a family style dive. It's pretty bare bones in here, so you need to bring people with you that won't comment on deficiencies. It's not everyone's kind of eatery. We found service to be more miss than hit. Meals are pretty cheap and for a duo, you can easily spend less than ten dollars (depending) or less than twenty five if dining on the duck. The full duck portion is enough to feed three and costs a little less than fifteen dollars. Something I haven't read much of or heard many say; which I will share with you is that you must be willing to eat bland and fatty meat if having the duck. Don't shoot me, it's just my opinion on it. With the duck they gave some sort of soy sauce concoction which was just okay and not enough was given. I am a sauce fiend and desperately needed chili sauce and or sweet and sour sauce. S&S was for whichever reason not available. I was less than thrilled with the taste of the duck, it was pretty boring for me actually. I tore off the skin and each time I did that my Mongolian friend was questioning my movements. Mongolian people appreciate the flavor of meats as they are, sauce or spices aren't needed. We worked it out though. I gave him all my skins and he was happy. We ordered a full duck, a plate of the BBQ pork (dry & meh) and a couple OJ's for mixer. It's family oriented in here, so you might like to keep a bag with you (for BYOB) otherwise you'll get a lot of stares. I like all kinds of Asian and Chinese foods. I can appreciate good dives. I can tell you about a $5 plate of teriyaki chicken served at a Vietnamese donut shop.. that would blow your mind, but I couldn't find the flavor or special about this place. Service was not good and the table could have been cleaner. Yeesh. A 2.5 star experience that I will leave at three.
(3)
Zen G.
Dear God, Thank you for inventing Chinese people and the wonderful flavors, variety, and gastro-goodness that is Chinese food. It's comfort food at its best. Amen NOW, let's get to it: I've been a fan since I first discovered this place, and today, being especially hungry, ordered ALOT of food for myself--takeout. 1. barbecue pork with dofu rice box -- YUM, great portion and ratio of pork to dofu to rice. Soft dofu, everything cooked right! 2. Chinese sausage fried rice -- YUM, almost like mom's. The only thing I'd add would be a handful of raw scallions on top. 3. won ton soup with noodles -- (haven't eaten yet but had it before) YUM. THIS is as good if not better than many places in Chinatown. 4. stir fried watercress with garlic -- YUM, because it's so good, and such a nice way to balance out a protein-heavy meal. 5. 1/2 lb of roast pork, chopped right there -- YUM. NO ONE, I DON'T CARE IF IT'S THOSE FROM THE SOUTH OR ANYWHERE ELSE, CAN DO ROAST PORK (whole pig roasted here) LIKE THE CHINESE CAN!!!! The pork skin is sooo good! Even smelling the wafting scents of my leftovers cooling on the counter in my kitchen gives me mental food-gasms. I love this place because it reminds me of growing up in my parents' own restaurant. It's family owned and run, the people work hard and put good, AUTHENTIC Chinese food in front of you. I don't care about fancy American places where the service outdoes the quality and portion of food. I care about good clean food, well-made, and nice simple service at very reasonable prices--all of which this place has. The Italians are the only European country that comes to mind that rivals the Chinese for love of food, but IMHO, Chinese food is far more versatile. Eating good Chinese food reinforces my pride in being Chinese. We simply rock. :)
(5)
Hillari H.
A friend of mine recommended this place. I see where others have complained about the look of the place, but the simple decor was not a problem. I ordered the curry beef on rice and it was delicious! I also enjoyed the hot tea, and the staff was friendly. I was greatly satisfied with the portion I received, and the prices cannot be beat. I plan to make this my go-to place for Chinese food.
(4)
Ryan P.
I am giving this restaurant 5 stars simply on the fact that they have "THE DISH". That is the affectionate term that we (a group of college buddies back 20 years ago when we first started coming here) gave the BBQ Pork Scrambled Eggs over Rice entree. It is simply, one of the present 'Wonders of the World'. I order nothing else when I come here....because there is no need to order anything else. If everything else in this restaurant tasted terrible (which is not true), I'd still give this place a 5 star rating because of 'THE DISH'. The secret, is in the special way they cook the eggs. I have secretly been trying to perfect this method at home, but to no avail. It eludes my grasp, and now since I have moved away from the Chi, I can only dream of going back to one of my favorite restaurants. Next time you are in, just say "THE DISH". They'll know what you mean.
(5)
faith b.
Even though the place could use a good make-over, the food is really good! This is one of the best places to eat if you are craving good chinese food. If you really can't stand how the place looks, I suggest ordering for carry-out.
(4)
Penny D.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in Chicago! I used to live right around the corner, and I miss it so much now. Awesome food! I usually get the vegetable Lo Mein and put a little bit of Egg Drop Soup on it. The duck lo mein is also awesome. Also try the seaweed soup if you get a chance. The food is authentically Chinese, but the portions are authentically American!
(5)
J F.
Ate at this restaurant a few times many years ago when we lived in the area, thought is was very good and a major value. Fast forward to the present and I found myself eating at Sun Wah a bunch even though we live in the burbs now, so I thought I revisit Hon Kee. Not the trendy, hip vibe of Sun Wah but great food. The duck was better, it was moister and warmer. I'm big fried rice fan, simple dish, but easy to screw up, theirs was the best I've had in a long while. Service, you don't go to these places for the exceptional service, but they we nice and efficient. Price and portions great.
(4)
Ross R.
I liked Hon Kee, although I agree with the masses that the service and ambiance leave something to be desired. The ordering process was difficult, because the staff was cleaning the front of the restaurant, and our attempts to hold their attention were futile...I am also fairly sure that they confused my friend and I because the cashier asked my friend for the balance of my meal (for take out)...whatever, all of us hakujin look alike anyways (wrong language, I know). Other than that they were fast and relatively polite. The food, specifically the barbequed pork (served over rice) was very good. I give three stars because of the approachability of the place pretty much reserves it for only the most adventurous non-asians. I can't comment on how Hon Kee barbeque compares to Sun-Wah, because I didn't get like dishes at either place, but I would say that if you are new to Chinese Barbeque, go with Sun-Wah for a more approachable experience. I have a sneaking suspicion I will be returning though...
(3)
Khoa N.
I LOVE this place. I've been going here since I was a child. My favorites are the wonton soup and roasted duck. The vegetables with crunchy noodles are really good too. My husband loves their vegetable fried rice. Sooooo cheap and filling! If you're into slurping your food at hole-in-the wall places.... this fits the bill!
(5)
Christine U.
Yes, it's a hole-in-the-wall, and yes it's a bit grimy, but the food is tasty and cheap! I've been going here for YEARS, like since I was in high school. I've noticed most of the reviews here say that Sun Wah is better, but not in my book. Plus, it has a lot of sentimental value b/c it's my dad's favorite restaurant. I recommend the roast pork, the dumplings with noodles soup, the salt and pepper shrimp, and the combination fried rice. That's the best combination of dishes EVER. Oh, their Shanghai noodles dish is also fantastic if you like curry.
(4)
Rocky B.
Hon Kee is not much in the way of ambience but they serve up some good duck soup. Duck soup like my mom used to make....okay, like my mom used to go and buy from this place in chinatown that's no longer there anymore...but it still reminds me of mom and she did bring it home and put all the stuff together and warm it up so there! Good egg rolls too and fried rice.
(3)
DANIEL T.
Yes hole in the wall, scary bathroom . . . but who cares when they serve up the most authentic Cantonese wonton and sui kow (dumplings) in authentic Cantonese soup base made with dried "onespot flounder" (大地魚干) ok, Yelp does not accept Chinese characters, I typed Dai Dei Yue (big earth fish) PERFECT MEAL: Scrambled eggs with prawns on rice - if you grew up in Hong Kong, and if you've seen Ratatouille when Anton Ego tasted Remy's version of Ratatouille, you know what I'm talking about. I was transported back to Hong Kong from the first bite my eyes were getting all watery (given I worked late, was exhausted, and it was January in Chicago with 3 feet of snow outside).
(4)
Dan O.
Don't bring your girlfriend here.. Most girls I know hate this place cuz it's not the cleanest place.. but their BBQ pork with scrambled eggs on rice is pretty damn good.
(3)
PHIL S.
Big empty place didn't even now it was Chinese. I get dragged here from time to time and I just play it safe and order Pho. Better Pho then Tank, good spring rolls and their Papaya Salad with pork/shrimp sampler platter is pretty damn good. Ok service people don't understand what no mint leaves means.
(3)
Bill M.
This Chinese restaurant is about a block east of the Red Line Argyle "L" station. The food is very average, and we go here only if nearby Sun Wah is closed. The ubiquitous ducks hang from the window, and you can have that or some BBQ pork. The chow mein is OK but not as good as Sun Wah. Eat in one of the two dining areas, or have your food to go.
(3)
J T.
Up north, if you're looking for carry out barbeque pork, roast duck, and roast pork, this is the place. Never ate in the dining room. We used to patronize SunWah, but their food has gone downhill.
(4)
Michael B.
beef fried rice is the benchmark by which i compare chinese restaurants - it's a simple dish, it's a common denominator that exists in pretty much all chinese restaurants, and variation from restaurant can easily be determined. that being said, Hon Kee has the best beef fried rice I have ever had ANYWHERE. period. The place is grimy as heck, but it's still better than sun wah. check out these other great dishes when u get there -beef stew over rice -beef with mushrooms over rice -pancit bihon -mami noodles
(5)
Sharon B.
i used to come here every week sometimes 2 times a week with my parents when i was younger. havent gone without them in the past few years but my taste buds have been craving the special mami and the mongolian beef(i think it's called beef with onions now). dont know if the waitress, Mai, still works there but she was always nice and everybody knew us and our order. i hope 2 go back soon.
(5)
Jon W.
This is the best value-for-money proposition for a hot meal that I am aware of in the Chicago area. The crew at Hon Kee work hard to keep the modest dining rooms clean and moving fast, and the Chinese barbecue portions are more generous than around the corner. Newcomers may find it difficult to navigate the menu, but once you know a few favorites this is a serious go-to. And OK, the name is kind of a giggle in this racially-mixed neighborhood. Heh. It isn't a date place, it isn't an impress-your-parents place. Hon Kee is a solid "no time to cook tonight, no money to eat fancy" option. Moving just one meal a week from Furama to Hon Kee will save you enough to pay your cell phone bill. :-)
(4)
Rachelle G.
I've passed by this restaurant several times and decided to give it a try when I noticed Sun Wah was closed. I tried their duck and bbq pork. Both were a bit dry for my liking. I love duck, but here it tasted a bit gamier than norm. I also found it absurd that none of the dishes come with a side of steamed rice. The server was friendly and attentive. Dishes came out fairly quick. Aesthetic wise, it seems gloomy inside. Tables are distanced nicely so you aren't bumping into one another or overhearing conversations. To put it in lament term's, you don't necessarily feel that it's clean even if you don't see dirt around. Not the best, there are better restaurants to dine at in the area.
(2)
A H.
This is one of those "hole in a wall" but is one of my favorite restaurant for good and cheap Chinese food, especially the noodle soup dishes. I go there whenever I have a craving for Won Ton noodle soup. The only reason I don't go there often is that my husband can't stomach the same ethnic cuisine more than once a week. The price is so fantastic...imagine paying $4.25 for a big bowl of noodle soup. There's many different items on the menu for all types of taste. There's noodle dishes, rice dishes, meat dishes, etc. My husband loves the barbecue pork fried rice and orders that as an appetizer. The place is always packed during the weekend with families and locals of the neighborhood.
(4)
envane x.
Cantonese joint. I'm usually here when I forget Sun-Wah is closed on Thursdays. Their pork BBQ items are actually better than Sun Wah, but the rest is inferior but acceptable. I usually get the roast pork and tofu over rice. About the cheepest furniture I've ever seen in a restaurant.
(3)
Roger B.
This is your typical hole in a wall place with good food. I've only done take out several times and I have never eaten inside the place. The BBQ stuff is good and the dishes aren't bad either. I'd recommending sticking with the "plainer" stuff like the BBQ meet and the congee. Note: normally, I'd rate this place slightly higher, but I think there's probably a better place in "New Chinatown" that I didn't try out yet.
(3)
Kimmy N.
Average place for roasted pig and Peking duck. I only come here whenever sun wah is closed. The past few times I've been here...their food has been a little disappointing. Maybe I've been spoiled by sun wah but who knows. The past couple of times the food has been extremely salty or bland. I'm not sure what they're doing wrong but they just need to balance it. The roasted pork has been lack in flavor too. I'll give them a try again if the other place is closed.
(3)
Annie V.
My daughter's and my favorite place for duck. The restaurant itself isn't the most modern (hence the 4 stars), but it is clean and they are nice, and they are always fast. They are also fairly priced and have a large menu. My ultimate comfort food is wonton noodle soup, and/or roast duck with a side of water spinach cooked with garlic and white rice. We eat here all the time, the kids love it, I love it, love it love it love it.
(4)
Ryan B.
One of the best hole in the wall Chinese restaurants in Chicago. The prices are amazing, the portions are great and the taste is even better.
(5)
Lily Z.
Definitely a hole-in-the wall restaurant. The dishes are so cheap. Kind of amazed at how much food you can order for under $60. They do have your typical roast pork, duck and pig. It sounds so simple, but I really liked their egg and bbq pork. Kind of a nice break from all the Vietnamese and pho restaurants.
(3)
Sarah G.
There's no fanfare here. There were three Chinese gentleman in their 70s working. Jasmine tea, linoleum floors, generic art. But this food is damn good. The Chinese broccoli with garlic, the duck, the soup, very flavorful and not too heavy or rich. Hot and delicious on a below zero night, the waiter who was old enough to be my grandpa was prompt and courteous. The other 15 or so people in here on a Friday know what's up. We got a huge dinner plus a dish to go for $30. These folks work so hard and the food is simple and amazing. Sun Wah has lots of business- try Hon Kee.
(5)
Art T.
It's my first time in Chicago and I only had one day to check out the city. My nice and nephew took me to the city to see some of the sites. Their Father recommended that they should take me to this place. It appears that this place is multi-asian dishes. We ordered: 1. Mami special 2. Crispy Duck 3. Seafood combination 4. Combination fried rice 5. BBQ pork and tofu Let's just say that we had a lot to take home. The food was great! I can't wait to come back again.
(5)
Jingles J.
Affordable and tasty food . Good service !!! Love the location ! I always order egg drop soup or wonton soup , EXTRA CRISPY smelt fish , Combination fried rice and the fried watercress with sauce !!! Yum ! Yum ! :)
(4)
Henry N.
My family and I have been coming here since 1991 and up to this day the food has been amazing. Super authentic chinese. Roasted duck, beef chow fun, smelt fish, mami special, chinese brocolli in oyster sauce and the shrimp fried rice is what we always order. Very affordable as well. Hopefully once the owners retire they can pass on the recipes and keep this place open!
(5)
Tony J.
Best duck in town. The skin is crispy, but not greasy, and it's extremely flavorful, but not overly salty. They also do chicken feet, roasted pork, intestines, and marinated tripe, among other warm noodle dishes and stuff. Great place, great vibe, and the butchers are always friendly. My family has been coming here since 1990 so it's good to see that the family business is continuing strong as usual.
(5)
Nancy T.
Delicious food, cheap and the service is very good. I've been eating here ever since I was young. My favorite is the pork and the shrimp fried rice!
(5)
Linh L.
Good and comforting. Their food is comparable to Sun Wah for sure. It's a little more on the saltier side though.
(4)
Bethany A.
Chinese comfort food, yes. I can easily see this stuff being whipped up in my mom's kitchen. The staff was friendly and accommodated all the people I came with. The decor is nothing to be impressed at, but this is a no frills place. The prices are awesome for what they give you. I tried the barbecue pork with scrambled eggs (sounds kind of like a weird combination, but it works!), roast duck with rice, Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce and seafood over crispy noodles. We also ordered more stuff but I got full before I got around to trying their food. The only dish I could really taste MSG in was the seafood noodles dish, I recommend skipping that one. The duck was okay - nothing special, but it wasn't bad and it was easily the cheapest duck I've ever had. Overall, pretty good food (nothing I'd go to Argyle especially for), but the fact that we fed 10 people for 88 bucks not including tip was pretty amazing.
(3)
Pha Nhia Y.
The food here is always great, and whenever I'm in Chicago I always stop here to purchase my roast duck, pork and chicken. But the last time I was here there was a little bit of a language barrier and instead of trying to explain the price of the items I was buying he got annoyed with me and rolled his eyes. The started speaking in a different language and it made me feel very uncomfortable. I have always enjoyed their food, but the last time I was there made the food taste less special. Hopefully next time it will be different.
(4)
Michael C.
No frills, good food, cheap prices, nice staff. I'd probably recommend better as a take out option. I'll definitely be going back. And yes, I recommend the BBQ pork with scrambled eggs!
(4)
Yvonne H.
This is a no frills restaurant. I don't go for the service or ambiance, I go for dem hanging meats. I usually order to go, but I don't mind eating here once in a blue moon. If you aren't greeted, don't be shy and speak up or go to a table yourself. What I usually order: -BBQ Pork & Scrambled Egg over Rice: I *love* this dish. There's something about the way they cook their scrambled eggs that makes me come back for theirs as opposed to making it at home myself. You can also ask for a sunny side egg instead, which is pretty good too. -Soy sauce chicken, Chinese sausage, and a fried egg over rice: the amount of meat they give you is great, especially for the price. -Wonton noodle soup (egg noodles): huge bowl of piping hot broth with delicious little pockets of meat and noodles. Classic. Their bbq pork is consistently good. Feel free to be adventurous and try the other rice plates available since you won't spend anymore than $7. I've had some other rice plates and they're great.
(4)
Julie F.
Stop by their booth at and Argyle Night Market, GREAT Sesame ball! They had the most unique (non American Chinese) options at the Market. I'll be stopping in this restaurant some time for sure!
(4)
Joe K.
Service is quick. Place is not fancy or glamorous but those are the best places to eat. I tried about 8 dishes Top dishes to try are the BBQ pork, Roasted Pork, and wonton soup. (Good food at a CHEAP ass price) My opinion the other foods that I tried are 2.5/5 stars Overall a good place to eat for quick and cheap.
(4)
Nikki K.
The only thing negative about this place is that it's a total dive. But other than that their bbq pork with scrambled eggs over rice is a-ma-zing.
(5)
Jennifer J.
OMG I love this place. Special Beef Mami Soup is amazing! It's not on the menu but Ed (the owner) will happily bring you a giant bowl if you ask for it. I love their shredded duck lo mein and the fried watercress with garlic sauce. I love love love this place. So authentic and so YUM.
(4)
Kevin M.
It wasn't very good. When you walk in, it smells pretty bad from the mini Asian slaughter house that they have at the front. The sauce for my meal wasn't bad, but the chicken it self did not taste right. There are better Chinese places that I will go to in the future.
(3)
Patrick D.
This so far has been my most disappointing review of a restaurant on Argyle. The tea, though free, was just average. My entree was the duck and noodle soup. The duck was mostly bone and cartilage. The noodles were a quality similar to Raman as was the extremely salty broth. My friend got the chicken fried rice and did not enjoy it enough to finish it. The floor had visible amounts of dirt on it, and although the food came out quickly, the staff was ambivalent to us the entire time. There apparently was a credit card minimum, and I had to pay cash, which is a testament to how cheap their food is.
(3)
M M.
This place is awesome. Definitely my ex-boyfriend and I'd go-to spot. Cheap and delicious. Compared to SunWah's down the street, not as packed (truly a hidden/ forgotten gem). We love the $5-6 combo meals- I always get the roast duck and roast pork combo. YUM! their spicy fried shrimp is superb as well. To top it off, their waiters are hilarious.
(5)
Jacob J.
After hearing so much about Peking duck and Chinese BBQ, a pal and I decided on Sun Wah BBQ; but those bums were quoting us a forty five minute wait at 6 pm on a Friday evening. On top of that it was mostly dead and they kept reserved signs on 75% of their tables. WTF. So, since we already paid for parking at a lot nearby (only $2 mind you, close to this Hon Kee restaurant) we decided to walk around and find another place. Since Argyle is around the corner from Sun Wah, we walked up and down the street, peeking in windows at their fare and finally decided on this spot. Okay, after a quick consult with the Yelp app on my smart phone and seeing a few mentions, we came to the conclusion to check out this spot. This is a family style dive. It's pretty bare bones in here, so you need to bring people with you that won't comment on deficiencies. It's not everyone's kind of eatery. We found service to be more miss than hit. Meals are pretty cheap and for a duo, you can easily spend less than ten dollars (depending) or less than twenty five if dining on the duck. The full duck portion is enough to feed three and costs a little less than fifteen dollars. Something I haven't read much of or heard many say; which I will share with you is that you must be willing to eat bland and fatty meat if having the duck. Don't shoot me, it's just my opinion on it. With the duck they gave some sort of soy sauce concoction which was just okay and not enough was given. I am a sauce fiend and desperately needed chili sauce and or sweet and sour sauce. S&S was for whichever reason not available. I was less than thrilled with the taste of the duck, it was pretty boring for me actually. I tore off the skin and each time I did that my Mongolian friend was questioning my movements. Mongolian people appreciate the flavor of meats as they are, sauce or spices aren't needed. We worked it out though. I gave him all my skins and he was happy. We ordered a full duck, a plate of the BBQ pork (dry & meh) and a couple OJ's for mixer. It's family oriented in here, so you might like to keep a bag with you (for BYOB) otherwise you'll get a lot of stares. I like all kinds of Asian and Chinese foods. I can appreciate good dives. I can tell you about a $5 plate of teriyaki chicken served at a Vietnamese donut shop.. that would blow your mind, but I couldn't find the flavor or special about this place. Service was not good and the table could have been cleaner. Yeesh. A 2.5 star experience that I will leave at three.
(3)
Zen G.
Dear God, Thank you for inventing Chinese people and the wonderful flavors, variety, and gastro-goodness that is Chinese food. It's comfort food at its best. Amen NOW, let's get to it: I've been a fan since I first discovered this place, and today, being especially hungry, ordered ALOT of food for myself--takeout. 1. barbecue pork with dofu rice box -- YUM, great portion and ratio of pork to dofu to rice. Soft dofu, everything cooked right! 2. Chinese sausage fried rice -- YUM, almost like mom's. The only thing I'd add would be a handful of raw scallions on top. 3. won ton soup with noodles -- (haven't eaten yet but had it before) YUM. THIS is as good if not better than many places in Chinatown. 4. stir fried watercress with garlic -- YUM, because it's so good, and such a nice way to balance out a protein-heavy meal. 5. 1/2 lb of roast pork, chopped right there -- YUM. NO ONE, I DON'T CARE IF IT'S THOSE FROM THE SOUTH OR ANYWHERE ELSE, CAN DO ROAST PORK (whole pig roasted here) LIKE THE CHINESE CAN!!!! The pork skin is sooo good! Even smelling the wafting scents of my leftovers cooling on the counter in my kitchen gives me mental food-gasms. I love this place because it reminds me of growing up in my parents' own restaurant. It's family owned and run, the people work hard and put good, AUTHENTIC Chinese food in front of you. I don't care about fancy American places where the service outdoes the quality and portion of food. I care about good clean food, well-made, and nice simple service at very reasonable prices--all of which this place has. The Italians are the only European country that comes to mind that rivals the Chinese for love of food, but IMHO, Chinese food is far more versatile. Eating good Chinese food reinforces my pride in being Chinese. We simply rock. :)
(5)
Ryan P.
I am giving this restaurant 5 stars simply on the fact that they have "THE DISH". That is the affectionate term that we (a group of college buddies back 20 years ago when we first started coming here) gave the BBQ Pork Scrambled Eggs over Rice entree. It is simply, one of the present 'Wonders of the World'. I order nothing else when I come here....because there is no need to order anything else. If everything else in this restaurant tasted terrible (which is not true), I'd still give this place a 5 star rating because of 'THE DISH'. The secret, is in the special way they cook the eggs. I have secretly been trying to perfect this method at home, but to no avail. It eludes my grasp, and now since I have moved away from the Chi, I can only dream of going back to one of my favorite restaurants. Next time you are in, just say "THE DISH". They'll know what you mean.
(5)
Hillari H.
A friend of mine recommended this place. I see where others have complained about the look of the place, but the simple decor was not a problem. I ordered the curry beef on rice and it was delicious! I also enjoyed the hot tea, and the staff was friendly. I was greatly satisfied with the portion I received, and the prices cannot be beat. I plan to make this my go-to place for Chinese food.
(4)
Tian Y.
Came here for peking duck when cravings struck on a Thursday, when Sun Wah is closed. Used to walk by this place all the time in Argyle but was repelled by the appearance and always opted for other, better decorated restaurants down the street instead. But Yelpers, I trusted y'all, and you didn't disappoint! I could see myself coming back to try more things as an alternative to other packed restaurants. The duck is a suitable alternative to Sun Wah, but the skin is a little less crispy, the color is a little less vibrant, the texture a bit too chewy, and the flavor is just a little less spot on. It's good, but not amazing. In my book, it goes Sun Wah, Mom, THEN Hon Kee. But Mom lives hundreds of miles away, so Hon Kee it is. Can't complain for the price though. Around $15 I think, but no pancakes/ganishes/hoisin - not sure if they serve those here. Also got some pretty decent seafood noodle soup. Nice assortment of everything. And bbq pork with veggies over rice, a huge portion for a ridiculous price, and pretty good. Good place for a nice casual meal. On Thursdays and other days of the week.
(4)
Feb S.
Taste: 4/5 Location: 3.5/5 Cleanliness: 2.5/5 Ambience: 2.5/5 Value for Money: 4/5 (Price, given the Food Taste) Service: 3/5 If you crave Chinese food and are looking for an affordable place, Hon Kee is one of those restaurants that meet these requirements. I ordered the BBQ Pork with Scrambled Egg over Rice ( goo.gl/xJA7E ), Beef with Tofu over Rice ( goo.gl/G4v6s ), and Roast Duck Noodles Soup ( goo.gl/olXuD ). The tastiest among all was the BBQ Pork with Scrambled Egg over Rice. I think this is one of their signature dishes as well. Overall, great taste for the price.
(4)
Brian G.
I've been coming here for as long as I remember. It is one of my all time favorites. Whenever I'm in the area I have to stop by. Same owner since forever, family run. I always get the Barbecued Pork w/ Scrambled Eggs over rice. A lot of people know it as 554 from Seven Treasures Chinatown but it is definitely prepared differently. In my opinion it it's better than 554 but then again I've been eating it from here since I was a wee lad. So not knocking 554, it's just different. Also the Special Mami aka Wonton noodle soup is the best. Their broth has real flavor, wonton dumplings are fresh. We also usually get the roast duck which is good. This place is excellent for getting BBQ pork, roast duck, etc. from the window display. It's funny to see passers-by who aren't used to seeing that stuff react to seeing whole ducks with their heads still on. I think most people tend to forget that the food we eat were actual living animals at one point haha. The only knock is the restaurant itself needs updating but I feel the food itself and the cheap prices make up for it. If you have $5 I'd rather fill up on the Barbecued Pork w/ Scrambled eggs over rice than getting a value meal from McDonald's for $6
(5)
Amy L.
I have been coming here since I was kid - it's my go to for authentic Cantonese food. Food: 3/3 Stars My favorite Wonton Noodle Soup place - the soup tastes like it should - like it's been cooked for hours with hints of chicken. And the wonton is amazing - just the right amount of pork and shrimp! And for less than 5 bucks? Yes please! And the BBQ pork. Wow. I've avoided BBQ pork since I had it in Vietnam, but this place does it right! Great consistency - moist and tender. And the flavor hits the nail on the head. Service: 1/1 Stars Service is what you would typically find at an Asian restaurant, but I must say the older, male waiter is pretty friendly. Environment: .5/1 Stars Plenty of seating, but the place could use an upgrade in furniture and design.
(5)
Hannah P.
My parents use to go here a long time ago...I mean like 10 years ago and since then we've found other favorites. Went her due to a friends suggestion and I had to idea there was a mami special soup. I love soup and had to try it. I love Mami soup and can't believe I found it...thanks to someone who took a pic of it and posted here on yelp. When in need of hot soup, I'm here instead of going all the way to Chinatown.
(4)
Lizzy R.
We stumbled into this place on a frigid snowy day, after a morning of shopping on Argyle, because we were told that they had the best wonton noodle soup outside of Chinatown. We sat down (after standing around awkwardly for a few minutes before we realized that we were supposed to seat ourselves) and were promptly given a pot of piping hot tea, which was a godsend, as we were freezing our butts off! After a 2-second look at the menu, I ordered the wonton noodle soup with the addition of barbecued pork. The waiter gave me one of those knowing smiles, as if to say "Good job, tiny white girl, you just ordered the best thing on the menu." And he was not wrong. The soup came out quickly and was everything I wanted it to be. Piping hot, full of perfectly chewy noodles, very flavorful broth, and wontons with just the right mix of pork and shrimp. And don't even get me started on the barbecued pork! The portion was big enough that I took home enough for lunch the next day. I will definitely be back for soup again very soon!
(5)
Sambath M.
My family and I have been going to Hon Kee for over 30 years now. We are loyal customers for various reasons: great food, great service, and the hospitality we receive from the family that owns the restaurant. It's one of our favorite places to eat, and we're never disappointed.
(5)
Miguel A.
Tried this place because Sun Wah was closed (on a Thursday? Interesting.) I have heard the hype about this place so decided to make my way here. Basically you get what you paid for--prices are dirt cheap and the portions are filling however the quality of the ingredients are not the finest. Definitely recommend the noodle soups but the BBQ duck was too dry/tasted overcooked. Restaurant lacks general cleanliness but the service is good.
(3)
Robert H.
I have to say that upon entering I was thoroughly underwhelmed by both the employees and the decor of this establishment. I stood there for what felt like an uncomfortable amount of time waiting for one of the employees milling about to either seat me or to indicate that I should seat myself. When it became apparent nobody was going to acknowledge me I found an empty table and sat down. From that point on then things started to improve. A man quickly arrived at my table and provided me with a menu. By this time I was a little unhappy and just decided to play it safe and went with the sweet and sour shrimp with a couple eggrolls added to it and was not expecting much based on my initial impressions of the service and decor. As far as the decor goes to be fair to the restaurant there really was nothing wrong with it, it just wasn't anything that you'd notice and appreciate. First to arrive were the eggrolls. I was very pleasantly surprised that they actually tasted good. Granted they definitely appeared to be the pre-made variety that all Chinese restaurants here in the city seem to serve. They were pretty decent sized and unlike most other places theirs actually had good flavor to them and I enjoyed them! Most eggrolls I've had here in Chicago are pretty flavorless. The sauce they served with the eggrolls was excellent and took a good item up into the very good category. Next came my sweet and sour shrimp and rice. I was really amazed at the excellent flavor of the shrimp. I can't put my finger on what the extra flavor they put in it was, but I sure can say it was delicious! Another thing it had going for it was that there were decent sized shrimp inside it which is huge with me since I hate getting a big mound of breading and then not hardly being able to find tiny little shrimp in it. Thankfully that was not the case here. The rice was pretty flavorless and I suspect they were using cheap American rice instead of the more flavorful Asian types. Overall it was a very good meal and I can see myself stopping back in if I'm in the area, but due to the lackluster welcome and the uninspiring decor I don't see myself ever taking company from out of state there to eat.
(4)
Justine M.
Inside didn't leave much to the imagination - was small and a bit unkept...I came to pick up food I ordered (pros is that it only took 10 min to make). Got Roast duck on rice plate. They gave me quite a helpful amount of food for $5. It was a bit of overload on the rice, though. came with just a bit of bok choy. It was alright - not the best. They don't take card for orders under $12. I had to go to an ATM to pay. I wasn't pre-warned either. Had to leave and come back...
(2)
Audre L.
Ha! I'm amazed to see that this place has earned 4 stars on yelp. I was expecting yelpers to bash this place, but lo and behold, Yelp tells the truth! This place is a bit of a dive for sure, but with really solid food. My family comes here, often for take out but often for eating in as well. When Sun Wah is packed, this is our backup plan. Get what looks good to you, but here are some solid recommendations: Clams with Black Bean Sauce Water Spinach with Garlic Tofu and Pork Roasted Duck - 1/2 a duck for 4 people
(4)
Hannah E.
I can remember the day I first saw this place like it was yesterday. My mom and I were trying out Pho 777 across the street (not recommended) and when we got up to leave it was pouring outside, pouring so violently that even though our car was right out front, we didn't want to make a run for it. So we stood in the doorway, waiting for it to clear, and when it did, the first thing we were able to see through the lessening rain was a big sign: Hon Kee Restaurant. We giggled about that one for about a half hour. A Chinese restaurant called, basically, Honky? MUST TRY. Well, I was unable to try it - it was closed both times I went, and then I had to go back home to Colorado, then California. A year passed. But yesterday was the day. There's nothing particularly special about this place, though, other than the name... and the price! We got 1/4 roast duck and BBQ pork over scrambled eggs and rice for $10, tea included. Some say the duck here is better than Sun Wah - I wouldn't go that far. There are three things I look for in roast duck: not overcooked, a crispy, fatty skin, and sauce that isn't too sweet. Sun Wah fulfills all three of these briefs, and Hon Kee only two (they do overcook the duck a bit). However, for $4.75, I don't think I've got the right to complain. It's still tasty, with near-perfect skin. The BBQ pork dish has so-fatty-it's practically-translucent red-skinned pork over flavorful scrambled eggs, and for my tastes, I liked the layered flavors of this dish better. If you want duck or pork that may not be wonderful but is definitely better than the 5 bucks you've got, this is the place to get it.
(3)
Jeremy C.
I've been coming here with my family since the 80s, well before this stretch of Argyle Street became a foodie paradise. Their won ton noodle soup is better than anything I've had in Chinatown. If you're a meat eater, their roast meats hanging in their storefront never fail to impress. Even something simple as congee -rice soup- is absolutely delicious. One thing that you must get is the fried smelt. You'll thank me later.
(5)
Arlene G.
i cant keep writing reviews about this place everytime i visit cuz i would have at least 5o reviews of it then! but my fam ate here this weekend & everythin we ate was soooo yummy! bbq pork, lechon, roast duck, noodle soup with dumplins, chinese broccoli & kang kong! (not sure if thats the english name or not) i ate until i was about 2 throw up! i walked out with such a full belly that i didnt even wanna look at food anymore! yummy yummy yummy!!!
(5)
Lina W.
They have the best won ton noodle soup and lean pork-thousand year egg congee in uptown! The restaurant offers pretty tasty food for relatively cheap price. The service is fast and nice.
(4)
Melody L.
This rating is based entirely on their menu. I've been coming here since I was a wee baby and have been ordering pretty much the same thing for 27 years. Start off with a bowl of their wonton soup with no noodles, then onto the roasted duck with rice. My parents always ordered the seafood combination and then chinese broccoli which was also appetizing. This is quite the 'hole in the wall' type of restaurant, but the food is well worth it!
(4)
George T.
We did come to have lunch where we ordered shrimp won ton added roast pork and noodles to soups, gai lan chow fun with beef, salt pepper shrimp,rice. Service was lack luster seems like they had one waiter for 8 tables he was doing everything busing tables, taking order. Feeling bad that they were understaffed, we did get up to get water. The restaurant was hot I'm guessing the AC was out. Food was, as expected, a great value. This might be just an odd/off day.
(3)
Michael V.
This is your favorite Chinese restaurants favorite Chinese restaurant. I also love saying Hon Kee.
(5)
Lauren B.
One of the better Chinese places in the area. Duck is great and I love their egg rolls. Not much else to say! We always to take out and haven't had any issues.
(4)
Michael G.
So, where can two poor, white dudes go for inexpensive Chinese food in Chicago? Why, Hon Kee of course (because Kra Kur and Wi Tee don't exist). True story. While sitting and watching a new movie exhibit at the Chicago History Museum called, "My Chinatown," I turned to my father (who was visiting from Michigan) and said, "is it just me or do you crave Chinese food now?" Being as we're family and have the same stomach, he did. Since I wanted to show my dad the less touristy Asian section of town, the CHM is off the 36 bus, and we're both too poor to afford south side Chinatown, we headed to Uptown for a good, authentic meal. Hon Kee is the Chinese (Cantonese to be specific) equivalent of a taqueria. It's a little hole in the wall practically under the Red Line on Argyle. The only thing to separate it from any of the other restaurants on the street is the ducks in the window (it also serves as a deli counter). But the food is just about every bit as good as everywhere else I've tried up there - Chinese and Vietnamese - except about half the price. Fried rices, noodle dishes, huge soups, and basically the rest of the menu except for the dinners are all right around $5.00. And they don't skimp. My father got shrimp and vegetables over rice, and there were full sized, carefully prepared, shrimp swarming (or whatever shrimp do when they travel in packs) over the top. My egg foo young consisted of three patties. It wasn't the greatest I've ever had (it was a tiny bit flavorless) but it was definitely worth $5.00. Neither of us left with anything on our plates but for lesser eaters (again, we're family, so we've both got bottomless stomachs) there would probably have been enough left for dinner. Service was a little spotty at times. For example, we didn't get water until we requested it midway through the meal. But they give free tea at every table. It wouldn't be the first place I'd choose on Argyle. But not because the name is in any way derogatory or anything, mostly just because it's not really a special treat sort of place (and Uptown isn't a neighborhood I regularly visit except on special occasions). Still if I'm in the market for bargain Chinese food again, I would go here in a hot (or freezing cold) minute.
(4)
iddells E.
I have been eating here for over 2 decades and Hon Kee's food is consistently amazing! I always order the roasted duck, hot and sour soup, beef chow mein, and fried rice. Hon Kee is far from your typical Americanized Chinese restaurant...they are better than that, much better! The roasted duck is so tender and the skin is so juicy! I love sucking on the bones! The hot and sour soup sets the bar for all the other restaurants. The soup is hot as it is sour, just as it should be! The fried rice isn't oily and it has that grilled taste to it. As for the beef chow mein, I'm loving the crunchy noodles and large pieces of beef! I also enjoy their roasted lechon. True, this restaurant lacks ambiance, but who the hell cares? It's not about that here, it's about the food!! Wonderful, delicious, Chinese food. Oh, and this place is CHEAP!!!
(5)
Jean P.
living in the north shore, when we have a craving for wonton noodle soup and don't feel like going all the way to Chinatown, this is just as good alternative. They're Peking duck is pretty good too
(4)
Ken I.
I have been going to this restaurant for the last 15 years ... every Saturday or Sunday. Hands down, they have the best noodle soups in town. It's very hard to recreate the stock - don't know what they have in it, but it is truly delicious. Try the shrimp dumpling with noodles. Their soya chicken is phenomenal, so are the duck and roast pork (lechon). Also, shrimp and scrambled eggs - tell the waiter to use big shrimp and separate from the rice - is very good here too, and finally their egg foo young and their congees are also good. For about six bucks for noodles, you can have a great meal! They have a huge Filipino following that I call this as the best Filipino restaurant in town - they have even some Filipino dishes like pancit canton and special mami (not in the menu) - a big bowl of yellow noodles with shrimp dumpling and beef. (Early in their existence, I remember them asking their customers what they wanted to be served so they can put them in the menu - so the Flip dishes.)
(5)
John K.
Hon Kee is my favorite place to eat in Argyle. It greatly prefer Hon Kee than Sun Wah because: 1. Cheaper prices. Hon Kee only raised prices moderately recently, while Sun Wah has raised price multiple times since reopening, taking advantage of their popularity. Note that both are still very affordable, but as a college student, I am happy to save that few $ for a meal. 2. Excellent roast duck (and cheaper). Both Hon Kee and Sun Wah sell excellent roast duck that goes up and down in terms of quality. Since I'm sure not many people can't tell them apart (I can't), so why not buy save a few bucks and get Hon Kee's roast duck? 3. Not crowded unlike Sun Wah. I've always gotten seats immediately at Hon Kee, but at Sun Wah I've waited up to 45 minutes. 4. Hon Kee's staff seems more earnest, while Sun Wah's staff has an attitude problem. I've also seen Sun Wah's owner (elder daughter) and one senior looking waitress publicly berate their junior staff. You might think that since Sun Wah is always more crowded, their food must be better than Hon Kee's. WRONG. I suspect the reason why Sun Wah is crowded is because most non-Asian Americans appreciate Sun Wah's (seemingly) cleaner premise and newer decor. And also because Sun Wah's menu comes with colorful pictures, and of course their more prominent location along Broadway. If you take the time to walk further east from Broadway and the L to Hon Kee, you will be rewarded with a less hectic, significantly cheaper and equally delicious meal!
(5)
Weisun C.
This is the same as "Hon Kee Chinese" here on Yelp. In the Argyle-Broadway Chinatown/VietNam-town neighborhood, you've got essentially two choices for Cantonese-style barbeque: Hon Kee or Sun Wah (now north on Broadway). In the opinion of those whose tastes matter to me, it's Hon Kee, hands down. This place is tops for their roast pork (the crispy skinned, hanging side of pig), bar-b-q pork (strips of pork in reddish marinate), roast duck, and roast chicken. Always buy from the order window, have them chop it up for you, and take it home. As others have cautioned, this is not a place for sit-down dining, even for lunch. If you crave some good Cantonese food served to you in a nice setting, go to their competition, Sun Wah. And in a spirit of co-operation and mutual profit, Hon Kee and Sun Wah have worked their schedules out so that we diners seeking Chinese BBQ can get our cravings for bar-b-qued pork, roast chicken or duck, or mixed pork innards, 7-days-a-week. When Hon Kee is closed on Tuesdays, you'll find that Sun Wah is open, while Hon Kee stays open on Thursdays when Sun Wah is closed. Nice, huh?
(4)
George O.
I have only ever ordered meat for takeout. I actually like Hon Kee better than Sun Wah. Why? 1 - The prices are way better. 2 - While Sun Wah roast pork and BBQ pork can be better, they seem to be somehow inconsistent. Hon Kee is consistently good, and Sun Wah has been not as good as Hon Kee more often than not. 3 - That duck sauce is good. Real good. Some issues? 1 - Credit card minimum. It takes something like a pound of bbq pork and a whole duck to reach it. 2 - It's kinda dirty looking. And the service doesn't seem too great, which hasn't been an issue for me, but if you're sitting, that could be a problem. 3 - Cute new cashier dude is I'm pretty sure jailbait. Or at least close to it. 2/2 of my Chinese friends that have tried their stuff have responded very favorably. I should probably tell the rest of them about this place...
(4)
Monica M.
This is a classic argyle staple. Used to live in the neighborhood in my younger years and it's still where my family stops and gets won ton noodles. They have roasted ducks and pigs in the window. both are legit. No this isn't what you would call fine dining. The place is dingy and old. You don't go for the atmosphere. You go food the family that works there. I've been told they make the egg noodles in the back. Make them as in produce sell and distribute to all over the city....thats pretty cool.
(4)
Marvin A.
Rule number 1: Do not compare this place to your Panda Express or even your american-esque (yeah I'm talking to you sweet and sour chicken!) chinese restaurants. Rule number 2: Service is a luxury. Rule number 3: Appearances can be deceiving. With all these rules considered, Hon Kee is by far the best place for some cheap authentic Chinese grub. It's comfort food! Chinese Soul Food if you will! I have gone here with my family ever since I was little and it's become a family favorite. I usually get the beef flank noodle soup or the wonton soup. Don't forget to add BBQ pork Siopao (meat bun) to your order! We also love the roasted duck but we usually order a half duck for takeaway. If you feel the sanitation is suspect, remember to go to the bathroom prior to entering this place. You could also pour yourself a nice cup of hot tea and bathe your utensils in it if you so please.
(4)
Minh D.
Decent Chinese restaurant in the north side. Excellent Chinese food is found in China town, not in uptown. This is authentic Chinese good but not refined like that found in China town. Living in the north side I come here almost every weekend. My favorite... chow fun, seafood chow fun, noodles with beef stew. ground beef with rice. beef stew with rice. side order of the roast pork - FRESH! Cheap quality Chinese food for north siders!
(4)
Michelle L.
Best Chinese restaurant! Seriously good food, and great price. I love love love their wanton noodles soup. It tastes authentic, and has large dumplings stuffed with pork and shrimp. Although the price has risen a little, but it's still cheaper than sun wah's. And also get their roast meats, it's awesome.
(5)
Melissa G.
I've been coming here my whole life and it is STILL my favorite Chinese restaurant ever! It's not classy, but it has extremely tasty food. You can get delicious noodle soups with your choice of meat (I love the simple won ton with rice noodles), and their fried rice is the best! They also have less popular Chinese favorites like Beef with Salted and Picked Vegetables and Fish with Bittermelon which my family and I LOVE. The prices are unbeatable and the portions are huge. If you're not comfortable dining in, since the decor is minimal and purely functional, definitely get it as take out! Writing this review has made me hungry... I know what I am having for dinner tomorrow!
(5)
Marcus Z.
I know this place for one thing. BBQ Pork with scramble egg. I've been coming here for 15 years now. Place still looks the same and they've got the same staff still working there. Prices haven't changed much so that's a bonus :)
(4)
Alisa N.
Great place to eat authentic Chinese food! The place inside isn't much, but the food definitely makes up for it. Also, the prices are super cheap :) I will go back for sure!
(4)
Nikki C.
for those that know, this is it. there is a menu not on the menu. its all in the way you order to make this place the place. you see the lechon all in its glory carried out from the back of heaven's grill and to the front it is chopped up with krispy skin to feed your soul. you see the ducks enticing and just as beautiful as an episode of baywatch with curvaceous bodies and meaty breasts all ready for the mouth orgy. the odors of the day tell you this is not about the cerebral, but more about the primal. the place to feed the beast which does not care about the eye f8ck, but more the mouth and tummy f8ck as you close your eyes and stuff the meat hole into moisturizing passion. not a place for the gf to impress, but more for the soul partner to share in a moment of primal lust and dirty durty.
(4)
Jacob Y.
Ok...Hon Kee is DEFINITELY not one of those places you go to admire the ambiance...that's for sure...but this dive Chinese restaurant is one of my favorites. So if you expect linens and flowers on the tables...go somewhere else. With that out of the way...Hon Kee is great in my opinions for three main reasons: 1) They sell traditional Chinese BBQ delicacies like BBQ Pork, Roast Pork, Roast Duck and Soy Sauce Chickens. 2) They have a wide variety of rice and noodle dishes, in addition to traditional Chinese stews and soups (like congee!). 3) You get a decent sized delicious meal without spending an arm and a leg. So, for $5, you can get a plate of rice with half a duck and a cup of tea! McDonald's step aside. I just wish they would deliver because I would order them EVERY day!
(3)
Janet E.
A great alternative to Sun Wah! I came here because Sun Wah had moved and I didnt know where it had moved to (now I know...). The duck and roasted pork tasted delicious! I even think it was less fatty than Sun Wah (but maybe it was just the cut I had randomly gotten). I also ordered bbq beef chow fun and fish filet with chinese broccoli. Both were yummie too! Overall reasonably priced. Half a duck is $7. I forget how much half a pound of roast pork was...I think maybe $3? Definitely cheap! The service was fast and staff understands English. Its also clean which is a BIG plus!
(4)
Liz P.
Man, I dunno about this place. It has such rave reviews, and yet my experience left much to be desired. For one thing, there were screaming children running around and, yes, screaming, all throughout dinner. It made my dining partner and myself extremely agitated, anxious and annoyed that we had to deal with that sort of ambiance. We both opted for wonton soup, assuming that it would be a smaller portion. Nope, we were wrong--if you want soup as an appetizer, share a bowl between two, maybe even three, people. It's a huge serving. It wasn't that good, though. I believe they used a fish broth which didn't really work with the flavors. Moving on....for our entrees, we both got BBQ duck on rice, and it just was not good! I can't help but compare to Sun Wah, which does duck and rice perfectly. This place used odd spices/seasonings that did not work well, and the rice had an odd flavor. I really wanted to like this place, because hole-in-the-wall Chinese joints tend to be awesome. Sadly, not so for Hon Kee.
(2)
Adam F.
The absolute best duck in the neighborhood. On Thursday.
(3)
Mike L.
A couple of friends and I ordered take-out from Hon Kee last night (Sunday). First impression - a few roasted birds hanging in the window, one of which had a long neck on it (turkey?),. Like pretty much everything else on that stretch of Argyle, you get the feeling the health inspectors don't come by too often...There was literally nobody in the place, and I was glad we were just picking up the food and getting out of there. As for the food, it was definitely cheap, which I am a huge fan of. We started with an order of egg rolls, and they were greasy and great, just what I was in the mood for. I guess we didn't get too adventurous with the order: sweet & sour chicken, lo mein (veggie I think), and broccoli (stalks of some kind). It was all just-ok, nothing special. I'm pretty sure the lo mein was just a bunch of ramen noodles with some oil and veggies thrown in. I've had better Chinese, but maybe we just didn't order right. Not going to rush back, but it didn't make me rush to the bathroom...
(3)
Zack W.
This is a traditional Hong Kong style restaurant serving decent cheap authentic southern cuisine with big portion. The ambiance and deco are not holes-on-the-wall but not too far off... Cleanness is typical Asian style... not for the weak-hearted. The menu is simple. Nothing fancy here. There is BBQ meat hanging by the windows. We sample seaweed soup, shrimp over pan-fried egg noodles, and curry chicken. It comes in large portion. The soup is "small" but enough for 4 easily. Imagine what a "large" will do. The curry chicken is standard, and it will please the American easily, with a bit sweetness (onion) and not too heavy on spices. The pan-friend egg noodles are done good, with adequate bok choy, vegetables, and shrimps. Guess what, we have doggy bags. So diners, there is nothing fancy here but a good decent traditional HK style foods, in New Chinatown.
(4)
Melanie V.
It was Christmas Eve. My dad needed bbq pork for his fried rice. So, he sent us to Argyle. He did a Google search and found the reviews for Hon Kee on Yelp! I was amused. Anyway, $5.50/lb for bbq pork! For a whole pound! They had all this other fun stuff, too - duck, soy sauce chicken, fried pork...mmmmm. Soy sauce chicken is definitely one of my favs, so so good.
(3)
The C.
Seriously, the food here is totally awesome and beyond reasonable in terms of price. The place is a little Mom and Pop hole in the wall establishment with excellent food. I have recently been on a huge mega binge of salt and pepper shrimp, and I've gone to a bazillion locations all over Chicago in search of the best, and believe me - I've been almost everywhere. Hon Kee has it - and I'm not going broke for them here either! I so adore them here... Seriously give this place a try. Its appearance is nothing special, but the food here is great!
(5)
Shane P.
Went here for lunch before a Bears game. Was hard to find and then get change for street parking, but around here it's all the same. So I ordered the duck and it was amazing! Easily the best duck I've ever had. The portions with rice are large and we ordered way too much for 4. Paid only 50$ and was stuffed with left overs, except the duck was all gone. Cleaner restaurant would have boosted my rating, but then again it's a Chinese joint.
(3)
Jenni Q.
I come here all the time to get my BBQ pork fix (bbq pork with fried egg over rice, bbq pork lo mein with oyster sauce, bbq pork with wonton noodle soup). The food always tastes great and the prices are unbeatable! They have several rice dishes and noodle soups for less than $4. I've only physcially eaten there a few times (we usually do takeout) and never expect much from a chinese restaurant but the place is actually pretty clean and the service is really good. Their wonton noodle soup isn't as good as Seven Treasures (but still good). The beef and broccoli chow fun is absolutely delicious. The meat is good (not questionable like at other chinese restaurants) and they give you a ton of sauce so its not dried out. I always split with my sister because they give you so much food. Overall a tasty dependable chinese restaurant with unbeatable prices.
(4)
Carolyn T.
Yes, I know the linoleum is all ripped up. Yes, I know that guy standing there with the butcher's knife and bloodied apron looks mean. But man, this is Chinese comfort food through and through, just like I remember from my childhood. I adore their congee. Like Goldilocks says, "This congee is juuuuust right!" It's not watered down, it's got a generous amount of tastiness added (meat, fish, preserved egg, whatever), and it smells of good yummy ginger. My other favorite dish is the water spinach with spicy bean curd. They give you heaps and heaps and heaps of it, and unlike many places, the veg is fresh and crisp, not drowned in yesterday's cooking oil. Where to next...butcher counter. Duck, chicken, pork, wings, unidentifiable animal gizzards, tripe... If you're not an adventurous eater, skip this next sentence. The tripe is fantastic and the best I've had in Chicago. Whatever they season it with, whatever method they use to cook it, it's awesome. If you're Chinese, then my goodness, if this just isn't a taste of home. The bbq pork (char siu) is also really good. I hate it when restaurants overcook it so it's dry. Hong Kee does it really well. And, if you're not adventurous, try any of their noodle dishes. This is such a great weeknight restaurant for those chilly fall days!
(5)
Frankie J.
Top three questionably named Asian restaurants in Chicago: 3. Hong Kee 2. Poong Mee (now defunct) 1. Hoe Toy NUMBER 3 Aside from all the obvious jokes, this is, and I am guessing, a Szechuan style Chinese restaurant. This is important, since Argyle has a number of mixed or alternate origin restaurants (Double Happiness is Chinese Vietnamese - see review). HOW MUCH IS THAT DUCK IN THE WINDOW Like Sun Wah, this is a barbecue and meat place. You buy pre-cooked meat from here and eat it either in the store or at home. See Sun Wah review. The meat here is very tasty and I highly recommend you try the char siu (barbecue pork) or any of the poultry dishes. SIT & EAT The menu consists of noodle soups, congees (rice porridge), rice plates, and individual family style dishes. Family style means you SHARE. We had the noodle soup with bbq pork. The noodles were perfect, the pork was flavored nicely, and the soup was a tad salty, but good. The other dishes that came by looked plentiful and well prepared. Everyone around us was ordering a lot. CAVEATS Understand that this is a traditional Chinese place, so you can also order something on the menu and you won't know whats in it. Ask the waiter if it is what you THINK it is. All in all, this place is clean, quick, and tasty. Just don't ask for the boss and ask him if he is the number one...
(3)
Albert H.
This place is a block east of the Argyle Red line stop and I gotta say I really enjoyed my food here. This place is definitely a hole-in-the-wall kind of joint. Nothing too fancy about it, just traditional Chinese cuisine. I got the BBQ Pork and scrambled eggs on rice for about $9 and It was sooo good. I was only able to eat like half of it, but I would recommend this place to anyone in the area.
(5)
Chicago g.
Prices went up a little bit but is still cheap and totally worth it.
(5)
Kevin A.
ANALYST DOWNGRADE: HOW DO YOU MESS UP JOOK? I'm not sure how you mess up jook/congee. After all the primary ingredients are rice and water. In any case, this was the worst jook I've ever had. Gloppy and utterly tasteless, I felt like I was eating a bowl of Elmer's glue. Also, the BBQ, while good just can't compare to Sun Wah down the street.
(3)
Tricia R.
There is really nothing fantastic about this place other than the bbq pork with scrambled eggs over rice. I know it's the green onions and sesame oil that really makes it awesome, but there's something about this dish that really hits the spot every time. This is probably one of the few Chinese places in Chicago where you find more Filipinos than Chinese people. Why? Because this place serves some pretty good Filipino special mami, which is off the menu. Again, this place is nothing too special, but it's dirt cheap.
(4)
Dan C.
Excellent place overall! Fast service, super-friendly staff, great prices, and good food. Don't expect the finest ingredients ever, but rest assured they will not serve gamey meat or old vegetables . The chicken, for example, is far better quality than similarly priced places around the city. And the portions are huge! I highly recommend anything with BBQ pork.
(5)
Ivan G.
Ahhh Chinese comfort food. Seriously, for under $5 you can get a filling and melt-in-your-mouth BBQ Pork w/ Scrambled eggs platter, tofu with BBQ pork, etc. The only reason for the missing star is probably the atmosphere. Well this ain't exactly a place to bring a date, with BBQ'ed animals hanging on the wall and a Chinatown dive feel. I generally take out.... This is a place to recuperate after a bout of soulless expensive tiny foods on giant plates, chefs are friendly and funny, kinda like the restaurant name itself
(4)
Amy X.
picture this: a chinese daughter searching on argyle for something to bring back to her chinese mother (in the land of nothingness: MICHIGAN). after seeing sign after sign advertising pho and bahn mi, her filial heart felt like deflating. but fear not! hon kee and the shiny barbeque'd ducks in the window glisten like the rising moon of tomorrow. the story continues. i walked inside to a dark dining room (yes, the story i about me!). people are eating fragrant roast duck and tea eggs on rice and chatting. i inquire about prices, pay less than ten dollars for two bags of chicken feet and duck tongues, and skip on home to mommy. there's a credit minimum you might find hard to overcome. be ready when your order is being taken, or you may need to exert yourself to be served later. this place is about food -- not service. okay now just go suck on some duck tongues already.
(3)
faith b.
Even though the place could use a good make-over, the food is really good! This is one of the best places to eat if you are craving good chinese food. If you really can't stand how the place looks, I suggest ordering for carry-out.
(4)
Penny D.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in Chicago! I used to live right around the corner, and I miss it so much now. Awesome food! I usually get the vegetable Lo Mein and put a little bit of Egg Drop Soup on it. The duck lo mein is also awesome. Also try the seaweed soup if you get a chance. The food is authentically Chinese, but the portions are authentically American!
(5)
J F.
Ate at this restaurant a few times many years ago when we lived in the area, thought is was very good and a major value. Fast forward to the present and I found myself eating at Sun Wah a bunch even though we live in the burbs now, so I thought I revisit Hon Kee. Not the trendy, hip vibe of Sun Wah but great food. The duck was better, it was moister and warmer. I'm big fried rice fan, simple dish, but easy to screw up, theirs was the best I've had in a long while. Service, you don't go to these places for the exceptional service, but they we nice and efficient. Price and portions great.
(4)
Ross R.
I liked Hon Kee, although I agree with the masses that the service and ambiance leave something to be desired. The ordering process was difficult, because the staff was cleaning the front of the restaurant, and our attempts to hold their attention were futile...I am also fairly sure that they confused my friend and I because the cashier asked my friend for the balance of my meal (for take out)...whatever, all of us hakujin look alike anyways (wrong language, I know). Other than that they were fast and relatively polite. The food, specifically the barbequed pork (served over rice) was very good. I give three stars because of the approachability of the place pretty much reserves it for only the most adventurous non-asians. I can't comment on how Hon Kee barbeque compares to Sun-Wah, because I didn't get like dishes at either place, but I would say that if you are new to Chinese Barbeque, go with Sun-Wah for a more approachable experience. I have a sneaking suspicion I will be returning though...
(3)
Khoa N.
I LOVE this place. I've been going here since I was a child. My favorites are the wonton soup and roasted duck. The vegetables with crunchy noodles are really good too. My husband loves their vegetable fried rice. Sooooo cheap and filling! If you're into slurping your food at hole-in-the wall places.... this fits the bill!
(5)
Christine U.
Yes, it's a hole-in-the-wall, and yes it's a bit grimy, but the food is tasty and cheap! I've been going here for YEARS, like since I was in high school. I've noticed most of the reviews here say that Sun Wah is better, but not in my book. Plus, it has a lot of sentimental value b/c it's my dad's favorite restaurant. I recommend the roast pork, the dumplings with noodles soup, the salt and pepper shrimp, and the combination fried rice. That's the best combination of dishes EVER. Oh, their Shanghai noodles dish is also fantastic if you like curry.
(4)
DANIEL T.
Yes hole in the wall, scary bathroom . . . but who cares when they serve up the most authentic Cantonese wonton and sui kow (dumplings) in authentic Cantonese soup base made with dried "onespot flounder" (大地魚干) ok, Yelp does not accept Chinese characters, I typed Dai Dei Yue (big earth fish) PERFECT MEAL: Scrambled eggs with prawns on rice - if you grew up in Hong Kong, and if you've seen Ratatouille when Anton Ego tasted Remy's version of Ratatouille, you know what I'm talking about. I was transported back to Hong Kong from the first bite my eyes were getting all watery (given I worked late, was exhausted, and it was January in Chicago with 3 feet of snow outside).
(4)
Rocky B.
Hon Kee is not much in the way of ambience but they serve up some good duck soup. Duck soup like my mom used to make....okay, like my mom used to go and buy from this place in chinatown that's no longer there anymore...but it still reminds me of mom and she did bring it home and put all the stuff together and warm it up so there! Good egg rolls too and fried rice.
(3)
PHIL S.
Big empty place didn't even now it was Chinese. I get dragged here from time to time and I just play it safe and order Pho. Better Pho then Tank, good spring rolls and their Papaya Salad with pork/shrimp sampler platter is pretty damn good. Ok service people don't understand what no mint leaves means.
(3)
Dan O.
Don't bring your girlfriend here.. Most girls I know hate this place cuz it's not the cleanest place.. but their BBQ pork with scrambled eggs on rice is pretty damn good.
(3)
Bill M.
This Chinese restaurant is about a block east of the Red Line Argyle "L" station. The food is very average, and we go here only if nearby Sun Wah is closed. The ubiquitous ducks hang from the window, and you can have that or some BBQ pork. The chow mein is OK but not as good as Sun Wah. Eat in one of the two dining areas, or have your food to go.
(3)
J T.
Up north, if you're looking for carry out barbeque pork, roast duck, and roast pork, this is the place. Never ate in the dining room. We used to patronize SunWah, but their food has gone downhill.
(4)
Michael B.
beef fried rice is the benchmark by which i compare chinese restaurants - it's a simple dish, it's a common denominator that exists in pretty much all chinese restaurants, and variation from restaurant can easily be determined. that being said, Hon Kee has the best beef fried rice I have ever had ANYWHERE. period. The place is grimy as heck, but it's still better than sun wah. check out these other great dishes when u get there -beef stew over rice -beef with mushrooms over rice -pancit bihon -mami noodles
(5)
Sharon B.
i used to come here every week sometimes 2 times a week with my parents when i was younger. havent gone without them in the past few years but my taste buds have been craving the special mami and the mongolian beef(i think it's called beef with onions now). dont know if the waitress, Mai, still works there but she was always nice and everybody knew us and our order. i hope 2 go back soon.
(5)
Jon W.
This is the best value-for-money proposition for a hot meal that I am aware of in the Chicago area. The crew at Hon Kee work hard to keep the modest dining rooms clean and moving fast, and the Chinese barbecue portions are more generous than around the corner. Newcomers may find it difficult to navigate the menu, but once you know a few favorites this is a serious go-to. And OK, the name is kind of a giggle in this racially-mixed neighborhood. Heh. It isn't a date place, it isn't an impress-your-parents place. Hon Kee is a solid "no time to cook tonight, no money to eat fancy" option. Moving just one meal a week from Furama to Hon Kee will save you enough to pay your cell phone bill. :-)
(4)
Rachelle G.
I've passed by this restaurant several times and decided to give it a try when I noticed Sun Wah was closed. I tried their duck and bbq pork. Both were a bit dry for my liking. I love duck, but here it tasted a bit gamier than norm. I also found it absurd that none of the dishes come with a side of steamed rice. The server was friendly and attentive. Dishes came out fairly quick. Aesthetic wise, it seems gloomy inside. Tables are distanced nicely so you aren't bumping into one another or overhearing conversations. To put it in lament term's, you don't necessarily feel that it's clean even if you don't see dirt around. Not the best, there are better restaurants to dine at in the area.
(2)
A H.
This is one of those "hole in a wall" but is one of my favorite restaurant for good and cheap Chinese food, especially the noodle soup dishes. I go there whenever I have a craving for Won Ton noodle soup. The only reason I don't go there often is that my husband can't stomach the same ethnic cuisine more than once a week. The price is so fantastic...imagine paying $4.25 for a big bowl of noodle soup. There's many different items on the menu for all types of taste. There's noodle dishes, rice dishes, meat dishes, etc. My husband loves the barbecue pork fried rice and orders that as an appetizer. The place is always packed during the weekend with families and locals of the neighborhood.
(4)
envane x.
Cantonese joint. I'm usually here when I forget Sun-Wah is closed on Thursdays. Their pork BBQ items are actually better than Sun Wah, but the rest is inferior but acceptable. I usually get the roast pork and tofu over rice. About the cheepest furniture I've ever seen in a restaurant.
(3)
Roger B.
This is your typical hole in a wall place with good food. I've only done take out several times and I have never eaten inside the place. The BBQ stuff is good and the dishes aren't bad either. I'd recommending sticking with the "plainer" stuff like the BBQ meet and the congee. Note: normally, I'd rate this place slightly higher, but I think there's probably a better place in "New Chinatown" that I didn't try out yet.
(3)
Corey C.
I came to Chicago for the weekend and crashed at a friends place north of town. After spending the last two days walking all over town, I wanted to eat some place close by. Just by accident I stumbled upon Argyle, with all the Asian shops and restaurants. Not knowing which to try, I popped into Hon Kee because it shared the same name as a popular noodle place in Vancouver, B.C., Canada... I know, lame reason but I was getting hungry. As others had mentioned, the decor leaves much to be desired but it did remind me of the Chinese places my parents took me back in the 70's. The tea was the standard black Chinese restaurant variety. Dark in color but lacking in character. It actually worked quite well with the whole 70's thing going on in my mind. I asked the waiter, in Cantonese, what he would suggest for me, he responded, "That's a tough one. How about some soup, noodles, or congee?", and then proceeded to walk away. I ended up ordering the rice stick noodles with bbq duck. For the money, I really can't complain. I have larger bowls at many other places and I've had more flavorful duck at many other places but nowhere in recent memory do I recall getting this dish for four bucks!. As I recall, everything on the menu was very cheaply priced. It could be that Chinese food is just cheaper in Chicago that it is in on the west coast but I wouldn't mind coming back to try some of the other things on the menu.
(3)
Renato P.
I've been going to this place for roast duck , BBQ pork and chicken wings , roast pork and pork ribs since before I could see over the counter. I can't say that the food quality is the best , but it is consistently good .I rarely eat inside the dining room, the place is really shabby. Hit the counter , order a little of everything , take home and enjoy . I recommend the BBQ pork , BBQ chicken wings , BBQ ribs , roast pork , and Especially the roast duck. Be wary of what we inappropriately dubbed "the round-eye special" . My family noticed when the butcher doesn't recognize you (and you coincidentally are white) and they are busy, sometimes he will give you the fattier cuts of meat. Maybe I am imagining that , but keep a look out for it.
(3)
PJ K.
Decent carry out/dine in Chinese place serving BBQ items. Suffers by comparison to Sun Wah on the other side of the El tracks. Decent, but Sun Wah offers better variety and better quality for the same (cheap) price.
(3)
A T.
Yummy. And they don't bother you if you read a book and look out of the window. The food is great. It reminds me of New York's Chinatown. Yea I did grow up there. Apart from Won Kow and Three Happness I will continue to frequent this place. It is closer and very friendly.
(5)
Terri N.
Tamia and I are a big fan of this place. My sister had introduced me to this place years back. Now, we make it a lunch date on fridays to come here and eat with the kids. It's not a fine dining place but it's a great place to eat at and is extremely reasonably priced. For under $5, Tamia and I usually share their soy sauce chicken, chinese sausage, one egg, and vegetables over rice. It's our favorite and we are always satisfied and full at the end of our meal. Usually, we'll order their fried rice, 1/2 of pork and duck for Tony to go and that would bring our total up to $18. Not bad at all for dining in and dinner for a family of three. My sister and her kids loves their won ton noodles, seafood or beef chow fun and congee. The food are in huge portions and the great part about it is that her kids love the food. We've never been disappointed with their service and they are definitely kid friendly. Such a great place to eat at especially during these tough economic times.
(4)
Jay K.
Took a walking tour of Viet-Chinatown in Argyle this weekend and visited all local bakeries, groceries and BBQ joints. Carried-out a roast duck from here which was/is very tasty and fairly priced at $11 ($12 w/ tax - half a duck is $5.50). You order at a "plastic-barriered" window at the register any type of Chinese BBQ item such as roast duck, braised chickens, braised ducks, BBQ pork, roast pork, braised duck feet, braised duck wings, BBQ chicken wings, roast cuttlefish, braised chitlins, etc. A whole-duck is chopped into pieces and separated into two foil containers, which include a small plastic container of "sauce" - which is essentially the marinade that is evacuated from the interior of the duck after it is roasted. Have not dined here, but the roast duck is pretty good.
(3)
Hanh B.
this is my favor place to go and i hate chinese food.this place has great bbq pork fried rice ...a must and everything is super cheap...the exterior and interior arent much to see but its the food that matters
(5)
Stephanie M.
This is an average Chinese restaurant...focusing on cantonese food. The bbq here is okay, but I wouldnt recommend eating here. Last time my family and some family friends went here, they didnt eat much and came back to the house for wine and cheese. I guess they were still hungry :)
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No 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.
Corey C.
I came to Chicago for the weekend and crashed at a friends place north of town. After spending the last two days walking all over town, I wanted to eat some place close by. Just by accident I stumbled upon Argyle, with all the Asian shops and restaurants. Not knowing which to try, I popped into Hon Kee because it shared the same name as a popular noodle place in Vancouver, B.C., Canada... I know, lame reason but I was getting hungry. As others had mentioned, the decor leaves much to be desired but it did remind me of the Chinese places my parents took me back in the 70's. The tea was the standard black Chinese restaurant variety. Dark in color but lacking in character. It actually worked quite well with the whole 70's thing going on in my mind. I asked the waiter, in Cantonese, what he would suggest for me, he responded, "That's a tough one. How about some soup, noodles, or congee?", and then proceeded to walk away. I ended up ordering the rice stick noodles with bbq duck. For the money, I really can't complain. I have larger bowls at many other places and I've had more flavorful duck at many other places but nowhere in recent memory do I recall getting this dish for four bucks!. As I recall, everything on the menu was very cheaply priced. It could be that Chinese food is just cheaper in Chicago that it is in on the west coast but I wouldn't mind coming back to try some of the other things on the menu.
(3)Renato P.
I've been going to this place for roast duck , BBQ pork and chicken wings , roast pork and pork ribs since before I could see over the counter. I can't say that the food quality is the best , but it is consistently good .I rarely eat inside the dining room, the place is really shabby. Hit the counter , order a little of everything , take home and enjoy . I recommend the BBQ pork , BBQ chicken wings , BBQ ribs , roast pork , and Especially the roast duck. Be wary of what we inappropriately dubbed "the round-eye special" . My family noticed when the butcher doesn't recognize you (and you coincidentally are white) and they are busy, sometimes he will give you the fattier cuts of meat. Maybe I am imagining that , but keep a look out for it.
(3)PJ K.
Decent carry out/dine in Chinese place serving BBQ items. Suffers by comparison to Sun Wah on the other side of the El tracks. Decent, but Sun Wah offers better variety and better quality for the same (cheap) price.
(3)A T.
Yummy. And they don't bother you if you read a book and look out of the window. The food is great. It reminds me of New York's Chinatown. Yea I did grow up there. Apart from Won Kow and Three Happness I will continue to frequent this place. It is closer and very friendly.
(5)Terri N.
Tamia and I are a big fan of this place. My sister had introduced me to this place years back. Now, we make it a lunch date on fridays to come here and eat with the kids. It's not a fine dining place but it's a great place to eat at and is extremely reasonably priced. For under $5, Tamia and I usually share their soy sauce chicken, chinese sausage, one egg, and vegetables over rice. It's our favorite and we are always satisfied and full at the end of our meal. Usually, we'll order their fried rice, 1/2 of pork and duck for Tony to go and that would bring our total up to $18. Not bad at all for dining in and dinner for a family of three. My sister and her kids loves their won ton noodles, seafood or beef chow fun and congee. The food are in huge portions and the great part about it is that her kids love the food. We've never been disappointed with their service and they are definitely kid friendly. Such a great place to eat at especially during these tough economic times.
(4)Jay K.
Took a walking tour of Viet-Chinatown in Argyle this weekend and visited all local bakeries, groceries and BBQ joints. Carried-out a roast duck from here which was/is very tasty and fairly priced at $11 ($12 w/ tax - half a duck is $5.50). You order at a "plastic-barriered" window at the register any type of Chinese BBQ item such as roast duck, braised chickens, braised ducks, BBQ pork, roast pork, braised duck feet, braised duck wings, BBQ chicken wings, roast cuttlefish, braised chitlins, etc. A whole-duck is chopped into pieces and separated into two foil containers, which include a small plastic container of "sauce" - which is essentially the marinade that is evacuated from the interior of the duck after it is roasted. Have not dined here, but the roast duck is pretty good.
(3)Hanh B.
this is my favor place to go and i hate chinese food.this place has great bbq pork fried rice ...a must and everything is super cheap...the exterior and interior arent much to see but its the food that matters
(5)Stephanie M.
This is an average Chinese restaurant...focusing on cantonese food. The bbq here is okay, but I wouldnt recommend eating here. Last time my family and some family friends went here, they didnt eat much and came back to the house for wine and cheese. I guess they were still hungry :)
(2)Tian Y.
Came here for peking duck when cravings struck on a Thursday, when Sun Wah is closed. Used to walk by this place all the time in Argyle but was repelled by the appearance and always opted for other, better decorated restaurants down the street instead. But Yelpers, I trusted y'all, and you didn't disappoint! I could see myself coming back to try more things as an alternative to other packed restaurants. The duck is a suitable alternative to Sun Wah, but the skin is a little less crispy, the color is a little less vibrant, the texture a bit too chewy, and the flavor is just a little less spot on. It's good, but not amazing. In my book, it goes Sun Wah, Mom, THEN Hon Kee. But Mom lives hundreds of miles away, so Hon Kee it is. Can't complain for the price though. Around $15 I think, but no pancakes/ganishes/hoisin - not sure if they serve those here. Also got some pretty decent seafood noodle soup. Nice assortment of everything. And bbq pork with veggies over rice, a huge portion for a ridiculous price, and pretty good. Good place for a nice casual meal. On Thursdays and other days of the week.
(4)Feb S.
Taste: 4/5 Location: 3.5/5 Cleanliness: 2.5/5 Ambience: 2.5/5 Value for Money: 4/5 (Price, given the Food Taste) Service: 3/5 If you crave Chinese food and are looking for an affordable place, Hon Kee is one of those restaurants that meet these requirements. I ordered the BBQ Pork with Scrambled Egg over Rice ( goo.gl/xJA7E ), Beef with Tofu over Rice ( goo.gl/G4v6s ), and Roast Duck Noodles Soup ( goo.gl/olXuD ). The tastiest among all was the BBQ Pork with Scrambled Egg over Rice. I think this is one of their signature dishes as well. Overall, great taste for the price.
(4)Brian G.
I've been coming here for as long as I remember. It is one of my all time favorites. Whenever I'm in the area I have to stop by. Same owner since forever, family run. I always get the Barbecued Pork w/ Scrambled Eggs over rice. A lot of people know it as 554 from Seven Treasures Chinatown but it is definitely prepared differently. In my opinion it it's better than 554 but then again I've been eating it from here since I was a wee lad. So not knocking 554, it's just different. Also the Special Mami aka Wonton noodle soup is the best. Their broth has real flavor, wonton dumplings are fresh. We also usually get the roast duck which is good. This place is excellent for getting BBQ pork, roast duck, etc. from the window display. It's funny to see passers-by who aren't used to seeing that stuff react to seeing whole ducks with their heads still on. I think most people tend to forget that the food we eat were actual living animals at one point haha. The only knock is the restaurant itself needs updating but I feel the food itself and the cheap prices make up for it. If you have $5 I'd rather fill up on the Barbecued Pork w/ Scrambled eggs over rice than getting a value meal from McDonald's for $6
(5)Amy L.
I have been coming here since I was kid - it's my go to for authentic Cantonese food. Food: 3/3 Stars My favorite Wonton Noodle Soup place - the soup tastes like it should - like it's been cooked for hours with hints of chicken. And the wonton is amazing - just the right amount of pork and shrimp! And for less than 5 bucks? Yes please! And the BBQ pork. Wow. I've avoided BBQ pork since I had it in Vietnam, but this place does it right! Great consistency - moist and tender. And the flavor hits the nail on the head. Service: 1/1 Stars Service is what you would typically find at an Asian restaurant, but I must say the older, male waiter is pretty friendly. Environment: .5/1 Stars Plenty of seating, but the place could use an upgrade in furniture and design.
(5)Hannah P.
My parents use to go here a long time ago...I mean like 10 years ago and since then we've found other favorites. Went her due to a friends suggestion and I had to idea there was a mami special soup. I love soup and had to try it. I love Mami soup and can't believe I found it...thanks to someone who took a pic of it and posted here on yelp. When in need of hot soup, I'm here instead of going all the way to Chinatown.
(4)Lizzy R.
We stumbled into this place on a frigid snowy day, after a morning of shopping on Argyle, because we were told that they had the best wonton noodle soup outside of Chinatown. We sat down (after standing around awkwardly for a few minutes before we realized that we were supposed to seat ourselves) and were promptly given a pot of piping hot tea, which was a godsend, as we were freezing our butts off! After a 2-second look at the menu, I ordered the wonton noodle soup with the addition of barbecued pork. The waiter gave me one of those knowing smiles, as if to say "Good job, tiny white girl, you just ordered the best thing on the menu." And he was not wrong. The soup came out quickly and was everything I wanted it to be. Piping hot, full of perfectly chewy noodles, very flavorful broth, and wontons with just the right mix of pork and shrimp. And don't even get me started on the barbecued pork! The portion was big enough that I took home enough for lunch the next day. I will definitely be back for soup again very soon!
(5)Sambath M.
My family and I have been going to Hon Kee for over 30 years now. We are loyal customers for various reasons: great food, great service, and the hospitality we receive from the family that owns the restaurant. It's one of our favorite places to eat, and we're never disappointed.
(5)Miguel A.
Tried this place because Sun Wah was closed (on a Thursday? Interesting.) I have heard the hype about this place so decided to make my way here. Basically you get what you paid for--prices are dirt cheap and the portions are filling however the quality of the ingredients are not the finest. Definitely recommend the noodle soups but the BBQ duck was too dry/tasted overcooked. Restaurant lacks general cleanliness but the service is good.
(3)Robert H.
I have to say that upon entering I was thoroughly underwhelmed by both the employees and the decor of this establishment. I stood there for what felt like an uncomfortable amount of time waiting for one of the employees milling about to either seat me or to indicate that I should seat myself. When it became apparent nobody was going to acknowledge me I found an empty table and sat down. From that point on then things started to improve. A man quickly arrived at my table and provided me with a menu. By this time I was a little unhappy and just decided to play it safe and went with the sweet and sour shrimp with a couple eggrolls added to it and was not expecting much based on my initial impressions of the service and decor. As far as the decor goes to be fair to the restaurant there really was nothing wrong with it, it just wasn't anything that you'd notice and appreciate. First to arrive were the eggrolls. I was very pleasantly surprised that they actually tasted good. Granted they definitely appeared to be the pre-made variety that all Chinese restaurants here in the city seem to serve. They were pretty decent sized and unlike most other places theirs actually had good flavor to them and I enjoyed them! Most eggrolls I've had here in Chicago are pretty flavorless. The sauce they served with the eggrolls was excellent and took a good item up into the very good category. Next came my sweet and sour shrimp and rice. I was really amazed at the excellent flavor of the shrimp. I can't put my finger on what the extra flavor they put in it was, but I sure can say it was delicious! Another thing it had going for it was that there were decent sized shrimp inside it which is huge with me since I hate getting a big mound of breading and then not hardly being able to find tiny little shrimp in it. Thankfully that was not the case here. The rice was pretty flavorless and I suspect they were using cheap American rice instead of the more flavorful Asian types. Overall it was a very good meal and I can see myself stopping back in if I'm in the area, but due to the lackluster welcome and the uninspiring decor I don't see myself ever taking company from out of state there to eat.
(4)Justine M.
Inside didn't leave much to the imagination - was small and a bit unkept...I came to pick up food I ordered (pros is that it only took 10 min to make). Got Roast duck on rice plate. They gave me quite a helpful amount of food for $5. It was a bit of overload on the rice, though. came with just a bit of bok choy. It was alright - not the best. They don't take card for orders under $12. I had to go to an ATM to pay. I wasn't pre-warned either. Had to leave and come back...
(2)Audre L.
Ha! I'm amazed to see that this place has earned 4 stars on yelp. I was expecting yelpers to bash this place, but lo and behold, Yelp tells the truth! This place is a bit of a dive for sure, but with really solid food. My family comes here, often for take out but often for eating in as well. When Sun Wah is packed, this is our backup plan. Get what looks good to you, but here are some solid recommendations: Clams with Black Bean Sauce Water Spinach with Garlic Tofu and Pork Roasted Duck - 1/2 a duck for 4 people
(4)Hannah E.
I can remember the day I first saw this place like it was yesterday. My mom and I were trying out Pho 777 across the street (not recommended) and when we got up to leave it was pouring outside, pouring so violently that even though our car was right out front, we didn't want to make a run for it. So we stood in the doorway, waiting for it to clear, and when it did, the first thing we were able to see through the lessening rain was a big sign: Hon Kee Restaurant. We giggled about that one for about a half hour. A Chinese restaurant called, basically, Honky? MUST TRY. Well, I was unable to try it - it was closed both times I went, and then I had to go back home to Colorado, then California. A year passed. But yesterday was the day. There's nothing particularly special about this place, though, other than the name... and the price! We got 1/4 roast duck and BBQ pork over scrambled eggs and rice for $10, tea included. Some say the duck here is better than Sun Wah - I wouldn't go that far. There are three things I look for in roast duck: not overcooked, a crispy, fatty skin, and sauce that isn't too sweet. Sun Wah fulfills all three of these briefs, and Hon Kee only two (they do overcook the duck a bit). However, for $4.75, I don't think I've got the right to complain. It's still tasty, with near-perfect skin. The BBQ pork dish has so-fatty-it's practically-translucent red-skinned pork over flavorful scrambled eggs, and for my tastes, I liked the layered flavors of this dish better. If you want duck or pork that may not be wonderful but is definitely better than the 5 bucks you've got, this is the place to get it.
(3)Arlene G.
i cant keep writing reviews about this place everytime i visit cuz i would have at least 5o reviews of it then! but my fam ate here this weekend & everythin we ate was soooo yummy! bbq pork, lechon, roast duck, noodle soup with dumplins, chinese broccoli & kang kong! (not sure if thats the english name or not) i ate until i was about 2 throw up! i walked out with such a full belly that i didnt even wanna look at food anymore! yummy yummy yummy!!!
(5)Jeremy C.
I've been coming here with my family since the 80s, well before this stretch of Argyle Street became a foodie paradise. Their won ton noodle soup is better than anything I've had in Chinatown. If you're a meat eater, their roast meats hanging in their storefront never fail to impress. Even something simple as congee -rice soup- is absolutely delicious. One thing that you must get is the fried smelt. You'll thank me later.
(5)Lina W.
They have the best won ton noodle soup and lean pork-thousand year egg congee in uptown! The restaurant offers pretty tasty food for relatively cheap price. The service is fast and nice.
(4)George T.
We did come to have lunch where we ordered shrimp won ton added roast pork and noodles to soups, gai lan chow fun with beef, salt pepper shrimp,rice. Service was lack luster seems like they had one waiter for 8 tables he was doing everything busing tables, taking order. Feeling bad that they were understaffed, we did get up to get water. The restaurant was hot I'm guessing the AC was out. Food was, as expected, a great value. This might be just an odd/off day.
(3)Melody L.
This rating is based entirely on their menu. I've been coming here since I was a wee baby and have been ordering pretty much the same thing for 27 years. Start off with a bowl of their wonton soup with no noodles, then onto the roasted duck with rice. My parents always ordered the seafood combination and then chinese broccoli which was also appetizing. This is quite the 'hole in the wall' type of restaurant, but the food is well worth it!
(4)Michael V.
This is your favorite Chinese restaurants favorite Chinese restaurant. I also love saying Hon Kee.
(5)Lauren B.
One of the better Chinese places in the area. Duck is great and I love their egg rolls. Not much else to say! We always to take out and haven't had any issues.
(4)Michael G.
So, where can two poor, white dudes go for inexpensive Chinese food in Chicago? Why, Hon Kee of course (because Kra Kur and Wi Tee don't exist). True story. While sitting and watching a new movie exhibit at the Chicago History Museum called, "My Chinatown," I turned to my father (who was visiting from Michigan) and said, "is it just me or do you crave Chinese food now?" Being as we're family and have the same stomach, he did. Since I wanted to show my dad the less touristy Asian section of town, the CHM is off the 36 bus, and we're both too poor to afford south side Chinatown, we headed to Uptown for a good, authentic meal. Hon Kee is the Chinese (Cantonese to be specific) equivalent of a taqueria. It's a little hole in the wall practically under the Red Line on Argyle. The only thing to separate it from any of the other restaurants on the street is the ducks in the window (it also serves as a deli counter). But the food is just about every bit as good as everywhere else I've tried up there - Chinese and Vietnamese - except about half the price. Fried rices, noodle dishes, huge soups, and basically the rest of the menu except for the dinners are all right around $5.00. And they don't skimp. My father got shrimp and vegetables over rice, and there were full sized, carefully prepared, shrimp swarming (or whatever shrimp do when they travel in packs) over the top. My egg foo young consisted of three patties. It wasn't the greatest I've ever had (it was a tiny bit flavorless) but it was definitely worth $5.00. Neither of us left with anything on our plates but for lesser eaters (again, we're family, so we've both got bottomless stomachs) there would probably have been enough left for dinner. Service was a little spotty at times. For example, we didn't get water until we requested it midway through the meal. But they give free tea at every table. It wouldn't be the first place I'd choose on Argyle. But not because the name is in any way derogatory or anything, mostly just because it's not really a special treat sort of place (and Uptown isn't a neighborhood I regularly visit except on special occasions). Still if I'm in the market for bargain Chinese food again, I would go here in a hot (or freezing cold) minute.
(4)iddells E.
I have been eating here for over 2 decades and Hon Kee's food is consistently amazing! I always order the roasted duck, hot and sour soup, beef chow mein, and fried rice. Hon Kee is far from your typical Americanized Chinese restaurant...they are better than that, much better! The roasted duck is so tender and the skin is so juicy! I love sucking on the bones! The hot and sour soup sets the bar for all the other restaurants. The soup is hot as it is sour, just as it should be! The fried rice isn't oily and it has that grilled taste to it. As for the beef chow mein, I'm loving the crunchy noodles and large pieces of beef! I also enjoy their roasted lechon. True, this restaurant lacks ambiance, but who the hell cares? It's not about that here, it's about the food!! Wonderful, delicious, Chinese food. Oh, and this place is CHEAP!!!
(5)Jean P.
living in the north shore, when we have a craving for wonton noodle soup and don't feel like going all the way to Chinatown, this is just as good alternative. They're Peking duck is pretty good too
(4)Ken I.
I have been going to this restaurant for the last 15 years ... every Saturday or Sunday. Hands down, they have the best noodle soups in town. It's very hard to recreate the stock - don't know what they have in it, but it is truly delicious. Try the shrimp dumpling with noodles. Their soya chicken is phenomenal, so are the duck and roast pork (lechon). Also, shrimp and scrambled eggs - tell the waiter to use big shrimp and separate from the rice - is very good here too, and finally their egg foo young and their congees are also good. For about six bucks for noodles, you can have a great meal! They have a huge Filipino following that I call this as the best Filipino restaurant in town - they have even some Filipino dishes like pancit canton and special mami (not in the menu) - a big bowl of yellow noodles with shrimp dumpling and beef. (Early in their existence, I remember them asking their customers what they wanted to be served so they can put them in the menu - so the Flip dishes.)
(5)John K.
Hon Kee is my favorite place to eat in Argyle. It greatly prefer Hon Kee than Sun Wah because: 1. Cheaper prices. Hon Kee only raised prices moderately recently, while Sun Wah has raised price multiple times since reopening, taking advantage of their popularity. Note that both are still very affordable, but as a college student, I am happy to save that few $ for a meal. 2. Excellent roast duck (and cheaper). Both Hon Kee and Sun Wah sell excellent roast duck that goes up and down in terms of quality. Since I'm sure not many people can't tell them apart (I can't), so why not buy save a few bucks and get Hon Kee's roast duck? 3. Not crowded unlike Sun Wah. I've always gotten seats immediately at Hon Kee, but at Sun Wah I've waited up to 45 minutes. 4. Hon Kee's staff seems more earnest, while Sun Wah's staff has an attitude problem. I've also seen Sun Wah's owner (elder daughter) and one senior looking waitress publicly berate their junior staff. You might think that since Sun Wah is always more crowded, their food must be better than Hon Kee's. WRONG. I suspect the reason why Sun Wah is crowded is because most non-Asian Americans appreciate Sun Wah's (seemingly) cleaner premise and newer decor. And also because Sun Wah's menu comes with colorful pictures, and of course their more prominent location along Broadway. If you take the time to walk further east from Broadway and the L to Hon Kee, you will be rewarded with a less hectic, significantly cheaper and equally delicious meal!
(5)Weisun C.
This is the same as "Hon Kee Chinese" here on Yelp. In the Argyle-Broadway Chinatown/VietNam-town neighborhood, you've got essentially two choices for Cantonese-style barbeque: Hon Kee or Sun Wah (now north on Broadway). In the opinion of those whose tastes matter to me, it's Hon Kee, hands down. This place is tops for their roast pork (the crispy skinned, hanging side of pig), bar-b-q pork (strips of pork in reddish marinate), roast duck, and roast chicken. Always buy from the order window, have them chop it up for you, and take it home. As others have cautioned, this is not a place for sit-down dining, even for lunch. If you crave some good Cantonese food served to you in a nice setting, go to their competition, Sun Wah. And in a spirit of co-operation and mutual profit, Hon Kee and Sun Wah have worked their schedules out so that we diners seeking Chinese BBQ can get our cravings for bar-b-qued pork, roast chicken or duck, or mixed pork innards, 7-days-a-week. When Hon Kee is closed on Tuesdays, you'll find that Sun Wah is open, while Hon Kee stays open on Thursdays when Sun Wah is closed. Nice, huh?
(4)George O.
I have only ever ordered meat for takeout. I actually like Hon Kee better than Sun Wah. Why? 1 - The prices are way better. 2 - While Sun Wah roast pork and BBQ pork can be better, they seem to be somehow inconsistent. Hon Kee is consistently good, and Sun Wah has been not as good as Hon Kee more often than not. 3 - That duck sauce is good. Real good. Some issues? 1 - Credit card minimum. It takes something like a pound of bbq pork and a whole duck to reach it. 2 - It's kinda dirty looking. And the service doesn't seem too great, which hasn't been an issue for me, but if you're sitting, that could be a problem. 3 - Cute new cashier dude is I'm pretty sure jailbait. Or at least close to it. 2/2 of my Chinese friends that have tried their stuff have responded very favorably. I should probably tell the rest of them about this place...
(4)Monica M.
This is a classic argyle staple. Used to live in the neighborhood in my younger years and it's still where my family stops and gets won ton noodles. They have roasted ducks and pigs in the window. both are legit. No this isn't what you would call fine dining. The place is dingy and old. You don't go for the atmosphere. You go food the family that works there. I've been told they make the egg noodles in the back. Make them as in produce sell and distribute to all over the city....thats pretty cool.
(4)Marvin A.
Rule number 1: Do not compare this place to your Panda Express or even your american-esque (yeah I'm talking to you sweet and sour chicken!) chinese restaurants. Rule number 2: Service is a luxury. Rule number 3: Appearances can be deceiving. With all these rules considered, Hon Kee is by far the best place for some cheap authentic Chinese grub. It's comfort food! Chinese Soul Food if you will! I have gone here with my family ever since I was little and it's become a family favorite. I usually get the beef flank noodle soup or the wonton soup. Don't forget to add BBQ pork Siopao (meat bun) to your order! We also love the roasted duck but we usually order a half duck for takeaway. If you feel the sanitation is suspect, remember to go to the bathroom prior to entering this place. You could also pour yourself a nice cup of hot tea and bathe your utensils in it if you so please.
(4)Minh D.
Decent Chinese restaurant in the north side. Excellent Chinese food is found in China town, not in uptown. This is authentic Chinese good but not refined like that found in China town. Living in the north side I come here almost every weekend. My favorite... chow fun, seafood chow fun, noodles with beef stew. ground beef with rice. beef stew with rice. side order of the roast pork - FRESH! Cheap quality Chinese food for north siders!
(4)Michelle L.
Best Chinese restaurant! Seriously good food, and great price. I love love love their wanton noodles soup. It tastes authentic, and has large dumplings stuffed with pork and shrimp. Although the price has risen a little, but it's still cheaper than sun wah's. And also get their roast meats, it's awesome.
(5)Melissa G.
I've been coming here my whole life and it is STILL my favorite Chinese restaurant ever! It's not classy, but it has extremely tasty food. You can get delicious noodle soups with your choice of meat (I love the simple won ton with rice noodles), and their fried rice is the best! They also have less popular Chinese favorites like Beef with Salted and Picked Vegetables and Fish with Bittermelon which my family and I LOVE. The prices are unbeatable and the portions are huge. If you're not comfortable dining in, since the decor is minimal and purely functional, definitely get it as take out! Writing this review has made me hungry... I know what I am having for dinner tomorrow!
(5)Nikki C.
for those that know, this is it. there is a menu not on the menu. its all in the way you order to make this place the place. you see the lechon all in its glory carried out from the back of heaven's grill and to the front it is chopped up with krispy skin to feed your soul. you see the ducks enticing and just as beautiful as an episode of baywatch with curvaceous bodies and meaty breasts all ready for the mouth orgy. the odors of the day tell you this is not about the cerebral, but more about the primal. the place to feed the beast which does not care about the eye f8ck, but more the mouth and tummy f8ck as you close your eyes and stuff the meat hole into moisturizing passion. not a place for the gf to impress, but more for the soul partner to share in a moment of primal lust and dirty durty.
(4)Marcus Z.
I know this place for one thing. BBQ Pork with scramble egg. I've been coming here for 15 years now. Place still looks the same and they've got the same staff still working there. Prices haven't changed much so that's a bonus :)
(4)Jacob Y.
Ok...Hon Kee is DEFINITELY not one of those places you go to admire the ambiance...that's for sure...but this dive Chinese restaurant is one of my favorites. So if you expect linens and flowers on the tables...go somewhere else. With that out of the way...Hon Kee is great in my opinions for three main reasons: 1) They sell traditional Chinese BBQ delicacies like BBQ Pork, Roast Pork, Roast Duck and Soy Sauce Chickens. 2) They have a wide variety of rice and noodle dishes, in addition to traditional Chinese stews and soups (like congee!). 3) You get a decent sized delicious meal without spending an arm and a leg. So, for $5, you can get a plate of rice with half a duck and a cup of tea! McDonald's step aside. I just wish they would deliver because I would order them EVERY day!
(3)Janet E.
A great alternative to Sun Wah! I came here because Sun Wah had moved and I didnt know where it had moved to (now I know...). The duck and roasted pork tasted delicious! I even think it was less fatty than Sun Wah (but maybe it was just the cut I had randomly gotten). I also ordered bbq beef chow fun and fish filet with chinese broccoli. Both were yummie too! Overall reasonably priced. Half a duck is $7. I forget how much half a pound of roast pork was...I think maybe $3? Definitely cheap! The service was fast and staff understands English. Its also clean which is a BIG plus!
(4)Alisa N.
Great place to eat authentic Chinese food! The place inside isn't much, but the food definitely makes up for it. Also, the prices are super cheap :) I will go back for sure!
(4)Liz P.
Man, I dunno about this place. It has such rave reviews, and yet my experience left much to be desired. For one thing, there were screaming children running around and, yes, screaming, all throughout dinner. It made my dining partner and myself extremely agitated, anxious and annoyed that we had to deal with that sort of ambiance. We both opted for wonton soup, assuming that it would be a smaller portion. Nope, we were wrong--if you want soup as an appetizer, share a bowl between two, maybe even three, people. It's a huge serving. It wasn't that good, though. I believe they used a fish broth which didn't really work with the flavors. Moving on....for our entrees, we both got BBQ duck on rice, and it just was not good! I can't help but compare to Sun Wah, which does duck and rice perfectly. This place used odd spices/seasonings that did not work well, and the rice had an odd flavor. I really wanted to like this place, because hole-in-the-wall Chinese joints tend to be awesome. Sadly, not so for Hon Kee.
(2)Adam F.
The absolute best duck in the neighborhood. On Thursday.
(3)Mike L.
A couple of friends and I ordered take-out from Hon Kee last night (Sunday). First impression - a few roasted birds hanging in the window, one of which had a long neck on it (turkey?),. Like pretty much everything else on that stretch of Argyle, you get the feeling the health inspectors don't come by too often...There was literally nobody in the place, and I was glad we were just picking up the food and getting out of there. As for the food, it was definitely cheap, which I am a huge fan of. We started with an order of egg rolls, and they were greasy and great, just what I was in the mood for. I guess we didn't get too adventurous with the order: sweet & sour chicken, lo mein (veggie I think), and broccoli (stalks of some kind). It was all just-ok, nothing special. I'm pretty sure the lo mein was just a bunch of ramen noodles with some oil and veggies thrown in. I've had better Chinese, but maybe we just didn't order right. Not going to rush back, but it didn't make me rush to the bathroom...
(3)Zack W.
This is a traditional Hong Kong style restaurant serving decent cheap authentic southern cuisine with big portion. The ambiance and deco are not holes-on-the-wall but not too far off... Cleanness is typical Asian style... not for the weak-hearted. The menu is simple. Nothing fancy here. There is BBQ meat hanging by the windows. We sample seaweed soup, shrimp over pan-fried egg noodles, and curry chicken. It comes in large portion. The soup is "small" but enough for 4 easily. Imagine what a "large" will do. The curry chicken is standard, and it will please the American easily, with a bit sweetness (onion) and not too heavy on spices. The pan-friend egg noodles are done good, with adequate bok choy, vegetables, and shrimps. Guess what, we have doggy bags. So diners, there is nothing fancy here but a good decent traditional HK style foods, in New Chinatown.
(4)Melanie V.
It was Christmas Eve. My dad needed bbq pork for his fried rice. So, he sent us to Argyle. He did a Google search and found the reviews for Hon Kee on Yelp! I was amused. Anyway, $5.50/lb for bbq pork! For a whole pound! They had all this other fun stuff, too - duck, soy sauce chicken, fried pork...mmmmm. Soy sauce chicken is definitely one of my favs, so so good.
(3)The C.
Seriously, the food here is totally awesome and beyond reasonable in terms of price. The place is a little Mom and Pop hole in the wall establishment with excellent food. I have recently been on a huge mega binge of salt and pepper shrimp, and I've gone to a bazillion locations all over Chicago in search of the best, and believe me - I've been almost everywhere. Hon Kee has it - and I'm not going broke for them here either! I so adore them here... Seriously give this place a try. Its appearance is nothing special, but the food here is great!
(5)Shane P.
Went here for lunch before a Bears game. Was hard to find and then get change for street parking, but around here it's all the same. So I ordered the duck and it was amazing! Easily the best duck I've ever had. The portions with rice are large and we ordered way too much for 4. Paid only 50$ and was stuffed with left overs, except the duck was all gone. Cleaner restaurant would have boosted my rating, but then again it's a Chinese joint.
(3)Jenni Q.
I come here all the time to get my BBQ pork fix (bbq pork with fried egg over rice, bbq pork lo mein with oyster sauce, bbq pork with wonton noodle soup). The food always tastes great and the prices are unbeatable! They have several rice dishes and noodle soups for less than $4. I've only physcially eaten there a few times (we usually do takeout) and never expect much from a chinese restaurant but the place is actually pretty clean and the service is really good. Their wonton noodle soup isn't as good as Seven Treasures (but still good). The beef and broccoli chow fun is absolutely delicious. The meat is good (not questionable like at other chinese restaurants) and they give you a ton of sauce so its not dried out. I always split with my sister because they give you so much food. Overall a tasty dependable chinese restaurant with unbeatable prices.
(4)Carolyn T.
Yes, I know the linoleum is all ripped up. Yes, I know that guy standing there with the butcher's knife and bloodied apron looks mean. But man, this is Chinese comfort food through and through, just like I remember from my childhood. I adore their congee. Like Goldilocks says, "This congee is juuuuust right!" It's not watered down, it's got a generous amount of tastiness added (meat, fish, preserved egg, whatever), and it smells of good yummy ginger. My other favorite dish is the water spinach with spicy bean curd. They give you heaps and heaps and heaps of it, and unlike many places, the veg is fresh and crisp, not drowned in yesterday's cooking oil. Where to next...butcher counter. Duck, chicken, pork, wings, unidentifiable animal gizzards, tripe... If you're not an adventurous eater, skip this next sentence. The tripe is fantastic and the best I've had in Chicago. Whatever they season it with, whatever method they use to cook it, it's awesome. If you're Chinese, then my goodness, if this just isn't a taste of home. The bbq pork (char siu) is also really good. I hate it when restaurants overcook it so it's dry. Hong Kee does it really well. And, if you're not adventurous, try any of their noodle dishes. This is such a great weeknight restaurant for those chilly fall days!
(5)Frankie J.
Top three questionably named Asian restaurants in Chicago: 3. Hong Kee 2. Poong Mee (now defunct) 1. Hoe Toy NUMBER 3 Aside from all the obvious jokes, this is, and I am guessing, a Szechuan style Chinese restaurant. This is important, since Argyle has a number of mixed or alternate origin restaurants (Double Happiness is Chinese Vietnamese - see review). HOW MUCH IS THAT DUCK IN THE WINDOW Like Sun Wah, this is a barbecue and meat place. You buy pre-cooked meat from here and eat it either in the store or at home. See Sun Wah review. The meat here is very tasty and I highly recommend you try the char siu (barbecue pork) or any of the poultry dishes. SIT & EAT The menu consists of noodle soups, congees (rice porridge), rice plates, and individual family style dishes. Family style means you SHARE. We had the noodle soup with bbq pork. The noodles were perfect, the pork was flavored nicely, and the soup was a tad salty, but good. The other dishes that came by looked plentiful and well prepared. Everyone around us was ordering a lot. CAVEATS Understand that this is a traditional Chinese place, so you can also order something on the menu and you won't know whats in it. Ask the waiter if it is what you THINK it is. All in all, this place is clean, quick, and tasty. Just don't ask for the boss and ask him if he is the number one...
(3)Albert H.
This place is a block east of the Argyle Red line stop and I gotta say I really enjoyed my food here. This place is definitely a hole-in-the-wall kind of joint. Nothing too fancy about it, just traditional Chinese cuisine. I got the BBQ Pork and scrambled eggs on rice for about $9 and It was sooo good. I was only able to eat like half of it, but I would recommend this place to anyone in the area.
(5)Chicago g.
Prices went up a little bit but is still cheap and totally worth it.
(5)Kevin A.
ANALYST DOWNGRADE: HOW DO YOU MESS UP JOOK? I'm not sure how you mess up jook/congee. After all the primary ingredients are rice and water. In any case, this was the worst jook I've ever had. Gloppy and utterly tasteless, I felt like I was eating a bowl of Elmer's glue. Also, the BBQ, while good just can't compare to Sun Wah down the street.
(3)Tricia R.
There is really nothing fantastic about this place other than the bbq pork with scrambled eggs over rice. I know it's the green onions and sesame oil that really makes it awesome, but there's something about this dish that really hits the spot every time. This is probably one of the few Chinese places in Chicago where you find more Filipinos than Chinese people. Why? Because this place serves some pretty good Filipino special mami, which is off the menu. Again, this place is nothing too special, but it's dirt cheap.
(4)Dan C.
Excellent place overall! Fast service, super-friendly staff, great prices, and good food. Don't expect the finest ingredients ever, but rest assured they will not serve gamey meat or old vegetables . The chicken, for example, is far better quality than similarly priced places around the city. And the portions are huge! I highly recommend anything with BBQ pork.
(5)Ivan G.
Ahhh Chinese comfort food. Seriously, for under $5 you can get a filling and melt-in-your-mouth BBQ Pork w/ Scrambled eggs platter, tofu with BBQ pork, etc. The only reason for the missing star is probably the atmosphere. Well this ain't exactly a place to bring a date, with BBQ'ed animals hanging on the wall and a Chinatown dive feel. I generally take out.... This is a place to recuperate after a bout of soulless expensive tiny foods on giant plates, chefs are friendly and funny, kinda like the restaurant name itself
(4)Amy X.
picture this: a chinese daughter searching on argyle for something to bring back to her chinese mother (in the land of nothingness: MICHIGAN). after seeing sign after sign advertising pho and bahn mi, her filial heart felt like deflating. but fear not! hon kee and the shiny barbeque'd ducks in the window glisten like the rising moon of tomorrow. the story continues. i walked inside to a dark dining room (yes, the story i about me!). people are eating fragrant roast duck and tea eggs on rice and chatting. i inquire about prices, pay less than ten dollars for two bags of chicken feet and duck tongues, and skip on home to mommy. there's a credit minimum you might find hard to overcome. be ready when your order is being taken, or you may need to exert yourself to be served later. this place is about food -- not service. okay now just go suck on some duck tongues already.
(3)Art T.
It's my first time in Chicago and I only had one day to check out the city. My nice and nephew took me to the city to see some of the sites. Their Father recommended that they should take me to this place. It appears that this place is multi-asian dishes. We ordered: 1. Mami special 2. Crispy Duck 3. Seafood combination 4. Combination fried rice 5. BBQ pork and tofu Let's just say that we had a lot to take home. The food was great! I can't wait to come back again.
(5)Jingles J.
Affordable and tasty food . Good service !!! Love the location ! I always order egg drop soup or wonton soup , EXTRA CRISPY smelt fish , Combination fried rice and the fried watercress with sauce !!! Yum ! Yum ! :)
(4)Angelica C.
No frill authentic Chinese food that won't break the bank! I visited this establishment many times as a child, so it's very nostalgic for me. Check out their menu online, call ahead, and it'll be ready for pickup within 10-15 mins. Would be wise to bring a partner in the car, so you don't have to pay those ridiculous meters. We ordered the beef fried rice and the roast pork over rice. Both dishes were good and comforting in momma's cooking sorta way. Although, they did not give a plethora of meat. They stay open til 9pm, which appears to be late for most Argyle restaurants.
(4)Kimmy N.
Average place for roasted pig and Peking duck. I only come here whenever sun wah is closed. The past few times I've been here...their food has been a little disappointing. Maybe I've been spoiled by sun wah but who knows. The past couple of times the food has been extremely salty or bland. I'm not sure what they're doing wrong but they just need to balance it. The roasted pork has been lack in flavor too. I'll give them a try again if the other place is closed.
(3)Annie V.
My daughter's and my favorite place for duck. The restaurant itself isn't the most modern (hence the 4 stars), but it is clean and they are nice, and they are always fast. They are also fairly priced and have a large menu. My ultimate comfort food is wonton noodle soup, and/or roast duck with a side of water spinach cooked with garlic and white rice. We eat here all the time, the kids love it, I love it, love it love it love it.
(4)Ryan B.
One of the best hole in the wall Chinese restaurants in Chicago. The prices are amazing, the portions are great and the taste is even better.
(5)Lily Z.
Definitely a hole-in-the wall restaurant. The dishes are so cheap. Kind of amazed at how much food you can order for under $60. They do have your typical roast pork, duck and pig. It sounds so simple, but I really liked their egg and bbq pork. Kind of a nice break from all the Vietnamese and pho restaurants.
(3)Sarah G.
There's no fanfare here. There were three Chinese gentleman in their 70s working. Jasmine tea, linoleum floors, generic art. But this food is damn good. The Chinese broccoli with garlic, the duck, the soup, very flavorful and not too heavy or rich. Hot and delicious on a below zero night, the waiter who was old enough to be my grandpa was prompt and courteous. The other 15 or so people in here on a Friday know what's up. We got a huge dinner plus a dish to go for $30. These folks work so hard and the food is simple and amazing. Sun Wah has lots of business- try Hon Kee.
(5)Tony J.
Best duck in town. The skin is crispy, but not greasy, and it's extremely flavorful, but not overly salty. They also do chicken feet, roasted pork, intestines, and marinated tripe, among other warm noodle dishes and stuff. Great place, great vibe, and the butchers are always friendly. My family has been coming here since 1990 so it's good to see that the family business is continuing strong as usual.
(5)Henry N.
My family and I have been coming here since 1991 and up to this day the food has been amazing. Super authentic chinese. Roasted duck, beef chow fun, smelt fish, mami special, chinese brocolli in oyster sauce and the shrimp fried rice is what we always order. Very affordable as well. Hopefully once the owners retire they can pass on the recipes and keep this place open!
(5)Nancy T.
Delicious food, cheap and the service is very good. I've been eating here ever since I was young. My favorite is the pork and the shrimp fried rice!
(5)Linh L.
Good and comforting. Their food is comparable to Sun Wah for sure. It's a little more on the saltier side though.
(4)Bethany A.
Chinese comfort food, yes. I can easily see this stuff being whipped up in my mom's kitchen. The staff was friendly and accommodated all the people I came with. The decor is nothing to be impressed at, but this is a no frills place. The prices are awesome for what they give you. I tried the barbecue pork with scrambled eggs (sounds kind of like a weird combination, but it works!), roast duck with rice, Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce and seafood over crispy noodles. We also ordered more stuff but I got full before I got around to trying their food. The only dish I could really taste MSG in was the seafood noodles dish, I recommend skipping that one. The duck was okay - nothing special, but it wasn't bad and it was easily the cheapest duck I've ever had. Overall, pretty good food (nothing I'd go to Argyle especially for), but the fact that we fed 10 people for 88 bucks not including tip was pretty amazing.
(3)Pha Nhia Y.
The food here is always great, and whenever I'm in Chicago I always stop here to purchase my roast duck, pork and chicken. But the last time I was here there was a little bit of a language barrier and instead of trying to explain the price of the items I was buying he got annoyed with me and rolled his eyes. The started speaking in a different language and it made me feel very uncomfortable. I have always enjoyed their food, but the last time I was there made the food taste less special. Hopefully next time it will be different.
(4)Michael C.
No frills, good food, cheap prices, nice staff. I'd probably recommend better as a take out option. I'll definitely be going back. And yes, I recommend the BBQ pork with scrambled eggs!
(4)M M.
This place is awesome. Definitely my ex-boyfriend and I'd go-to spot. Cheap and delicious. Compared to SunWah's down the street, not as packed (truly a hidden/ forgotten gem). We love the $5-6 combo meals- I always get the roast duck and roast pork combo. YUM! their spicy fried shrimp is superb as well. To top it off, their waiters are hilarious.
(5)Yvonne H.
This is a no frills restaurant. I don't go for the service or ambiance, I go for dem hanging meats. I usually order to go, but I don't mind eating here once in a blue moon. If you aren't greeted, don't be shy and speak up or go to a table yourself. What I usually order: -BBQ Pork & Scrambled Egg over Rice: I *love* this dish. There's something about the way they cook their scrambled eggs that makes me come back for theirs as opposed to making it at home myself. You can also ask for a sunny side egg instead, which is pretty good too. -Soy sauce chicken, Chinese sausage, and a fried egg over rice: the amount of meat they give you is great, especially for the price. -Wonton noodle soup (egg noodles): huge bowl of piping hot broth with delicious little pockets of meat and noodles. Classic. Their bbq pork is consistently good. Feel free to be adventurous and try the other rice plates available since you won't spend anymore than $7. I've had some other rice plates and they're great.
(4)Julie F.
Stop by their booth at and Argyle Night Market, GREAT Sesame ball! They had the most unique (non American Chinese) options at the Market. I'll be stopping in this restaurant some time for sure!
(4)Joe K.
Service is quick. Place is not fancy or glamorous but those are the best places to eat. I tried about 8 dishes Top dishes to try are the BBQ pork, Roasted Pork, and wonton soup. (Good food at a CHEAP ass price) My opinion the other foods that I tried are 2.5/5 stars Overall a good place to eat for quick and cheap.
(4)Nikki K.
The only thing negative about this place is that it's a total dive. But other than that their bbq pork with scrambled eggs over rice is a-ma-zing.
(5)Jennifer J.
OMG I love this place. Special Beef Mami Soup is amazing! It's not on the menu but Ed (the owner) will happily bring you a giant bowl if you ask for it. I love their shredded duck lo mein and the fried watercress with garlic sauce. I love love love this place. So authentic and so YUM.
(4)Kevin M.
It wasn't very good. When you walk in, it smells pretty bad from the mini Asian slaughter house that they have at the front. The sauce for my meal wasn't bad, but the chicken it self did not taste right. There are better Chinese places that I will go to in the future.
(3)Patrick D.
This so far has been my most disappointing review of a restaurant on Argyle. The tea, though free, was just average. My entree was the duck and noodle soup. The duck was mostly bone and cartilage. The noodles were a quality similar to Raman as was the extremely salty broth. My friend got the chicken fried rice and did not enjoy it enough to finish it. The floor had visible amounts of dirt on it, and although the food came out quickly, the staff was ambivalent to us the entire time. There apparently was a credit card minimum, and I had to pay cash, which is a testament to how cheap their food is.
(3)Jacob J.
After hearing so much about Peking duck and Chinese BBQ, a pal and I decided on Sun Wah BBQ; but those bums were quoting us a forty five minute wait at 6 pm on a Friday evening. On top of that it was mostly dead and they kept reserved signs on 75% of their tables. WTF. So, since we already paid for parking at a lot nearby (only $2 mind you, close to this Hon Kee restaurant) we decided to walk around and find another place. Since Argyle is around the corner from Sun Wah, we walked up and down the street, peeking in windows at their fare and finally decided on this spot. Okay, after a quick consult with the Yelp app on my smart phone and seeing a few mentions, we came to the conclusion to check out this spot. This is a family style dive. It's pretty bare bones in here, so you need to bring people with you that won't comment on deficiencies. It's not everyone's kind of eatery. We found service to be more miss than hit. Meals are pretty cheap and for a duo, you can easily spend less than ten dollars (depending) or less than twenty five if dining on the duck. The full duck portion is enough to feed three and costs a little less than fifteen dollars. Something I haven't read much of or heard many say; which I will share with you is that you must be willing to eat bland and fatty meat if having the duck. Don't shoot me, it's just my opinion on it. With the duck they gave some sort of soy sauce concoction which was just okay and not enough was given. I am a sauce fiend and desperately needed chili sauce and or sweet and sour sauce. S&S was for whichever reason not available. I was less than thrilled with the taste of the duck, it was pretty boring for me actually. I tore off the skin and each time I did that my Mongolian friend was questioning my movements. Mongolian people appreciate the flavor of meats as they are, sauce or spices aren't needed. We worked it out though. I gave him all my skins and he was happy. We ordered a full duck, a plate of the BBQ pork (dry & meh) and a couple OJ's for mixer. It's family oriented in here, so you might like to keep a bag with you (for BYOB) otherwise you'll get a lot of stares. I like all kinds of Asian and Chinese foods. I can appreciate good dives. I can tell you about a $5 plate of teriyaki chicken served at a Vietnamese donut shop.. that would blow your mind, but I couldn't find the flavor or special about this place. Service was not good and the table could have been cleaner. Yeesh. A 2.5 star experience that I will leave at three.
(3)Zen G.
Dear God, Thank you for inventing Chinese people and the wonderful flavors, variety, and gastro-goodness that is Chinese food. It's comfort food at its best. Amen NOW, let's get to it: I've been a fan since I first discovered this place, and today, being especially hungry, ordered ALOT of food for myself--takeout. 1. barbecue pork with dofu rice box -- YUM, great portion and ratio of pork to dofu to rice. Soft dofu, everything cooked right! 2. Chinese sausage fried rice -- YUM, almost like mom's. The only thing I'd add would be a handful of raw scallions on top. 3. won ton soup with noodles -- (haven't eaten yet but had it before) YUM. THIS is as good if not better than many places in Chinatown. 4. stir fried watercress with garlic -- YUM, because it's so good, and such a nice way to balance out a protein-heavy meal. 5. 1/2 lb of roast pork, chopped right there -- YUM. NO ONE, I DON'T CARE IF IT'S THOSE FROM THE SOUTH OR ANYWHERE ELSE, CAN DO ROAST PORK (whole pig roasted here) LIKE THE CHINESE CAN!!!! The pork skin is sooo good! Even smelling the wafting scents of my leftovers cooling on the counter in my kitchen gives me mental food-gasms. I love this place because it reminds me of growing up in my parents' own restaurant. It's family owned and run, the people work hard and put good, AUTHENTIC Chinese food in front of you. I don't care about fancy American places where the service outdoes the quality and portion of food. I care about good clean food, well-made, and nice simple service at very reasonable prices--all of which this place has. The Italians are the only European country that comes to mind that rivals the Chinese for love of food, but IMHO, Chinese food is far more versatile. Eating good Chinese food reinforces my pride in being Chinese. We simply rock. :)
(5)Hillari H.
A friend of mine recommended this place. I see where others have complained about the look of the place, but the simple decor was not a problem. I ordered the curry beef on rice and it was delicious! I also enjoyed the hot tea, and the staff was friendly. I was greatly satisfied with the portion I received, and the prices cannot be beat. I plan to make this my go-to place for Chinese food.
(4)Ryan P.
I am giving this restaurant 5 stars simply on the fact that they have "THE DISH". That is the affectionate term that we (a group of college buddies back 20 years ago when we first started coming here) gave the BBQ Pork Scrambled Eggs over Rice entree. It is simply, one of the present 'Wonders of the World'. I order nothing else when I come here....because there is no need to order anything else. If everything else in this restaurant tasted terrible (which is not true), I'd still give this place a 5 star rating because of 'THE DISH'. The secret, is in the special way they cook the eggs. I have secretly been trying to perfect this method at home, but to no avail. It eludes my grasp, and now since I have moved away from the Chi, I can only dream of going back to one of my favorite restaurants. Next time you are in, just say "THE DISH". They'll know what you mean.
(5)faith b.
Even though the place could use a good make-over, the food is really good! This is one of the best places to eat if you are craving good chinese food. If you really can't stand how the place looks, I suggest ordering for carry-out.
(4)Penny D.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in Chicago! I used to live right around the corner, and I miss it so much now. Awesome food! I usually get the vegetable Lo Mein and put a little bit of Egg Drop Soup on it. The duck lo mein is also awesome. Also try the seaweed soup if you get a chance. The food is authentically Chinese, but the portions are authentically American!
(5)J F.
Ate at this restaurant a few times many years ago when we lived in the area, thought is was very good and a major value. Fast forward to the present and I found myself eating at Sun Wah a bunch even though we live in the burbs now, so I thought I revisit Hon Kee. Not the trendy, hip vibe of Sun Wah but great food. The duck was better, it was moister and warmer. I'm big fried rice fan, simple dish, but easy to screw up, theirs was the best I've had in a long while. Service, you don't go to these places for the exceptional service, but they we nice and efficient. Price and portions great.
(4)Ross R.
I liked Hon Kee, although I agree with the masses that the service and ambiance leave something to be desired. The ordering process was difficult, because the staff was cleaning the front of the restaurant, and our attempts to hold their attention were futile...I am also fairly sure that they confused my friend and I because the cashier asked my friend for the balance of my meal (for take out)...whatever, all of us hakujin look alike anyways (wrong language, I know). Other than that they were fast and relatively polite. The food, specifically the barbequed pork (served over rice) was very good. I give three stars because of the approachability of the place pretty much reserves it for only the most adventurous non-asians. I can't comment on how Hon Kee barbeque compares to Sun-Wah, because I didn't get like dishes at either place, but I would say that if you are new to Chinese Barbeque, go with Sun-Wah for a more approachable experience. I have a sneaking suspicion I will be returning though...
(3)Khoa N.
I LOVE this place. I've been going here since I was a child. My favorites are the wonton soup and roasted duck. The vegetables with crunchy noodles are really good too. My husband loves their vegetable fried rice. Sooooo cheap and filling! If you're into slurping your food at hole-in-the wall places.... this fits the bill!
(5)Christine U.
Yes, it's a hole-in-the-wall, and yes it's a bit grimy, but the food is tasty and cheap! I've been going here for YEARS, like since I was in high school. I've noticed most of the reviews here say that Sun Wah is better, but not in my book. Plus, it has a lot of sentimental value b/c it's my dad's favorite restaurant. I recommend the roast pork, the dumplings with noodles soup, the salt and pepper shrimp, and the combination fried rice. That's the best combination of dishes EVER. Oh, their Shanghai noodles dish is also fantastic if you like curry.
(4)Rocky B.
Hon Kee is not much in the way of ambience but they serve up some good duck soup. Duck soup like my mom used to make....okay, like my mom used to go and buy from this place in chinatown that's no longer there anymore...but it still reminds me of mom and she did bring it home and put all the stuff together and warm it up so there! Good egg rolls too and fried rice.
(3)DANIEL T.
Yes hole in the wall, scary bathroom . . . but who cares when they serve up the most authentic Cantonese wonton and sui kow (dumplings) in authentic Cantonese soup base made with dried "onespot flounder" (大地魚干) ok, Yelp does not accept Chinese characters, I typed Dai Dei Yue (big earth fish) PERFECT MEAL: Scrambled eggs with prawns on rice - if you grew up in Hong Kong, and if you've seen Ratatouille when Anton Ego tasted Remy's version of Ratatouille, you know what I'm talking about. I was transported back to Hong Kong from the first bite my eyes were getting all watery (given I worked late, was exhausted, and it was January in Chicago with 3 feet of snow outside).
(4)Dan O.
Don't bring your girlfriend here.. Most girls I know hate this place cuz it's not the cleanest place.. but their BBQ pork with scrambled eggs on rice is pretty damn good.
(3)PHIL S.
Big empty place didn't even now it was Chinese. I get dragged here from time to time and I just play it safe and order Pho. Better Pho then Tank, good spring rolls and their Papaya Salad with pork/shrimp sampler platter is pretty damn good. Ok service people don't understand what no mint leaves means.
(3)Bill M.
This Chinese restaurant is about a block east of the Red Line Argyle "L" station. The food is very average, and we go here only if nearby Sun Wah is closed. The ubiquitous ducks hang from the window, and you can have that or some BBQ pork. The chow mein is OK but not as good as Sun Wah. Eat in one of the two dining areas, or have your food to go.
(3)J T.
Up north, if you're looking for carry out barbeque pork, roast duck, and roast pork, this is the place. Never ate in the dining room. We used to patronize SunWah, but their food has gone downhill.
(4)Michael B.
beef fried rice is the benchmark by which i compare chinese restaurants - it's a simple dish, it's a common denominator that exists in pretty much all chinese restaurants, and variation from restaurant can easily be determined. that being said, Hon Kee has the best beef fried rice I have ever had ANYWHERE. period. The place is grimy as heck, but it's still better than sun wah. check out these other great dishes when u get there -beef stew over rice -beef with mushrooms over rice -pancit bihon -mami noodles
(5)Sharon B.
i used to come here every week sometimes 2 times a week with my parents when i was younger. havent gone without them in the past few years but my taste buds have been craving the special mami and the mongolian beef(i think it's called beef with onions now). dont know if the waitress, Mai, still works there but she was always nice and everybody knew us and our order. i hope 2 go back soon.
(5)Jon W.
This is the best value-for-money proposition for a hot meal that I am aware of in the Chicago area. The crew at Hon Kee work hard to keep the modest dining rooms clean and moving fast, and the Chinese barbecue portions are more generous than around the corner. Newcomers may find it difficult to navigate the menu, but once you know a few favorites this is a serious go-to. And OK, the name is kind of a giggle in this racially-mixed neighborhood. Heh. It isn't a date place, it isn't an impress-your-parents place. Hon Kee is a solid "no time to cook tonight, no money to eat fancy" option. Moving just one meal a week from Furama to Hon Kee will save you enough to pay your cell phone bill. :-)
(4)Rachelle G.
I've passed by this restaurant several times and decided to give it a try when I noticed Sun Wah was closed. I tried their duck and bbq pork. Both were a bit dry for my liking. I love duck, but here it tasted a bit gamier than norm. I also found it absurd that none of the dishes come with a side of steamed rice. The server was friendly and attentive. Dishes came out fairly quick. Aesthetic wise, it seems gloomy inside. Tables are distanced nicely so you aren't bumping into one another or overhearing conversations. To put it in lament term's, you don't necessarily feel that it's clean even if you don't see dirt around. Not the best, there are better restaurants to dine at in the area.
(2)A H.
This is one of those "hole in a wall" but is one of my favorite restaurant for good and cheap Chinese food, especially the noodle soup dishes. I go there whenever I have a craving for Won Ton noodle soup. The only reason I don't go there often is that my husband can't stomach the same ethnic cuisine more than once a week. The price is so fantastic...imagine paying $4.25 for a big bowl of noodle soup. There's many different items on the menu for all types of taste. There's noodle dishes, rice dishes, meat dishes, etc. My husband loves the barbecue pork fried rice and orders that as an appetizer. The place is always packed during the weekend with families and locals of the neighborhood.
(4)envane x.
Cantonese joint. I'm usually here when I forget Sun-Wah is closed on Thursdays. Their pork BBQ items are actually better than Sun Wah, but the rest is inferior but acceptable. I usually get the roast pork and tofu over rice. About the cheepest furniture I've ever seen in a restaurant.
(3)Roger B.
This is your typical hole in a wall place with good food. I've only done take out several times and I have never eaten inside the place. The BBQ stuff is good and the dishes aren't bad either. I'd recommending sticking with the "plainer" stuff like the BBQ meet and the congee. Note: normally, I'd rate this place slightly higher, but I think there's probably a better place in "New Chinatown" that I didn't try out yet.
(3)Kimmy N.
Average place for roasted pig and Peking duck. I only come here whenever sun wah is closed. The past few times I've been here...their food has been a little disappointing. Maybe I've been spoiled by sun wah but who knows. The past couple of times the food has been extremely salty or bland. I'm not sure what they're doing wrong but they just need to balance it. The roasted pork has been lack in flavor too. I'll give them a try again if the other place is closed.
(3)Annie V.
My daughter's and my favorite place for duck. The restaurant itself isn't the most modern (hence the 4 stars), but it is clean and they are nice, and they are always fast. They are also fairly priced and have a large menu. My ultimate comfort food is wonton noodle soup, and/or roast duck with a side of water spinach cooked with garlic and white rice. We eat here all the time, the kids love it, I love it, love it love it love it.
(4)Ryan B.
One of the best hole in the wall Chinese restaurants in Chicago. The prices are amazing, the portions are great and the taste is even better.
(5)Lily Z.
Definitely a hole-in-the wall restaurant. The dishes are so cheap. Kind of amazed at how much food you can order for under $60. They do have your typical roast pork, duck and pig. It sounds so simple, but I really liked their egg and bbq pork. Kind of a nice break from all the Vietnamese and pho restaurants.
(3)Sarah G.
There's no fanfare here. There were three Chinese gentleman in their 70s working. Jasmine tea, linoleum floors, generic art. But this food is damn good. The Chinese broccoli with garlic, the duck, the soup, very flavorful and not too heavy or rich. Hot and delicious on a below zero night, the waiter who was old enough to be my grandpa was prompt and courteous. The other 15 or so people in here on a Friday know what's up. We got a huge dinner plus a dish to go for $30. These folks work so hard and the food is simple and amazing. Sun Wah has lots of business- try Hon Kee.
(5)Art T.
It's my first time in Chicago and I only had one day to check out the city. My nice and nephew took me to the city to see some of the sites. Their Father recommended that they should take me to this place. It appears that this place is multi-asian dishes. We ordered: 1. Mami special 2. Crispy Duck 3. Seafood combination 4. Combination fried rice 5. BBQ pork and tofu Let's just say that we had a lot to take home. The food was great! I can't wait to come back again.
(5)Jingles J.
Affordable and tasty food . Good service !!! Love the location ! I always order egg drop soup or wonton soup , EXTRA CRISPY smelt fish , Combination fried rice and the fried watercress with sauce !!! Yum ! Yum ! :)
(4)Henry N.
My family and I have been coming here since 1991 and up to this day the food has been amazing. Super authentic chinese. Roasted duck, beef chow fun, smelt fish, mami special, chinese brocolli in oyster sauce and the shrimp fried rice is what we always order. Very affordable as well. Hopefully once the owners retire they can pass on the recipes and keep this place open!
(5)Tony J.
Best duck in town. The skin is crispy, but not greasy, and it's extremely flavorful, but not overly salty. They also do chicken feet, roasted pork, intestines, and marinated tripe, among other warm noodle dishes and stuff. Great place, great vibe, and the butchers are always friendly. My family has been coming here since 1990 so it's good to see that the family business is continuing strong as usual.
(5)Nancy T.
Delicious food, cheap and the service is very good. I've been eating here ever since I was young. My favorite is the pork and the shrimp fried rice!
(5)Linh L.
Good and comforting. Their food is comparable to Sun Wah for sure. It's a little more on the saltier side though.
(4)Bethany A.
Chinese comfort food, yes. I can easily see this stuff being whipped up in my mom's kitchen. The staff was friendly and accommodated all the people I came with. The decor is nothing to be impressed at, but this is a no frills place. The prices are awesome for what they give you. I tried the barbecue pork with scrambled eggs (sounds kind of like a weird combination, but it works!), roast duck with rice, Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce and seafood over crispy noodles. We also ordered more stuff but I got full before I got around to trying their food. The only dish I could really taste MSG in was the seafood noodles dish, I recommend skipping that one. The duck was okay - nothing special, but it wasn't bad and it was easily the cheapest duck I've ever had. Overall, pretty good food (nothing I'd go to Argyle especially for), but the fact that we fed 10 people for 88 bucks not including tip was pretty amazing.
(3)Pha Nhia Y.
The food here is always great, and whenever I'm in Chicago I always stop here to purchase my roast duck, pork and chicken. But the last time I was here there was a little bit of a language barrier and instead of trying to explain the price of the items I was buying he got annoyed with me and rolled his eyes. The started speaking in a different language and it made me feel very uncomfortable. I have always enjoyed their food, but the last time I was there made the food taste less special. Hopefully next time it will be different.
(4)Michael C.
No frills, good food, cheap prices, nice staff. I'd probably recommend better as a take out option. I'll definitely be going back. And yes, I recommend the BBQ pork with scrambled eggs!
(4)Yvonne H.
This is a no frills restaurant. I don't go for the service or ambiance, I go for dem hanging meats. I usually order to go, but I don't mind eating here once in a blue moon. If you aren't greeted, don't be shy and speak up or go to a table yourself. What I usually order: -BBQ Pork & Scrambled Egg over Rice: I *love* this dish. There's something about the way they cook their scrambled eggs that makes me come back for theirs as opposed to making it at home myself. You can also ask for a sunny side egg instead, which is pretty good too. -Soy sauce chicken, Chinese sausage, and a fried egg over rice: the amount of meat they give you is great, especially for the price. -Wonton noodle soup (egg noodles): huge bowl of piping hot broth with delicious little pockets of meat and noodles. Classic. Their bbq pork is consistently good. Feel free to be adventurous and try the other rice plates available since you won't spend anymore than $7. I've had some other rice plates and they're great.
(4)Julie F.
Stop by their booth at and Argyle Night Market, GREAT Sesame ball! They had the most unique (non American Chinese) options at the Market. I'll be stopping in this restaurant some time for sure!
(4)Joe K.
Service is quick. Place is not fancy or glamorous but those are the best places to eat. I tried about 8 dishes Top dishes to try are the BBQ pork, Roasted Pork, and wonton soup. (Good food at a CHEAP ass price) My opinion the other foods that I tried are 2.5/5 stars Overall a good place to eat for quick and cheap.
(4)Nikki K.
The only thing negative about this place is that it's a total dive. But other than that their bbq pork with scrambled eggs over rice is a-ma-zing.
(5)Jennifer J.
OMG I love this place. Special Beef Mami Soup is amazing! It's not on the menu but Ed (the owner) will happily bring you a giant bowl if you ask for it. I love their shredded duck lo mein and the fried watercress with garlic sauce. I love love love this place. So authentic and so YUM.
(4)Kevin M.
It wasn't very good. When you walk in, it smells pretty bad from the mini Asian slaughter house that they have at the front. The sauce for my meal wasn't bad, but the chicken it self did not taste right. There are better Chinese places that I will go to in the future.
(3)Patrick D.
This so far has been my most disappointing review of a restaurant on Argyle. The tea, though free, was just average. My entree was the duck and noodle soup. The duck was mostly bone and cartilage. The noodles were a quality similar to Raman as was the extremely salty broth. My friend got the chicken fried rice and did not enjoy it enough to finish it. The floor had visible amounts of dirt on it, and although the food came out quickly, the staff was ambivalent to us the entire time. There apparently was a credit card minimum, and I had to pay cash, which is a testament to how cheap their food is.
(3)M M.
This place is awesome. Definitely my ex-boyfriend and I'd go-to spot. Cheap and delicious. Compared to SunWah's down the street, not as packed (truly a hidden/ forgotten gem). We love the $5-6 combo meals- I always get the roast duck and roast pork combo. YUM! their spicy fried shrimp is superb as well. To top it off, their waiters are hilarious.
(5)Jacob J.
After hearing so much about Peking duck and Chinese BBQ, a pal and I decided on Sun Wah BBQ; but those bums were quoting us a forty five minute wait at 6 pm on a Friday evening. On top of that it was mostly dead and they kept reserved signs on 75% of their tables. WTF. So, since we already paid for parking at a lot nearby (only $2 mind you, close to this Hon Kee restaurant) we decided to walk around and find another place. Since Argyle is around the corner from Sun Wah, we walked up and down the street, peeking in windows at their fare and finally decided on this spot. Okay, after a quick consult with the Yelp app on my smart phone and seeing a few mentions, we came to the conclusion to check out this spot. This is a family style dive. It's pretty bare bones in here, so you need to bring people with you that won't comment on deficiencies. It's not everyone's kind of eatery. We found service to be more miss than hit. Meals are pretty cheap and for a duo, you can easily spend less than ten dollars (depending) or less than twenty five if dining on the duck. The full duck portion is enough to feed three and costs a little less than fifteen dollars. Something I haven't read much of or heard many say; which I will share with you is that you must be willing to eat bland and fatty meat if having the duck. Don't shoot me, it's just my opinion on it. With the duck they gave some sort of soy sauce concoction which was just okay and not enough was given. I am a sauce fiend and desperately needed chili sauce and or sweet and sour sauce. S&S was for whichever reason not available. I was less than thrilled with the taste of the duck, it was pretty boring for me actually. I tore off the skin and each time I did that my Mongolian friend was questioning my movements. Mongolian people appreciate the flavor of meats as they are, sauce or spices aren't needed. We worked it out though. I gave him all my skins and he was happy. We ordered a full duck, a plate of the BBQ pork (dry & meh) and a couple OJ's for mixer. It's family oriented in here, so you might like to keep a bag with you (for BYOB) otherwise you'll get a lot of stares. I like all kinds of Asian and Chinese foods. I can appreciate good dives. I can tell you about a $5 plate of teriyaki chicken served at a Vietnamese donut shop.. that would blow your mind, but I couldn't find the flavor or special about this place. Service was not good and the table could have been cleaner. Yeesh. A 2.5 star experience that I will leave at three.
(3)Zen G.
Dear God, Thank you for inventing Chinese people and the wonderful flavors, variety, and gastro-goodness that is Chinese food. It's comfort food at its best. Amen NOW, let's get to it: I've been a fan since I first discovered this place, and today, being especially hungry, ordered ALOT of food for myself--takeout. 1. barbecue pork with dofu rice box -- YUM, great portion and ratio of pork to dofu to rice. Soft dofu, everything cooked right! 2. Chinese sausage fried rice -- YUM, almost like mom's. The only thing I'd add would be a handful of raw scallions on top. 3. won ton soup with noodles -- (haven't eaten yet but had it before) YUM. THIS is as good if not better than many places in Chinatown. 4. stir fried watercress with garlic -- YUM, because it's so good, and such a nice way to balance out a protein-heavy meal. 5. 1/2 lb of roast pork, chopped right there -- YUM. NO ONE, I DON'T CARE IF IT'S THOSE FROM THE SOUTH OR ANYWHERE ELSE, CAN DO ROAST PORK (whole pig roasted here) LIKE THE CHINESE CAN!!!! The pork skin is sooo good! Even smelling the wafting scents of my leftovers cooling on the counter in my kitchen gives me mental food-gasms. I love this place because it reminds me of growing up in my parents' own restaurant. It's family owned and run, the people work hard and put good, AUTHENTIC Chinese food in front of you. I don't care about fancy American places where the service outdoes the quality and portion of food. I care about good clean food, well-made, and nice simple service at very reasonable prices--all of which this place has. The Italians are the only European country that comes to mind that rivals the Chinese for love of food, but IMHO, Chinese food is far more versatile. Eating good Chinese food reinforces my pride in being Chinese. We simply rock. :)
(5)Ryan P.
I am giving this restaurant 5 stars simply on the fact that they have "THE DISH". That is the affectionate term that we (a group of college buddies back 20 years ago when we first started coming here) gave the BBQ Pork Scrambled Eggs over Rice entree. It is simply, one of the present 'Wonders of the World'. I order nothing else when I come here....because there is no need to order anything else. If everything else in this restaurant tasted terrible (which is not true), I'd still give this place a 5 star rating because of 'THE DISH'. The secret, is in the special way they cook the eggs. I have secretly been trying to perfect this method at home, but to no avail. It eludes my grasp, and now since I have moved away from the Chi, I can only dream of going back to one of my favorite restaurants. Next time you are in, just say "THE DISH". They'll know what you mean.
(5)Hillari H.
A friend of mine recommended this place. I see where others have complained about the look of the place, but the simple decor was not a problem. I ordered the curry beef on rice and it was delicious! I also enjoyed the hot tea, and the staff was friendly. I was greatly satisfied with the portion I received, and the prices cannot be beat. I plan to make this my go-to place for Chinese food.
(4)Tian Y.
Came here for peking duck when cravings struck on a Thursday, when Sun Wah is closed. Used to walk by this place all the time in Argyle but was repelled by the appearance and always opted for other, better decorated restaurants down the street instead. But Yelpers, I trusted y'all, and you didn't disappoint! I could see myself coming back to try more things as an alternative to other packed restaurants. The duck is a suitable alternative to Sun Wah, but the skin is a little less crispy, the color is a little less vibrant, the texture a bit too chewy, and the flavor is just a little less spot on. It's good, but not amazing. In my book, it goes Sun Wah, Mom, THEN Hon Kee. But Mom lives hundreds of miles away, so Hon Kee it is. Can't complain for the price though. Around $15 I think, but no pancakes/ganishes/hoisin - not sure if they serve those here. Also got some pretty decent seafood noodle soup. Nice assortment of everything. And bbq pork with veggies over rice, a huge portion for a ridiculous price, and pretty good. Good place for a nice casual meal. On Thursdays and other days of the week.
(4)Feb S.
Taste: 4/5 Location: 3.5/5 Cleanliness: 2.5/5 Ambience: 2.5/5 Value for Money: 4/5 (Price, given the Food Taste) Service: 3/5 If you crave Chinese food and are looking for an affordable place, Hon Kee is one of those restaurants that meet these requirements. I ordered the BBQ Pork with Scrambled Egg over Rice ( goo.gl/xJA7E ), Beef with Tofu over Rice ( goo.gl/G4v6s ), and Roast Duck Noodles Soup ( goo.gl/olXuD ). The tastiest among all was the BBQ Pork with Scrambled Egg over Rice. I think this is one of their signature dishes as well. Overall, great taste for the price.
(4)Brian G.
I've been coming here for as long as I remember. It is one of my all time favorites. Whenever I'm in the area I have to stop by. Same owner since forever, family run. I always get the Barbecued Pork w/ Scrambled Eggs over rice. A lot of people know it as 554 from Seven Treasures Chinatown but it is definitely prepared differently. In my opinion it it's better than 554 but then again I've been eating it from here since I was a wee lad. So not knocking 554, it's just different. Also the Special Mami aka Wonton noodle soup is the best. Their broth has real flavor, wonton dumplings are fresh. We also usually get the roast duck which is good. This place is excellent for getting BBQ pork, roast duck, etc. from the window display. It's funny to see passers-by who aren't used to seeing that stuff react to seeing whole ducks with their heads still on. I think most people tend to forget that the food we eat were actual living animals at one point haha. The only knock is the restaurant itself needs updating but I feel the food itself and the cheap prices make up for it. If you have $5 I'd rather fill up on the Barbecued Pork w/ Scrambled eggs over rice than getting a value meal from McDonald's for $6
(5)Amy L.
I have been coming here since I was kid - it's my go to for authentic Cantonese food. Food: 3/3 Stars My favorite Wonton Noodle Soup place - the soup tastes like it should - like it's been cooked for hours with hints of chicken. And the wonton is amazing - just the right amount of pork and shrimp! And for less than 5 bucks? Yes please! And the BBQ pork. Wow. I've avoided BBQ pork since I had it in Vietnam, but this place does it right! Great consistency - moist and tender. And the flavor hits the nail on the head. Service: 1/1 Stars Service is what you would typically find at an Asian restaurant, but I must say the older, male waiter is pretty friendly. Environment: .5/1 Stars Plenty of seating, but the place could use an upgrade in furniture and design.
(5)Hannah P.
My parents use to go here a long time ago...I mean like 10 years ago and since then we've found other favorites. Went her due to a friends suggestion and I had to idea there was a mami special soup. I love soup and had to try it. I love Mami soup and can't believe I found it...thanks to someone who took a pic of it and posted here on yelp. When in need of hot soup, I'm here instead of going all the way to Chinatown.
(4)Lizzy R.
We stumbled into this place on a frigid snowy day, after a morning of shopping on Argyle, because we were told that they had the best wonton noodle soup outside of Chinatown. We sat down (after standing around awkwardly for a few minutes before we realized that we were supposed to seat ourselves) and were promptly given a pot of piping hot tea, which was a godsend, as we were freezing our butts off! After a 2-second look at the menu, I ordered the wonton noodle soup with the addition of barbecued pork. The waiter gave me one of those knowing smiles, as if to say "Good job, tiny white girl, you just ordered the best thing on the menu." And he was not wrong. The soup came out quickly and was everything I wanted it to be. Piping hot, full of perfectly chewy noodles, very flavorful broth, and wontons with just the right mix of pork and shrimp. And don't even get me started on the barbecued pork! The portion was big enough that I took home enough for lunch the next day. I will definitely be back for soup again very soon!
(5)Sambath M.
My family and I have been going to Hon Kee for over 30 years now. We are loyal customers for various reasons: great food, great service, and the hospitality we receive from the family that owns the restaurant. It's one of our favorite places to eat, and we're never disappointed.
(5)Miguel A.
Tried this place because Sun Wah was closed (on a Thursday? Interesting.) I have heard the hype about this place so decided to make my way here. Basically you get what you paid for--prices are dirt cheap and the portions are filling however the quality of the ingredients are not the finest. Definitely recommend the noodle soups but the BBQ duck was too dry/tasted overcooked. Restaurant lacks general cleanliness but the service is good.
(3)Robert H.
I have to say that upon entering I was thoroughly underwhelmed by both the employees and the decor of this establishment. I stood there for what felt like an uncomfortable amount of time waiting for one of the employees milling about to either seat me or to indicate that I should seat myself. When it became apparent nobody was going to acknowledge me I found an empty table and sat down. From that point on then things started to improve. A man quickly arrived at my table and provided me with a menu. By this time I was a little unhappy and just decided to play it safe and went with the sweet and sour shrimp with a couple eggrolls added to it and was not expecting much based on my initial impressions of the service and decor. As far as the decor goes to be fair to the restaurant there really was nothing wrong with it, it just wasn't anything that you'd notice and appreciate. First to arrive were the eggrolls. I was very pleasantly surprised that they actually tasted good. Granted they definitely appeared to be the pre-made variety that all Chinese restaurants here in the city seem to serve. They were pretty decent sized and unlike most other places theirs actually had good flavor to them and I enjoyed them! Most eggrolls I've had here in Chicago are pretty flavorless. The sauce they served with the eggrolls was excellent and took a good item up into the very good category. Next came my sweet and sour shrimp and rice. I was really amazed at the excellent flavor of the shrimp. I can't put my finger on what the extra flavor they put in it was, but I sure can say it was delicious! Another thing it had going for it was that there were decent sized shrimp inside it which is huge with me since I hate getting a big mound of breading and then not hardly being able to find tiny little shrimp in it. Thankfully that was not the case here. The rice was pretty flavorless and I suspect they were using cheap American rice instead of the more flavorful Asian types. Overall it was a very good meal and I can see myself stopping back in if I'm in the area, but due to the lackluster welcome and the uninspiring decor I don't see myself ever taking company from out of state there to eat.
(4)Justine M.
Inside didn't leave much to the imagination - was small and a bit unkept...I came to pick up food I ordered (pros is that it only took 10 min to make). Got Roast duck on rice plate. They gave me quite a helpful amount of food for $5. It was a bit of overload on the rice, though. came with just a bit of bok choy. It was alright - not the best. They don't take card for orders under $12. I had to go to an ATM to pay. I wasn't pre-warned either. Had to leave and come back...
(2)Audre L.
Ha! I'm amazed to see that this place has earned 4 stars on yelp. I was expecting yelpers to bash this place, but lo and behold, Yelp tells the truth! This place is a bit of a dive for sure, but with really solid food. My family comes here, often for take out but often for eating in as well. When Sun Wah is packed, this is our backup plan. Get what looks good to you, but here are some solid recommendations: Clams with Black Bean Sauce Water Spinach with Garlic Tofu and Pork Roasted Duck - 1/2 a duck for 4 people
(4)Hannah E.
I can remember the day I first saw this place like it was yesterday. My mom and I were trying out Pho 777 across the street (not recommended) and when we got up to leave it was pouring outside, pouring so violently that even though our car was right out front, we didn't want to make a run for it. So we stood in the doorway, waiting for it to clear, and when it did, the first thing we were able to see through the lessening rain was a big sign: Hon Kee Restaurant. We giggled about that one for about a half hour. A Chinese restaurant called, basically, Honky? MUST TRY. Well, I was unable to try it - it was closed both times I went, and then I had to go back home to Colorado, then California. A year passed. But yesterday was the day. There's nothing particularly special about this place, though, other than the name... and the price! We got 1/4 roast duck and BBQ pork over scrambled eggs and rice for $10, tea included. Some say the duck here is better than Sun Wah - I wouldn't go that far. There are three things I look for in roast duck: not overcooked, a crispy, fatty skin, and sauce that isn't too sweet. Sun Wah fulfills all three of these briefs, and Hon Kee only two (they do overcook the duck a bit). However, for $4.75, I don't think I've got the right to complain. It's still tasty, with near-perfect skin. The BBQ pork dish has so-fatty-it's practically-translucent red-skinned pork over flavorful scrambled eggs, and for my tastes, I liked the layered flavors of this dish better. If you want duck or pork that may not be wonderful but is definitely better than the 5 bucks you've got, this is the place to get it.
(3)Jeremy C.
I've been coming here with my family since the 80s, well before this stretch of Argyle Street became a foodie paradise. Their won ton noodle soup is better than anything I've had in Chinatown. If you're a meat eater, their roast meats hanging in their storefront never fail to impress. Even something simple as congee -rice soup- is absolutely delicious. One thing that you must get is the fried smelt. You'll thank me later.
(5)Arlene G.
i cant keep writing reviews about this place everytime i visit cuz i would have at least 5o reviews of it then! but my fam ate here this weekend & everythin we ate was soooo yummy! bbq pork, lechon, roast duck, noodle soup with dumplins, chinese broccoli & kang kong! (not sure if thats the english name or not) i ate until i was about 2 throw up! i walked out with such a full belly that i didnt even wanna look at food anymore! yummy yummy yummy!!!
(5)Lina W.
They have the best won ton noodle soup and lean pork-thousand year egg congee in uptown! The restaurant offers pretty tasty food for relatively cheap price. The service is fast and nice.
(4)Melody L.
This rating is based entirely on their menu. I've been coming here since I was a wee baby and have been ordering pretty much the same thing for 27 years. Start off with a bowl of their wonton soup with no noodles, then onto the roasted duck with rice. My parents always ordered the seafood combination and then chinese broccoli which was also appetizing. This is quite the 'hole in the wall' type of restaurant, but the food is well worth it!
(4)George T.
We did come to have lunch where we ordered shrimp won ton added roast pork and noodles to soups, gai lan chow fun with beef, salt pepper shrimp,rice. Service was lack luster seems like they had one waiter for 8 tables he was doing everything busing tables, taking order. Feeling bad that they were understaffed, we did get up to get water. The restaurant was hot I'm guessing the AC was out. Food was, as expected, a great value. This might be just an odd/off day.
(3)Michael V.
This is your favorite Chinese restaurants favorite Chinese restaurant. I also love saying Hon Kee.
(5)Lauren B.
One of the better Chinese places in the area. Duck is great and I love their egg rolls. Not much else to say! We always to take out and haven't had any issues.
(4)Michael G.
So, where can two poor, white dudes go for inexpensive Chinese food in Chicago? Why, Hon Kee of course (because Kra Kur and Wi Tee don't exist). True story. While sitting and watching a new movie exhibit at the Chicago History Museum called, "My Chinatown," I turned to my father (who was visiting from Michigan) and said, "is it just me or do you crave Chinese food now?" Being as we're family and have the same stomach, he did. Since I wanted to show my dad the less touristy Asian section of town, the CHM is off the 36 bus, and we're both too poor to afford south side Chinatown, we headed to Uptown for a good, authentic meal. Hon Kee is the Chinese (Cantonese to be specific) equivalent of a taqueria. It's a little hole in the wall practically under the Red Line on Argyle. The only thing to separate it from any of the other restaurants on the street is the ducks in the window (it also serves as a deli counter). But the food is just about every bit as good as everywhere else I've tried up there - Chinese and Vietnamese - except about half the price. Fried rices, noodle dishes, huge soups, and basically the rest of the menu except for the dinners are all right around $5.00. And they don't skimp. My father got shrimp and vegetables over rice, and there were full sized, carefully prepared, shrimp swarming (or whatever shrimp do when they travel in packs) over the top. My egg foo young consisted of three patties. It wasn't the greatest I've ever had (it was a tiny bit flavorless) but it was definitely worth $5.00. Neither of us left with anything on our plates but for lesser eaters (again, we're family, so we've both got bottomless stomachs) there would probably have been enough left for dinner. Service was a little spotty at times. For example, we didn't get water until we requested it midway through the meal. But they give free tea at every table. It wouldn't be the first place I'd choose on Argyle. But not because the name is in any way derogatory or anything, mostly just because it's not really a special treat sort of place (and Uptown isn't a neighborhood I regularly visit except on special occasions). Still if I'm in the market for bargain Chinese food again, I would go here in a hot (or freezing cold) minute.
(4)iddells E.
I have been eating here for over 2 decades and Hon Kee's food is consistently amazing! I always order the roasted duck, hot and sour soup, beef chow mein, and fried rice. Hon Kee is far from your typical Americanized Chinese restaurant...they are better than that, much better! The roasted duck is so tender and the skin is so juicy! I love sucking on the bones! The hot and sour soup sets the bar for all the other restaurants. The soup is hot as it is sour, just as it should be! The fried rice isn't oily and it has that grilled taste to it. As for the beef chow mein, I'm loving the crunchy noodles and large pieces of beef! I also enjoy their roasted lechon. True, this restaurant lacks ambiance, but who the hell cares? It's not about that here, it's about the food!! Wonderful, delicious, Chinese food. Oh, and this place is CHEAP!!!
(5)Jean P.
living in the north shore, when we have a craving for wonton noodle soup and don't feel like going all the way to Chinatown, this is just as good alternative. They're Peking duck is pretty good too
(4)Ken I.
I have been going to this restaurant for the last 15 years ... every Saturday or Sunday. Hands down, they have the best noodle soups in town. It's very hard to recreate the stock - don't know what they have in it, but it is truly delicious. Try the shrimp dumpling with noodles. Their soya chicken is phenomenal, so are the duck and roast pork (lechon). Also, shrimp and scrambled eggs - tell the waiter to use big shrimp and separate from the rice - is very good here too, and finally their egg foo young and their congees are also good. For about six bucks for noodles, you can have a great meal! They have a huge Filipino following that I call this as the best Filipino restaurant in town - they have even some Filipino dishes like pancit canton and special mami (not in the menu) - a big bowl of yellow noodles with shrimp dumpling and beef. (Early in their existence, I remember them asking their customers what they wanted to be served so they can put them in the menu - so the Flip dishes.)
(5)John K.
Hon Kee is my favorite place to eat in Argyle. It greatly prefer Hon Kee than Sun Wah because: 1. Cheaper prices. Hon Kee only raised prices moderately recently, while Sun Wah has raised price multiple times since reopening, taking advantage of their popularity. Note that both are still very affordable, but as a college student, I am happy to save that few $ for a meal. 2. Excellent roast duck (and cheaper). Both Hon Kee and Sun Wah sell excellent roast duck that goes up and down in terms of quality. Since I'm sure not many people can't tell them apart (I can't), so why not buy save a few bucks and get Hon Kee's roast duck? 3. Not crowded unlike Sun Wah. I've always gotten seats immediately at Hon Kee, but at Sun Wah I've waited up to 45 minutes. 4. Hon Kee's staff seems more earnest, while Sun Wah's staff has an attitude problem. I've also seen Sun Wah's owner (elder daughter) and one senior looking waitress publicly berate their junior staff. You might think that since Sun Wah is always more crowded, their food must be better than Hon Kee's. WRONG. I suspect the reason why Sun Wah is crowded is because most non-Asian Americans appreciate Sun Wah's (seemingly) cleaner premise and newer decor. And also because Sun Wah's menu comes with colorful pictures, and of course their more prominent location along Broadway. If you take the time to walk further east from Broadway and the L to Hon Kee, you will be rewarded with a less hectic, significantly cheaper and equally delicious meal!
(5)Weisun C.
This is the same as "Hon Kee Chinese" here on Yelp. In the Argyle-Broadway Chinatown/VietNam-town neighborhood, you've got essentially two choices for Cantonese-style barbeque: Hon Kee or Sun Wah (now north on Broadway). In the opinion of those whose tastes matter to me, it's Hon Kee, hands down. This place is tops for their roast pork (the crispy skinned, hanging side of pig), bar-b-q pork (strips of pork in reddish marinate), roast duck, and roast chicken. Always buy from the order window, have them chop it up for you, and take it home. As others have cautioned, this is not a place for sit-down dining, even for lunch. If you crave some good Cantonese food served to you in a nice setting, go to their competition, Sun Wah. And in a spirit of co-operation and mutual profit, Hon Kee and Sun Wah have worked their schedules out so that we diners seeking Chinese BBQ can get our cravings for bar-b-qued pork, roast chicken or duck, or mixed pork innards, 7-days-a-week. When Hon Kee is closed on Tuesdays, you'll find that Sun Wah is open, while Hon Kee stays open on Thursdays when Sun Wah is closed. Nice, huh?
(4)George O.
I have only ever ordered meat for takeout. I actually like Hon Kee better than Sun Wah. Why? 1 - The prices are way better. 2 - While Sun Wah roast pork and BBQ pork can be better, they seem to be somehow inconsistent. Hon Kee is consistently good, and Sun Wah has been not as good as Hon Kee more often than not. 3 - That duck sauce is good. Real good. Some issues? 1 - Credit card minimum. It takes something like a pound of bbq pork and a whole duck to reach it. 2 - It's kinda dirty looking. And the service doesn't seem too great, which hasn't been an issue for me, but if you're sitting, that could be a problem. 3 - Cute new cashier dude is I'm pretty sure jailbait. Or at least close to it. 2/2 of my Chinese friends that have tried their stuff have responded very favorably. I should probably tell the rest of them about this place...
(4)Monica M.
This is a classic argyle staple. Used to live in the neighborhood in my younger years and it's still where my family stops and gets won ton noodles. They have roasted ducks and pigs in the window. both are legit. No this isn't what you would call fine dining. The place is dingy and old. You don't go for the atmosphere. You go food the family that works there. I've been told they make the egg noodles in the back. Make them as in produce sell and distribute to all over the city....thats pretty cool.
(4)Marvin A.
Rule number 1: Do not compare this place to your Panda Express or even your american-esque (yeah I'm talking to you sweet and sour chicken!) chinese restaurants. Rule number 2: Service is a luxury. Rule number 3: Appearances can be deceiving. With all these rules considered, Hon Kee is by far the best place for some cheap authentic Chinese grub. It's comfort food! Chinese Soul Food if you will! I have gone here with my family ever since I was little and it's become a family favorite. I usually get the beef flank noodle soup or the wonton soup. Don't forget to add BBQ pork Siopao (meat bun) to your order! We also love the roasted duck but we usually order a half duck for takeaway. If you feel the sanitation is suspect, remember to go to the bathroom prior to entering this place. You could also pour yourself a nice cup of hot tea and bathe your utensils in it if you so please.
(4)Minh D.
Decent Chinese restaurant in the north side. Excellent Chinese food is found in China town, not in uptown. This is authentic Chinese good but not refined like that found in China town. Living in the north side I come here almost every weekend. My favorite... chow fun, seafood chow fun, noodles with beef stew. ground beef with rice. beef stew with rice. side order of the roast pork - FRESH! Cheap quality Chinese food for north siders!
(4)Michelle L.
Best Chinese restaurant! Seriously good food, and great price. I love love love their wanton noodles soup. It tastes authentic, and has large dumplings stuffed with pork and shrimp. Although the price has risen a little, but it's still cheaper than sun wah's. And also get their roast meats, it's awesome.
(5)Melissa G.
I've been coming here my whole life and it is STILL my favorite Chinese restaurant ever! It's not classy, but it has extremely tasty food. You can get delicious noodle soups with your choice of meat (I love the simple won ton with rice noodles), and their fried rice is the best! They also have less popular Chinese favorites like Beef with Salted and Picked Vegetables and Fish with Bittermelon which my family and I LOVE. The prices are unbeatable and the portions are huge. If you're not comfortable dining in, since the decor is minimal and purely functional, definitely get it as take out! Writing this review has made me hungry... I know what I am having for dinner tomorrow!
(5)Marcus Z.
I know this place for one thing. BBQ Pork with scramble egg. I've been coming here for 15 years now. Place still looks the same and they've got the same staff still working there. Prices haven't changed much so that's a bonus :)
(4)Alisa N.
Great place to eat authentic Chinese food! The place inside isn't much, but the food definitely makes up for it. Also, the prices are super cheap :) I will go back for sure!
(4)Nikki C.
for those that know, this is it. there is a menu not on the menu. its all in the way you order to make this place the place. you see the lechon all in its glory carried out from the back of heaven's grill and to the front it is chopped up with krispy skin to feed your soul. you see the ducks enticing and just as beautiful as an episode of baywatch with curvaceous bodies and meaty breasts all ready for the mouth orgy. the odors of the day tell you this is not about the cerebral, but more about the primal. the place to feed the beast which does not care about the eye f8ck, but more the mouth and tummy f8ck as you close your eyes and stuff the meat hole into moisturizing passion. not a place for the gf to impress, but more for the soul partner to share in a moment of primal lust and dirty durty.
(4)Jacob Y.
Ok...Hon Kee is DEFINITELY not one of those places you go to admire the ambiance...that's for sure...but this dive Chinese restaurant is one of my favorites. So if you expect linens and flowers on the tables...go somewhere else. With that out of the way...Hon Kee is great in my opinions for three main reasons: 1) They sell traditional Chinese BBQ delicacies like BBQ Pork, Roast Pork, Roast Duck and Soy Sauce Chickens. 2) They have a wide variety of rice and noodle dishes, in addition to traditional Chinese stews and soups (like congee!). 3) You get a decent sized delicious meal without spending an arm and a leg. So, for $5, you can get a plate of rice with half a duck and a cup of tea! McDonald's step aside. I just wish they would deliver because I would order them EVERY day!
(3)Janet E.
A great alternative to Sun Wah! I came here because Sun Wah had moved and I didnt know where it had moved to (now I know...). The duck and roasted pork tasted delicious! I even think it was less fatty than Sun Wah (but maybe it was just the cut I had randomly gotten). I also ordered bbq beef chow fun and fish filet with chinese broccoli. Both were yummie too! Overall reasonably priced. Half a duck is $7. I forget how much half a pound of roast pork was...I think maybe $3? Definitely cheap! The service was fast and staff understands English. Its also clean which is a BIG plus!
(4)Liz P.
Man, I dunno about this place. It has such rave reviews, and yet my experience left much to be desired. For one thing, there were screaming children running around and, yes, screaming, all throughout dinner. It made my dining partner and myself extremely agitated, anxious and annoyed that we had to deal with that sort of ambiance. We both opted for wonton soup, assuming that it would be a smaller portion. Nope, we were wrong--if you want soup as an appetizer, share a bowl between two, maybe even three, people. It's a huge serving. It wasn't that good, though. I believe they used a fish broth which didn't really work with the flavors. Moving on....for our entrees, we both got BBQ duck on rice, and it just was not good! I can't help but compare to Sun Wah, which does duck and rice perfectly. This place used odd spices/seasonings that did not work well, and the rice had an odd flavor. I really wanted to like this place, because hole-in-the-wall Chinese joints tend to be awesome. Sadly, not so for Hon Kee.
(2)Adam F.
The absolute best duck in the neighborhood. On Thursday.
(3)Mike L.
A couple of friends and I ordered take-out from Hon Kee last night (Sunday). First impression - a few roasted birds hanging in the window, one of which had a long neck on it (turkey?),. Like pretty much everything else on that stretch of Argyle, you get the feeling the health inspectors don't come by too often...There was literally nobody in the place, and I was glad we were just picking up the food and getting out of there. As for the food, it was definitely cheap, which I am a huge fan of. We started with an order of egg rolls, and they were greasy and great, just what I was in the mood for. I guess we didn't get too adventurous with the order: sweet & sour chicken, lo mein (veggie I think), and broccoli (stalks of some kind). It was all just-ok, nothing special. I'm pretty sure the lo mein was just a bunch of ramen noodles with some oil and veggies thrown in. I've had better Chinese, but maybe we just didn't order right. Not going to rush back, but it didn't make me rush to the bathroom...
(3)Zack W.
This is a traditional Hong Kong style restaurant serving decent cheap authentic southern cuisine with big portion. The ambiance and deco are not holes-on-the-wall but not too far off... Cleanness is typical Asian style... not for the weak-hearted. The menu is simple. Nothing fancy here. There is BBQ meat hanging by the windows. We sample seaweed soup, shrimp over pan-fried egg noodles, and curry chicken. It comes in large portion. The soup is "small" but enough for 4 easily. Imagine what a "large" will do. The curry chicken is standard, and it will please the American easily, with a bit sweetness (onion) and not too heavy on spices. The pan-friend egg noodles are done good, with adequate bok choy, vegetables, and shrimps. Guess what, we have doggy bags. So diners, there is nothing fancy here but a good decent traditional HK style foods, in New Chinatown.
(4)Melanie V.
It was Christmas Eve. My dad needed bbq pork for his fried rice. So, he sent us to Argyle. He did a Google search and found the reviews for Hon Kee on Yelp! I was amused. Anyway, $5.50/lb for bbq pork! For a whole pound! They had all this other fun stuff, too - duck, soy sauce chicken, fried pork...mmmmm. Soy sauce chicken is definitely one of my favs, so so good.
(3)The C.
Seriously, the food here is totally awesome and beyond reasonable in terms of price. The place is a little Mom and Pop hole in the wall establishment with excellent food. I have recently been on a huge mega binge of salt and pepper shrimp, and I've gone to a bazillion locations all over Chicago in search of the best, and believe me - I've been almost everywhere. Hon Kee has it - and I'm not going broke for them here either! I so adore them here... Seriously give this place a try. Its appearance is nothing special, but the food here is great!
(5)Shane P.
Went here for lunch before a Bears game. Was hard to find and then get change for street parking, but around here it's all the same. So I ordered the duck and it was amazing! Easily the best duck I've ever had. The portions with rice are large and we ordered way too much for 4. Paid only 50$ and was stuffed with left overs, except the duck was all gone. Cleaner restaurant would have boosted my rating, but then again it's a Chinese joint.
(3)Jenni Q.
I come here all the time to get my BBQ pork fix (bbq pork with fried egg over rice, bbq pork lo mein with oyster sauce, bbq pork with wonton noodle soup). The food always tastes great and the prices are unbeatable! They have several rice dishes and noodle soups for less than $4. I've only physcially eaten there a few times (we usually do takeout) and never expect much from a chinese restaurant but the place is actually pretty clean and the service is really good. Their wonton noodle soup isn't as good as Seven Treasures (but still good). The beef and broccoli chow fun is absolutely delicious. The meat is good (not questionable like at other chinese restaurants) and they give you a ton of sauce so its not dried out. I always split with my sister because they give you so much food. Overall a tasty dependable chinese restaurant with unbeatable prices.
(4)Carolyn T.
Yes, I know the linoleum is all ripped up. Yes, I know that guy standing there with the butcher's knife and bloodied apron looks mean. But man, this is Chinese comfort food through and through, just like I remember from my childhood. I adore their congee. Like Goldilocks says, "This congee is juuuuust right!" It's not watered down, it's got a generous amount of tastiness added (meat, fish, preserved egg, whatever), and it smells of good yummy ginger. My other favorite dish is the water spinach with spicy bean curd. They give you heaps and heaps and heaps of it, and unlike many places, the veg is fresh and crisp, not drowned in yesterday's cooking oil. Where to next...butcher counter. Duck, chicken, pork, wings, unidentifiable animal gizzards, tripe... If you're not an adventurous eater, skip this next sentence. The tripe is fantastic and the best I've had in Chicago. Whatever they season it with, whatever method they use to cook it, it's awesome. If you're Chinese, then my goodness, if this just isn't a taste of home. The bbq pork (char siu) is also really good. I hate it when restaurants overcook it so it's dry. Hong Kee does it really well. And, if you're not adventurous, try any of their noodle dishes. This is such a great weeknight restaurant for those chilly fall days!
(5)Frankie J.
Top three questionably named Asian restaurants in Chicago: 3. Hong Kee 2. Poong Mee (now defunct) 1. Hoe Toy NUMBER 3 Aside from all the obvious jokes, this is, and I am guessing, a Szechuan style Chinese restaurant. This is important, since Argyle has a number of mixed or alternate origin restaurants (Double Happiness is Chinese Vietnamese - see review). HOW MUCH IS THAT DUCK IN THE WINDOW Like Sun Wah, this is a barbecue and meat place. You buy pre-cooked meat from here and eat it either in the store or at home. See Sun Wah review. The meat here is very tasty and I highly recommend you try the char siu (barbecue pork) or any of the poultry dishes. SIT & EAT The menu consists of noodle soups, congees (rice porridge), rice plates, and individual family style dishes. Family style means you SHARE. We had the noodle soup with bbq pork. The noodles were perfect, the pork was flavored nicely, and the soup was a tad salty, but good. The other dishes that came by looked plentiful and well prepared. Everyone around us was ordering a lot. CAVEATS Understand that this is a traditional Chinese place, so you can also order something on the menu and you won't know whats in it. Ask the waiter if it is what you THINK it is. All in all, this place is clean, quick, and tasty. Just don't ask for the boss and ask him if he is the number one...
(3)Albert H.
This place is a block east of the Argyle Red line stop and I gotta say I really enjoyed my food here. This place is definitely a hole-in-the-wall kind of joint. Nothing too fancy about it, just traditional Chinese cuisine. I got the BBQ Pork and scrambled eggs on rice for about $9 and It was sooo good. I was only able to eat like half of it, but I would recommend this place to anyone in the area.
(5)Chicago g.
Prices went up a little bit but is still cheap and totally worth it.
(5)Kevin A.
ANALYST DOWNGRADE: HOW DO YOU MESS UP JOOK? I'm not sure how you mess up jook/congee. After all the primary ingredients are rice and water. In any case, this was the worst jook I've ever had. Gloppy and utterly tasteless, I felt like I was eating a bowl of Elmer's glue. Also, the BBQ, while good just can't compare to Sun Wah down the street.
(3)Tricia R.
There is really nothing fantastic about this place other than the bbq pork with scrambled eggs over rice. I know it's the green onions and sesame oil that really makes it awesome, but there's something about this dish that really hits the spot every time. This is probably one of the few Chinese places in Chicago where you find more Filipinos than Chinese people. Why? Because this place serves some pretty good Filipino special mami, which is off the menu. Again, this place is nothing too special, but it's dirt cheap.
(4)Dan C.
Excellent place overall! Fast service, super-friendly staff, great prices, and good food. Don't expect the finest ingredients ever, but rest assured they will not serve gamey meat or old vegetables . The chicken, for example, is far better quality than similarly priced places around the city. And the portions are huge! I highly recommend anything with BBQ pork.
(5)Ivan G.
Ahhh Chinese comfort food. Seriously, for under $5 you can get a filling and melt-in-your-mouth BBQ Pork w/ Scrambled eggs platter, tofu with BBQ pork, etc. The only reason for the missing star is probably the atmosphere. Well this ain't exactly a place to bring a date, with BBQ'ed animals hanging on the wall and a Chinatown dive feel. I generally take out.... This is a place to recuperate after a bout of soulless expensive tiny foods on giant plates, chefs are friendly and funny, kinda like the restaurant name itself
(4)Amy X.
picture this: a chinese daughter searching on argyle for something to bring back to her chinese mother (in the land of nothingness: MICHIGAN). after seeing sign after sign advertising pho and bahn mi, her filial heart felt like deflating. but fear not! hon kee and the shiny barbeque'd ducks in the window glisten like the rising moon of tomorrow. the story continues. i walked inside to a dark dining room (yes, the story i about me!). people are eating fragrant roast duck and tea eggs on rice and chatting. i inquire about prices, pay less than ten dollars for two bags of chicken feet and duck tongues, and skip on home to mommy. there's a credit minimum you might find hard to overcome. be ready when your order is being taken, or you may need to exert yourself to be served later. this place is about food -- not service. okay now just go suck on some duck tongues already.
(3)faith b.
Even though the place could use a good make-over, the food is really good! This is one of the best places to eat if you are craving good chinese food. If you really can't stand how the place looks, I suggest ordering for carry-out.
(4)Penny D.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in Chicago! I used to live right around the corner, and I miss it so much now. Awesome food! I usually get the vegetable Lo Mein and put a little bit of Egg Drop Soup on it. The duck lo mein is also awesome. Also try the seaweed soup if you get a chance. The food is authentically Chinese, but the portions are authentically American!
(5)J F.
Ate at this restaurant a few times many years ago when we lived in the area, thought is was very good and a major value. Fast forward to the present and I found myself eating at Sun Wah a bunch even though we live in the burbs now, so I thought I revisit Hon Kee. Not the trendy, hip vibe of Sun Wah but great food. The duck was better, it was moister and warmer. I'm big fried rice fan, simple dish, but easy to screw up, theirs was the best I've had in a long while. Service, you don't go to these places for the exceptional service, but they we nice and efficient. Price and portions great.
(4)Ross R.
I liked Hon Kee, although I agree with the masses that the service and ambiance leave something to be desired. The ordering process was difficult, because the staff was cleaning the front of the restaurant, and our attempts to hold their attention were futile...I am also fairly sure that they confused my friend and I because the cashier asked my friend for the balance of my meal (for take out)...whatever, all of us hakujin look alike anyways (wrong language, I know). Other than that they were fast and relatively polite. The food, specifically the barbequed pork (served over rice) was very good. I give three stars because of the approachability of the place pretty much reserves it for only the most adventurous non-asians. I can't comment on how Hon Kee barbeque compares to Sun-Wah, because I didn't get like dishes at either place, but I would say that if you are new to Chinese Barbeque, go with Sun-Wah for a more approachable experience. I have a sneaking suspicion I will be returning though...
(3)Khoa N.
I LOVE this place. I've been going here since I was a child. My favorites are the wonton soup and roasted duck. The vegetables with crunchy noodles are really good too. My husband loves their vegetable fried rice. Sooooo cheap and filling! If you're into slurping your food at hole-in-the wall places.... this fits the bill!
(5)Christine U.
Yes, it's a hole-in-the-wall, and yes it's a bit grimy, but the food is tasty and cheap! I've been going here for YEARS, like since I was in high school. I've noticed most of the reviews here say that Sun Wah is better, but not in my book. Plus, it has a lot of sentimental value b/c it's my dad's favorite restaurant. I recommend the roast pork, the dumplings with noodles soup, the salt and pepper shrimp, and the combination fried rice. That's the best combination of dishes EVER. Oh, their Shanghai noodles dish is also fantastic if you like curry.
(4)DANIEL T.
Yes hole in the wall, scary bathroom . . . but who cares when they serve up the most authentic Cantonese wonton and sui kow (dumplings) in authentic Cantonese soup base made with dried "onespot flounder" (大地魚干) ok, Yelp does not accept Chinese characters, I typed Dai Dei Yue (big earth fish) PERFECT MEAL: Scrambled eggs with prawns on rice - if you grew up in Hong Kong, and if you've seen Ratatouille when Anton Ego tasted Remy's version of Ratatouille, you know what I'm talking about. I was transported back to Hong Kong from the first bite my eyes were getting all watery (given I worked late, was exhausted, and it was January in Chicago with 3 feet of snow outside).
(4)Rocky B.
Hon Kee is not much in the way of ambience but they serve up some good duck soup. Duck soup like my mom used to make....okay, like my mom used to go and buy from this place in chinatown that's no longer there anymore...but it still reminds me of mom and she did bring it home and put all the stuff together and warm it up so there! Good egg rolls too and fried rice.
(3)PHIL S.
Big empty place didn't even now it was Chinese. I get dragged here from time to time and I just play it safe and order Pho. Better Pho then Tank, good spring rolls and their Papaya Salad with pork/shrimp sampler platter is pretty damn good. Ok service people don't understand what no mint leaves means.
(3)Dan O.
Don't bring your girlfriend here.. Most girls I know hate this place cuz it's not the cleanest place.. but their BBQ pork with scrambled eggs on rice is pretty damn good.
(3)Bill M.
This Chinese restaurant is about a block east of the Red Line Argyle "L" station. The food is very average, and we go here only if nearby Sun Wah is closed. The ubiquitous ducks hang from the window, and you can have that or some BBQ pork. The chow mein is OK but not as good as Sun Wah. Eat in one of the two dining areas, or have your food to go.
(3)J T.
Up north, if you're looking for carry out barbeque pork, roast duck, and roast pork, this is the place. Never ate in the dining room. We used to patronize SunWah, but their food has gone downhill.
(4)Michael B.
beef fried rice is the benchmark by which i compare chinese restaurants - it's a simple dish, it's a common denominator that exists in pretty much all chinese restaurants, and variation from restaurant can easily be determined. that being said, Hon Kee has the best beef fried rice I have ever had ANYWHERE. period. The place is grimy as heck, but it's still better than sun wah. check out these other great dishes when u get there -beef stew over rice -beef with mushrooms over rice -pancit bihon -mami noodles
(5)Sharon B.
i used to come here every week sometimes 2 times a week with my parents when i was younger. havent gone without them in the past few years but my taste buds have been craving the special mami and the mongolian beef(i think it's called beef with onions now). dont know if the waitress, Mai, still works there but she was always nice and everybody knew us and our order. i hope 2 go back soon.
(5)Jon W.
This is the best value-for-money proposition for a hot meal that I am aware of in the Chicago area. The crew at Hon Kee work hard to keep the modest dining rooms clean and moving fast, and the Chinese barbecue portions are more generous than around the corner. Newcomers may find it difficult to navigate the menu, but once you know a few favorites this is a serious go-to. And OK, the name is kind of a giggle in this racially-mixed neighborhood. Heh. It isn't a date place, it isn't an impress-your-parents place. Hon Kee is a solid "no time to cook tonight, no money to eat fancy" option. Moving just one meal a week from Furama to Hon Kee will save you enough to pay your cell phone bill. :-)
(4)Rachelle G.
I've passed by this restaurant several times and decided to give it a try when I noticed Sun Wah was closed. I tried their duck and bbq pork. Both were a bit dry for my liking. I love duck, but here it tasted a bit gamier than norm. I also found it absurd that none of the dishes come with a side of steamed rice. The server was friendly and attentive. Dishes came out fairly quick. Aesthetic wise, it seems gloomy inside. Tables are distanced nicely so you aren't bumping into one another or overhearing conversations. To put it in lament term's, you don't necessarily feel that it's clean even if you don't see dirt around. Not the best, there are better restaurants to dine at in the area.
(2)A H.
This is one of those "hole in a wall" but is one of my favorite restaurant for good and cheap Chinese food, especially the noodle soup dishes. I go there whenever I have a craving for Won Ton noodle soup. The only reason I don't go there often is that my husband can't stomach the same ethnic cuisine more than once a week. The price is so fantastic...imagine paying $4.25 for a big bowl of noodle soup. There's many different items on the menu for all types of taste. There's noodle dishes, rice dishes, meat dishes, etc. My husband loves the barbecue pork fried rice and orders that as an appetizer. The place is always packed during the weekend with families and locals of the neighborhood.
(4)envane x.
Cantonese joint. I'm usually here when I forget Sun-Wah is closed on Thursdays. Their pork BBQ items are actually better than Sun Wah, but the rest is inferior but acceptable. I usually get the roast pork and tofu over rice. About the cheepest furniture I've ever seen in a restaurant.
(3)Roger B.
This is your typical hole in a wall place with good food. I've only done take out several times and I have never eaten inside the place. The BBQ stuff is good and the dishes aren't bad either. I'd recommending sticking with the "plainer" stuff like the BBQ meet and the congee. Note: normally, I'd rate this place slightly higher, but I think there's probably a better place in "New Chinatown" that I didn't try out yet.
(3)Corey C.
I came to Chicago for the weekend and crashed at a friends place north of town. After spending the last two days walking all over town, I wanted to eat some place close by. Just by accident I stumbled upon Argyle, with all the Asian shops and restaurants. Not knowing which to try, I popped into Hon Kee because it shared the same name as a popular noodle place in Vancouver, B.C., Canada... I know, lame reason but I was getting hungry. As others had mentioned, the decor leaves much to be desired but it did remind me of the Chinese places my parents took me back in the 70's. The tea was the standard black Chinese restaurant variety. Dark in color but lacking in character. It actually worked quite well with the whole 70's thing going on in my mind. I asked the waiter, in Cantonese, what he would suggest for me, he responded, "That's a tough one. How about some soup, noodles, or congee?", and then proceeded to walk away. I ended up ordering the rice stick noodles with bbq duck. For the money, I really can't complain. I have larger bowls at many other places and I've had more flavorful duck at many other places but nowhere in recent memory do I recall getting this dish for four bucks!. As I recall, everything on the menu was very cheaply priced. It could be that Chinese food is just cheaper in Chicago that it is in on the west coast but I wouldn't mind coming back to try some of the other things on the menu.
(3)Renato P.
I've been going to this place for roast duck , BBQ pork and chicken wings , roast pork and pork ribs since before I could see over the counter. I can't say that the food quality is the best , but it is consistently good .I rarely eat inside the dining room, the place is really shabby. Hit the counter , order a little of everything , take home and enjoy . I recommend the BBQ pork , BBQ chicken wings , BBQ ribs , roast pork , and Especially the roast duck. Be wary of what we inappropriately dubbed "the round-eye special" . My family noticed when the butcher doesn't recognize you (and you coincidentally are white) and they are busy, sometimes he will give you the fattier cuts of meat. Maybe I am imagining that , but keep a look out for it.
(3)PJ K.
Decent carry out/dine in Chinese place serving BBQ items. Suffers by comparison to Sun Wah on the other side of the El tracks. Decent, but Sun Wah offers better variety and better quality for the same (cheap) price.
(3)A T.
Yummy. And they don't bother you if you read a book and look out of the window. The food is great. It reminds me of New York's Chinatown. Yea I did grow up there. Apart from Won Kow and Three Happness I will continue to frequent this place. It is closer and very friendly.
(5)Terri N.
Tamia and I are a big fan of this place. My sister had introduced me to this place years back. Now, we make it a lunch date on fridays to come here and eat with the kids. It's not a fine dining place but it's a great place to eat at and is extremely reasonably priced. For under $5, Tamia and I usually share their soy sauce chicken, chinese sausage, one egg, and vegetables over rice. It's our favorite and we are always satisfied and full at the end of our meal. Usually, we'll order their fried rice, 1/2 of pork and duck for Tony to go and that would bring our total up to $18. Not bad at all for dining in and dinner for a family of three. My sister and her kids loves their won ton noodles, seafood or beef chow fun and congee. The food are in huge portions and the great part about it is that her kids love the food. We've never been disappointed with their service and they are definitely kid friendly. Such a great place to eat at especially during these tough economic times.
(4)Jay K.
Took a walking tour of Viet-Chinatown in Argyle this weekend and visited all local bakeries, groceries and BBQ joints. Carried-out a roast duck from here which was/is very tasty and fairly priced at $11 ($12 w/ tax - half a duck is $5.50). You order at a "plastic-barriered" window at the register any type of Chinese BBQ item such as roast duck, braised chickens, braised ducks, BBQ pork, roast pork, braised duck feet, braised duck wings, BBQ chicken wings, roast cuttlefish, braised chitlins, etc. A whole-duck is chopped into pieces and separated into two foil containers, which include a small plastic container of "sauce" - which is essentially the marinade that is evacuated from the interior of the duck after it is roasted. Have not dined here, but the roast duck is pretty good.
(3)Hanh B.
this is my favor place to go and i hate chinese food.this place has great bbq pork fried rice ...a must and everything is super cheap...the exterior and interior arent much to see but its the food that matters
(5)Stephanie M.
This is an average Chinese restaurant...focusing on cantonese food. The bbq here is okay, but I wouldnt recommend eating here. Last time my family and some family friends went here, they didnt eat much and came back to the house for wine and cheese. I guess they were still hungry :)
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