House Of Fortune
2407 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL, 60616
House Of Fortune Menu
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Address :
2407 S Wentworth Ave
Chicago, IL, 60616 - Phone (312) 225-0880
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Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Categories
Chinese Cuisine
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.
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Diana G.
Went back a second time and it was better. Still ok, not great! Sizzling Soup - This was good. Tons of veggies, shrimp, chicken and other stuff. I felt like there was barely any "soup" in this with all the stuff. Fried Won Tons with Meat - This was ok, but I would probably not order it again. Shredded Chicken - This was a bit salty and definitely nothing like the one Hong Min makes (no one makes it better than them.) Service was still good and attentive.
(3)Nina R.
I've been coming to this restaurant for about 8 years and it is the absolute best restaurant in Chinatown. Maybe in the whole city. The food is always fresh and plentyful. The veggies crisp. The meat tender. The customer service is excellent and the place is always immaculate. Definately a 5 star place and a great energy and atmosphere! Great job and great consistency House of Fortune. And rhe waiter Henry is a sweatheart and provides excellent personal service. My entire family will only dine at this restaurant! :)
(5)magic g.
Delicious! Generous lunch portions, served until 3pm, for $5.50 #win :)
(4)Ariel M.
Definitely go here! Best Cantonese and Mandarin food you will have!!!! In my book, I give it a 100 stars!
(5)Paul D.
I have been eating in Chinatown for many years. I love House of Fortune. The place is nice and roomy and not pretentious and the waitstaff are always the same and friendly. Beyond the fact that my family and I, my parents, and my friends are always treated very well... THE FOOD is delicious and consistently good! Great portions at a fair price. Tons of choice. My highest recommendation.
(5)Amie C.
Great lunch specials! We were here for a friends birthday dinner and we were a party of about 30 people. Service was fine but the lunch specials make up for it! Our table of 8 had a bill of about $35 when it was all done. Can't. Beat. That! The food is all delicious. I can definitely recommend the bbq pork fried rice, chicken fried rice, sweet and sour chicken, generals chicken (i think that's it), fried pan noodles, and beef with broccoli. The egg drop soup is a little thick for my liking but that could just be the texture of regular egg drop soup... highly recommended for a lunch spot in Chinatown!
(4)Gary C.
I've had my fair share of Chinese food, and I must say that House of Fortune is lacking something. Not sure what the fuss is about this place, but I have definitely experienced better in and out of Chinatown. Food was sub-par. My family and I ordered a number of dishes. Nothing really stood out. You can find better quality next door or down the block.
(2)Andy R.
This is our go-to place for Chinese delivery in the South Loop. Their food is good and the delivery is wicked fast. It seems to me that we always get the same delivery person who is really happy to see us. This is not a rating for the restaurant, only the delivery food. I've not been to the restaurant yet.
(5)Jacob K.
I have been fortunate to go to House of Fortune several times with my friend's family for special events like Chinese New Years. It is always a lot of fun and they have their own separate banquet room for larger parties. I would suggest ordering the peking duck here and going with a large crowd helps as you can try more dishes.
(4)Jacob M.
Eating out in Chinatown is one of my favorite things - authentic food made to order, jasmine tea served to my table, and the great half-English-half-Chinese din of a busy restaurant - I really love it. Sometimes though, nothing beats the Sunday holy trinity; my sofa, a movie and Chinese take-out. House of Fortune has completed my weekend trifecta with their Singapore Noodles. At just $7, this huge portion is socked full of little shrimp and BBQ pork. The green peppers were a little much, but the great flavor and just enough spice kept me awake through the movie's lulls. The vegetable spring rolls, however, were only just good. Although, I did manage to eat them both. Delivery was a bit slow at over an hour, but understandable with the sleet/hail/snow. Overall, I give it four stars and will definitely add House of Fortune to my Chinatown night-out rotation!
(4)Cathaleya C.
I came here numerous times for family celebrations. I also had my chinese wedding reception here with traditional 9 course meal. It's a medium-sized restaurant with tables large enough for elbow room and a full bar. The waiters and waitresses are bilingual and the service is exceptional. Considering only the banquet part, the package price is just about the most cost-efficient in town. They serve chinese delicacies like pigeon and snails. I really liked their sweet and sour barbeque ribs and hong kong style steak. I would love to write further about the other dishes I've tried, but since I was the "star" at the time, I don't remember the other 7 dishes served. I would highly recommend this place if you want authentic cantonese/mandarin.
(4)Nicolas H.
As close to SF Chinatown food as I've had in Chicago to date. Our ordering could've used a little help, but overall we had a great meal at a good price. Our server was extremely helpful and nice and told us we really didn't want to order the pork and salted fish dish (mainly because of the smell and also because we were caucasions). However, our friend persisted and the interesting dish came out to not much fanfare. The pork was basically like sausage that you'd find on a deep dish pizza (one large thin circular piece) with the salted fish scattered on top. Salted is putting it lightly, this fish was bathed/drenched/immersed in salt for probably weeks until it was served to us that afternoon. The smell was pretty rank and it tasted just as bad. As for the good, our appetizers were amazing: BBQ Pork, Soup Dumplings and some of the best Sizzling Rice Soup I've ever had. The rest of our entrees consisted of Seafood in Phoenix Nest, Vegetables with Three Delicacies, Crispy Chicken (probably the best I've ever had) and Jellyfish. I'll definitely be back, but be a little more careful next time when letting my friend do all of the ordering...
(4)Donna G.
Yes, this place is in chinatown, but it's different than normal chinatown dining... it's "relatively" clean, the bathrooms have soap and towels, and you can reserve the private room for a comfortable dining experience. I was recently here to celebrate a couple's wedding with a group of 12 that couldn't make it to the wedding (since it was in Hong Kong), so we had the traditional 13 course meal here. Whoa, the food was perfect, not too greasy, and the dishes kept coming at just the right times. Service was even adequate... My only real complaint was they skimped a little on the shark fin soup, but everything else was delicious! The best dishes were: - peking duck - crispy skin chicken (best I've had thus far) - steamed whole pike I'll definitely be back, especially for the private room and the duck.
(4)Frankie J.
House of Fortune is a great place to go if: - You've eaten at Joy Yee's and Penny's too many times - You want to try authentic Chinese cuisine - You want have a bunch of friends who feel the same way FOOD STYLE: The food is characterized as Mandarin and Cantonese cuisine. For most people, Cantonese is your average style take-out Chinese food you are used to - sweet & sour pork, kung pao chicken, fried rice, pot stickers. Mandarin is more spicy than Cantonese. This is the understanding of most people's Chinese food tastes. Actually, true Mandarin and Cantonese cooking is derived from the region the cooking is from. Mandarin cooking originates from Beijing, the national capital of China. Beijing is a northwestern inland city, which means they have access to poultry, meat, vegetables and some fish from freshwater sources. In addition, since Beijing was the home for the ruling and royalty (sorry, comrades now), they had access to everything the country could provide, but with the locally available products. Cantonese cooking originates from Guangzhou, a southern coastal city with access to the same ingredients, but more access to seafood of all sorts. House of Fortune stays true to both. STARTERS: When you go, start with a soup. We started with the sizzling rice soup, with all kinds of vegetables, seafood, some pork and a toasted rice topping. The broth was full of body and was a great prelude to the main course. WHAT WE ORDERED: We then ordered a fresh steamed fish with ginger and green onion, steamed pacific oysters with black bean sauce, Beijing 'peking' duck, black pepper beef and stir-fried peapod tips (sweet leaves stir fried in garlic) and chow fried rice (seafood, pork and beef). The fish was beautiful and very fresh, naturally sweet, and the onion and ginger just brought out the flavor of the fish. The sweetness is a tribute to the freshness of the fish. The oysters are always cleaned prior to steaming, and are the size of a cellphone (without the shell!). The black bean sauce and green onion is a great contrast and complement to the fresh steamed oyster. The black pepper beef was a classic preparation of a pepper and soy based sauce. A large portion of nicely thick sliced beef was served with a velvety hot pepper sauce. The beef had no fat and was very tender. It was a great contrast to the other foods. The Beijing duck is served one way - the crisp skin and meat of the duck is wrapped by a Chinese crepe with green onion and a bit of hoisin plum sauce. You get about 10 little burrito like portions, which are plenty and full of the tasty flavors. Normally, a peking duck needs 24 hours to prepare. Here, they sell so many, It is already freshly made THAT DAY. The peapod tips were a twist on greens and cleanse the palate nicely. The peapods also lend the sweetness from the peas. The fried rice was also well prepared with plenty on the plate, and enough meat, eggs, and seafood to be a meal in itself, but my Dad wanted that. Bring a bunch of people, because you will take food home! The food in general, fantastically great, balanced and well prepared. TRY THESE: When you get to any Chinese restaurant, check the specials. There is a reason they are on the special list. A fish in season, a holiday, or just an occasion for the restaurant. Ask the waiter what they recommend based on your taste. What is your taste? Think about what you like - subtle, gentle flavors or mildly spicy or hot and spicy. Also let them know if you like meat or seafood or combinations. DESSERTS: Standard almond cookies and fortune cookies. ATMOSPHERE: Family or informal, no jackets needed. PRICE: Very reasonable - dishes range from $8 - $16, and are served family style (i.e. shared) CAVEATS: Never go to Chinatown on a Monday. It's the real chef's day off and you DON'T want to be there. Fear Factor level is high in Chinatown on that day. Head to Joy Yee's or Penny's if you need a fix.
(4)Laura A.
One day we went to china town and didnt know where to eat. I approached a family walking down the street and asked them "where's the best place to eat in China Town" and they said "House of Fortune". We promptly walked to this restaurant and was very very happy! The food was excellent. Meat and veggie quality was great...and im pretty picky about where I eat meat from. The service was good and fast. The prices are reasonable. The ladies room needs a little work with there being only one stall but its clean. We have been back a few times and the food is consistent.
(4)John C.
My friend had his birthday lunch here on a Sunday afternoon. We had the backroom behind the counter all to ourselves. I NEVER expect good service at any Asian restaurant that isn't upscale. But this place was hilarious because the waitstaff was so rude. My wife and I walked in with our two baby car seats, and asked where the party was. We didn't get a smile, but we got a lady pointing us to the back. Then we walked to the back and got two waiters pointing us to the front. No words were exchanged, just pointing. Holy crap! We just laughed it off. So we don't hit Chinatown for the ambience or service, just the food. I've been to all the typical Chinatown places and all were just okay. We've resigned ourselves to going to Yang's Noodles on Roosevelt because it has been just as good as any Chinatown place until House of Fortune. The Steamed Dumplings were very good as an appetizer, and the Salty Spicy Squid was delicious. General Tso's, Ma Pa DooBoo (Tofu), and Walnut Shrimp were all solid. I know these aren't necessarily authentic, but they were very tasty. It was the best overall food I've had in Chinatown. I hope to try take out very soon and see if it is still as good.
(4)Susie C.
My family comes here ALL the time when we go out to dinner. The food is very good. The service is not bad. The price..ehh it can be cheaper at other Chinese restaurants, but it's ok. My family and I are regulars, so they know who their regular customers and give them discounts :) They have a private room and that's pretty handy when you have a big party.
(4)Craig N.
My Favorite China Town place. Authentic and great chinese without all the heavy sauce that make you sick. Go Thurs through sun.. that is when the A team is there.
(4)Yo U.
This place is little more than acceptable. Is there any really good Chinese food restaurant that delivers to the Near North Side? On the day that I tried the grub from this place, the star of the show here was the hot and sour soup. It was quite good. Chicago's Chinese food scene continues to disappoint. One day, I'll find its hidden gems. I know that they're out there.
(3)Food Lover S.
We had dinner here today. I can only gove two stars to this place. The dishes were average, and too salty. The seafood was not fresh, and the rice were too hard to chew.
(2)Edward H.
House of Fortune is a family favorite of mine. It's reasonably clean for a Chinatown restaurant and the service is above average of those in the area. Keep in mind, that's not really saying much - above avg service in Chinatown = avg service anywhere else. However, for a decent selection of entrees in a clean family friendly environment, this is one of the few places I'd go. At the request of the fam, House of Fortune was picked for Mother's Day dinner. The place was packed with other fellow Mother's Day enthusiasts and a small birthday party. Unlike some of the other places I've been to, their service and the speed of which we got our food was not compromised. Their Salt & Pepper Lobster was really delish today not to mention their Stir-fried Mushrooms'N'Japanese Tofu (must ask for the Japanese one... it's bliss). I'd say tonight's dinner was a complete success. Everyone had to be practically rolled out the door. And for a party of 10 people with 10 entrees, the bill was about $120. You can't beat the value. If you want some good chinese on the cheap, take a stroll to House of Fortune. Street parking sucks anywhere in Chinatown but there's a small parking lot about a block north of this restaurant so you can roll on in as a last resort. One word of warning - STAY AWAY FROM THE CLAMS AND OYSTERS IF YOU WANT TO LIVE. Other than that, the grub's great!
(4)Michael S.
First of all, walking into a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown with no Chinese people dining here and only 3 tables the entire night, should have been my first warning. After trying the food, I can see why.... This place is only one step away from Sweet and Sour Chicken balls and agg rolls.! What a disappointment after reading some of the reviews. Even more upsetting was that this was a recommendation of the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place. We ate less than half the food we ordered. There has gotta be somewhere better, no?
(1)V. S.
Have visited House Of Fortune many times. The food along with the service is great. Wonderful place to go to when in Chinatown or after a White Sox game.
(4)Mehran F.
Blend food. Never had Peking Duck so uh...forgot their spices i reckon. Attentive service. Nice enough people. Kind of them to roll the duck. Else I would have given it one star. Certainly not worth a repeat.
(2)Amy T.
Came in on a random cold day to eat with my family and I had to say the place was quite empty so we were reserved about our decision. The food came out and we ate like hungry fiends. Food was alright, though a bit greasy in our opinion. The staff was attentive and tried to offer some signature dishes, but we still got our way since we knew what we wanted.
(3)Me Y.
We placed an order with the expected delivery of 45 minutes; however, we did not receive our food 2 hours later. Unbelievable because I only live within a mile of the restaurant. I called the restaurant to inform them of the poor delivery time and was told that 'everyone ordered at one time'. Really?! Though the food may be good at the restaurant, when we received our food, the presentation and taste quality was subpar at best. My recommendation is to either improve your delivery service or don't offer delivery!
(1)Reggie R.
My friend and I decided to check this place out during the Chinatown summer fest earlier this summer. Because it was both of our first times in the neighborhood, we pretty much blindly chose a place without any real expectations. Thankfully, house of fortune ended up being great! We ordered crab Rangoon to start, an excellent choice. Very full of crab and cream cheese, which I always enjoy! For the main dishes, we went with a Szechwan chicken and a shrimp lo mein. While the noodles were not the same as lo mein dishes I've tried in the past, we were pleasantly surprised by how much we liked them! The service wasn't the best, but I'd attribute that to the fact that they were likely 5x busier than an average day due to the festival. I always love me some goooood Chinese food :)
(4)andrew j.
This is the only place my family goes to in Chinatown. The food is exceptional. The owner is always there with a friendly greeting. Rock salt shrimp without the shell is outatanding. We usually order two! Also the governors chicken is outstanding. Definitely best Chinese food I've had
(5)Erik S.
My food took an hour and a half to get to my place. Then sesame chicken was bland and soggy, but that my have been because it was sitting in the back seat of a car for so long. I live in the south loop on the 11th floor, I can see chinatown if I lean out my window. The driver must have either walked it over or intentionally drove right past my house to deliver to everyone else first. I also got the ribs appetizer and it was literally a mixed bag, they were all different sizes, they could have come from a whole family of pigs. There's this place in Naperville called House of Emperor. They do a ribs appetizer that looks on the surface like a carry out container filled 3/4 with this delicious spicy boiling hot barbecue sauce. Half a dozen of the tenderest ribs you'll ever eat are floating in it and as you lift one out of the container the meat literally disintegrates off the bone, splashing into that red sea. Cut to 5 minutes later when you're trying to fish the last delicious morsels that have sunk to the bottom with a pair of chopsticks like a crack addict. I only bring this up because that's the whole reason I order ribs from Chinese restaurants, House of Fortune is no House of Emperor. The most important thing is that this is the first Chinese delivery I've gotten all year that actually gives you fortune cookies. Lao Tze Chuan will make you better food faster, but they won't give you a fortune cookie.
(2)Ariel C.
It was my first time in Chicago and instead of trying a deep dish pizza we opted for some Asian food and it was a good decision. My friend and I split an order of the Peking duck and I am still thinking about how delicious it was, even 4 days later! The service was awesome, they were all very friendly and helpful. We got complimentary soup at the beginning and also a small bowl of dessert at the end of the meal. Both were super good. Would definitely come back if I ever visit Chicago again!
(5)Amber Z.
Love HOF! I've been dining there for years now. The staff is attentive, the prices are reasonable and the food is great. Fan favorites: beef with Beijing sauce and the Mongolian combo. PS, the drinks are cheap, too.
(5)Carmen Maria N.
Best Lo me in noodles I've ever tried. Everything was delicious. They were very nice with the kids and gave them easy-to-use chopsticks
(5)Sarah S.
First time there... we go there before the rush so YAY us :) Old school decor.. doesn't look like much has changed in ages.. table clothes, but casual. Pleasant host and server that were eager to get water tea and whatever else we ordered. Started with eggrolls.. basic and good, but nothing special Sweet N Sour chicken was a tad too sweet for my taste, but crunchy and full of fresh bell peppers so YAY Mongolian beef was average.. sauce needed a little extra punch, but I added that myself. Meat was tasty and lots of onions. I saw someone eating soup and that looked awesome.. so I may be back for that They also offer no MSG on request and that is always a good thing
(3)Bryan L.
We are from the near west suburbs and came across HOF a little over 10 years ago when my wife started ordering from there when she worked at UIC. We started going there and never have stopped. It's our "go to" for Chinese. The food is really good and fresh..never a disappointment. The staff is friendly and eager to take care of us. They accommodate our larger groups and are very kid friendly. We love the hot and sour soup, shrimp with spicy salt, egg foo young, and if you are adventurous, ask Charlie to make you something off of the "real" Chinese menu. There is generally parking available on street. We love this place! I also use HOF for carry out. The food is piping hot, and the way it is packed, it's still hot when I get it back to the 'burbs.
(5)Mark F.
Absolutely delicious. Best orange chicken I've ever had. The manager checked in and was really polite. The staff was great and the portions very generous.
(5)Rachael N.
As I recently have moved to the Chicago suburbs for the month, I was craving good Cantonese food. Cantonese food is hard to find- I've scoured all overf the country, from Nor/Socal to the east coast.. and nothing beats Toronto, thus far. However, I was hungry, so with my Tai San (rare dialect of Canto) speaking father, we went to House of Fortune, in the old part of Chinatown. It was pretty good- I've had better, but if I had to rate it, I would give it between 3 to 4 stars. We started out with "quo tip", or fried wontons, which were very meaty, but the skins was a bit too thick and it was a little greasy. Next, we got the "siu long bao". The skin, was once again thick.. and there was no juice- the main staple of siu long bao! We also got: - Crispy chicken- good, not too much fat, and the skin was the right amount of crispy-ness - Sweet and sour porkchops?- I'm not sure what exactly it translates to english, but the sauce was a tad too red.. but the meat itself was tender. - A hot pot of fish, cha siu, and tofu- that was good. It even had abalone in it. - Fish mixed with pea pods dish- that was alright. This restaurant cooked with more oil than I would have liked.. but it still tasted good. Overall, the food was slightly above average. However, I liked the cleanliness of the restaurant- the dishes and tea cups didn't have the normal grime that most Canto restaurants have. Additionally, the wait staff was FAST, and the food all came out fast as well- on a busy Sunday afternoon. Would I go back here again? Eh. If I craved Canto dinner food, then yes.. however, nothing was super unique about the resturant- no unique dishes, just the same traditional foods. However.. I was happy when I left the restaurant. If you have no idea what good Canto food tastes like, then I highly recommend this restaurant. If you're Canto and know your food.. then this food is average.
(3)Jen B.
My family and I have been coming here for more than 15 years. It is our favorite Cantonese restaurant in Chicago. The food is great! My mom usually orders all the dishes for us, like a good Chinese mommy would do. Crystal shrimp, crispy chicken, hot and sour soup, beef chow fun and Chinese vegetables are our usuals in addition to a few more! Enjoy!
(5)Kara T.
Hands down- our favorite Chinese Restaurant in Chicago's Chinatown. Great service, amazing menu, clean, and the best Chinese food around. My husband and I joke that in another life, we must have been some sort of Asian. We chose to live in the South Loop to be close to Chinatown as we typically eat some sort of Asian food twice a week. After trying almost all Chinese locations in Chinatown we came across House of Fortune by accident. We went to their not so friendly neighbor Evergreen and left prior to them even putting water on our table. All we wanted was a 1/2 of a peaking duck and soup. Evergreen, although they have a 1/2 duck on their menu, stated that we had to order a whole--- we were only two people, way to much food. House of Fortune to the rescue. We always order: 1/2 peaking duck, sizzling rice soup (amazing- best in Chinatown). Sometimes we tack on some governors chicken and ox tail but no matter what we order- its great clean yummy food and never disappoints. The staff will remember you and will greet you with a smile at the door. When it gets cold and you aren't feeling the best- we always crave House of Fortune, our comfort food.
(5)J S.
Steamed juicy buns are great. Need to order these as soon as you sit down since they take about 15 minutes to prepare. Eat them hot and with a soup spoon so you don't miss out on the juice. Chicken and corn soup is excellent. The walnut shrimp and szechuan eggplant are also great. Definitely a place to try in Chinatown.
(4)Leon G.
One of the family's favorite places to eat. Our standard Christmas dinner spot. Lemon chicken...chicken moist, super crispy...batter is light and sauce has a nice fragrant lemon aroma. I have a fixation on the beef in beijing sauce...a sweet pungent sauce with lots of sliced and gently sauteed onions. Can't get enough! Damn good cold outta the fridge.
(4)Dennis A.
We were in Chicago for the weekend and knew we would go to Chinatown for a meal at some point. We wound up going at an unexpected time, so didn't have much chance to check around for recommendations about where to eat. Once we got there we stopped in a gift shop and asked a sales clerk, who suggested House of Fortune. The local recommendation served us well -- were in for one of the best Chinese restaurant meals we've ever had. Resisting our efforts to nudge him off the beaten path, our 8-year-old insisted on orange chicken. As it turns out, House of Fortune's orange chicken actually is off the beaten path. The chicken was fresh and the breading light and crispy. Now about the sauce, this dish is typically spicy (it's one of those with a little pepper next to it in the margin of the menu) but they offered to make it non-spicy for our son. I thought that would amount to dumbing-down the orange sauce and making it bland. The sauce they served, though not spicy, was complex and flavorful. It was definitely orange chicken, but unlike any other - and better than any other - we've had. My wife and I split a seafood sampler served in a Phoenix nest. The Phoenix nest consists of taro root shredded into long pieces, then deep fried into the shape of a nest, surrounded by crunchy, lightly-cooked broccoli. The seafood included large, juicy shrimp, squid, and scallops with a light sauce accented with slivers of fresh ginger root. Absolutely delicious. The service was excellent. Without ever hovering over use, the wait staff was always sort of in orbit and responded at a glance. They were polite and casual, and took the time to dote on our son. We also sampled the crab rangoon, which was outstanding, and the hot-and-sour soup. Only two things could make the soup better: a dash of soy sauce (it needed to be just a bit saltier than as-served) and a head cold. There is nothing better than hot-and-sour soup when you're under the weather. None of us were sick, but the soup hit the spot nonetheless. Before you go, be aware that the stretch of Wentworth where you'll find House of Fortune is a bit the worse for wear. The avenue is lined with gift shops a mixture of very nice gifts and kitchy trinkets -- some of the shops err more on the kitchy trinket side. The buildings are not in great shape. Some of the other restaurants we passed were loud and dingy. Don't let that throw you. When we reached House of Fortune we were greeted like family and ushered to table. The decor of the restaurant is nothing to write home about (see the picture) but it is simple, clean, comfortable and quiet. We loved House of Fortune, and we'll be back next time we're in the Windy City.
(5)Frank A.
Very good Cantonese style food. We come here on occasion for family events. Some of my favs are the jellyfish platter with an assortment of pork and beef cuts. We've had pretty much everything here. Just like Tim H., we tend to order mostly authentic dishes and they're all very good. Definitely hits the spot for me when I'm craving Chinese food.
(4)angeline b.
Our go to Chinese restaurant for delivery! Good food & large portions! The juicy buns and lemon chicken are delicious!
(4)Dennis S.
Now that I've gone for a normal meal - it's still 4 stars! Dinner for four at House of Fortune was almost as good as the private banquet for the Chinese New Year I attended on my first visit here. Cutting back from 14 courses and specially made dishes does have an impact, but it was still a great meal. The restaurant is clean and inviting, with well spaced tables, clean white table clothes, and cloth napkins. This is not a paper-napkin three-floor eight-page menu Chinese restaurant. It's a classy place. They have plenty of menu choices, but is a smaller restaurant with a realistic menu. And if you don't see what you want, they'll make it special for you. House of Fortune does not have a website, so you're stuck looking at what we had to eat to see what they offer: - Sauteed shrimp with mushrooms and bamboo. - General Tso chicken (yes, I know it's a Chinese dish only in America - it's still good. It's not on the menu, but they'll fix it if you ask). - Orange beef. - Green beans with small pieces of shredded pork. - Noodles with vegetables. Not a traditional Chinese meal, but appropriate for our group. Everything was great. Lightly cooked vegetables, huge shrimp, excellent beef and chicken. Service started slow, but once we ordered everything kept flowing. A bottle of wine, lots of tea, all the above food (half of which came home with us), and dessert cookies for four for $96, tax and tip included. On a Wednesday night House of Fortune was about half full, with both Asians and Westerners. My feeling is they have a loyal regular clientele. It's not where I'd bring a dozen kids after a ballgame. But it's excellent for a relaxed better-than-most Chinese meal with friends in a real dining room.
(4)Tim H.
One of my top 5 favorite restaurants in Chinatown. I have been coming here for over 10 years. Good Cantonese style food and decent service. I prefer a couple places over this one in Chinatown, but if they are too crowded or to switch it up once in a while, I have no problems going here. I always get authentic Chinese dishes from here so I can't speak for the Americanized version of the menu.
(4)Melissa B.
One of my favorites in Chinatown. Everything I have ordered for Dine In and Carryout has been great. I have also had delivery (South Loop) a few times as well. I always order orange chicken and crab rangoon. Other than that I mix it up. I've only been mildly disappointed once when it seemed as though the quality of the chicken was going downhill. They seem to have corrected this problem though. The only reason I can't give it 5 stars is because I am most often the only person in the restaurant every time I Dine in. It's very awkward!
(4)David Z.
Went back a second time and the food was just as good. This is now our "go to" place in Chinatown. The menu is extensive, and the lunch specials are a bargain. Next time we'll try the Dim Sum menu. You try it too!
(4)Kelley B.
We took our kids there and had a terrific meal. We ordered the Family Meal for 4 and it was very tasty. The egg rolls were a big hit at the table. The wait staff was very friendly, parking was easy, and the bill reasonable. We will make it back there for sure!
(4)Cece R.
DO NOT ORDER FROM HERE!! Ordered pot stickers and they tasted like pure oil. The scallion pancakes were more like tortilla chips and saturated in oil. The sesame chicken had no chicken and the governors chicken was awful. With delivery it cost $40! Will never order from here again! Terrible food!! Only giving it 1 star because I had to rate it. Otherwise I'd give it zero stars.
(1)Amy Y.
What a pleasant surprise! We parked at cermak and wentworth and walked a few blocks south to this gem and it was worth it. We started out with sizzling rice soup...it had lots of chicken, scallops and shrimp and was delicious. We also had kung pao chicken and shrimp with vegetables. We requested no msg and I asked for some spicyness in the shrimp and it was made perfectly. So glad we stopped here! I will come back again for sure.
(5)E B.
This was by far my favorite Chinese rest. in Chinatown until recently. Recently my wife and I stopped by for a carryout, when we got home there was a huge black bug in the container with the rice. Of course, we returned the food and received a full refund. It appeared that they were aware of the bus issue and were apologetic. Suufice to say, we have not returned.
(1)liz d.
This review is on food and delivery only. I have never visited the restaurant, and probably never will. Kind of more expensive than the other Chinese places int he area that I have ordered delivery from. However, the serving sizes are pretty large. A plus. The food was delivered warm (even though I live only a few blocks away). But I can't take bland and luke warm food together. One or the other, I can deal. Kung Pao chicken, I have had more than I care to share, was not spicy in the least, and tasteless. Pieces looked large, really there was very little chicken in the piece. Mostly skin and fat. I don't need any help in that department, thank you. There are many other places in the area with alot tastier food and lower prices.
(2)Darlene L.
There has to be better eating in Chinatown. Not a very busy spot considering the excellent reviews. The entrees are large and the service is friendly. However, food is greasy and ingredients such as vegetables do not taste as crisp and fresh as we would have liked. Good pot of freshly brewed tea is gratis.
(2)Jim C.
Came here for a 10-course lunch banquet. Having been to a number of Chinese banquet meal in the SF Bay Area, this one did not impress too much. Was there an insane amount of food as custom with these banquets? Yes. Was the food ok? Yes. Was it memorable and great Chinese food? No. However, it was a medium-sized restaurant right in the middle of Chinatown and was a decent place to have a cozy banquet without feeling overwhelmed by the size of the place. Parking in Chinatown really sucks, esp on Sundays, if you are looking for street parking. Best bet is that 2-floor parking lot a block or so down... you got to pay but it saves 30 min of driving around for parking. Bottom line: Average. But hey, since I didn't have to pay, I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth...
(3)Agnes F.
I hardly go the restaurant itself as there are better cantonese restaurants in chinatown, i do however, order from there for delivery because its the only restaurant i know that delivers peking duck (plus soup), black bean steamed oysters and stir fried clams from Chinatown. The food is decent and the delivery is quick, perfect when i feel lazy and don't want to trek all the way to Chinatown.
(3)Sam T.
Decent place for cheap authentic and not so authentic chinese food in chinatown. They have great lunch specials and lots of off the listed menu items as well. If you like calamari, you have to ask for the "crispy squid". It is lightly battered and seasoned with a unique salt and pepper mixture. No dipping sauce is required. It really is a tasty dish. Some of the other items are fairly standard chinese offerings.
(4)cynthia w.
House of Fortune is the best! The menu is large, so finding the style of dishes that suits your palette might take a few trips. It's so worth it. Many of the dishes don't translate well to take out. They're best eaten fresh from the kitchen. I think the fried foods are the best here like shrimp with spicy salt no shell (ask for red vinegar to sprinkle them with), 5 spice chicken, and general tso's chicken. Peking duck and the noodle dishes are pretty great, too. Also try #111 pan fried won ton with meat. They are the best dumpling appetizer. Oh, the drinks are strong. Charlie, who runs the place, is very a friendly and laid back guy. The waitstaff are very nice and fast. We often have special requests (like easy ginger or american broccoli not chinese) or make up our own dishes which they don't mind to accommodate at all. My mom likes beef with bitter melon. It's on the menu, but they don't always keep bitter melon in the kitchen because of lack of popularity. When she orders it, someone runs next door to the grocery to get it for the dish. How's that for service? We also go for more casual family parties. There's a nice sized party room and a couple large tables in the main dining room. We often celebrate birthdays there, and bring cake which they don't mind cutting and serving. They do not mind kids at all. In fact, the staff kind of gravitates around the tables where kids are to help out. On a side note, House of Fortune is popular with travelling dignitaries and other hot shots. It is closed for private parties every once in a while for symphonies and even the Premier of China when he was in town a few years ago. The previous owner hosted Jackie Chan about 15 years ago and there used to be a huge blown up picture of her with Jackie Chan by the front door.
(5)Brian D.
I feel very fortunate to have had dinner here tonight. Get it? House of fortune...fortunate? Ha ha ha. The restaurant was clean and nice, service was too. They treated us like kings and family; we got lots of attention and were able to order 1/2 orders of apps. Egg rolls were tasty, homemade mustard was spicey, crab Rangoon was great, meat filled dumplings were also great. We also had combo fried rice and the generals chicken which was our servers favorite dish. It was all scrumptious!! I give it 5 stars! Great experience, great service an great food! My friend, Jimmy, gets delivery from here a lot and says it always shows up fast and hot, just like my women...
(5)Trinidad T.
3.5 stars we had a recent occasion to dine at house of fortune in chinatown. the food was decent chinese food. there was 70 in our large party and there didn't seem to be enough waitstaff to take care of us. sometimes they would forget to bring something we asked for and the lady even looked at me funny when i asked her to wrap the leftovers up so we could take it home. parking was convenient in the structure and the restaurant validated parking. i wouldn't venture my way all the way to chinatown for their food, but it was a good experience overall
(3)H G.
I went to House of Fortune with my siblings to celebrate a birthday. It was lunchtime on a weekday, just part of our little tour of Chinatown. We were the only diners there. A few people came in to pick up carry-out orders, but basically it was us, the staff, and a clicking rotating fan. Strange. We ordered anyway. The food came out hot and it was good. I had hoped that more of my soft wide noodles (with vegetables & tofu) would come with the crispy, caramelization on the outside but they didn't. I liked the little shapes they made out of the veggies though. My brother asked for black bean sauce along with his fish dish, which turned out to have better taste than mine. My sister had chicken & vegetables stirfry dish, which she didn't think was very memorable. They both enjoyed the egg soup that came with their orders. We all enjoyed the complimentary hot tea (likely jasmine). Service was very nice and attentive, but again, we were the only ones there. All in all it was okay. I'm entertaining the idea of going back, maybe on a weekend, to try more Cantonese cuisine.
(3)Kevin K.
Truly excellent Chinese food! I used to live in New York and miss Chinatown-style food - it was always better, just a little more pronounced on the flavors than most neighborhood take-outs. Chicago's Chinatown isn't especially exciting, but since we were there I went on Yelp and found House of Fortune, and I was absolutely satisfied. Like New York's Chinatown restaurants, the flavors were bold, the menu a little more exotic. The review I read recommended Sizzling Rice Soup, so I tried it since it sounded different. It really was, but it was delicious. Very much about a fun presentation, which crispy rice dumped into the soup at the table so you can hear the "sizzle," and pieces of carrot cut into animal shapes - no joke! I was with my Dad and we also shared Kung Pao Chicken and Sesame Chicken. Figured I'd stay in familiar territory with Dad along. The Kung Pao was awesome, and definitely spicier than your neighborhood take-out. It had a light, fresh taste and I couldn't stop eating it. The Sesame Chicken pleased my mild-palated Dad a bit more, and I really enjoyed that too. It was crispy, very sweet, and tangy. The only drawback was that I probably ate more in one sitting than ever before in my life and I was uncomfortable for a few hours afterwards, lol, but you can't hold it against the restaurant for making delicious food! Prices weren't rock-bottom, but I was satisfied with them for a nice Chinatown eatery. For the quality and quantity of food, it was a bargain really. The decor was typical Chinese - plain white table cloths, no frills black chairs. My Dad, who adores the kitchy dragons and lanterns of more touristy Chinese restaurants thought it a bit dull, but I appreciated that it was spacious, well-it, and clean. The walls were decorated with tasteful and elegant framed caligraphy.
(4)Temi C.
My friends and I were on the prowl for some good peking duck. I've been to Sun Wah BBQ (yum-absolutely love the 3 course meal), but we wanted peking duck on crepes instead of bao buns. According to yelpers, House of Fortune was the place to go. Ordering Peking Duck can sometimes feel like gambling. It's an expensive dish, and you never know how it's going to turn out. I'm happy to say that HOF delivered. The duck meat was juicy without tasting fatty and the crepes were quite good. The servers were also very friendly. Please note that duck soup is not included in the price of the Peking Duck dish. They will charge you an extra $8. I should have known based on previous reviews, but I thought they had changed it up. We were also charged $12.95 for pea shoots/pea pod leaves (not on the American menu, but I think usually on the secret menu). I thought it was a little too pricey considering it didn't come with any meat. In fact, it was more expensive than our shrimp dish. I'd definitely go back for the Peking Duck, but would order different entrees next time.
(4)Mike T.
House of Fortune has good Chinese food if you want the more traditional Chinese dishes. Fresh fish, duck, tofu, Chinese veggies, they are all good. The last time we went, I took a bunch of coworkers to try to show them a more traditional sit down Chinese restaurant with good Chinese food and the service was great. The wait staff was helpful and attentive to our larger table and we had the more private room in the corner.
(4)jenise r.
We came here for a dinner party. I have NEVER witnessed such good customer service at a restaurant in Chinatown and I've eaten at many places in the area. It was a large group and as soon as everyone was there the food started pouring. I've never had such good hot & sour soup. The salt and pepper pork chops were perfect and not to spicy and not full of bones. I love beef chow fun and it was goooood, some parts a little crispy just how I like it. I had the chicken and veggies but didn't have room for Mongolian beef but its all the same usually.... and the sweet red bean soup at the end was perfect. I'm sure we got other dishes but I don't eat seafood so I didn't pay attention =) I will come back here soon.
(4)Bill W.
"Meh" indeed. I walked to the House of Fortune from my nearby hotel and got some stuff to go. Wonton soup, crab rangoons and Singapore noodles. Soup: ok. Nothing fantastic, but completely edible. Huge portion for the cost. Rangoons: Like the soup, ok. Not the normal basket shaped wonton wrapper, more crab in the filling than normal. Singapore noodles: bleh. Not bad, just not good. Really scant on the pork and shrimp, not enough flavor in the rest of it.
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