Seriously impressive selection of authentic Asian meats and cooking styles. This place is a safe bet if ever you wanted to try out something unfamiliar.
(5)
Andrew L.
In my opinion, Chow Bar is one of the better Chinese restaurants in Bloomington. Of the seven different Chinese restaurants I've been to in B-town, Chow Bar has the best mix of good food, quality service, and pleasant atmosphere. Bloomington has a diverse population, with many international students from China and surrounding areas. Many of these students frequent the local Chinese restaurants, and I have heard several students speak highly of Chow Bar. To this extent, I think Chow Bar can be recommended as a restaurant that is more authentic, and appeals to both Americans and non-Americans alike. During my last visit to Chow Bar, I went with two of my future roommates and another good friend of ours. We ordered four dishes to share amongst the four of us. The dishes included a plate of green beans, a plate of chicken and peppers, a beef stew with mushrooms and kale, and a plate of duck with onions and peppers. I don't ordinarily eat "communal" dishes for dinner, but I've been told by my good friend from Hong Kong that it is part of the Chinese culture. After trying it out a few times, I think it's a nice change of pace from a traditional American dinner and it's something I think should become more a part of American culture. There are many parts of the world I've never been to (China included), but when I go to Chow Bar, I feel like I can get a small taste of Chinese culture. You can hear Mandarin being spoken, you can enjoy great Chinese food, and you can eat the way Chinese people eat (both by sharing dishes and by using chopsticks). I'm not so naive to believe that this experience is just like a meal in China, but I do believe it is as close as you can get in Bloomington, IN! I would recommend Chow Bar to anyone who likes Chinese food or anyone looking to try something new (if you are not a regular at Chinese restaurants). One thing I neglected to mention is that Chow Bar also has a great selection of bubble teas. Try one with your meal next time you find yourself at Chow Bar!
(4)
C M.
Extensive menu. My mapo tofu was garlicky and tangy . Lots of spicy. Lots of choices for "american-style" chinese lovers.
(3)
Mary H.
Just moved to Bloomington about 5 weeks ago and Chow's was our second experience with Chinese food here. Ordered General Tso's chicken, the ginger/garlic/scallion chicken, and eggplant in garlic sauce. All were excellent! General Tso's wasn't too greasy and nice and spicy, same for the eggplant. The other chicken dish was made with boneless, skinless thighs, so it was nice and moist and it had this yummy steamed/fresh flavor. I ordered a honeydew bubble tea while I was waiting. We moved here from Albuquerque and there was a local chain of bubble tea places there (Boba Tea Company), so I'm familiar with the drink and like it a lot. I was wondering, though, if anyone knows if the bubble tea at Chow Bar is made with non-dairy powdered creamer? It looked like it was (there was some unmixed white powder floating on the top of my tea), but when I asked the guy at the counter if there was any dairy in the drink, he said, "dairy?" And I said, "Is it made with milk? Like whole or skim?" And he said, "Yes, skim milk." I don't care either way, but my husband is lactose-intolerant and loved bubble tea in Albuquerque because it was a non-dairy treat. I thought bubble tea was usually made with non-dairy creamer? Thanks!
(4)
Robin K.
I really like Chow Bar because I like their selection of bubble tea and the neat cups they are poured into and sealed. However, I don't love what they serve. Lots of bubble tea, though!
(3)
Luke P.
The buffet was just so-so and lacking in diversity. If you like exotic meats then this place is your cup of Bubble Tea ;-). Bubble tea was pretty good, but overall the buffet is overpriced ($10.99) for the selection and quality.
(2)
Betsy L.
Went to there several times for lunch buffet during school days, and the food was so so. I also visited this place 3 years ago for dinner, and I remembered that their spicy fish was good. The bubble tea is a little bit sweet, not my type.
(3)
Charcy L.
Ok food, some foods are delicious, some foods are so so, I love their hot pot fish, and bubble tea, others things like rice bowls are so so
(4)
Xiaohui W.
The food is not bad, but it's also not clean. Two weeks ago, I found a worm dead in the fish soup when I was having lunch in Chow Bar. That was ridiculous and then I thought I am not gonna be there anymore.....
(1)
Sara P.
Spicy Szechwan wontons are mandatory; please don't pass them over. Chow Bar is the most authentic Chinese restaurant in Bloomington, in addition to being my most favorite. Americanized dishes like General Tso's and beef & broccoli are listed along specialities such as pig's ear, squid, intestines, duck, etc. I regret not ever being able to visit the special Sunday buffet while a Bloomington resident. When I was feeling more veggie-friendly, I ordered the Family Style bean curd with veggies, eggplant in garlic sauce, or black mushroom & bok choy stir fry. Meat-wise, I liked exploring the more oddly-titled offerings and authentic fare, like the Bum Bum chicken, served piping hot over a small butane burner. I also enjoyed the chicken in ginger & scallion sauce and salt & pepper shrimp. One frequent dining mate particularly loved the orange chicken bowl, as it tasted like real orange, not a blobby syrupy mess. Pick up a bubble tea on the way out, for a nice after-dinner dessert. PS. Don't let the suggestive title of the "Hot & Spicy Lover" dish sway you too strongly, or you'll end up with a large plate of intestines and other unmentionables drizzled with chili oil.
(4)
Jessica S.
Oh, Chow Bar. I know not everyone loves you, but you hold a special place in my heart. But really, it's worth coming for the bubble tea alone. The boba are big and soft and aways lovely. Best in town. They do have a pretty daunting menu; with familiar, Americanized dishes juxtaposed with those more traditional. Don't be afraid to try something unfamiliar! A couple of my favorites are the green curry green beans and the ho fun. The pho is decent as well. Although there can be a bit of a language barrier with the staff, my service has never been anything but attentive and friendly. I am clearly a bit biased. I love this place to death and visit at least every couple of weeks. If your looking for comforting and satisfying Asian food, I say give it a go!
(5)
Kyle H.
Chow Bar is the best Chinese food I've ever had. Best in Bloomington for sure. Go check out their lunch buffet to get a sampling of their food. It is different than the typical China Buffet type places. The flavor at Chow Bar is richer, more flavorful.
(5)
MsAnthro P.
I can't speak to the buffet since I've never had it, but every dish I've ordered here has been fantastic. And the amount of food you get for the price is pretty much unparalleled. I love the orange beef and orange chicken in particular, but the veggie dishes rule too. Yeah, the decor's a little shoddy and strange, but no more so than the bulk of the Chinese restaurants in town. At least here the servers are friendly and the food is delicious. By far my favorite Chinese place in town.
(5)
Jason D.
The lunch buffet is solid, though not spectacular. I was really disappointed with the hot and sour soup, but otherwise this place is pretty excellent. I recommend actually going here for dinner versus the buffet. Do yourself a favor and get the twice-cooked pork... wow. This dish was really authentic - it actually used pork belly instead of just pork strips and it was simply delicious. Explosions of flavor all over the place - I want to try other things but I don't think I really can, because it was so good.
(4)
Skye C.
I really love this place. It has lots of interesting dishes on the buffet that you never see in other restaurants. From baby bok choi to spicy shrimp dishes to eggplant and spicy green beans, etc. It can be addictive and soon you'll be craving to return to have more. It is frequented by lots of Asians, proving that they also approve of the food, but I have noticed that generally they all order off of the menu while the Caucasians and others eat the buffet. Wonder what's up with that?
(4)
Huy V.
I've been here maybe 5 or 6 times, but I'm finally writing this review. The best Chinese food in Bloomington and probably the most authentic. Don't be afraid to try something different. This will be my go to Chinese restaurant from now on. If time is not on your side I wouldn't go. Service is slow sometimes but fast other times.
(5)
Lynn J.
The boring name is a good fit for this little Chinese place. We decided the food was "okay," a slim notch above "not bad." Looking for positive things to say we found that it is convenient for the Law School corner of campus and the prices are good. I love pot stickers. Theirs were wondrously boring. But you can try a small range of their food at the lunch buffet. This is NOT a place to take a first date if you want a second date. There is absolutely nothing fancy or attractive here. On the other hand, when you have been dating for a year and want to eat together without impressing or busting the wallet, this may be a decent choice. But with so much to choose from in the area I would only return for variety. Perhaps if I loved bubbles in my tea I would have become a fan.
(3)
Stephanie C.
I mostly went to Chow Bar with friends when we missed having Chinese food the first few months being in the US. I had the buffet most of the time because I felt that it was the most worth it then, being able to try a variety of soups, meat, and vegetables, rather than just one dish (and it wasn't too expensive). The portion is pretty big if you just order one dish, and the prices are reasonable. I would say the food is pretty authentic but there are definitely better Chinese restaurants in Bloomington. I ordered the Honeydew bubble tea once and I think it tasted kind of powdery, so I guess I wouldn't recommend having that. Also, I wanted to order delivery recently but was appalled to find out that the menu pretty much has no vegan options.
(3)
Evelyn Z.
Reminds me of those small restaurants in Hong Kong...A good choice if you love Canton food. And an option for a rush hour on campus.
(4)
Joshua A.
Went during lunch time and I got the buffet. There wasn't much of a selection from the buffet line only like 12 different items. Service wasn't too bad since I wasn't expecting it to be great. First time eating here and it was a very casual place, it was relatively empty compared to the amount of tables that they have. The food although did seem to be a little dried out from being there for a while. Next time I would definitely skip the buffet and go for something that will be made when I order it and not something that has been sitting there for a while.
(3)
Galen C.
I'ma be honest --- my chinese food repertoire is limited due to a mushroom allergy, so when I get chinese food, I generally tend to only get General's chicken with broccoli, or shrimp and pea pods, or a select few other dishes. I'm not terribly experimental with my chinese food. But that said, I've always enjoyed Chow Bar, because the simple dishes I enjoy, they do very well. Is it "authentic"? I don't know. Is it "good"? Yes. The decor is about as basic as you can get, with some random art on the walls and some very nondescript tables and chairs dotting the landscape. There's a lunch buffet that is affordable and has a good selection of items. I generally just do carryout, but the in-restaurant dining experience is good. We like the pot stickers and the crab rangoon as appetizers. The wait staff are all very friendly to me and my wife, probably because they've seen us in there several times. The dining crowd is a mix of grad students, international students, and faculty, and is generally pretty low-key. Location is great, very close to campus. The bubble teas are very good, although not my sort of thing. (Notice how I could have said "...but not my 'cup of tea'", but I refrained, because I love all of you).
(4)
Regina W.
This was my third time eating here and this last time I went for lunch on a Thursday at 1 p.m. My experiences here have always been average--both in the food quality and in the service. As a vegetarian, there are not a lot of interesting things on the menu aside from the standard stir fried tofu and vegetables. I had heard that the lunch buffet was a good deal, but when I went to look at it, I only saw one vegetarian dish (again some kind of tofu and vegetable stir fry) and vegetarian egg rolls. Not impressed with the vegetarian options offered in the lunch buffet, I decided to order off the regular menu. I ended up getting a vegetarian version of Ma Po Tofu and it was a little too pricey and tasted average. Still was edible though, and the portion size was large enough that I wanted to take the rest of it home. Our server never came by to check on us though, so I was not able to ask him for a to-go box. Since you pay at the counter, I thought I would just ask for it up there, but when I am up there paying, I look back and the server is clearing our table off! Bye bye mediocre expensive leftovers. Not recommended if good vegetarian food and decent service are important to you.
(2)
Colin G.
I've eaten at Chow Bar a number of times and have gained somewhat of an understanding of what they're doing. Along with Lucky Express, they're providing authentic "student food," sort of a no-frills homestyle meal for the throng of Chinese students at IU. The difference is that Lucky Express' interior looks like it could be in China. Chow Bar isn't exactly a date place, but it at least has room to move around in without worrying about elbowing someone. And I've definitely surmised this about them and their absurdly large menu: some items suck, some items are passable, some items are very good. I haven't even started to crack the menu because honestly, when you find something that is in the "very good" category, you have to stick with it because trying something else often leaves you disappointed. On my first visit, the thing that stuck out was beef rendang. Beef rendang is an Indonesian dish that you very rarely see anywhere. I love this dish and, when done well, it's wonderful. It is not done well here. In fact, don't get it here, because you'll probably say "Meh, it's not that great. That guy on Yelp is full of crap" and that just helps no one. And this is sort of how it is with that ridiculous menu: they have Japanese, Vietnamese and a couple of Korean items. But is any of it good? At a Chinese place, I would normally say no, and, knowing Chow Bar, I would say absolutely not, but I haven't tried any of them. We typically get something more traditionally Chinese. The Sichuan items tend to be some of the worst, as they come out extremely oily and lacking on the meat. Conversely, the vegetable items seem to be much better, with the water spinach being a favorite of ours. What Chow Bar is missing, I think, are lunch specials. Instead, we get the weekday lunch buffet, which is a popular thing in town for "Chinese food." I put that in quotes, because most of the Chinese places in Bloomington are horrendous and are not serving real Chinese food, let alone any sort of American-Chinese version of it. It's just fried garbage. Chow Bar's buffet is not a lot better. They typically have about 10 items, two of which are fried, two of which are slop, and at least one other that I would put in a "gross" category. They also put out soups. At $8 though, it's not a good deal. If you drive two miles east to Mr. Hibachi, you get something like 100 items for $7.50 during the week + Saturday. Even Noodle Town has some very reasonable lunch specials on weekdays. But, if you don't have a car, then this may be a better option. The Sunday lunch buffet they do here is more expensive and features mostly seafood, including mussels and crawfish. Without going too far into it, I can't stand the seafood here, so I've never had it. But, if you're like me, and you're used to good, fresh seafood, then you'll want to avoid this place on Sunday, because the smell will make you sick. Oh, and I should also mention the bobas. They have an impressive flavor selection but, overall, they're not very good. If you want real Chinese food in Bloomington though, then there's not much choice. We come back for those few "very good" items and, every once in a while, try to locate another one among the big list of suck. Be careful when ordering here.
(2)
Ankit S.
Chow bar is my favorite dining place in all of Bloomington. It has an amazing menu of dishes and because I am a vegetarian, I have only tired their Tofu with Garlic Sauce which is the best Chinese food I have ever eaten in my life. The sauce is amazing and when you put the broccoli in your mouth the sauce explodes from it and fills your mouth with an amazing taste. Chow bar is always full so I am sure that the other dishes must be at least as good if not better than the tofu with garlic sauce. I have also tried bubble tea here. Though I am not a big fan of the bubble tea, I did like the milk tea here and can recommend it to anyone as a safe bet if you have never had a bubble tea. The staff is friendly but always busy, sometimes you have to try very hard to attract their attention. I like the commotion and noises here as it feels more like an authentic place. You should definitely go here if you want to taste the best Chinese food in Bloomington.
(5)
Joshua C.
Chow Bar is probably the best place to get Chinese food in Bloomington. It's very authentic. The prices are very reasonable. They also have good bubble tea.
(4)
Jessika G.
Not very good... at all. I had an eggplant tofu dish which sounded awesome but it not only tasted terrible, but left my intestines feeling less than great too. Would not recommend to anyone. Also, my meal cost me $13, which makes no sense at all
(1)
Jack C.
Food is not bad, though not every dishes have same quality. Some dishes just too salty in my opinion. Overall, it's not bad choice for Chinese cuisine in Bloomington
(3)
Karla G.
Only had the boba and it sucked. Do not waste your money, go somewhere else for boba. I did not have any food.
(1)
Jess B.
Who is giving this place 4 and 5 stars?!? I went to school directly across the street from this place for 3 years, and I found this food so disgusting, I refused to eat there....even on the laziest of days. I hear their bubble tea is actually legit but their food is not. I absolutely felt sick after having lunch there. Give it a try if you are really itching for Chinese food but if you expect 4 star/5 star Chinese food, you're going to be very disappointed.
(2)
Holly M.
VERY good, relatively authentic Chinese food! We ordered two "americanized" dishes, Mongolian Beef and General Tso's Chicken, and asked them to recommend one of their house specialties. They made us an egg and shrimp dish that I do not remember the name of and it was GREAT! Ended up being my favorite of the three, though all were good. The eggrolls were more like spring rolls, in my opinion, with a very thin, paper like wrapper, but they were delicious. We also had crab rangoon (a favorite of mine), and happily, boba tea! I was surprised and happy to see that they had boba/bubble tea on the menu. I ordered Taro and my husband ordered watermellon. My mom, she didn't want one, but enjoyed sips of both. It was a little different than I'm used to. I've had more of a "slushy"/blended ice version, while this was more "on the rocks." Either way, it tasted great and really hit the spot. We will without a doubt be visiting Chow Bar for our chinese food cravings in the future. Two YUMS up!
(4)
Merry K.
My first time I went I said: For a buffet, not enough choices, no variety and very little flavor. The second time I went almost a year later (on a Sunday) the buffet was great and had lots of seafood. Don't know if it is just better on a weekend or if they simply improved. Also the menu dishes were good.
(4)
Wes M.
Chow Bar is one of the more authentic Chinese restaurants in Bloomington. The standard "americanized" dishes like the General Tso's are good but Chow Bar's food gets better as you read further down the menu. Ask the staff for a suggestion on what to order or try one of the soups/stews. The buffet is a pretty good deal during lunch but I'd still stick to the normal menu for the best dining experience. They don't usually have many people working and sometimes you don't get the attention you might want when needing a refill or when you're ready for your check. My biggest complaint is that some of the dishes are quite oily. Even still, you probably aren't going to find better Chinese food in Bloomington.
(3)
Izzat A.
Great lunch buffet for reasonable price. Food quality was pretty good for a chinese place in Indiana.
(4)
Jessica T.
Is this food? Terrible.
(1)
Chris B.
I would highly suggest hoping on this delicous MSG train. The Chow Bar is one of the tastiest Chinese places in town. I typically get the more Americanized dishes, (Orange Chicken, General Tso's, Kung Po, etc) but i have never had a bad expereince at the Chow Bar. Dig it
(4)
Steven T.
One of the more authentic Chinese food places in town. Prices are a bit high but its a good place to go for a more traditional meal. They also have a lunch buffet during the week.
(4)
Shelly A.
"Why are we playing games? You know everyone just wants Chow Bar!!" The best chinese food in Bloomington...period. I absolutely love it, and I miss being huddled up in the Business School late nights with it. They have fantastic Chinese and Korean food for $10. They also have 20-30 bubble tea flavors. The owner will give you a gigantic bowl of whatever you ordered and they'll keep the white rice coming in at no extra charge. Its all you need in college, and you'd being doing yourself a pretty big disservice by not checking this place out while visiting Indiana University.
(4)
Randy B.
Huge servings, excellent fried rice and crab ragoon. I will go way out of my way to eat here. I recommend ordering off the menu over the buffet.
(5)
Patrick M.
Lord have mercy...Chow Bar is the best Chinese restaurant I've ever been to. The other reviews on this page say it all, not sure if it's worth adding my input. Rest assured that you will not find better Asian cuisine in the state of Indiana. I usually skip the buffet, and order off the menu even during lunch.
(5)
Rick P.
Terrific lunch buffet, about $7 all you can eat.
(4)
Nadeem P.
I've been here twice, and must say my last visit left my mouth watering for more. The first time my friends were unwilling to try interesting foods, so we ended up with sesame chicken and Kung pao chicken, both of which I thought were not very good. This last visit I went with my usual friends, and finally tasted what chow bar had offer. We ordered chili chicken, which was perfectly spicy and flavorful. Next we had garlic beef, which while flavorful was ok. After that came wontons, which had way to much wrapping and not enoughmeat filling. Next we had the rice noodles with pork, which although very oily was absolutely delicious, and one of my two recommendations. Last we had the bum bum chicken, which was my favorite dish for this restaurant and one of my favorite Chinese chicken dishes ever!! I gave this place three stars as the dishes are hit or miss, but if you get the right ones you'll be hooked!!
(3)
Cameron G.
Just fine
(5)
Ben A.
I used to love eating here, but when I went for lunch today the buffet was almost out of food and was never replenished the entire time that I was there. All of the food tasted old as if they reheated leftovers. With a wealth of great Asian dining around the corner on 4th street, there isn't much point in eating at Chow Bar.
(2)
Cristina W.
Their food is consistently outstanding! My husband and I ordered it on Christmas Eve (enough to feed an army) and made three giant meals out of it. The spicy beef seemed very authentic. I loved it! Their Americanized Chinese dishes have always been great too (sesame chicken, orange chicken and general's chicken). Christmas was our fifth time or so ordering, and I don't have a bad thing to say about the place!!!
(4)
Anna W.
This was a lot better than I was expecting. Not that I had heard anything bad about Chow bar, I just hadn't heard anyone rave about it, either. Our waitress was ridiculously nice. I ordered a pot of tea, which was really good. It tasted...spicy. Then, my roommate and I ordered the tofu one pot and I'm super glad we shared because there is no way in freaking hell I would have been able to finish that by myself. Decent prices, too, for the crazy amount of food you get.
(4)
Minwen W.
As a Chinese student saying, this is the most authentic Chinese restaurant in town!
(5)
Jenny B.
Sorry... this review has to be downgraded, one star off completely. I ate here again after 5 years (Yes, I know, you think I'm crazy, but it's nice to be back to the hood, after awhile =)). The owner still the same, remembers me as well, quite surprising. 1 star off due to how the food was cooked. Their buffet are pretty good price and still plenty of food to select, especially seafood wise, like shrimps and crab legs. However, the basic menu like the fried chow mein, fried rice, was definitely weird. Their chow mein was like smothered in sweet soy sauce that it's so deep black, I was almost scared to put into my mouth. Some food looked like they were made with the same sauce, so there's no variety at all for taste wise. The most surprising thing that they have for me was the pork intestine with the hot sauce and cilantro. I would never imagine finding that in Bloomington, at all, Period! Their boba prices were so ridiculously expensive, but hey, it's understandable, there are not that many places in Bloomington selling boba, so they're taking advantage of it. Since I came from LA, the taste is just so-so. Too bad I can't compare their food to Lucky Express, which I heard was really better than this, however, I think it still deserves 4 stars due to great service, still very good food selections and very affordable buffet, compared to China Buffet a.k.a CIBU by the 3rd street. One last thing that's awesome here is on their menu, Indonesian Fried Rice ROCKS!!!
(4)
Mckenzie E.
The only food I've ever ordered from Chow Bar is: Chicken Lo Mein. It was on point. Very delicious, I could use some of that yummy in my tummy right now. In the case that you take it to go, dab some Chili Garlic Sauce (Huy Fong brand) on it. Add on a Bubble Tea and you are set. Many people, myself included go to Chow Bar strictly for to-go Bubble Teas. The Milk Green Tea one is my all-time fave.
(4)
M Y.
the best chinese food in b-town. I loved there scallion garlic chicken and there Indonesian fried rice. They also had decent bubble tea for a small town like btown. Overall, it was a place where I could get a decent authentic asian meal away from home.
(4)
Brian O.
My wife and I, Americans who like Asian food, but admittedly Americanized, did the Sunday Buffet and agree with other reviews that this seemed pretty authentic. The clientele demographic today at least supports this claim. They had some unusual offerings. We're no stranger to Asian food, especially having lived in LA and Sacramento for quite awhile, but I had to ask what one dish was (something with calamari). The pigs feet were obvious. We did like the honey sesame chicken and spicy beef (I hope :-) and soy tofu (not sure what it was called, since there were no signs). We both tried the original bubble tea and thought it was just okay. The bubbles were a little scary looking (not ever seen or heard of it before). My first thought was some part of a fish, especially since it was black and a little slippery, but was just tapioca (so they said, with a smile) that had the taste of licorice. My brave wife tried it first. Chow Bar lacked Hot & Sour soup and many of the Chinese vegetables that I like. It was not a place we will crave, but for those that want authentic or desire to try something a little different, the food and service was good. The Sunday brunch is a little more pricey than during the week (~$14pp with drink before tip). I'd suggest a weekday brunch to try some of their variety. The ambiance is clean, well lit and simple.
(4)
Meghan L.
good lunch buffet, good homestyle bean curd, but who am i kidding? i always just went for the bubble tea. my favorite flavor is the green bean (not what it sounds like, folks.) it tastes kind of like green tea but creamier/smokier. is smokey too pretentious of a word to use when describing bubble tea? nah, i'm gonna go with it. anyway. good place. get something with bok choy; it's always nice and squeaky fresh.
(4)
Christine B.
Oh, the ginger chicken and the snow-white shrimp. Bubble tea! Spicy, tender eggplant! Whole, crispy, spicy fish! We ate at Chow Bar whenever we could when my niece was at IU. It's hard eating Chinese food anywhere else now. The ginger chicken tasted like it was poached in a ginger broth, it was so tender and flavorful. The snow-white shrimp came out sizzling in their delicate batter, nestled on ice-cold shredded cabbage with some kind of addictive white sauce. They have bubble tea, a rarity in this part of the country. One star off for not being closer, and six stars for food.
(5)
Ken K.
Typical Americanized Chinese buffet. Nothing special, nothing terrible. Hard to imagine any other Chinese place in Bloomington being much better, but also hard to imagine another being much worse. They're all the same to me. Althought, I will say they had a decent shrimp dish and amazing rangoons.
(3)
Josh R.
Chow Bar ranks among my favorite Chinese food restaurants of all time. The food varies from American style to the supremely alien and challenging authentic dishes. They offer an excellent lunch buffet, but menu only for dinner. The weekend buffet is more geared toward the authentic and can include such wonderful treats as pig feet. Dishes are always served promptly and hot and the servers are always nice and helpful, if sometimes restricted in their English. I mostly order from their specials menu, which tends to be very authentic and includes the decadent pork in plum sauce, the korean/chinese favorite noodle dish ja jiang mein, and pork tripe with pickled vegetable. Anyone can enjoy the first two, sweet, savory, and acidic sauce with meat and vegetables with rice and noodles respectively, however, it takes someone of particular tastes to truly appreciate the tripe. The tripe has a musky aroma and a squelchy texture that is frequently enjoyed in Asian cultures and typically hated by Americans. I think it's an outstanding dish, but you might not be able to stomach it if you haven't eaten tripe before. Not all of the challenging dishes are an instant hit. I couldn't get my mind into the pigs' ear, but I think that was more because of the combination of oiliness and cilantro, and not the squelchiness of the ear cartilage. The buffet typically offers some nice vegetables (baby bok choy, green beans, eggplant) in addition to the fried squid, fish, sesame chicken, and various stir fry dishes. The bubble teas are excellent; there's a large variety of flavors, but the milk tea and lychee stand out to me. I have been there when the machine that seals the top is not working, but enjoyed my tea nonetheless; I was just extra careful not to spill. As a side note, I'm somewhat confused by the review calling this a, "[t]ypical Americanized Chinese buffet." I've never seen pig's ear or feet served in any other restaurant in the United States nor have I seen the extremely authentic ja jiang mein anywhere else.
(5)
Kyle D.
Chow Bar is the best Chinese restaurant I've ever found, flat out. A couple of friends and I sometimes make the drive to Bloomington from Greenwood (me) and Mooresville (them) just to go eat there. I'm boring and get the same thing every time I go - Hunan Chicken. The sauce is amazing and I have to control myself so that I don't lick the bowl when I'm done. Going during the day (except on Sundays), the lunch portion is plenty but I will also shovel down the dinner portion if I'm there later. Don't skip the eggrolls either! My friends tend to go for the General's Chicken and we all dig into a pile of egg rolls. Sometimes bubble tea is involved; I'm personally not a huge fan of it in general, but for those that like it, the flavor selection at Chow Bar is paradise. I've never been to another restaurant with more flavors. I could go on and on about this place, but I'm going to stop myself. If you're anywhere close, it's worth giving Chow Bar a try...if you're on campus, hurry up and walk across the street to acquire some delicious-ness! PS - I picked the $11 - $30 price range because I typically order an entree plus two egg rolls, then tip the server, so my total is around $15. Not too shabby.
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 : No
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.
Arty C.
Seriously impressive selection of authentic Asian meats and cooking styles. This place is a safe bet if ever you wanted to try out something unfamiliar.
(5)Andrew L.
In my opinion, Chow Bar is one of the better Chinese restaurants in Bloomington. Of the seven different Chinese restaurants I've been to in B-town, Chow Bar has the best mix of good food, quality service, and pleasant atmosphere. Bloomington has a diverse population, with many international students from China and surrounding areas. Many of these students frequent the local Chinese restaurants, and I have heard several students speak highly of Chow Bar. To this extent, I think Chow Bar can be recommended as a restaurant that is more authentic, and appeals to both Americans and non-Americans alike. During my last visit to Chow Bar, I went with two of my future roommates and another good friend of ours. We ordered four dishes to share amongst the four of us. The dishes included a plate of green beans, a plate of chicken and peppers, a beef stew with mushrooms and kale, and a plate of duck with onions and peppers. I don't ordinarily eat "communal" dishes for dinner, but I've been told by my good friend from Hong Kong that it is part of the Chinese culture. After trying it out a few times, I think it's a nice change of pace from a traditional American dinner and it's something I think should become more a part of American culture. There are many parts of the world I've never been to (China included), but when I go to Chow Bar, I feel like I can get a small taste of Chinese culture. You can hear Mandarin being spoken, you can enjoy great Chinese food, and you can eat the way Chinese people eat (both by sharing dishes and by using chopsticks). I'm not so naive to believe that this experience is just like a meal in China, but I do believe it is as close as you can get in Bloomington, IN! I would recommend Chow Bar to anyone who likes Chinese food or anyone looking to try something new (if you are not a regular at Chinese restaurants). One thing I neglected to mention is that Chow Bar also has a great selection of bubble teas. Try one with your meal next time you find yourself at Chow Bar!
(4)C M.
Extensive menu. My mapo tofu was garlicky and tangy . Lots of spicy. Lots of choices for "american-style" chinese lovers.
(3)Mary H.
Just moved to Bloomington about 5 weeks ago and Chow's was our second experience with Chinese food here. Ordered General Tso's chicken, the ginger/garlic/scallion chicken, and eggplant in garlic sauce. All were excellent! General Tso's wasn't too greasy and nice and spicy, same for the eggplant. The other chicken dish was made with boneless, skinless thighs, so it was nice and moist and it had this yummy steamed/fresh flavor. I ordered a honeydew bubble tea while I was waiting. We moved here from Albuquerque and there was a local chain of bubble tea places there (Boba Tea Company), so I'm familiar with the drink and like it a lot. I was wondering, though, if anyone knows if the bubble tea at Chow Bar is made with non-dairy powdered creamer? It looked like it was (there was some unmixed white powder floating on the top of my tea), but when I asked the guy at the counter if there was any dairy in the drink, he said, "dairy?" And I said, "Is it made with milk? Like whole or skim?" And he said, "Yes, skim milk." I don't care either way, but my husband is lactose-intolerant and loved bubble tea in Albuquerque because it was a non-dairy treat. I thought bubble tea was usually made with non-dairy creamer? Thanks!
(4)Robin K.
I really like Chow Bar because I like their selection of bubble tea and the neat cups they are poured into and sealed. However, I don't love what they serve. Lots of bubble tea, though!
(3)Luke P.
The buffet was just so-so and lacking in diversity. If you like exotic meats then this place is your cup of Bubble Tea ;-). Bubble tea was pretty good, but overall the buffet is overpriced ($10.99) for the selection and quality.
(2)Betsy L.
Went to there several times for lunch buffet during school days, and the food was so so. I also visited this place 3 years ago for dinner, and I remembered that their spicy fish was good. The bubble tea is a little bit sweet, not my type.
(3)Charcy L.
Ok food, some foods are delicious, some foods are so so, I love their hot pot fish, and bubble tea, others things like rice bowls are so so
(4)Xiaohui W.
The food is not bad, but it's also not clean. Two weeks ago, I found a worm dead in the fish soup when I was having lunch in Chow Bar. That was ridiculous and then I thought I am not gonna be there anymore.....
(1)Sara P.
Spicy Szechwan wontons are mandatory; please don't pass them over. Chow Bar is the most authentic Chinese restaurant in Bloomington, in addition to being my most favorite. Americanized dishes like General Tso's and beef & broccoli are listed along specialities such as pig's ear, squid, intestines, duck, etc. I regret not ever being able to visit the special Sunday buffet while a Bloomington resident. When I was feeling more veggie-friendly, I ordered the Family Style bean curd with veggies, eggplant in garlic sauce, or black mushroom & bok choy stir fry. Meat-wise, I liked exploring the more oddly-titled offerings and authentic fare, like the Bum Bum chicken, served piping hot over a small butane burner. I also enjoyed the chicken in ginger & scallion sauce and salt & pepper shrimp. One frequent dining mate particularly loved the orange chicken bowl, as it tasted like real orange, not a blobby syrupy mess. Pick up a bubble tea on the way out, for a nice after-dinner dessert. PS. Don't let the suggestive title of the "Hot & Spicy Lover" dish sway you too strongly, or you'll end up with a large plate of intestines and other unmentionables drizzled with chili oil.
(4)Jessica S.
Oh, Chow Bar. I know not everyone loves you, but you hold a special place in my heart. But really, it's worth coming for the bubble tea alone. The boba are big and soft and aways lovely. Best in town. They do have a pretty daunting menu; with familiar, Americanized dishes juxtaposed with those more traditional. Don't be afraid to try something unfamiliar! A couple of my favorites are the green curry green beans and the ho fun. The pho is decent as well. Although there can be a bit of a language barrier with the staff, my service has never been anything but attentive and friendly. I am clearly a bit biased. I love this place to death and visit at least every couple of weeks. If your looking for comforting and satisfying Asian food, I say give it a go!
(5)Kyle H.
Chow Bar is the best Chinese food I've ever had. Best in Bloomington for sure. Go check out their lunch buffet to get a sampling of their food. It is different than the typical China Buffet type places. The flavor at Chow Bar is richer, more flavorful.
(5)MsAnthro P.
I can't speak to the buffet since I've never had it, but every dish I've ordered here has been fantastic. And the amount of food you get for the price is pretty much unparalleled. I love the orange beef and orange chicken in particular, but the veggie dishes rule too. Yeah, the decor's a little shoddy and strange, but no more so than the bulk of the Chinese restaurants in town. At least here the servers are friendly and the food is delicious. By far my favorite Chinese place in town.
(5)Jason D.
The lunch buffet is solid, though not spectacular. I was really disappointed with the hot and sour soup, but otherwise this place is pretty excellent. I recommend actually going here for dinner versus the buffet. Do yourself a favor and get the twice-cooked pork... wow. This dish was really authentic - it actually used pork belly instead of just pork strips and it was simply delicious. Explosions of flavor all over the place - I want to try other things but I don't think I really can, because it was so good.
(4)Skye C.
I really love this place. It has lots of interesting dishes on the buffet that you never see in other restaurants. From baby bok choi to spicy shrimp dishes to eggplant and spicy green beans, etc. It can be addictive and soon you'll be craving to return to have more. It is frequented by lots of Asians, proving that they also approve of the food, but I have noticed that generally they all order off of the menu while the Caucasians and others eat the buffet. Wonder what's up with that?
(4)Huy V.
I've been here maybe 5 or 6 times, but I'm finally writing this review. The best Chinese food in Bloomington and probably the most authentic. Don't be afraid to try something different. This will be my go to Chinese restaurant from now on. If time is not on your side I wouldn't go. Service is slow sometimes but fast other times.
(5)Lynn J.
The boring name is a good fit for this little Chinese place. We decided the food was "okay," a slim notch above "not bad." Looking for positive things to say we found that it is convenient for the Law School corner of campus and the prices are good. I love pot stickers. Theirs were wondrously boring. But you can try a small range of their food at the lunch buffet. This is NOT a place to take a first date if you want a second date. There is absolutely nothing fancy or attractive here. On the other hand, when you have been dating for a year and want to eat together without impressing or busting the wallet, this may be a decent choice. But with so much to choose from in the area I would only return for variety. Perhaps if I loved bubbles in my tea I would have become a fan.
(3)Stephanie C.
I mostly went to Chow Bar with friends when we missed having Chinese food the first few months being in the US. I had the buffet most of the time because I felt that it was the most worth it then, being able to try a variety of soups, meat, and vegetables, rather than just one dish (and it wasn't too expensive). The portion is pretty big if you just order one dish, and the prices are reasonable. I would say the food is pretty authentic but there are definitely better Chinese restaurants in Bloomington. I ordered the Honeydew bubble tea once and I think it tasted kind of powdery, so I guess I wouldn't recommend having that. Also, I wanted to order delivery recently but was appalled to find out that the menu pretty much has no vegan options.
(3)Evelyn Z.
Reminds me of those small restaurants in Hong Kong...A good choice if you love Canton food. And an option for a rush hour on campus.
(4)Joshua A.
Went during lunch time and I got the buffet. There wasn't much of a selection from the buffet line only like 12 different items. Service wasn't too bad since I wasn't expecting it to be great. First time eating here and it was a very casual place, it was relatively empty compared to the amount of tables that they have. The food although did seem to be a little dried out from being there for a while. Next time I would definitely skip the buffet and go for something that will be made when I order it and not something that has been sitting there for a while.
(3)Galen C.
I'ma be honest --- my chinese food repertoire is limited due to a mushroom allergy, so when I get chinese food, I generally tend to only get General's chicken with broccoli, or shrimp and pea pods, or a select few other dishes. I'm not terribly experimental with my chinese food. But that said, I've always enjoyed Chow Bar, because the simple dishes I enjoy, they do very well. Is it "authentic"? I don't know. Is it "good"? Yes. The decor is about as basic as you can get, with some random art on the walls and some very nondescript tables and chairs dotting the landscape. There's a lunch buffet that is affordable and has a good selection of items. I generally just do carryout, but the in-restaurant dining experience is good. We like the pot stickers and the crab rangoon as appetizers. The wait staff are all very friendly to me and my wife, probably because they've seen us in there several times. The dining crowd is a mix of grad students, international students, and faculty, and is generally pretty low-key. Location is great, very close to campus. The bubble teas are very good, although not my sort of thing. (Notice how I could have said "...but not my 'cup of tea'", but I refrained, because I love all of you).
(4)Regina W.
This was my third time eating here and this last time I went for lunch on a Thursday at 1 p.m. My experiences here have always been average--both in the food quality and in the service. As a vegetarian, there are not a lot of interesting things on the menu aside from the standard stir fried tofu and vegetables. I had heard that the lunch buffet was a good deal, but when I went to look at it, I only saw one vegetarian dish (again some kind of tofu and vegetable stir fry) and vegetarian egg rolls. Not impressed with the vegetarian options offered in the lunch buffet, I decided to order off the regular menu. I ended up getting a vegetarian version of Ma Po Tofu and it was a little too pricey and tasted average. Still was edible though, and the portion size was large enough that I wanted to take the rest of it home. Our server never came by to check on us though, so I was not able to ask him for a to-go box. Since you pay at the counter, I thought I would just ask for it up there, but when I am up there paying, I look back and the server is clearing our table off! Bye bye mediocre expensive leftovers. Not recommended if good vegetarian food and decent service are important to you.
(2)Colin G.
I've eaten at Chow Bar a number of times and have gained somewhat of an understanding of what they're doing. Along with Lucky Express, they're providing authentic "student food," sort of a no-frills homestyle meal for the throng of Chinese students at IU. The difference is that Lucky Express' interior looks like it could be in China. Chow Bar isn't exactly a date place, but it at least has room to move around in without worrying about elbowing someone. And I've definitely surmised this about them and their absurdly large menu: some items suck, some items are passable, some items are very good. I haven't even started to crack the menu because honestly, when you find something that is in the "very good" category, you have to stick with it because trying something else often leaves you disappointed. On my first visit, the thing that stuck out was beef rendang. Beef rendang is an Indonesian dish that you very rarely see anywhere. I love this dish and, when done well, it's wonderful. It is not done well here. In fact, don't get it here, because you'll probably say "Meh, it's not that great. That guy on Yelp is full of crap" and that just helps no one. And this is sort of how it is with that ridiculous menu: they have Japanese, Vietnamese and a couple of Korean items. But is any of it good? At a Chinese place, I would normally say no, and, knowing Chow Bar, I would say absolutely not, but I haven't tried any of them. We typically get something more traditionally Chinese. The Sichuan items tend to be some of the worst, as they come out extremely oily and lacking on the meat. Conversely, the vegetable items seem to be much better, with the water spinach being a favorite of ours. What Chow Bar is missing, I think, are lunch specials. Instead, we get the weekday lunch buffet, which is a popular thing in town for "Chinese food." I put that in quotes, because most of the Chinese places in Bloomington are horrendous and are not serving real Chinese food, let alone any sort of American-Chinese version of it. It's just fried garbage. Chow Bar's buffet is not a lot better. They typically have about 10 items, two of which are fried, two of which are slop, and at least one other that I would put in a "gross" category. They also put out soups. At $8 though, it's not a good deal. If you drive two miles east to Mr. Hibachi, you get something like 100 items for $7.50 during the week + Saturday. Even Noodle Town has some very reasonable lunch specials on weekdays. But, if you don't have a car, then this may be a better option. The Sunday lunch buffet they do here is more expensive and features mostly seafood, including mussels and crawfish. Without going too far into it, I can't stand the seafood here, so I've never had it. But, if you're like me, and you're used to good, fresh seafood, then you'll want to avoid this place on Sunday, because the smell will make you sick. Oh, and I should also mention the bobas. They have an impressive flavor selection but, overall, they're not very good. If you want real Chinese food in Bloomington though, then there's not much choice. We come back for those few "very good" items and, every once in a while, try to locate another one among the big list of suck. Be careful when ordering here.
(2)Ankit S.
Chow bar is my favorite dining place in all of Bloomington. It has an amazing menu of dishes and because I am a vegetarian, I have only tired their Tofu with Garlic Sauce which is the best Chinese food I have ever eaten in my life. The sauce is amazing and when you put the broccoli in your mouth the sauce explodes from it and fills your mouth with an amazing taste. Chow bar is always full so I am sure that the other dishes must be at least as good if not better than the tofu with garlic sauce. I have also tried bubble tea here. Though I am not a big fan of the bubble tea, I did like the milk tea here and can recommend it to anyone as a safe bet if you have never had a bubble tea. The staff is friendly but always busy, sometimes you have to try very hard to attract their attention. I like the commotion and noises here as it feels more like an authentic place. You should definitely go here if you want to taste the best Chinese food in Bloomington.
(5)Joshua C.
Chow Bar is probably the best place to get Chinese food in Bloomington. It's very authentic. The prices are very reasonable. They also have good bubble tea.
(4)Jessika G.
Not very good... at all. I had an eggplant tofu dish which sounded awesome but it not only tasted terrible, but left my intestines feeling less than great too. Would not recommend to anyone. Also, my meal cost me $13, which makes no sense at all
(1)Jack C.
Food is not bad, though not every dishes have same quality. Some dishes just too salty in my opinion. Overall, it's not bad choice for Chinese cuisine in Bloomington
(3)Karla G.
Only had the boba and it sucked. Do not waste your money, go somewhere else for boba. I did not have any food.
(1)Jess B.
Who is giving this place 4 and 5 stars?!? I went to school directly across the street from this place for 3 years, and I found this food so disgusting, I refused to eat there....even on the laziest of days. I hear their bubble tea is actually legit but their food is not. I absolutely felt sick after having lunch there. Give it a try if you are really itching for Chinese food but if you expect 4 star/5 star Chinese food, you're going to be very disappointed.
(2)Holly M.
VERY good, relatively authentic Chinese food! We ordered two "americanized" dishes, Mongolian Beef and General Tso's Chicken, and asked them to recommend one of their house specialties. They made us an egg and shrimp dish that I do not remember the name of and it was GREAT! Ended up being my favorite of the three, though all were good. The eggrolls were more like spring rolls, in my opinion, with a very thin, paper like wrapper, but they were delicious. We also had crab rangoon (a favorite of mine), and happily, boba tea! I was surprised and happy to see that they had boba/bubble tea on the menu. I ordered Taro and my husband ordered watermellon. My mom, she didn't want one, but enjoyed sips of both. It was a little different than I'm used to. I've had more of a "slushy"/blended ice version, while this was more "on the rocks." Either way, it tasted great and really hit the spot. We will without a doubt be visiting Chow Bar for our chinese food cravings in the future. Two YUMS up!
(4)Merry K.
My first time I went I said: For a buffet, not enough choices, no variety and very little flavor. The second time I went almost a year later (on a Sunday) the buffet was great and had lots of seafood. Don't know if it is just better on a weekend or if they simply improved. Also the menu dishes were good.
(4)Wes M.
Chow Bar is one of the more authentic Chinese restaurants in Bloomington. The standard "americanized" dishes like the General Tso's are good but Chow Bar's food gets better as you read further down the menu. Ask the staff for a suggestion on what to order or try one of the soups/stews. The buffet is a pretty good deal during lunch but I'd still stick to the normal menu for the best dining experience. They don't usually have many people working and sometimes you don't get the attention you might want when needing a refill or when you're ready for your check. My biggest complaint is that some of the dishes are quite oily. Even still, you probably aren't going to find better Chinese food in Bloomington.
(3)Izzat A.
Great lunch buffet for reasonable price. Food quality was pretty good for a chinese place in Indiana.
(4)Jessica T.
Is this food? Terrible.
(1)Chris B.
I would highly suggest hoping on this delicous MSG train. The Chow Bar is one of the tastiest Chinese places in town. I typically get the more Americanized dishes, (Orange Chicken, General Tso's, Kung Po, etc) but i have never had a bad expereince at the Chow Bar. Dig it
(4)Steven T.
One of the more authentic Chinese food places in town. Prices are a bit high but its a good place to go for a more traditional meal. They also have a lunch buffet during the week.
(4)Shelly A.
"Why are we playing games? You know everyone just wants Chow Bar!!" The best chinese food in Bloomington...period. I absolutely love it, and I miss being huddled up in the Business School late nights with it. They have fantastic Chinese and Korean food for $10. They also have 20-30 bubble tea flavors. The owner will give you a gigantic bowl of whatever you ordered and they'll keep the white rice coming in at no extra charge. Its all you need in college, and you'd being doing yourself a pretty big disservice by not checking this place out while visiting Indiana University.
(4)Randy B.
Huge servings, excellent fried rice and crab ragoon. I will go way out of my way to eat here. I recommend ordering off the menu over the buffet.
(5)Patrick M.
Lord have mercy...Chow Bar is the best Chinese restaurant I've ever been to. The other reviews on this page say it all, not sure if it's worth adding my input. Rest assured that you will not find better Asian cuisine in the state of Indiana. I usually skip the buffet, and order off the menu even during lunch.
(5)Rick P.
Terrific lunch buffet, about $7 all you can eat.
(4)Nadeem P.
I've been here twice, and must say my last visit left my mouth watering for more. The first time my friends were unwilling to try interesting foods, so we ended up with sesame chicken and Kung pao chicken, both of which I thought were not very good. This last visit I went with my usual friends, and finally tasted what chow bar had offer. We ordered chili chicken, which was perfectly spicy and flavorful. Next we had garlic beef, which while flavorful was ok. After that came wontons, which had way to much wrapping and not enoughmeat filling. Next we had the rice noodles with pork, which although very oily was absolutely delicious, and one of my two recommendations. Last we had the bum bum chicken, which was my favorite dish for this restaurant and one of my favorite Chinese chicken dishes ever!! I gave this place three stars as the dishes are hit or miss, but if you get the right ones you'll be hooked!!
(3)Cameron G.
Just fine
(5)Ben A.
I used to love eating here, but when I went for lunch today the buffet was almost out of food and was never replenished the entire time that I was there. All of the food tasted old as if they reheated leftovers. With a wealth of great Asian dining around the corner on 4th street, there isn't much point in eating at Chow Bar.
(2)Cristina W.
Their food is consistently outstanding! My husband and I ordered it on Christmas Eve (enough to feed an army) and made three giant meals out of it. The spicy beef seemed very authentic. I loved it! Their Americanized Chinese dishes have always been great too (sesame chicken, orange chicken and general's chicken). Christmas was our fifth time or so ordering, and I don't have a bad thing to say about the place!!!
(4)Anna W.
This was a lot better than I was expecting. Not that I had heard anything bad about Chow bar, I just hadn't heard anyone rave about it, either. Our waitress was ridiculously nice. I ordered a pot of tea, which was really good. It tasted...spicy. Then, my roommate and I ordered the tofu one pot and I'm super glad we shared because there is no way in freaking hell I would have been able to finish that by myself. Decent prices, too, for the crazy amount of food you get.
(4)Minwen W.
As a Chinese student saying, this is the most authentic Chinese restaurant in town!
(5)Jenny B.
Sorry... this review has to be downgraded, one star off completely. I ate here again after 5 years (Yes, I know, you think I'm crazy, but it's nice to be back to the hood, after awhile =)). The owner still the same, remembers me as well, quite surprising. 1 star off due to how the food was cooked. Their buffet are pretty good price and still plenty of food to select, especially seafood wise, like shrimps and crab legs. However, the basic menu like the fried chow mein, fried rice, was definitely weird. Their chow mein was like smothered in sweet soy sauce that it's so deep black, I was almost scared to put into my mouth. Some food looked like they were made with the same sauce, so there's no variety at all for taste wise. The most surprising thing that they have for me was the pork intestine with the hot sauce and cilantro. I would never imagine finding that in Bloomington, at all, Period! Their boba prices were so ridiculously expensive, but hey, it's understandable, there are not that many places in Bloomington selling boba, so they're taking advantage of it. Since I came from LA, the taste is just so-so. Too bad I can't compare their food to Lucky Express, which I heard was really better than this, however, I think it still deserves 4 stars due to great service, still very good food selections and very affordable buffet, compared to China Buffet a.k.a CIBU by the 3rd street. One last thing that's awesome here is on their menu, Indonesian Fried Rice ROCKS!!!
(4)Mckenzie E.
The only food I've ever ordered from Chow Bar is: Chicken Lo Mein. It was on point. Very delicious, I could use some of that yummy in my tummy right now. In the case that you take it to go, dab some Chili Garlic Sauce (Huy Fong brand) on it. Add on a Bubble Tea and you are set. Many people, myself included go to Chow Bar strictly for to-go Bubble Teas. The Milk Green Tea one is my all-time fave.
(4)M Y.
the best chinese food in b-town. I loved there scallion garlic chicken and there Indonesian fried rice. They also had decent bubble tea for a small town like btown. Overall, it was a place where I could get a decent authentic asian meal away from home.
(4)Brian O.
My wife and I, Americans who like Asian food, but admittedly Americanized, did the Sunday Buffet and agree with other reviews that this seemed pretty authentic. The clientele demographic today at least supports this claim. They had some unusual offerings. We're no stranger to Asian food, especially having lived in LA and Sacramento for quite awhile, but I had to ask what one dish was (something with calamari). The pigs feet were obvious. We did like the honey sesame chicken and spicy beef (I hope :-) and soy tofu (not sure what it was called, since there were no signs). We both tried the original bubble tea and thought it was just okay. The bubbles were a little scary looking (not ever seen or heard of it before). My first thought was some part of a fish, especially since it was black and a little slippery, but was just tapioca (so they said, with a smile) that had the taste of licorice. My brave wife tried it first. Chow Bar lacked Hot & Sour soup and many of the Chinese vegetables that I like. It was not a place we will crave, but for those that want authentic or desire to try something a little different, the food and service was good. The Sunday brunch is a little more pricey than during the week (~$14pp with drink before tip). I'd suggest a weekday brunch to try some of their variety. The ambiance is clean, well lit and simple.
(4)Meghan L.
good lunch buffet, good homestyle bean curd, but who am i kidding? i always just went for the bubble tea. my favorite flavor is the green bean (not what it sounds like, folks.) it tastes kind of like green tea but creamier/smokier. is smokey too pretentious of a word to use when describing bubble tea? nah, i'm gonna go with it. anyway. good place. get something with bok choy; it's always nice and squeaky fresh.
(4)Christine B.
Oh, the ginger chicken and the snow-white shrimp. Bubble tea! Spicy, tender eggplant! Whole, crispy, spicy fish! We ate at Chow Bar whenever we could when my niece was at IU. It's hard eating Chinese food anywhere else now. The ginger chicken tasted like it was poached in a ginger broth, it was so tender and flavorful. The snow-white shrimp came out sizzling in their delicate batter, nestled on ice-cold shredded cabbage with some kind of addictive white sauce. They have bubble tea, a rarity in this part of the country. One star off for not being closer, and six stars for food.
(5)Ken K.
Typical Americanized Chinese buffet. Nothing special, nothing terrible. Hard to imagine any other Chinese place in Bloomington being much better, but also hard to imagine another being much worse. They're all the same to me. Althought, I will say they had a decent shrimp dish and amazing rangoons.
(3)Josh R.
Chow Bar ranks among my favorite Chinese food restaurants of all time. The food varies from American style to the supremely alien and challenging authentic dishes. They offer an excellent lunch buffet, but menu only for dinner. The weekend buffet is more geared toward the authentic and can include such wonderful treats as pig feet. Dishes are always served promptly and hot and the servers are always nice and helpful, if sometimes restricted in their English. I mostly order from their specials menu, which tends to be very authentic and includes the decadent pork in plum sauce, the korean/chinese favorite noodle dish ja jiang mein, and pork tripe with pickled vegetable. Anyone can enjoy the first two, sweet, savory, and acidic sauce with meat and vegetables with rice and noodles respectively, however, it takes someone of particular tastes to truly appreciate the tripe. The tripe has a musky aroma and a squelchy texture that is frequently enjoyed in Asian cultures and typically hated by Americans. I think it's an outstanding dish, but you might not be able to stomach it if you haven't eaten tripe before. Not all of the challenging dishes are an instant hit. I couldn't get my mind into the pigs' ear, but I think that was more because of the combination of oiliness and cilantro, and not the squelchiness of the ear cartilage. The buffet typically offers some nice vegetables (baby bok choy, green beans, eggplant) in addition to the fried squid, fish, sesame chicken, and various stir fry dishes. The bubble teas are excellent; there's a large variety of flavors, but the milk tea and lychee stand out to me. I have been there when the machine that seals the top is not working, but enjoyed my tea nonetheless; I was just extra careful not to spill. As a side note, I'm somewhat confused by the review calling this a, "[t]ypical Americanized Chinese buffet." I've never seen pig's ear or feet served in any other restaurant in the United States nor have I seen the extremely authentic ja jiang mein anywhere else.
(5)Kyle D.
Chow Bar is the best Chinese restaurant I've ever found, flat out. A couple of friends and I sometimes make the drive to Bloomington from Greenwood (me) and Mooresville (them) just to go eat there. I'm boring and get the same thing every time I go - Hunan Chicken. The sauce is amazing and I have to control myself so that I don't lick the bowl when I'm done. Going during the day (except on Sundays), the lunch portion is plenty but I will also shovel down the dinner portion if I'm there later. Don't skip the eggrolls either! My friends tend to go for the General's Chicken and we all dig into a pile of egg rolls. Sometimes bubble tea is involved; I'm personally not a huge fan of it in general, but for those that like it, the flavor selection at Chow Bar is paradise. I've never been to another restaurant with more flavors. I could go on and on about this place, but I'm going to stop myself. If you're anywhere close, it's worth giving Chow Bar a try...if you're on campus, hurry up and walk across the street to acquire some delicious-ness! PS - I picked the $11 - $30 price range because I typically order an entree plus two egg rolls, then tip the server, so my total is around $15. Not too shabby.
(5)