Finding high quality and consistent Chinese food reinforced by exceptional service is a challenge. However Tao Chen's meets and exceeds that challenge. Whether dining for lunch (their lunch specials are great) or ordering take-out, I have yet to have less than great food. Asking for exceptions such as no mushrooms please is always met with a smile and a can do attitude.
(5)
Denise H.
After fiinding out my fantastic local chinese restaurant suffered an unexpected fire in the kitchen (RIP), we ventured out to try and find another restaurant on our way home. Tao Chen's appeared in a Google search so we figured we were feeling adventurous enough to try it. We ordered the sesame chicken and spare ribs. After getting home we dived right in. The food was good but the broccoli they added to the sesame chicken was so over cooked it was horrible. If they would have left out the broccoli I would have given them 4 stars. BTW - we didn't dine in but the atmosphere inside looked quite nice.
(3)
Susan C.
What a nice surprise! Dropped in for lunch since I was in the area. Ordered the wonton soup and it was the best I've had in years! Flavorful broth with lots of barbecued pork strips and chopped green onions. The shrimp in lobster sauce was also delicious. It was made as it should be with a dark sauce made with pork, not that white eggy sauce you get in most places. I will definitely be back since I'm anxious to try other items on their menu.
(5)
Chris Z.
Eddie (the owner) is probably one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. It's nice to see a regular Chinese joint in an area surrounded by subpar buffets that are usually full of obese hillbillies. Anyway... The food at Tao Chens is top notch, the wait staff is always nice and the whole place is extremely clean. I have no problems saying that this is probably the best Chinese food in all of Northwest Indiana. There are plenty of vegan & vegetarian options. The orange tofu is my personal favorite.
(5)
Greg Q.
Great food and service Recommend the Mongolian beef and sweet and sour chicken Atmosphere is great and service always fast
(5)
Earlie C.
Usually food is pretty solid from here until recently. Grabbed a kung pao beef that was pretty terrible today. Enough celery (didn't know celery was a huge feature in Chinese cuisine) to comprise a whole bunch. There literally had to be about 8 pieces of beef in our meal. Threw away 3/4 of our meal. Maybe will try happy wok next time.
(2)
Thomas B.
We bought carry-out on July 30, 2014 by walking into the store and ordering face-to-face. Good food. Rude hostess/apparent owner, refused to make eye contact while taking order. 5 stars for excellent food, lost one star for forgetting to be pleasant.
(4)
Mike S.
I've always enjoyed Tao Chen's! I think the food is above average while the prices are average, making for a pretty good value. My favorite dishes are the Mongolian beef, mushu pork, and chicken eggplant. In the 7 years I've been going here, I've NEVER been able to finish a whole entree by myself in one sitting. Which is nice cause I'm cheap and love having leftovers lol. I see some of the poor reviews are due to the service... I tend to agree with that. The owners are Chinese, and they act Chinese. So I realize that to Americans, they may come off as rude or unapologetic. But I've spoken with the owner several times, and he is a good guy. I've never had a problem with the service before. That being said, I order take-out almost exclusively, so I can't really judge the wait staff. I can also tell you that I've tried around 6 or 7 Chinese restaurants in the area, and this one is the best. I don't know how happy wok (across the street) can compete with Tao Chen! I would recommend!!!
(5)
Jake L.
It's cheap, the portions are huge, and the food is amazing. Ate their on a drive from minnesota, and really wish we had one here. If you are in the area, GO HERE! You will not regret it!
(5)
Cari A.
Horrible service. My son has a shellfish allergy and was unable to eat most things on the menu. The owner was unwilling to accommodate him with a kid size order or a lunch size order (he is 9 years old). She was extremely rude and dismissive even though our table of four all had our own entrees plus appetizers. She just said, " large orders only" and walked away while I was speaking. We will not be coming back for poor service and an inconsiderate owner. There are way better options in town.
(1)
Elizabeth M.
Cute little spot for a quick lunch or dinner. The menu is extensive and includes beer & wine, which seems to be rare in the Region. If you enjoy spicy dishes, I recommend asking for extra hot sauce. Another fun and quirky thing about Tao Chen's is the tiny "gift shop" at the cash register...stop in to see what I'm talking about.
(4)
Jim L.
Very modern and clean dining room. I had the hot and sour soup to start which was great . then I had the orange chicken that was out of control. I will definitely go back and try some new entres. Jim
(5)
Victoria S.
We often eat at Tao Chens. The food and the service are great. They customize the menu to meet my food requirements as I am allergic to gluten and dairy.
(5)
S T.
Very good food and service. Definitely recommend and will be coming back. My favorite in the area. A+. Egg drop soup, egg rolls, chicken, and house rice were all good
(5)
Mere W.
I will preface this review with the fact that I have been going to the Chinese joint in this spot for 25 years now and I've always loved it! Typically we call in an order for the family and go pick it up. The employees are cordial and always have the order done on time. My menu favorite is the egg rolls and chicken fried rice. I highly recommend Tao Chens!
(5)
L. R.
It's painful for me to write this as I have loved the food here since I first tasted it. My last visit there with my partner changed that for me. We loved that they substituted tofu for the beef in the Mongolian Beef dish and that was our go-to delicious meal. We got our meals and were digging in and enjoying it when suddenly my partner chomped down on something hard. Out of his mouth, he took a small glass bead. We called over our waiter and gave him the bead wrapped in a napkin and told him to please speak to the owner (who was greeting patrons nearby). The waiter himself said nothing. After a few minutes watching him walk around and wait tables we stopped him. "What did he say?" We asked. His response floored us-"he says he doesn't know what it is either!" No apology, no coming to speak to us, nothing. I decided to give the waiter some advice. It's customary to apologize when someone finds a foreign object in their food, it's customary to make a fuss about it because it can close you down, and it's customary to comp that meal. We didn't finish the meal. Duly chastised, he apologized. I waited at the cash register to speak with the owner but it was clear he was avoiding us, turning his back on us as he spoke with other customers. I apologized to the person at the cash register for complaining and this is what I was told-"I am used to it. Just today, a lady found a piece of the scrubby we use to wash pots and pans in her food." Went home and told everyone I know who goes there what happened. I loved this place, but cannot ever go back.
(1)
Dave S.
We were very surprised at how flavorful all our entrees were. Great egg rolls and very good soup also. For a small town in Indiana this Chinese restaurant stands up to some of the better ones in large cities. They are not shy with the spices. Will eat here again when going through the area.
(4)
Michael B.
One of the joys of eating at Tao Chen's is getting to chat with owners Eddie and Tao, who are absolutely delightful and very giving of their time. The food is always meticulously prepared and I've never had a problem requesting minor changes to what's listed in the menu. This is a quite relaxing place to dine at. Happy Wok across the parking lot is a good place to go to eat. Tao Chen's is a good place to go to dine.
(4)
Jennifer M.
My family has a place nearby in Beverly Shores and every time I visit I'm so grateful that Tao Chen's exists. It's by far the best place I've found in the Indiana Dunes area to satisfy my craving for Chinese food and I'm always glad to end up here rather than at the steam tables of the Chinese buffet in Michigan City (or, for that matter, at the inferior Chinese place on the same block as Tao Chen's). Although I've had better in urban areas, all the dishes I've eaten here are well made and reliable. The restaurant's ambiance is also perfectly fine, as is the service.
(4)
Karl H.
I simply love Tau Chen's. My wife and I are both vegetarians and find a bunch of stuff here that we love. We talk the place up a lot to friends and family and no one has ever been let down. Spicy tofu, vege egg rolls, and vegetarian Dan Dan noodles are some of my favorites. Honestly - while eating in China Town in San Francisco I sat there wishing it was as good as Tao Chens. I lived in Chicago in ethnic neighborhoods for years and was afraid of losing a lot of the good food that I had grown accustomed to. Tao Chen's has been my fix for Chinese food time and time again.
(5)
Sari H.
Typical mediocre Chinese food; iffy cleanliness. The owners are often crabby, especially if you dare to ask for sauce for your carryout. (You can have all the sauce you want if you eat in.) That said, if you're craving Chinese and don't mind paying an extra $3 for sauce (plus begging -- just paying for it is often not enough), it can hit the spot. Good crab rangoon. There's not much else I'd get excited about, though.
(2)
Gretchen V.
Randomly stopped here on our way to Michigan for the weekend and we were pleasantly surprised. Solid Chinese food in a clean atmosphere. Friendly service. I had the chicken lettuce wraps and the veggie lo mein. They took requests for added spice, which wins over my heart. The veggies in the lo mein were fresh and not overly cooked, and the spice level was just right. Plus, I didn't leave feeling like I would be retaining water for days like I do after leaving some Chinese restaurants. If we're ever in the area again, we'll be back.
(4)
C H.
ordered the lunch special Kung Pao chicken spicy It was brought out hot. Egg drop soup was also great. Service was great!
(5)
Guivee G.
I googled them and decided to check them out. I ordered chicken with broccoli. It came with white rice or plain fried rice. I asked them if I could have pork fried rice instead and pay the difference and they said no we don't substitute here. Really?? I can pay the the difference, again no. The chicken and broccoli was good but as usual they give you a ton more of vegetables than meat. The plain fried rice I got was awful! Extremely dry and undercooked. Chinese food can be expensive for a family to buy so I expect it to be at its best. Because of this I will never eat here again. I will try Happy Wok next door next time so be looking for my review soon, Bye Bye!
(2)
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Address :532 Indian Boundary Rd
Chesterton, IN, 46304
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
Leanne H.
Finding high quality and consistent Chinese food reinforced by exceptional service is a challenge. However Tao Chen's meets and exceeds that challenge. Whether dining for lunch (their lunch specials are great) or ordering take-out, I have yet to have less than great food. Asking for exceptions such as no mushrooms please is always met with a smile and a can do attitude.
(5)Denise H.
After fiinding out my fantastic local chinese restaurant suffered an unexpected fire in the kitchen (RIP), we ventured out to try and find another restaurant on our way home. Tao Chen's appeared in a Google search so we figured we were feeling adventurous enough to try it. We ordered the sesame chicken and spare ribs. After getting home we dived right in. The food was good but the broccoli they added to the sesame chicken was so over cooked it was horrible. If they would have left out the broccoli I would have given them 4 stars. BTW - we didn't dine in but the atmosphere inside looked quite nice.
(3)Susan C.
What a nice surprise! Dropped in for lunch since I was in the area. Ordered the wonton soup and it was the best I've had in years! Flavorful broth with lots of barbecued pork strips and chopped green onions. The shrimp in lobster sauce was also delicious. It was made as it should be with a dark sauce made with pork, not that white eggy sauce you get in most places. I will definitely be back since I'm anxious to try other items on their menu.
(5)Chris Z.
Eddie (the owner) is probably one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. It's nice to see a regular Chinese joint in an area surrounded by subpar buffets that are usually full of obese hillbillies. Anyway... The food at Tao Chens is top notch, the wait staff is always nice and the whole place is extremely clean. I have no problems saying that this is probably the best Chinese food in all of Northwest Indiana. There are plenty of vegan & vegetarian options. The orange tofu is my personal favorite.
(5)Greg Q.
Great food and service Recommend the Mongolian beef and sweet and sour chicken Atmosphere is great and service always fast
(5)Earlie C.
Usually food is pretty solid from here until recently. Grabbed a kung pao beef that was pretty terrible today. Enough celery (didn't know celery was a huge feature in Chinese cuisine) to comprise a whole bunch. There literally had to be about 8 pieces of beef in our meal. Threw away 3/4 of our meal. Maybe will try happy wok next time.
(2)Thomas B.
We bought carry-out on July 30, 2014 by walking into the store and ordering face-to-face. Good food. Rude hostess/apparent owner, refused to make eye contact while taking order. 5 stars for excellent food, lost one star for forgetting to be pleasant.
(4)Mike S.
I've always enjoyed Tao Chen's! I think the food is above average while the prices are average, making for a pretty good value. My favorite dishes are the Mongolian beef, mushu pork, and chicken eggplant. In the 7 years I've been going here, I've NEVER been able to finish a whole entree by myself in one sitting. Which is nice cause I'm cheap and love having leftovers lol. I see some of the poor reviews are due to the service... I tend to agree with that. The owners are Chinese, and they act Chinese. So I realize that to Americans, they may come off as rude or unapologetic. But I've spoken with the owner several times, and he is a good guy. I've never had a problem with the service before. That being said, I order take-out almost exclusively, so I can't really judge the wait staff. I can also tell you that I've tried around 6 or 7 Chinese restaurants in the area, and this one is the best. I don't know how happy wok (across the street) can compete with Tao Chen! I would recommend!!!
(5)Jake L.
It's cheap, the portions are huge, and the food is amazing. Ate their on a drive from minnesota, and really wish we had one here. If you are in the area, GO HERE! You will not regret it!
(5)Cari A.
Horrible service. My son has a shellfish allergy and was unable to eat most things on the menu. The owner was unwilling to accommodate him with a kid size order or a lunch size order (he is 9 years old). She was extremely rude and dismissive even though our table of four all had our own entrees plus appetizers. She just said, " large orders only" and walked away while I was speaking. We will not be coming back for poor service and an inconsiderate owner. There are way better options in town.
(1)Elizabeth M.
Cute little spot for a quick lunch or dinner. The menu is extensive and includes beer & wine, which seems to be rare in the Region. If you enjoy spicy dishes, I recommend asking for extra hot sauce. Another fun and quirky thing about Tao Chen's is the tiny "gift shop" at the cash register...stop in to see what I'm talking about.
(4)Jim L.
Very modern and clean dining room. I had the hot and sour soup to start which was great . then I had the orange chicken that was out of control. I will definitely go back and try some new entres. Jim
(5)Victoria S.
We often eat at Tao Chens. The food and the service are great. They customize the menu to meet my food requirements as I am allergic to gluten and dairy.
(5)S T.
Very good food and service. Definitely recommend and will be coming back. My favorite in the area. A+. Egg drop soup, egg rolls, chicken, and house rice were all good
(5)Mere W.
I will preface this review with the fact that I have been going to the Chinese joint in this spot for 25 years now and I've always loved it! Typically we call in an order for the family and go pick it up. The employees are cordial and always have the order done on time. My menu favorite is the egg rolls and chicken fried rice. I highly recommend Tao Chens!
(5)L. R.
It's painful for me to write this as I have loved the food here since I first tasted it. My last visit there with my partner changed that for me. We loved that they substituted tofu for the beef in the Mongolian Beef dish and that was our go-to delicious meal. We got our meals and were digging in and enjoying it when suddenly my partner chomped down on something hard. Out of his mouth, he took a small glass bead. We called over our waiter and gave him the bead wrapped in a napkin and told him to please speak to the owner (who was greeting patrons nearby). The waiter himself said nothing. After a few minutes watching him walk around and wait tables we stopped him. "What did he say?" We asked. His response floored us-"he says he doesn't know what it is either!" No apology, no coming to speak to us, nothing. I decided to give the waiter some advice. It's customary to apologize when someone finds a foreign object in their food, it's customary to make a fuss about it because it can close you down, and it's customary to comp that meal. We didn't finish the meal. Duly chastised, he apologized. I waited at the cash register to speak with the owner but it was clear he was avoiding us, turning his back on us as he spoke with other customers. I apologized to the person at the cash register for complaining and this is what I was told-"I am used to it. Just today, a lady found a piece of the scrubby we use to wash pots and pans in her food." Went home and told everyone I know who goes there what happened. I loved this place, but cannot ever go back.
(1)Dave S.
We were very surprised at how flavorful all our entrees were. Great egg rolls and very good soup also. For a small town in Indiana this Chinese restaurant stands up to some of the better ones in large cities. They are not shy with the spices. Will eat here again when going through the area.
(4)Michael B.
One of the joys of eating at Tao Chen's is getting to chat with owners Eddie and Tao, who are absolutely delightful and very giving of their time. The food is always meticulously prepared and I've never had a problem requesting minor changes to what's listed in the menu. This is a quite relaxing place to dine at. Happy Wok across the parking lot is a good place to go to eat. Tao Chen's is a good place to go to dine.
(4)Jennifer M.
My family has a place nearby in Beverly Shores and every time I visit I'm so grateful that Tao Chen's exists. It's by far the best place I've found in the Indiana Dunes area to satisfy my craving for Chinese food and I'm always glad to end up here rather than at the steam tables of the Chinese buffet in Michigan City (or, for that matter, at the inferior Chinese place on the same block as Tao Chen's). Although I've had better in urban areas, all the dishes I've eaten here are well made and reliable. The restaurant's ambiance is also perfectly fine, as is the service.
(4)Karl H.
I simply love Tau Chen's. My wife and I are both vegetarians and find a bunch of stuff here that we love. We talk the place up a lot to friends and family and no one has ever been let down. Spicy tofu, vege egg rolls, and vegetarian Dan Dan noodles are some of my favorites. Honestly - while eating in China Town in San Francisco I sat there wishing it was as good as Tao Chens. I lived in Chicago in ethnic neighborhoods for years and was afraid of losing a lot of the good food that I had grown accustomed to. Tao Chen's has been my fix for Chinese food time and time again.
(5)Sari H.
Typical mediocre Chinese food; iffy cleanliness. The owners are often crabby, especially if you dare to ask for sauce for your carryout. (You can have all the sauce you want if you eat in.) That said, if you're craving Chinese and don't mind paying an extra $3 for sauce (plus begging -- just paying for it is often not enough), it can hit the spot. Good crab rangoon. There's not much else I'd get excited about, though.
(2)Gretchen V.
Randomly stopped here on our way to Michigan for the weekend and we were pleasantly surprised. Solid Chinese food in a clean atmosphere. Friendly service. I had the chicken lettuce wraps and the veggie lo mein. They took requests for added spice, which wins over my heart. The veggies in the lo mein were fresh and not overly cooked, and the spice level was just right. Plus, I didn't leave feeling like I would be retaining water for days like I do after leaving some Chinese restaurants. If we're ever in the area again, we'll be back.
(4)C H.
ordered the lunch special Kung Pao chicken spicy It was brought out hot. Egg drop soup was also great. Service was great!
(5)Guivee G.
I googled them and decided to check them out. I ordered chicken with broccoli. It came with white rice or plain fried rice. I asked them if I could have pork fried rice instead and pay the difference and they said no we don't substitute here. Really?? I can pay the the difference, again no. The chicken and broccoli was good but as usual they give you a ton more of vegetables than meat. The plain fried rice I got was awful! Extremely dry and undercooked. Chinese food can be expensive for a family to buy so I expect it to be at its best. Because of this I will never eat here again. I will try Happy Wok next door next time so be looking for my review soon, Bye Bye!
(2)