Insanely slow service. We called for pickup and arrived on time. 45 minutes and lots of yelling from the kitchen later, we got our food. The wait had been so long, other customers were starting to make jokes with each other about the wait. Granted, I'm spoiled by the availability of good food in the city, but speaking as a hometown girl, this was still sub par quality for DeKalb county.
(1)
Derek G.
Ren's has the BEST crab rangoon I've ever had. A fresh crispy crust and a warm, not soggy dab of crab and cream cheese is hard to pull off apparently. I've had all of the others, and the BEST is Ren's. The rest of the food is pretty good too. Sometimes it's hard to communicate your order or understand the thick accent on the phone and sometimes deliveries are a little slow so I'd recommend placing your order in person and picking it up, but the food is great - you won't be disappointed. Their lunch specials are a great deal. Check those out for sure.
(4)
Spencer S.
Best General Tso's chicken in the area. Prices are very reasonable; the $5.50 lunch special includes entree, eggroll, crab Rangoon and fried rice. Best if eaten fresh and hot, it's cheap, unhealthy Chinese food at its best. Don't expect gourmet food and you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Josh H.
Really bad. Some produce is fresh, not all of it. Tofu is not prepared, just added to dishes. Basic things like Fried Rice are flavorless and mushy. Fried foods are not much different. Aside from less than desirable ingredients, flavors and textures are all around poor. Not even disappointing just bad, did not satiate any cravings for anything remotely Chinese.
(1)
Joseph M.
Ren's is my go-to for awesome, cheap lunch in Sycamore. Food is solid with some fairly impressive highlights. The staff is super friendly, service has always been good and I can't recall a single bad meal. If you're looking for gourmet, look elsewhere. If you want tasty, sort-of fast food Chinese, this is your place. Big thumbs up.
(4)
Billy B.
I've had several carry-out orders from Ren's. The price is fair for what you get. Not great, just good. After today we will never go back. I witnessed the young kid who takes the orders get pushed and berated before my eyes. Totally unprofessional and made me most uncomfortable. There is no excuse for this. I'll find a quality resturant in DeKalb the next time I want chinese food, there are many. Perhaps one that treats their staff with the same respect they treat their customers with.
(1)
Erika D.
good food - take-out or delivery - great prices, we say, its always a "rens"day :)
(4)
Rachel H.
Oh Ren's. What can I say about Ren's? The reviews on here ALL ring of truth. The food quality is very good in my humble opinion; in fact I find it better than most Chinese food restaurants (at least those that specialize in takeout food). The customer service is subpar at best (though the younger guy who works there has always been extremely friendly and prompt every time) but let's take a step back here: Ren's is NOT your high brow Chinese restaurant. You should not walk in here expecting a gourmet meal. But I will be d*mned if they aren't one of the best Chinese food places I've ever eaten. If you order for pick up then I can say with confidence the 15-20 minute estimate is dead on. Every. Single. Time. I have never had an issue with it. I will warn you though, should you choose to order for delivery, you should expect that the half hour they quote will be at LEAST an hour. I honestly don't mind this now that I know, since I can place an anticipatory order and hey, if it gets there earlier I will simply consider it my lucky day. Now the food. Oh lord, the food. The food is so GOOD. It can be greasy, yes, just a little greasy but in the best sort of way. The pork fried rice is INSANELY flavorful. I have never had fried rice with this sort of flavor and I don't know nor do I care what kind of magic they use to make it taste so wonderful. The plain rice they serve is just that... plain. It is a mystery as to how the two can be so different, but I dare not question it. I have had multiple entrees from here including: sesame chicken, General Tao's chicken, the BBQ Pork with vegetables, the Mongolian beef, and the pepper steak. The two steak entrees were underwhelming, but I am incredibly picky about the beef I eat and I think it was really just the cut of beef they used rather than their cooking method. The pork seems to be consistently good no matter how it is prepared, so if you're into pork I'd recommend it. The chicken is the best though. I am a creature of habit, I admit it, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the sesame chicken. It is sweet and crispy and there is always way too much of it. The crab Rangoon is good though I have to admit I am not entirely sure if there is crab in it. The potstickers are average and the sauce they give you to use on them is just meh. The egg rolls are really good though. As for pricing, it's really all over the place. I order the same thing almost every time (usually the lunch special, which by the way is a phenomenal deal: $5.45 for an entree, rice, a crab Rangoon, an egg roll, and a soda) and depending on if I ask for pork fried rice in place of the plain it can be anywhere between $6 and $8. I have honest to god asked for pork fried rice multiple times and every time it is different (Usually either $7 or $8, and keep in mind that the lunch special ends up an even $6 when you get it) In summation, you get what you pay for in terms of service and the inside of Ren's is kind of dark and messy, but the food is SO good. I ate it for dinner tonight and as I was walking away from the pickup counter a little old man with a cane hobled up and said to the young guy working there "This food IS good! I ate here last night and here I am again." That sums it up. It's yummy, a little degrading, and you will definitely come back for more.
(4)
Dave Y.
I am torn on writing this. The food there is pretty good and the owner, while gruff and hard to understand, seem like an upright guy. The problem we ran into was delivery yesterday. We had placed orders for 3 at work, I was paying. When it was delivered I was busy and was told the bill came to $27. I gave them $35 to give the guy, finished what I was doing and went into eat. Every body's order was there but mine. I called the store and they said they would call driver to come back, this was 12:45. At 1, I called again and the owner did not understand why he had not been there yet. At 1:05, I called again, and again at 1:17. The original order had been placed at 12:00. The driver pulled up in his black Camaro at 1:20. "Is that order one you went back to get or is that the same you had in your car when you came before." "It's still warm" "That is not what I asked, is it almost an hour old or did you go back" "I am not the owner" "Since you won't give me an answer, just give me a refund". At this point, he simply turned, with my order in hand, and walked out without saying anything. I followed hi to the parking lot, angry now, and asked what he was doing (probably not to politely). He looked at me with a rather blank stare and got in his car and closed door. The restaurant i less than a quarter mile, so i drove down there to talk to owner. He said it was his only delivery and did not understand why it took so long. He offered to make me a new order, I accepted. 10 minutes later, the driver came back. I insisted that now i wanted my change, since it was a good tip that I gave for supposedly good service. he said no, once you give someone money, you don't ask for it back (admittedly, this is the first time I ever have). The owner told him to give it back to me. They argued and finally he went out to his car, came back with some money and handed it to the owner, refusing to give it to me. The owner and he fought when finally the driver threw the money on the counter and mumbled something about having me arrested. The owner apologized but made a weird comment about not having any control over the orders once they leave and that this kid has always been a problem. While he did not discount or refund anything, he did throw in a bunch of almond cookies, so I guess it was something. Would I eat here again, probably. It is the nearest takeout to where I live and work. Would I ever consider getting delivery, NO!. I WILL PICK IT UP.
(2)
John B.
We have become regulars! Several years back the food was not very good. They definitely used cheap ingredients. We now go there every two or so weeks since the quality has improved. We usually get the sesame chicken (my favorite), sweet & sour chicken (wife's favorite) and beef fried rice. We have not ordered much else. All three are very good. If you haven't been here in a while or never have been here give it try. When we call for carry out it usually takes 15 - 20 minutes for them to have our food ready.
(4)
brian w.
Been ordering from them for years, the food is good but that's not why they get 1 star. We ordered from them last night, food was good as all ways. Got to the last bites and found a rock that I almost bit down on. Went back trying to give them the opportunity to make this right, after all the excuses and BS it got to us demanding our money back. They the owner said "call the police". I almost break a tooth on a rock in my food and they want the police called. Hmmmmmmm losing $40 and keeping you customers happy or losing a customer, great choice guys. So if you're in Sycamore and in the mood for Chinese go to Yen Ching's in DeKalb, way better food and the owners aren't a-holes.
(1)
Eden A.
Food is pretty good. However, tonight we were quoted 45 minutes for delivery and an hour and a half later called to see what was up. They told us five more minutes. Called back and they still hadn't left. Five more minutes they said. Ten minutes later we called to cancel. The food was finally there he said we don't have to take the food and they could void our card. How about give us food and void our card?! Or at least a few bucks off!! Won't ever be back.
(1)
Sean K.
Decent Chinese food. Unbeatable prices. The owner is like the Soup Nazi and I think it adds to the charm of the place.
(4)
Rachel H.
Oh Ren's. What can I say about Ren's? The reviews on here ALL ring of truth. The food quality is very good in my humble opinion; in fact I find it better than most Chinese food restaurants (at least those that specialize in takeout food). The customer service is subpar at best (though the younger guy who works there has always been extremely friendly and prompt every time) but let's take a step back here: Ren's is NOT your high brow Chinese restaurant. You should not walk in here expecting a gourmet meal. But I will be d*mned if they aren't one of the best Chinese food places I've ever eaten. If you order for pick up then I can say with confidence the 15-20 minute estimate is dead on. Every. Single. Time. I have never had an issue with it. I will warn you though, should you choose to order for delivery, you should expect that the half hour they quote will be at LEAST an hour. I honestly don't mind this now that I know, since I can place an anticipatory order and hey, if it gets there earlier I will simply consider it my lucky day. Now the food. Oh lord, the food. The food is so GOOD. It can be greasy, yes, just a little greasy but in the best sort of way. The pork fried rice is INSANELY flavorful. I have never had fried rice with this sort of flavor and I don't know nor do I care what kind of magic they use to make it taste so wonderful. The plain rice they serve is just that... plain. It is a mystery as to how the two can be so different, but I dare not question it. I have had multiple entrees from here including: sesame chicken, General Tao's chicken, the BBQ Pork with vegetables, the Mongolian beef, and the pepper steak. The two steak entrees were underwhelming, but I am incredibly picky about the beef I eat and I think it was really just the cut of beef they used rather than their cooking method. The pork seems to be consistently good no matter how it is prepared, so if you're into pork I'd recommend it. The chicken is the best though. I am a creature of habit, I admit it, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the sesame chicken. It is sweet and crispy and there is always way too much of it. The crab Rangoon is good though I have to admit I am not entirely sure if there is crab in it. The potstickers are average and the sauce they give you to use on them is just meh. The egg rolls are really good though. As for pricing, it's really all over the place. I order the same thing almost every time (usually the lunch special, which by the way is a phenomenal deal: $5.45 for an entree, rice, a crab Rangoon, an egg roll, and a soda) and depending on if I ask for pork fried rice in place of the plain it can be anywhere between $6 and $8. I have honest to god asked for pork fried rice multiple times and every time it is different (Usually either $7 or $8, and keep in mind that the lunch special ends up an even $6 when you get it) In summation, you get what you pay for in terms of service and the inside of Ren's is kind of dark and messy, but the food is SO good. I ate it for dinner tonight and as I was walking away from the pickup counter a little old man with a cane hobled up and said to the young guy working there "This food IS good! I ate here last night and here I am again." That sums it up. It's yummy, a little degrading, and you will definitely come back for more.
(4)
Dave Y.
I am torn on writing this. The food there is pretty good and the owner, while gruff and hard to understand, seem like an upright guy. The problem we ran into was delivery yesterday. We had placed orders for 3 at work, I was paying. When it was delivered I was busy and was told the bill came to $27. I gave them $35 to give the guy, finished what I was doing and went into eat. Every body's order was there but mine. I called the store and they said they would call driver to come back, this was 12:45. At 1, I called again and the owner did not understand why he had not been there yet. At 1:05, I called again, and again at 1:17. The original order had been placed at 12:00. The driver pulled up in his black Camaro at 1:20. "Is that order one you went back to get or is that the same you had in your car when you came before." "It's still warm" "That is not what I asked, is it almost an hour old or did you go back" "I am not the owner" "Since you won't give me an answer, just give me a refund". At this point, he simply turned, with my order in hand, and walked out without saying anything. I followed hi to the parking lot, angry now, and asked what he was doing (probably not to politely). He looked at me with a rather blank stare and got in his car and closed door. The restaurant i less than a quarter mile, so i drove down there to talk to owner. He said it was his only delivery and did not understand why it took so long. He offered to make me a new order, I accepted. 10 minutes later, the driver came back. I insisted that now i wanted my change, since it was a good tip that I gave for supposedly good service. he said no, once you give someone money, you don't ask for it back (admittedly, this is the first time I ever have). The owner told him to give it back to me. They argued and finally he went out to his car, came back with some money and handed it to the owner, refusing to give it to me. The owner and he fought when finally the driver threw the money on the counter and mumbled something about having me arrested. The owner apologized but made a weird comment about not having any control over the orders once they leave and that this kid has always been a problem. While he did not discount or refund anything, he did throw in a bunch of almond cookies, so I guess it was something. Would I eat here again, probably. It is the nearest takeout to where I live and work. Would I ever consider getting delivery, NO!. I WILL PICK IT UP.
(2)
John B.
We have become regulars! Several years back the food was not very good. They definitely used cheap ingredients. We now go there every two or so weeks since the quality has improved. We usually get the sesame chicken (my favorite), sweet & sour chicken (wife's favorite) and beef fried rice. We have not ordered much else. All three are very good. If you haven't been here in a while or never have been here give it try. When we call for carry out it usually takes 15 - 20 minutes for them to have our food ready.
(4)
brian w.
Been ordering from them for years, the food is good but that's not why they get 1 star. We ordered from them last night, food was good as all ways. Got to the last bites and found a rock that I almost bit down on. Went back trying to give them the opportunity to make this right, after all the excuses and BS it got to us demanding our money back. They the owner said "call the police". I almost break a tooth on a rock in my food and they want the police called. Hmmmmmmm losing $40 and keeping you customers happy or losing a customer, great choice guys. So if you're in Sycamore and in the mood for Chinese go to Yen Ching's in DeKalb, way better food and the owners aren't a-holes.
(1)
Eden A.
Food is pretty good. However, tonight we were quoted 45 minutes for delivery and an hour and a half later called to see what was up. They told us five more minutes. Called back and they still hadn't left. Five more minutes they said. Ten minutes later we called to cancel. The food was finally there he said we don't have to take the food and they could void our card. How about give us food and void our card?! Or at least a few bucks off!! Won't ever be back.
(1)
Sean K.
Decent Chinese food. Unbeatable prices. The owner is like the Soup Nazi and I think it adds to the charm of the place.
(4)
I L.
Insanely slow service. We called for pickup and arrived on time. 45 minutes and lots of yelling from the kitchen later, we got our food. The wait had been so long, other customers were starting to make jokes with each other about the wait. Granted, I'm spoiled by the availability of good food in the city, but speaking as a hometown girl, this was still sub par quality for DeKalb county.
(1)
Derek G.
Ren's has the BEST crab rangoon I've ever had. A fresh crispy crust and a warm, not soggy dab of crab and cream cheese is hard to pull off apparently. I've had all of the others, and the BEST is Ren's. The rest of the food is pretty good too. Sometimes it's hard to communicate your order or understand the thick accent on the phone and sometimes deliveries are a little slow so I'd recommend placing your order in person and picking it up, but the food is great - you won't be disappointed. Their lunch specials are a great deal. Check those out for sure.
(4)
Spencer S.
Best General Tso's chicken in the area. Prices are very reasonable; the $5.50 lunch special includes entree, eggroll, crab Rangoon and fried rice. Best if eaten fresh and hot, it's cheap, unhealthy Chinese food at its best. Don't expect gourmet food and you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Josh H.
Really bad. Some produce is fresh, not all of it. Tofu is not prepared, just added to dishes. Basic things like Fried Rice are flavorless and mushy. Fried foods are not much different. Aside from less than desirable ingredients, flavors and textures are all around poor. Not even disappointing just bad, did not satiate any cravings for anything remotely Chinese.
(1)
Joseph M.
Ren's is my go-to for awesome, cheap lunch in Sycamore. Food is solid with some fairly impressive highlights. The staff is super friendly, service has always been good and I can't recall a single bad meal. If you're looking for gourmet, look elsewhere. If you want tasty, sort-of fast food Chinese, this is your place. Big thumbs up.
(4)
Billy B.
I've had several carry-out orders from Ren's. The price is fair for what you get. Not great, just good. After today we will never go back. I witnessed the young kid who takes the orders get pushed and berated before my eyes. Totally unprofessional and made me most uncomfortable. There is no excuse for this. I'll find a quality resturant in DeKalb the next time I want chinese food, there are many. Perhaps one that treats their staff with the same respect they treat their customers with.
(1)
Erika D.
good food - take-out or delivery - great prices, we say, its always a "rens"day :)
(4)
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Address :310 E State St,Ste 10
Sycamore, IL, 60178
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 : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No 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.
I L.
Insanely slow service. We called for pickup and arrived on time. 45 minutes and lots of yelling from the kitchen later, we got our food. The wait had been so long, other customers were starting to make jokes with each other about the wait. Granted, I'm spoiled by the availability of good food in the city, but speaking as a hometown girl, this was still sub par quality for DeKalb county.
(1)Derek G.
Ren's has the BEST crab rangoon I've ever had. A fresh crispy crust and a warm, not soggy dab of crab and cream cheese is hard to pull off apparently. I've had all of the others, and the BEST is Ren's. The rest of the food is pretty good too. Sometimes it's hard to communicate your order or understand the thick accent on the phone and sometimes deliveries are a little slow so I'd recommend placing your order in person and picking it up, but the food is great - you won't be disappointed. Their lunch specials are a great deal. Check those out for sure.
(4)Spencer S.
Best General Tso's chicken in the area. Prices are very reasonable; the $5.50 lunch special includes entree, eggroll, crab Rangoon and fried rice. Best if eaten fresh and hot, it's cheap, unhealthy Chinese food at its best. Don't expect gourmet food and you won't be disappointed.
(4)Josh H.
Really bad. Some produce is fresh, not all of it. Tofu is not prepared, just added to dishes. Basic things like Fried Rice are flavorless and mushy. Fried foods are not much different. Aside from less than desirable ingredients, flavors and textures are all around poor. Not even disappointing just bad, did not satiate any cravings for anything remotely Chinese.
(1)Joseph M.
Ren's is my go-to for awesome, cheap lunch in Sycamore. Food is solid with some fairly impressive highlights. The staff is super friendly, service has always been good and I can't recall a single bad meal. If you're looking for gourmet, look elsewhere. If you want tasty, sort-of fast food Chinese, this is your place. Big thumbs up.
(4)Billy B.
I've had several carry-out orders from Ren's. The price is fair for what you get. Not great, just good. After today we will never go back. I witnessed the young kid who takes the orders get pushed and berated before my eyes. Totally unprofessional and made me most uncomfortable. There is no excuse for this. I'll find a quality resturant in DeKalb the next time I want chinese food, there are many. Perhaps one that treats their staff with the same respect they treat their customers with.
(1)Erika D.
good food - take-out or delivery - great prices, we say, its always a "rens"day :)
(4)Rachel H.
Oh Ren's. What can I say about Ren's? The reviews on here ALL ring of truth. The food quality is very good in my humble opinion; in fact I find it better than most Chinese food restaurants (at least those that specialize in takeout food). The customer service is subpar at best (though the younger guy who works there has always been extremely friendly and prompt every time) but let's take a step back here: Ren's is NOT your high brow Chinese restaurant. You should not walk in here expecting a gourmet meal. But I will be d*mned if they aren't one of the best Chinese food places I've ever eaten. If you order for pick up then I can say with confidence the 15-20 minute estimate is dead on. Every. Single. Time. I have never had an issue with it. I will warn you though, should you choose to order for delivery, you should expect that the half hour they quote will be at LEAST an hour. I honestly don't mind this now that I know, since I can place an anticipatory order and hey, if it gets there earlier I will simply consider it my lucky day. Now the food. Oh lord, the food. The food is so GOOD. It can be greasy, yes, just a little greasy but in the best sort of way. The pork fried rice is INSANELY flavorful. I have never had fried rice with this sort of flavor and I don't know nor do I care what kind of magic they use to make it taste so wonderful. The plain rice they serve is just that... plain. It is a mystery as to how the two can be so different, but I dare not question it. I have had multiple entrees from here including: sesame chicken, General Tao's chicken, the BBQ Pork with vegetables, the Mongolian beef, and the pepper steak. The two steak entrees were underwhelming, but I am incredibly picky about the beef I eat and I think it was really just the cut of beef they used rather than their cooking method. The pork seems to be consistently good no matter how it is prepared, so if you're into pork I'd recommend it. The chicken is the best though. I am a creature of habit, I admit it, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the sesame chicken. It is sweet and crispy and there is always way too much of it. The crab Rangoon is good though I have to admit I am not entirely sure if there is crab in it. The potstickers are average and the sauce they give you to use on them is just meh. The egg rolls are really good though. As for pricing, it's really all over the place. I order the same thing almost every time (usually the lunch special, which by the way is a phenomenal deal: $5.45 for an entree, rice, a crab Rangoon, an egg roll, and a soda) and depending on if I ask for pork fried rice in place of the plain it can be anywhere between $6 and $8. I have honest to god asked for pork fried rice multiple times and every time it is different (Usually either $7 or $8, and keep in mind that the lunch special ends up an even $6 when you get it) In summation, you get what you pay for in terms of service and the inside of Ren's is kind of dark and messy, but the food is SO good. I ate it for dinner tonight and as I was walking away from the pickup counter a little old man with a cane hobled up and said to the young guy working there "This food IS good! I ate here last night and here I am again." That sums it up. It's yummy, a little degrading, and you will definitely come back for more.
(4)Dave Y.
I am torn on writing this. The food there is pretty good and the owner, while gruff and hard to understand, seem like an upright guy. The problem we ran into was delivery yesterday. We had placed orders for 3 at work, I was paying. When it was delivered I was busy and was told the bill came to $27. I gave them $35 to give the guy, finished what I was doing and went into eat. Every body's order was there but mine. I called the store and they said they would call driver to come back, this was 12:45. At 1, I called again and the owner did not understand why he had not been there yet. At 1:05, I called again, and again at 1:17. The original order had been placed at 12:00. The driver pulled up in his black Camaro at 1:20. "Is that order one you went back to get or is that the same you had in your car when you came before." "It's still warm" "That is not what I asked, is it almost an hour old or did you go back" "I am not the owner" "Since you won't give me an answer, just give me a refund". At this point, he simply turned, with my order in hand, and walked out without saying anything. I followed hi to the parking lot, angry now, and asked what he was doing (probably not to politely). He looked at me with a rather blank stare and got in his car and closed door. The restaurant i less than a quarter mile, so i drove down there to talk to owner. He said it was his only delivery and did not understand why it took so long. He offered to make me a new order, I accepted. 10 minutes later, the driver came back. I insisted that now i wanted my change, since it was a good tip that I gave for supposedly good service. he said no, once you give someone money, you don't ask for it back (admittedly, this is the first time I ever have). The owner told him to give it back to me. They argued and finally he went out to his car, came back with some money and handed it to the owner, refusing to give it to me. The owner and he fought when finally the driver threw the money on the counter and mumbled something about having me arrested. The owner apologized but made a weird comment about not having any control over the orders once they leave and that this kid has always been a problem. While he did not discount or refund anything, he did throw in a bunch of almond cookies, so I guess it was something. Would I eat here again, probably. It is the nearest takeout to where I live and work. Would I ever consider getting delivery, NO!. I WILL PICK IT UP.
(2)John B.
We have become regulars! Several years back the food was not very good. They definitely used cheap ingredients. We now go there every two or so weeks since the quality has improved. We usually get the sesame chicken (my favorite), sweet & sour chicken (wife's favorite) and beef fried rice. We have not ordered much else. All three are very good. If you haven't been here in a while or never have been here give it try. When we call for carry out it usually takes 15 - 20 minutes for them to have our food ready.
(4)brian w.
Been ordering from them for years, the food is good but that's not why they get 1 star. We ordered from them last night, food was good as all ways. Got to the last bites and found a rock that I almost bit down on. Went back trying to give them the opportunity to make this right, after all the excuses and BS it got to us demanding our money back. They the owner said "call the police". I almost break a tooth on a rock in my food and they want the police called. Hmmmmmmm losing $40 and keeping you customers happy or losing a customer, great choice guys. So if you're in Sycamore and in the mood for Chinese go to Yen Ching's in DeKalb, way better food and the owners aren't a-holes.
(1)Eden A.
Food is pretty good. However, tonight we were quoted 45 minutes for delivery and an hour and a half later called to see what was up. They told us five more minutes. Called back and they still hadn't left. Five more minutes they said. Ten minutes later we called to cancel. The food was finally there he said we don't have to take the food and they could void our card. How about give us food and void our card?! Or at least a few bucks off!! Won't ever be back.
(1)Sean K.
Decent Chinese food. Unbeatable prices. The owner is like the Soup Nazi and I think it adds to the charm of the place.
(4)Rachel H.
Oh Ren's. What can I say about Ren's? The reviews on here ALL ring of truth. The food quality is very good in my humble opinion; in fact I find it better than most Chinese food restaurants (at least those that specialize in takeout food). The customer service is subpar at best (though the younger guy who works there has always been extremely friendly and prompt every time) but let's take a step back here: Ren's is NOT your high brow Chinese restaurant. You should not walk in here expecting a gourmet meal. But I will be d*mned if they aren't one of the best Chinese food places I've ever eaten. If you order for pick up then I can say with confidence the 15-20 minute estimate is dead on. Every. Single. Time. I have never had an issue with it. I will warn you though, should you choose to order for delivery, you should expect that the half hour they quote will be at LEAST an hour. I honestly don't mind this now that I know, since I can place an anticipatory order and hey, if it gets there earlier I will simply consider it my lucky day. Now the food. Oh lord, the food. The food is so GOOD. It can be greasy, yes, just a little greasy but in the best sort of way. The pork fried rice is INSANELY flavorful. I have never had fried rice with this sort of flavor and I don't know nor do I care what kind of magic they use to make it taste so wonderful. The plain rice they serve is just that... plain. It is a mystery as to how the two can be so different, but I dare not question it. I have had multiple entrees from here including: sesame chicken, General Tao's chicken, the BBQ Pork with vegetables, the Mongolian beef, and the pepper steak. The two steak entrees were underwhelming, but I am incredibly picky about the beef I eat and I think it was really just the cut of beef they used rather than their cooking method. The pork seems to be consistently good no matter how it is prepared, so if you're into pork I'd recommend it. The chicken is the best though. I am a creature of habit, I admit it, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the sesame chicken. It is sweet and crispy and there is always way too much of it. The crab Rangoon is good though I have to admit I am not entirely sure if there is crab in it. The potstickers are average and the sauce they give you to use on them is just meh. The egg rolls are really good though. As for pricing, it's really all over the place. I order the same thing almost every time (usually the lunch special, which by the way is a phenomenal deal: $5.45 for an entree, rice, a crab Rangoon, an egg roll, and a soda) and depending on if I ask for pork fried rice in place of the plain it can be anywhere between $6 and $8. I have honest to god asked for pork fried rice multiple times and every time it is different (Usually either $7 or $8, and keep in mind that the lunch special ends up an even $6 when you get it) In summation, you get what you pay for in terms of service and the inside of Ren's is kind of dark and messy, but the food is SO good. I ate it for dinner tonight and as I was walking away from the pickup counter a little old man with a cane hobled up and said to the young guy working there "This food IS good! I ate here last night and here I am again." That sums it up. It's yummy, a little degrading, and you will definitely come back for more.
(4)Dave Y.
I am torn on writing this. The food there is pretty good and the owner, while gruff and hard to understand, seem like an upright guy. The problem we ran into was delivery yesterday. We had placed orders for 3 at work, I was paying. When it was delivered I was busy and was told the bill came to $27. I gave them $35 to give the guy, finished what I was doing and went into eat. Every body's order was there but mine. I called the store and they said they would call driver to come back, this was 12:45. At 1, I called again and the owner did not understand why he had not been there yet. At 1:05, I called again, and again at 1:17. The original order had been placed at 12:00. The driver pulled up in his black Camaro at 1:20. "Is that order one you went back to get or is that the same you had in your car when you came before." "It's still warm" "That is not what I asked, is it almost an hour old or did you go back" "I am not the owner" "Since you won't give me an answer, just give me a refund". At this point, he simply turned, with my order in hand, and walked out without saying anything. I followed hi to the parking lot, angry now, and asked what he was doing (probably not to politely). He looked at me with a rather blank stare and got in his car and closed door. The restaurant i less than a quarter mile, so i drove down there to talk to owner. He said it was his only delivery and did not understand why it took so long. He offered to make me a new order, I accepted. 10 minutes later, the driver came back. I insisted that now i wanted my change, since it was a good tip that I gave for supposedly good service. he said no, once you give someone money, you don't ask for it back (admittedly, this is the first time I ever have). The owner told him to give it back to me. They argued and finally he went out to his car, came back with some money and handed it to the owner, refusing to give it to me. The owner and he fought when finally the driver threw the money on the counter and mumbled something about having me arrested. The owner apologized but made a weird comment about not having any control over the orders once they leave and that this kid has always been a problem. While he did not discount or refund anything, he did throw in a bunch of almond cookies, so I guess it was something. Would I eat here again, probably. It is the nearest takeout to where I live and work. Would I ever consider getting delivery, NO!. I WILL PICK IT UP.
(2)John B.
We have become regulars! Several years back the food was not very good. They definitely used cheap ingredients. We now go there every two or so weeks since the quality has improved. We usually get the sesame chicken (my favorite), sweet & sour chicken (wife's favorite) and beef fried rice. We have not ordered much else. All three are very good. If you haven't been here in a while or never have been here give it try. When we call for carry out it usually takes 15 - 20 minutes for them to have our food ready.
(4)brian w.
Been ordering from them for years, the food is good but that's not why they get 1 star. We ordered from them last night, food was good as all ways. Got to the last bites and found a rock that I almost bit down on. Went back trying to give them the opportunity to make this right, after all the excuses and BS it got to us demanding our money back. They the owner said "call the police". I almost break a tooth on a rock in my food and they want the police called. Hmmmmmmm losing $40 and keeping you customers happy or losing a customer, great choice guys. So if you're in Sycamore and in the mood for Chinese go to Yen Ching's in DeKalb, way better food and the owners aren't a-holes.
(1)Eden A.
Food is pretty good. However, tonight we were quoted 45 minutes for delivery and an hour and a half later called to see what was up. They told us five more minutes. Called back and they still hadn't left. Five more minutes they said. Ten minutes later we called to cancel. The food was finally there he said we don't have to take the food and they could void our card. How about give us food and void our card?! Or at least a few bucks off!! Won't ever be back.
(1)Sean K.
Decent Chinese food. Unbeatable prices. The owner is like the Soup Nazi and I think it adds to the charm of the place.
(4)I L.
Insanely slow service. We called for pickup and arrived on time. 45 minutes and lots of yelling from the kitchen later, we got our food. The wait had been so long, other customers were starting to make jokes with each other about the wait. Granted, I'm spoiled by the availability of good food in the city, but speaking as a hometown girl, this was still sub par quality for DeKalb county.
(1)Derek G.
Ren's has the BEST crab rangoon I've ever had. A fresh crispy crust and a warm, not soggy dab of crab and cream cheese is hard to pull off apparently. I've had all of the others, and the BEST is Ren's. The rest of the food is pretty good too. Sometimes it's hard to communicate your order or understand the thick accent on the phone and sometimes deliveries are a little slow so I'd recommend placing your order in person and picking it up, but the food is great - you won't be disappointed. Their lunch specials are a great deal. Check those out for sure.
(4)Spencer S.
Best General Tso's chicken in the area. Prices are very reasonable; the $5.50 lunch special includes entree, eggroll, crab Rangoon and fried rice. Best if eaten fresh and hot, it's cheap, unhealthy Chinese food at its best. Don't expect gourmet food and you won't be disappointed.
(4)Josh H.
Really bad. Some produce is fresh, not all of it. Tofu is not prepared, just added to dishes. Basic things like Fried Rice are flavorless and mushy. Fried foods are not much different. Aside from less than desirable ingredients, flavors and textures are all around poor. Not even disappointing just bad, did not satiate any cravings for anything remotely Chinese.
(1)Joseph M.
Ren's is my go-to for awesome, cheap lunch in Sycamore. Food is solid with some fairly impressive highlights. The staff is super friendly, service has always been good and I can't recall a single bad meal. If you're looking for gourmet, look elsewhere. If you want tasty, sort-of fast food Chinese, this is your place. Big thumbs up.
(4)Billy B.
I've had several carry-out orders from Ren's. The price is fair for what you get. Not great, just good. After today we will never go back. I witnessed the young kid who takes the orders get pushed and berated before my eyes. Totally unprofessional and made me most uncomfortable. There is no excuse for this. I'll find a quality resturant in DeKalb the next time I want chinese food, there are many. Perhaps one that treats their staff with the same respect they treat their customers with.
(1)Erika D.
good food - take-out or delivery - great prices, we say, its always a "rens"day :)
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