Unlike the somewhat decent Viet Bowl, with which Hing Wang shares space and a menu, the Chinese food at this restaurant is awful. I'm not sure why so many people are fans of the fried rice, since when I ordered it as part of a lunch special it was dry, bland, and thoroughly mediocre. The pepper steak that came with the rice was covered in a gelatinous brown sauce that completely overwhelmed the other ingredients. While I requested that my order be made spicy, I couldn't detect even a bit of actual heat. I'm not a fan of Americanized Chinese food in general, and don't really expect much from a restaurant like this, but by any standard this is just terrible. If you go to this place, just order from the Vietnamese side of the menu, get the pho, and have a filling and flavorful meal as opposed to a disaster. The egg roll was nice, though.
(1)
bert o.
We can't say anything about the food, been there twice and they had no interest in serving us. On both occasions the place was open but it was close to 8:00 pm, once we were rudely told it was closed a few minutes before eight, the second time at 7:45 closing soon was the excuse. Never again.
(1)
Matt W.
I've been associated with Truman College and uptown for about a decade now. I went there for high school and some college courses and I also lived on Thorndale and Broadway for a bit so Hing Wang is one of those restaurants I can claim to be intimately familiar with. And when I say intimately I'm talking about watching the sun rise, making it eggs for breakfast kinda intimate. So please believe me when I say this as I say it with a pure heart and honest tongue: Hing Wang has the best fried rice ever made anywhere ever in the history of everything both future and past. The combination fried rice has beef, chicken and shrimp and is meaty and delicious, greasy and everything bad for you. It's so damn good. It's an embarrassing gigantic portion stuffed into a takeout box and then stapled shut just to keep the steaming and awesome contents contained. You can order it in varying degrees of spicy from "no spicy" to "little spicy" all the way up to an almost unbearable "extra spicy." My choice is "regular spicy." *** EDIT EDIT EDIT *** Below I originally reported that Hing Wang had closed and that you were all out of fucking luck and too bad. But OMG I was wrong! Hing Wang relocated ACROSS THE STREET from their former location and into a larger space. I stopped in last week and let me tell you - the fried rice is still absolutely fantastic. I was a fool for missing it when I drove past before but I urge everyone reading this - GO THERE NOW AND EAT. I don't care if you're performing CPR on kittens, trying to save a drowning old person... whatever. Go to Hing Wang and eat their fried rice for me. Do me that little favor. Mkay? *** EDIT EDIT EDIT OVER *** So what's the catch, you're asking yourself right now. Well, Hing Wang is closed. I don't know when and I don't know how but we drove past not too long ago and it was a different business now. Hing Wang is no more and I'm still grieving as I've sent person after person to Hing Wang, converting them to "Wangism," my made up religion revolving around our shared worship of their combination fried rice. All us Wangists now wander the streets aimlessly, ever searching for something to replace our beloved deity. Will there ever be fried rice better than Hing Wang's combination fried rice? Fuck no. There can't be. And for that I'll never smile again.
(5)
roberto a.
Somehow my life revolves around Uptown and even though I don't live there, I keep on coming back, either out of my own free will, or kicking and screaming in the arms of others. Let it be known that on my own, Hing Wang is not a place I would not normally step into. For starters it's right next to a SRO. What's an SRO, you might ask? It stands for "single room occupancy," a nicer name given to a transient hotel, which explains what type of crowd you will be seeing in and around the place. Never mind that Truman College is across the street. Crossing Wilson is night and day in terms of environment and the people you encounter. So my friend and I who are taking an accounting class together and need dinner before heading to Truman to study. She suggests we check out Hin Wang instead of going to Popeye's, which is our normal eatery of choice. I look at the crowd standing around the entrance, and look at her, thinking she's nuts. Personally I'd rather goto Popeyes (yes, call me a hypocrite for putting up with Popeye's, and the assorted adventures that go on there, but hey, i've been going there for awhile and feel comfortable eating while a pair of cops are patting down a suspect against the window outside, while a verbal crowd inside are throwing obscene-laden insults towards the cops, chicken in hand and food in mouth). The seating space is bigger than the narrow store front suggests. Tables line the walls, while a counter with stools runs across the front windows. You place your order at the rear counter, where you can plainly see the food being cooked in some mean looking industrial strength equipment. The sound of food sizzling intermingles with the sound of people coming in and out, while a tv was sounding out the five o'clock hour newscasts. The menu is reasonably priced, and watching other patrons pick up their food, the portions are huge. Some of the staff looked as grizzled as the patrons, but moved around between cooking stations, the counter, and the back in a no nonsense fashion. We placed an order for the combo fried rice and some chicken wings and took a seat while our food was being prepared. We sat near the window, away from the other patrons, most of whom were giving my friend and I somewhat hostile looks as we walked by. When the food is ready, the order number is called. Wow. I haven't seen fried rice that looked or smelled so good in a long time. And the chicken wings were huge. As for taste, well I thanked my friend for dragging me to the place. When ordering the fried rice, you have your choice of regular or hot. Go for the hot. It isn't overly spicy, but it adds a nice zing to the dish. As for the chicken wings- greasy, oil, somewhat meaty, tasty, and on the whole, bad for your long term health. So once I started eating, and became comfortable with the atmosphere, that included dirty looks, two solicitation for spare change, and people you know can't afford a meal looking in the window, I began to appreciate my standing in life. And hostility goes two ways. I noticed many well-to-do residents walk by the window and look in with a look of disapproval. Then their look would change when they noticed the two of us, decently dressed, sitting near the window. As the kitchen slowed down, and the sizzling, and cooking noise stopped, one the counter workers played a slow, blues sounding tune on his guitar. By this time 5:30 had rolled around and the national news kicked in, the lead story about a faltering economy, falling stock market, and dismal economic outlooks, and the music played on, as my friend and I quietly discussed life, and other patrons huddled around their respective dishes. By the time we left, no one was speaking, everyone kept to themselves, the music stopped, and someone had muted the tv. As I was walking out I concluded that yes, the meal was good. Yes I would come here again. And yes, I should feel blessed and lucky to be able to pick and choose where and what I want to eat. And yes, tough times are back. Pros: Cheap, affordable, greasy. A true hole in the wall. Cons: Location, other patrons can offer silent hostility. To Sum It Up: Check your pretensions in this area of Uptown. No matter what your situation in life is, if you are reading this, chances are your problems are trivial compared to some of the people that sat around me. If your only Uptown experience has been a night at the Green Mill and a concert at the Riv, then hailing a cab to go elsewhere, this may not be for you.
(5)
Heidi H.
It was ok. I've had worse, but I've definately had better. Some of the other reviews recommend dishes that don't seem to exist anymore. We had orange chicken and chicken broccoli. I don't recommend the orange chicken. The service was very poor, and they made us pay for water & we skipped the fortune cookies, b/c they wanted us to pay for those, too. I won't be going back.
(2)
Twin T.
Yes. Believe all the hype about the fried rice. It's pretty flipping good. On the other hand, they are extremely rude here. I don't know why, but everyone I've dealt with is short and uninterested in dealing with customers. They are the soup Nazis of uptown. However if in just picking up rice to go it doesn't bother me much. Also they charge you if you use a credit card.
(3)
Luke S.
Hing Wang might have the best fried rice in the Midwest. I can't speak to anything else here, but the fried rice is unreal! The woman who takes your order is crass and is not a firm believer in customer service. You're also likely to get mugged going here, but the rice is worth it! In all seriousness it's my least favorite/safe area of the north side, so be careful. Go with the spicy combination fried rice and you will be happy for days. Yummmmmyyyyy!
(4)
Kemi A.
Best spicy shrimp fried rice I have ever tasted in life. I have been going to Hing Wang since I was kid. I also have never ordered anything else lol. I do not go for the customer service and I have never sat down to eat in the restaurant and I don't need to. If the only thing they had on the menu was the fried rice they would still stay in business forever.
(5)
Shaina K.
This place is okay. I've stopped here a few times after work with co-workers. The location is huge, and it looks like they might have live music sometimes? It's cheap, and they have pretty quick service, but it's nothing to write home about. Like other reviewers have said, there are so many other options nearby that this place is never my first option.
(3)
M M.
Kind of pricey. Cash only. Everything is spice-optional. Everything. Really meaty fried rice-- I got the combo. Taste is above average. Chicken wings are above average as well.
(4)
Cindy L.
I have eaten at Hing Wang Restaurant for many, many, years (maybe over 10 years) I have tried everything on the menu. The food is always prepared fresh when ordered, so expect to wait 10-15 minutes (or longer) for your order. This kitchen is open combined with the front cashier. The owner is usually at the cash register, or cooking. The customer service is not so great, so get ready; I honestly think the customer service is poor because this is a neighborhood still going through regentrification. My suggestions are, but not limited to; Pho, spicy Mongolian beef, spicy shrimp, spicy wings, spicy combo fried rice, bubble tea, and EVERYTHING on the menu!!! They give VERY LARGE portions, and the prices are very reasonable. The only negative is; parking is difficult. If you can ride your bike or take the bus, those are best options, or get it to go, or if you want to dine in, make sure you bring family and friends, everyone will enjoy the food!!! After you dine, you can walk to the lake, the lake is a few blocks away. PLEASE NOTE: Cash ONLY!!! Credit cards are NOT accepted!!!
(5)
Danny M.
I stopped by here with a group of friends during a short break at school because it was close by. This is a Viet and Chinese restaurant, but the selection is predominantly Chinese food. They do offer Pho, but that is about it for the Viet section. Like others said, this is a place you only want to come when there is light outside. It is located by a really bad area. When we got here, it was pretty busy around 12pm on a Friday. The line moved pretty fast and I decided to order the Spicy Pepper Steak Lunch Special that comes with chicken fried rice and an egg roll. The Pepper Steak had a weird texture and it tasted nothing like the one's I am accustomed too. It had a weird mixed of spiciness and sweetness flavor to it. The fried rice was not bad and more importantly it is not bland. I took a bite of the egg roll, but it was just okay. The service here is pretty bad for the most part. You do not feel welcome and I got that vibe that they do not really care for their customers because they already have their set customer based from the location.
(2)
Jameel D.
Listen, I am picky when it comes to my Asian cuisine. As far as I know on the north side of Chicago, this is the place you wanna come to get your fried rice. Their combination fried rice is what most people get but my favorite is spicy chicken. Their pepper steak is good also. I think I'll go there now for lunch. Peace
(4)
Lindsey L.
Oh my. You must try the chicken fried rice. I felt like I was in China Town! Also pretty great that they have a bar in the establishment. Don't go if you don't have cash on you.. they don't accept debit/credit which I learned the hard way
(4)
Yasmin N.
Since the place has now combined with Viet Bowl, I'm just repeating what I've said about that place: It's rare that a place actually follows through on its promise of having the "best" of anything, but Hing Wang really does have the best fried rice. I had the combination kind: It's spicy, and they mean it, and is a huge amount for the cheap price. I also tried their spicy wings - again, really spice, cheap, very, very good I only had a couple of small orders to try out the place, but will definitely return for the pho. They also have a wide range of fruit smoothies, which are also very reasonably priced. I notice a number of bad/middling reviews here - the place looks like it's been revamped quite a bit, and has a stage set-up as well, perhaps for weekend music shows. It's combined with Hing Wang next door which, again, tells me the place is probably under new management. I'd recommend stopping by and trying a couple of their items before going by older reviews here.
(4)
Rush L.
I love the fried rice here. Best place in town for it. I usually get it spicy. Sometimes it's better to sacrifice ice service for taste. It can get real busy. They'll have alot of customers regardless what other reviewers say. They don't take credit cards anymore. Cash only!
(4)
Angelo P.
I was pleasantly surprised when I decided to walk into this place by myself one day. I ordered a large combination fried rice and have never seen a bigger order of fried rice in my life! It was pretty tasty. I also ordered some pho another day and it was ok. Not as good as say Tank Noodle but not hoorible either.
(4)
Dee W.
With so many Thai restaurants on the north side, it's hard to find a good Chinese food restaurant when you are looking for one. Well today, I really had a taste for shrimp fried rice. I thought about Mei Shung on Broadway @ Catalpa, but the rice wasn't memorable. Next, I thought about trekking to Young's Chinese (Ashland/Irving Park), but I found their rice to be a bit salty. Then I remembered my friend (a Chicago native) mentioning a place on Wilson that has THE best spicy fried rice, which I had never heard of. I figured that I'd give it a shot since it was on the way to my nail salon. Hing Wang is on Wilson, near Broadway--definitely a daylight only, get in/get out type of neighborhood. So I went in with the intention of getting my food and getting out of there. Apparently everyone else had the same idea in mind, because the place was noticeably empty. You can tell that it used to be a carryout only place, because all of the patrons got their food to go. I ordered a small shrimp fried rice, non-spicy, from a lady who was eating sunflower seeds at the front counter. Gross. Before completing my order, I took a quick peek at the chefs to see if they were eating on the job too, and was relieved to see them all busy at work (not spreading their saliva all over the place while cracking nut shells). My food was ready in about 10 minutes. I took my bag to the car and opened the visibly stuffed box to find very fresh, steamy hot fried rice with the right amount of shrimp, egg, green onions, and bean sprouts. A lot of Chinese food places put small shrimp in their rice, but not Hing Wang. The shrimp were medium sized and plenty in number. Very satisfying. Glad I didn't waste my time with the other foods (like the Vietnamese food). Did I find my go-to place for fried rice? I don't know. The rice was a bit on the salty side, but that might be a Chicago thing. (I now what you're thinking. For the record, my taste buds are fine. I had some some shrimp fried rice from my favorite spot in Los Angeles, and it wasn't salty. ) I might go back and try the spicy rice...when it's light out...get in/get out.
(3)
Paul K.
The best shrimp fried rice you've ever had, or are about to have, or will have! The smoothies are good too. The 5 stars is for the fried rice because the service blows. Typical for these kind of Asian places.
(5)
Amina N.
They raised their prices and they don't make their food any better either! If anything it has gotten worse.. And it STINKS.
(1)
Osama S.
the one and only best chines food in the north side.
(5)
Sabrina R.
I grew up in Uptown and I have been going to this place for YEARS, since they were located across the street underneath the Red Line. I really believe that they have the BEST fried rice I've ever had. I always get the combo rice, spicy. There are huge chunks of beef, and the shrimp are always the jumbo shrimp, which is rare for Chicago chinese restaurants. The people that work there always remember me, and ask me how I've been. They recently opened up their Vietnamese portion of the restaurant, and I am a huge fan of their spring rolls (no pork, thank you) and their Pho.... this place just keeps getting better. I hope they are around forever!
(5)
Ernie C.
All reviewers for Hing Wang are right when they say this is an excellent restaurant. It is a little hole in the wall (predominately carryout) chinese restaurant that is a little known secret. Order the fried rice (veggie, plain, combo, shrimp or chicken) - You will not regret it! It is so tasty. Try it medium spicy. I found out about it when I was a student at Truman College and I would go here at least twice a week. It is hands down the best fried rice I ever tasted. The egg foo young, subgum and chicken broccoli are all good too. I usually take it to go, but be prepared for people asking you for change if you choose to dine in. The restaurant is located on Wilson across the street from Truman College in the evolving Uptown neighborhood, the future home of Target is right around the corner. Also, a 7 Eleven just opened a few feet away a few weeks ago.
(5)
Marjan A.
Great food. Fast service. Good portions. I have never been let down, way better than getting a sandwich or a burger for lunch!
(4)
Rodel D.
I'd been eating at this restaurant since way back when even before the present owners took over. There was a Chinese couple who owned this place when it was still under the "El Tract". Then the present owners took over. I remember they have a small child then that was all over the place playing while his parents were cooking. He must be grown up now. The food remains the same and is a favorite with lots of people especially Truman College students who are on a budget. There must be a lot of graduates now who may be in better paying jobs and they owe a lot to this restaurant who helped them stay in their strict food budgets way back when. The non-smiling Chinese woman who owns the place has been like that since day one. Actually the first owner was worse than her. The food must be really good because people just tolerated her "attitude". She occasionally smiles and when she does, you'll know that she is really not a bad person. The dark skinned man who plays the guitar is her husband and is very friendly. This place not only serves good food but a lot of great memories for me. I will not pretend that the food that they serve is "Haute Cuisine". If you want that, go to some 4 star places but be ready to spend half of your weekly salary for one meal. For the price and for the "interesting" ambiance provided by the Uptown hood, this is a very interesting joint. Just leave your Gucci and Hermes purses at home and head to this place. The area is slowly being gentrified so I assume that pretty soon, the "hood" will soon be gone replaced by some upwardly mobile people. Go there before you miss the whole experience. It is an adventure.
(5)
Inigo M.
4 stars for the shrimp fried rice.
(4)
Andy R.
after checking out the glowing reviews about the subgum and the fried rice i gave the wang a try. the fried rice was pretty stellar even though i think fried rice is a pretty boring meal by itself. the chicken subgum didn't reach me one bit. it was spicy and there was a lot of food crammed into the take-out box, but overall it was really disappointing. it was pretty much chicken, rice, heat, chinese gravy.., peppers, water chestnuts and mushrooms. i guess i'm not into a lot of the wet chinese-american dishes to begin with so maybe i'm not the best judge of this kind of food. there is always a line of people there so they're definitely doing something right. i'll go back to try other dishes but can live without the subgum.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : No Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes 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.
Ben E.
Unlike the somewhat decent Viet Bowl, with which Hing Wang shares space and a menu, the Chinese food at this restaurant is awful. I'm not sure why so many people are fans of the fried rice, since when I ordered it as part of a lunch special it was dry, bland, and thoroughly mediocre. The pepper steak that came with the rice was covered in a gelatinous brown sauce that completely overwhelmed the other ingredients. While I requested that my order be made spicy, I couldn't detect even a bit of actual heat. I'm not a fan of Americanized Chinese food in general, and don't really expect much from a restaurant like this, but by any standard this is just terrible. If you go to this place, just order from the Vietnamese side of the menu, get the pho, and have a filling and flavorful meal as opposed to a disaster. The egg roll was nice, though.
(1)bert o.
We can't say anything about the food, been there twice and they had no interest in serving us. On both occasions the place was open but it was close to 8:00 pm, once we were rudely told it was closed a few minutes before eight, the second time at 7:45 closing soon was the excuse. Never again.
(1)Matt W.
I've been associated with Truman College and uptown for about a decade now. I went there for high school and some college courses and I also lived on Thorndale and Broadway for a bit so Hing Wang is one of those restaurants I can claim to be intimately familiar with. And when I say intimately I'm talking about watching the sun rise, making it eggs for breakfast kinda intimate. So please believe me when I say this as I say it with a pure heart and honest tongue: Hing Wang has the best fried rice ever made anywhere ever in the history of everything both future and past. The combination fried rice has beef, chicken and shrimp and is meaty and delicious, greasy and everything bad for you. It's so damn good. It's an embarrassing gigantic portion stuffed into a takeout box and then stapled shut just to keep the steaming and awesome contents contained. You can order it in varying degrees of spicy from "no spicy" to "little spicy" all the way up to an almost unbearable "extra spicy." My choice is "regular spicy." *** EDIT EDIT EDIT *** Below I originally reported that Hing Wang had closed and that you were all out of fucking luck and too bad. But OMG I was wrong! Hing Wang relocated ACROSS THE STREET from their former location and into a larger space. I stopped in last week and let me tell you - the fried rice is still absolutely fantastic. I was a fool for missing it when I drove past before but I urge everyone reading this - GO THERE NOW AND EAT. I don't care if you're performing CPR on kittens, trying to save a drowning old person... whatever. Go to Hing Wang and eat their fried rice for me. Do me that little favor. Mkay? *** EDIT EDIT EDIT OVER *** So what's the catch, you're asking yourself right now. Well, Hing Wang is closed. I don't know when and I don't know how but we drove past not too long ago and it was a different business now. Hing Wang is no more and I'm still grieving as I've sent person after person to Hing Wang, converting them to "Wangism," my made up religion revolving around our shared worship of their combination fried rice. All us Wangists now wander the streets aimlessly, ever searching for something to replace our beloved deity. Will there ever be fried rice better than Hing Wang's combination fried rice? Fuck no. There can't be. And for that I'll never smile again.
(5)roberto a.
Somehow my life revolves around Uptown and even though I don't live there, I keep on coming back, either out of my own free will, or kicking and screaming in the arms of others. Let it be known that on my own, Hing Wang is not a place I would not normally step into. For starters it's right next to a SRO. What's an SRO, you might ask? It stands for "single room occupancy," a nicer name given to a transient hotel, which explains what type of crowd you will be seeing in and around the place. Never mind that Truman College is across the street. Crossing Wilson is night and day in terms of environment and the people you encounter. So my friend and I who are taking an accounting class together and need dinner before heading to Truman to study. She suggests we check out Hin Wang instead of going to Popeye's, which is our normal eatery of choice. I look at the crowd standing around the entrance, and look at her, thinking she's nuts. Personally I'd rather goto Popeyes (yes, call me a hypocrite for putting up with Popeye's, and the assorted adventures that go on there, but hey, i've been going there for awhile and feel comfortable eating while a pair of cops are patting down a suspect against the window outside, while a verbal crowd inside are throwing obscene-laden insults towards the cops, chicken in hand and food in mouth). The seating space is bigger than the narrow store front suggests. Tables line the walls, while a counter with stools runs across the front windows. You place your order at the rear counter, where you can plainly see the food being cooked in some mean looking industrial strength equipment. The sound of food sizzling intermingles with the sound of people coming in and out, while a tv was sounding out the five o'clock hour newscasts. The menu is reasonably priced, and watching other patrons pick up their food, the portions are huge. Some of the staff looked as grizzled as the patrons, but moved around between cooking stations, the counter, and the back in a no nonsense fashion. We placed an order for the combo fried rice and some chicken wings and took a seat while our food was being prepared. We sat near the window, away from the other patrons, most of whom were giving my friend and I somewhat hostile looks as we walked by. When the food is ready, the order number is called. Wow. I haven't seen fried rice that looked or smelled so good in a long time. And the chicken wings were huge. As for taste, well I thanked my friend for dragging me to the place. When ordering the fried rice, you have your choice of regular or hot. Go for the hot. It isn't overly spicy, but it adds a nice zing to the dish. As for the chicken wings- greasy, oil, somewhat meaty, tasty, and on the whole, bad for your long term health. So once I started eating, and became comfortable with the atmosphere, that included dirty looks, two solicitation for spare change, and people you know can't afford a meal looking in the window, I began to appreciate my standing in life. And hostility goes two ways. I noticed many well-to-do residents walk by the window and look in with a look of disapproval. Then their look would change when they noticed the two of us, decently dressed, sitting near the window. As the kitchen slowed down, and the sizzling, and cooking noise stopped, one the counter workers played a slow, blues sounding tune on his guitar. By this time 5:30 had rolled around and the national news kicked in, the lead story about a faltering economy, falling stock market, and dismal economic outlooks, and the music played on, as my friend and I quietly discussed life, and other patrons huddled around their respective dishes. By the time we left, no one was speaking, everyone kept to themselves, the music stopped, and someone had muted the tv. As I was walking out I concluded that yes, the meal was good. Yes I would come here again. And yes, I should feel blessed and lucky to be able to pick and choose where and what I want to eat. And yes, tough times are back. Pros: Cheap, affordable, greasy. A true hole in the wall. Cons: Location, other patrons can offer silent hostility. To Sum It Up: Check your pretensions in this area of Uptown. No matter what your situation in life is, if you are reading this, chances are your problems are trivial compared to some of the people that sat around me. If your only Uptown experience has been a night at the Green Mill and a concert at the Riv, then hailing a cab to go elsewhere, this may not be for you.
(5)Heidi H.
It was ok. I've had worse, but I've definately had better. Some of the other reviews recommend dishes that don't seem to exist anymore. We had orange chicken and chicken broccoli. I don't recommend the orange chicken. The service was very poor, and they made us pay for water & we skipped the fortune cookies, b/c they wanted us to pay for those, too. I won't be going back.
(2)Twin T.
Yes. Believe all the hype about the fried rice. It's pretty flipping good. On the other hand, they are extremely rude here. I don't know why, but everyone I've dealt with is short and uninterested in dealing with customers. They are the soup Nazis of uptown. However if in just picking up rice to go it doesn't bother me much. Also they charge you if you use a credit card.
(3)Luke S.
Hing Wang might have the best fried rice in the Midwest. I can't speak to anything else here, but the fried rice is unreal! The woman who takes your order is crass and is not a firm believer in customer service. You're also likely to get mugged going here, but the rice is worth it! In all seriousness it's my least favorite/safe area of the north side, so be careful. Go with the spicy combination fried rice and you will be happy for days. Yummmmmyyyyy!
(4)Kemi A.
Best spicy shrimp fried rice I have ever tasted in life. I have been going to Hing Wang since I was kid. I also have never ordered anything else lol. I do not go for the customer service and I have never sat down to eat in the restaurant and I don't need to. If the only thing they had on the menu was the fried rice they would still stay in business forever.
(5)Shaina K.
This place is okay. I've stopped here a few times after work with co-workers. The location is huge, and it looks like they might have live music sometimes? It's cheap, and they have pretty quick service, but it's nothing to write home about. Like other reviewers have said, there are so many other options nearby that this place is never my first option.
(3)M M.
Kind of pricey. Cash only. Everything is spice-optional. Everything. Really meaty fried rice-- I got the combo. Taste is above average. Chicken wings are above average as well.
(4)Cindy L.
I have eaten at Hing Wang Restaurant for many, many, years (maybe over 10 years) I have tried everything on the menu. The food is always prepared fresh when ordered, so expect to wait 10-15 minutes (or longer) for your order. This kitchen is open combined with the front cashier. The owner is usually at the cash register, or cooking. The customer service is not so great, so get ready; I honestly think the customer service is poor because this is a neighborhood still going through regentrification. My suggestions are, but not limited to; Pho, spicy Mongolian beef, spicy shrimp, spicy wings, spicy combo fried rice, bubble tea, and EVERYTHING on the menu!!! They give VERY LARGE portions, and the prices are very reasonable. The only negative is; parking is difficult. If you can ride your bike or take the bus, those are best options, or get it to go, or if you want to dine in, make sure you bring family and friends, everyone will enjoy the food!!! After you dine, you can walk to the lake, the lake is a few blocks away. PLEASE NOTE: Cash ONLY!!! Credit cards are NOT accepted!!!
(5)Danny M.
I stopped by here with a group of friends during a short break at school because it was close by. This is a Viet and Chinese restaurant, but the selection is predominantly Chinese food. They do offer Pho, but that is about it for the Viet section. Like others said, this is a place you only want to come when there is light outside. It is located by a really bad area. When we got here, it was pretty busy around 12pm on a Friday. The line moved pretty fast and I decided to order the Spicy Pepper Steak Lunch Special that comes with chicken fried rice and an egg roll. The Pepper Steak had a weird texture and it tasted nothing like the one's I am accustomed too. It had a weird mixed of spiciness and sweetness flavor to it. The fried rice was not bad and more importantly it is not bland. I took a bite of the egg roll, but it was just okay. The service here is pretty bad for the most part. You do not feel welcome and I got that vibe that they do not really care for their customers because they already have their set customer based from the location.
(2)Jameel D.
Listen, I am picky when it comes to my Asian cuisine. As far as I know on the north side of Chicago, this is the place you wanna come to get your fried rice. Their combination fried rice is what most people get but my favorite is spicy chicken. Their pepper steak is good also. I think I'll go there now for lunch. Peace
(4)Lindsey L.
Oh my. You must try the chicken fried rice. I felt like I was in China Town! Also pretty great that they have a bar in the establishment. Don't go if you don't have cash on you.. they don't accept debit/credit which I learned the hard way
(4)Yasmin N.
Since the place has now combined with Viet Bowl, I'm just repeating what I've said about that place: It's rare that a place actually follows through on its promise of having the "best" of anything, but Hing Wang really does have the best fried rice. I had the combination kind: It's spicy, and they mean it, and is a huge amount for the cheap price. I also tried their spicy wings - again, really spice, cheap, very, very good I only had a couple of small orders to try out the place, but will definitely return for the pho. They also have a wide range of fruit smoothies, which are also very reasonably priced. I notice a number of bad/middling reviews here - the place looks like it's been revamped quite a bit, and has a stage set-up as well, perhaps for weekend music shows. It's combined with Hing Wang next door which, again, tells me the place is probably under new management. I'd recommend stopping by and trying a couple of their items before going by older reviews here.
(4)Rush L.
I love the fried rice here. Best place in town for it. I usually get it spicy. Sometimes it's better to sacrifice ice service for taste. It can get real busy. They'll have alot of customers regardless what other reviewers say. They don't take credit cards anymore. Cash only!
(4)Angelo P.
I was pleasantly surprised when I decided to walk into this place by myself one day. I ordered a large combination fried rice and have never seen a bigger order of fried rice in my life! It was pretty tasty. I also ordered some pho another day and it was ok. Not as good as say Tank Noodle but not hoorible either.
(4)Dee W.
With so many Thai restaurants on the north side, it's hard to find a good Chinese food restaurant when you are looking for one. Well today, I really had a taste for shrimp fried rice. I thought about Mei Shung on Broadway @ Catalpa, but the rice wasn't memorable. Next, I thought about trekking to Young's Chinese (Ashland/Irving Park), but I found their rice to be a bit salty. Then I remembered my friend (a Chicago native) mentioning a place on Wilson that has THE best spicy fried rice, which I had never heard of. I figured that I'd give it a shot since it was on the way to my nail salon. Hing Wang is on Wilson, near Broadway--definitely a daylight only, get in/get out type of neighborhood. So I went in with the intention of getting my food and getting out of there. Apparently everyone else had the same idea in mind, because the place was noticeably empty. You can tell that it used to be a carryout only place, because all of the patrons got their food to go. I ordered a small shrimp fried rice, non-spicy, from a lady who was eating sunflower seeds at the front counter. Gross. Before completing my order, I took a quick peek at the chefs to see if they were eating on the job too, and was relieved to see them all busy at work (not spreading their saliva all over the place while cracking nut shells). My food was ready in about 10 minutes. I took my bag to the car and opened the visibly stuffed box to find very fresh, steamy hot fried rice with the right amount of shrimp, egg, green onions, and bean sprouts. A lot of Chinese food places put small shrimp in their rice, but not Hing Wang. The shrimp were medium sized and plenty in number. Very satisfying. Glad I didn't waste my time with the other foods (like the Vietnamese food). Did I find my go-to place for fried rice? I don't know. The rice was a bit on the salty side, but that might be a Chicago thing. (I now what you're thinking. For the record, my taste buds are fine. I had some some shrimp fried rice from my favorite spot in Los Angeles, and it wasn't salty. ) I might go back and try the spicy rice...when it's light out...get in/get out.
(3)Paul K.
The best shrimp fried rice you've ever had, or are about to have, or will have! The smoothies are good too. The 5 stars is for the fried rice because the service blows. Typical for these kind of Asian places.
(5)Amina N.
They raised their prices and they don't make their food any better either! If anything it has gotten worse.. And it STINKS.
(1)Osama S.
the one and only best chines food in the north side.
(5)Sabrina R.
I grew up in Uptown and I have been going to this place for YEARS, since they were located across the street underneath the Red Line. I really believe that they have the BEST fried rice I've ever had. I always get the combo rice, spicy. There are huge chunks of beef, and the shrimp are always the jumbo shrimp, which is rare for Chicago chinese restaurants. The people that work there always remember me, and ask me how I've been. They recently opened up their Vietnamese portion of the restaurant, and I am a huge fan of their spring rolls (no pork, thank you) and their Pho.... this place just keeps getting better. I hope they are around forever!
(5)Ernie C.
All reviewers for Hing Wang are right when they say this is an excellent restaurant. It is a little hole in the wall (predominately carryout) chinese restaurant that is a little known secret. Order the fried rice (veggie, plain, combo, shrimp or chicken) - You will not regret it! It is so tasty. Try it medium spicy. I found out about it when I was a student at Truman College and I would go here at least twice a week. It is hands down the best fried rice I ever tasted. The egg foo young, subgum and chicken broccoli are all good too. I usually take it to go, but be prepared for people asking you for change if you choose to dine in. The restaurant is located on Wilson across the street from Truman College in the evolving Uptown neighborhood, the future home of Target is right around the corner. Also, a 7 Eleven just opened a few feet away a few weeks ago.
(5)Marjan A.
Great food. Fast service. Good portions. I have never been let down, way better than getting a sandwich or a burger for lunch!
(4)Rodel D.
I'd been eating at this restaurant since way back when even before the present owners took over. There was a Chinese couple who owned this place when it was still under the "El Tract". Then the present owners took over. I remember they have a small child then that was all over the place playing while his parents were cooking. He must be grown up now. The food remains the same and is a favorite with lots of people especially Truman College students who are on a budget. There must be a lot of graduates now who may be in better paying jobs and they owe a lot to this restaurant who helped them stay in their strict food budgets way back when. The non-smiling Chinese woman who owns the place has been like that since day one. Actually the first owner was worse than her. The food must be really good because people just tolerated her "attitude". She occasionally smiles and when she does, you'll know that she is really not a bad person. The dark skinned man who plays the guitar is her husband and is very friendly. This place not only serves good food but a lot of great memories for me. I will not pretend that the food that they serve is "Haute Cuisine". If you want that, go to some 4 star places but be ready to spend half of your weekly salary for one meal. For the price and for the "interesting" ambiance provided by the Uptown hood, this is a very interesting joint. Just leave your Gucci and Hermes purses at home and head to this place. The area is slowly being gentrified so I assume that pretty soon, the "hood" will soon be gone replaced by some upwardly mobile people. Go there before you miss the whole experience. It is an adventure.
(5)Inigo M.
4 stars for the shrimp fried rice.
(4)Andy R.
after checking out the glowing reviews about the subgum and the fried rice i gave the wang a try. the fried rice was pretty stellar even though i think fried rice is a pretty boring meal by itself. the chicken subgum didn't reach me one bit. it was spicy and there was a lot of food crammed into the take-out box, but overall it was really disappointing. it was pretty much chicken, rice, heat, chinese gravy.., peppers, water chestnuts and mushrooms. i guess i'm not into a lot of the wet chinese-american dishes to begin with so maybe i'm not the best judge of this kind of food. there is always a line of people there so they're definitely doing something right. i'll go back to try other dishes but can live without the subgum.
(3)