Whenever I come home to my beloved Chicagoland, HKC is a must. It's pretty amazing that a place like this exists in the 'burbs. While they have some of the requisite American Chinese fare, stay away from all of that. Here's what you want to get: Potstickers - both steamed and fried Singapore Noodles - kinda spicy, kinda addictive Chicken and Chinese Broccoli Rice Plate with ginger - DO IT Won Ton Soup w/ shrimp dumplings - the dumplings are light and delicious Taro Cakes - really quite good Sauteed Fish w/ Chinese Broccoli - we actually stole bites of this from the owner, who offered us some of her dinner one night A bubble tea - because why not If you'd like to steer away from the normal Chinese fare, this is a fantastic place to go. Damn...I'm all the way on the east coast and I'm dying for some of the ginger chicken now...
(5)
Gerry A.
Walking distance from Motorola's HQ, easy to miss in a little strip corner S/E of Motorola on the North side of 62/Algonquin rd. Very clean, bright modern accents & droning AsianTV white noise seems to fit a place where we are there to EAT, not talk. A-OK. Very well lit, bright accent colors and solid industrial aluminum chairs. This is a lunch review only. $6.50 for spicy veggie, tip & tax included; SO fast my veggies were undercooked even by MY standards and that is how I liked them I thought. I think they just threatened them with some hot soy sauce. Tea included, they may have to like you for a 3rd cup. Hot & sour a little vinegary, no leftovers except for way too many raw green peppers. I'm working through their lunch specials and will update. The chocolate fortune cookie is growing on me and kind of fun. If you have a large party you may want to take a little extra time to decipher that cryptic bill, they round UP. Do it. CLOSED on Monday, head for Yu's, Chef Ping is also closed on Monday.
(3)
Alex R.
I'll start by saying the food is always excellent. This update is about their pricing, more specifically, the discrepancies in the prices listed and what is actually charged. They do not input their orders into a computer so the tab is susceptible to error. Lately we've noticed that our bills have been a tad bit more expensive than what we expected based on what's listed on the menu. Had this happened only once, I would have chalked it up to mere human error. Hey, anyone can make a simple mathematical error. But when it's happened the last four times, I start to suspect maybe something is up. Each time, I've had to literally go over our order and reference the menu price with the person who took my order (it's been the same lady each time). Each time, she's found that's she's made an error. She doesn't offer an apology but merely scratches off the old price and scrawls in the new price. The "errors" have been generally between ~ 80 cents to ~ $1.25. That may not seem like much, but that adds up if you order from here frequently. Look, there's no concrete evidence that the restaurant is doing anything illicit. It could just be that the person who took my order is simply bad at entering the correct prices into a calculator. But again, it's starting to smell a little fishy when it's happened the last four times, and when the price discrepancy is just small enough to be negligible -- maybe they think that nobody will check since the price is in the ballpark and the bill is tabulated by hand, often in handwriting that's difficult to read. All I'm saying right now is double check your bill. It doesn't take very long, and it could very well save you some money.
(3)
Jill B.
One of the waitress was rude and unfriendly. I was with my family and with my youngest son, who is 19 months old. She was so mad at my son because he was by the door and assumed that he was going to pull the alarm, when my son was just standing there. The waitress told on my 39 year old sister and was so annoyed and she did not conceal it. She was insisting and even commanding that my sister put my son in the high chair and let him just stay there. Then my son was playing with the chopsticks on the table and she shouted at him not to play with it. We were customers but she was not respectful at all. We were very offended. We won't be back here ever. The food is great though but it won't offset a bad customer service.
(1)
Avinash K.
Well, we ordered Take out. But place seemed very ordinary. We ordered fried rice with chicken and tofu, that was pretty good and had the Cantoneese noodles with chicken and shrimp, we asked this was made spicy ( which wasnt). Basically, cantoneese noodels is sort of like a cross between chopsuey and noodles, it tasted good though, both chicken and shrimp tasted good, the only let down was the thick not so spicy sauce.
(3)
KamKei T.
This is the bomb. Will go back again... For our first time, we ordered the cha siu pork w/ roasted duck, steamed fish and singapore style daikon cake. They are all super tasty and the price is good for what they're offering. Milk tea is the taste that we look for as well....all in all, great experience.
(5)
Oreo T.
We have been here many times in the past but this was the worst experience last Saturday. We had lunch there at late noon. It was not busy. When we stepped in, a waitress from distance pointed us to a table. No greeting at all. No response when I said hello to her. When the dishes were served on our table, she sent us the check, wanting us to eat fast?! During the whole period, we were totally ignored. No one looked at our table and never refilled our water when our glasses were empty. If you only want to feed your stomach, this could be a good place. But if you expect at least average service and be respected, good luck!
(1)
Claire Y.
We got fried rice noodles with beef and it is the best I ever had (including most of places in Chinatown). The thousand year egg with pork congee was just okay. We also got the hot Hong Kong style tea with cream which came surprisingly bitter (maybe that's the last cup of tea in the pot?) Family style dining atmosphere and the wait isn't bad.
(4)
Bo W.
Fast service. Very authentic food. Tried the specialty fried noodle with beef! highly recommend.
(5)
Lois C.
I've been coming to Hong Kong Cafe ever since my brother introduced me a few months ago. The food is really authentic and very well priced. Everything I have had there has been really great - salt and spicy pork, mongolian beef, chow fun noodles with beef/broccoli (I do ask for gravy, the one without gravy is a bit bland), wonton noodle soup, beef fried rice, and their egg rolls are awesome (they are an add on to their lunch specials). My husband loves their fried rice (he would call himself a friend rice connoisseur so that's a high rating for him). He also enjoys their chow fun, you can't get it the way they make anywhere else in the suburbs. Their wonton noodle soup definitely hits the spot when it's cold and snowy out. I did get the beef noodle soup once and felt that there was too much fatty beef parts that I didn't enjoy as much. Their lunch specials are a great deal and can feed you with some leftovers for dinner. Also if you want to go during lunch, they get quite busy and it may be hard to find a spot. Definitely worth taking out if you really want good Chinese food.
(4)
Susan S.
Fast service clean friendly . Lunch menu is limited but will come back and try dinner.. Lots of veggies in Kung Poa shrimp. Onion is cooked nicely. Shrimp is cooked perfect . Good portions.
(3)
Han Z.
Food is above average... But the waitress is a disaster.. She requires 15% tips for lunch, because we only tipped 10%. Ridiculously, she didn't even provide any service other than recommending one dish. She didn't check or refill water for us... If the manager sees this message, fire that 50 year old woman.
(2)
Bob R.
Since I wrote my earlier review we've been back to Hong Kong Cafe several times. We've only done take-out so far - really need to eat there to get the full experience. We ordered and were told it would be about 20 minutes. So, we waited a few, then went to go pick it up. It was not ready when we arrived, and they were very apologetic. They had several large parties, and it is a fairly small place, so we understood. They seated us at a table to wait. While waiting, we watched people around us, and saw lots of different foods we want to try. In particular, there was a fabulous looking dish I had to ask about. They explained it was a full fried chicken which you have to order a day in advance - next time. There was also a bitter melon omelet that looked fantastic. What we ordered turned out to be great too. The Sweet and Sour soup was among the best I've had. Together, we ordered the soup, chicken and Chinese broccoli, Hot and Spicy Chicken and Vegetables and Bitter Melon and Pork Ribs in Casserole. Because we had to wait a short time, they gave us a Pork Fried Rice for our trouble. So nie of them. Because, the fried rice was outstanding. So, next time, we order the whole fried chicken a day before we go, and we will dine in rather than carry out.
(5)
D J.
Went for a big dinner meeting. We ordered 8 dishes. The place was full up. I don't know if the main chefs were off or what, but the food was not good, among it the fish, the tofu, the beef dishes, the flat rice noodles. What a massive disappointment. I'll have to order my lunch favorites again when I recover from the shock. Yikes, Hong Kong Cafe, you were perfect foodwise before. Why did you have to change? The service was better though. They got a new hostess.
(3)
Debra F.
I chanced upon this place because I couldn't bear eating in the food court at The mall. It's located in a strip mall and looks pretty unexciting but through their doors awaits the most tasty and authentic Chinese food in the Chicago suburbs. Be warned that at lunch time this place gets pretty crowded as they have a pretty good lunch menu which is very reasonable but because the inside is pretty basic, people tend to eat quickly and leave so you're never really waiting around for too long.
(5)
Erich H.
After wandering in here randomly as I drove down Algonquin, hungry, and looking for a decent spot to grab a bite, I was ecstatic to find this tiny storefront. Inside was a cozy looking little place with a real family vibe- tables shoved in every nook and cranny, and a Lcd TV hung on the wall which was blasting Chinese news. I must have wandered in just before they opened for dinner as I saw the staff; or perhaps their family; or perhaps both, chowing down in front of the TV. I was seated politely and given a menu. Having been a fan of wonton gourmet for a while, I was excited to see noodles and dumplings with Chinese broccoli on the menu. Promptly ordered. They were fantastic!! The dumplings were quite a bit better than wonton gourmet's, and the Chinese broccoli was cooked just right. Try the scrambled egg with bitter melon- it also has crunchy, salty, tubers inside. The Hong Kong style iced tea was also amazing. If you're looking for a high end place, this ain't it, but for quality grub with a home cooked taste this is your spot. Lotta things here you would be hard pressed to find on a menu elsewhere, as well. And not too expensive either. To me, this place is really a gem for this area.
(5)
Rawlins R.
Hong Kong Cafe is a very unique Chinese restaurant. It is not a fine dining place and it is not exclusively a take out place. Hong Kong is in between the two and a little bit of both. Of course they do have take out as an option but during the lunch hour many people come to eat in. The set up is simple with basic chairs and tables that seat four to six people per group. Upon arrival you are offered green tea and hot and sour soup. Both are excellent and slightly unexpected given the simplicity the restaurants atmosphere conveys. Again, the interior decor and set up of this place you would expect your food to come in Chinese take out box but Hong Kong Cafe is far from that. The menu is extensive and the dishes are exceptional. You can gather this from the authenticity of the menu items as well from the majority Chinese patrons that frequent this location. I had the Chinese Curry Supreme which comes with chicken, beef, and shrimp. It was excellent and filling. Hong Kong Cafe is popular among the coworkers so I hope to come back again so I can try some other things on the menu.
(4)
Brooke C.
Pretty authentic Cantonese food and that's about it. Honestly, kids grew up loving the food here, that's why we still go. Although I am not really a big fan of Cantonese food, when you live 45 min away from China town, this place does the job. It offers good radish cake on weekend and reasonable rice and noodle dishes. I would have given it a 4 stars, if their service measures up to their food. The servers can be cold and moody. I've seen them all warm and fuzzy sometimes but other times, I almost wanted to quit going back. Then again, my kids love the beef dishes there and it's close by, so I keep putting up with them.
(3)
Shelly M.
Love this place! Very authentic Chinese food and reminds me of Chinatown. Their prices are very reasonable too. I love the mapo tofu dish and their hot and sour soup. Will definitely be going back soon! Yum!
(5)
Jenner B.
Okay, it's true I don't write a review unless I'm disappointed. However, I did give them 4 stars! Tonight the food wasn't the issue. As a matter of fact, the food here is really good. I had the Mongolian beef. It's very good! My issue is with the service. For me, I enjoy giving a nice tip, when service is good. In fact, most times it's 20+%. But there's more to service than taking an order, and bringing the food. I'm a heavy water drinker, and didn't once get a refill. In fact, not once did they ask how we enjoyed the food. The entire time we were here, they didn't fill up a single glass. I didn't even see a pitcher. I suppose they think the large blue opaque glasses they use, are enough. I assure you, they are not. Especially if you have a spicy dish. They need to get see thru glasses, to know when I customer needs more water.
(4)
Joanne C.
We have been coming to this place for the past 9 years the service was never great but the food was fine, so we still went to eat form time to time. However, the service really got worse in the last couple visit. The waitresses were all standing around and chitchatting instead of waiting tables. We almost had to stand up to get their attention to order our food. When she finally noticed that we want to order she walked to our table and asked "what do you want?"; her tone was not polite. Again, their food is fine, so food wise, they should get 3 stars, but service would be -1 star.
(1)
Nelson M.
Restaurant review So for the haters, this is authentic asian cafe food. If you go to hong kong this is very similar to the food you get from the diners for lunch. There are many americanized items, but this is very similar to HK fast food scene. The beef chow fun was well cooked with plenty of flavors. Not too salty and there appeared to be no MSG. The rest of the menu is a mixture of rice, noodle, etc dishes. Prices are good and servers are friendly and fast. The only detracting value is the dingy bathrooms which is typical of Hong Kong diner type restaurants so I guess it adds to a the authentic value. Another thing missing would be combo meals that would come with hot milk tea which would be very authentic. Oh well Pro: inexpensive, great canto diner food Cons: dirty/dingy bathrooms Hidden gem: Lunch special for better savings
(4)
T T.
Sure the ladies talked a lot while we were there, and sure they were eating their lunches when we were there at around 2:30 ish on a Sunday, but the food is definitely legit and the volume is well worth the price. Only went with two people, prob ordered enough for three, but ended up with food for about five. Ended up being my lunch the next day but chinese for lunch definitely isn't something to complain about... Def going back again, and then again after that. It's too bad they don't deliver but it's close enough for me to go back again. Didn't get the chocolate fortune cookie, not a fan anyway, but maybe next time. Cuz there definitely will be a next time.
(4)
Danielle S.
For take-out, this place is probably close to amazing. But as far as dine-in, it was so-so. The food is pretty cheap (especially the lunch specials). All of the lunch specials are under $7 and come with rice, a fortune cookie, and soup of the day. I was sad that they didn't have egg drop soup, so I ordered the hot and sour soup instead. It was hot...and sour. Not my favorite, but that's a personal preference. Our meals were pretty good. Their fried rice is not my favorite (no veggies and a ton of soy sauce). The noodles were great, and the kung pao beef was good. Everything came out piping hot. Their menu is HUGE (most items are just listed without descriptions), so you are bound to find something. Inside is very colorful, and they have Chinese television shows on (I think the one we were watching was like a soap opera). The service was SO fast at first. Our food came out ridiculously fast...like...almost scary fast. And then our server never came back. Finally they came to get our payment. So, I don't know that I would come back to dine in, but I may take-out.
Came back a few times after the first visit long time ago and found everything was improved. Or maybe I had ordered wrong stuff last time. Now I would suggest any regular rice dishes, chow mien items (so-so), well their chef specials are great as well there are pictures on the menu so it makes it so easy if you are non Chinese and don't know what those dishes are. I am Cantonese grew up in HK so I would say I know how Cantonese food should be cooked. It wouldn't be the same food you have in HK cause the ingredients here VS there are sort of different. Bottom line you can give this place a try if you want some Chinese food in the suburbs . This is more of Cantonese style, so go to some where else if you want Lao Sze Chuan spicy dishes. Also they have great red bean coconut milk freeze! They have bitter melon omelet - Yum! Also congee on weekend!
(4)
Frank L.
Family run, busy restaurant offering authentic Hong Kong style cafe food. I had the Singapore Noodles that was great but was a little too dry and too spicy. Excellent wok flavor done very well. Definitely coming back for their weekend congee specialties.
(4)
Mika O.
(1) please note that turnip cake is deep fried. (why????) If you want the typical dum sum style, i guess you can request pan fried? We were so speechless looking at it, we did not send it back (2) Fish fillet is not fresh. It has the old fish (almost spoiled) smell. Both in Congee and chow fan. (3) fried rice does not taste fresh. I know the dish is freshly made, but, it is not the same as fresh( as in fresh ingredients.) Even the rice itself tastes off. Urhhhh. I am just very disappointed cause it came highly recommended...
(1)
Matthew B.
If you're looking for some cheap, authentic Chinese food with good portions, this is the place. This place is really close to my apartment, so I come here more than I'd like to admit. Everything I've had so far has been great. Cantonese style short ribs are the favorite so far. If you're in the mood for noodles/comfort food, the beef chow fun with gravy hits the spot.
(4)
Ziyan C.
My mom works at Motorola practically across the street so I'm always happy to treat her and some family friends to lunch here when I'm home for a break. Always solid, well done Chinese food - all this was just $50 (incl. tax + tip) for the four of us! * Duck noodle soup with dumplings - 4 stars yelp.com/biz_photos/5amB… Good stuff! Duck tender, soup light but flavorful, dumplings tasty. Can't go wrong here! * Rice noodle with beef - 3.5 stars yelp.com/biz_photos/5amB… Pretty good, just wish there were more greens/beef. It's mostly the rice noodles, which are pretty fat & kind of starchy. * Fried pork chop - 4 stars yelp.com/biz_photos/5amB… If you want something fried, very salty, not healthy but tasty, this is your dish! The pork meat is a little hard, but that's the style of the dish I'm pretty sure. * Crispy noodles with beef - 4 stars yelp.com/biz_photos/5amB… Good combo of the crispy noodles, turned slightly soggy by the thick sauce drooping down from all that beef/cabbage. The beef is pretty good, pretty tender, but yeah its in this super thick starchy sauce. * Veggies - 4 stars yelp.com/biz_photos/5amB… Always good to have a bright green veggie option on the table! A classic, can't go wrong once again.
(4)
Yuwei B.
Authentic Chinese food. Great tasting at VERY affordable pricing. Reminds me of my moms cooking. Will come here again.
(5)
Keith T.
I guess this is the best Hong Kong rc you would find around the area. Price is good, parking is good and the rc itself looks fine too.
This is the most authentic Chinese food you'll find outside of China. My dad and I, who have both traversed China on separate occasions, agreed on this. We ordered: 1. Deep-fried shrimp appetizer with some apricot sauce (dad loved it) 2. Ma Po Tofu (HEAVENLY) 3. Hot & spicy vegetables (good, but the veggies were rock-hard) 4. Beef chow fun (dad loved it; said it was even better the next day, haha) Cool: 1. Chocolate fortune cookies! 2. Picture menu 3. Decor rocks What held this back from being a 5-star review: 1. Hot and Sour soup was $5.75! Unless I get the whole pot, I'm not paying that much. I've never seen that soup for more than $3. 2. Tea is not complimentary. 3. I don't think our server said a word to us the entire time. 4. My water wasn't refilled even after I asked. I had two spicy dishes that I still put more chili oil on, so my mouth was on fire by the end of my meal... and my cup was empty. :( I would go back in a nano-second. One bite, and I was instantly transported back to some of my favorite hole-in-the-walls in Beijing and Tibet. Super cool. :)) ***NOTE: The map here is wrong. This place is actually two plazas EAST of Meacham, not West.***
(4)
Laura N.
Last Saturday night, my husband and I had nothing to do (what?! I know!). So, we decided to hop on our recently tuned-up bikes and bike over to somewhere nearby that we haven't been to yet. Hong Kong Cafe was our destination. You know how you can tell an ethnic restaurant must be good if many people of that certain ethnicity are dining there? This was one of those places. Nearly every table was full of Chinese families and friends. We kind of stuck out like sore thumbs (especially because every was watching us park our bikes outside), but the staff immediately approached us with warm smiles and cool glasses of water. I also got a pina colada bubble tea that tasted amazing and had a generous amount of tapioca balls (writing this review right now is tempting me to finish so I can go back and one now!). The food we ordered arrived rather quickly. My husband loved his chicken fried rice. My mixed vegetables with tofu was kind of a disappointment. The veggies were good but they were few in a large plate of abundant, soft, tasteless tofu. The overwhelm of icky tofu caused me to dislike my meal. I let my server know and she suggested that next time I ask for the tofu to be flavored and fried -- it's much better. Apparently I wasn't the only one who had that opinion about it. I believe her and I'm glad she gave me that tip (but why couldn't they have just done it that way the first time around?). This was a great hole-in-the-wall that left us pleasantly surprised. Minus a star for the icky tofu but I'm sure it will be bumped up the next time I'm here.
I've been going here for ten plus years. It's the best restaurant in the NW suburbs for won ton noodles, congee, chow fun, and everything in between. Service is always good. Take out or dine-in in their casual dining area. Prices are reasonable. It's in a strip mall and parking is always easy.
(5)
Jen C.
Love this place! I am addicted to their home made pot stickers! Their hot & sour soup is so good, the only place I found that is most similar to how my dad makes it. This place makes me a little less homesick. Employees are friendly, food comes really fast. You can enjoy watching the Canto drama on TV there and they also have picture album of menu items if you're confused by the giant menu. Have fun!
(5)
David M.
What a great place....a true diamond in the rough. Real Cantonese and old time chinese-american. This is a place that knows how to roast pork and make the real cuisine of Guandong. Friendly stuff, cute interior.... And immaculate! The real deal with wonton noodle soup. I'll be back. Maybe tonight!
(5)
Patrick G.
Super fast service every time, great lunch specials, awesome tasting food. I come in every now and then for lunch. They always seat me and serve my food super quick, especially for a sit down restaurant. Which is really good because I don't like taking long lunch breaks. The food is excellently priced. I pay the same for a meal at subway except I'm getting more and better food.
(5)
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Address :1608 E Algonquin Rd
Schaumburg, IL, 60173
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : 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.
Sehaj S.
Whenever I come home to my beloved Chicagoland, HKC is a must. It's pretty amazing that a place like this exists in the 'burbs. While they have some of the requisite American Chinese fare, stay away from all of that. Here's what you want to get: Potstickers - both steamed and fried Singapore Noodles - kinda spicy, kinda addictive Chicken and Chinese Broccoli Rice Plate with ginger - DO IT Won Ton Soup w/ shrimp dumplings - the dumplings are light and delicious Taro Cakes - really quite good Sauteed Fish w/ Chinese Broccoli - we actually stole bites of this from the owner, who offered us some of her dinner one night A bubble tea - because why not If you'd like to steer away from the normal Chinese fare, this is a fantastic place to go. Damn...I'm all the way on the east coast and I'm dying for some of the ginger chicken now...
(5)Gerry A.
Walking distance from Motorola's HQ, easy to miss in a little strip corner S/E of Motorola on the North side of 62/Algonquin rd. Very clean, bright modern accents & droning AsianTV white noise seems to fit a place where we are there to EAT, not talk. A-OK. Very well lit, bright accent colors and solid industrial aluminum chairs. This is a lunch review only. $6.50 for spicy veggie, tip & tax included; SO fast my veggies were undercooked even by MY standards and that is how I liked them I thought. I think they just threatened them with some hot soy sauce. Tea included, they may have to like you for a 3rd cup. Hot & sour a little vinegary, no leftovers except for way too many raw green peppers. I'm working through their lunch specials and will update. The chocolate fortune cookie is growing on me and kind of fun. If you have a large party you may want to take a little extra time to decipher that cryptic bill, they round UP. Do it. CLOSED on Monday, head for Yu's, Chef Ping is also closed on Monday.
(3)Alex R.
I'll start by saying the food is always excellent. This update is about their pricing, more specifically, the discrepancies in the prices listed and what is actually charged. They do not input their orders into a computer so the tab is susceptible to error. Lately we've noticed that our bills have been a tad bit more expensive than what we expected based on what's listed on the menu. Had this happened only once, I would have chalked it up to mere human error. Hey, anyone can make a simple mathematical error. But when it's happened the last four times, I start to suspect maybe something is up. Each time, I've had to literally go over our order and reference the menu price with the person who took my order (it's been the same lady each time). Each time, she's found that's she's made an error. She doesn't offer an apology but merely scratches off the old price and scrawls in the new price. The "errors" have been generally between ~ 80 cents to ~ $1.25. That may not seem like much, but that adds up if you order from here frequently. Look, there's no concrete evidence that the restaurant is doing anything illicit. It could just be that the person who took my order is simply bad at entering the correct prices into a calculator. But again, it's starting to smell a little fishy when it's happened the last four times, and when the price discrepancy is just small enough to be negligible -- maybe they think that nobody will check since the price is in the ballpark and the bill is tabulated by hand, often in handwriting that's difficult to read. All I'm saying right now is double check your bill. It doesn't take very long, and it could very well save you some money.
(3)Jill B.
One of the waitress was rude and unfriendly. I was with my family and with my youngest son, who is 19 months old. She was so mad at my son because he was by the door and assumed that he was going to pull the alarm, when my son was just standing there. The waitress told on my 39 year old sister and was so annoyed and she did not conceal it. She was insisting and even commanding that my sister put my son in the high chair and let him just stay there. Then my son was playing with the chopsticks on the table and she shouted at him not to play with it. We were customers but she was not respectful at all. We were very offended. We won't be back here ever. The food is great though but it won't offset a bad customer service.
(1)Avinash K.
Well, we ordered Take out. But place seemed very ordinary. We ordered fried rice with chicken and tofu, that was pretty good and had the Cantoneese noodles with chicken and shrimp, we asked this was made spicy ( which wasnt). Basically, cantoneese noodels is sort of like a cross between chopsuey and noodles, it tasted good though, both chicken and shrimp tasted good, the only let down was the thick not so spicy sauce.
(3)KamKei T.
This is the bomb. Will go back again... For our first time, we ordered the cha siu pork w/ roasted duck, steamed fish and singapore style daikon cake. They are all super tasty and the price is good for what they're offering. Milk tea is the taste that we look for as well....all in all, great experience.
(5)Oreo T.
We have been here many times in the past but this was the worst experience last Saturday. We had lunch there at late noon. It was not busy. When we stepped in, a waitress from distance pointed us to a table. No greeting at all. No response when I said hello to her. When the dishes were served on our table, she sent us the check, wanting us to eat fast?! During the whole period, we were totally ignored. No one looked at our table and never refilled our water when our glasses were empty. If you only want to feed your stomach, this could be a good place. But if you expect at least average service and be respected, good luck!
(1)Claire Y.
We got fried rice noodles with beef and it is the best I ever had (including most of places in Chinatown). The thousand year egg with pork congee was just okay. We also got the hot Hong Kong style tea with cream which came surprisingly bitter (maybe that's the last cup of tea in the pot?) Family style dining atmosphere and the wait isn't bad.
(4)Bo W.
Fast service. Very authentic food. Tried the specialty fried noodle with beef! highly recommend.
(5)Lois C.
I've been coming to Hong Kong Cafe ever since my brother introduced me a few months ago. The food is really authentic and very well priced. Everything I have had there has been really great - salt and spicy pork, mongolian beef, chow fun noodles with beef/broccoli (I do ask for gravy, the one without gravy is a bit bland), wonton noodle soup, beef fried rice, and their egg rolls are awesome (they are an add on to their lunch specials). My husband loves their fried rice (he would call himself a friend rice connoisseur so that's a high rating for him). He also enjoys their chow fun, you can't get it the way they make anywhere else in the suburbs. Their wonton noodle soup definitely hits the spot when it's cold and snowy out. I did get the beef noodle soup once and felt that there was too much fatty beef parts that I didn't enjoy as much. Their lunch specials are a great deal and can feed you with some leftovers for dinner. Also if you want to go during lunch, they get quite busy and it may be hard to find a spot. Definitely worth taking out if you really want good Chinese food.
(4)Susan S.
Fast service clean friendly . Lunch menu is limited but will come back and try dinner.. Lots of veggies in Kung Poa shrimp. Onion is cooked nicely. Shrimp is cooked perfect . Good portions.
(3)Han Z.
Food is above average... But the waitress is a disaster.. She requires 15% tips for lunch, because we only tipped 10%. Ridiculously, she didn't even provide any service other than recommending one dish. She didn't check or refill water for us... If the manager sees this message, fire that 50 year old woman.
(2)Bob R.
Since I wrote my earlier review we've been back to Hong Kong Cafe several times. We've only done take-out so far - really need to eat there to get the full experience. We ordered and were told it would be about 20 minutes. So, we waited a few, then went to go pick it up. It was not ready when we arrived, and they were very apologetic. They had several large parties, and it is a fairly small place, so we understood. They seated us at a table to wait. While waiting, we watched people around us, and saw lots of different foods we want to try. In particular, there was a fabulous looking dish I had to ask about. They explained it was a full fried chicken which you have to order a day in advance - next time. There was also a bitter melon omelet that looked fantastic. What we ordered turned out to be great too. The Sweet and Sour soup was among the best I've had. Together, we ordered the soup, chicken and Chinese broccoli, Hot and Spicy Chicken and Vegetables and Bitter Melon and Pork Ribs in Casserole. Because we had to wait a short time, they gave us a Pork Fried Rice for our trouble. So nie of them. Because, the fried rice was outstanding. So, next time, we order the whole fried chicken a day before we go, and we will dine in rather than carry out.
(5)D J.
Went for a big dinner meeting. We ordered 8 dishes. The place was full up. I don't know if the main chefs were off or what, but the food was not good, among it the fish, the tofu, the beef dishes, the flat rice noodles. What a massive disappointment. I'll have to order my lunch favorites again when I recover from the shock. Yikes, Hong Kong Cafe, you were perfect foodwise before. Why did you have to change? The service was better though. They got a new hostess.
(3)Debra F.
I chanced upon this place because I couldn't bear eating in the food court at The mall. It's located in a strip mall and looks pretty unexciting but through their doors awaits the most tasty and authentic Chinese food in the Chicago suburbs. Be warned that at lunch time this place gets pretty crowded as they have a pretty good lunch menu which is very reasonable but because the inside is pretty basic, people tend to eat quickly and leave so you're never really waiting around for too long.
(5)Erich H.
After wandering in here randomly as I drove down Algonquin, hungry, and looking for a decent spot to grab a bite, I was ecstatic to find this tiny storefront. Inside was a cozy looking little place with a real family vibe- tables shoved in every nook and cranny, and a Lcd TV hung on the wall which was blasting Chinese news. I must have wandered in just before they opened for dinner as I saw the staff; or perhaps their family; or perhaps both, chowing down in front of the TV. I was seated politely and given a menu. Having been a fan of wonton gourmet for a while, I was excited to see noodles and dumplings with Chinese broccoli on the menu. Promptly ordered. They were fantastic!! The dumplings were quite a bit better than wonton gourmet's, and the Chinese broccoli was cooked just right. Try the scrambled egg with bitter melon- it also has crunchy, salty, tubers inside. The Hong Kong style iced tea was also amazing. If you're looking for a high end place, this ain't it, but for quality grub with a home cooked taste this is your spot. Lotta things here you would be hard pressed to find on a menu elsewhere, as well. And not too expensive either. To me, this place is really a gem for this area.
(5)Rawlins R.
Hong Kong Cafe is a very unique Chinese restaurant. It is not a fine dining place and it is not exclusively a take out place. Hong Kong is in between the two and a little bit of both. Of course they do have take out as an option but during the lunch hour many people come to eat in. The set up is simple with basic chairs and tables that seat four to six people per group. Upon arrival you are offered green tea and hot and sour soup. Both are excellent and slightly unexpected given the simplicity the restaurants atmosphere conveys. Again, the interior decor and set up of this place you would expect your food to come in Chinese take out box but Hong Kong Cafe is far from that. The menu is extensive and the dishes are exceptional. You can gather this from the authenticity of the menu items as well from the majority Chinese patrons that frequent this location. I had the Chinese Curry Supreme which comes with chicken, beef, and shrimp. It was excellent and filling. Hong Kong Cafe is popular among the coworkers so I hope to come back again so I can try some other things on the menu.
(4)Brooke C.
Pretty authentic Cantonese food and that's about it. Honestly, kids grew up loving the food here, that's why we still go. Although I am not really a big fan of Cantonese food, when you live 45 min away from China town, this place does the job. It offers good radish cake on weekend and reasonable rice and noodle dishes. I would have given it a 4 stars, if their service measures up to their food. The servers can be cold and moody. I've seen them all warm and fuzzy sometimes but other times, I almost wanted to quit going back. Then again, my kids love the beef dishes there and it's close by, so I keep putting up with them.
(3)Shelly M.
Love this place! Very authentic Chinese food and reminds me of Chinatown. Their prices are very reasonable too. I love the mapo tofu dish and their hot and sour soup. Will definitely be going back soon! Yum!
(5)Jenner B.
Okay, it's true I don't write a review unless I'm disappointed. However, I did give them 4 stars! Tonight the food wasn't the issue. As a matter of fact, the food here is really good. I had the Mongolian beef. It's very good! My issue is with the service. For me, I enjoy giving a nice tip, when service is good. In fact, most times it's 20+%. But there's more to service than taking an order, and bringing the food. I'm a heavy water drinker, and didn't once get a refill. In fact, not once did they ask how we enjoyed the food. The entire time we were here, they didn't fill up a single glass. I didn't even see a pitcher. I suppose they think the large blue opaque glasses they use, are enough. I assure you, they are not. Especially if you have a spicy dish. They need to get see thru glasses, to know when I customer needs more water.
(4)Joanne C.
We have been coming to this place for the past 9 years the service was never great but the food was fine, so we still went to eat form time to time. However, the service really got worse in the last couple visit. The waitresses were all standing around and chitchatting instead of waiting tables. We almost had to stand up to get their attention to order our food. When she finally noticed that we want to order she walked to our table and asked "what do you want?"; her tone was not polite. Again, their food is fine, so food wise, they should get 3 stars, but service would be -1 star.
(1)Nelson M.
Restaurant review So for the haters, this is authentic asian cafe food. If you go to hong kong this is very similar to the food you get from the diners for lunch. There are many americanized items, but this is very similar to HK fast food scene. The beef chow fun was well cooked with plenty of flavors. Not too salty and there appeared to be no MSG. The rest of the menu is a mixture of rice, noodle, etc dishes. Prices are good and servers are friendly and fast. The only detracting value is the dingy bathrooms which is typical of Hong Kong diner type restaurants so I guess it adds to a the authentic value. Another thing missing would be combo meals that would come with hot milk tea which would be very authentic. Oh well Pro: inexpensive, great canto diner food Cons: dirty/dingy bathrooms Hidden gem: Lunch special for better savings
(4)T T.
Sure the ladies talked a lot while we were there, and sure they were eating their lunches when we were there at around 2:30 ish on a Sunday, but the food is definitely legit and the volume is well worth the price. Only went with two people, prob ordered enough for three, but ended up with food for about five. Ended up being my lunch the next day but chinese for lunch definitely isn't something to complain about... Def going back again, and then again after that. It's too bad they don't deliver but it's close enough for me to go back again. Didn't get the chocolate fortune cookie, not a fan anyway, but maybe next time. Cuz there definitely will be a next time.
(4)Danielle S.
For take-out, this place is probably close to amazing. But as far as dine-in, it was so-so. The food is pretty cheap (especially the lunch specials). All of the lunch specials are under $7 and come with rice, a fortune cookie, and soup of the day. I was sad that they didn't have egg drop soup, so I ordered the hot and sour soup instead. It was hot...and sour. Not my favorite, but that's a personal preference. Our meals were pretty good. Their fried rice is not my favorite (no veggies and a ton of soy sauce). The noodles were great, and the kung pao beef was good. Everything came out piping hot. Their menu is HUGE (most items are just listed without descriptions), so you are bound to find something. Inside is very colorful, and they have Chinese television shows on (I think the one we were watching was like a soap opera). The service was SO fast at first. Our food came out ridiculously fast...like...almost scary fast. And then our server never came back. Finally they came to get our payment. So, I don't know that I would come back to dine in, but I may take-out.
(3)Sherry L.
This cafe is a hidden gem located in a small Schaumburg strip mall. Although the cafe is small, it isn't tightly packed. There is definitely enough room between neighboring tables so that you do not feel like you are constantly bumping elbows with strangers. The servers are also quick to respond to requests for water or extra utensils, and the food is served almost immediately after ordering. If you are looking for a place to get in and out quickly with a belly full of authentic Chinese food, this is the place for you! Our table ordered the cha siu pork, the sautéed chinese broccoli, and a fried turnip cake (a weekend special) to share. I also ordered a bowl of shrimp dumpling noodle soup to split with my mom. I loveeedd the cha siu as well as the fried turnip cake. I only had a little bit of both because they are both cheat foods for me, but they were delicious!! If I had a little less restraint, I'm sure I could have downed both orders and then some. The turnip cake is lightly battered and deep fried, leaving the center moist. I also appreciated that the each piece of cha siu was heavily glazed with cha siu marinade. I hate it when I get that piece of cha siu that is super dry, tough to chew, and flavorless, but the cha siu here is none of the above! I really enjoyed the shrimp dumpling noodle soup as well. The flavors reminded me of home and the shrimp wontons that my nanny used to make when we were growing up. You really wouldn't believe how quickly I slurped up the noodles and the soup!! If I am in the area again, I would love to be back! :)
(4)Alison G.
Came back a few times after the first visit long time ago and found everything was improved. Or maybe I had ordered wrong stuff last time. Now I would suggest any regular rice dishes, chow mien items (so-so), well their chef specials are great as well there are pictures on the menu so it makes it so easy if you are non Chinese and don't know what those dishes are. I am Cantonese grew up in HK so I would say I know how Cantonese food should be cooked. It wouldn't be the same food you have in HK cause the ingredients here VS there are sort of different. Bottom line you can give this place a try if you want some Chinese food in the suburbs . This is more of Cantonese style, so go to some where else if you want Lao Sze Chuan spicy dishes. Also they have great red bean coconut milk freeze! They have bitter melon omelet - Yum! Also congee on weekend!
(4)Frank L.
Family run, busy restaurant offering authentic Hong Kong style cafe food. I had the Singapore Noodles that was great but was a little too dry and too spicy. Excellent wok flavor done very well. Definitely coming back for their weekend congee specialties.
(4)Mika O.
(1) please note that turnip cake is deep fried. (why????) If you want the typical dum sum style, i guess you can request pan fried? We were so speechless looking at it, we did not send it back (2) Fish fillet is not fresh. It has the old fish (almost spoiled) smell. Both in Congee and chow fan. (3) fried rice does not taste fresh. I know the dish is freshly made, but, it is not the same as fresh( as in fresh ingredients.) Even the rice itself tastes off. Urhhhh. I am just very disappointed cause it came highly recommended...
(1)Matthew B.
If you're looking for some cheap, authentic Chinese food with good portions, this is the place. This place is really close to my apartment, so I come here more than I'd like to admit. Everything I've had so far has been great. Cantonese style short ribs are the favorite so far. If you're in the mood for noodles/comfort food, the beef chow fun with gravy hits the spot.
(4)Ziyan C.
My mom works at Motorola practically across the street so I'm always happy to treat her and some family friends to lunch here when I'm home for a break. Always solid, well done Chinese food - all this was just $50 (incl. tax + tip) for the four of us! * Duck noodle soup with dumplings - 4 stars yelp.com/biz_photos/5amB… Good stuff! Duck tender, soup light but flavorful, dumplings tasty. Can't go wrong here! * Rice noodle with beef - 3.5 stars yelp.com/biz_photos/5amB… Pretty good, just wish there were more greens/beef. It's mostly the rice noodles, which are pretty fat & kind of starchy. * Fried pork chop - 4 stars yelp.com/biz_photos/5amB… If you want something fried, very salty, not healthy but tasty, this is your dish! The pork meat is a little hard, but that's the style of the dish I'm pretty sure. * Crispy noodles with beef - 4 stars yelp.com/biz_photos/5amB… Good combo of the crispy noodles, turned slightly soggy by the thick sauce drooping down from all that beef/cabbage. The beef is pretty good, pretty tender, but yeah its in this super thick starchy sauce. * Veggies - 4 stars yelp.com/biz_photos/5amB… Always good to have a bright green veggie option on the table! A classic, can't go wrong once again.
(4)Yuwei B.
Authentic Chinese food. Great tasting at VERY affordable pricing. Reminds me of my moms cooking. Will come here again.
(5)Keith T.
I guess this is the best Hong Kong rc you would find around the area. Price is good, parking is good and the rc itself looks fine too.
(5)Veronica X.
Located in a quiet strip mall, featuring many authentic HK style café/diner foods on the menu, this place had the gem potential but after two visits (three months apart) I just can't see myself back here again anytime soon. The first time we had the Black Pepper Beef Short Ribs and it was great. The deep fried bread was ok. That visit merits three stars but the second visit doesn't. Roast pork (Char Siu) and roast duck are Cantonese staples and they can make or break a Cantonese place for me. I am afraid Hong Kong Cafe did not deliver. The color of the roast pork was off (too red) and meat was a bit dry. The roast duck didn't have the crispy skin and meat was bland. They sat on top of a plate of rice haphazardly splashed with pure soy sauce--what happened to my meat juice? You know, the french ain't the only people who does the au jus thing. And I do miss a few stems of Chinese broccoli adorning my rice plate. Had a bite of the vegetable egg roll and found the skin too thick, cabbage filling boring and inside slightly doughy. The fish fillet congee (available on weekends only) was just a faint reminder of one of my favorite comfort foods. The texture of the congee (rice porridge) was not bad, but the wrong kind of fish ruined it. Perhaps I should have tried the preserved egg (not sure who started calling it thousand-year old egg but it was pretty ignorant IMHO) and pork congee, which is in fact the most popular congee among Cantonese folks. By now I should probably mention Cantonese food is very dear to me so I tend to give somewhat harsh criticism when it's not done right. I am sure there are things they do right but I will need to find an excuse to come back and find out, maybe for the tapioca freeze treats... In the meantime the search for good Cantonese food is on.
(3)Nic Z.
This is the most authentic Chinese food you'll find outside of China. My dad and I, who have both traversed China on separate occasions, agreed on this. We ordered: 1. Deep-fried shrimp appetizer with some apricot sauce (dad loved it) 2. Ma Po Tofu (HEAVENLY) 3. Hot & spicy vegetables (good, but the veggies were rock-hard) 4. Beef chow fun (dad loved it; said it was even better the next day, haha) Cool: 1. Chocolate fortune cookies! 2. Picture menu 3. Decor rocks What held this back from being a 5-star review: 1. Hot and Sour soup was $5.75! Unless I get the whole pot, I'm not paying that much. I've never seen that soup for more than $3. 2. Tea is not complimentary. 3. I don't think our server said a word to us the entire time. 4. My water wasn't refilled even after I asked. I had two spicy dishes that I still put more chili oil on, so my mouth was on fire by the end of my meal... and my cup was empty. :( I would go back in a nano-second. One bite, and I was instantly transported back to some of my favorite hole-in-the-walls in Beijing and Tibet. Super cool. :)) ***NOTE: The map here is wrong. This place is actually two plazas EAST of Meacham, not West.***
(4)Laura N.
Last Saturday night, my husband and I had nothing to do (what?! I know!). So, we decided to hop on our recently tuned-up bikes and bike over to somewhere nearby that we haven't been to yet. Hong Kong Cafe was our destination. You know how you can tell an ethnic restaurant must be good if many people of that certain ethnicity are dining there? This was one of those places. Nearly every table was full of Chinese families and friends. We kind of stuck out like sore thumbs (especially because every was watching us park our bikes outside), but the staff immediately approached us with warm smiles and cool glasses of water. I also got a pina colada bubble tea that tasted amazing and had a generous amount of tapioca balls (writing this review right now is tempting me to finish so I can go back and one now!). The food we ordered arrived rather quickly. My husband loved his chicken fried rice. My mixed vegetables with tofu was kind of a disappointment. The veggies were good but they were few in a large plate of abundant, soft, tasteless tofu. The overwhelm of icky tofu caused me to dislike my meal. I let my server know and she suggested that next time I ask for the tofu to be flavored and fried -- it's much better. Apparently I wasn't the only one who had that opinion about it. I believe her and I'm glad she gave me that tip (but why couldn't they have just done it that way the first time around?). This was a great hole-in-the-wall that left us pleasantly surprised. Minus a star for the icky tofu but I'm sure it will be bumped up the next time I'm here.
(4)Madeline D.
I finally found this little "Hole in the Wall" and I thought the food was authenticate Hong Kong style Café food just like back in Cali. Finally a place that knows what true wonton noodle soup should be. Be come back again!
(5)Morris N.
I've been going here for ten plus years. It's the best restaurant in the NW suburbs for won ton noodles, congee, chow fun, and everything in between. Service is always good. Take out or dine-in in their casual dining area. Prices are reasonable. It's in a strip mall and parking is always easy.
(5)Jen C.
Love this place! I am addicted to their home made pot stickers! Their hot & sour soup is so good, the only place I found that is most similar to how my dad makes it. This place makes me a little less homesick. Employees are friendly, food comes really fast. You can enjoy watching the Canto drama on TV there and they also have picture album of menu items if you're confused by the giant menu. Have fun!
(5)David M.
What a great place....a true diamond in the rough. Real Cantonese and old time chinese-american. This is a place that knows how to roast pork and make the real cuisine of Guandong. Friendly stuff, cute interior.... And immaculate! The real deal with wonton noodle soup. I'll be back. Maybe tonight!
(5)Patrick G.
Super fast service every time, great lunch specials, awesome tasting food. I come in every now and then for lunch. They always seat me and serve my food super quick, especially for a sit down restaurant. Which is really good because I don't like taking long lunch breaks. The food is excellently priced. I pay the same for a meal at subway except I'm getting more and better food.
(5)