Lao peng you

Tucked in the Ukrainian Village, between a smoke shop and a doctor's office stands this noodle & dumpling shop. The seating is limited but the aromas & conversations in the dining room are plentiful. Every dish is helmed by a perfect balance of flavor and spice. Call it "friendly fire", the beef noodle soup will envelope you with savory goodness and provide a wonderful numbing thrill for your palate. The Dan Dan noodles are chewy and perfect, with pork so tender and crispy you forget there's a mound of cilantro and peanuts involved. The dumplings are juicy and tender, with broth so lovely you'll want to sip it! The cold chicken displays the quality of the ingredients used, it's fresh and succulent with a perfect amount of fat. The black vinegar, the soy sauce, the aromatic sesame seeds - everything we ate was expertly crafted and intentional. Stop by Lao Peng You with an empty belly and an adventurous attitude, try a couple different things then come back later and try something else - I guarantee you'll fall in love with something on the menu.

One of the BEST meals I’ve ever had in Chicago! Though unassuming from the outside, our food was PACKED with unique and fresh flavors and everything was cooked to perfection. We ordered the Pork and Dill Dumplings, Cold Noodles, and a side of Cong You Bing. By the end of the meal I couldn’t even pick a favorite because they were all so different and so delicious. Words can’t describe how insane the flavors are. The inside was casual and cozy; great for dinner with friends/family or a relaxed date night. The prices are very reasonable for the amount and quality you get. This is the ultimate spot for dumplings and noodles. Lao Peng You is a MUST visit!

I’ve heard about this place for a long time and been want to try it out. My friend and I went to try a variety of dishes and there’s a strong vinegar presence in all dishes. We got - pork and chive dumpling (this one looks better than it tastes for me) - dan dan noodles (really strong sourness from vinegar but it kinda grows on me) - wood ear mushroom (well seasoned and marinated) - beef noodle soup (delicious broth with tender beef and wide rice noodle with great texture) - beef roujiamo (lots of green pepper and quite filling) - milk tea (quite bland, would not recommend) It’s self service and quite crowded with lines of people waiting for table always so avoid the lunch rush so you dont have to wait long.

Reminds me of our favorite places in S.F. or Seattle. The focus is on the food and they do it so well. We tried 6 dishes in total. Our favorites were the Bing (lamb and green onion) and the cold noodles. The spice level on everything was perfect for all taste buds. The service was exactly what you want. They gave great recommendations but weren't pushy or hovering. A great job we will be back

3.5/5. The word of the day with this place is SALTY. We ordered the Beef noodle soup and the Dan Dan noodles, as well as the Xian Bing and the Ciao Yong Bing. The Bing took a very, very long time to get to us and the Ciao Yong was extremely salty - pulling it apart each bite tasted fine but I felt like if I ate the whole thing I will get a hard migraine for a bit. The Xian Bing was much, much better and I did end up liking the lamb and coriander flavor. The Beef noodle soup was actually decent. The broth was good and, beef was tender, and noodles were good. There's a strange after taste but it didn't bother me much. I was extremely excited for the Dan Dan noodle but I was pretty let down. It's just unbearably salty. There was hardly any heat and was swimming with grease. Noodle and minced meat was good, but it needs more heat, or numby spices, and less salt. The staff was nice and the atmosphere is cozy. If you come here I would recommend the beef noodle soup and the Xian Bing. Things here are kind of pricey though, bear that in mind.

Small, low-key restaurant. This is one of my go-to takeout spots - never eaten at the restaurant. Staff is always friendly and welcoming. All dishes are flavorful and fresh. My personal favorites are the pork and chive dumplings, the pork and dill dumplings (only if you like strong dill flavor), the dan dan noodle, and the xian bing.

Delicious low-key Chinese. The atmosphere and the kitchen gave NYC vibes. Waiting might vary between 20-60 minutes according to your arrival. The good thing is that You can even order your food beforehand. Beef noodle soup has very charasteristic and aromatic flavor. Portion sizes are good to share as well. Most dishes include pork.

I've actually only ever ordered takeout to avoid the wait times, but that's a good sign in my book. Pork and chive dumplings are my favorite, but pork and dill and beef/green onion are also great. Broth is very flavorful and perfect for a cozy night in. Also recommend the cold noodles and cucumber salad - had the cold noodles at West Fest this summer and they were perfect.