lao tian dumpling house
Jonathan Lee · 466 Google reviewslao tian dumpling house — Evanston chinese that sets the standard. Order the Xiao Long Bao. You're eating the real thing here. Wallet-friendly. HaoChris Chen: "They crispy at bottom and tender on top and juicy inside" [$]
What 198 diners keep saying
What 198 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“DUMPLINGS Don’t let the tiny dining room fool you. One table, five stools, and somehow it still feels inviting. Under the umbrellas outside, a warm July afternoon became surprisingly comfortable, and our family settled in without a second thought. Many menus try to do everything. This one quietly focuses on doing a handful of things exceptionally well. Please trust the woman taking your order. Whether she was the owner or simply someone who knew the menu by heart, every recommendation was exactly the right one. Little steamed shrimp dumplings disappeared almost as quickly as they arrived, delicate and full of flavor. If you order only one thing, make it the fried pork soup dumplings—crispy outside, rich inside, and absolutely worth the trip. Never underestimate the finishing touches. A splash of mellow black vinegar, a little soy sauce for umami, and every bite somehow became even better. Great hospitality isn’t always grand gestures. Sometimes it’s carrying every plate outside with a smile because there’s no room left inside. Small spaces have a way of reminding us that quality has nothing to do with square footage. We left full, happy, and already talking about what we’ll order the next time we visit.”
“This restaurant is fantastic! Everything is perfect! Tastes really awesome! And I got a lot of gift cuisines that is for free but was supposed to be charged! Hope this restaurant will be flourished all the time”
“Very nice dumplings. It's probably perfectly targeted for university students, the price point is good, and you get a really descent meal. Everything was well executed.”
“A fun little spot for delicious dumplings! You can order online for carryout, and there’s a kiosk to order inside as well. It’s quite small with only one table and some bar seating, but we still enjoyed sitting to escape the cold and chow on some fresh dumplings. We got the xiao long bao (soup dumplings), shrimp shumai, pork, shrimp, and chive dumplings, and the Szechuan wontons. We chose to get the pork, shrimp, and chive dumplings pan-fried, which is two dollars extra. The xiao long bao were filled with hot, soothing soup, the shumai were the perfect consistency, the pan-fried dumplings were nice and crispy, and the wontons tasted homemade and tossed in sweet, tangy sauce. The prices were fairly reasonable for the 12-piece orders, and we were left very satisfied. I’ll definitely be returning whenever my dumpling craving emerges!”
“I love a well made dumpling, and this is the best dumpling I’ve had in Illinois. I preferred the steamed dumplings over the fried, the pork and chive dumplings were the stars of the show. Very modest storefront with a table for 5 people and a small self service counter for four people ~ honestly the perfect size. I will be sure to come here again and again. A little pricey but worth every penny!”
“Great authentic dumplings. They offer various flavors. I’ve tried a couple of them. All yummy! Juicy and tasty. They have cold dishes too. The slice potato salad is great! Crispy and the aroma is sooo balanced.”
“If you love authentic and good northern China dumplings, this is a must go place. I love it and recommend it to everyone. If you order zucchini dumplings, order the fried ones. They crispy at bottom and tender on top and juicy inside. Pork soured cabbage is one of my favorites, they are so good and easy to digest. Try it and you will love it! Btw, not huge restaurant, not a lot of seats. Take out could be a choice but make sure not eat cold”
“Small storefront restaurant with incredible food. The Xiao Long Bao is amazing. If you are longing for a wonderful meal this is the place. I suggest take-out or delivery not much seating.”
“Just passing through and found this little gem! Dumplings were absolutely delicious and filled with meat and soup! Perfect!! Highly recommend and I’ll be back!”
“Wow, just wow. All dumplings! And other stuff I didn't have room to order. Chicken Egg rolls, which were actually meaty and savory , not just cabbage and carrots goo like I usually experience. Pork Flatbread, so yummy, and filling. Then the soup dumplings came out and I enjoyed, until the Zhong's Dumplings blew my mind. I just wish you could order smaller quantities so I could have tried more options. I have leftovers”
“food: these dumplings were actually very good and flavorful service: to go ambiance: small interior, outside seating”
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