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312 Eats
Lisle · Chinese · $

S.Y Chef

4.5173 reviews ·Opens at 11AM tomorrow
-sweet and sour pork with pineapple 5 - most Americanized Chinese places, the pork would be soggy, but here the skin is very crispy
Nicholas PNicholas P · 1194 Google reviews
Read the reviews on Google →

S.Y Chef — reliable chinese in Lisle that keeps people coming back. The recipes feel handed down, not invented. The team can walk you through the menu. Good value, owner-operated. "The fried rice was fresh and there were a ton of veggies in it" — Maria P [$]

What 173 diners keep saying

Great valueNeighborhood institutionFamily runCozyFamily friendlyQuick bite
Plan your visit
1209 Maple Ave, Lisle, IL 60532
Lisle
TodayClosed
Sun–Mon11AM-8:30PM
TueClosed
Wed–Sat11AM-8:30PM
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What 173 diners keep saying

verbatim, from Google
Review photo by Kyle Rodrigues
May 2026

Came in for lunch and had a delicious meal of dry chili chicken, cumin lamb and bok choy. All were excellent and at very reasonable prices.

Kyle Rodrigues

Kyle Rodrigues

146 reviews on Google

Review photo by L S
May 2026

The most authetic chinese food- nothing like Panda express but the real deal. They have lunch specials as well. Tired the fish lunch special and the cumin lamb, must try. Small but newer space and better than the bigger resturants in the area.

L S

L S

1 reviews on Google

Review photo by Sunny Bhawnani
Apr 2026

Small place but authentic "China" Chinese cuisine. Not your typical Cantonese restaurant. Really good taste and quality. Family owned, friendly service and everything is priced right as well.

Sunny Bhawnani

Sunny Bhawnani

105 reviews on Google

Review photo by Jonathan
Mar 2026

Very attentive service and the food is delicious. Highly recommend. I had the Tso’s Chicken and it was sooo GOOD.

Jonathan

Jonathan

61 reviews on Google

Review photo by Stacy McReynolds
Jan 2026

What an amazing find tonight! From the minute we walked through the door, we knew we were in for a treat! Delicious authentic Chinese food and incredible service. We started with the scallion pancake and the colorful wide cold noodles. Do not pass these up when you visit. The cold noodles are wide rice noodles served with a flavorful peanut sauce over a bed of cucumber salad. Sweet and tangy with just enough acidity. The scallion pancake has so many flaky layers bursting with scallions. We also enjoyed the lamb dumplings, cumin lamb, and the mongolian chicken. Each dish was fresh so delicious. The team's pride in what they do shines through their food and outstanding service. Forget the large chain restaurants! We love supporting local independent businesses and will definitely be back...soon! Years later.... they are still FANTASTIC

Stacy McReynolds

Stacy McReynolds

68 reviews on Google

Review photo by 暴黑熊
Nov 2025

初次体验,有特别交代少油少盐。主厨师傅功力深厚,食材新鲜,台湾人也可以接受的味道。 葱油饼很香却不油,饺子🥟内馅调味很鲜,皮很Q。酸菜炒鱼片的酸菜异常好吃😋。孜然羊肉的孜然是真的,不是使用孜染粉,特别健康! 非常推荐!

暴黑熊

暴黑熊

37 reviews on Google

Review photo by M C
Oct 2025

Very authentic northern Chinese food. No need to go to Naperville or Chicago for real Chinese food anymore. A must try. Not a big place inside, but clean and easy to park.

M C

M C

54 reviews on Google

Review photo by Raynoldy
Oct 2025

This quaint Chinese restaurant is located in a humble corner, with simple decor, and minimal online existence. However, this is not one of those “fake” Chinese eateries who sell inauthentic Chinese food with strange taste. S.Y Chef cooks true Manchurian dish by the people who are from Northeast China. Simply outstanding! If you want to experience what real Chinese food tastes like, this is the place to go.

Raynoldy

Raynoldy

110 reviews on Google

Review photo by Joe Satake
May 2025

Amazing authentic food and always friendly customer services! Highly recommended!

Joe Satake

Joe Satake

13 reviews on Google

Review photo by Aps
Jun 2026

authentic Northeast Chinese cuisine. I recommend this restaurant if you want to try something new and step outside your comfort zone.

Aps

Aps

173 reviews on Google

Review photo by Maria P
Nov 2025

First time having S.Y Chef and on Thanksgiving too! This was delicious. We are new to the area and we’re looking for our go-to Chinese restaurant and we found it. The sesame chicken was flavorful and there were actual pieces of chicken in it. The fried rice was fresh and there were a ton of veggies in it. The chow mein wasn’t too greasy and packed with umami flavor! Not pictured-the vegetable eggrolls, will definitely be getting those again. Would recommend!!

Maria P

Maria P

45 reviews on Google

Review photo by A good
Jul 2025

Clean and quaint. Dining area was full when we arrived. Great food- the eggrolls were some of best I've had. Orange chicken was crispy. Mongolian beef very tasty, but a bit too soft for me ( I prefer a bit of crisp to this dish). Shrimp fried rice was plentiful and very good. I didn't care for the crab rangoon (sweet) or scallion pancake ( chewy)...but I would definitely come back again and get LOTS of eggrolls!

A good

A good

18 reviews on Google

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