The people here were super rude! I was planning on going to Ding Dong Dang, but we were late for our reservation and they told us they would call us when a room opened up. I thought Shandong Garden looked cute, so we decided to check it out while we were waiting. We walked in and it was extremely loud… I guess it was a Korean Karaōke night. They told us we would sit anywhere so we did. Then the lady came over to card us. I showed her my id and she looked and me and started laughing… I am not talking a slight snicker I am talking full blown laughter. I am not the type of person to sit around and let someone laugh at me so I got a little heated and took my id back and asked her«What’s so funny?». She just looked at me again and continued laughing as she checked my friends’ ids. I still do not understand what was so funny… I look exactly like my id and I wouldn’t consider myself funny looking… When she finally stopped laughing, she asked us what we wanted to order beer or whiskey. Being the type of girl who only drinks vodka, I asked if they had anything else. She told me yes they had Grey Goose, but I would have to buy the entire bottle. At that point we got up and left. What hole in the wall only does top shelf bottle service?! I felt completely disrespected here, the service seemed like they were just trying to get rid of us. They succeeded… I will never go back and I caution my fellow Unilocalers from coming here!
Ben W.
Tu valoración: 3 Palatine, IL
I’ve there a few times, I am from Shandong. the owner is Chinese Korean who was originally from Shandong. My favorite dish is their Ja Jiang Mein, I love it. It is the taste of hometown. The portion is not very big. kinda of disappointed. However, this is something you can find nowhere else. Other dishes, like the eggplant and greenbeans are fantastic, they also have top of the line appetizers. It’s usually pretty quiet in there. I am not sure how much loner they will be in business. Great place for Korean, Japanese and Chinese. In winter, they also serve the Japanese shabu-shabu, or «HUOGUO» «fire wok» in Chinese.
Jon J.
Tu valoración: 3 Chicago, IL
Shandong Garden labels itself a Chinese Restaurant, but it’s really something much more special than that — a KOREAN Chinese Restaurant. See, Chinese food is popular in Korea, just like it’s popular in America. And they’ve got their own way of doing it there too, just like here. Shandong Garden is owned by Koreans and specializes in Korean-Style Chinese food. A particular standout is the Sweet & Sour Pork — but be sure to order it «Korean Style» otherwise it will be the bland red-sauced goop that passes as Sweet & Sour everywhere else. They also serve some dishes that you usually don’t see on Chinese restaurant menus that are specific to Korean food, such as Jae Jang Myung, which is a tremendously popular dish that is basically black bean sauce and noodles. They have an extremely friendly owner and it’s usually pretty quiet in there. The plaza they’re in is in the midst of a TIF argument with the Village of Arlington Heights, so unfortunately it may not be around for very much longer. In the meantime, however, enjoy Chinese food done a little differently! And be sure to ask for it «Korean Style»!
