2901 N. Broadway, Chicago
(Brown line train to Diversey or Brown or Red line to Belmont, walk east 1/2 mile to Broadway)
(773) 525-6677
This restaurant used to be in Chinatown, it closed for a few years and now it's in Lakeview. Their menu consists of half meat dishes and half vegetarian dishes, and apart from Alice and Friends, this is the only place to get fake-meat Chinese food in Chicago. Some dishes are really excellent here, others are less so, it depends on what you like. We like the General Tso's fake chicken, the Twice-Cooked Seitan, the "sausage" appetizer, the dumpling appetizer, etc. They don't have the wide variety of fake meats that some veg Chinese places in other cities have, here it's either the same gluten or TVP in most dishes, but they're both good if done right.
I didn't really care as much for Melody-on-River (though I loved the name), Fragrance Garden, or Sweet & Sour Gluten. Brown rice is an option, though I believe they may charge more for it. They also deliver to the area and the owner Mona is really sweet and helpful. They have an incredible selection of teas and I can't wait to try more from their menu. The prices are a little steep, (usually $9-12 for an entree) but it's a nice treat when we feel like Chinese (and have no Panda Garden, Sunflower, Vegetarian Paradise 3, Kowloon, etc).
Sample Dishes from Szechuan Garden
Szechuan Garden This Grilled Tofu was a special on the wall, but they usually have it, and it's AWESOME. Some of the tastiest, smokiest, best tofu I've ever had.
Szechuan Garden The Empress Soy Gluten is served with a "spicy, sweet and pungent sauce." We thought it was quite good. Same fake meat as General Tao's and all other "Soy Gluten" dishes.
Szechuan Garden This is a takeaway order of the Mongolian Seitan. The seitan is sliced on an angle, it's chewy and kind of falls apart. This is served with mushrooms and onions.
Szechuan Garden Fragrance Garden. I wasn't wild about this. Chewy strings of gluten, not satisfying like other fake meats there.
Szechuan Garden Melody on River. Soy crepes wrapped w/ taro root, bamboo shoots, etc., w/ black bean garlic chili sauce. Squishy!
Szechuan Garden Both the General Tso's Gluten and the Sesame Guten are top-notch and delicious here.
Szechuan Garden Twice Cooked Wheat Gluten. Chewy and spicy, in garlic hot bean sauce. Pretty tasty. Vanessa loves this dish.
Szechuan Garden Veggie potstickers. I thought them a bit bland but Vanessa really liked them. I have the same plate at home!
coming soon!
Please note: My site is NOT any kind of official "Chicago Vegan" site. For a great restaurant guide from an excellent organization, visit VegChicago.com. With the proliferation of digital cameras and cheap web hosting, I encourage every vegan to document their own good-looking vegan food to share with the world...the more the scarier!
