LTHForum.com

I nominate Spring World for the Fall 08 GNR. It is hard to pull a GNR out of such a restaurant packed area, but I think Spring World stands out as the best Chinatown has to offer. SW not only has one of the lowest priced lunch menus, but the food is unequalled. The service is fast, friendly and welcoming. This from servers who make a whopping $1.60 from a 20% tipper at lunch. And once you add dinner into the mix I think SW is a lock for a GNR. A creative and unusual menu that has no double in Chicago. I have never had a bad meal at SW and I almost never order the same thing. This iis my $.02, I hope you all feel the same.

See what others have to say -> Link

Spring World
2109-A S. China Place
Chicago, IL
312-326-9966.

I will happily second this nomination. At first Spring World was a less-packed alternative to LSC, though I quickly found their Szechuan renditions oftentimes comparable to LSC, not to mention the Yunnanese specialties, the mushroom menu, and my all time favorite lamb casserole that I make SW a destination for cravings. Yay!

So very much seconded and thirded. Here is a place that offers its $3.95, vegetable-rich, high quality unusual ingredient-rich lunch specials proudly, with a smile, and with gratitude to its diners every time.

When they have them, the xiao long bao and cold sesame noodles are perhaps the best examples in the city.

I went to Spring World a couple of times a few years ago for some memorable meals with some enjoyably stinky dishes, but I have not been for a while.

I recall it as being everything a GNR should be and the only reason I have not been back is because of the profusion of other options. At a minimum, this gives me a great reason to go back.

I've been told that I have to second this nomination and justin wants to know what he gets if Spring World wins. But seriously, we were introduced to Spring World by LTH (thanks, El Panzone & Rene G) and are so glad to have broken from the LSC/LTH grasp. At least we have a trifecta now.

I adore the mushroom menu and love trying new things so I can't label my favorite dishes. Guess I'll have to continue trying...

HI,

What did you think of the mushroom menu? Some of my mushroom club friends, I did say some, are not too fond of Chinese mushroom preparations. They claim they are tasteless, which I don't quite agree. What is your take?

I do agree with this nomination and in a moment of full disclosure: nobody twisted my arm to say this. Spring World was a hair away from being mentioned in the Saveur Chicago edition last year. Why weren't they? They said told Saveur's fact checker they were closing. Yeah, for a whole week for remodeling and reopened. They may have missed a golden opportunity on the national front, though this nomination gives them a more tangible golden moment.

You have my endorsement on Spring World's GNR nomination.

Regards,

Personally the mushroom menu is one of my favorite things in Chicago. The mushroom hot pot leads off as one of the tastiest things on the menu. I also love some of the non-mushroom menu items that have huge foreign caps that are like chunks of meat. The Braised Chicken in Bamboo Delivery Tube (this of course is not the real name, but it is how I order it) is the best example of this. I am not in a mushroom club, but I have eaten and cooked with tons of different mushrooms (including the magical varieties) in my life and these guys do it right. I would love to see what they could do if they could get all of the types fresh.

The Cold Sesame Noodles are one of the best things in Chinatown. Great place, top-3 Chinatown place for me.

I'm interest in how that worked out, though I may have passed the age for trying it. Still ...

-ramon

Count me in as a big fan of Spring World. I've never had a meal there that wasn't at least very good. It's amazing how they deliver so consistently with such a huge menu. I also find it refreshing that the spice level is never dumbed down. The complimentary cabbage is great and there are so many dishes that you can't find anywhere else. Spring World is my favorite Chinatown restaurant and a worthy GNR.

I'm also a huge fan. I have always had really great meals there. This is one of those places that I always over order, because there are too many things I want to try, but still get my faves, like dry chili chicken, ma po tofu. I agree, they don't dumb down the spices, which I appreciate. This used to be my standard go to in Chinatown, but I have strayed for Double Li and Laoszechuan http://www.laoszechuan.com

Though another vote seems redundant, I gladly support this nomination. We're lucky to have one of the few Yunnanese restaurants in the country here in Chicago.

Great nomination, one of the few this time around that I did a double-take...how is Spring World not already a GNR?

I've never understood the love Lao Sze Chuan gets that Spring World maybe doesn't. Could be the lunch deal is so good, it makes it seem like a gimmick restaurant. It's not, though.

When I first saw Justin's link, I was further amazed. Is that all there is here on Spring World? I fretted this might be a no go if all the Spring World love I was remembering online was back in the Chowhound days.

Luckily, Vital Information brought some of that over early on:

viewtopic.php?p=14059#14059

And there are lots more that illustrate how deeply and for how long Spring World has been enmeshed in this community:

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=2614
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=4475
viewtopic.php?f=19&t=19230
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=3664
viewtopic.php?t=3337
viewtopic.php?p=202005
viewtopic.php?p=68994#p68994
viewtopic.php?p=120225#p120225

Aaron,

Spring world is no one trick pony, but the $3.95 lunch is one of the best, if not the best, value for flavor deals in Chicago.

Kung Pao Chicken, MaPo Tofu w/white rice.



Terrific nomination!

Enjoy,
Gary

I had a great meal at Spring World last week. I've posted some pictures of it in this thread. The thread is billed as a photo essay, but unfortunately all of the previous pictures in the thread are no longer online. I thought I would remedy that and, by the way, I really support this restaurant for a GNR.

I support Spring World for a GNR-- both for the tasty food and the wonderful service. Spring World is our go-to restaurant in Chinatown and it works well with our adventurous palates, our less-adventurous parents, and our child. Our 4-year-old loves it and the waitresses know her-- they greet her as Miss "Chicken lo mein", after her standard order. The beef with cumin is another favorite among the spice-lovers.

Cheers, Jen

If I could give any restaurant a more enthusiastic nod for a GNR than this one I don't know what it is. Easily the best lunch deal in Illinois (yes the whole state...).

Rich and I have become enthusiastic fans of Spring World. From their $5 lunch special to the dreamy twice-cooked pork to the fact that the food is still piping hot twenty minutes later when we've arrived home with delivery, this place definitely deserves a GNR renewal.

It's our go-to place in Chinatown, and we find we need a good reason to go elsewhere. And, although we've been perhaps ten times in the last year or so, we're still trying new things on the menu and checking out our neighbors' dishes, wondering what the heck they could be eating.

Ronna

Yes, yes, yes.

It was really enlightning to go to a restaurant in Chinatown where the food was not all in a gloppy sauce. This vegetarian is always happy after eating here. I always get another dish to go as well.

The Yunnanese options continue to be unusual around here, the prices are great, the welcome is good, and the food is quite well done. What's not to like?

I love the mushroom-focused part of the menu here, which tells you which mushrooms are considered good for various aspects of your health. Definite renewal.

Though I haven't been recently (not for lack of trying; just keep getting pulled other directions,) Sparky and I have been to Spring World often enough since their GNR dinner to call it our "favorite" restaurant in Chinatown. We've also been often enough that we are recognized by the waitress and no longer have to explain that there are no foods that are "too Chinese" for us

We've done a number of meals with the special lunch: the tripe dish is a standout, and the lamb with cumin is my favorite of that variety. I'm still waiting to try the soup dumplings...I know that someday the Gelationous Gods will be smiling on us when we dine at Spring World.

GNR, yes.

We went to Spring World for the first time today, for lunch. It's a small place, thirteen tables. The person who seated us gave us regular menus; we asked the waitress for lunch menus which elicited a frown from the hostess. Lunch was out of this world. I got the twice cooked pork and Szechuan tofu, Mrs. Trpt her usual mongolian beef. The hot and sour soup was my favorite in Chicago to date, richly flavorful and amped up in the heat department. The now $4.95 lunch was huge and delicious. I'm not usually a tofu guy but the Szechuan tofu was spicy heaven. The pork belly twice cooked was also superlative. Good thing there was enough rice to sop up all the sauce from both dishes. I can't believe we hadn't gone before. This place has quickly gone to the top of the heap, I can't wait to return. Oh, and I heartily support a GNR renewal.

Even given the dollar boost from previous lunch special prices I'd still contend Spring Worlds Pick one from A, one from B plus rice and soup is in the top 5 best deals in Chicagoland. Yunnanese specials, mushroom centric dishes, a pick three for $4.95 appetizer bar and stinky tofu are just more reasons to love Spring World.

Spring World, count me a fan!

Enjoy,
Gary

Is the lunch menu available on Sunday? I think I know where I'm going on Easter Sunday

Had my first meal at Spring World tonight and based on that I would support renewal. A spicy pig tongue appetizer and spicy fish with tofu and pickled vegetables definitely have me planning a future visit.