Chinesemenu.com's Ratings & Reviews will let you know if it's worth your time or not in over 75 cities.
Comments(41)
Reviewed by:
Ngoc N. on:
3/26/2013 6:07:00 AM
Yay to a huge selection of dim sum offereings. Meh to it all being cold because it's on a cart. I'm still debating if I like the novelty of having carts of food pushed around so I can point to choose my food or ordering of a menu full of pictures so everything I order is hot. The more I order, the more I'm starting to favor being able to order my dishes.I went here around in the afternoon on a Saturday and it seemed like I missed the rush. No rush meant the food was sitting out. I loved that there were 3-4 carts full of different options, some I've never seen before! It was a total buzzkill when I bit into my food and it was cold though.Service was as expected, not great...not terrible. I think I must come back someday and just order off the menu.
Reviewed by:
SarA M. on:
3/24/2013 1:17:00 PM
No need to go to Chinatown for a cart dim sum. This place does it well, you get seated right away and they have a parking lot. The fried stuff doesn't come out until later in the morning.
Reviewed by:
Tricia W. on:
3/23/2013 9:16:00 PM
Wtf. Why is it so hard to get decent Chinese in this city? The pot stickers were the size of my fist and terrible. Orange chicken...are you sure about that? I'm not a complete hag, the veg spring rolls were great. Furama should just sell those.
Reviewed by:
Eric L. on:
2/21/2013 11:18:00 PM
I like this place a lot. The New Furama by Chinatown and this one by Argyle - both are great. They have really good egg rolls, and the egg foo young and fried rice were top notch as well. For just general Chinese food this place won't let you down.
Reviewed by:
Jade T. on:
2/17/2013 12:55:00 PM
David: So, did you want to have brunch on Sunday?Me: Yes! (How could anyone say no?)David: Okay, where?Me: *looks on Yelp* We could go a traditional brunch place, OR we can get dim sum for brunch!I've never had dim sum for brunch. Heck, I haven't had dim sum in Chicago since I moved here back in 2008. Thus, I was pretty stoked for Furama. Their website listed at least five vegetarian dim sum dishes. That's enough for me. David had the entire menu to choose from.We walked up to the second floor where the restaurant was. It is very big and very open. We went around 10:00am, and it got extremely busy around 11am. Fear not, there are *a lot* of tables. I don't think you have to worry about a wait. Anyway, our waiter was an older Chinese man. He was a bit slow, but so friendly. In fact, everyone in the restaurant was. I enjoyed watching the adorable teenagers work the dim carts alongside their older employees.When the first cart came around and I asked if there were any vegetarian dim sum, a woman went out and grabbed me two dishes from either kitchen or another cart! They were the dried vegetarian bean curd (mock duck) and vegetarian bean curd roll. We had an order of Chinese broccoli. It was quite delicious, but I found out that it had oyster sauce on it. I got an order of vegetarian fun roll from a cart, but the server accidentally gave me the barbeque pork fun roll. Whoops. My boyfriend got himself pork shumai and shrimp dumplings. Just when I thought I was done, the woman came back and brought me fried vegetarian dumplings. They were good, although I wish it came with dumpling sauce. For dessert, I had sesame balls and David had a sweet red bean soup, which he really liked.The price for nine dishes with tax was about $33.I would give Furama 4.5 stars (due to service hiccups), but David would give it 5. It is the best dim sum restaurant he has been to in Chicago.The staff is very friendly and accommodating to vegetarians. There is a decent selection of vegetarian dim sum (probably the most in Chicago). The food is quite good. The carts go around very quickly. The prices are cheap. There is parking and the CTA nearby (Furama has their own lot).Yes, yes, I will be back for sure!
Reviewed by:
Elkin P. on:
1/31/2013 10:12:00 AM
The food itself is not too bad. Although nothing really stood out in a positive way, the experience was still pleasant.In my opinion the food was a bit on the bland side but my biggest complaint was that we weren't always served what we were told. Several times the vegetable dishes ended up having pork or shrimp. The food options are plenty, just make sure you know what you're getting (if that matters to you).The people serving were nice and courteous. The decor and restaurant itself are a little antiquated but not displeasing. About the only thing that was a complete nightmare was getting out of their parking lot. Trust me, by the time you leave, the lot will be very tightly packed. So if you have an expensive car, avoid their private lot and park on the street.
Reviewed by:
Marc R. on:
1/7/2013 7:44:00 PM
There are not a lot of Dim-Sum places on the north side of the city. If you need Dim-Sum and don't want to travel to Chinatown this is the place to go. It is served upstairs and it feels a bit like a cafeteria, but the mix of people and the range of servers makes it fun. We had a very old woman who said "yes good" to everything we said, then a teenage girl came over and translated everything for us. If you have questions and can't speak Chinese ask the teenage servers for the things you want and they will have the right person bring it over.The quality. It was OK to good. I was happy with most everything I ordered. Sometimes when doing Dim-Sum you order some stuff that might seem a bit strange. That is just how it goes. We ate most everthing we ordered, but the dumplings and pork items were the best.The pot of tea, was, a pot of tea. Always a good touch and required for the Dim-Sum ExperienceChaotic Dim-sum fun.Yum.
Reviewed by:
Jeffrey K. on:
1/7/2013 12:18:00 AM
The best dim sum around for the money and it beats going all the way down to Chinatown. If you're on the northside and you haven't been here, grab your friends and head over early Saturday or Sunday morning when they open at 10. If you're looking for something other than dim sum, go to one of the many other places in Argyle.
Reviewed by:
Abe R. on:
1/6/2013 6:49:00 PM
I come here for the Dim-Sum and I slam every time, as the food is good and the prices are fair. My only complaint is that you sometimes get the Caucasian treatment and that's not cool. Trust me "push cart girls" when I say this: I eat crazier food then any of you in there, so stop trying to serve me Shumai and Shrimp Dumplings only as it really ticks me off and makes me want to scream at you, and trust me next time I will...Enjoy Suckas'!!!
Reviewed by:
Nae L. on:
1/1/2013 1:58:00 AM
This is pretty decent dim-sum place if you want to stay on north side. Plenty of dim-sum to choose from and for those of you who knows me, I can just about eat anything they throw at me. That includes chicken legs folks, But I find it "too much nibbling for too little reward" so I usually don't order it. But everything else? It's fair game son! And all the stuff on the dim-sum menu tastes great!Free parking lot (don't forget your coin), closer than chinatown and good dim-sum. What else can you ask for? If you ain't into dim-sum, walk across the street and get yourself some Pho you loser.
Reviewed by:
Katie Z. on:
11/18/2012 12:52:00 PM
Best hot and sour soup I have ever had!!
Reviewed by:
Cathaleya C. on:
10/30/2012 5:11:00 PM
This is one of the better establishments to find dim sum.
Reviewed by:
Never M. on:
10/13/2012 8:25:00 AM
NO.Bone dry allegedly fried rice, tastes pre cooked, possibly frozen. Terrible service, sketchy area. HAIR! yes, HAIR in the rice. This area is known for Asian dives sadly, this one you must skip. there is better in the surrounding neighborhood. Unfortunately, all the places on the 4900 Broadway block are a no go.
Reviewed by:
Kristine N. on:
9/29/2012 2:46:00 AM
Good dim sum but there aren't many options. Service is friendly but not efficient at all. Had to ask multiple times before receiving refills or anything we ordered extra for that matter. The fried shrimp dumplings were different than anywhere I've ever been but they are surprisingly really good.
Reviewed by:
A. J. on:
9/29/2012 4:24:00 PM
Excellent place, nice atmosphere. Bit of a language thing, but I totally appreciate this place's authenticity. The staff is always highly friendly. Food is great.
Reviewed by:
cindy w. on:
9/14/2012 11:49:00 AM
Fantastic! we went early before dinner rush and we had the best dim sum! staff was great too!!! we are going back soon!
Reviewed by:
Michael B. on:
9/7/2012 12:07:00 AM
There are a ton of better places to go for food in the Argyle region rather than going to Furama.The food is bland, overcooked, and overpriced. It often tastes like subpar cafeteria food and the flavors all start to taste the same over and over again. I wonder if some of this stuff is frozen/ready to cook instead of being 100% homemade.The service is pushy and overbearing. If I want more food, I'll ask you for it. Don't get in my face when I've clearly shown that I'm done eating. Also, if you aren't with a ton of people, your meal is going to be way too expensive so don't bother.Finally, the atmosphere is just tacky. Plastic table clothes, outdated decor and furniture, and an overall feel of the 1970s, Furama fails to make itself modern and attractive.Save yourself the trouble and find something better in the area.
Reviewed by:
D O. on:
8/29/2012 1:43:00 PM
Delivery took an hour and the quality of food didn't justify the wait at all.We got 5 things and here's how I feel about them:1. Spring roll: deep fried, but tasty, obviously they made it fresh. thumbs up.2. Beef with bitter melon: meh. a little slimy, no distinctive flavor. thumbs down3. Chow Mein: noodles were a bit greasier than i'm used to and i'm pretty sure they used the exact same beef as in #2. thumbs down4. Moo Shoo Pork: the pork was pretty good but the pancakes they had with it were enough for half the filling and tasted chalky. thumbs undecided5. Scallops in ginger sauce: sauce was not ginger! it tasted like curry sauce that you get out of a box. scallops were kind of rubbery. thumbs downSo the point is, it's not that great and I wouldn't order from them again.
Reviewed by:
Maria B. on:
8/9/2012 12:09:00 PM
I'm probably always here every Sunday with my aunt or boyfriend. haha... The staff is cordial and they always recognize me and give me my usual dim sum dishes I order all the time. I love the jellyfish and shrimp and eggplant dim sum. Everyone is nice and accommodating and it is near where I live which makes it a plus! =)
Reviewed by:
Matt W. on:
2/22/2012 10:23:00 AM
It's Sunday Morning.I'm thinking dim sum sounds good.Let's try Furama!See that haiku? I just made it up. Literally. Right now. Know why? Because Furama is inspired dim sum in the heart of Little Vietnam.There seem to be two schools of thought for dim sum in Chicago, neither of which is necessarily better than the other, coming down to carts full of goodness moving around the room versus filling out a form and patiently waiting for dishes to arrive. Furama subscribes to the carts rotating around the room and that sort of window shopping approach worked just fine for us.Plate after plate of amazing cuisine was passed before our hungry eyes. Shrimp with tofu, bbq pork bao, lotus leaf-wrapped rice, coconut pudding bao and siu mai of all sorts are only some of the outstanding bites placed between our grinning teeth.This is what dim sum is about: excellent company, excellent conversation and excellent food in an giant room surrounded by other excellent strangers.
Reviewed by:
Amanda W. on:
2/14/2012 5:56:00 AM
I love dim sum. Last year my quest was to find the best dim sum in the bay area - I'm pretty sure I found it (or at least 2 top contenders).The dim sum at Furama is mediocre. None of the dishes were good but none were awful. I wouldn't go back. Here's what we got:BBQ pork buns: really lacking meat filling, which made me kind of sad since this is my favorite dish at all other dim sum places. 2.5 starsShrimp rice noodle roll and shrimp and scallop roll: definitely disappointing. The size and quality of the shrimp did not seem good. The shrimp were small, not fresh and did not taste all that good. 2 starsShumai and taro cake: pretty good; 3.5 startsSesame balls were standard good, with the right amount of delicious red bean inside. 4 starsI'd rather just go to Cermak.
Reviewed by:
Lisa C. on:
1/29/2012 10:14:00 AM
My neighborhood has a trillion Thai restaurants... but no good Chinese restaurants. I found Furama on GrubHub and after reading the other reviews, I was a little hesitant to try it... but I'm SO glad I did - it's my new favorite Chinese restaurant!So far I've ordered dim sum (pot stickers, bbq pork buns, shrimp dumpling, mushu pork, friend rice, orange chicken and sesame chicken. Their pot stickers are TO DIE FOR. Seriously? Best. Pot Stickers. Ever. The shrimp dumplings are good, as were the main dishes. I really wished the bbq pork buns had more meat in them (it's the tiniest little dab of filling in a huge doughy bun).Oh -- and delivery is always earlier than expected!Yum yum dim sum!
Reviewed by:
Roseann M. on:
1/24/2012 7:36:00 AM
Chinese New Year + Saturday + big crowds + party of nine (mostly not Chinese) hungry people + narrow aisles + various staff members pushing hot carts through = what? Chaos, you think? Mixed up orders, unhappy diners, problems paying? If that's how your math works, you need a tutorial. Furama took all the things that can cause problems at other restaurants and converted them into a good experience.Seven out of nine people went with the dim sum. The two who didn't were vegetarian, and they probably made the right choice. Although they were vegetarian items among the dim sum, they weren't a lot, and some of them were already running out by 1:30pm, when we started getting our food.I can't tell you everything that we had, because there was too much variety, and the restaurant was pretty loud. The place was packed, but the staff kept up just fine. The only item from all the dim sum that didn't disappear quickly was the duck. I didn't have any myself, but others said it wasn't much meat. And nobody wanted to take it home. But that was the only item that wasn't popular.There were two Chinese people among our party, one from Beijing, the other from Harbin, and both said the food and flavors were authentic.There is a parking lot just south of the restaurant, which allows you to park free for 2 hours. Apparently you do need to get your ticket stamped. I took the bus today, and people who drove said the lot was just insane. They all found spots on side streets.The bill came to $12.24 per person plus tip, for A LOT of food. I consider that a good deal.Highly recommended.
Reviewed by:
julie n. on:
1/15/2012 7:01:00 AM
The typical dim sum items were ok...nothing to rave about but edible.The service was HORRIBLE. Mom ordered shrimp paste in bell peppers off the cart and it was ice cold. We asked for a new one and the MANAGER told us all the food would be cold "come from kitchen to cart and you push around it cold". Wow.
Reviewed by:
Ashley Hamilton on:
Want to get your dim sum on? Do it the right way: with a few drinks, a great group of friends and excessive amounts of food. From the worn-in Asian ambience to the steaming carts of food that roll to your table, Furama is the ideal place to ...?
Reviewed by:
Valerie Moloney on:
The Scene Statues of dragons and giant gold Buddhas at the entrance hint at opulence, but the expansive, second-floor banquet hall is showing its age. Tattooed rocker types, couples and families, unconcerned by artifice, overlook the vinyl ...?
Reviewed by:
Desiree Koh on:
2001-03-11
Dim sum is an excellent Chinese brunching experience, and while Furama certainly isn't the best place in Chicago to have it, it's a good option for North Siders who aren't in the mood to venture across town to Chinatown. ...?
Reviewed by:
interlingua on:
2004-07-12
The best place for dim sum on the north side. The upstairs is huge and often a little noisy, as befits a real Cantonese dim sum restaurant. Be sure to try the Chinese broccoli, the shrimp dumplings and the turnip cake (not sweet but ...?
Reviewed by:
Chicago C. on:
2006-03-18
Furama is a good place for dim sum if you don't want to head to Chinatown. It is always entertaining to see what food items will arrive in the next cart. Go fairly early (definitely before noon) and bring a large gathering of people for ...?
Reviewed by:
Tian T. on:
2006-03-20
This place is just a tad overrated. The dim sum is mediocre and doesn't have much going for it other than size. There are plenty of restaurants in chinatown with better prices and sometimes, better decor (like Phoenix). ...?
Reviewed by:
EMS S. on:
2006-03-20
We've been here several time for dim sum and never left the restaurant fully satisfied. Their dim sum are so mediocre, most of the server cannot even explain what they are offering in their cart because they just simply don't speak English. ...?
Reviewed by:
B S. on:
2006-04-16
Out of so many asian which include Thai, Vietnamesse, and Chinese restaurant in the area, this restaurant is the only place that offer dim sum in their menu, usually they have it in the morning. The place is big, but the quality and taste of ...?
Reviewed by:
ThreeChiTownGirls on:
2008-02-12
This is the best alternative to the South Side's Chinatown, this North Side gem gets our vote for affordable addictive dim sum! Usually no wait + Dim Sum served and delivered any time of the day or night!. My friends & I have made this our ...?
Reviewed by:
Guest G. on:
2008-09-05
Another reviewer was right. Furama is terrible. The food was average at best. The service...ugh, don't even get me started. Some friends throught to host a meeting there (local business and big rooms) and they acted like we were ...?
Reviewed by:
A TripAdvisor Member on:
2009-01-21
Enjoyed this restaurant with a Chicago Greeter. I wanted the Dim Sum experience, and, she provided it. Great small appetizers are carted around for you to choose from. Everything was excellent and extremely reasonable. Served with ...?
Reviewed by:
A TripAdvisor Member on:
2009-04-11
The food is cheap but the service is poor. I enjoy the food very much I have been taking my children here since they were babies they had their birthday party here I know the service has always been poor the servers are sour and rude. ...?
Reviewed by:
May on:
2009-05-11
Go there mostly every sunday u should lile it or should love it well thats what i think u should try it i love love love love it even more loves!!!!!!!!!!!! ...?
Reviewed by:
Rick on:
2009-11-17
My family has gone to Furama for Dim Sim religiously for over 30 years. Great variety, fast service, good prices. The siew mai, pot stickers, sticky rice, fried noodles and fun rolls are all great. ...?
Reviewed by:
Anonymous on:
2008-12-28
This is the worst dim sum that I have ever eaten. The service was very good though. The Ha Gaw skins were sticking together, the fillings inside were bland, the pastries were dry, all of the dim sum dishes that I tries there were too watery and bland.?
Reviewed by:
Anonymous on:
2009-01-21
I am chinese and eat chinese food very very often, this includes Dim Sum. My family, friends, and I have always come to both Furama's (North and South) for years and have always been more than satisfied. Chinese restaurants are notorious for, shall we say "harsh" service. I think the comedian Margaret Cho summed it up the best with her impression of a chinese waitress taking your order in a chinese restaurant, "Yeah, Waat you want?". However offensive this may seem, I think it really adds character to a place. People have paid to eat at places where actors are hired as wait staff to ACT rude (Ed Debevics, Dick's last resort); at a chinese restaurant you're getting the REAL thing;) That being said, if you can just suck it up, there is a lot to be enjoyed at Furama. I love the Sunday Dim Sum, no one does spare rib tips, chicken feet, and sweet bbq buns better. They hand make all of their pork filled dumplings for Sunday. Finally, if you do decide to try ...? More ?
Reviewed by:
Anonymous on:
2008-09-05
I have never been compelled to write reviews for a resturant but I don't want others to have to suffer Furama. I live in the neighborhood and had eaten at Furama a couple times with Friends. The food was OK at best. The best things were sweet and sour chicken. The egg rolls tasted off but we chose to come back because they had a huge resturant with meeting rooms. My freinds and I decided to have our monthly meetings on the second floor at Furama because the rooms were big, we could get a buffet and it's really close to public transportation. The resturant was initially interested until they realised that we actually had people at our meetings. We brought in around 50 people and spent over $600 for the past two or three months. The staff was crabby. The food was never setup on time no matter how many times we called AND went into the resturant to confirm things. And, the food was not very good at all. Actually, it was terrible. We wanted to have a nice place for people to gather ...? More ?
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