Yen Ching

Review Visit: March 3rd, 2013 Its not Yin and Yang Chinese but Yen Ching Chinese! Yen Ching is not quite your typical ‘hole in the wall’ Chinese place. Now let me put this disclaimer after that phrase. I don’t mean any negativity behind ‘hole in the wall’. It’s just how I refer to these places that all share the same menu and restaurant layout. Plus, the price is great for the generous portions you end up getting. While it does offer your usual menu that looks very similar between each of these types of places, the difference is that Yen Ching offers an actual dining area. Not just a few tables to sit at as you wait for your food. No, this is a full on restaurant as well as a place to stop in for carryout. On this particular day, my girlfriend at the time and my friend Matt decided to stop in during our usual Sunday shenanigans. With 3 empty bellies, we grabbed a seat at an empty booth and poured over the menu. As this was early in my traveling days, I was sticking to what I knew best. I got an order of chicken fried rice. What Matt and Erin ordered, I don’t recall. But it wasn’t long after that before we had some plates in front of us. That’s the thing I like about these restaurants. You get your food cooked-to-order and the wait is very short. Maybe under 10 minutes for our meal to come out? When the waitress slid my plate in front of me, I knew I was in for a challenge. It was a big oval plate that was just heaped full of chicken fried rice. My stomach growled to let me know that it was ready for the task of trying to put it all away. I can normally eat a bit quicker than the average person but I slowly ate this plate as each bite was full of flavor. I was expecting the average taste and flavor you get from these places (which I love) but Yen Ching was a step above that. Daringly, I would say that Yen Ching is in my Top 5… if not Top 3 list of Chinese Restaurants. It’s that dang good. It honestly rivals Ming Shee for favorite Chinese place in Peoria. Bite after bite, I slowly but surely put the entire plate away. Was I impressed with myself? Yes. Did I regret it? Not immediately. Was it worth it? I’d do it again in a heartbeat. If you have a hankering for quick Chinese, try Yen Ching out. Your stomach and taste buds won’t be disappointed.

Highly recommend! This is one of the best Chinese food restaurants I've eaten at. I got plain fried rice with egg and it is excellent, cooked to perfection. The chicken with broccoli in Brown sauce was great, tender chicken and flavorful. The egg roles, best egg roles I've had, seriously one of the best egg roles I've had. The sweet and sour chicken was good, a little bland but overall good. Definitely recommend this restaurant, it's worth it.

Generous portions and the food isn't bad, but I found it to be somewhat bland. Fried rice is better at both Hokkaido and Thai Thyme. Singapore noodles was said to be spicy on the menu, but wasn't at all. Sushi Ko pretty much offers this dish, but with much more flavor. Wait staff was friendly and attentive. Bathrooms here are best avoided.