The selfish diner inside me doesn't want me to report on Friendship Chinese, a unique cut-above the norm on Milwaukee Ave. I want to keep it hidden for myself. Nevertheless, as I did with Hot Doug's, I'll report on Friendship because it's so damn good.
Hidden in West Logan Square, Friendship is not your normal neighborhood Chinese restaurant. The chef and owner, Alan, takes great care in the food and atmosphere of his restaurant. The menu carries many of the standards dishes and quite a few originals, and all of the sauces are homemade.
I ate at Friendship last night for about the 30th time in the last few years. As usual, I had to have the Smoky China Wings, an appetizer of huge, meaty chicken wings in an unbelieveable sweet and spicy brown sauce. Our table also pulled in a couple more of my favorites, the wok-seared ginger Honk Kong steak and the spicy schezwan long-beans. The steak is tender, flavorful and tossed with a heaping plate of fresh veggies and ginger. I have dreams about the long beans; crunchy, fresh, spicy, and salty, they're tossed in a super-hot wok with red chilies, minced pork. A couple other dishes we had were sesame chicken and pea pod and mushroom shrimp, both very good.There are plenty of other things to try. The soups are great, there are 3 kinds of spring rolls and egg rolls, a few different dumplings, and plenty of other entrees. I miss the ma po tofu, a traditional Chinese dish of silken tofu with minced pork mushrooms, and chilies in a very spicy brown sauce, served over rice. It was taken off the menu a few months back (too spicy for the clientele, I was told), but can be made on request (though, I don't think it's the same anymore).
Friendship is also full of other surprises. We were once given a free dessert, (Alan must have been experimenting), of ginger creme brulee. Also, on the first Sat. of the month (I think), the kitchen staff sets up a band to play Chinese music for the dining room. Alan has also done a fixed-price tasting menu from time to time.
Friendship is a gem. It's an affordable, gourmet-style Chinese restaurant in a neighborhood where you don't have to valet park. It's rarely crowded, they do takeout and delivery, BYOB, and have a nice room for a medium-sized private party. Chef/Owner Alan is super-friendly and will usually stop by with a smile to see how dinner is going. It's definitely on my what-would-I-do-without-this-place list. (I'll have to publish that list).
Check out Friendship at 2830 N. Milwaukee (N. of Diversey), 773-227-0970. Street parking, BYOB.