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Grand Sichuan, the outstanding Chinese restaurant on 24th St and 9th Avenue in Manhattan, makes a dish called tea-smoked duck. It's almost like Memphis-style dry-rubbed barbecue, much closer in taste to Rendezvous pork ribs than to more European duck preparations.

Well... is there anywhere to get this dish in Chicago? Or, failing that, a reasonable Cantonese roast chicken?

I have had wonderful tea-smoked duck at Lao Sze Chuan in Chinatown. While I wouldn't describe it as similar to dry-rubbed BBQ, it has a unique smoked flavor and the breast meat has a nice cooling effect after you sear your mouth on LSC's spicier fare.

Lao Sze Chuan
2172 S. Archer Ave. (SW end of the Chinatown Mall)
312-326-5040

We had the tea-smoked duck at Lao Sze Chuan in Palatine the other night. Crisp, smoky, succulent -- it was so wonderful it practically made me cry. I nearly ordered a second one to take home for later. Just thinking about it now makes me salivate.

LSC Palatine is actually called Szechuan House on its sign. There's an odd menu system. Some of the large plastic-coated menus have a paper menu offering a lot more options pasted in the back cover. Some of the dishes are duplicated -- although they may have different menu numbers.

We also enjoyed spicy lamb with pure cumin, and I had a terrific frozen mango drink. I didn't care for the undercooked texture of the potatoes with fresh chilies; they had a good flavor, but I wanted to take them home and fry them well done. Chendu dumplings were pleasant but not inspiring -- like large, floppy won ton with chili sauce, as difficult to eat as chow fun.

Lao Sze Chuan / Szechuan House
Palatine Plaza, 321 E. Northwest Hwy., Palatine
(847) 991-0888

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LAZ
Dining Chicago
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Evan,

In addition to the suggestions you've received, I'd add Spring World's Smoked Tea Duck, which is quite good.


Enjoy,
Gary

Spring World
2109 S China Pl
Chicago, IL 60616
312-326-9966

mmmm... that Spring World version looks to be exactly what I'm looking for. I may just have to get myself there.