cleanplateclub wrote:The owner at Great Seas told me tonight that they were "staying open with a new owner" and that her husband was teaching the new owner the recipes so they could keep making everything the same as before.

That made my day, thank you.

mbh wrote:

cleanplateclub wrote:The owner at Great Seas told me tonight that they were "staying open with a new owner" and that her husband was teaching the new owner the recipes so they could keep making everything the same as before.

That made my day, thank you.

I truly hope it works out for the best. Sometimes these transitions work out great, other times (as with my formerly beloved Cho Jung), not so much.

Relatedly, what is the status of Take Me Out Wings on 18th Street? Is that not owned by members of the same family?

=R=

mbh wrote:

cleanplateclub wrote:The owner at Great Seas told me tonight that they were "staying open with a new owner" and that her husband was teaching the new owner the recipes so they could keep making everything the same as before.

That made my day, thank you.

In case you missed it, here is a link to a great story Monica Eng and Susie An did on Korean Chinese food which mentions Great Seas several times: https://www.wbez.org/shows/worldview/ko ... be1fa0769c

On a related topics, Cooks Illustrated has a recipe for Korean wings in its July/August issue.

Anyone eaten there since the new owners took over?

Chouxfly wrote:Anyone eaten there since the new owners took over?

Lunch today at Great Sea, if I didn't know there were new owners I wouldn't have known there were new owners. Wings as good as on a very good Great Sea day, Extra-hot brought a pleasant tingle to our lips and slight sheen to our brow.

Room was noticeably brighter, additional lighting, possibly a fresh coat of light colored paint, server pleasant, fast on the napkin and rice refill and has been at Great Sea at least a decade.

The old saw "all change is for the worse" does not seem to apply, thankfully.

Great Sea 2016, Count me a FAN!

G Wiv wrote:Great Sea 2016, Count me a FAN!

I've been remiss to chime in here. A few months ago, operations of Great Seas were taken up by my good friend's family, the Wangs, who are restaurant industry vets with Chinese- Korean heritage.

From Dan Wang's Facebook page back in June:

"If you know the Great Seas menu, know this: for at least the first year nothing will change. Then we will make small and slow improvements to select dishes--things my parents made better back in their '70s and '80s restaurant days. But we are gonna go slow. The dive interior has been cleaned up and lightened up but you will not be disappointed; this ain't no over-designed art project hipster bullcrap gentrification deal. This is about the solid comfort grub that is and always will be Chinese-Korean food, and that the Korean, Mexican, Chinese, Vietnamese, Black, White, and Jewish customers have grown to love."

Jefe wrote:

G Wiv wrote:Great Sea 2016, Count me a FAN!

I've been remiss to chime in here. A few months ago, operations of Great Seas were taken up by my good friend's family, the Wangs, who are restaurant industry vets with Chinese- Korean heritage.

From Dan Wang's Facebook page back in June:

"If you know the Great Seas menu, know this: for at least the first year nothing will change. Then we will make small and slow improvements to select dishes--things my parents made better back in their '70s and '80s restaurant days. But we are gonna go slow. The dive interior has been cleaned up and lightened up but you will not be disappointed; this ain't no over-designed art project hipster bullcrap gentrification deal. This is about the solid comfort grub that is and always will be Chinese-Korean food, and that the Korean, Mexican, Chinese, Vietnamese, Black, White, and Jewish customers have grown to love."

As long as they don't mess with the wings, I'd welcome some upgraded menu offerings. Judging by some of the Ameri-Chinese stuff I saw being served to other tables today, they could use it. The wings were just as outstanding as ever, though, and that's good enough for me.

stevez wrote:The wings were just as outstanding as ever, though, and that's good enough for me.

Exactly my experience this evening, those wings did not miss a beat.

Regards,
Cathy2

No disrespect for anyone ever affiliated with Great Seas, but the wings are as great as ever . . . and I think I'm enjoying the rest of the food more than I used to.

BR wrote:No disrespect for anyone ever affiliated with Great Seas, but the wings are as great as ever . . . and I think I'm enjoying the rest of the food more than I used to.

What do you order?

I noticed this time, not all the tables ordered chicken wings. They were eating other food. I go there so rarely I do stick to what I like.

Regards,
Cathy2

Loved my most recent trip to Great Seas. The wings were spot on, more consistent these days than a couple years back. I ask for them "spicy" and I find that balance suitable to my taste. To accompany the wings we got a cucumber salad. The cucumbers were clearly sliced and seasoned to order. They served as the perfect crunchy complement to the sticky crispy wings. The service was incredibly friendly and attentive and they treated my infant son with the warmth and attention of a family member. Great Seas is still great in my book.

ronnie_suburban wrote:Relatedly, what is the status of Take Me Out Wings on 18th Street? Is that not owned by members of the same family?

=R=

It is owned by their daughter.

viewtopic.php?p=298791#p298791

No report on the status...

Panther in the Den wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:Relatedly, what is the status of Take Me Out Wings on 18th Street? Is that not owned by members of the same family?

=R=

It is owned by their daughter.

viewtopic.php?p=298791#p298791

No report on the status...

She sold Take Me Out last year.

https://www.facebook.com/Takemeouthotties/posts/10154898075055956

--
edc

I've read this thread front to back a number f times and I still don't get the "non-transsexual" crack in the title - anybody care to clue me in?

zoid wrote:I've read this thread front to back a number f times and I still don't get the "non-transsexual" crack in the title - anybody care to clue me in?

Link at top of first post.
Transsexual Fried Chicken Taste-Off
A memorable evening lost to the anals of time.

Ah - thank you

G Wiv wrote:

zoid wrote:I've read this thread front to back a number f times and I still don't get the "non-transsexual" crack in the title - anybody care to clue me in?

Link at top of first post.
Transsexual Fried Chicken Taste-Off
A memorable evening lost to the anals of time.

I trust you meant "annals"?

alessio20 wrote:

G Wiv wrote:

zoid wrote:I've read this thread front to back a number f times and I still don't get the "non-transsexual" crack in the title - anybody care to clue me in?

Link at top of first post.
Transsexual Fried Chicken Taste-Off
A memorable evening lost to the anals of time.

I trust you meant "annals"?

Knowing G Wiv, I'm not so sure.

Current Great Sea(s) owner Frank Wong interviewed by Chewing: https://soundcloud.com/chewingpodcast/e ... ld-is-good

Apparently there is a secret menu by his wife Amy which you need to request 24 hours in advance? Such as a tomato dumpling?

I suppose that it might not be new news that the daughter of Great Seas, her restaurant in Pilsen has closed a few months ago...

Take Me Out
1502 W 18th St, Chicago

It was a nice place that had the lollipop wing recipe down pat.

Had a bit of a pity party last night and my memory was bigger than my stomach. I bought two orders of wings thinking I could actually handle that myself. I stand corrected.

What's the best way to reheat these beauties?

Pie Lady wrote:Had a bit of a pity party last night and my memory was bigger than my stomach. I bought two orders of wings thinking I could actually handle that myself. I stand corrected.

What's the best way to reheat these beauties?

I'm not sure I would. Some leftovers are best eaten cold, and I think these may fall into that group. Eating cold fried chicken has a long tradition. Or maybe just gently nuke them at something like 50% power for a minute or two just to get the sauce uncongealed.

Pie Lady wrote:Had a bit of a pity party last night and my memory was bigger than my stomach. I bought two orders of wings thinking I could actually handle that myself. I stand corrected.

What's the best way to reheat these beauties?

I’d gently reheat in a lower oven or toaster oven to reheat and recrisp.

Per Eater: https://chicago.eater.com/2019/4/17/184 ... n-lawrence
and Trib: https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/c ... story.html

The new location is open at 3253 W Lawrence (across the street).

The business has also been renamed to Great Seas Lollipop Wings.

Has anyone picked up from Great Sea recently? I’ve never tried their wings and am very curious how they compare to places like Crisp or Landbirds. It also appears from reviews Great Sea offers Korean/Chinese dishes like Jajangmyeon, Tangsuyuk and Jjamppong, but I’m not seeing those items listed on their online menu. Wondering if anyone can confirm and has sampled these dishes from here too?

Lerdawg wrote:Has anyone picked up from Great Sea recently? I’ve never tried their wings and am very curious how they compare to places like Crisp or Landbirds. It also appears from reviews Great Sea offers Korean/Chinese dishes like Jajangmyeon, Tangsuyuk and Jjamppong, but I’m not seeing those items listed on their online menu. Wondering if anyone can confirm and has sampled these dishes from here too?

Lollipop wings are just as good since they moved across the street. Landbirds is also great but haven't had it in a couple years since I live very close to great seas. Can't go wrong w either.

If you're a heat seaker, I will say the great seas extra spicy does pack a punch! I won't get it again but glad I tried it at least once.

Jjamppong is decent at great seas, but I prefer the version at Peking Mandarin a few blocks west.

Lerdawg wrote:Has anyone picked up from Great Sea recently? I’ve never tried their wings and am very curious how they compare to places like Crisp or Landbirds. It also appears from reviews Great Sea offers Korean/Chinese dishes like Jajangmyeon, Tangsuyuk and Jjamppong, but I’m not seeing those items listed on their online menu. Wondering if anyone can confirm and has sampled these dishes from here too?

I have not been to Great Sea since the Before Times but in general, I think it's a cut below Landbirds in terms of ingredient quality. I find the wings themselves to be larger, juicier and less dense in texture at Landbirds.

In terms of flavor, even at it's hottest (4/4, iirc), Landbirds doesn't measure up. They skew sweet and even at Level 4, they're not very hot. Great Sea feels less sweet but that may simply be because their overall range tops out hotter.

Landbirds is significantly more expensive, so that's worth keeping in mind, too.

=R=