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Evanston Lunch Group™ Shangri-La Asian Bistro 2/22 12:30pm

Evanston Lunch Group™ Shangri-La Asian Bistro 2/22 12:30pm
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  • Evanston Lunch Group™ Shangri-La Asian Bistro 2/22 12:30pm

    Post #1 - January 21st, 2022, 10:14 am
    Post #1 - January 21st, 2022, 10:14 am Post #1 - January 21st, 2022, 10:14 am
    Shangri-La has become synonymous with an earthly paradise – an enduringly happy land. The people of Shangri-La are almost immortal, living hundreds of years beyond the normal lifespan and only very slowly aging in appearance.

    Shangri-La actually exists, in Evanston. It’s a relatively new Asian bistro. And the almost immortal Evanston Lunch Group™ (founded 2005) will visit Shangri-La Tuesday, February 22 at the usual time, 12:30 pm.Image
    Join us, and live hundreds of years beyond your normal lifespan and only very slowly age in appearance.

    Shangri-La Asian Bistro
    500 Davis St.
    Evanston, IL 60201
    (847) 563-8085
  • Post #2 - January 21st, 2022, 10:37 am
    Post #2 - January 21st, 2022, 10:37 am Post #2 - January 21st, 2022, 10:37 am
    I had missed this opening. Strange to open another indo-chinese restaurant right next door to another in Red Hot Chili Pepper. I was honestly shocked it wasn't a reconcept/renaming of the latter once I saw the menu. No Yelp! page yet.
  • Post #3 - January 21st, 2022, 10:41 am
    Post #3 - January 21st, 2022, 10:41 am Post #3 - January 21st, 2022, 10:41 am
    I think it may have replaced Red Hot Chili Pepper.
  • Post #4 - January 21st, 2022, 11:23 am
    Post #4 - January 21st, 2022, 11:23 am Post #4 - January 21st, 2022, 11:23 am
    nr706 wrote:I think it may have replaced Red Hot Chili Pepper.
    That would make a lot more sense than not. The online ordering option from the respective websites go to the same platform and menu. Yelp reviews from 7-8 months ago mention a name change too. Ironically it seems like keeping the old name on Yelp is actually more accurate than updating it, if all that's changed is the name, and they're doing business under both simultaneously online.
  • Post #5 - January 21st, 2022, 11:47 am
    Post #5 - January 21st, 2022, 11:47 am Post #5 - January 21st, 2022, 11:47 am
    It looks like Red Hot Chilli Pepper may have been a franchise.
    Red Hot Chilli Pepper Evanston website wrote:We are part of the highly acclaimed and hugely popular “Red Hot Chilli Pepper Group” based in Kolkata, India.
    So it may have been a simple name change with slight re-concepting to get out of the franchise.
  • Post #6 - January 22nd, 2022, 6:53 pm
    Post #6 - January 22nd, 2022, 6:53 pm Post #6 - January 22nd, 2022, 6:53 pm
    I’m in for lunch.
  • Post #7 - January 30th, 2022, 10:44 am
    Post #7 - January 30th, 2022, 10:44 am Post #7 - January 30th, 2022, 10:44 am
    I am in for lunch.
    Toast, as every breakfaster knows, isn't really about the quality of the bread or how it's sliced or even the toaster. For man cannot live by toast alone. It's all about the butter. -- Adam Gopnik
  • Post #8 - February 7th, 2022, 6:44 pm
    Post #8 - February 7th, 2022, 6:44 pm Post #8 - February 7th, 2022, 6:44 pm
    We will both be delighted to join you!
  • Post #9 - February 8th, 2022, 10:46 am
    Post #9 - February 8th, 2022, 10:46 am Post #9 - February 8th, 2022, 10:46 am
    This is basically next door to my place of work! I'm in for lunch.

    I went to this when it was still Red Hot chili Pepper, with a Chinese colleague of mine to introduce him to the delights of Indo-Chinese food. He, of course, was both appalled and fascinated. :-)

    BTW; I think the same owners have also opened a Nepali focused place close-by. I have not tried it yet though.

    Sherpa Curry House
    610 Davis St, Evanston, IL 60201
    Tuesday – Sunday 11 am to 9 pm
    Closed on Mondays


    ETA: This is incorrect. Sorry about that.
    Last edited by Indianbadger on February 8th, 2022, 3:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
  • Post #10 - February 8th, 2022, 1:54 pm
    Post #10 - February 8th, 2022, 1:54 pm Post #10 - February 8th, 2022, 1:54 pm
    Indianbadger wrote:BTW; I think the same owners have also opened a Nepali focused place close-by. I have not tried it yet though.

    Sherpa Curry House
    610 Davis St, Evanston, IL 60201
    I had no idea Sherpa had the same ownership as RHCP/Shangri-la. It was pretty good, I was just a little disappointed they don't have Chicken Choila, my favorite Nepalese dish. I'm surprised none of the Evanston media sources mentioned that it was the same owners.
  • Post #11 - February 8th, 2022, 2:05 pm
    Post #11 - February 8th, 2022, 2:05 pm Post #11 - February 8th, 2022, 2:05 pm
    bweiny wrote:
    Indianbadger wrote:BTW; I think the same owners have also opened a Nepali focused place close-by. I have not tried it yet though.
    Sherpa Curry House
    610 Davis St, Evanston, IL 60201
    I had no idea Sherpa had the same ownership as RHCP/Shangri-la. It was pretty good, I was just a little disappointed they don't have Chicken Choila, my favorite Nepalese dish. I'm surprised none of the Evanston media sources mentioned that it was the same owners.

    I thought that the owner of Red Hot Chili Pepper, now Shangri-La, was the same owner as Mt. Everest, a long time Indian/Nepalese fixture on Church St. in Evanston. Sherpa, I thought was owned by another group based in the northwest 'burbs. But what do I know — I'm not particularly tuned into the restaurant ownership scene.
  • Post #12 - February 8th, 2022, 3:16 pm
    Post #12 - February 8th, 2022, 3:16 pm Post #12 - February 8th, 2022, 3:16 pm
    nr706 wrote:I thought that the owner of Red Hot Chili Pepper, now Shangri-La, was the same owner as Mt. Everest, a long time Indian/Nepalese fixture on Church St. in Evanston. Sherpa, I thought was owned by another group based in the northwest 'burbs. But what do I know — I'm not particularly tuned into the restaurant ownership scene.


    I remember a local Evanston based news site saying that the ownership of all three is the same people, or at least related to each other; like the Malnati/Pizano thing. Or it could be I am misremembering; and it could be the Curry Hut people.


    Btaim, it looks like there is a lot of Nepali run places in the Chicagoland area!

    ETA: @nr706; you are correct. Sherpa Curry house looks like it's from the same people who run Curry Hut, in Highwood, IL.
  • Post #13 - February 8th, 2022, 8:30 pm
    Post #13 - February 8th, 2022, 8:30 pm Post #13 - February 8th, 2022, 8:30 pm
    Indianbadger wrote:
    nr706 wrote:I thought that the owner of Red Hot Chili Pepper, now Shangri-La, was the same owner as Mt. Everest, a long time Indian/Nepalese fixture on Church St. in Evanston. Sherpa, I thought was owned by another group based in the northwest 'burbs. But what do I know — I'm not particularly tuned into the restaurant ownership scene.


    I remember a local Evanston based news site saying that the ownership of all three is the same people, or at least related to each other; like the Malnati/Pizano thing. Or it could be I am misremembering; and it could be the Curry Hut people.


    Btaim, it looks like there is a lot of Nepali run places in the Chicagoland area!

    ETA: @nr706; you are correct. Sherpa Curry house looks like it's from the same people who run Curry Hut, in Highwood, IL.

    The location in Highwood is now = Himalayan Sherpa Kitchen
    Never order barbecue in a place that also serves quiche - Lewis Grizzard
  • Post #14 - February 15th, 2022, 10:02 am
    Post #14 - February 15th, 2022, 10:02 am Post #14 - February 15th, 2022, 10:02 am
    Sounds like a good choice and I’ll be there.
  • Post #15 - February 20th, 2022, 5:37 pm
    Post #15 - February 20th, 2022, 5:37 pm Post #15 - February 20th, 2022, 5:37 pm
    I'm planning on joining everyone!
  • Post #16 - February 22nd, 2022, 11:12 am
    Post #16 - February 22nd, 2022, 11:12 am Post #16 - February 22nd, 2022, 11:12 am
    Reservation under "Tom."
  • Post #17 - February 24th, 2022, 12:28 pm
    Post #17 - February 24th, 2022, 12:28 pm Post #17 - February 24th, 2022, 12:28 pm
    I thought this lunch was outstanding. I liked every dish, and some were simply great.

    Red Hot Chilli Pepper previously occupied this space, and the Evanston Lunch Group™ visited in April 2018. (I don't know whether ownership has changed since then or not.) Both menus are pan-Asian and somewhat similar, but I thought the food at Shangri La was a huge improvement.

    Here's what we had:

    Khao soi noodles - Flat noodles, coconut milk, red curry paste, mix vegetable, garlic on top, and (add-on) chicken
    Image
    Chicken momo - Steamed, pan-fried, soup with handmade dumplings with minced chicken, onions, scallions, ginger, garlic paste
    Image
    Cauliflower Manchurian - Cauliflower fritters, cilantro, onions, scallions, ginger
    Image
    Dry chilli chicken - Chicken, onions, scallions, ginger, garlic, chilli paste
    Image
    Bang bang shrimp - Shrimp, sweet & spicy mayo sauce, romaine lettuce
    Image
    Burned garlic rice - Bell peppers, corn, scallion, burned garlic, and (add-on) shrimp
    Image
    Hongkong lamb - shredded lamb, onions, green peppers, mild sauce
    Image
    Mango lychee (mocktail) - Mango, lychee, lemonade
    Image
    A couple of notes...

    - For the momo chicken, our server noted that they are neither pan-fried nor soup, despite the menu description.

    - The dry chilli chicken was different from the dish with similar name from Lao Sze Chuan. Both are very spicy, but Shangri La's is moist (despite the name) and full of ginger flavor, whereas LSC's is deep fried and much drier.

    As I mentioned above, I liked everything; for me the standouts that I would order again next time were the bang bang shrimp, the dry chilli chicken, and possibly the chicken momo.

    An added bonus is that all of these foods travel and re-heat well. Shangri La is going into our regular rotation for carry-out!

    Thanks to those who were there for this terrific lunch!
  • Post #18 - February 24th, 2022, 3:41 pm
    Post #18 - February 24th, 2022, 3:41 pm Post #18 - February 24th, 2022, 3:41 pm
    nsxtasy wrote:I thought this lunch was outstanding. I liked every dish, and some were simply great.

    Red Hot Chilli Pepper previously occupied this space, and the Evanston Lunch Group™ visited in April 2018. (I don't know whether ownership has changed since then or not.) Both menus are pan-Asian and somewhat similar, but I thought the food at Shangri La was a huge improvement.
    Really great to hear. Thanks for the report with photos. I'll be ordering from Shangri-la soon. RHCP was just okay, IMO.
  • Post #19 - February 24th, 2022, 4:31 pm
    Post #19 - February 24th, 2022, 4:31 pm Post #19 - February 24th, 2022, 4:31 pm
    I should also add a note about the level of spicy heat on our dishes. We did not specify a level of heat on any of the dishes we ordered. We asked about the difference between the dry chilli chicken and the firecracker chicken, and our server said the latter was much hotter and should only be ordered by fans of extreme heat. We didn't order the firecracker chicken. The dry chilli chicken was the only dish we ordered with the red pepper icon next to it on the menu. It was very hot, but not over-the-top hot. It was perfect for me, but I wouldn't want it any hotter. A couple of the other dishes (bang bang shrimp, khao soi noodles) were also slightly hot.

    bweiny wrote:RHCP was just okay, IMO.

    I agree, although the meal with the Evanston Lunch Group™ was the only time I ate there.
  • Post #20 - February 24th, 2022, 4:54 pm
    Post #20 - February 24th, 2022, 4:54 pm Post #20 - February 24th, 2022, 4:54 pm
    I agree with pretty much everything Ken posted above. One nit-pick — for Cauliflower Fritters, I thought the cauliflower was pretty soft. I didn't get any of the crispiness that I would've expected from something described as a fritter. Flavor was good, though.
  • Post #21 - February 27th, 2022, 5:43 pm
    Post #21 - February 27th, 2022, 5:43 pm Post #21 - February 27th, 2022, 5:43 pm
    I agree with both Ken and Tom. I was a little disappointed in the slightly mushy cauliflower, but the other dishes (and particularly the lamb) were excellent. A nice surprise.
    Toast, as every breakfaster knows, isn't really about the quality of the bread or how it's sliced or even the toaster. For man cannot live by toast alone. It's all about the butter. -- Adam Gopnik
  • Post #22 - March 2nd, 2023, 2:32 pm
    Post #22 - March 2nd, 2023, 2:32 pm Post #22 - March 2nd, 2023, 2:32 pm
    Shangri-La Asian Bistro is no longer open for lunch on weekdays.

    Hours according to their website:

    Mon-Fri: 3:00pm-8:50pm
    Tuesday: closed
    Saturday-Sunday:
    Lunch: 12:00pm -2:30pm
    Dinner: 5:00pm-9:25pm

    Hours according to Google:

    Thursday 3–8:45 PM
    Friday 3–8:45 PM
    Saturday 12–2:20 PM, 5–9 PM
    Sunday 12–2:20 PM, 5–8:20 PM
    Monday 3–8:45 PM
    Tuesday Closed
    Wednesday Closed

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