Take Your Turkey Feast To Go

Roasted Turkey (12-14 pound precooked weight), part of Little Village’s Thanksgiving special

For 16 years, Little Village Noodle House has satisfied thousands of hungry guests with a variety of irresistible dishes.

With treats like Volcano Pork Chops, Taro Duck, Orange Chicken and Honey Walnut Shrimp, the restaurant has deliciously defined itself as a Chinatown landmark.

And now that the holidays are just around the corner, Little Village is gearing up again to offer its enticing Thanksgiving Meal-To-Go. This very special feast, a five-course fusion of Chinese and American flavors, is priced at $163.

The restaurant began offering its unique Thanksgiving meals in 2015, after years of customer requests. “We opened in 2001. That’s a lot of history. What took us so long to offer a turkey package, I don’t know!” says general manager David Chang with a chuckle.

Barbecue Char Siu Pork Ribs
FILE PHOTO

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What is certain is that a Chinese-inspired meal is a welcome addition to Thanksgiving. “This holiday belongs to the Americans,” Chang explains, “but as we have become American citizens, we celebrate Thanksgiving, too.”

Last year’s meal was so well-received that the restaurant has decided to offer the same menu again for 2017. It begins with Chinese Chicken Salad tossed with house-made sesame dressing, made with olive oil for added health benefits, and continues with Barbecue Char Siu Pork Ribs, very popular at the restaurant.

“We bake them for more than six hours so the meat is fall-off-the-bone. Before we serve them, we throw them on the grill over an open flame,” Chang says. “It’s a fusion between American and Chinese styles.”

With a precooked weight of 12-14 pounds, the Roasted Turkey is brined overnight and roasted the next day. Mochi Rice Stuffing, served on the side, is loaded with shiitake mushrooms, green onions, and lap cheong (sweet Chinese sausage).

To complete the feast, Baked Yams Glazed with Coconut Milk are cut into chunks, baked till very tender, then glazed with a coconut milk syrup.

Little Village will accept Thanksgiving Meal-To-Go orders through Nov. 20, and orders may be picked up after 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day. When they place their orders, customers also can order catering pans of their favorite dishes to include with their dinners.

“Catering pans are perfect for family-sized servings, and the price is discounted,” says Chang. Indeed, a single order of the restaurant’s delectable Honey Walnut Shrimp costs $18.50, but a catering pan, which contains four orders of the dish, costs only $66.

For those who prefer to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner at Little Village, the full set is available for $180; half-portions are available for $98 (both for dining in only). And it’s BYOB here, so feel free to bring a bottle or two of your favorite vintage that pairs well with turkey!