HUMBOLDT PARK — Beloved hole-in-the-wall New China Station appears to have closed for good, leaving a void for affordable Chinese eats in Humboldt Park.
New China Station, 2411 W. North Ave., has gone dark after a temporary closure over the summer.
The restaurant’s owners announced in August they were going on vacation in a handwritten sign and a banner above the restaurant. Several months later, the signs have disappeared and the restaurant remains closed.
Google has labeled the business permanently closed, and all that’s visibly left in the restaurant are booths.
Multiple attempts to reach the restaurant’s owners were unsuccessful.
The closure is a blow to locals who frequented New China Station for its cheap and tasty food.
The unassuming Western Avenue spot served generous portions of Chinese food, including Mongolian beef, hot and sour soup and kung pao seafood.
“From the street, it looked like a standard Americanized takeout place, but it was a lot more,” longtime customer Nick Mayor said. “I hate to use the word ‘elevated’ because it has so much baggage, but it really was inspired, delicious food. A lot of the standards, but some stuff we’d never had before.”
Mayor said his family was particularly fond of the potstickers, chili chicken, cumin lamb curry and the honey garlic black pepper beef.
Neighbors on Facebook said they’re devastated to lose New China Station, which they described as one of the few reliably delicious and fast Chinese takeout spots in the area.
“It had a real following, and it was always our go-to when we had family in town. It was definitely a place to impress,” Mayor said.
Help Block Club Get
500 More Subscribers!
Subscribe to Block Club now and you’ll get a free 16-by-20-inch Chicago neighborhood print of your choice, helping us reach our goal of getting 500 more subscribers before 2024. Click here to subscribe or click here to gift a subscription.
Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast:
