With the planned mid-October 2020 opening of the new Jade Court at 1516 E. Harper Court in Hyde Park, owner Carol Cheung proudly brings back one of the city’s most treasured authentic Chinese restaurants – now on Chicago’s South Side.
The original Jade Court location in University Village near the University of Illinois at Chicago opened in 2016 to rave reviews, with Chicago Tribune restaurant critic Phil Vettel giving it three stars and naming it as “…home to the best Chinese food I’ve had in a long, long time.” In a new article Vettel commented, “there was nothing about Jade Court I didn’t like.” Carol operated the restaurant with her father, noted restaurateur Eddy Cheung, who passed away in June 2019. As mentioned in a Chicago Eater article, “Cheung previously operated Hong Kong-style dim sum destination Phoenix in Chinatown, and was among the first to introduce Chicagoans to the bustle and excitement of selecting dishes from carts that staff push around the space.”
After her father’s passing, Carol knew she wanted to reopen Jade Court, but was unsure about the best location for the restaurant until she was approached by the University of Chicago’s commercial leasing team.
“Hyde Park had been on my radar with its growing dining scene, and when I learned about the available space in Harper Court, I thought it would be a great fit for the new Jade Court,” Carol commented.
Carol has been involved in the food industry for over 20 years and started working with her father at the age of 13 – doing everything from washing dishes and bussing tables to working as a server, hostess, cashier, and manager of the Phoenix as well as at the original Jade Court. “I did the payroll, supply and inventory as well as the bar, banquet, and catering management all while I oversaw the entire front of the house operation,” she added.
She continues her family’s culinary legacy with the new iteration of Jade Court, offering the same fresh, expertly-prepared Cantonese specialties for which the restaurant originally became known. Jade Court will have a full bar, and Carol plans to offer classic cocktails including the Zombie, Mai Tai, Scorpion, and others, as well as Chinese beers.
“I’m looking forward to the opening and the chance to welcome back our previous customers as well as meet our new customers,” Carol said. “Once someone becomes a regular we usually already know what they are going to order without even giving them a menu,” she joked.
Jade Court will be open Monday-Sunday from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. Customers will be able to dine in the restaurant or arrange for pickup and delivery orders.
