This cash-only gem serves up delicious Korean and Chinese dishes, with their renowned spicy lollipop wings stealing the spotlight in a lively, welcoming atmosphere.
"While seemingly everyone is going crazy for Southeast Asian-style wings, Great Sea has been serving tangy and sweet drumettes for decades; the lollipop-style wing was created in Chicago, and Great Sea popularized them. Despite the restaurant’s sale, new ownership has carried over the deliciousness and copied the techniques of Great Sea’s founders. Grabbing a bottle of sauce for the road is popular here." - Ashok Selvam
"Great Sea is another decades-old casual spot in Albany Park with tasty Korean-Chinese food. But while we like their bowls of jjajangmyeon or jampong, their incredible lollipop wings (also on our best wings guide) are why we’re OK dealing with all of the potholes on Lawrence. At one point, Great Sea even had an “eat as many wings as you can” challenge with a wall of fame featuring pictures of top-performing poultry-obsessives. Each plate comes with around 12-15 pieces of chicken that stay crispy regardless of how long they hang out in the sweet and spicy sauce. Chances are, every table will have at least one order." - john ringor, adrian kane
"This Albany Park Chinese restaurant has an extensive food menu, but they’re best known for their lollipop wings. And for good reason—they’re incredible, and what you should be getting every time you come here. Based on your heat preference, you can choose regular, extra, or no heat. But there are no wrong choices—whatever spice level you choose, you can count on flavor that will explode in your mouth." - adrian kane, phaithe norman, john ringor
"Like Peking Mandarin, Great Sea is another casual Chinese restaurant that’s been serving up Korean-Chinese food for decades. But while their jajangmyeon or jampong are both tasty, their lollipop wings are what they’re famous for (and the reason they're on our best wings guide). Each order comes with around 12-15 pieces of chicken that defy physics, staying crispy regardless of how long they hang out in the sweet and spicy sauce. " - john ringor, adrian kane
"This Albany Park Korean Chinese restaurant is credited with popularizing the lollipop chicken wing (the inventor ran a rival neighborhood restaurant), and still serves up some of the best around, tossed in a signature sweet and spicy sauce. But don’t miss out on classic Korean Chinese dishes like cha chiang mein, or black sauce noodles." - Samantha Nelson
