Panda Express better watch its back, because Take Me Out is about to steel its hoard of bamboo. While Take Me Out has a very limited menu built upon the famous chicken wings from Great Seas Chinese (3254 W. Lawrence), called “Little Hotties” here, everything they offer is spot on.

With it’s spring rolls, egg rolls, crab rangoon, beef bowls and fried rice, you won’t mistake Take Me Out for hardcore authentic chinese like Lao Szechuan. On the other hand, their trademark wings, a spicy scallion based blend of crispy and sticky goodness is spicy enough to keep the PF Chang’s crowd pissed. The wings are not lollipop style as at Great Sea, but taste exactly the same, and will save you a long car ride if you live on the south side or near west.

Crab rangoons are fried to a clean crispy crunch and filled with mouthwatering molten cream cheese.

The clean yellow storefront sports a sample of modern Danish wood topped tables and a smattering of Chinese lanterns. It’s a bit incongruous sandwiched between all the kaleidoscopically painted storefronts of Pilsen, but seems to be doing pretty well attracting neighborhood regulars.

Service is incredibly friendly. One of the cooks asked us if we liked spicy food, and gave us a fresh batch of homemade hot sauce she had just whipped up on a whim. It was fiery without being obnoxious, like that media stunt of a sauce they’re serving over at Jake Melnick’s. This is the kind of custom touch you won’t find at Panda.

Take Me Out is located at 1502 W. 18th St., (312) 929-2509