Mei's Chicago

We really want to like Mei’s, a Chinese and Taiwanese restaurant on Michigan Ave. It has all the hallmarks to become a go-to neighborhood spot in the South Loop: discounts for locals, friendly waiters who remember you, and a space that’s nice enough for dinner with visitors, but casual enough for the many college students nearby to feel comfortable dropping in. Unfortunately, the long menu has more misses than hits. Most dishes are oddly flavorless, but some—like the beef rolled pancake, or soup dumplings—are just OK and work in a pinch. So if you really need karaage chicken as close to Grant Park as possible, and you can’t get to Minghin, Chinatown, or any of the other great Chinese restaurants in the city, Mei’s is a viable option.