Discover the Best Food to Eat in Chinatown Chicago

Find Your Next Culinary Adventure in the Heart of the Windy City

Chicago’s Chinatown is a vibrant cultural hub located south of the Loop. With its bustling markets, colorful shops, and eclectic eateries, it’s a must-visit destination for anyone who loves food. Whether you’re a tourist or a local looking for your next culinary adventure, Chinatown has something to offer. But where do you start? In this article, we’ll guide you through the best food to eat in Chinatown Chicago.

🍲 Dim Sum: A Chinatown Classic

Dim sum is a traditional Chinese brunch that consists of small plates of dumplings, steamed buns, and other savory treats. It’s a communal meal that’s perfect for sharing with friends and family. In Chinatown, you’ll find several restaurants that serve dim sum, each with their own unique take on the classic. Some of the best places to try dim sum in Chinatown include:

MingHin Cuisine

MingHin Cuisine is a popular dim sum restaurant that has several locations in Chicago, including one in Chinatown. Their menu features a wide variety of dishes, from classic pork dumplings to more adventurous options like shark fin dumplings and chicken feet. MingHin’s dim sum is made fresh to order, so you can expect it to be hot and delicious every time.

Phoenix Restaurant

Phoenix Restaurant has been a Chinatown staple since 1958. Their dim sum is some of the best in the city, with favorites like shrimp dumplings, pork buns, and egg tarts. The restaurant is large and spacious, making it a great place for large groups or families.

Triple Crown Restaurant

Triple Crown Restaurant is a local favorite for dim sum. Their menu features a mix of classic and modern dishes, like truffle dumplings and wasabi beef balls. The restaurant is spacious and elegant, with plenty of room for large groups.

🍜 Noodles: A Hearty Meal for Any Occasion

Noodles are a staple in Chinese cuisine, and Chinatown has no shortage of delicious options. From spicy Szechuan noodles to comforting beef noodle soup, there’s a noodle dish for every taste. Some of the best places to try noodles in Chinatown include:

Slurp Slurp Noodles

Slurp Slurp Noodles is a small, cozy restaurant that specializes in hand-pulled noodles. Their menu features a variety of noodle dishes, including spicy beef noodles and sesame noodles. The restaurant is cash-only, so be sure to bring some bills.

Lao Sze Chuan

Lao Sze Chuan is a popular chain of Chinese restaurants with several locations in the Chicago area. Their Chinatown location is a great place to try their famous dan dan noodles, which are spicy and savory. Lao Sze Chuan also has a wide variety of other noodle dishes, as well as non-noodle options like Kung Pao chicken.

Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings

Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings is a small, family-owned restaurant that specializes in Northern-style Chinese cuisine. Their handmade noodles are a must-try, especially the beef noodle soup. The restaurant is cash-only, so come prepared.

🍢 Skewers: A Fun and Flavorful Street Food

Skewers, also known as chuan’r, are a popular street food in China. They consist of bite-sized pieces of meat, vegetables, or tofu skewered on a stick and grilled over charcoal. Chinatown has several restaurants that serve skewers, each with their own unique flavors. Some of the best places to try skewers in Chinatown include:

Three Happiness

Three Happiness is a casual Chinese restaurant that serves a variety of dishes, including skewers. Their skewers come in several flavors, like cumin lamb and garlic shrimp. The restaurant has a laid-back atmosphere and is perfect for a quick bite.

String Ramen

String Ramen is a small ramen restaurant that also serves skewers. Their skewers are made with high-quality ingredients, like wagyu beef and fresh seafood. The restaurant has a cozy atmosphere and is perfect for a date night or a night out with friends.

Happy Lamb Hot Pot

Happy Lamb Hot Pot is a hot pot restaurant that also serves skewers. Their skewers are some of the best in Chinatown, with options like beef, chicken, and lamb. The restaurant has a modern and stylish atmosphere, making it a great place to take Instagram-worthy photos.

🥟 Dumplings: A Bite-Sized Delight

Dumplings are a type of Chinese cuisine that consist of small pockets of dough filled with meat, vegetables, or seafood. They can be boiled, steamed, or pan-fried, and are the perfect snack or meal. Chinatown has several restaurants that serve dumplings, each with their own unique flavors. Some of the best places to try dumplings in Chinatown include:

Won Kow

Won Kow is a classic Chinese restaurant that has been in business since 1928. Their dumplings are some of the best in the city, with options like pork and shrimp. The restaurant is large and spacious, making it a great place for large groups.

Chi Cafe

Chi Cafe is a modern Chinese restaurant that serves a variety of dishes, including dumplings. Their dumplings are made fresh to order and come in several flavors, like pork and chive. The restaurant has a stylish and trendy atmosphere, making it a great place to hang out with friends.

Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings

Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings makes another appearance on our list, this time for their delicious dumplings. Their dumplings are handmade and come in several flavors, like pork and cabbage. The restaurant is cash-only, so be sure to come prepared.

🍚 Rice Dishes: A Comforting Staple

Rice is a staple in Chinese cuisine, and Chinatown has several restaurants that serve delicious rice dishes. From classic fried rice to comforting rice porridge, there’s a rice dish for every taste. Some of the best places to try rice dishes in Chinatown include:

Rickshaw Republic

Rickshaw Republic is a unique restaurant that serves Indonesian cuisine with Chinese influences. Their nasi goreng, which is Indonesian fried rice, is a must-try. The restaurant has a colorful and eclectic atmosphere, making it a great place for a night out.

Tai Nam Food Market

Tai Nam Food Market is a grocery store that also has a small restaurant inside. Their Hainanese chicken rice is a popular dish, with tender chicken and flavorful rice. The restaurant is cash-only, so be sure to come prepared.

Go 4 Food

Go 4 Food is a popular Chinese restaurant that serves a variety of dishes, including rice dishes. Their clay pot rice, which is rice cooked in a clay pot with meat and vegetables, is a must-try. The restaurant is large and spacious, making it a great place for large groups or families.

🍹 Bubble Tea: A Sweet Treat

Bubble tea, also known as boba tea, is a Taiwanese tea-based drink that’s become popular all over the world. It’s made with tea, milk, and sweetened tapioca pearls, and can be customized with different flavors and toppings. Chinatown has several bubble tea shops, each with their own unique flavors. Some of the best places to try bubble tea in Chinatown include:

Joy Yee’s

Joy Yee’s is a popular chain of Asian fusion restaurants with several locations in the Chicago area. Their bubble tea is some of the best in Chinatown, with flavors like honeydew and taro. The restaurant has a colorful and trendy atmosphere, making it a great place to hang out with friends.

Meet Fresh

Meet Fresh is a Taiwanese dessert shop that serves a variety of sweets, including bubble tea. Their bubble tea is made with fresh ingredients and comes in several flavors, like matcha and black sesame. The shop has a cozy and welcoming atmosphere, making it a great place to relax and unwind.

Bubble Island

Bubble Island is a small chain of bubble tea shops that has several locations in the Chicago area. Their bubble tea is made with high-quality ingredients and comes in several flavors, like strawberry and peach. The shop has a fun and colorful atmosphere, making it a great place for Instagram-worthy photos.

Complete Information on Best Food To Eat In Chinatown Chicago

Chinatown Chicago is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines. Whether you’re in the mood for dim sum, noodles, skewers, dumplings, rice dishes, or bubble tea, there’s a restaurant in Chinatown that can satisfy your cravings. With its vibrant atmosphere and eclectic eateries,