It isn’t surprising that vast majority of restaurants in Chinatown serve Chinese cuisine. Visiting Chinatown gives you the opportunity to taste cuisines from different regions of China. You can find Cantonese, Szechuan, Xi’An, and Hunan cuisine. The neighborhood is also home to some Korean, Mongolian, Taiwanese, and Japanese restaurants.
Many of the restaurants in Chinatown are located in Chinatown Square Plaza, most offer lunch, and several have lunch specials that are under $10.
Chinatown is located between the South Loop and Pilsen. The easiest way to get to Chinatown is to take the Red Line train to Cermak-Chinatown or the Green Line train to Cermak-McCormick Place. Or if you are in Loop, you can take the Chinatown Water Taxi.
Last updated: March 2022
Restaurants in Chinatown:
We have indicated which restaurants in Chinatown serve breakfast/brunch and/or lunch in addition to dinner. We have linked to the restaurant websites when possible.
Daguan Noodle
Chinese, Lunch
A BYOB Michelin Bib Gourmand award winner known for their rice noodle soups. Guests can choose a sour or spicy broth and then add in the rice noodles, vegetables, and meat. The menu also has a few types of bao. Daguan Noodle serves lunch and dinner Wednesdays through Mondays.
MingHin Cuisine
Chinese, Asian, Dim Sum, Lunch
A chic modern Chinese restaurant that has earning Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition. The restaurant offers an extensive menu with over a dozen different chicken, pork, beef, and seafood dishes. MingHin cuisine also has locations in Lakeshore East, South Loop, and Streeterville.
Phoenix Restaurant
Chinese, Dim Sum, Lunch
One of the most well known restaurants in Chinatown, Phoenix Restaurant serve authentic Cantonese and Chinese cuisine including dim sum and Chinese BBQ. The large menu has noodle and rice meals, and lots of poultry, beef, pork, seafood dishes and even whole suckling pig. Phoenix Restaurant is open from 10 am until 9 pm daily.
Imperial (formerly called Cai Fine Dining and Banquet)
Chinese, Asian, Lunch
Located on the second floor of a building near Chinatown Square Plaza, Imperial has a large menu of seafood dishes and dim sum. Imperial serves the regular menu from 9 am until 10 pm daily and serves dim sum from 9 am until 3:30 pm.
Hing Kee
Asian
Hing Kee serves Pan Asian cuisine and is known for their noodle soup and soup dumplings. A large menu also includes Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Thai cuisine.
Triple Crown
Chinese, Asian, Lunch
A restaurant serving Cantonese and Szechuan cuisine and dim sum. Several lunch specials are offered for $8.95 from 11 am until 3 pm daily and a large dim sum menu lists 60 dishes including items line congee, dumplings, egg rolls, bbq pork buns, and spare ribs. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner every day.
Lao Sze Chuan
Chinese, Asian, Lunch
Lao Sze Chuan is one of the most well known restaurants in Chinatown since the restaurant has several locations in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. This restaurant has an absolutely massive menu and is known for serving Szechuan cuisine and dim sum. Lao Sze Chuan is open from 10:45 am until 12 am daily. The lunch specials are just $7.95 and are available daily from 11 am until 3 pm.
Strings Ramen Shop
Japanese, Ramen, Asian, Lunch, Vegetarian/Vegan
A ramen restaurant that makes fresh noodles daily. The menu includes over a dozen different ramen including a few vegan options. There are additional locations in Lakeview and Hyde Park.
Gao’s Kabob Chicago
Chinese, Asian
Gao’s Kabob serves Chinese BBQ dishes including grilled oysters and meat skewers. The menu also has a few rice and noodle dishes.
Daebak Korean BBQ
Korean, Asian, Lunch
You can opt to grill your own meats at Daebak Korean BBQ or you can order appetizers and meals like dumplings, savory Korean pancakes, soup, and bibimbap.
Seven Treasure Cantonese
Chinese, Asian, Lunch
A casual and affordable restaurant serving Cantonese cuisine including Chinese barbecue and noodle dishes like char siu with braised noodles, seafood congee, and bbq pork with fried egg over rice.
Happy Lamb Hot Pot
Mongolian, Chinese, Asian, Lunch
Happy Lamb Hot Pot offers and all you can eat hot pot experience and has a large selection of meat, seafood, and vegetables.
Three Happiness Restaurant
Chinese, Asian
A small restaurant serving Cantonese cuisine and dim sum that is open 24 hours a day every day.
Dolo Restaurant and Bar
Chinese, Asian
Named one of the best new restaurants in America by Esquire in 2015, Dolo offers customers both Chinese cuisine and a full bar (something most of the other restaurants in Chinatown lack). The restaurants serves live seafood and gourmet dim sum in an upscale space.
MCCB Chicago
Chinese, Asian, Lunch
MCCB stands for Modern Chinese Cook Book and the restaurant serves modern Szechuan and Cantonese cuisine and is known for their charcoal grilled whole wild tilapia, spicy beef and maw, and flavored shrimp.
New Great Wall
Chinese, Asian, Lunch
New Great Wall serves traditional Chinese BBQ and has been open for over 30 years. The menu includes char siu, roasted duck, and bbq ribs.
Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings
Chinese, Asian
A small BYOB restaurant serving artisanal dumplings. The menu includes 40 different dumplings plus Chinese bbq. QXY offers dumpling classes too!
Daifuku Ramen
Japanese, Asian
The menu at Daifuku is centered around seven preparations of ramen with the option to add toppings ranging from soft boiled eggs, to wood ear mushrooms and nori. The menu also has some small plate appetizers like gyoza and edamame.
Mrs. Gu Skewers Hot Pot
Chinese, Asian
This is a chain hot pot restaurant from Chengdu, China. Guests choose from six different soup bases, pick a dipping sauce, and then pick meat, seafood, and vegetables to cook in the hot pot.
Jiang Niu BBQ House
Korean, Asian, Lunch
A restaurant serving all you can eat Korean barbecue for $34.99. An a la carte menu is also available.
Slurp Slurp Noodles
Chinese, Asian, Lunch
Slurp Slurp Noodles specializes in Chinese noodle soups and fried noodle dishes made with hand pulled noodles.
Ahjoomah’s Apron
Korean, Asian
Ahjoomah’s Apron serves a big menu featuring Korean pancakes, chicken wings, bibimbap, soups, kalbi, bo ssam, stir fry, and bulgogi.
Yummy Yummy Noodles
Chinese, Asian, Lunch
A restaurant serving Hong Kong style noodles and an extensive menu of Chinese cuisine including congee, XO sauce beef, bbq pork, and Kung Pao shrimp.
Joy Yee
Asian, Lunch
A restaurant serving a wide variety of Asian cuisine including Vietnamese, Thai, Korean, and Chinese favorites plus Taiwanese bubble teas. Joy Yee serves lunch and dinner daily and has additional locations in Chinatown and Roscoe Village.
Another restaurant in the family of Joy Yee eateries, Joy Yee Plus serves Shabu-shabu, a Japanese hotpot dish with thinly sliced meats and vegetables.
Legend Tasty House
Thai, Dessert
Legend Tasty House specializes in Thai hand-rolled ice cream with 21 different flavors on the menu.
Taipei Cafe
Taiwanese, Asian, Lunch
A Taiwanese restaurant serving a large menu including Taiwanese sausage, fried tofu, spring rolls, chicken wings, rice noodle soup, rice rolls, and Taipei rice boxes.
Wing Yip Chop Suey
Chinese, Lunch
This restaurant just over the Chinatown border and located in Bridgeport serves traditional Hong Kong and Cantonese cuisine and is known for their crispy lamb chops, crab sticky rice, pepper chicken, and pork chops.
Evergreen Restaruant
Chinese
Evergreen serves a mix of Szechuan, Cantonese, and Hunan specialties like pan fried noodles, chow fun, chop suey, and chow mein. The restaurant is open from 11 am until 9 pm daily.
Emperor’s Choice
Chinese, Asian, Lunch
A Cantonese restaurant featuring lots of seafood on the menu. Traditional favorites include chop suey, chow mein, and egg foo young.
Xi’An Cuisine
Chinese, Asian
A restaurant serving food from Xi’An in south-central part of the Shaanxi province. The menu highlights hand stretched noodles and spiced flat bread sandwiches.
Ken Kee Restaurant
Chinese, Asian, Lunch
A restaurant serving Hong Kong Cart Noodles, a popular street food. The menu also includes other Chinese street foods like dumplings, egg rolls, chicken wings, and curry fish balls plus Cantonese cuisine.
Go 4 Food
Chinese, Asian
Go 4 Food’s menu has dozens of shellfish and seafood dishes including Dungeness crab, soft shell crab, clams, oysters, and lobster. The Pan-Asian menu has a mix of Taiwanese, Cantonese, Singaporean, and Korean cuisine.
Chiu Quon Bakery
Chinese, Asian, Bakery
Chiu Quon is a bakery serving dim sum. The menu has 28 different savory buns plus dumplings, steamed rice crepes, and a wide variety of traditional Chinese cookies and dessert pastries.
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