Chicago Chinatown Restaurants: Dim Sum and Beyond

Chicago Chinatown restaurants sit in a compact neighborhood on the near south side, and a visit can fill an afternoon. The district centers on Wentworth Avenue and Cermak Road, and a newer section, Chinatown Square, runs along Archer Avenue. The Cermak Chinatown Red Line station is a short walk away.

Dim sum lines form by late morning on weekends, so arrive early or be ready to wait. Many restaurants take cards, though some small shops prefer cash.

What are the best Chicago Chinatown restaurants?

The honest answer is that it depends on the meal. For dim sum, which is a weekend morning and lunch tradition, look for large dining rooms with carts or order sheets. For noodles and rice plates, small counters are enough. For banquet dinners with a group, choose a big restaurant with round tables and a long menu.

A restaurant on Archer Avenue, just north of Cermak Road, is casual dining with breakfast, lunch and dinner and a full bar, and a restaurant in Chinatown Square is warm and contemporary. Menus and formats change, and some rooms that offered carts now take orders on paper, so look at a recent listing before you pick one.

How does Chicago dim sum work?

Dim sum is a meal of small plates, served with tea. In some rooms, carts roll between tables with steamed buns, dumplings and rice noodle rolls, and you point at what you want. In others, you check boxes on a paper order sheet. Plates arrive in waves, and the table fills with bamboo steamers.

Order a mix of steamed, fried and baked dishes. Shrimp dumplings, pork buns, rice rolls and egg tarts are good for a first round. Add vegetables, such as sautéed greens, for balance. Share everything, and pour tea for your neighbors before you fill your own cup.

A tradition worth knowing is the thank you tap. When someone pours your tea, tap two fingers on the table to say thanks without interrupting the conversation. It is a small gesture that servers and fellow diners appreciate, and it is part of the rhythm of the meal. Most rooms are lively and noisy, which is part of the charm.

Why does Wentworth Avenue Chicago matter?

Wentworth Avenue is the old main street of the neighborhood. It is lined with gift shops, bakeries, herbal stores and restaurants, and a decorative gate marks the entrance at Cermak Road. A walk along the avenue gives you a quick sense of the place, with window displays of roast duck, bakery trays of pastries and shops selling tea and ceramics.

Wentworth is a good place to buy snacks, such as almond cookies and pineapple buns, to eat while you stroll. Plan to carry cash for small shops, though many places take cards. Look for bakeries that sell egg tarts, pineapple buns and sesame balls, and for tea shops that will let you smell the leaves before you buy.

What is Chinatown Square Chicago?

Chinatown Square is a newer development that stretches along Archer Avenue, with a plaza, murals and a mix of restaurants and shops. The plaza has a zodiac statue garden and places to sit, which makes it a good stop between meals.

Parking here is easier than on Wentworth, with lots near the square, and the area is pleasant for a walk. Many restaurants are on the upper floors of the buildings, so look for signs and stairs.

The square works well for a group with different tastes, because several restaurants sit within a short walk. One person can choose noodles, another dumplings, and the group can meet at a bakery for dessert. If children are with you, the open plaza gives them room to move between courses.

How do you reach Chinatown by the Cermak Chinatown Red Line?

The Cermak Chinatown Red Line station sits at 158 West Cermak Road, which puts you a short walk from Wentworth Avenue. A ride from downtown is quick, and the station is a convenient way to avoid parking. Buses also serve Archer and Cermak.

If you drive, expect busy streets on weekend afternoons. Arrive early for dim sum, since lines form by late morning.

What should you know before you order?

Look at the tables around you, and order what looks good. Ask about the house specialties. Many menus are long, with sections for seafood, noodles, rice, hot pots and vegetables, so choose a few categories and share.

If you are not sure, ask for a recommendation, or order a set meal for a group. Tea is often served at the start of a meal, and a pot may be refilled when you lift the lid. Be patient on weekends, and expect a wait at popular rooms.

What else should you eat around Chicago?

For another neighborhood on the north side, read the Andersonville Chicago restaurants guide. The best tacos in Chicago guide covers Pilsen and Little Village, and the Chicago food halls guide is for a stop under one roof. The US guides page lists more.

How do you remember what you ate in Chicago Chinatown?

Dim sum rounds go by quickly. Rate each dish, from the dumpling to the sweet bun, add a Dim Sum tag to the place and note what the cart or the menu called each plate.

Keep a Chicago Chinatown list with Wentworth Avenue stops in one section and Chinatown Square in another, and share the invite link with the table.

Dim sum is a meal to share and to remember. Get the Mosey app, rate every dumpling and bun by its wrapper, its filling and its steam, and keep a Chicago Chinatown list so that the next brunch order is easy.