What to Do in Chicago’s Chinatown

This weekend—July 27^th – 28^th, 2024—is the annual Chinatown Summer Fair, a celebration of Far East culture in Chicago. If you’re planning to visit for the fair, or any other time, read the below guide and take our free Adventure. Created by the Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, the tour visits six landmarks in the neighborhood.

By Dave Lifton (@daveeatschicago)

Located only three miles south of downtown, Chicago’s Chinatown is easy to reach. Take the Red Line to Cermak-Chinatown or the Green Line to Cermak-McCormick Place. In the warmer months, you can get a water taxi from the DuSable Bridge on Michigan Ave. or the Madison St. Bridge in the West Loop to Ping Tom Park. As you approach Wentworth Ave. and the gate that welcomes visitors, stop by the Nine Dragon Wall. Modeled on a similar wall in Beijing, the piece symbolizes the importance of the number nine and the dragon in Chinese culture.

On the other side of the gate is Chinatown’s only landmarked building. The Pui Tak Center has been the hub of the local community ever since it opened as the headquarters for the On Leong Merchants Association in 1928, with social services and classes to help new migrants assimilate in their new home. Its two storefronts contain cozy shops packed floor-to-ceiling with Chinese gifts and Chicago souvenirs, and you can find more stores like it throughout Chinatown.

Although the stretch of Wentworth south of the gate is Chinatown’s main commercial corridor, it only represents a portion of the neighborhood. Head towards Archer Ave., where you’ll find Chinatown Square, a two-story plaza that was completed in 1993, essentially doubling its size.

The main question about Chinatown is, of course, where to eat. Fortunately, there is no shortage of options, and the diversity on display shows how American approaches to Asian food have evolved over the decades. You can find plenty of restaurants, such as Triple Crown and Phoenix, that for decades have been serving up high-quality versions of traditional Chinese-American dim sum and dishes like egg rolls, kung pao chicken, and beef with broccoli.

However, many establishments supplement their menus with more exotic fare for adventurous palates. MingHin, Dolo, MCCB, and Yao Yao have all been recognized in recent years by the Michelin Guide for modernizing and elevating Chinese cuisine beyond the classics; Qing Xiang Yuan regularly places high on the list of the top dumplings in the city; Chiu Quon Bakery’s sweet pastries and savory steamed buns earn rave reviews; and Ken Kee brings the noodle vendors found on Hong Kong streets to Chicago.

Further signs of Chinatown’s culinary evolution can be found in the vegetarian- and vegan-friendly Veggie House, as well as the recent proliferation of hot pot restaurants and Taiwanese boba tea shops, many of which are Chicago outposts of national and international chains. After dinner, head to Nine Bar, a swanky cocktail lounge secretly found inside Moon Palace Express.

Another example of Chinatown’s growth is its embrace of cultures from throughout the Far East. You can find now sushi, ramen, Korean fried chicken, pho, and matcha-based desserts alongside each other, many of which are Instagram-friendly. There’s even a record store devoted exclusively to K-pop.

But Chinatown is as much about Chinese culture as food. Tucked inside 23^rd St. off Wentworth is the Chinese American Museum of Chicago, where you’ll find exhibits related to the experience and contributions of the Chinese-Americans in the Midwest, and also a showcase for local artists of Chinese heritage. The latter is previewed by a mural on the wall outside the parking lot.

At the main entrance to Chinatown Square, you’ll find a plaza with a stage for events (such as the annual Chinatown Summer Fair) with gates and pillars devoted to knowledge and wisdom, inventions, and the history of the Chinese people in the U.S. Behind it are busts of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs with descriptions underneath. Find the one that matches your birth year and snap a selfie with it.

As you walk north on Wentworth, you’ll notice red stripes painted into the sidewalk. Follow them to 19^th St. and turn left to head into one of Chicago’s unsung gems, Ping Tom Park. Named after the founder of the Chinese American Development Corporation that built Chinatown Square, the park serves the community with a playground, nature walk, pavilion, and beautiful views of the skyline with the river leading up to it. The fieldhouse has numerous amenities, including a swimming pool, fitness center, and meeting rooms. During the summer, kayaks can be rented at the boathouse.

Although Chinatowns in other American cities are shrinking, Chicago’s is growing, with its AAPI population more than doubling between 1990 and 2020. Its borders are slowly expanding, with businesses like 88 Marketplace, a massive grocery store with an acclaimed food hall, opening up across the river in East Pilsen. If you haven’t been to Chinatown in a while, head on over to see how it has changed since your last visit!