Armour Square Archives - Caffeinated Excursions https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/tag/armour-square/ Blog of a Traveling Coffee Addict Fri, 06 Mar 2026 23:59:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 https://i0.wp.com/caffeinatedexcursions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/wp-1555570621336.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Armour Square Archives - Caffeinated Excursions https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/tag/armour-square/ 32 32 141833777 Restaurants in Chicago Chinatown: Dim Sum, Dumplings, Noodles, And More https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/restaurants-in-chicago-chinatown-dim-sum-dumplings-noodles-and-more/ https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/restaurants-in-chicago-chinatown-dim-sum-dumplings-noodles-and-more/#comments Tue, 10 Aug 2021 05:00:00 +0000 https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/?p=17626 Chicago is truly a foodie’s paradise, with each neighborhood offering its own unique specialties. Many of these delightful dishes come from all over the world, and aren’t necessarily easy to find in other American cities. That’s especially true of Chicago’s Chinatown...

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Restaurants in Chicago Chinatown: Dim Sum, Dumplings, Noodles,
And More

Published August 10, 2021

Chicago is truly a foodie’s paradise, with each neighborhood offering its own unique specialties. Many of these delightful dishes come from all over the world, and aren’t necessarily easy to find in other American cities. That’s especially true of Chicago’s Chinatown, which offers a stunning variety of foods that come from individual cities and provinces in China!

No matter how long or short your visit to Chicago is (or if you’re a local), you should visit Chinatown for an unforgettable dining experience! This post is organized first into regional cuisines first, then individual dishes. Skip down to the bottom for drinks and dessert suggestions, as well as other Asian dining options in the neighborhood!

  1. Dim Sum
  2. Other Cantonese Food
  3. Sichuanese Food
  4. Xi’an Cuisine
  5. Hunan Cuisine
  6. Noodle Dishes
  7. Dumplings
  8. Hotpot
  9. Drinks and Desserts
  10. Other Options in Chinatown

1. Dim Sum
點心

Restaurants that specialize in dim sum typically have huge menus with dozens of varieties of dumplings, pastries, and other small plates. This delicacy from Guangdong and Hong Kong is probably what I’d recommend if you only have time to eat one meal in Chinatown, which is why it’s at the top of my list!

Phoenix Restaurant
萬濠酒樓

Address: 2131 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.phoenixrestaurantchicago.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Phoenix-Restaurant-Chinatown-103508408149724

This was the very first dim sum restaurant I tried in Chinatown. I love everything about it, from the golden, regal dining room to the fresh steamed siu mai and hā gáau (shrimp dumplings). They also make really delicious chicken feet for anyone who likes them as much as I do!

Triple Crown Restaurant
大三元酒家

Address: 2217 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.triplecrownchicago.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/triplecrownchi/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/triplecrownchi/

With a second floor dining space that overlooks South Wentworth Avenue, Triple Crown is another great place to get as much dim sum as you can eat! Everything I’ve had there is full of flavor and the service is great.

Imperial Restaurant
彩蝶軒

Address: 2100 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.imperialchicago.com/

This dim sum hall can be found on the second floor of the Chinatown Square outdoor shopping mall near the north entrance. If you can, I would recommend going on a weekday. That’s because Imperial gets absolutely packed on weekends!

Since I eat dim sum so often, I decided to try a couple of new dishes at Imperial, including sponge cake and curry octopus. They were so good, as were some of my other favorites like chicken feet and ginger tripe.

2. Other Cantonese
粵菜

Keep in mind that Cantonese food is so much more than dim sum! In fact, all the places mentioned above also serve family-style plates (larger portions). But if you want to branch out a bit, consider these other great places below.

MingHin Cuisine
名軒 芝加哥

Address: 2168 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.minghincuisine.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minghinchicago
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minghinchicago/

MingHin has a dim sum menu, but I think they market themselves more broadly as a Cantonese restaurant. Their dumplings and pastries are good, and so are their rice and noodles. Cantonese food can absolutely be enjoyed by only one or two people, but if you can get a big group together to go eat in Chinatown, do it! It’s best when you can share lots of different dishes and try a bit of everything.

Ken Kee Restaurant
強記港式茶餐廳

Address: 2129 S China Pl, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.kenkee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kenkeerestaurant/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenkee_restaurant/

This is such a cool restaurant that’s sure to capture the attention of anyone who walks by it in the Chinatown Square outdoor mall. That’s because it’s got a bunch of neon signs both inside and out! They offer a lot of different things, but their specialty is Hong Kong-style cart noodles in soup. There are about a half dozen combos that you can choose from, or you can build your own and choose the kinds of meats, veggies, and broth that you want to add.

3. Sichuanese Food
川菜

If you’re a lover of spicy food, you need to try one of the Sichuanese restaurants in Chinatown! Known for its use of red pepper, chili oil, garlic, and a type of numbing peppercorn, Sichuan-style food is basically the polar opposite of Cantonese cuisine, which is defined by lighter flavors.

Lao Sze Chuan
老四川

Address: 2172 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: http://laoszechuanchinatown.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaoSzeChuanChinatown/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laoszechuan_dmv/

This local chain with multiple restaurants around Chicago is probably where I would recommend for anyone who wants to try Sichuanese for the first time. They have a large menu with the spicy dishes clearly marked as well as a section featuring their signature items.

I ordered their Chef’s Special Dry Chili Chicken, which their menu lists as their top seller. It was excellent, especially with a bowl of white rice to offset some of the spice! I can’t wait to go back and try some of their lamb dishes, and I’d also love to try one of their spicy frog delicacies!

Chef Xiong – Taste of Szechuan
入香随蜀

Address: 2143 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://chefxiong.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chefxiong
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefxiongchicago/

As far as I know, this Sichuanese restaurant is not a chain, but don’t let that stop you from visiting! It’s a cozy place with great service, and the food is amazing. I tried their beef noodle soup, and it was about as spicy as I could handle!

4. Xi'an Cuisine
西安菜

Xi’an is a city in China most famous for being home to the Terracotta Army. But a ton of delicious dishes also come from the city, which is the capital of Shaanxi Province in Central China. Dishes from Xi’an tend to incorporate lamb, spices like cumin, flatbreads, and noodles. They are full of flavor and can be spicy, but generally not as spicy as Sichuan peppers.

Xi'an Cuisine Restaurant
西安小吃

Address: 225 W Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.xiancuisinechicago.com/

This restaurant is one of my favorites in Chinatown. I highly recommend trying their delicious and flat biang biang noodles and lamb skewers. If you’re looking for something a little lighter, consider ordering one or two ròujiāmó (肉夾饃), a flatbread pouch with your choice of meat filling.

Shan Shaan Taste
山陝名吃

Address: Richland Center Chinatown Food Court (basement), 2002 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: http://places.singleplatform.com/shan-shaan-taste/menu
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shan-Shaan-Taste-山陕名吃-Xian-Cuisine-100718495097190
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shanshaantaste/

Head to the Richland Center Chinatown Food Court to find this small shop that serves Xi’an-style noodles and more. I went with their lamb noodle soup and will definitely be back for more in the coming months!

5. Hunan Cuisine
湘菜

Food from Hunan Province is not nearly as popular in the US as Cantonese or Sichuanese food, but that’s all the more reason foodies should try it! Hunan cooking uses a lot of onions and garlic, but it’s not as spicy and oily as Sichuan cuisine. Some common ingredients include pork, steamed fish, and green pepper.

Hunan Cuisine Restaurant
湘鄉香

Address: 2002 S Wentworth Ave Unit 100, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://hunancuisinechicago.square.site/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunancuisinechicago/

This is Chinatown’s most prominent Hunanese restaurant. I ordered their sautéed pork with green veggies and white rice, but their extensive menu had a lot of other tempting choices! The pork was juicy, and the peas, peppers, and onions made it both a healthy and filling meal.

6. Noodle Dishes

The last few sections have all featured various regional cuisines, but if you know exactly what you want to eat, check out these next sections for ideas! This one will feature a couple different noodle houses.

Slurp Slurp Noodles (Lanzhou-Style Ramen)
林記蘭州手拉麵

Address: 2247 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.slurpslurpnoodles.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SlurpSlurpNoodles/

The type of noodles that you’ll find here come from a city called Lanzhou in Northwest China’s Gansu Province. They have a couple different noodle and soup options, but I recommend trying the hand pulled noodles either in the house special bowl or the slurp slurp big bowl if you’re really hungry!

Even though the Chinese word lāmiàn is related to the Japanese word ramen (both mean pulled noodles), the Lanzhou-style soup is quite different from Japanese ramen. It’s definitely worth trying if you’ve never had it before. These bowls are also served with bok choy and a couple different cuts of beef and pork.

Daguan Noodle (Yunnan-Style Mǐxiàn)
大官米線

Address: 2230 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.daguannoodle.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaguanNoodle

Mǐxiàn is a rice noodle served in a light and clear broth with your choice of toppings. This soup dish comes from Yunnan Province in Southwest China, and it’s one dish I was honestly surprised to find in Chinatown! My very first trip to China in 2008 was to Yunnan, so mǐxiàn is a special treat for me that reminds me those days. I highly recommend it!

Yummy Yummy Noodles
肥仔麵家

Address: 2334 S Wentworth Ave Unit 105, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.yummyyummynoodleschicago.com/

This restaurant definitely has a hole-in-the-wall vibe, but that’s all the more reason to check it out! The entrance is technically on West 23rd Place, so you won’t see the storefront along Wentworth Avenue.

If you order a noodle soup dish here (which you should), you’ll get your choice of five different types of noodles: thin egg noodles, wide egg noodles, thin rice noodles, wide rice noodles, or ramen. Pictured above is their thin egg noodles. You also get your choice of meat, and the BBQ cuts I had were so juicy and tender!

J's Snack House Potato Noodles
秋歌小廚姐弟倆土豆粉

Address: Richland Center Chinatown Food Court (basement), 2002 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://jssnackhouseil.com/

Have you ever had Chinese potato noodles (土豆粉) before? I don’t think I had, but they were delicious at J’s Snack House! They remind me a little bit of udon, but they’re much lighter and a bit chewier. If you order the House Special Potato Noodle Soup, you get your choice of broth. Their málà (麻辣) soup was amazingly spicy, but their milder soup bases sound equally good!

7. Dumplings

While dumplings are a major component of dim sum (a Southern Chinese cuisine), there are other varieties you can get in Chinatown, including Northern-style ones. Check out some of my favorites below!

Hing Kee Restaurant (Shanghai-Style Xiǎolóngbāo)
珍味佳

Address: 2140 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.hingkeechinatown.com/

Hing Kee serves a lot of different things, but their signature item is xiǎolóngbāo, or steamed soup dumplings. Originally from Shanghai and neighboring Jiangsu Province, xiǎolóngbāo require you to use chopsticks in one hand and a spoon in the other to prevent the soup from making a mess. Be careful too, because they can be piping hot!

The default filling for xiǎolóngbāo is pork, but Hing Kee also makes a delicious crab and pork option. They’re typically served in steamed baskets that contain eight, and one or two of those is enough for a meal depending on how hungry you are.

Qing Xiang Yuan
青香苑

Address: 2002 S Wentworth Ave #103, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://qxydumplings.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qxydumplings
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qxydumplings/

Qing Xiang Yuan is listed as a must-try on so many different Chicago food and restaurant guides, and I can confirm that it really is an excellent dumpling house. If you place one order, you can request a combination of two different flavors, which I suggest. They offer pork, beef, lamb, chicken, seafood, and veggie fillings.

A Family in the Northeast
東北人家

Address: Richland Center Chinatown Food Court (basement), 2002 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616

This little stall can be found in the Richland Center Chinatown Food Court. They specialize in Northeast-style dumplings, which are filling and hearty. You can get an order of twelve for less than ten dollars (as of 2021), which is a price that can’t be beat!

8. Hot Pot
火鍋

Hot pot is a great option if you have a large group, especially since some places offer all you can eat deals. For those who’ve never had it before, hot pot is essentially a large vat of broth that’s heated directly on the dining table. Meat, veggies, and noodles are dipped into the boiling broth to cook and soak up flavor.

The flavor of the broth as well as the dipped items can vary depending on what regional style of hot pot you’re trying. Here are a couple places to consider!

Happy Lamb Hot Pot (Mongolian-Style)
快樂小羊

Address: 2342 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HappyLambHotPotChicago/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happylamb_hotpot_chicago/

Happy Lamb might be Chinatown’s most popular hot pot restaurant. It’s Mongolian-style, which our waiter explained is characterized by lighter broth flavor. (Even though half of our broth was spicy, it was fairly mild, at least to me.) We tried their lamb and beef, which was cut into really thin strips for quick cooking. Make sure to also check out their complimentary topping bar!

9. Desserts
甜點

Legend Tasty House
傳奇美食屋

Address: 2242 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.legendtastyhouse.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/legendtastyhouse/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legend_tasty_house/

Rolled ice cream is Chicago Chinatown’s newest food trend, but as far as I know, Legend Tasty House was the original. They have lots of different flavors, and you can even watch them make it at the counter! This place also serves bubble tea, but I haven’t had a chance to try it yet.

10. Other Options in Chinatown

Phở
越南粉

There are a couple of good phở restaurants in Chinatown. To see my favorites, check out my Chicago Phở Guide!

Chinese Wraps from Monkey King Jianbing
大聖煎餅

Address: 2252 S Canal St, second floor Unit 228, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://monkeykingjianbing.com/

I’ll admit, this little store is in an odd location (on the second floor of Canal Plaza, a mostly vacant mall that is a little far from the heart of Chinatown). But if you’re willing to walk over and find it, Monkey King Jianbing is worth a try. Their main offering is jianbing, a type of flat rolled crepe-like breakfast wrap. But I actually went to try their shǒuzhuābǐng (手抓餅), another type of wrap that I used to order for breakfast as a study abroad student in Shanghai.

And let me tell you, the shǒuzhuābǐng from Monkey King was on point! It’s so good because the dough is both crispy and chewy after being cooked, and you can order a variety of fillings such as ham or a hot dog. They have just a little bit of cheese and lettuce, which come together to make the perfect combination for a fresh yet filling wrap. Give them a visit if you’re on Chinatown’s western edge!

Plant-Based Treats at Veggie House
聚緣齋

Address: 2109 S China Pl, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.veggiehouseusa.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/veggiehousechicago/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veggiehousechicago/

Veggie House is a really interesting restaurant located in the Chinatown Square outdoor mall. Even if you’re not vegan or vegetarian, go try them out! For an appetizer, I tried their four-color veggie dumplings, which were fine. But what I really loved here was their Mongolian soy beef. As far as plant-based meat substitutes go, this dish was really as good as the original! It was full of flavor and just the right amount of spice. Plus, it was really filling!

Japanese & Korean Food

Daifuku Ramen
大福 ラーメン

Address: 2155 S China Pl #A, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.daifukuchicago.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Daifuku-Ramen-108590698391965

This new ramen place is my top recommendation for Japanese food in Chinatown. Their broth and noodles are on point, with just the right amount of spice and garlic. Their pork chashu was super tender and literally melted in my mouth! For good ramen, look no further than Daifuku.

Ahjoomah's Apron

Address: 218 W Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60616
Website: https://www.ahjoomahchicago.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ahjoomah/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ahjoomahsapron/

Ahjoomah’s Apron is Chinatown’s most prominent Korean restaurant, serving traditional dishes. If you go, prepare for a feast: Korean food is often served with many small plates of appetizers or side dishes known as banchan (반찬). At Ahjoomah’s, the banchan I had were a wide variety of pickled and fresh veggies. Their bibimbap is also great if you’re craving a filling rice dish with lots of protein.

What Do You Have a Taste For?

Well, there you have it: my food guide to Chicago Chinatown! What do you think? If this all seems overwhelming, head over to the neighborhood and check it out on foot before deciding. Keep in mind that this list isn’t even complete! There are still so many places I need to try, and I’ll be updating this post if I find any other restaurants worth sharing. Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to leave a comment below if you try a place on the list!

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Chicago’s Chinatown offers a stunning variety of foods that come from individual cities and provinces in China! Check out this post to learn where you can find the best dim sum, dumplings, noodles, hot pot, and regional cuisines! Chicago’s Chinatown offers a stunning variety of foods that come from individual cities and provinces in China! Check out this post to learn where you can find the best dim sum, dumplings, noodles, hot pot, and regional cuisines!

This post was published on Aug 10, 2021

Hi, I’m Kevin! I’m a coffee addict from Seattle, and my life revolves around traveling! Caffeinated Excursions is a record of my trips over the past seven years. Since I started blogging, I’ve lived in Mexico, Vietnam, Brazil, and the US. I just moved to Australia and plan to be here a full year. Thanks for checking out my blog!

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]]> https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/restaurants-in-chicago-chinatown-dim-sum-dumplings-noodles-and-more/feed/ 14 17626 Chicago Chinatown: A Visitor’s Guide https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/chicago-chinatown-a-visitors-guide/ https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/chicago-chinatown-a-visitors-guide/#comments Mon, 05 Jul 2021 05:00:00 +0000 https://caffeinatedexcursions.com/?p=17272 If you’re visiting Chicago, be sure to check out the city’s Chinatown! It’s a vibrant, safe, walkable neighborhood just south of downtown. As you might guess, Chinatown is an excellent place to get some amazing food, but it’s also much more than that. Beautiful parks, museums, monuments, and street art can all be found...

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Chicago Chinatown: A Visitor’s Guide

Chicago
Chinatown:
A Visitor’s Guide

Published July 5, 2021

This blog post was proudly created without the use of generative AI. It was 100% written and edited by a human, for humans. Enjoy, and thanks for your support!

If you’re visiting Chicago, be sure to check out the city’s Chinatown! It’s a vibrant, safe, walkable neighborhood just south of downtown that’s easy to explore in a morning or afternoon. As you might guess, Chinatown is an excellent place to get some amazing food, but it’s also much more than that. Beautiful parks, museums, monuments, and street art can be found in this gem of a neighborhood in Chicago!

This post will tell you everything you need to know about the following topics. To skip down to any section that interests you, click or tap on the links below!

Where is Chinatown?

Chinatown is located about a mile south of Chicago’s Loop, or downtown area. It can be reached via the CTA Red Line, which runs north to south. The closest stop is Cermak-Chinatown.

The neighborhood has two main cross streets: South Wentworth Avenue running north to south, and West Cermak Road running east to west. Although Chicago’s Chinatown may not be massive, it’s not small either. A quick walkthrough only takes a couple minutes, but this is an area you’ll want to explore at a leisurely pace if you have the time.

South Wentworth Avenue
West Cermak Road

Food

Chinatown’s most prominent feature is its restaurant scene! With dozens if not hundreds of different places to try, it would take many months and thousands of dollars for a dining enthusiast to work their way through all of the different offerings.

Mi xian (米線), a traditional noodle dish from Yunnan Province, served at Daguan Noodle in Chinatown

With that said, I’ve written up a Chinatown food guide, which you can check out here! I wasn’t able to try every restaurant, but one thing I love about the food scene here is that so many different regional Chinese cuisines are represented. Keep an eye out for that post coming soon!

Shopping

You can buy almost anything you might need in Chinatown. Consider checking out Chinatown Square or some of the souvenir shops on Wentworth Avenue!

Chinatown Square Outdoor Shopping Mall

This two-story shopping center located here basically spans an entire city block. Although it’s currently home to more restaurants than retail stores, there are a few gift and cookware shops, plus salons and a few small corporate offices.

Other Shopping Options

Outside of Chinatown Square, there are a number of stores worth browsing on Wentworth Ave. Most seem to specialize in imported gifts and souvenirs, but you can also find small groceries, restaurant supply shops, and more. Pictured below are two aisles inside the large EK Housewares & Souvenirs.

Parks, Museums, and Landmarks

In addition to dining and shopping, Chinatown has a lot of other unique attractions to see. Most of them are free and outdoors!

Ping Tom Memorial Park

This stunning waterfront park on the east bank of the Chicago River appears to be one of the city’s best-kept secrets. It offers one of my favorite views of the skyline I’ve seen so far, but it never seems to get crowded, even on beautiful days.

Ping Tom Park is home to a pavilion, a boardwalk, a playground, and on it’s southern edge you’ll find the Chinatown Amtrak Lift Bridge (pictured below), which is still in use today. Apparently, the middle section can be raised or lowered to accommodate large ships, but I haven’t personally witnessed it move up and down yet!

Chinatown Amtrak Lift Bridge

Chinatown Gate

It’s impossible to miss this beautiful gate over Wentworth Ave at the intersection of Cermak Rd. Built in the 1970s and made out of steel, the arch has gone through some renovations throughout the years, so older pictures of it might look slightly different.

Pui Tak Center

This historic building is also located at the intersection of Wentworth Ave and Cermak Rd. Visually, it’s the focal point of Chinatown. Its two distinct towers can be seen from many parts of the neighborhood above the other rooftops.

Pui Tak Center is a Christian community center that offers a number of classes and social services. As such, it’s not exactly a tourist center, so I’ve never gone inside. However, the outside of the building is adorned with intricate tiles that you should check out up close.

In addition to its striking façade, the Pui Tak Center has a fascinating history. Originally built as the On Leong Merchants Association Building, it was seized by the FBI in the early 1990s for allegations of gambling and other illicit activities within. The local Chinese Christian Union Church purchased it a couple of years later and converted it into the community center that it is today.

You Are Beautiful Plaza

This small plaza is aptly named for a bilingual sign on one of its walls that says “you are beautiful” in both English and traditional Chinese. You can find this plaza between the Chinese Christian Union Church and the U.S. Bank building.

Chinese Christian Union Church

Chicago Public Library Chinatown Branch

This library, which was built in 2015, incorporates many interesting modern design elements both inside and out. You don’t have to be a member to step in and check out the mural on the second floor or some of the other pieces of art on display.

Chinese American Museum of Chicago

I would bet that many visitors miss this museum because it’s not located on a main street (find it on West 23rd Street surrounded by homes and apartments), and it looks pretty small from the outside. However, once you get inside, you’ll find two surprisingly large floors of exhibits to check out.

While here, you can learn about Chinese history as well as the stories of Chinatowns in America. There are sections on migration, cuisine, artwork, and artifacts that have been found throughout Chicago’s Chinatown. A suggested donation of five dollars per adult is requested by the museum. Hours are currently limited due to the pandemic, so check their website for current information.

Chinatown Square Plaza

One cool thing about Chinatown Square is its large public plaza separating the mall into two sections. This plaza is home to a lot of art, including two teal gates with carved stones that depict Chinese inventions.

There are also bronze statues representing all twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac on the edges of the plaza. They all have a modern twist on traditional designs and were created at Xiamen University in Fujian Province in the 1990s.

Chinese American Veteran's Memorial

This engraved memorial can be found on the corner of South Archer Avenue and South Princeton Avenue.

Other Street Art

Last but not least, Chinatown has a lot of unique street art. Keep your eyes open for a variety of styles and media!

Nine Dragon Wall

A nine dragon wall (九龍壁) is a traditional form of imperial Chinese art. They are usually tiled with a gorgeous jade, yellow, and blue color scheme. Installed in 2004, Chicago’s nine dragon wall can be found next to the CTA station. It was inspired by a similar one in Beijing’s Beihai Park just outside the Forbidden City.

Chinatown Square Plaza Mosaic

This impressive mosaic is located alongside other pieces of art in Chinatown Square.

South Archer Street Murals

These two murals pictured below, including one with a three-dimensional dragon head, are located on opposite sides of South Archer Street just west of the South Clark Street intersection.

Ping Tom Memorial Park Murals

You have to visit Ping Tom Memorial Park to see these two murals painted on the concrete supports of the West 18th Street bridge, which passes over the park. The blue and white floral one reminds me of porcelain, and it’s a great place to have your photo taken!

Go Visit Chinatown!

This post might make it seem like Chicago’s Chinatown is huge, but all of these attractions and more are located within a pretty compact area. Nothing mentioned here is more than a ten or fifteen minute walk from anything else!

While this is a pretty complete list of things to do in Chinatown, it’s by no means exhaustive. If you’re in Chicago or plan to visit soon, be sure to head over to Chinatown for half a day! If you find anything I missed, leave a comment below and let me know! Thanks for reading and check back soon for more Chicago blog posts!

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This is my blog's first Chicago neighborhood feature! I moved here from Brazil in April of this year (2021) and have enjoyed exploring Chinatown over the past few weeks. It's a vibrant, safe, walkable neighborhood just south of downtown that’s easy to explore in a morning or afternoon. As you might guess, Chinatown is an excellent place to get some amazing food, but it’s also much more than that. Check out this blog post to learn more! This is my blog's first Chicago neighborhood feature! I moved here from Brazil in April of this year (2021) and have enjoyed exploring Chinatown over the past few weeks. It's a vibrant, safe, walkable neighborhood just south of downtown that’s easy to explore in a morning or afternoon. As you might guess, Chinatown is an excellent place to get some amazing food, but it’s also much more than that. Check out this blog post to learn more!

This post was published on July 5, 2021

This blog post was proudly created without the use of generative AI. It was 100% written and edited by a human, for humans. Enjoy, and thanks for your support!

Hi, I’m Kevin! I’m a coffee addict from Seattle, and my life revolves around traveling! Caffeinated Excursions is a record of my trips over the past seven years. Since I started blogging, I’ve lived in Mexico, Vietnam, Brazil, and the US. I just moved to Australia and plan to be here a full year. Thanks for checking out my blog!

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