Best Asian Food Restaurants in Downtown Chicago

"Make sure to visit The Bakery at Fat Rice|Courtesy of Fat Rice. Fat Rice, specializing in a fusion of Chinese and Portuguese food, had already earned rave reviews from the majority of Chicagoans when they opened The Bakery, offering sweet and savory delights during the day. Egg tarts, sweet buns and a dark chocolate brownie are among a few of the treats on the sweet menu; the savory menu contains highlights like cremoso, which is filled with a savory custard, bacon and scallions."

", and South Asian flavors has earned it critical acclaim and numerous awards. Among its most popular dishes are the potstickers, which arrive both hot and crispy, and its namesake rice dish layered with Chinese sausage, Portuguese chicken, prawns, clams, tea eggs, and croutons. Other popular plates include piri piri chicken and hand-rolled rice noodles."

"If you haven't heard a Chicagoan talk about Fat Rice's potstickers then you are probably living under a rock. Fat Rice is a culinary one-of-a-kind with food based off the Macau region in China. It is a masterful blend of Asia-meets-Europe and everyone seems to love it."

"River NorthContemporary Asian with a dedicated vegan menuSunda makes it easy to eat vegan with its dedicated brunch, lunch, and dinner vegan menus (ask and you shall receive). Craft your meal from starters like shiitake edamame dumplings and an Asian pear salad, plus small plates like green curry squash and miso cauliflower. There’s even veg-friendly sushi options like the sweet potato caterpillar roll with roasted sweet potato, black garlic, Asian pear, and avocado."

"Serving some of the city's best sushi, this warm, cozy room in West Town seems to encourage you to stay for hours, sipping sake and Japanese whisky. Start with appetizers like the chrunchy chicken karaage or the decadent roasted bone marrow served with ribeye tarare before moving on to sashimi, nagiri and maki selections. You'll find everything from bluefin tuna to Alaskan king crab on the menu, along with speciality items that can be accompanited by optional caviar supplements."

"Arami is an elegant restaurant with a unique modern design for its interior. Its bright and vibrant setting and delicious menu options are some of the reasons why the restaurant is always packed with hungry foodies. Arami is a gem on the Chicago Ave strip."

"From the jump more than a dozen years ago, urbanbelly has been serving flavorful Asian fast-casual food and it only gets better. Led by award-winning Chef Bill Kim and Cornerstone Restaurant Group, the menu lists signature dumplings, bowls and specialties such as the gluten-free and dairy free Coconut Curry Pho and Kim's signature ramen. Order slippery dumplings (stuffed with Korean BBQ beef, chicken red curry or edamame) by the piece and pair 'em with something crispy like Thai fried chicken or Togarashi fries."

"Steaming bowls of noodles have been a fixture of chef Bill Kim’s menus ever since he opened his first restaurant, and diners have always been eager to slurp his latest creations. Originally launched as a delivery-only concept, Bill Kim Ramen Bar specializes in broths that draw on Korean, Vietnamese and Mexican flavors, garnished with a creative array of toppings. Whether you’re looking for a conventional bowl or ramen or something a bit more adventurous, Kim has something you can enjoy by the spoonful."

"Whether you snag a tabletop grill for a DIY experience or relax and let Bill Kim and crew do all the work, start with the golf-ball-size crispy tofu, move on to the tea-smoked duck, and finish with the textural delights of the seafood hot pot.L Mon–Sat, D nightly."

"An outpost of the New York City original, TAO is a large two-level space with four private dining rooms and a large bar. Daybed sofas abound and the eclectic lounge is a perfect bl..."

"Tao Chicago opened with great fanfare in 2018, revealing an astonishing reimagining of a circa-1892 landmark in River North. The historic property, with its stone structure and arc..."

"For those that have never heard the term “clubstaurant,” it could be time to visit Tao for a delicious education. Situated in the historic River North castle, Tao is set over multi..."

"Restaurants Indian West Ridge. Carnivores seem to think that without meat on their plates they’d starve. But this 100 percent vegetarian South Indian spot puts an end to that theory with its famous dosa—a gigantic cumin-, potato- and onion-filled rice and lentil crêpe that comes in a dozen varieties."

"Fans of this Lincoln Square Korean BBQ joint that is almost open 24/7 do not come for the service. They come for the endless supply of cook-your-own food and experience. Bring a group of friends along, expect to take off your shoes before sitting at the nearly floor-level table and order raw meat for you to grill over fire."

"Jeff Wang had a simple idea for his food truck: cook like mom. Jeff’s mother must be quite the culinary whiz, because customers love his food and have rewarded them with their hunger loyalty. Chef Wang grew up in his family’s restaurant, but even so, starting your own operation is a bit of a gamble."

"In my opinion, there’s nothing better than a dumpling, whether it be a crispy potsticker, a plump and juicy soup dumpling, or even a crunchy-on-the-outside, creamy-on-the-inside Crab Rangoon. The menu here is filled with such delights (especially the dim sum). Boiled Shrimp, Pork and Chive Dumplings might not be kosher (!!!) but you won’t be able to get enough of them, likewise the Shanghai-Style Xiao Long Bao soup dumplings."

"Cupitol is an all-day eatery located in Streeterville and Evanston that serves just what you crave after the sun rises. Choose various breakfast sandwiches and protein breakfasts like housemade corned beef hash poached eggs; a deliciously sloppy country Benedict with buttermilk biscuits, pork sausage gravy, eggs; and a European Breakfast with the thickest Greek yogurt you've ever witnessed, sprinkled with homemade almond granola, berries and local raw honey. Pancakes and Belgian waffles are made with a proprietary mix."

"Chef Amanda Salas brings the yummy to this industrial-chic West Loop brunch spot with extensive outdoor patio space. This is let’s-get-down-to-business elevated bar food, like the BLT & E breakfast sammy, a brioche bun stuffed with bacon-onion jam, sunny egg, chipotle mayo, arugula and tomato. Corned beef H*A*S*H* is rife with roasted potatoes and caramelized onions and topped with poached eggs and a stoneground mustard sauce."

"West LoopTouted as Chicago’s largest outdoor patio at 14,000-square-feet, this multilevel West Loop drinking deck is never a bad idea on a sunny day. A whimsical collection of mural-adorned shipping containers plays host to a variety of bars, cabanas, and food stations dishing up signature cocktails from large-format “water coolers” to frozé alongside refined pub grub seven days a week.How to book: Reserve via OpenTable"

"People dine and drink at Recess, a West Loop restaurant with one of the biggest patios in Chicago, on June 3, 2021. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune). Meant to hark back to the carefree days of school-sanctioned fun time, Recess is a sprawling West Loop space with a structure composed of shipping containers."

"Chicago locals with a taste for Polish cuisine – or for great cuisine in general – love Staropolska for its hearty Eastern European classics. The Logan Square venue is a bright spa..."

"When you want date night and your man wants BBQ, Chicago Q is a great compromise. I personally love it more in the summer because their patio for outdoor dining is so cute, but it’s a solid date spot no matter what!"

"Pablo Picasso produced this monumental piece of public art for Chicago in the mid-1960s. Standing in Daley Plaza, the Chicago Picasso weighs almost 147 metric tons and stands over 15 metres tall. Since it was unveiled in 1967, the work, rumoured to depict French model Lydia Corbett who sat for a series of drawings for Picasso in the 1950s, is a landmark for the city and something for kids to clamber on."

"This massive cubist sculpture by Pablo Picasso was the first major piece of public artwork of its kind in downtown Chicago, and today, this Daley Plaza piece is a major landmark. Choose your selfie position — “The Picasso” looks quite different depending on where you stand."

"Located in the Lincoln Park itself, the North Pond Nature Sanctuary is yet another one of the animal exhibits that is loved and adored not just by the locals but by the tourists alike. It is believed that the same is around 130-year-old pond nature sanctuary, which in itself is an amazing thing to witness. It is located in the N Lincoln Park W, Chicago, IL 60614, USA and opens when the Lincoln Park Zoo opens as well."