Top Best Chinese Restaurants in Chicago

"This no-frills joint tempts passersby with lacquer-skinned roast ducks hanging by their necks in the steamed-up window. The menu is expansive but inexpensive: The Pei Par BBQ duck and the Hong-Kong–style barbecued pig are sublime in their simplicity, savory and slick with fat. Chinese broccoli arrives jade-green and crisp, and the beef chow fun comes out charred and tasting of the properly smoking wok."

"You deserve Hong Kong-style Chinese barbecue and Sun Wah BBQ has just what you need. Although this restaurant was originally a New York treasure, founder Eric Cheng decided Chicago was a better home. With the intricate array of options, Sun Wah continues to be an Uptown food staple."

"Feed your entire family a duck dinner for $40, complete with duck soup, stir fried greens with duck and pillowy baos to fill with crispy skin and juicy meat. Sun Wah BBQ, 5039 N. Broadway St., 773-769-1254, sunwahbbq.com"

"This swanky outdoor dining spot is in the heart of the Magnificent Mile. Located in the five-star Peninsula Chicago hotel near attractions like the John Hancock building, this Cantonese dim sum restaurant has been voted the no. 1 Chinese restaurant in Chicago by Zagat Survey and boasts some of the best skyline views. OpenTable reviewers love the expanded outdoor rooftop dining area, while TripAdvisor diners highly recommend the Peking duck and craft cocktails."

"Shanghai Terrace is located along the Magnificent Mile at Chicago’s premier Peninsula Hotel. This is a great Chicago restaurant for dates, especially during the summer, the outdoor patio features awesome views of the downtown skyline. It’s a pricey spot, but the food is fabulous."

"WOW. And that’s exactly what you’ll get in this high-end, posh Asian nightclub. Dance the night away in this 1000-capacity dance club in Chicago featuring a 10-foot Japanese bell, world-famous DJ sets, and funky lights. Make your VIP request here."

"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..."

"To say the menu at Dolo is expansive would be an understatement. The chic Chinatown restaurant serves dozens of dim sum treats, including creamy egg tarts, bitter melon custard cakes, tender pork shumai, bright-green durian pancakes and fluffy pork buns. But that's just scraping the surface on what Dolo has to offer: A novel-sized menu is packed with glossy photos of seafood by the pound, spicy jellyfish, Taiwanese-style shrimp, mango beef tenderloin and stir-fried lo mein—among many other specialty dishes."

"Dolo Restaurant & Bar never freezes any ingredients and even has live seafood for hungry patrons to eat. Close out the meal with an exclusive Dolo durian pancake. With so many options, Dolo is a place you and your friends can return to constantly, each time with a different delectable experience."

"Dolo Restaurant, a modern, stylish spot in Chinatown, specializes in from-scratch dim sum and live seafood with fusion-style dishes dotted across its menus. The hip space with TVs ..."

"Known to many as QXY, this Chinatown mainstay is the dumpling authority of Chicago. Why we love it: When it comes to dumplings, we're of the mindset that more is always better. It's why we flock to QXY for the seemingly endless menu that details dozens of fillings that are sorted by protein—from pork and pickled cabbage to scallop and lotus root."

"The Chinatown restaurant won the Readers' Choice Award for Best Chinese Takeout. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune). “Before the pandemic, we were not really focused on takeout,” says Jesse Li, general manager at QXY Dumplings in Chinatown."

"Acclaimed Chef Tony Hu has received international acclaim for his expertly executed Sichuan dishes at Lao Sze Chuan. The original spot that launched his culinary empire is still humming along on Wentworth Avenue, where you’ll find his signature three-chili chicken, mapo tofu, and more. Known for flavorful sauces, dry roasted chilis, and fiery spices, this regional-style of cooking is sure to satisfy the most adventurous palates."

"Frequent Chinatown visitors no doubt have their own favorite Tony Hu Lao location – Beijing, Ma La, Shanghai, to name but a few – but. is usually considered one of the best, with its emphasis on spice and bold, classic favorites. The most popular dish is the crispy dry chili chicken, with chunks of double-fried chicken and dried hot peppers."

"Lao Sze Chuan serves authentic Sichuan cuisine with high-quality materials and ingredients. They have tons of soup, fried rice, and even fried noodle options. There is even a section for "Chef's Recommendations" that includes dishes on the spicier side for those of you who like the heat."

"Three Happiness serves up Szechuan shrimp at all hours of the day in Chinatown.|© jeffreyw / WikiCommons. Located in historic Chinatown, Three Happiness serves up authentic Chinese cuisine 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Zagat has this spot featured on both their lists of Best Dim Sum in Chicago and Best Chinese Restaurants in Chicago, so there’s definitely expertise behind the menu."

"This Cantonese restaurant opened in 1932 on Irving Park, according to general manager Ben Ruan, despite rumors that it first began serving in 1924. His family is the third to own the historic spot where diners can dig into Chinese-American favorites including chop suey, chow mein, and egg foo young. The egg rolls are homemade."

"Big Bowl, a mid-sized regional chain with three restaurants in Illinois, builds upon the concept of generously portioned bowls of Chinese and Thai cuisine. The downtown Chicago ven..."

"If you judge an ice cream shop solely on how close it looks to a Willy Wonka-type Wonderland, then Windy City Sweets is your golden ticket. This classic Lakeview haunt is chock full of so much Americana sweets and ice cream that you practically get a cavity just by entering the front door. The candy (and fudge!) supply is great, but the ice cream is truly special."

"Street Food delivery spots are open as early as 8am in Chicago. Consider ordering from Taqueria Mi Linda Hacienda in Kelvyn Grove for your early order, or enter your delivery address to browse the places that are open and available near you."

"Their shaved ice macaron sandwiches are what dreams are made of. Don’t let summer end before you get to try one of these."

"Southport's main claim to fame is this 1929 movie house, which shows independent and classic films on its two screens. Live organ music…"

"Hunkered down across from Grant Park, this 110,000-ton granite-and-limestone behemoth was an instant star when it debuted in 1899, and…"

"There are two stories here, and if you come at weekends you’ll be able to dance and drink on both of them. Weeknights are when just the main floor is in action. It’s in the Fulton Market area of town and can get very busy, so we recommend arriving early to grab your place in the line."

"James Beard Award-winning chefJonathon Sawyer’s globally inspired restaurant in the newly renovated Four Seasons Hotel provides all the reasons to get up on a weekend morning. Kickstart your Saturday or Sunday with a glorious bowl of Steel-Cut Oats with Brûléed Banana and cinnamon-peanut brittle or go decadent with the Breakfast Bolognese with a poached egg and crispy breadcrumbs. I’m intrigued by the Teeny Tiny Croissant Cereal served with house-made horchata, but who am I kidding?"