Chicago Chinatown Must-Tries! – xoTani
2. MCCB
A restaurant mentioned in the Michelin guide for multiple years in the past! Known for their amazing dumplings (tried and agreed), I really enjoyed their fried rice too. The fried rice is filled with vegetables and a light flavour, which is packed with an amazing blend of garlic and spices. I would highly recommend getting it! My boyfriend also ordered the classic Salt and Pepper Fish along with it, and he was over the moon! According to him, they are crispy and golden with light and white fish inside. You should go try it for yourself.
3. 88 Marketplace
If you are Indian, this market is similar to a “Patel Brothers” but with all things East-Asian cuisine! From fresh groceries to spices and condiments, everything you will ever need to make Asian cuisine, you will find here under one roof. Not only is this a great place to stock up on Ramen, but I also found my favorite Gummy Chocolate here. Aside from the ingredients, there is also a restaurant under the roof of the supermarket. While I did not have time to go check that restaurant out, it smelled amazing! It is genuinely the next place I will be exploring when I am in Chinatown next.
Exploring different parts of Chicago is one of my favourite things to do when I am not studying or working. An area that I find myself gravitating towards often is Chinatown in the South Side of Chicago. With a simple red L train ride from downtown to Cermak-Chinatown, you are able to explore a lot of fun food spots, souvenir stores and overall a different vibe of fun compared to downtown. (Read one of my previous pieces on Chinatown HERE).
Here are five must-visit places you should give a chance when in Chinatown next.
1. Joy Yee’s
One of the most famous and classic places you should not miss when visiting Chinatown is Joy Yee’s. Not only does it house yummy drinks, but it also serves delicious food. I would highly recommend trying the Banana Fresh Fruit Freeze with some cut frozen fruits on the bottom. Finishing the refreshing drink, the nice fruits are like a reward treat. Food-wise, there are a lot of vegetarian options, which is great for me! I love their veg dumplings, which are fried. They are genuinely really delicious and I enjoy ordering them as an appetiser. For my main, I usually go for the Thai Red Curry with Vegetables and Tofu, which is spicy and creamy, perfect to have with jasmine rice.
4. Tous Les Jours
One of the nicest bakeries here in Chicago! With multiple stores all over the city, this particular one is the closest to home. I love their white mascarpone bread, and while it is delicious and high quality, I make it a point to rarely get it, as it is a bit pricey, and not the healthiest option out here in terms of bread. However, getting the bread once in a while is completely perfect and frankly something I look forward to thoroughly!
5. Kung-Fu Tea
I have talked about this place in my first piece about Chinatown (Read Here), but months later, this place is still amazing and one that I never miss every time I am in its vicinity. My usual drink is still the same – an oolong milk tea with added boba. Compared to other boba places, the drinks here are perfectly sweet (not too much or not too little) and come in a reasonable size compared to their prices. Overall, favourite boba place here in Chicago!
Discovering these amazing places was great, and I cannot wait to explore more places in Chinatown, as it is packed with hundreds of other places.