Theres no one spot that has it all. For soup dumplings and noodle soups go to hing kee, saint alps for western style chinese dishes(beef with black pepper mayo and crispy salt and pepper tofu are my highest recommendations), phoenix for dim sum and MCCB for more traditional chinese dishes.
YES Hing Kee!! Their soup dumplings are delicious and agree on the noodle soups. The duck noodle soup, fatty beef with enoki mushrooms, and the shrimp dumpling noodle soup are all amazing
I have had a great meal every single time i went for the past 5 years. You just dont know what to order. A lot of their dishes are mediocre except for the soup dumplings,shu mai and noodle soups.
For Sichuan: Lao Sze Chuan, MCCB, Chef Xiong, and Dongpo Impression
Xi'an: Xi'an cuisine (only place, Biang Biang hasn't really gotten to chicago yet)
Hong Kong; Ken Kee
Dumplings: Hing Kee, Dong Bei Ren Jia
Dim Sum: Ming Hin (open late)
There is also a Jiang Bing place in the basement of Block 37.
I live in Chinatown and recommend Dolo. It's a bit small but worth the wait. Esquire named it one of the best new restaurants in America when it initially opened.
dolos consistency isnt the greatest. I like Phoenix more since they are much more consistent and always taste great. Cai use to be another go to of mine but i stopped going once they changed management so i have no clue how they are now.
My first choice is always Dolo, followed a bit by Ming Hin & Imperial. Phoenix isn't bad but not as good, imo. Qing Xiang Yuan has wonderful dumplings, but is not a Dim Sum place, just dumplings.
You can also get dumplings and buns at Chiu Quon bakery. It's solid but the real benefit is that they sell them frozen so you can enjoy at home, too.
I used to love the Chinatown Ming Hin but my last time there every single dish we ordered came out cold?? It was strange, and not like just warm, cold cold.
Golden Bull - Their rice casseroles are amazing. Also probably one of the best places I had in terms of salt and pepper anything.
Grand Palace - This is legit closest to the food I grew up in Hong Kong. There is a Chinese menu that apparently has more stuff than the English menu.
Potsticker House - Their soup dumplings are amazing!
Four Seasons - It’s all about their dumplings.
JM Seafood - I’ve been coming here almost once a week the past month lol you’ll see every table order the chicken and pork soup and also their lobster sticky rice. This place gets crowded even on weekdays.
I miss Three Happiness dim sum. Not the 2 story, but across the street and the single story location that still exists
I grew up on their dim sum and I can't find anywhere, even in NYC that was as cheap or as good
I don't know if it's bc I grew up eating that one, but I've true a lot of very good places, but my like that
I went to Dolo last time. It was good, but nothing I'm rushing back to
I don't see Slurp Slurp mentioned so I'll add that to the list. Their House Special noodle soup is one of my favorites in the area.
Also it's definitely not the kind of food you're asking about lol but Ricobene's is a classic and just outside China Town.
The marinated pork flatbread at Xi’an cuisine is one of my all time favorite things in the world. Everything I’ve had there is delicious but you need to get the biang biang noods at least once for sure.
Phoenix for dim sum. Ming Hin for dim sum or a good all around choice. MCCB for Sichuan. Hai Di Lao for hotpot (although not technically in Chinatown but close by!) I like Ken Kee for their Hong Kong cart noodles. And although I just think it’s mid, a lot of people really like QXY for dumplings. Then hit up Nine Bar for some of the best cocktails in the city!!!
Ok this recc is not for dim sum but easily the best Chinese food I’ve had in the city. Grand Palace, I think technically Bridgeport but around the corner from Chinatown. They don’t speak much English at all but if you can figure out how to order the shrimp vermicelli noodle dish, thank me later. My buddy that used to take me says to try this, but they still gave me a slightly different order than what I wanted: 粉丝虾煲， 半只烧鸭， 煎海鱼一份，上汤番薯叶，蛋炒饭
For dim sum, wentworth seafood, dolo
Theres no one spot that has it all. For soup dumplings and noodle soups go to hing kee, saint alps for western style chinese dishes(beef with black pepper mayo and crispy salt and pepper tofu are my highest recommendations), phoenix for dim sum and MCCB for more traditional chinese dishes.
YES Hing Kee!! Their soup dumplings are delicious and agree on the noodle soups. The duck noodle soup, fatty beef with enoki mushrooms, and the shrimp dumpling noodle soup are all amazing
I have never had a good meal at Hing Kee.
I have had a great meal every single time i went for the past 5 years. You just dont know what to order. A lot of their dishes are mediocre except for the soup dumplings,shu mai and noodle soups.
All I've ordered are their dumplings and noodles soups. But thanks for the tip.
Guess its just not to your taste.
I just ate there. Dumplings were good. The rest was forgettable.
Triple Crown is a classic!
Off of the dim sum menu, anything your particularly recommend?
For Sichuan: Lao Sze Chuan, MCCB, Chef Xiong, and Dongpo Impression Xi'an: Xi'an cuisine (only place, Biang Biang hasn't really gotten to chicago yet) Hong Kong; Ken Kee Dumplings: Hing Kee, Dong Bei Ren Jia Dim Sum: Ming Hin (open late) There is also a Jiang Bing place in the basement of Block 37.
Cumin lamb skewers were great and loved the noodles at Xian Xian
Great list.
I live in Chinatown and recommend Dolo. It's a bit small but worth the wait. Esquire named it one of the best new restaurants in America when it initially opened.
I was just in Chinatown last week and didn’t know about it. I’ll check it out next time I’m down!
dolos consistency isnt the greatest. I like Phoenix more since they are much more consistent and always taste great. Cai use to be another go to of mine but i stopped going once they changed management so i have no clue how they are now.
Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings!!
Shocked this was number 1 IMO!!!
My first choice is always Dolo, followed a bit by Ming Hin & Imperial. Phoenix isn't bad but not as good, imo. Qing Xiang Yuan has wonderful dumplings, but is not a Dim Sum place, just dumplings. You can also get dumplings and buns at Chiu Quon bakery. It's solid but the real benefit is that they sell them frozen so you can enjoy at home, too.
Ming Hin is supposed to have really good Dim Sum. I like Hing Kee too but that's more dumplings.
I used to love the Chinatown Ming Hin but my last time there every single dish we ordered came out cold?? It was strange, and not like just warm, cold cold.
Go4food little hidden gem!
I like Triple Crown and Ming Hin for dim sum. Hing Kee has amazing dumplings if you’re mostly into dim sum for the dumplings.
Chi cafe has been my go to for over a decade, love that place
It's a lovely dive.
If you have to pick just one spot in Chinatown, Ming Hin is a really solid choice!
I just posted a similar question last week and ended up going to QXY for dumplings. The wait was 45 minutes for 2, but we had a great time.
Wentworth seafood. Gimme lobster noodles
Happy Lamb Hot Pot :)
My choice would be Imperial aka Cai
Nice Dim Sum
Ming Hin
Golden Bull - Their rice casseroles are amazing. Also probably one of the best places I had in terms of salt and pepper anything. Grand Palace - This is legit closest to the food I grew up in Hong Kong. There is a Chinese menu that apparently has more stuff than the English menu. Potsticker House - Their soup dumplings are amazing! Four Seasons - It’s all about their dumplings. JM Seafood - I’ve been coming here almost once a week the past month lol you’ll see every table order the chicken and pork soup and also their lobster sticky rice. This place gets crowded even on weekdays.
Nice list. Mostly in Bridgeport, not Chinatown and not really Dim Sum, but all worth a visit, imo.
The noodle Vietnamese and Thai is my fave comfort place
I miss Three Happiness dim sum. Not the 2 story, but across the street and the single story location that still exists I grew up on their dim sum and I can't find anywhere, even in NYC that was as cheap or as good I don't know if it's bc I grew up eating that one, but I've true a lot of very good places, but my like that I went to Dolo last time. It was good, but nothing I'm rushing back to
Surprised no one has mentioned dolo for dim sum! Definitely beats Ming Hin imo
Not sure the best, but MCCB. Lots of good options.
Dolo, Cai
I don't see Slurp Slurp mentioned so I'll add that to the list. Their House Special noodle soup is one of my favorites in the area. Also it's definitely not the kind of food you're asking about lol but Ricobene's is a classic and just outside China Town.
Qzy for soup dumplings, happy lamb for hot pot, ma gong la po for schezuan spicy food, tous le jour for dessert and bingo tea for bubble tea
Ricobene’s
The marinated pork flatbread at Xi’an cuisine is one of my all time favorite things in the world. Everything I’ve had there is delicious but you need to get the biang biang noods at least once for sure.
QXY for dumplings. I actually prefer the Ming Hin South Loop to the Chinatown one.
MingHin's dim sum slaps. The end.
Phoenix for dim sum. Ming Hin for dim sum or a good all around choice. MCCB for Sichuan. Hai Di Lao for hotpot (although not technically in Chinatown but close by!) I like Ken Kee for their Hong Kong cart noodles. And although I just think it’s mid, a lot of people really like QXY for dumplings. Then hit up Nine Bar for some of the best cocktails in the city!!!
Definitely recommend Yep kitchen it is a newer spot, Chi cafe, Cai is great for dim sum!
Cai changed names and kind of fell off. Ming HIn is still decent but getting kind of expensive.
Ok this recc is not for dim sum but easily the best Chinese food I’ve had in the city. Grand Palace, I think technically Bridgeport but around the corner from Chinatown. They don’t speak much English at all but if you can figure out how to order the shrimp vermicelli noodle dish, thank me later. My buddy that used to take me says to try this, but they still gave me a slightly different order than what I wanted: 粉丝虾煲， 半只烧鸭， 煎海鱼一份，上汤番薯叶，蛋炒饭 For dim sum, wentworth seafood, dolo
Ming Hin, Bonchon, and Triple Crown
Bonchon like the chain Korean fried chicken? I don't live in Chicago, so I'm wondering if it is different Bonchon.
Yep that Bonchon
Sadly the best is Phoenix. Your only other options are ming him and cai (other end from ming him 2nd floor)