Chinatown? (Chicago, Phoenix, Joy: apartment, neighborhood, incomes)

[emathias]

Originally Posted by Bluefoxwarrior

...
Chinatowns are known for having good, authentic restaurants. What restaurants are Chicago's Chinatown known for? Are there any vegetarian/friendly restaurants that are known to be good?

While in China you can find vegetarian restaurants, authentic Chinese food in general isn't known for being particularly vegetarian friendly. Even when dishes don't use much meat, there's a tendency to add a little bit for flavor, or to use animal fats for cooking, or to use animal broths for soups, etc.

Most Chinese places will have dishes that don't have chunks of meat in them, but it might be hard to know whether they would meet a Western definition of vegetarian. Even when asking, you might not get a completely accurate answer.

For good food in general, the most popular places that are authentic and patronized by both Chinese and non-Chinese locals are probably Lao Szechuan and it's sister restaurant Lao Beijing, which are in the Chinatown Square development on Archer, Phoenix, which is across Archer from Chinatown Square, and Triple Crown (aka Da San Yuan) on Wentworth.

If you wanted to try a few places that are mostly patronized by Chinese, places where I'm often the only non-Chinese there, you could try hot pot or north China style food at Mandarin Kitchen, which is across Archer from Chinatown Square, or Tao Ran Ju, a Taiwanese place at 2002 S Wentworth, north of Archer.

For sort of a modern spin on Chinese food, you could head a bit south to Bridgeport and check out Han202 on 31st Street, which was awarded a Bib Gourmand mention by the new Michelin Guidebook.

Originally Posted by Bluefoxwarrior

What besides the restaurants are interesting places to visit in Chinatown? Or is it just somewhere tourists generally just go to eat?
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The scene in Chicago's Chinatown has some tourists, but it also is a genuine neighborhood for ethnic Chinese. There are Chinese grocery stores, Chinese traditional medicine shops, a couple Chinese bookstores, several Chinese kitchen utensil shops, tourist-oriented gift shops, etc.

Chicago's Chinatown is not huge, especially if you judge it only by the core of it, but it is also more spread out than San Francisco's Chinatown or Manhattan's Chinatown, or even Boston's Chinatown, all of which are in older parts of the cities, in very dense built environments. Chicago's is not right downtown and so is less dense. The older part is fairly well defined, but it is also bleeding over into neighboring areas more every year. You'll see Chinese shops and residents bleeding into Bridgeport to the south and the west, and into the industrial areas to the northwest of the traditional Chinatown boundaries. North of Archer is a decent amount of new development, nearly all of which is owned, occupied and run by local Chinese.

If the weather isn't too bad, you can check out Tom Ping Park, which is between the north part of Chinatown and the Chicago River. You can also check out the grocery stores, some of which are clean and modern, others of which are less clean and not modern, check out the other shops.

The Chinese-American Museum of Chicago recently reopened after a fire shut them down two years ago, although they are small and have limited hours.
Their website:
http://www.ccamuseum.org/

You may also want to check out these two websites:
Welcome to Chicago Chinatown (http://www.chicagochinatown.org/cccorg/home.jsp - broken link)
Welcome to Chicago Chinese cultural institute

Finally, the "second Chinatown" aka "Little Saigon" aka "Argyle Street" on the North Side mostly between Broadway and Sheridan on Argyle Street is dominated by Vietnamese businesses, but was founded by Jimmy Wong and the Hip Sing tong from the main Chinatown looking for places with new business opportunities. Basically, Jimmy Wong started buying up properies on and near Argyle around the Red Line stop, then Hip Sing showed some interest and, "coincidentally" around that time Jimmy Wong broke both hips leaving him unable to drive the transition, so Hip Sing pushed the effort forward. Whether or not and what you want to read into that sequence of events based on the documented history of Hip Sing groups is up to you, but the role of Hip Sing tong in Argyle is frequently glossed over or simply omitted.

[eureka1]

For what it's worth,my Shanghai-born friend has noshed extensively in the Chinese restaurants of LA, San Francisco and Honolulu and pronounced the Chicago restaurants superior. Not all the good Chinese restaurants are in Chinatown,they're spread around the city. Happy eating!

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Bluefoxwarrior

Thanks guys for the helpful responses. I'm going to be staying in Lincoln Park. Anyone know how long of a ride it is on the L? And is the "other" Chinatown on Argyle worth a visit? Thanks!

The "other" Chinatown is really more of a Little Saigon. And it's much smaller than the "main" Chinatown. Worth a visit from Lincoln Park for some good eating, but you'll have seen it all within about 15 minutes.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by eureka1

For what it's worth,my Shanghai-born friend has noshed extensively in the Chinese restaurants of LA, San Francisco and Honolulu and pronounced the Chicago restaurants superior. Not all the good Chinese restaurants are in Chinatown,they're spread around the city. Happy eating!

I'm of the opinion that Flushing, Queens has the best authentic Chinese food in the U.S. these days.

That said, the level of Chicago's Chinese food has risen dramatically over the past decade and I think the best places in Chicago's Chinatown would do just as well in Shanghai or Beijing as they do here, as the flavors and textures I get at them are right in line with the flavors and textures I experienced in Beijing and Shanghai when traveling there with a friend of mine who is a Chinese national.

[lorelei_lo]

It takes about half an hour to drive from Lincoln Park to China town.
as for the restaurants, if you're able to take spicy and hot, check Lao Sze Chuan out. and i've head that Lao Beijing is also good...

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by edsg25

I don't want to get into a "pecking order" for America's Chinatowns, but let's be totally realistic here:

Chicago's Chinatown is a MAJOR, MAJOR Chinatown by any scale.

I'd agree. I've always found it impressive enough.

[Bluefox]

OP here, and I realize I'm necro-posting but I did have the opportunity to visit Chicago's Chinatown (finally) and wanted to recount my experience.

Loved the vibe. It had a very typical Chinatown feel based on my experiences in other US Chinatowns (SF, NY).

From my internet research on the area, I was not expecting so much to see! We probably went into no less than a dozen gift shops. It does seem like a true Chinese cultural mecca, which IMO is the mark of a really good Chinatown. Also enjoyed visiting the Ping Tom Memorial Park. Chicago's Chinatown seems incredibly underrated based on my prior research before actually visiting the area.

Decided to get dinner at Joy Yee's (sp?). Excellent food, though I regret not being able to try some of the other recommended restaurants. Felt a little cramped but the service was excellent.

Definitely can't wait to go back!

[knitgirl]

I don't think it's a necro post if you're the OP reporting back - not enough OPs do!

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by Bluefoxwarrior

OP here, and I realize I'm necro-posting but I did have the opportunity to visit Chicago's Chinatown (finally) and wanted to recount my experience.

Loved the vibe. It had a very typical Chinatown feel based on my experiences in other US Chinatowns (SF, NY).

From my internet research on the area, I was not expecting so much to see! We probably went into no less than a dozen gift shops. It does seem like a true Chinese cultural mecca, which IMO is the mark of a really good Chinatown. Also enjoyed visiting the Ping Tom Memorial Park. Chicago's Chinatown seems incredibly underrated based on my prior research before actually visiting the area.

Decided to get dinner at Joy Yee's (sp?). Excellent food, though I regret not being able to try some of the other recommended restaurants. Felt a little cramped but the service was excellent.

Definitely can't wait to go back!

Cool, thanks for feedback! Glad you enjoyed yourself

[SoxCub Fan]

As a person who has lived in China Town for 4 years, 2 different apartments, I must say China Town is one of the best kept secrets in Chicago for many reasons.

1. The neighbors are all friendly and peaceful people...
2. You can rent a new construction unit for under $1300 with multiple bedrooms. This is an impossible feat anywhere 3 miles outside of the loop. I rented a 3 year old 3 bedroom condo with 2 bathrooms and a washer/dryer for 1150 a month. And I struck lightening twice and found another 3 br/2 bath for 1200 a month in the newly built condos on Wentworth a block away from South Loop police station....LOL
3. You can live like a South Looper for half the price....I enjoyed all of the amenities of being a SoLo resident while still being able to enjoy the greatness of China Town.
4. The lake and Soldier Field are only 5 minutes away
5. Of course the restaurants, events, and shops....thats pretty much a given.