5 Best Chinese Restaurants in Chicago to Try

Chicago’s Chinese food scene ranks among America’s best, offering incredible diversity from traditional regional specialties to innovative modern concepts.

Here’s where locals are getting their dumpling fix in 2025.

1. Chinatown Food Court

Don’t let the food court setting fool you – this collection of specialized stalls in the basement of Richland Center delivers some of the most authentic regional Chinese cooking in America.

Each tiny vendor focuses on perfecting specific dishes: hand-pulled noodles from northwestern China, Chengdu-style street snacks, Taiwanese specialties, and more.

The communal seating creates a lively atmosphere where adventurous eaters can sample different regional styles in one meal.

2. Chengdu Impression

This Lincoln Park favorite delivers unapologetically authentic Sichuan cuisine that doesn’t hold back on those numbing peppercorns and chili heat for non-Chinese diners.

Chef Ryan Hu’s menu explores both famous Sichuan dishes and lesser-known specialties from his hometown, with the mapo tofu and boiled fish in chili oil achieving legendary status among Chicago heat-seekers.

3. MingHin Cuisine

This Chinatown cornerstone (with multiple locations) delivers exceptional Cantonese cooking that’s made it Chicago’s go-to for dim sum and banquet-style dining.

Their weekend dim sum service features both cart service and made-to-order specialties that rival versions from Hong Kong, while their extensive menu showcases the clean, precise cooking that defines great Cantonese cuisine.

4. Lao Sze Chuan

Chef Tony Hu’s flagship restaurant helped introduce authentic Sichuan cuisine to Chicago and continues to set the standard for this beloved regional style.

Their famous dry chili chicken with those crispy bits buried among fiery peppers has achieved iconic status, while their extensive menu explores both famous Sichuan specialties and lesser-known regional dishes.

5. D Cuisine

This Lincoln Park dim sum specialist focuses on perfecting these delicate Cantonese specialties in a bright, modern setting that’s brought authentic dim sum to the North Side.

Every dumpling and small plate is made to order rather than from carts, ensuring perfect temperature and freshness in each bamboo steamer.

Their har gow (shrimp dumplings) feature delicate translucent wrappers and sweet shrimp filling, while their egg tarts provide the perfect sweet ending with flaky pastry and silky custard.