Chicago Chinatown
Home to numerous Asian businesses, including many novel food and beverage vendors
Although Chicago is known for a wide variety of high-end and affordable dining experiences with heavily American influences, some of our best recent memories come from the city’s Chinatown, which offers a heavily concentrated collection of cool savory and sweet spaces spanning multiple Asian cuisines.
In addition to MingHin, Matcha En was a particular standout, specializing in unique desserts ranging from matcha hot chocolate to mango “towels,” jiggly transparent raindrop cakes, and matcha chocolate cubes. We also liked Te Amo, a local boba tea chain with clear can-styled cups and strong recipes.
Additionally, a relatively new Chinatown addition called 88 Marketplace claims to be the city’s largest Asian supermarket. It’s comparable to larger H Marts, only in a building with three floors – and more dedicated restaurant and houseware spaces.