PLACES TO EAT

Phoenix Restaurant, 2131 S. Archer | Official Web Site

Voted “Best Chinese Restaurant” three years in a row by Citysearch.com, Phoenix Restaurant comes highly recommended by both critics and patrons. Unlike other fine restaurants, this establishment is simply furnished; there are no elaborate decorations or elegant furnishings. Instead, attention is paid to the details that truly matter; the food and the service are first-rate.

Several waiters are on hand at all times; you never have to search for your waiter. Simply look up and beckon; a waiter will be at your side immediately. Emphasis is placed upon each patron’s comfort and satisfaction during the meal.

Try the hot and sour soup to begin your meal; it is delicately flavored and just spicy enough to add a little kick of flavor. After your soup, move on to the lettuce wraps with chicken. These are absolutely delicious; the chicken filling is perfectly seasoned and the lettuce pieces are huge, crisp and fresh. The waiter brings the wraps, chicken filling and sauce to your table and then artfully prepares the wraps for you; this is just one example of the excellent service at Phoenix.

The beef with satay sauce is a slightly spicy dish. It is prepared with tender, high-quality beef that literally melts upon your tongue with every bite. Another must-try is the sweet and sour chicken; the chicken has a crispy outer layer and is drowned in a tangy sauce. The dish is garnished with large chunks of juicy pineapple and slices of green pepper.

Visit Phoenix for an intimate dinner or a lavish party; Phoenix has a banquet hall that holds 250 guests and a private dining room that seats 10 to 28. Either way, your experience will be infused with flavor and genuine Asian hospitality.


Tea Leaf Café, 2336 S. Wentworth Ave. | Official Web Site
 
For the best bubble tea in Chinatown, hit the Tea Leaf Café. The café has dozens of flavors of bubble tea, so you can customize the ideal drink for yourself. Choose a base tea (black, green or milk) and then add a fruit flavor. You can add fresh boba (marble-sized tapioca balls) or opt to leave them out.

There are several flavors available for bubble tea; they range from the everyday, such as strawberry, peach, lemon and banana, to more exotic flavors such as kiwi, lychee, passion fruit, mango, papaya and even peanut. Bubble tea can be served hot or cold.

Tea Leaf also offers a wide variety of fresh fruit freezes; these are chilled fruit juices made of a combination of one, two or three fruits. You can add boba to freezes as well. Available flavors include avocado, cantaloupe, jackfruit, kiwi, mango, strawberry, papaya and banana. Fresh fruit is always used in every freeze.

Other drinks available at Tea Leaf include espresso, cappuccino, carmalatte, ice mocha, hot chocolate and 16 flavors of shaved ice. Tea Leaf also features a full-service kitchen, serving snacks such as fries, popcorn shrimp and chicken tenders. There are gourmet burgers and grilled sandwiches for larger appetites, and even Asian-themed rice boxes for a more ethnic meal.


Feida Bakery, 2228 S. Wentworth Ave. | Metromix Overview

This cozy bakery has dozens of types of pastries; some are traditionally Chinese while others are more universal. Especially delicious is the walnut cake with bean paste, which has a startling flavor at first, but quickly dissolves, leaving a sweet aftertaste. The winter melon cake is a round, flaky pastry filled with Chinese melon paste. It has an almost fruity flavor. Sesame cookies are small balls of dough covered in sesame seeds, and are not too sweet; they make an excellent snack. Other cakes and cookies, such as the baby moon cake or the baby pork cookies, also have paste fillings and are semi-sweet.

For the less adventurous palates, there are apple turnovers and chocolate cakes with sprinkles at Feida as well.

BARS/CLUBS

PLACES TO STAY

Chinatown Hotel SRO, 214 W. 22nd Pl. | Hotel Reservations & Map

This hotel is modest, with a small but immaculate lobby. Guest rooms include satellite television and high speed internet access. Hotel amenities include a business center, wake-up calls and a multilingual staff.

Hospitality is emphasized at this family-oriented hotel. Single, double and suite-style rooms are available and rates are very competitive. The Chinatown Hotel is situated right in the heart of the neighborhood, only steps away from Wentworth Avenue. For the most authentic Chinatown experience, this is the hotel to choose.

TOURS

Chinatown Chamber of Commerce Walking Tour | Official Web Site

The Chinatown Chamber of Commerce offers a one-hour walking tour through the Chinatown neighborhood. Highlights of the tour include several Chinatown landmarks, such as the Nine Dragon Wall, which is adorned with nine dragon sculptures; the Chinatown Mural, depicting Chinese history; Chinatown Square, featuring statues of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac; and Wentworth Avenue, the neighborhood’s historic commercial district. Throughout the tour, operators discuss Chinese culture and the history of the Chinese community in Chicago. Tours are conducted in English. Cost: $4 per person for private groups. To make a reservation, please call 312.326.5320.

For your convenience, the locations of all the businesses mentioned in this article are shown on our Chinatown Neighborhood Map.

Chicago Neighborhood Information

• See our Chicago Neighborhood Overviews & Map.