A Walk In Chicago’s Chinatown

I recently had the pleasure of taking an evening stroll through Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood. It’s just a rock’s throw from downtown and with the Willis Tower in sight, it felt as if I had left the United States and was now in the center of a thriving city in China. During my entire time there, walking around ten blocks or more and into some side streets, I didn’t hear a single word of English spoken. With the exception of one Western hotel chain property, everything was Chinese. In fact, I didn’t see much Asian diversity. I didn’t see any Japanese, Thai, or Korean places. Everything was Chinese. There were amazing restaurants, bars, bakeries, tea houses and even a tong (which simply had a subtle glass door that led to a walk-up).

The scents in the air were absolutely amazing! Each restaurant seemed to dazzle its little section of airspace masterfully. Since I was dieting and on a tight schedule to get back to Midway, I had to fight the temptation to stop in each place for a taste. It also made me very happy to see full restaurants again and people out and about walking throughout the neighborhood. I’d like to point out that there was a minor (but visible) police presence, the sidewalks and streets were very clean, there was zero criminal element and I felt completely safe walking around with thousands of dollars worth of camera equipment. Even when I was at the opposite end of Chinatown, right by the highway overpass, I felt completely safe and that’s very important considering the size and population of a major city like Chicago.

if you’re ever in Chi Town, take the CTA, bus, or rideshare to this amazing neighborhood. Try to come hungry. Your taste buds will thank us both for it! What a beautiful community and place to check out!