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    Chi Cafe

    3.9 (1.3k reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    CHI CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Chi Cafe

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    Crystal Z.

    Ambiance - casual, great for late night eats Service - staff were nice and attentive Food - food had a lot of "wok hay", everything was flavorful

    Walnut Shrimp
    Cherry O.

    This isn't my first time at Chi Cafe in Chinatown, but I've never actually written a review -- and it's long overdue. This place is always a solid choice. The food is consistently good, the prices are reasonable, and the service is pretty efficient considering how busy it usually gets. We ordered a few dishes this time, including one that wasn't even on the menu -- Eggplant with Garlic Sauce. They said they could make it, and it was amazing. Perfect balance of flavor, tender eggplant, and just the right amount of garlic. 10/10 -- I really hope they add it to the menu! The Fried Fish Fillet with Sweet Saki Sauce had a nice, light batter and crispy texture, but the sauce was a bit too sweet for my taste. 6/10 The Salt and Pepper Pork Chops were flavorful and had a good crisp to them, but just slightly on the dry side. Would've been perfect if the meat was a little more moist. 8/10 The Walnut Shrimp was really good -- nice crunch, good balance of creamy and sweet. 9/10 And of course, we always order the Pea Tips with Garlic Sauce -- one of my favorites here. So delicious and healthy. 10/10

    Calina N.

    One of the best Chinese meals I have had in a very long time. We were able to feed my family of 5 (4 adults and one 11 year old) for only $100. The value you get and generous portions here is unbeatable. We were very stuffed after our meal. Service was super fast and friendly. We were seated right away and everything was perfect. We ordered: - Young chow fried rice with shrimp - Sizzling beef saki sauce (my favorite out of everything) - Sizzling beef rib black pepper - Shrimp wonton soup - Clams with black bean sauce - Oxtail clay pot with honey pepper sauce - House Hot tea for the table - We also had 3 bowls of white rice to share since all the entrees came with a bowl. My sister in law was saying that if you eat at Joyee right across from here it would be double the price. Definitely spend your coin here if you want authentic Chinese food in Chinatown!

    Scam
    Myra Y.

    Chi Cafe was my default place to eat and order delivery from for a few years. As more restaurants have popped up, we have tried others to get exposure to the parts of Chinatown. We finally dined in after not being here In a year or so. The food did not disappoint as I ordered my favorites - the salt and pepper pork and the egg white and dried scallop fried rice. Service was rather quick and we received our chow mein within minutes of ordering and the friend rice and salt and pepper pork chop soon after. We will add Chi Cafe back in our rotation.

    Curry Fish Balls
    Kitty L.

    Many years ago, we used to dine in Chi Café every time before heading to an art center's monthly Third Friday open house. There was also a time when we regularly picked up takeout orders for our daughter, who used to live in the city, after our weekly dim sum with extended family. This past Friday before we went to an art exhibit in Bridgeport, we stopped in Chi Café to dine again, after at least 6 long years! One major change is that they now cater to the late-night crowd, open daily from 4:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. When we arrived at 7:00 p.m., still early for the late-night scene, the spacious restaurant had only a few occupied tables. The interior was modern and very clean, though it was quite cold inside due to the strong air conditioning. I was pleasantly surprised by how spacious and clean the ladies' room was, which is often a rare find in the city. The only detail that needed improvement was the tea cups, which had noticeable tea stains. Soaking them overnight in baking soda might help. That said, the complimentary tea had a nice aroma. The staff were all friendly, and our server was especially knowledgeable about their extensive menu. He offered helpful suggestions and answered all our questions with ease. For the three of us, we ordered and shared the following: Curry Fish Balls Fish Fillet Congee Tofu with Fish Fillet Pot Stir-Fried Rice Noodles with Beef Chi Café Special Fried Rice The food was just as good as we remembered and still reasonably priced. My favorite dish of the evening was the sizzling hot Tofu with Fish Fillet. The tofu was deep-fried and then marinated in a flavorful sauce, with the inside soft and silky smooth. Everything was authentic Hong Kong Cantonese style. Portions were very generous, and we had leftovers for the next day's lunch. All in all, it was a satisfying meal with great value. We'll definitely be back for more. Highly recommended.

    Shrimp wonton noodle soup. Good
    Brad N.

    Wonton noodle soup was as hoped. Nice pieces of plump shrimp. Egg noodles were chewy and not mushy. Ask for the red vinegar and have on the side with white pepper. Garlic on choy had a nice garlicy sauce. Came with a bowl of rice. Chili oil is decently spicy so you don't need a ton like at other places.

    Pea Tip with Garlic
    Sheyenne H.

    Gets really busy and full, expect to wait for a table. The usual Chinese fare. They have my favorite pea pod tips. Neef dish and others are delicious but I worry about the healthiness lol. I meam there's a lot of fat and grease but that's what you expect in Chinese dishes and oftem what makes it special and delicious.

    Noodles
    Bryan Y.

    Went here because it was open late after seeing a concert at United center. Thankful. Ordered some noodles, fried rice, tofu, and green beans. Place felt authentic, busy, attentive. Service was quick as well. Food came out fast. It's very loud inside but I wouldn't expect less. Gives the vibes of an actual Chinese restaurant. Not bad for a quick bite and late night food!

    Elise P.

    my family and i enjoyed this restaurant in chinatown. their flavored wings and thin fried noodles were my fave :-) phone did not eat first cus we were hungryyyy

    Salt and Pepper Pork Chop
    Calvin Y.

    Food is very good. It reminds me of Hong Kong diner food and the price is very good for the quantity and quality! Wait time is usually 10-20 minute waits, but going late night is pretty quick

    Innards and chicken wings
    Yvan C.

    First of all, The server took our order with a smirk like he's not glad that we're there which spoils as this is our first visit to this place. But instead of walking out, we still gave a chance to try it since it has 4.5 stars review coz maybe the food is worth it. We ordered beef brisket soup, chicken wings, beef innards and beef intestine. Other than being so bland or too salty, almost everything has a large amount of lettuce for salad which overpowers the taste. All the meat are hard and i choked a little like twice to their beef brisket and pork intestine. The noodle is not cooked that it is a little hard and dry, this is their beef brisket noodle soup. Their mango milkshake tastes like an instant or powdered milkshake. Not a fresh one. No free tea like the other chinese restaurants. In the picture i took all the lettuce because it is too overwhelming already. Oh, i forgot to take lettuce in fried wings. Condiment is only soysauce and chili. Just an honest review. I do not recommend this reataurant.

    Pork Rib with Sweet and Sour Sauce  Stir-Fried On Choy and Squid in Shrimp Paste Pea Tip with Garlic
    Angela Y.

    We usually come here if we have visitors coming to visit, since they open til 2am every night. Price is very reasonable and they have a wide selection of items to choose from. There's usually a wait if you come in late at night or during dinner time. Service is very quick and staffs are very friendly and efficient! It's our go to if we can't think of what to eat, we always get the sweet and sour pork ribs, garlic pea tips and the dried scallops egg white fried rice ! Their fried rice is also pretty decent!! It's a very casual quick dining, and they will validate parking if you park in that big parking lot. If you are looking for something quick, with variety and affordable option, definitely come check this place out!

    These were the stems of broccoli that was hidden underneath the beef.
    Judy S.

    We stopped by this evening for a bite to eat. The menu is extensive, offering a wide variety of choices. My husband ordered the Mongolian beef, but what arrived was more like beef and broccoli. It tasted somewhat like pot roast. The broccoli wasn't properly cut, with large stems included, resembling little broccoli trees. The beef was a bit chewy, and overall, the dish was not impressive. I opted for the honey citron tea, served cold. It was light, refreshing, and quite enjoyable. The service was quick, but not particularly personable. Nothing stood out that would entice me to return and try something else. The restaurant has plenty of seating, and the ceiling features a cool 3D leaf art installation that covers the entire area. Chinatown has so many great places to try. Overall, this one was just okay. Perhaps another dish would be better.

    Sizzling beef - IG @bougiefoodieboi

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    28 days ago

    Great place to eat in Chinatown. Fast and helpful service. They have no problem helping you make great decisions.

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    1 year ago

    Quick service, clean enough, late night diner sit down option. Lots of nostalgic favorites and good congee.

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    Page 1 of 34

    Ask the Community - Chi Cafe

    Is this a buffet?

    No, it is tableside service and menu is priced per dish.

    Is this restaurant good for kids?

    Yes! Super casual, they can make some noise, it's big enough they can move around if needed. Menu is easy to find chicken dishes or appetizers that they'll enjoy.

    Does anyone know how to replicate their chili oil (w/ the little shrimpies)?

    You can buy some 🌶 oil from asian groceries stores or im sure u can find a video on you tube on how to make it, hope this helps!

    View All 4 Questions

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    I feel like the first hint was that all the other restaurants had lineups to go in and walking into…read morethe establishment we were able to get a table, no problem. Especially in Chinatown in Chicago for there not to be a lot of people in this restaurant kind of concerning, but we didn't wanna wait in line and Google said that the reviews are really good for this place. Mind you we did get dim sum so who knows if the regular dinner dishes would be better. We ordered the staples as attached in the photos. Everything was warm, but not hot. Lacked a lot of flavor. The hottest dish that came out where the shrimp spring rolls. Can't go wrong with those to be honest. Again, like I said, maybe their dinner is better. If I had to compare price wise, I feel like it's comparable to Toronto prices.

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    Tl;dr this place is very solid and my go-to dim sum place. I'm sure the seafood and everything else…read moreon their huge menu is also good. Be prepared to wait a little bit for a table, or share a big one with another party at peak times. Prices are reasonable and portions are pretty generous. ===== Kind of lost count of how many times I've been. Love getting the dim sum and noodle dishes here. Some favorites: beef cheong fun with egg, siu mai, Singapore noodle, xo rice noodle rolls, spare ribs, pork and century egg congee. All the food has been very solid. Inside is always bustling and can be a bit crowded. Service is pretty friendly as far as Chinatown goes, and very efficient. There's a guy who works there who I think is the manager or something, because he puts in 200x effort and is always hustling. When he's not around it feels like something is missing. Prices are very reasonable and we like ordering a lot here so that we have tasty leftovers for later. This place has quite a few big tables and is good for large groups. My only nits are that very occasionally a dish or teacup will have a dirty spot, and that the bubble tea here is kind of meh. I don't remember exactly which one I ordered, but it was a little watery and lacking in flavor. It's also probably tough since they're boxed in by boba places now. Pro tip: When you first get your table, they'll ask you what kind of tea you want. If you ignore them or don't know how to answer, the default is green tea. Another one is to come at off-peak times. Not only will you get a table faster, but I think they tweak their portion sizes depending on how crowded it is. Definitely will be back! And I recommend you visit too

    We like this restaurant. It is about 4.25 stars. The restaurant decorated nicely and clean. There…read moreare a lot people come to enjoy typical Hong Kong style cuisine. We got the sea cucumber beef tendon casserole. This is a good dish and my wife has not have sea cucumber sometimes. The sauce is great to go with rice. We also got seafood chow mein. This is a pan fried noodles with different seafood. Overall we enjoy it. Their menu has good selection.

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    Interior of the restaurant
    Nice shrimp rolls
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    Orange Chicken
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    Eggplant with Spicy Garlic Sauce
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