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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?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy
    Dogs allowed

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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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    2 years ago

    If you love noodles HALF as much as I do.. TREAY YO SELF!! And give this place a try. They have a awesome hand pulled egg noodle soup

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    My go to spot for Chinese food. It is open late and always smacks. Very delicious and fresh.

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    Page 3 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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    MingHin Cuisine

    MingHin Cuisine

    3.9
    (3.2k reviews)
    0.0 mi
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    Took the family to Chinatown for my partner's birthday and made it a full afternoon. First time…read morebringing the kids, first time introducing them to dim sum, and we came in hot on a busy day with multiple events happening in the area. MingHin was packed, loud, and a little chaotic. Worth it. Dim sum is an experience as much as a meal and MingHin delivers on both fronts. We ordered more than we could keep track of. Soup dumplings that immediately became the kids' personal obsession. Shu mai that hit every time. BBQ pork buns in every form they offered because obviously. Chinese broccoli to balance out the indulgence. Everything was solid, fresh, and exactly what you want from a dim sum spread. The room was packed and buzzing but the service kept up impressively. Servers were constantly circling, clearing empty plates and dishes without missing a beat. Clean and attentive even at full capacity, which is no small thing. Fair warning if you are bringing little ones: this environment is a lot. The noise, the crowd, the overwhelming parade of food arriving at the table. Our kids loved what they ate but the sensory experience was a bit much for them. This is a place better suited for a group of adventurous adults or older kids who thrive in high energy environments. Prices are great for the quality and quantity of food you get. A Chinatown institution for good reason. Just know what you are walking into and embrace it fully.

    MingHin Cuisine is one of my favorite spots for dim sum and family-style dining. The service is…read morealways great, and I appreciate that they provide complimentary tea while you enjoy your meal. The portions are huge, so I highly recommend sharing dishes, especially if you're dining with a group. If you're not familiar with the menu, it can be a little challenging to know what to order, but the staff is usually helpful with recommendations. Some of my favorites are the dumplings, various rice dishes, chicken, lemongrass dishes, Mongolian beef, and other traditional offerings. This is a fantastic place for larger groups, and they're very accommodating when it comes to splitting checks. The food comes out quickly, the atmosphere is lively, and there's plenty of variety for everyone. If you're in the area near Joy Yee, MingHin is definitely worth a visit!

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    Wentworth Seafood House

    Wentworth Seafood House

    4.3
    (220 reviews)
    0.2 mi
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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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    Go 4 Food

    Go 4 Food

    4.0
    (892 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    I have been in love with this restaurant, both the traditional Chinese cuisine and the Asian fusion…read morestyle - all is just perfect here! Definitely highly recommended to everyone loving seafood and every dish full of a variety of flavors! The owner Wendy is very nice, kind and ensure you get the best food and service at all times!

    Go 4 Food in Chinatown has a large menu and a reputation for creative dishes, but our experience…read morewas mixed. The service was just okay. Communication was a challenge since very little English was spoken, and the descriptions of the dishes were lacking. I don't enjoy gambling on menu titles that sound good but end up being something completely different from what you expect. Some of the more familiar dishes were solid. The Kung Pao Chicken and Mongolian Beef were both pretty good and tasted like what you'd expect from most Chinese restaurants. Other dishes were much harder to understand, even after asking questions about how they were prepared or whether they were sweet or savory. We ordered the Sauteed Chicken in Hot Spicy Sauce Rice, which turned out to be very heavy on Sichuan peppercorns with a strong floral aftertaste. The chicken sat on a bed of what looked and tasted like deep-fried kale, and despite the word "rice" in the name, there was no rice in the dish at all. That's one item we won't be ordering again. We also tried the Fish Filet with Hot and Sour Lime Sauce. It was basically a sweet-and-sour style fish dish. It wasn't bad, but it leaned much sweeter than expected. Another thing to note: none of the dishes come with white rice--it's completely à la carte. We only found that out after ordering. With prices being what they are these days, it would be nice if they included at least some white rice like most Chinese restaurants do. Overall, the food wasn't terrible, but the lack of clear descriptions and communication made the experience frustrating. I prefer restaurants where expectations are clear rather than discovering surprises after the food arrives.

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    Yep Kitchen

    Yep Kitchen

    3.7
    (89 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    If you are looking for a Good Cantonese restaurant. Yep is the choice. They serve from breakfast to…read moredinner. We like this place due to the food has right amount of spice and salt. It is good for the high blood pressure customers. We got the porridge with pig organ. The dish is beautifully done. We also got the crispy intestines. It is crispy enough. The last dish is the Hong Kong style lobster. Love it. I recommend this dish. Service is great. Definitely is a plus to dine here.

    Discovered this spot from a friend! She had suggested that we come here to eat! We walked in and…read moreobviously because it was late, we were the only ones there, but there were still some take out orders. There is a lot space which is great. It would be good for big groups! There is a lot to offer from the menu. There's dim sum, AYCE hot pot, sushi, live seafood, and then all the Chinese food! We ordered a few dishes over rice, got some salted fish and chicken fried rice, egg tofu, and green bean stir fry. I would have to say, the food was good! It wasn't too salty....which is so hard to find at a lot of places these days. And the prices were good as well. I miss when food was a good deal like this! It is also hard to find a spot now for good late night eats or just late night eats in general. I will definitely be coming back here again for the other items on the menu!

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    Interior, plus tablets on each table for seamless ordering
    Interior, plus tablets on each table for seamless ordering
    Beef cheung fun
    Beef cheung fun
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    108. Hong Kong Style Milk Tea

    Chi Cafe - hkcafe - Updated July 2026

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