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    Chinatown Square

    4.2 (79 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Chinatown Square Photos

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    Morena G.

    I took the Chicago water taxi from downtown area to go to Chinatown. It was definitely on people's itinerary for this Labor Day weekend, so it was very busy. There are numerous shops to get jewelry, cool souvenirs, Disney plushies, also restaurants, tea and ice cream shops to choose from. It's a very busy road, there's public parking available. Streets were relatively clean but the atmosphere was great. There were a few street vendors selling fresh fruits, plants and miscellaneous.

    Liza G.

    So much to do and see! It's a smaller area, but don't let that fool you. There are tons of food spots, a variety of shops for souvenirs or unique finds, and fun pop-in stores with activities and more. As we waited for our table at Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings, we decided to walk around outside and by chance we literally stumbled upon an old-school car show. So..naturally, we joined the crowd and suddenly found ourselves weaving between classic exotic cars in the middle of Chinatown. See pictures for an old chevy with a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling in the backseat. Yup, you read that right. A lot of parking around the area and super easy to get to by train if needed.

    A view of the ornate lion sculpture at the east corner of Chinatown Square Plaza
    Rich S.

    We made our way on the Red Line to within a two-min walk to Chinatown Square, a two-story open-air mall of shops and restaurants with an open plaza. The gateways and storefronts and courtyard have beautiful ornate Imperial-based designs. On the plaza, you'll find some classic lions and a wonderful set of sculptures from Xiamen representing the Chinese Zodiac. We've been to several good restaurants here, and a nice candy shop, too. Oh, one more thing. Those are not $100 bills scattered here and there. It's very eye-catching advertising! Haha! But I'll take off one star, sorry, because of a lack of restful seating. One of us had some back pain the day we visited, (Nov 2025), and though there were a few low square individual seats scattered around, there were no benches or chairs that we could find with any kind of arms or backs that one could lean on to make it easier to get up again.

    Maronda H.

    A unique area to come and spend the day. Walk around and shop at local shops, bakeries, candy shop,bubble tea shops and souvenir shops. There are a variety of food cuisine places to eat. The atmosphere is nice and enjoyable. A nice place to come eat and shop.

    Dan A.

    We got here around 2 on a Thursday afternoon. There is a designated parking lot with a mostly seamless online payment process. You have to get validation from a business to get the advertised low rate. Walkable streets and was semi-crowded. You have a good mix of traditional restaurants, bakeries, shops including souvenir stores. We picked up some baked goods from Chi Quon and some tea from Oriental Tea (has a restroom) We had a challenge finding a restroom as a few places didn't have public restrooms and the ones that did required a purchase. Service was okay for the two stops we made. Didn't have a chance to get lunch-next time. Overall, worth the stop to explore and for the food/shopping.

    Monument invention of printing
    Michelle F.

    Chinatown Square is a fun place to spend the day, have some great food and walk around. Walk along a bit and be sure to look at the ground to read about what sign you are; rabbit, snake, monkey etc... It featured a lot of cultural places to visit alongside museums, Chinese architecture and sculptures. On weekends during good weather there are many people selling things alongside Chinese music and singing in the middle of the square. There are many good food option restaurants from Ramen, hand pulled noodles, Dim Sum, bakeries, bubble teas and souvenirs.

    Cass O.

    After doing some research I found Chinatown Square and quickly added to my list of places we needed to check out when visiting Chicago! The food and culture is amazing. The buildings are so beautiful there is so much to explore and take in. Make sure to add this to your list!!

    Outside Entrance
    Elizabeth C.

    Chinatown Chicago, so beautiful and wonderful place to visit and do business with ! So many beautiful arches, entrances, and beautiful gates. The animal statues are around the circle. Beautiful look out tower in the center. Such a vibrant and historical place. So special for everyone to enjoy and visit- but be respectful please! Karaoke lounges, hotels, banks, schools, plenty of homes, wonderful shopping for ant souvenir, cell phone, clothes, homeware, wonderful restaurants and Boba tea shops and dessert houses. Right off on the Chinatown exit of the Red Line

    Grape
    Vanity H.

    Find these at almost all of the shops/restaurants! Suuuper yummy and refreshing BUT pricey at $7-$8 per. They do sell some in boxes of 3 as well - i believe at $17, but don't quote me.

    China Town
    Terry W.

    I always come here when I am in Chicago. I always find something different and become more acquainted with the business I have frequented. I enjoy all the ambience and ovas that Chicago has. Something new every time I come. It is always a great trip here, enjoying time with my daughter.

    Brian F.

    What is not to love about Chinatown Square? With delicious food and desserts, fun shopping for Chinese imports, and many other surprises! For city folk, the el will get you there real easy, though the red line can be a little weird when the sun goes down. If you're coming from the suburbs, there's a ton of street parking and a lot across the street. Cost wise, I'd recommend you take a full walk through the square first, then you'll be equipped to make the best decisions. Also, there are plenty of the major banks located within walking distance which is great because of the stores that take cash only. My only complaint is that on Sunday, most things aren't open until 10 or 11am. But there are some bakeries open early that sell a nice breakfast pastry while you wait.

    karina k.

    This is a really fun area where you do have to find street parking or you can go to the big parking lot where you can get validation if a participating restaurant or business will give it to you and it's only $2 for 3 hours. You see the Chinese astrology monuments and there's a square where you can have live performances and parades or festivals here. There are two level restaurants and businesses throughout and it's a really cute area to go shopping and have food in.

    Aesha E.

    Chinatown Square is the outdoor mall in Chinatown, and the "town square" of the neighborhood. Cool bit of trivia; it's the largest Chinese mall between the coasts. It's reclaimed railroad land, much of which has been developed in other ways as well (such as the townhomes just north of the square or Ping Tom Park a few blocks north as well). Some of the cultural events that take place in Chinatown take place in part or whole in Chinatown Square. There are Chinese restaurants here, including at least one where you can buy whole duck, bubble tea shops, travel agencies, and more. I've eaten at Lao Sze Chuan, which was good (I really like their dry chili chicken). My favorite part about Chinatown Square are the twelve statues for the Chinese zodiac. They're cool and a fun photo to take that you won't get elsewhere in the city. The twin pagodas are a great landmark for meeting up with people.

    Looking towards the south half of Chinatown Square here.  Popular Joy Yee Noodle at the right.

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    6 months ago

    Many restaurants and experiences and a fun way to spend an afternoon. Enjoyed taking pictures in the Square as well.

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    11 months ago

    I love Chinatown it has the best food and Boba's drink is the best place I ever tried in my whole world

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    1 year ago

    Always something to do and just nice scenery in general on a beautiful day it's nice to walk around .

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    Ask the Community - Chinatown Square

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    Review Highlights - Chinatown Square

    The open area is surrounded by Chinese zodiac statutes but is missing 3 of them.

    Mentioned in 10 reviews

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    The Mart - 7/31/23 FYI, menu

    The Mart

    4.3(129 reviews)
    2.4 miRiver North, Near North Side
    $$

    My husband was working here while we were in Chicago, so he showed me around the public areas. This…read moreplace is huge. There's about three floors that are similar to a mall with multiple shopping areas and a food court. There is one sit down restaurant that has a huge bar and views over the river. If you're staying at the Holiday Inn downtown or the Voco downtown, there's a convenient walkway over the street so you don't even need to go outside. The food court has a huge variety of quick service restaurants: salads, barbecue, sushi, Chinese, sandwiches, and fried chicken. Multiple restaurants allow you to order food ahead and pick it up so you don't have to wait in long lines. Most of the building is office space so if you're here around 8 or 9 AM, lunchtime, or 4 to 6 PM, it's crazy busy. There are a couple entrances that have those rotating doors. My first morning here I was entering from the street level through one of those and a lady behind me came and pushed the door really fast. It was all I could do to step out the door without having to go around again. She then rushed by me and almost ran up the escalator. She must have been late for work compared to me, a wandering tourist. If you're in the area, check this place out.

    Nice place to walk and see the beautiful sights of the city and the river in Chicago. Would…read morerecommend.

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    The Mart - 7/31/23 FYI

    7/31/23 FYI

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    Richland Center

    Richland Center

    3.4(29 reviews)
    0.1 miChinatown
    $

    In the lead up to my most recent visit to Chicago, the hidden food court in Richland Center popped…read moreup in my algorithm... and as someone who loves "hole in the wall"-type places, as well as checking out various neighborhoods, their shops, and restaurants, I was super excited to check it out. The problem is that once you actually GET to Richland Center, especially to try out the food court, you realize it's dingy and unwelcoming. There's 0 charm, half the stalls are either closed OR the folks working in them are either rude or paying no attention (seriously, I want to be a paying customer!), and it's just generally disappointing. It didn't really matter which stall I visited or what selection(s) I was trying to make (while wanting to be mindful of cultural norms, expectations, etc). Also, I don't know who decided to pitch the food court as some hidden gem... first of all, it's literally inside the main doors from the sidewalk and then down a (filthy) set of stairs, but secondly, there doesn't seem to be any attention paid to... well... anything. I get that the mall itself is pretty abandoned... like, I anticipated that (and, unfortunately, it seems to be par for the course in many places these days). I understand the nature of dining at food stalls too... I've frequented many in my travels and I honestly love them and have had some of my best meals, and best interactions, from them... ... but this? This wasn't it. This was not a positive experience. Maybe it's different if you live in the neighborhood, I don't know. But I've never had this kind of experience before. I wouldn't recommend going to Richland Center either, whether it be trying to dine in the food court or anything else.

    There was a cute store in here with a lot of items made of yarn. I also got a really good boba…read more Other than that..there is not much to see.

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    Richland Center
    Richland Center
    Richland Center

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    Westfield Old Orchard

    Westfield Old Orchard

    4.0(242 reviews)
    15.4 mi
    $$
    Established in 1956
    Luxury

    While out with my family, we decided to stop by Westfield Old Orchard, since it was such a…read morebeautiful day out. It's been over a decade since I've been to this mall so I was very excited to return. Thankfully, the parking garage was right next to the mall, so it was a short walk to the entrance. The outdoor mall was extremely clean and absolutely beautiful. We browsed in and out of a few different stores and everyone was very nice and attentive. The one store that caught our attention was Laderach, which was a Swiss chocolate store. We were able to sample truffles and chocolate bars and it was probably the best tasting chocolate we've ever had. We also stopped in to Coach and I ended up buying my daughter a cute, Coach bag. With stores like Zara, Fabletics, Alo, Louis Vuitton and Nordstrom, you truly get a great, shopping experience at this mall; there's something here for everyone. There's also ample seating as well. If you're in the Chicagoland area, this is definitely the mall to visit. You will not be disappointed!

    Westfield Old Orchard is one of the most beautiful shopping centers in the Chicago area. I…read moreabsolutely love its open-air design, which makes shopping feel relaxing and enjoyable. The entire mall is clean, well-maintained, and beautifully landscaped with plenty of places to sit and enjoy the atmosphere. The variety of stores is impressive. Whether you're looking for luxury brands, fashion, home décor, or technology, you'll find it here. Some of my favorite stores include Apple, Nordstrom, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Zara, Aritzia, lululemon, Anthropologie, LEGO, Sephora, Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, West Elm, J.Crew, Madewell, Free People, Vuori, Alo Yoga, Tory Burch, Coach, and Barnes & Noble. There is truly something for everyone. The mall also offers great dining and entertainment options, making it a perfect place to spend an entire afternoon. Whether you're shopping, meeting friends for coffee, or simply enjoying a walk, Westfield Old Orchard always feels welcoming and vibrant. If you're visiting the Chicago area and enjoy shopping, this is definitely a destination worth exploring. Highly recommended!

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    Westfield Old Orchard
    Westfield Old Orchard
    Westfield Old Orchard

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    Chinatown Square - shoppingcenters - Updated September 2026

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