Map 10 • East Pilsen / Chinatown image

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East Pilsen / Chinatown

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Map 10

Nestled between the University of Illinois at Chicago campus and the official South Side, East Pilsen gives artists, families and hipsters all a place to call home. The neighborhood’s up and coming qualities haven’t quite up and came, making rent more affordable than most of its northern counterparts. Celebrate the Chinese New Year just across the river with street sales reminiscent of Shanghai.

image Landmarks

• Chinatown Gate •

S Wentworth Ave & W Cermak Rd

Built in 1976. The characters on the gate read “The world belongs to the people.”

• Hilliard Apartments • 2111 S Clark St

312-225-3715

Another Bertrand Golberg gem going from subsidized senior housing to mixed-income residential.

• On Leong Merchants Association Building • 2216 S Wentworth Ave

312-328-1188

1926 building inspired by architecture of the Kwangtung district of China. Now the home of the Pui Tak Center.

• Pacific Garden Mission • 1458 S Canal St

312-492-9410

America’s oldest continuously-operating rescue mission with free showings of long -unning radio drama “Unshackled!”

• Ping Tom Park • 300 W 19th St

Park with Chinese landscape elements.

image Restaurants

• Ahjoomah’s Apron • 218 W Cermak Rd

312-326-2800 • $$

Lone taste of Korea amidst dim sum and duck sauce.

• Chi Cafe • 2160 S Archer Ave

312-842-9993 • $

Crowd-pleasing Pan-Asian.

• Emperor’s Choice • 2238 S Wentworth Ave

312-225-8800 • $

Start with seafood; finish with tea.

• Evergreen • 2411 S Wentworth Ave

312-225-8898 • $$

More upscale than most Chinatown grub.

• Joy Yee’s Noodles • 2159 South China Pl

312-842-8928 • $$

Huge portions of Korean and Chinese, plus bubble tea.

• Lao Sze Chuan • 2172 S Archer Ave

312-326-5040 • $

Authentic Chinese dishes plus great evening karaoke.

• MingHin Cuisine • 2168 S Archer Ave

312-808-1999 • $$

Encyclopedic menu and, of course, the dim sum.

• Phoenix • 2131 S Archer Ave

312-328-0848 • $

The best Chinese breakfast in town.

• Saint’s Alp Teahouse • 2131 S Archer Ave

312-842-1886 • $

Hong Kong chain bears bubble tea.

• Three Happiness • 209 W Cermak Rd

312-842-1964 • $

Long waits for dim sum.

• Won Kow • 2237 S Wentworth Ave

312-842-7500 • $

Cheap, tasty dim sum.

image Shopping

• Chinatown Bazaar • 2221 S Wentworth Ave

312-225-1088

Part clothing store, part knick-knack shop.

• Feida Bakery • 2228 S Wentworth Ave

312-808-1113

Tasty Chinese baked goods.

• Giftland • 2212 S Wentworth Ave

312-225-0088

With a premium on Hello Kitty and other sorts of “Asian adorableness.”

• Pacific Furniture • 2200 S Wentworth Ave

312-808-0456

Mostly home furnishings.

• Sun Sun Tong Co. • 2260 S Wentworth Ave

312-842-6398

Stock up on Chinese herbs and teas.