Chinatown Square Plaza

“Every time I step into Chinatown Square, I’m immediately struck by how it feels like a bridge...”

Every time I step into Chinatown Square, I’m immediately struck by how it feels like a bridge between old-world tradition and modern Chicago life. Unlike the narrow, bustling sidewalks of "Old Chinatown" nearby, this two-story pedestrian mall feels open and energetic. I usually start my visit at the central plaza, where I like to find my year among the twelve bronze zodiac statues. It’s a great spot to people-watch, especially with the massive "Chinese in America" mural providing such a powerful backdrop of history. For me, Chinatown Square is the heart of the neighborhood’s modern identity. It’s cleaner and a bit easier to navigate than the older sections of town, but it hasn't lost any of that authentic, vibrant soul that makes Chicago’s Chinatown so special.

Yonkers12

Jan 2026

“This was such a fun and unique experience and easily one of our favorite parts of this Chicago trip.”

This was such a fun and unique experience and easily one of our favorite parts of this Chicago trip. It was our first time visiting Chinatown, so we don’t have much to compare it to, but we were genuinely impressed. In the past, when we’ve visited Chicago, we’ve mostly stayed around the Magnificent Mile area, so it was refreshing to venture outside of our usual routine and explore a different part of the city. We’re so glad we did, because Chinatown offered a completely different vibe and experience. The area is full of character, culture, and energy, with so many fun little shops to wander into. We spent time exploring the various stores and really enjoyed the candy shop—it was a nostalgic and fun stop that added to the overall experience. Everywhere we went felt lively and welcoming, and it was easy to spend a few hours just walking around and taking it all in. We also had a wonderful dinner at String2 Ramen, which was a highlight of the visit. The food was delicious and hit the spot after a full day of exploring. There are so many other restaurants in the area that caught our eye, and we would absolutely love to come back and try more of them in the future. Overall, this visit made us realize how much we’ve been missing by sticking to the same areas on previous trips. Chinatown is definitely worth the visit, and we will without a doubt plan to return and explore even more the next time we’re in Chicago.

Eric Boesen

Jan 2026

“You should definitely go and if you’re getting souvenirs that’s your place way cheaper than Chicago’s downtown.”

Gaby Medina

Oct 2025

“Chinatown was awesome and I will definitely return whenever I visit Chicago again.”

La-Kisha Spencer

Sep 2025

“Bustling street for Asian dining options and stores.”

Kyuwon Lee

Sep 2025

“Great experience for sightseeing, food, and shopping.”

Great experience for sightseeing, food, and shopping! We left with a ton of cool snacks and souvenirs. Worth the train ride for visitors as its right outside the loop and an easy walk from the station.

Halie Daniels

Sep 2025

“Chinatown Square Plaza is always such a fun stop in Chicago.”

Chinatown Square Plaza is always such a fun stop in Chicago! The plaza itself is super lively, with tons of restaurants, bubble tea spots, shops, and little places to explore on both levels. I love that you can find a mix of everything here dim sum, hot pot, wagyu, Korean BBQ, bakeries, and cute gift shops. It’s easy to just wander around, grab something to eat, and enjoy the atmosphere. The design and artwork around the plaza also make it a great spot for photos. Definitely worth checking out if you’re in the city for great food, lots of energy, and always something new to try.

Jonathan Leonard

Sep 2025

“You can take the train from Chicago here, no need to pay and park.”

You can take the train from Chicago here, no need to pay and park! Lots of diverse food, shopping, candy, skin care, sushi, souvenirs, you name it, it’s here! Enjoy the plaza and find your animal sign while enjoying snacks and shopping.

JETS

Jul 2025

“Fun place to visit.”

Fun place to visit. Nice area with interesting architecture and lots of shops.

Sarah Martin

Jul 2025

“Here you can try many kinds of different food and buy small cute souvenirs.”

Agnes 42

Jun 2025

“Chinatown is one of my favorite places in the city.”

Chinatown is one of my favorite places in the city. I love to eat and shop for little trinkets, with that being said, this is heaven. They also host a variety of festivals throughout the year and it’s always such a fun visit. Definitely recommend for a day of family fun

Lizz

May 2025

“This is a really fun area where you do have to find street parking or you can go to the big parking...”

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.

karina k

May 2025