Why Uptown Chicago Is a Hidden Gem for Chinese Cuisine
Looking for the best Chinese food Uptown in Chicago? You're in luck. This historic neighborhood serves up authentic regional Chinese dishes that rival any Chinatown spot.
Top Uptown Chinese Restaurants:
- Furama Restaurant - Award-winning dim sum since 1985
- Lao Sze Chuan - Fiery Sichuan specialties
- Sun Wah BBQ - Cantonese roast duck masters
- Happy Hot Hunan - Smoky Hunan cuisine
- Uptown China - Modern wok dishes with cocktails
Uptown's Chinese food scene offers something special. You'll find family-owned restaurants that have been perfecting their craft for decades. Furama Restaurant has been serving authentic Chinese cuisine and dim sum since 1985 and earned recognition as one of the 16 best dim sum restaurants in America by Time Out.
The neighborhood's dining corridor stretches from Wilson to Lawrence, packed with hidden gems serving everything from hand-pulled noodles to Peking duck. Whether you want quick takeout or a sit-down feast, Uptown delivers.
Many spots stay open late, perfect for post-theater dining or weekend cravings. Most offer delivery through major apps, but the full experience happens in-person with dim sum carts and family-style sharing.
Where to Find the best Chinese food Uptown
The best Chinese food Uptown awaits just steps from your door, scattered throughout this vibrant neighborhood like culinary treasures waiting to be finded. From family-owned dim sum institutions to fiery Sichuan specialists, Uptown's Chinese dining scene offers authentic regional flavors that transport you straight to different provinces of China.
Walking through Uptown's dining corridor, you'll notice the incredible variety. Steam rises from bamboo baskets at traditional dim sum spots, while the aroma of roasted duck draws crowds to Cantonese barbecue masters. Sichuan peppercorns create their signature tingle at spicy specialists, and modern wok stations serve up creative plant-based dishes alongside classic preparations.
Furama Restaurant – Dim Sum Since 1985
Furama Restaurant stands as Uptown's dim sum royalty, earning national recognition when Time Out named it one of America's 16 best dim sum restaurants. This family-owned gem has been rolling out authentic Chinese cuisine since 1985, and their commitment to tradition shows in every steaming basket.
The magic happens with their roving dim sum carts. These wheeled treasures cruise through the dining room, offering everything from delicate har gow (shrimp dumplings) with translucent wrappers to rich char siu bao bursting with sweet barbecue pork. Their shrimp dumplings showcase plump, sweet shrimp through paper-thin wrappers, while siu mai dumplings arrive topped with bright orange crab roe.
Beyond dim sum, Furama's full Cantonese menu shines. Their roast duck arrives with crackling skin and tender meat, served alongside traditional pancakes and hoisin sauce for DIY wrapping.
Lao Sze Chuan – Fiery Sichuan Classics
Lao Sze Chuan brings the bold, mouth-numbing flavors of Sichuan province straight to Uptown. This restaurant specializes in authentic Sichuan cuisine, famous for its liberal use of Sichuan peppercorns that create that distinctive tingling sensation.
Their mapo tofu represents Sichuan cooking at its most sublime. Silky tofu cubes swim in a fiery red sauce loaded with ground pork, fermented black beans, and enough Sichuan peppercorns to make your lips dance. The dry-chili chicken showcases another classic technique, with tender chicken pieces hiding beneath a mountain of dried chilies and peppercorns.
Sun Wah BBQ – Cantonese Roast Masters
Sun Wah BBQ has mastered the ancient art of Cantonese roasting, creating some of Chicago's most coveted duck dishes. Their signature crispy skin duck requires advance ordering, but the wait rewards you with perfection. The roasting process creates duck with impossibly crispy skin that shatters at first bite, revealing juicy, flavorful meat underneath.
Beyond duck, Sun Wah BBQ serves exceptional roast pork. Their char siu achieves the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors, with edges caramelized to glossy perfection.
Happy Hot Hunan – Smoky Pepper Heat
Happy Hot Hunan specializes in the distinctive flavors of Hunan province, emphasizing preservation techniques like smoking, pickling, and drying. Their smoked pork with bamboo shoots exemplifies Hunan cooking's distinctive approach, while the Chairman Mao pork features succulent pork belly braised in a rich, slightly sweet sauce.
Uptown China – Late-Night Cocktails & Wok
Uptown China brings a modern twist to Chinese dining, combining traditional wok cooking with contemporary cocktails. Their scratch-made wok dishes showcase commitment to fresh ingredients, while thoughtful vegan alternatives maintain complex flavors without sacrificing satisfaction.
Dim Sum, Hot Pot & Regional Specialties
Uptown's Chinese restaurants offer a delicious journey through China's diverse regional cuisines. From the delicate artistry of Cantonese dim sum to the hearty comfort of Northwestern noodles, each style tells a story of tradition, technique, and flavor.
Dim sum represents the crown jewel of Cantonese cooking. These small plates showcase incredible precision - translucent wrappers for har gow (shrimp dumplings) that won't break during steaming, and silky rice rolls wrapped around char siu pork or fresh shrimp.
Hot pot dining transforms meals into social celebrations. You'll cook raw ingredients in bubbling broth right at your table, creating a communal experience. Sichuan versions pack serious heat, while Cantonese styles offer milder, more subtle flavors.
Northwestern noodles deserve special attention for their incredible hand-pulling techniques. These impossibly long, uniform strands pair beautifully with rich sauces designed for the region's colder climate.
Weekend Dim Sum & Lunch Specials
Weekend dim sum brunch feels like a celebration every time. Furama serves dim sum daily, but weekends bring out the full cart experience with the widest variety rolling through the dining room.
Smart diners arrive early - around 10 AM when service begins. You'll beat the crowds that typically arrive between 11 AM and 1 PM, plus you'll get first pick of the freshest selections.
Weekday lunch specials offer generous combination plates that showcase different regional styles, making them perfect for newcomers wanting to explore beyond General Tso's chicken.
Takeout & Delivery Options
Most restaurants partner with Grubhub, DoorDash, and other major platforms. Some dishes travel better than others - braised dishes, stir-fries, and soups typically maintain their quality better than crispy preparations.
Plant-Based & Late-Night Options
Chinese cuisine has acceptd plant-based cooking for centuries, thanks to Buddhist temple traditions. Today's Uptown restaurants honor these ancient practices while adding contemporary twists.
Uptown China leads the plant-based revolution with their thoughtfully crafted vegan menu. Their sesame tofu showcases how traditional Chinese techniques can transform simple ingredients - crispy golden exterior giving way to silky, tender tofu inside.
Gluten-free noodles made from rice, sweet potato, or mung bean starch open up Chinese cuisine to diners with dietary restrictions. These alternative grain noodles bring unique textures - some more delicate, others chewier than wheat versions.
Traditional Buddhist vegetarian dishes like mock duck represent centuries of culinary innovation, using tofu, wheat gluten, and mushrooms to create convincing alternatives.
Late-Night Dining
Uptown's theater district creates perfect conditions for late-night dining. Several Chinese restaurants keep their kitchens open until 10 PM or midnight, ensuring post-show cravings get satisfied.
BYOB policies at several restaurants let you bring wine or beer to complement your meal. Late-night kitchens often excel at dishes that come together quickly - stir-fries hit the table fast and hot, while noodle dishes provide comforting satisfaction.
Insider Tips & Value
Smart dining in Uptown's Chinese restaurant scene comes down to knowing when to visit and what to order.
Lunch specials are your secret weapon for experiencing high-quality Chinese cuisine without breaking the bank. Most restaurants offer generous combination plates during lunch hours (11 AM to 3 PM on weekdays) that often provide enough food for dinner too.
The magic of Chinese dining really shines when you're eating with a group. Traditional Chinese meals are designed for sharing, and larger tables can sample multiple dishes to experience each restaurant's full range.
Timing your visit makes all the difference. Weekday evenings and early weekend dining (before 6 PM) typically offer more relaxed experiences. Peak weekend hours between 7-9 PM can mean longer waits.
Understanding spice levels saves you from unpleasant surprises. Sichuan and Hunan dishes pack serious heat that can overwhelm unprepared palates, while Cantonese preparations tend toward milder flavors. Don't hesitate to ask your server about spice levels.
The best Chinese food Uptown often comes from restaurants that stay busy throughout the week. High turnover means fresher ingredients and dishes prepared multiple times daily.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the average price per person for dinner?
Dinner typically runs in the moderate range, making it perfect for date nights or family meals. Lunch specials offer the best value, while group dining provides excellent cost-per-person savings when sharing multiple dishes.
Which spots have the widest vegetarian selection?
Uptown China leads with their dedicated vegetarian menu. Traditional Buddhist vegetarian dishes appear at several restaurants, while Sichuan restaurants naturally offer fantastic vegetarian options with their bold, complex flavors.
Do any restaurants serve dim sum daily?
Furama Restaurant serves dim sum every single day, making it your most reliable option. Weekend service offers the full cart experience with the widest variety and most authentic atmosphere.
Conclusion
Uptown Chicago has quietly become one of the city's most exciting destinations for authentic Chinese cuisine. The neighborhood's best Chinese food Uptown options showcase incredible diversity, from Furama's nationally acclaimed dim sum to Lao Sze Chuan's tongue-numbing Sichuan specialties.
What makes Uptown special isn't just individual restaurant quality—it's the remarkable variety packed into walkable blocks. You can experience different regions of China without leaving the neighborhood, from delicate Cantonese preparations to fiery Sichuan dishes.
The late-night dining scene adds convenience for theater-goers and night owls. The combination of authentic flavors, reasonable prices, and extended hours makes this area a food lover's dream.
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