Chi Cafe
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Orange chicken was flavorable. I'm a white rice connoisseur and this was a good grain rice that didn't clump together. Broccoli in orange chicken was a nice touch. 15 minute wait late night order at 1 am. Paid street working.
After the pandemic, chi cafe seems to be the only place that remained open after midnight. The food can be a hit or miss (depending on which items you order). They're usually busy so the servers might not be as attentive as you would like. For a late night restaurant, their menu is pretty big.
Great place for delicious Chinese food. Salt and pepper squid was my favorite, crunchy on the outside but still tender inside and not chewy at at all. Chow mein and fried rice were also very good. Very large servings too. Staff were very nice. Restaurant was really busy but they sat us quickly. Food came out very fast too. Restaurant is fairly small and abit crowded. A little noisy but still overall a wonderful place.
Ambiance - casual, great for late night eats Service - staff were nice and attentive Food - food had a lot of "wok hay", everything was flavorful
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
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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
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
2 months ago
Solid dinner here in Chicago Chinatown. We're visiting from out of town this weekend, and visited upon a recommendation from a friend. Our large group was accommodated easily, and we were served relatively quickly after an initial delay while we were waiting for someone to come by. Food came soon after that. We ordered a wide range of things: honey shrimp, beef tripe, pork intestine, Hong Kong style fried noodles. Everything here is solid and delicious. Portions are reasonable too. Ambience is nice, clean, and modern. Only issue while we were here is that some in our group tried to order their baked chicken over spaghetti and they were out of spaghetti. Interesting basic ingredient to be short on here, but rice was not a bad substitute. Would definitely come back here if ever back in Chicago! read more
27 days ago
Orange chicken was flavorable. I'm a white rice connoisseur and this was a good grain rice that didn't clump together. Broccoli in orange chicken was a nice touch. 15 minute wait late night order at 1 am. Paid street working. read more
After the pandemic, chi cafe seems to be the only place that remained open after midnight. The food can be a hit or miss (depending on which items you order). They're usually busy so the servers might not be as attentive as you would like. For a late night restaurant, their menu is pretty big. read more
Great place for delicious Chinese food. Salt and pepper squid was my favorite, crunchy on the outside but still tender inside and not chewy at at all. Chow mein and fried rice were also very good. Very large servings too. Staff were very nice. Restaurant was really busy but they sat us quickly. Food came out very fast too. Restaurant is fairly small and abit crowded. A little noisy but still overall a wonderful place. read more
7 months ago
Ambiance - casual, great for late night eats Service - staff were nice and attentive Food - food had a lot of "wok hay", everything was flavorful read more
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 read more
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! read more
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. read more
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. read more
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. read more
4 months ago
8 months ago
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. read more
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! read more
7 months ago
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 read more
3 months ago
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! read more
7 months ago
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. read more
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. read more
My friends and I went here after the first day of North Coast and, of course, post festival rush and everyone was hungry so even at midnight, there was a 45 minute wait. This gives me the vibes of late night good Chinese food where there are little to no options open this late at night, similar to one restaurant in Seattle where our crew tend to go to after these shows/festivals. We got some dried scallop fried rice, sizzling beef, Japanese tofu with bok choy, and some vegetables. The fried rice is fairly good though the ingredients were not too fresh. Sizzling beef is probably one of my favorites here, tender and juicy but not super salty. The onions in the dish hit the spot. The Japanese tofu is also good, though a bit of an interesting nomenclature since it is more like egg tofu. Nonetheless, I liked this dish and it is usually one of the dishes I order when I go to a Cantonese restaurant. Other vegetable dishes we ordered were also good. Food supposedly should come out fast but because of the busy-ness, it took a while. Service is okay. Overall, the food is not bad but also not that good, but it works in a pinch. read more
1 year ago
It's been years since I've been back and I'm not quite sure what happened here! Let me start by they stopped serving brunch and opens at 4. Although the dining room was packed the food was definitely lacking taste! Wonton in the noodle soup was a little sour, ordered dishes cooked with jalapeños but was even a tad bit spicy and I would have to say the most disgusting thing I saw was a pan full of raw meats on a stick sitting out in the open on one of the dining tables! It was sitting there before and after my meal so who knows how long it was out for. Took a while for the server to take our order and give us our bill, never came to check on us. The tables are really close to each other and it's nice that they no longer have the wooden stools for customers to sit on. This is one of the only place that opens until late so it could be the reason why they were so busy after 9, but I think next time I'm in town I'll try somewhere else. read more
5 months ago
2 years ago
What makes this restaurant great is definitely the service! They are attentive, fast, and actually fill your cup up with rounds of water unlike the majority of restaurants. Keep up the great service guys. I wasn't too fond of the food and felt somewhat sick afterwards. The fried tofu had a sauce that tasted horrible. read more
6 months ago
2 years ago
They have a large menu and have plenty of options for vegetarian/vegans. My favorite thing we tried was the fresh fruit smoothies with Boba. The food is typical homestyle Asian cuisine such as rice, meat and vegetables, along with some stews and soups. Reasonable pricing and they are open late, which is why we chose this spot. read more
First time coming to chi cafe in a while. Choose this place because they are open for late night eats. Went on a Wednesday night at 8:30pm and it was busy. Every table was full. I wasn't particularly hungry so I ended up ordering Deep Fried Man-Tou. It's deep fried bun that you can deep in the sweetened condensed milk. Was a tasty dessert. I've never had a bad experience here. I'll definitely be back to eat some more food. Some dishes that I recommend are the fish in sweet sake sauce and the salt and pepper squid. read more
1 year ago
Food , service, wait time, attentiveness all 100! Loved the amazing flavors especially the Hot Sour soup. read more
1 year ago
Got take out from here and it was delicious! We tried a few different items, but the sizzling beef in sweet sauce was everyone's favorite. The other dishes had good flavor. Would recommend checking this place out in Chinatown, it is also open late. read more
1 year ago
8 months ago
The service and ambience was done. Generally not bad, not good, just there if you're craving Asian food or just want to be full. The prices are very good, but the food isn't too good, still, I consider the price very worth it for what you're getting. read more
We got seated super fast and got our food right away as well! We started off with the crab Rangoon and chicken satay which were both so good! Our main entrees were also great, we had leftovers! Great food with great fast service! read more
I used to love this place but man did the customer service tank. They sat us pretty quick but it took them awhile before they took our orders. They should be going around refilling waters especially if half of the place left. They didn't refill my water until I was finished with my dish. The beef brisket and rice were cooked properly and were good. The vegetables were too chewy like they were kind of old. The Singapore noodles were perfect. read more
1 year ago
Food was outstanding. Very tasty. Service was wonderful. Kai was terrific. Very friendly place. Highly recommend. read more
11 months ago
nice place in china town. open late. delicious chicken satay. rice is also yummy. very yummy read more
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More info about Chi Cafe
2160 S Archer Ave
Ste A
Chicago, IL 60616
Chinatown
Directions
(312) 842-9993
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.chicafeonline.com
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Ask the Community - Chi Cafe
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!
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107 reviews that are not currently recommended
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Chi Cafe - hkcafe - Updated August 2026
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