Chicago may not be the first city that comes to mind when you think of great Chinese food in America, but it should be. The city's Chinatown — one of the oldest and most vibrant in the country — has evolved far beyond its Cantonese roots to include excellent Sichuan, Hunan, and other regional Chinese cuisines. A growing Chinese immigrant population and the city's central location have attracted chefs from all over China, bringing with them the flavors of Sichuan and Hunan.
What makes Chicago's spicy Chinese scene special is its accessibility. Unlike New York or LA, where you often have to travel to a distant neighborhood for the best food, Chicago's Chinatown is a quick Red Line ride from downtown. You can go from a Loop office to a table of mapo tofu in 20 minutes. And while the scene may be smaller than on the coasts, the best spots hold their own against anything in Flushing or the San Gabriel Valley.
Chicago also has a thriving modern Chinese dining scene downtown, with stylish restaurants that bring elevated Sichuan flavors to a more mainstream audience. Whether you are looking for a no-frills Chinatown hole-in-the-wall or a polished restaurant for a special occasion, Chicago has you covered.
Chicago has dozens of Chinese restaurants serving Sichuan and Hunan dishes. We narrowed down the list using these criteria:
Individual restaurant names and recommendations are being independently verified. We are not publishing unverified addresses, hours, phone numbers, prices, ratings, or rankings on this city guide. Check back after each listing has an official source or a completed owner claim.
Take the Red Line down to Chinatown and hit Sichuan House and Hunan Spice — the closest you'll get to Chengdu and Changsha in the Midwest.
Bistro Sichuan in River North for a stylish room, good cocktails, and Sichuan food that is impressive but not intimidating for newcomers.
Hot Pot Paradise for an interactive all-you-can-eat experience where everyone cooks their own food at the table. Great for birthdays.
Mala Tang Station for a build-your-own spicy bowl that is ready in minutes and costs under $15. Perfect for a Chinatown workday lunch.
Dragon Court for the best of both worlds — push-cart dim sum and Sichuan dishes from the same kitchen. Ideal for large groups with mixed preferences.
Argyle Sichuan for solid Sichuan food without the trip to Chinatown. It is cash-friendly and the neighborhood has great boba shops too.
Chicago's Chinatown, located on the South Side near Cermak and Wentworth, is the main hub for authentic Chinese food including Sichuan and Hunan restaurants. The area around Argyle Street on the North Side also has excellent Chinese and Vietnamese options. Downtown has more polished, modern Chinese restaurants.
Yes, Chicago has a surprisingly strong Sichuan food scene. Chinatown has several authentic Sichuan restaurants serving the full range of Sichuan cuisine, from cold appetizers to hot pot. The quality has improved dramatically in recent years as more chefs from Sichuan have moved to the Midwest. Learn more about Sichuan and Hunan cuisines on our site.
Dedicated Hunan restaurants are less common than Sichuan restaurants in Chicago, but there are a few options in Chinatown and the suburbs. Most Chinese restaurants that serve Hunan dishes do so alongside Sichuan food, since the two cuisines share a love of chili peppers and bold flavors.
At Sichuan restaurants in Chicago, be sure to try: mapo tofu, kung pao chicken (it originated in Sichuan), water-boiled fish or beef, dan dan noodles, spicy wontons, dry pot dishes, and tea-smoked duck. If you are feeling adventurous, try the Sichuan rabbit or frog legs.
No, they are very different. Dry pot (gan guo) is a stir-fry cooked in a hot clay pot with dried chilies and Sichuan peppercorns — there is no broth. Hot pot (huo guo) is a soup where you cook raw ingredients at the table in boiling broth. Both are delicious but very different experiences. Learn about Sichuan cooking techniques on our site.
Head to Chinatown and look for restaurants with mostly Chinese signage and Chinese-speaking customers. Check for Chinese-language menus and dishes that go beyond the standard American-Chinese fare. If the menu lists dishes like "fish fragrant pork slivers" or "mouth-watering chicken," you are probably in the right place.
Chicago has a growing hot pot scene with several all-you-can-eat and a la carte options, concentrated in Chinatown. Look for places that offer Sichuan-style mala (numbing-spicy) broth as an option — many offer a split pot with both spicy and mild broths.
Absolutely. Most Sichuan restaurants in Chicago are happy to adjust the spice level — just ask for "mild" or "less spicy." Keep in mind that even "mild" at an authentic Sichuan restaurant will have some heat. If you are very sensitive, ask for "no Sichuan peppercorn" to avoid the numbing sensation.
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