Chicago - Chinatown
 

Hi, can anyone tell me where Chinatown in Chicago is? Are there any subways that go by the area? Thinking about having dinner there one of the days that we'll be visiting. Thanks.

Gary: Chinatown is south-west of the downtown area. The red line "el" stops at the Cermak entrance to Chinatown.(Cermak is 2200 South.) If you are staying downtown, you could easily take a cab there and back.

I've been to Chinatown about 3 times in the last year and just want to warn you that police stats are not good. I love the food and it is not far from downtown. We only go in the daytime before a Sox game. The free curb parking is very hard to come by and we always end up paying in one of the lots. I myself have seen a daytime scuffle over a parking space. I've also had a male friend relieved of his wallet waiting for dim sum. My brother is a homicide detective and has told me that the Chinatown district is murder central most years. He road the red line undercover for awhile. The red line past Chinatown going South has even worse stats. There is no way that I would want ANY0NE of any color I know or love using that particular el at night.

Chinatown is a great spot and is not "murder central". I live along the red line though north of downtown in the Wrigley Field area. As a 28 yo female, I would not be afraid to go alone to Chinatown during the day. In fact, its a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon as there are some cute shops in the area and great restaurants. If going at night I am usually accompanied by my husband or with a group and have never had a problem. If you are staying downtown you can take the red line subway from Marshall Fields on State Street with no problem.<BR><BR>My favorite restaurant there is called Won Kow's, it is upstairs and has great food at a good price. There is another restaurant there I have heard good things about called Penang's, haven't been personally but plan to in the near future.

Chicago is one of my favorite cities in the country to visit. I,ve only been to their Chinatown once, back in the early nineties. I have never found a reason to go back. Unless it has changed drastically, there just wasn't much there. It can by no means compare to the Chinatowns in San Francisco or New York. It seemed kind of rundown and we were told at our downtown hotel that it was not a safe place after dark. Chicago is a wonderful city with wonderful neighborhoods that have wonderful restaurants, Chinatown is not one of them. I would much prefer going up to the Lakeview/Wrigleyville for one of their terrific Thai restaurants.

'Old' Chinatown is at the Cermak stop, but can anyone tell me where the 'new' Chinatown is? Is it North of the city?

New Chinatown is at Argyle and Broadway, about 5000 N.; use the Argyle stop on the Red Line.