Chinatown is home to lots of late-night dining options and Chi Cafe is among the best. The long menu offers everything from congee and noodle soups to beef, pork, and seafood dishes — and at budget-friendly prices. The restaurant offers takeout and delivery.
Date: November 10, 2020 Credited: eater.com and Jeffy Mai and Eater Staff
Prachi: Bright place, good food, open till very late(till 5 am!!). Reasonably priced with interesting variety and meal size. Best place to go and have food after a late night partying! First time here and already impressed by the decorations and special drawer with utensils built in the booth. Total awesomeness & open late!
Date: August 3, 2018 Credited: foursquare.com and Carrie J./Yelp
Chinatown is home to plenty of late-night dining options and Chi Cafe is among the best. The vast menu has just about everything imaginable — from congee and noodle soups to beef, pork, and seafood dishes — while prices are lower than other comparable places. On Fridays and Saturdays, it's open 24 hours so that General Tso’s chicken and sizzling beef tenderloin will always be waiting no matter how late folks stay out.
Date: Jun 28, 2018 Credited: chicago.eater and Carrie J./Yelp
Chinatown's Chi Cafe, is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the Chinese spot four stars out of 951 reviews. This affordable, late-night restaurant offers traditional Chinese fare like lo mein, fried rice, noodle soup, and a wide variety of Chiu Chow-style dishes, including rice soups and flaming mini woks. There's also a plentiful list of house favorites, including lamb with "special sauce," sizzling pork intestines, and stir-fried pig blood with chives or bean sprouts.
Date: May 28, 2018 Credited: Hoodline and abc7Chicago
In the heart of Chinatown Square is Chi Cafe, an affordable, late-night spot for reliable Chinese fare. On the menu are classics such as lo mein, fried rice, noodle soups, and a wide selection of beef, chicken, pork, and seafood entrees. The sizzling beef tenderloin is always a good choice, as are the happy hour specials offered during the day.
Date: May 28, 2018 Credited: chicago.eater and Andy N./Yelp
We’re recommending a favorite that, despite less renown, holds our highest enthusiasm. The contemporary-but-cozy atmosphere is perhaps the corridor’s most authentically Shanghai-like environs. It’s open super late (until 2 am during the week and 5am on Friday and Saturday). The food is inexpensive and savory, especially with a dollop of spice seafood sauce XO. All together, they make it among the most “neighborhood” of the neighborhood’s dining options.
Date: May 23, 2017 Credited: chicagoist.com and Mike M./Yelp
When you’re up late, there are few things that hit the spot quite like deep fried dough fritters and garlic chicken wings, which is why Chi Cafe is a vital cog in the Saturday night-Sunday morning machine. A full evening of partying requires fuel, so this meal in the Chinatown neighborhood is like stopping at a gas station in the middle of a road trip. Eat up, because we have a few more stops to go. You good?
Date: APR 03, 2014 Credited: Complex and Simon G./Yelp