Cermak-Chinatown — Local services in Chicago

Some great places to eat and shop. But cleanliness is a problem. Overflowing trash receptacles ( baskets) on the streets, garbage overflowing from dumpsters, rats running in and out of some restaurants in the alleys. Produce from restaurants sitting on the bare ground in the alleys next to restaurant doors. It is very hard to find paid parking forget about free parking.

But the biggest problem is the lack of public restrooms. If you are sitting down and eating in a place they will usually let you use the restroom. But if you're getting take-out, picking up an order, or just walk in off the street you will not be allowed to use most restrooms. I saw a goat delivered out of the trunk of a car to a certain restaurant...I lost my appetite. On another day I saw some restaurant kitchen workers sitting outside in the alley on the ground cross legged cutting up meat on a wood block that was on the gross dirty ground also. There needs to be some surprise...

Cermak-Chinatown Station is a CTA station on the Red Line. Red Line runs 24 hours a day with wait times of 15 minutes or less. According to the train schedule, waits for trains are usually 7-8 minutes for most of the day. Chinatown is a neighborhood that is split into two parts, as one part contains Chinatown Square, while the other part contains the main Chinatown neighborhood.

The station is located in an eastern location between these two areas that is equidistant to both. The elevated train platform also has a nice view of the Chinatown area including the neighborhood library and the Chinatown gate. On the street, the station entrance is close to the Nine Dragon Wall, which is a nice piece of Chinese art. I recommend this station if you are trying to get to Chinatown as trains are frequent and because it operates at all times of the day. There is no need to take a car if you are a tourist unless you are buying some heavy relic or coming from...

Like many CTA elevated train stations, it is a bit unkept and dirty. However, the platform and the train provides some nice views of the Chinatown area of Chicago. Even if you are not going to ride a train, it may be worth a ticket just to stand on the platform. With that being said, there was a lot of news reports on local Chicago stations about Chicago and CTA crime at the time of my trip so you may want to be cautious and it may not be a good place for kids. I will leave it to you and your discernment and discussion with officials to make the best choice for you and...