A 4-Day, 3-Night Itinerary in Chicago: Day 1 - Chinatown Food Recommen

A 4-Day, 3-Night Itinerary in Chicago: Day 1 - Chinatown Food Recommendations 🏟😅 Introduction: Ever heard that the Chinatown in Washington D.C. is a food desert? 😱 Fear not! Chicago's Chinatown, one of the top ten Chinatowns in the U.S., might just be the cure for your homesick cravings for authentic Chinese cuisine after a long time abroad. 🍜💖 🍲 [Hotpot Hero] Qiao Lin Hotpot - Chicago 👉 Above photos {2 dishes; 3 ambiance} Technically not in Chinatown proper but in the "Greater Chinatown" area across the South Branch of the Chicago River. Rumor has it the owner graduated from the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business, hence the logo-emblazoned pens! 🖋🎓 Located on the first floor, sandwiched between an Asian supermarket above and Asian convenience stores below, it's a magnet for foodies, siphoning business away from less value-for-money Korean eateries nearby. 🛒🍱 Offers a "Mercedes-Benz" hotpot (three-flavored broth) that includes a mouthwatering tomato base, freshly sliced beef, cold dishes like tripe and bean curd threads, as well as mung bean soup, white fungus dessert, and fresh fruits. It's got the ambition and prowess to rival Haidilao overseas! 🚗🔥 🍲 [Malatang Maven] Zhangliang Malatang Chicago 👉 Above photos {10 dishes; 11 ambiance} The closest resemblance to a domestic malatang (spicy hot pot) experience with refrigerated display cases. 🥦🥩 With careful ingredient selection and mindful eating, you can avoid the rumored stomachaches. 🤔💪 🍜 [Noodle Nirvana] Qiuge Kitchen Tucked away in an underground food court, it serves up potato noodles, duck blood and vermicelli soup, luosifen (river snail rice noodles), and more. But it reopens in mid-July, so mark your calendars! 📅🍜 [Hunan Cuisine Heavyweight] Hunan Cuisine Xiangxiangxiang [Sichuan Cuisine Star] Chef Xiong - Taste of Szechuan [Cantonese Cuisine Classic] Phoenix Restaurant [Another Cantonese Gem] MingHin Cuisine [Yet Another Hotpot Hotspot] Happy Lamb Hot Pot 📍 Chinatown Gateway, Chicago (Nearby attractions: Chinese American Museum of Chicago {showcasing Chinese-American heritage} and Sun Yat-Sen Park {America's version of Zhongshan Park}) 🏛🌳 Fun Fact in the U.S.: San Francisco boasts the first Chinatown, New York City's Chinatown is the largest and most widespread, Boston's Chinatown was once a red-light district, and Seattle's Chinatown is synonymous with its International District. 🌆🎉 #StudyinginUSA #CityMuseumMap #Chicago 🗺🎓