chinatown

We would like to take the water taxi from union station to chinatown on a saturday morning before our train leaves in the PM. Is it safe and what time do places open ? Does anyone speak english ? Lunch options ? Thanks for your help.

chinatown

It%26#39;s safe. As with any large city, stay aware of what is going on around you, though. Most of the store clerks and restaurant workers speak English to some degree. There are lots of good places for lunch.

chinatown

They do speak english for the most part--but whenever I go down there--I do alot of pointing...

I never have any trouble in Chinatown, esp. on the weekend at lunch time when it%26#39;s very busy. If for some reason the water taxi doesn%26#39;t work out, the red line el has a stop right in Chinatown as well. But take the water taxi if you can, it%26#39;s a nice ride on the river.

I like to go for dim sum on the weekend, my favorite place is Shui Wah which is in the Chinatown Square section of Chinatown, it kind of looks industrial from the outside but on the inside it%26#39;s full of junk stores, restaurants and places to buy tea, candy etc. There%26#39;s usually a wait as it%26#39;s a rather small place but the line goes quickly. Phoenix is another place across the street from Chinatown Square, lots of people love it, I%26#39;m not a fan. Expect a wait there too.

If you want to go for a regular Chinese meal, try one of Tony Hu%26#39;s places-Lao Sze Sichuan, Lao Beijing or Lao Shanghai, I%26#39;ve been to two of them and they were both good, also in Chinatown Square.

Joy Yee%26#39;s is another one of my favorites, it%26#39;s Pan Asian and they serve a lot of different Asian dishes. The menu is huge, try one of their bubbles teas even if you don%26#39;t eat there from the outside window, it%26#39;s also in Chinatown Square.

Try to hit a bakery in Chinatown Square for some treats on the train ride!

Thanks for all of the info. I look forward to visiting Chicago and Chinatown.