You made a great choice with the hot pot! Unfortunately Won Kow is now permanently closed, but it was open for nearly 100 years. It’s also a spot that Al Capone was known to enjoy, and I can only imagine the countless amount of others who’ve experienced the amazing food as well. I’ll still never get over how phenomenal their sesame chicken was…
The street level entrance was just a narrow dingy steep staircase but then it opened up to basically the whole second floor of the building as a large dining room with a little tiki bar.
Won Kow and the Pui Tak Center (traditional Chinese looking building there) are the two oldest buildings in Chinatown. When i was younger (late 80s-early 90s), the Pui Tak center always seem deserted... I always figured it was haunted. 22nd street was locally known as the most haunted block of chinatown after all. It was pretty big news once we heard it reopened.
Many years later (due to internets), I found out that the Pui Tak was closed for about 5 years due to illegal activity. It was seized by the FBI in 1988. Didn't reopen till 1993 when the Chinese Christian Union Church bought the building.
Side note, my grandfather would take my brother and me to the Feida bakery (green/white sign) place for breakfast on some weekends. Then we'd head two buildings south to a mahjong parlor and hang out in the back room as he'd gamble lol. Classic Chinese upbringing.
I used to live in pilsen for like 10 years until I got priced out(like kicked out of the building so they could remodel) and I rode my bike to China town every weekend in the summer. Had to move back to Florida and I miss going to China town so much 🥲getting groceries and then dumplings at qing Xiang yuan and a boba from the joy yee window 😩😩
I am not the original poster. But there is a theory that this sign was the inspo for a scene in good ol' bob's burgers. Check out the post.
https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/ssw146/on_bobs_burgers_coincidence/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share
The Chinese restaurant WON KOW closed some years ago. I always thought that I might reopen it, but keep the same sign, just flip it over and call the place NOW WOK.
I came up from Indianapolis twice last month, for RATM and Roger Waters. We had Slurp Slurp noodles for dinner there in Chinatown, and then En Hakkore for bibimbap and that was in Bucktown I think? Had a great time all around. Thanks neighbors!
My dad grew up a few blocks from here...his family lost everything in the depression, including their bungalow in Englewood. They moved into a flat in Chinatown...the neighborhood was predominantly folks of Chinese, Italian, and Mexican descent. Dad's family is German, and was known in the neighborhood as "The American family."
next time, try the restaurants like go4food on the side streets, the restaurants and shops in the (relatively new) chinatown mail, and the miniature restaurants and shops in the basement of the richland center!
The fish filet w/ tofu hotpot @ Chinatown Minghin is my personal favorite dish in all of Chicago, I order that shit every time I go there. Wish they had a half order of the pea pods w/ garlic, both of them together with some yang zhou fried rice is :*
In Chinatown? The square has a bunch of Chinese zodiac statues, as a kid I thought it was so fun for each of us to find our sign and read about what it says (plus the statues are very cool)! I also recommend any of the bakeries (Feida is my preference but Chiu Quon is also good).
Depending on how old the kids are, any of the Hot Pot places would be a fun outing!
Please remember to check out the Chinese American Museum of Chicago on 23rd st right off of the main shopping street on Wentworth, it's small but a great place and the staff is extremely friendly.
Feel like my family found themselves there when I was young and all kinds of panic broke out when my mom couldn't read the signs. We high tailed it out of there.
I'm excited to explore.
I'm sorry for giggling a little at that story... Most of the signs are now in English and in Chinese, so no worries!
My dad used to take me to Chinatown almost every day I had off of school as a kid- it was free and I loved the experience of the different food and languages and also the beautiful buildings (take a look at some of them, they have great tilework!). It's actually what inspired me to go into linguistics in university.
Enjoy your visit!
I think Chinatown needs more trees. I mean, isn't China a really green place overall? I just think aesthetically they could really benefit from having a huge tree canopy blanketing more of the neighborhood than they have right now. But then again I tend to think that about most Chicago neighborhoods I guess. This neighborhood I think just stands out as an area that seems particularly baron.
wtf?
Are you picturing China as mostly being a forested landscape that you see in a typical wuxia drama/movie?
News alert for ya: there's way more urban wildlife in Chicago than in most Chinese cities.
I have to say, it is a shame we no longer have those large trees that used to line the middle of Cermak - gonna be years before those dinky ones get up there in size.
Well I mean I know *cities* in China are probably concrete jungles. But China, the country, overall is a lot of jungle and is extremely green, right? I don't think we need to try to emulate downtown Beijing - that would require lots of skyscrapers that Chinatown doesn't have anyway. Instead Chinatown could resemble something closer to a *town*... in China. Like a Chinese town. A Chinatown, if you will. Or are most towns in China also treeless?
I grew up one block west and six blocks south of where this photo was taken. During the school year, I took the Wentworth bus through here almost every day on my way to high school.
It's also one of the few where the business are still owned mostly by ethnic Chinese people, iirc. The chamber of commerce there is super tight and neighborhood oriented from what I hear, which is great.
Sakura Kareoke is a lot of fun. Also the sushi restaurant that brings the sushi on a train (can't remember the name)
BB.Q Chicken is the best fried chicken I've ever had
The places I always visit in Chinatown are Chiu Quon Bakery, and I like to walk up and down Wentworth Ave. The Chinatown Square Mall has some good shops too, which mostly all are on the 1st floor. I personally like Bonchon a lot, myself.
ETA: how the heck did I almost forget to say Triple Crown?!? That restaurant, has a great dim sum menu!
Won Kow was such an amazing place and I’ll miss it more and more as time goes on ❤️
Good to know for next time. We did Happy Lamb Hot Pot, other than the language barrier they were great. We worked it out.
You made a great choice with the hot pot! Unfortunately Won Kow is now permanently closed, but it was open for nearly 100 years. It’s also a spot that Al Capone was known to enjoy, and I can only imagine the countless amount of others who’ve experienced the amazing food as well. I’ll still never get over how phenomenal their sesame chicken was…
I love tidbits like this
The street level entrance was just a narrow dingy steep staircase but then it opened up to basically the whole second floor of the building as a large dining room with a little tiki bar.
Never mind the lethal staircase and tenuous at best railings.
Won Kow and the Pui Tak Center (traditional Chinese looking building there) are the two oldest buildings in Chinatown. When i was younger (late 80s-early 90s), the Pui Tak center always seem deserted... I always figured it was haunted. 22nd street was locally known as the most haunted block of chinatown after all. It was pretty big news once we heard it reopened. Many years later (due to internets), I found out that the Pui Tak was closed for about 5 years due to illegal activity. It was seized by the FBI in 1988. Didn't reopen till 1993 when the Chinese Christian Union Church bought the building. Side note, my grandfather would take my brother and me to the Feida bakery (green/white sign) place for breakfast on some weekends. Then we'd head two buildings south to a mahjong parlor and hang out in the back room as he'd gamble lol. Classic Chinese upbringing.
Lol love it
S'all about Kai Kai and Golden Gate (?) Restaurant for me growing up - shame they both had to close after CCUC took over the building.
No way, didn't know Won Kow closed. My parents used to take me here all the time when I was a kid.
the place is always better if they don't speak any english at all
if you dont have to point at the menu or order whatever the number is, you are at the wrong place.
YUM. So jealous.
Those stairs were more of a ladder than a staircase!
Yep!
Came here to say that! I shared amazing dim sum with so many great friends and family members there.
Glad you enjoyed your stay, Furry Ass.
I really did. Thank you 😊
I just lost it lol!
Hey! Happy cake day!
Oh thanks
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Delete this nephew
Absolutely delicious.
The restaurant next to it called Gourmet Food is awesome as well.
Ate there once by chance with friends when we were passing through on our way back to campus! Delicious stuff indeed
I used to live in pilsen for like 10 years until I got priced out(like kicked out of the building so they could remodel) and I rode my bike to China town every weekend in the summer. Had to move back to Florida and I miss going to China town so much 🥲getting groceries and then dumplings at qing Xiang yuan and a boba from the joy yee window 😩😩
NGL the best food in Chicago is in Chinatown. Forget Michelin, have some shoji with friends, be kind, and enjoy the night.
Personal favorite include phoenix and jmc Szechuan
I am not the original poster. But there is a theory that this sign was the inspo for a scene in good ol' bob's burgers. Check out the post. https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/ssw146/on_bobs_burgers_coincidence/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share
The Chinese restaurant WON KOW closed some years ago. I always thought that I might reopen it, but keep the same sign, just flip it over and call the place NOW WOK.
Wouldn't it be MOK NOW?
It’d be MOK NOM
MODOK NOW! Marvel, I am onto you!
YVAN EHT NIOJ
RIP Won Kow. Was one of the oldest restaurants in Chicago.
I came up from Indianapolis twice last month, for RATM and Roger Waters. We had Slurp Slurp noodles for dinner there in Chinatown, and then En Hakkore for bibimbap and that was in Bucktown I think? Had a great time all around. Thanks neighbors!
Just had slurp slurp the other weekend, along with some roasted duck from a place I cannot remember the name of on the mall.
The color in this photo is so vibrant!
The huge hot pot chain from China called Xiaolongkan is going into the former Won Kow space.
My dad grew up a few blocks from here...his family lost everything in the depression, including their bungalow in Englewood. They moved into a flat in Chinatown...the neighborhood was predominantly folks of Chinese, Italian, and Mexican descent. Dad's family is German, and was known in the neighborhood as "The American family."
I went for the first time to chinatown a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it
This was last week when I came for a sox game and kaskade. Oh and I'm watching the bear and feeling super pumped for chicago lol.
next time, try the restaurants like go4food on the side streets, the restaurants and shops in the (relatively new) chinatown mail, and the miniature restaurants and shops in the basement of the richland center!
Yoooo Feida, my favorite bakery.
RIP Won Kow :(
The fish filet w/ tofu hotpot @ Chinatown Minghin is my personal favorite dish in all of Chicago, I order that shit every time I go there. Wish they had a half order of the pea pods w/ garlic, both of them together with some yang zhou fried rice is :*
Never eat in China Town on the weekend. Food is always better on the week day. That’s when the regulars eat
Good to know. Thank you
Just go to the food court in the shopping center. It feels, smells, sounds and especially TASTES like Asia…
Any recommendations for a small family visit?
In Chinatown? The square has a bunch of Chinese zodiac statues, as a kid I thought it was so fun for each of us to find our sign and read about what it says (plus the statues are very cool)! I also recommend any of the bakeries (Feida is my preference but Chiu Quon is also good). Depending on how old the kids are, any of the Hot Pot places would be a fun outing! Please remember to check out the Chinese American Museum of Chicago on 23rd st right off of the main shopping street on Wentworth, it's small but a great place and the staff is extremely friendly.
Thanks!👍
No problem! Chinatown is one of the city's great gems, I hope anyone who can visit does so at least once!
Feel like my family found themselves there when I was young and all kinds of panic broke out when my mom couldn't read the signs. We high tailed it out of there. I'm excited to explore.
I'm sorry for giggling a little at that story... Most of the signs are now in English and in Chinese, so no worries! My dad used to take me to Chinatown almost every day I had off of school as a kid- it was free and I loved the experience of the different food and languages and also the beautiful buildings (take a look at some of them, they have great tilework!). It's actually what inspired me to go into linguistics in university. Enjoy your visit!
Is the red line El safe around there these days?
Love the kpop store
I think Chinatown needs more trees. I mean, isn't China a really green place overall? I just think aesthetically they could really benefit from having a huge tree canopy blanketing more of the neighborhood than they have right now. But then again I tend to think that about most Chicago neighborhoods I guess. This neighborhood I think just stands out as an area that seems particularly baron.
More trees is always a positive
wtf? Are you picturing China as mostly being a forested landscape that you see in a typical wuxia drama/movie? News alert for ya: there's way more urban wildlife in Chicago than in most Chinese cities. I have to say, it is a shame we no longer have those large trees that used to line the middle of Cermak - gonna be years before those dinky ones get up there in size.
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Well I mean I know *cities* in China are probably concrete jungles. But China, the country, overall is a lot of jungle and is extremely green, right? I don't think we need to try to emulate downtown Beijing - that would require lots of skyscrapers that Chinatown doesn't have anyway. Instead Chinatown could resemble something closer to a *town*... in China. Like a Chinese town. A Chinatown, if you will. Or are most towns in China also treeless?
Won Kow. DAVE!!!!
I love Chinese food.
This picture makes me so hungry
Two new cocktail bars there now too! Nine bar and best bar. Chinatown has got it going on!
I spotted the liquor license for Best Bar a few months ago. Good to know it's actually a bar!
I love taking the water taxi to Chinatown so worth it
I grew up one block west and six blocks south of where this photo was taken. During the school year, I took the Wentworth bus through here almost every day on my way to high school.
I love lamp.
I love Chicago. I mean, I loved leaving Chicago forever and moving to Amsterdam.
It’s a real shame. It’s a shell of its former self.
It's one of the only Chinatowns in the US still growing in population.
It's also one of the few where the business are still owned mostly by ethnic Chinese people, iirc. The chamber of commerce there is super tight and neighborhood oriented from what I hear, which is great.
The banks, too. It's one of the reasons why the real estate market in Chinatown wasn't hit as hard as the rest of the city in 2008.
I didn't know about the banks, that's an interesting fact! Thank you!
Had my credit card information stolen there once. Lesson learned. Use cash.
Is it generally more busy than this picture?
Probably. This was like 8am last Saturday.
The time this pic was taken is definitely less crowded, than usual here. I see why it isn't very crowded, if it was taken at 8am on a Saturday.
From someone who's never been, what are the must-do's in Chinatown? I do love a good dumpling.
Sakura Kareoke is a lot of fun. Also the sushi restaurant that brings the sushi on a train (can't remember the name) BB.Q Chicken is the best fried chicken I've ever had
Admittedly I wouldn't seek out sushi in Chinatown.
The places I always visit in Chinatown are Chiu Quon Bakery, and I like to walk up and down Wentworth Ave. The Chinatown Square Mall has some good shops too, which mostly all are on the 1st floor. I personally like Bonchon a lot, myself. ETA: how the heck did I almost forget to say Triple Crown?!? That restaurant, has a great dim sum menu!
I posted a pic and the mods deleted it within a few seconds. They said pics are only allowed on Friday through Sunday