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Best Asian Food in Chicago

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Chiyo
3800 W. Lawrence Ave. Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 267-1555
Formerly Matsumoto, Chiyo opened in 2006 and continues to rise in popularity. For those yearning to venture beyond sushi, Chiyo is the place. Choose from among Ippin ryori ($4.50+): a la carte, tapa-like dishes; Shabu Shabu: thinly sliced beef boiled at your table; Yose-Nabe: a hot pot assortment of seafood, chicken, and veggies; and Chiyo’s signature dish, Sukiyaki: a savory, one-pot meal featuring beef flavored with vegetables and soy sauce. Sukiyaki, Yose-Nabe, and Shabu Shabu start at $39/person and a two-person minimum order. Although Chiyo continues to receive media recognition for being a “real” Japanese restaurant, it remains somewhat undiscovered by the general public. Pioneers will discover aesthetic perfection in taste and presentation at this Albany Park breakthrough. Hours of Operation: Mon-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-10pm.
Arun’s Thai Restaurant
4156 N. Kedzie Ave Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 539-1909
Spare yourself a ticket to Bangkok. Skip your daily meditation – Arun’s culinary artistry will send you a few steps closer to Nirvana. Chef Arun Sampanthavivat, poet and painter of the Buddhist-influenced canvases that line the elegant dining area, is a true creator and is deemed a “genius” by peers and critics alike. It’s no wonder he threw out the paper menu in 1998, leaving patrons solely with the simplest option: a 12-course Chef’s Design Menu ($85, $135 with wine pairings). Servers are liaisons to the chef in his endeavor to craft a sophisticated harmony of 12-courses with each patron’s personal and dietary preferences as his guide. So put a check next to Arun’s in your copy of 1000 Places to See Before You Die (p. 624 – we’re not kidding), and make a reservation while rubbing your Buddha’s tummy and thanking him that Chef Arun decided to set up shop in Chicago. Hours of Operation: Tue-Thu, Sun 5pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-10:30pm
Red Light
820 W Randolph St Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 733-8880
Red Light’s cutting-edge energy and exotic feel leads its patrons through a stimulating sensory experience. Peek into the exhibition kitchen to watch award-winning Chef Jackie Shen incorporate Chinese, French, and Thai ingredients into tropical, fusion specialties. Indecisive? Red Light offers a Chef’s Tasting Menu ($70) of 6-8 courses and Jackie’s signature dessert, “The Chocolate Bag” – a chocolate bag filled with Belgian white chocolate mousse, fresh berries, and raspberry sauce that will melt in your mouth. Red Light’s trendy and welcoming atmosphere makes it a great date choice, and the interior décor features dark woods and passionate reds as rich and seductive as its cuisine. As though it hadn’t already exceeded every expectation, a large, separate vegetarian menu leaves every customer with a memorable selection of exquisite fare. Hours of Operation: Mon-Thu 11:30am-2pm, 5:30pm-10pm; Fri 11:30am-2pm, 5:30pm-12am; Sat 5:30pm-12am; Sun 5:30pm-10pm.
Shikago
190 S. LaSalle St. Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 781-7300
As busy and multi-faceted as our phonetically matching city, Shikago continues to offer a sigh of relief to the business district in its second summer. Chef Kevin Shikami prepares modern, Asian dishes with lingering French influences that he more strongly incorporates at River North’s Kevin. Stop in for carryout and sushi-to-order, or indulge in an extended escape from LaSalle’s busyness in Shikago’s serene, dim-lit dining area. Shikago offers delicious lunches, such as the Roasted Chinese Organic Pulled Pork Sandwich with mango chili– now that’s a mouthful! Dinners are just as creative and higher priced ($20-$30), but don’t you deserve it after all that work? Hours of Operation: Mon-Sat 11am-2pm; Bar w/menu: Mon-Sat: 3pm-close; Dinner: Mon-Thu 5:30pm-10pm; Fri-Sat 5:30pm-11pm
Shochu
3313 N. Clark St.. Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 348-3313
Shochu’s vast array of unique drinks will dazzle you. The essential liquor in its colorful creations, Shochu – for which it is named, is a vodka-esque alcohol with about 1/3 of the calories and a no-hangover guarantee, and is made from distilling rice, barley, sweet potato, or buckwheat – no wonder it’s the hottest drink trend in Japan. Try the “Kangura No Mai”, a sweet buckwheat shochu with warm vanilla and almond infusions, or the “Tzuhsi” cocktail, a mix of rice shochu, guava nectar, and fresh ginger (both $9). Also featuring beer, wine, sake, and quite the selection of small plates, Shochu has already developed a buzz by taking small plate restaurants to a new level. Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 5:30pm-2am; Sat 5:30pm-3am; Sun 10:30a-2:30p, 5:30pm-2am
Takashi
1952 N. Damen Ave. Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 772-6170
Embrace the naturalistic, minimalist ambience as you savor the idea of laissez-faire as Chef Takashi Yagihashi fuses Japanese, American, and French elements into beautifully presented, exotic creations. Windy? Try the appropriate small hot plate, “Bad Hair Day” – a large shrimp wrapped in an Ohba leaf accompanied by sweet and spicy, signature “Sauce Chinois”. Still hungry? Roasted Duck breast and confit of leg with ginger-orange glaze, glazed pearl onions, and Kumquat marmalade is sure to please your palate. The green police will sleep soundly knowing that the chef favors sustainably fished seafood, local products, and no preservatives. Warming up Bucktown for less than a year, Takashi already boasts Chicago Magazine’s “Best New Restaurant” and is featured as one of ten national hot spots in this July’s Bon Appétit. Hours of Operation: Tue-Thu 5:30pm-10pm; Fri 5:30pm-10:30pm; Sat 5pm-10:30pm; Sun 5pm-9:30pm
Shanghai Terrace
108 E Superior St Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 573-6744
The perfect combination of “suite”-n-spicy, Shanghai Terrace offers upscale Pan-Asian fusion and Eastern skyline views from its picturesque outdoor terrace on the Peninsula’s 4th floor. Since April, the Dim Sum Sunday Brunch has been a highlight in addition to its usual Shanghainese and Cantonese specialties. The unique brunch, called “yum-cha” - or “drink tea” - includes a la carte dim sum service with appropriate specialty teas for an intense dining experience. Both the posh, sultry dining room and fresh outdoor terrace make Shanghai Terrace a sophisticated site. Relish the Shanghai Dumplings, followed by the Dim Sum Sampler for a taste of beef, duck, scallops, snow crab, and vegetables. For those less familiar with dim sum, the friendly wait staff will be happy to elaborate on each dish to ensure every bite is digested. Hours of Operation: Mon-Sat 12pm-2:30pm; 5pm-11pm; Sun 10am-3pm.
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