Some of the best meals in Chicago start with a ball of dough and a cook who knows how to stretch it. In Chinatown, handmade noodles show up in spicy beef soups, wide biang biang bowls, Hong Kong cart noodles, and chili-oil dishes that come out of tiny counters and busy dining rooms.
A good bowl might take a few extra minutes, and that short wait is part of the deal. This list covers eight spots around Wentworth Avenue, Archer Avenue, Cermak Road, and Chinatown Square where the noodles are the real reason to show up.
Some sit inside a basement food court, some stay open late, and a couple are closed on Wednesdays, so planning helps. Prices mostly land between 10 and 20 dollars per person.
Save this one for your next lunch run or weekend food crawl, and maybe send it to the friend who always picks the restaurant.
1. Slurp Slurp Noodles, Chicago, IL
A name like Slurp Slurp Noodles makes a promise, and the kitchen backs it up with fresh hand-pulled noodles in the Lanzhou style. The restaurant sits at 2247 S Wentworth Ave, right in the middle of Chinatown’s main strip.
The menu covers a big range of noodle bowls and soups. Pork belly hand-pulled noodle soup is a strong pick, and the beef tendon noodles are a favorite for anyone who likes a richer, chewier bite.
A spicy seafood broth is another option for heat seekers.
Food tends to land on the table fast, often in just a few minutes. The space is clean and modern, and the staff stays attentive without hovering.
Vegetarians get real choices here, thanks to a full vegetarian menu that includes vegan dumplings, sesame balls, and a vegan house special soup. High chairs are available too.
One planning note: the restaurant is closed on Wednesdays. Saturday afternoon into evening is the busiest stretch, while Tuesday mornings are much calmer.
2. Xi’an Cuisine, Chicago, IL
Wide, belt-like noodles are the calling card at this Cermak Road spot. Xi’an Cuisine focuses on the street food of northern China, and the Biang Biang Noodles show off just how broad a hand-pulled noodle can get.
Lamb fans have plenty to work with. The kitchen serves hand-pulled noodles in a white lamb soup, along with flatbread lamb soup and cumin lamb flatbread.
I would not skip the skewers here. Cumin lamb and spicy beef skewers round out a noodle order nicely, and the marinated bok choy and hot-and-sour potato slices add something lighter to the table.
The room is low-lit with a loftlike look, and service moves quickly. It is open daily from 10 AM to 9 PM, with Sunday afternoon drawing the biggest crowd and weekdays staying much quieter.
3. Hing Kee, Chicago, IL
Quick lunch, big payoff. Hing Kee on Archer Avenue has built its reputation on hand-drawn noodle soup, and the kitchen keeps things moving fast.
The beef brisket hand-pulled noodle soup and the braised beef noodle soup with egg are the bowls to know. Pair either one with an order of Xiao Long Bao pork soup dumplings, which are made fresh in-house.
Scallion pancakes are another easy add, and the wider menu runs into dim sum, Mongolian beef, mango chicken, and dumplings in Szechuan sauce. That range makes it a handy choice when a group cannot agree on one craving.
The spot is small and casual, with a solid tea selection. Hours stretch to 9:30 PM on weeknights and 10 PM Friday through Sunday.
Weekend afternoons and evenings get busy, so a weekday visit is the smoother play. Parking nearby can be tough, so public transit or a short walk from the Cermak-Chinatown area helps.
4. DH Noodles & Grill Chicago, Chicago, IL
Texture is the whole story at DH Noodles & Grill. The hand-pulled noodles come out fresh and chewy, with the kind of bounce that tells you they were not pulled from a bag.
The flavor leans toward classic Lanzhou noodles, and the Spicy Beef Noodle Soup Bowl is the menu highlight. It is a straightforward choice for anyone who wants a warm, spicy bowl without overthinking the order.
You will find it at 2002 S Wentworth Ave, Unit 100. Weekday hours split into a lunch window from 11 AM to 2:30 PM and a dinner window from 4 to 10 PM, so a mid-afternoon visit on a weekday will not work.
Weekends are simpler, with the doors open from 11 AM to 10 PM. Dine-in, takeout, and delivery are all available.
5. Taste of Shanghai, Chicago, IL
Here is a fun twist: despite the Shanghai name, the menu at this food court stall leans hard into Xi’an cooking. Look for it in the basement food court at 2002 S Wentworth Ave, Suite FC4.
Liang pi and biang biang noodles are the two orders to start with. Liang pi is a chilled noodle dish, which makes it a smart pick on a warm Chicago afternoon.
The beef noodle soup is another reliable choice, with tender beef, a well-seasoned broth, and handmade noodles. Portions are generous for the price, which typically lands between 10 and 20 dollars.
Food court seating keeps things casual. I would save this stop for a solo lunch or a quick bite between errands in the neighborhood.
6. Spicy Boiled Fish & Noodle Story(辣嘟嘟水煮鱼), Chicago, IL
Fish may get top billing in the name, but the noodles deserve equal credit. This casual spot at 2002 S Wentworth Ave splits its menu between Sichuan boiled fish and a lineup of topped noodles and noodle soups.
Oil splashed noodles are the standout. Chili and aromatics get hit with hot oil right on top of the handmade noodles, creating a bold, saucy bowl that brings people back.
Noodles with chunky lamb and chile are another strong order. On the fish side, choices include Sichuan spicy boiled fish, spicy and sour golden soup fish, and tomato fish.
The owner has a friendly reputation, which fits the relaxed feel of the place. Hours run 10:30 AM to 8 PM, and the restaurant is closed on Wednesdays, so plan around that midweek gap.
7. Noodleverse 面八方 chinatown, Chicago, IL
Come hungry. Noodleverse is known for massive portions, and the bowls here are built for a serious appetite.
The house-made noodles have a satisfying chew, and the broths run rich and savory. It is the kind of place where the noodle texture and the soup both get equal attention.
The shop sits in Unit FC7 at 2002 S Wentworth Ave, with counter service and seating. Its Chinese name, 面八方, is a clever play on a phrase meaning in all directions, using the character for noodles.
Early risers have an edge here. Doors open at 9 AM daily, earlier than most noodle spots in the area, and close at 8 PM Monday through Thursday or 8:30 PM Friday through Sunday.
Dogs are allowed inside, and the crowd is welcoming and family-friendly. Free street parking is sometimes available nearby, along with paid lots.
8. Ken Kee Restaurant Hong Kong, Chicago, IL
Late-night noodle cravings have a home in Chinatown Square. Ken Kee stays open until 11 PM most nights and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, which makes it one of the most flexible stops on this list.
The compact cafe brings a Hong Kong style to the table. Beef brisket handmade noodles in a rich beef broth are the go-to bowl, with noodles that strike a good balance of chew and bite.
The signature cart noodle is another classic worth trying. Beyond noodles, the menu covers congee, cha siu and chicken rice bowls, signature curry rice, Mongolian beef, and Hong Kong style toast with honey.
Bubble teas and coffee round things out. Weekend afternoons and nights draw the biggest crowds, while weekday mornings are much calmer at 2129 S China Pl.
Whether it is the first stop or the last bite of a long Chinatown crawl, a bowl here makes a strong finish. The noodles were worth the wait all along.
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