Best Trendy Restaurants in Chinatown & Bridgeport (60616)
6 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
312 Fish Market
Market-side sushi bar delivering near-omakase-quality flights inside 88 Marketplace.
Notable Picks
8.8
Tucked on the second floor of 88 Marketplace in East Pilsen, 312 Fish Market is a sushi counter known for tuna flights, pristine nigiri, and a 17-course omakase that punches above its food-court surroundings. Opened in 2020 by Jackson Chiu and chef Joe Fung, it’s become one of the city’s most talked-about spots for higher-end fish without full fine-dining formality.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tuna Flight, Chirashi Bowl, Spicy Octopus Hand Roll
What makes it special: Market-side sushi bar delivering near-omakase-quality flights inside 88 Marketplace.
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Trendy Table Hotspots
Birthday & Celebration Central
Late Night Legends
Qiao Lin Hotpot brings Chongqing-style hot pot to a modern, LED-lit dining room where tables fill with divided broths, sauce bars, and platters of sliced meats. It reads as an occasion meal for friends or family who want a long, interactive dinner with plenty of photo-friendly moments and a wide range of spice levels.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chongqing spicy broth, Beef and lamb hotpot platter, Handmade shrimp paste
What makes it special: Interactive Chongqing hot pot with polished design and a deep menu of broths and add-ins.
8.5
Chubby Cattle turns Chinatown into an all-you-can-eat wagyu playground, pairing yakiniku grills and hotpot with tiered wagyu-focused menus. Diners come for A5 beef, touch-screen ordering, and long, social meals that feel closer to a steakhouse experience than a typical KBBQ spot.
Must-Try Dishes:
A5 Wagyu Beef Cuts, Gold or Diamond AYCE BBQ Tier, Seafood and Wagyu Combo Selections
What makes it special: All-you-can-eat yakiniku and hotpot built around premium wagyu.
8.4
Across from New Chinatown Square, Strings focuses almost entirely on ramen and oden in a tight, high-turnover space that’s packed late into the night. Long-running popularity and multiple locations trace back to this shop, where rich tonkotsu, Hell Ramen spice levels, and bar seats keep it feeling energetic and current.
Must-Try Dishes:
Hell Ramen, Tonkotsu Ramen Super Premium, Kuro Buta Sausage
What makes it special: Flagship Chinatown ramen shop with house-made noodles and deep broth variety.
#5
Go 4 Food
8.3
Vibes:
Hidden Gems Heaven
Group Dining Gatherings
Birthday & Celebration Central
Comfort Food Classics
Tucked just off Wentworth, Go 4 Food feels cozy upstairs but hides a downstairs party room where King Crab feasts and long tables turn it into a full-blown celebration spot. Creative Chinese seafood dishes and a Michelin Guide nod make it a favored choice when groups want a shared, slightly splurgy meal without white-tablecloth formality.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chili Fusion Crab, French Style Pepper Beef, Millionaire Fried Rice
What makes it special: Seafood-heavy Chinese cooking with a signature King Crab feast and a private party level.
#6
Nine Bar
8.1
Hidden behind Moon Palace Express, Nine Bar is Chinatown’s first dedicated craft cocktail bar, pairing a moody, neon-heavy speakeasy room with a tight menu of Chinese American bar snacks. Since opening in 2022, it’s become a nightlife anchor where cocktails referencing Asian flavors share space with katsu sandwiches and mapo-spiced fries.
Must-Try Dishes:
McKatsu sandwich, Mapo hot fries, Shrimp toast
What makes it special: Chinatown’s first craft cocktail speakeasy, blending neon-lit drinks with snacky Chinese American plates.