Best Late Night Chinese Restaurants in Chicago
11 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Dolo Restaurant and Bar
Contemporary dim sum with strong seafood focus and a full bar.
Notable Picks
8.6
Dolo runs a modern dim sum and seafood dining room where carts, table-side ordering, and banquet-style platters share space with a full bar. Diners use it for more polished dim sum outings, with a reputation for variety, fresh seafood, and later-evening meals compared with most peers.
Must-Try Dishes:
Soup dumplings (xiao long bao), Fried shrimp dumplings, Sesame spare ribs
What Makes it Special: Contemporary dim sum with strong seafood focus and a full bar.
8.4
Since the mid-1990s, Triple Crown has served all-day dim sum and Cantonese dishes under the glow of the Chinatown Nine Dragon Wall. It’s a workhorse choice for late-night tables and mixed-order meals where har gow, lo mein, and seafood casseroles land alongside beer and tea.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shrimp dumpling har gow, Siu mai pork dumplings, Beef chow fun
What Makes it Special: Long-running Chinatown standby for all-day dim sum and late-night Cantonese plates.
8.3
A Sichuan-heavy menu built for bold flavors and big-table ordering, where dry-chili heat and peppercorn tingle are the point. It’s strongest when you mix textures—one crispy spicy dish, one tofu or veg plate, and a soup or noodle bowl to reset the palate.
Must-Try Dishes:
Dry chili chicken, Mapo tofu, Smoked tea duck
What Makes it Special: Sichuan classics with real dry-chili and peppercorn punch.
Qiao Lin Hotpot Downtown focuses on individualized Chinese hot pot with broth choices ranging from tomato to numbing spicy, plus à la carte meats like the signature meter-long beef. Sleek interiors, late hours, and strong reviews make it a destination for groups looking to linger over DIY cooking and cocktails.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tomato Broth Hot Pot, Meter-Long Beef Platter, Mushroom and Herbal Broths
What Makes it Special: Build-your-own hot pots with standout broths and meter-long beef platters.
#5
Ping Pong
8.2
Stylish pan-Asian restaurant with mod white decor and outdoor patio that's been a Lakeview fixture for over 14 years. The pot stickers rival Chinatown versions, and the cocktail program complements dishes ranging from Sichuan to Thai influences.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pan-Fried Pot Stickers, Soft Shell Crab, Honey Glazed Chicken
What Makes it Special: 14+ year neighborhood institution with standout pot stickers and full bar
Worthy Picks
7.8
A high-volume South Shore takeout counter built around the classic Chicago chop-suey shop playbook—fast pickup, heavy rotation, and a menu designed for repeat orders. Treat it as a “one box + one side” stop: pick a fried-rice or foo-young lane and add wings if you want extra crunch.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shrimp Egg Foo Young, Chicken Wings, Shrimp Fried Rice
What Makes it Special: A high-traffic South Shore takeout spot with a deep “combo box” menu.
7.6
Late-night Lakeview standby open until 1am, perfect for post-Cubs game or after-hours cravings. The two sisters running the kitchen deliver dependable General Tso's and Hot and Sour Soup that's drawn regulars for decades.
Must-Try Dishes:
Hot and Sour Soup, General Chow Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken
What Makes it Special: BYOB late-night Chinese open til 1am near Wrigley Field
7.6
A late-night Bridgeport Hunan option with a huge menu that leans spicy, skewer-friendly, and group-oriented. The best move is to order one dry-pot-style dish or pepper-forward main, then one skewer set to keep the meal focused and high-impact.
Must-Try Dishes:
Diced chicken with dried red pepper, Cumin lamb, Ma Po tofu
What Makes it Special: A late-night Hunan menu with spicy mains and skewer-style ordering energy.
7.5
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Late Night Legends
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
A Logan Square workhorse that has dramatically improved over the years to become a reliable neighborhood go-to. Dinner specials offer remarkable value with generous portions, and dishes arrive fresh and hot from the wok. The counter-service format keeps things efficient for takeout-focused crowds.
Must-Try Dishes:
Kung Pao Shrimp, General Tso's Chicken, Beef Lo Mein
What Makes it Special: Remarkable turnaround story with dramatically improved food quality and unbeatable dinner special value
7.5
A late-open, delivery-heavy Chinese menu with a deep bench of classics and crowd-pleasers that can work for groups when everyone wants something different. Execution can vary by dish, so ordering “safe bets” and one splurge item is the best way to keep the meal satisfying.
Must-Try Dishes:
Sesame Chicken, Mongolian Beef, Crab Rangoon
What Makes it Special: Big-menu Chinese delivery option that stays open later.
7.5
Compact late-night counter-service spot with Chinese entrees and Korean-style grilled skewers. The hole-in-the-wall exterior belies surprisingly good fried rice and fresh-made dishes that keep delivery drivers busy until 2am.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Fried Rice, Crab Rangoon, Grilled Beef Short Ribs
What Makes it Special: Late-night Chinese-Korean hybrid with grilled skewers until 2am