(First- please read Sherri Molen’s amazing list of ‘The Top Ten Korean Things to Do in Chicago’ including Korean karaoke and more.)
Chinatown
Although it’s known as ‘Chinatown’ – the area near Cermak Road and Wentworth Rd is a hot pot of Asian culture. Here you’ll find some of the best Asian restaurants in the city, along with stores selling Chinese spices and other household items.
(Pro-tip: For the cheapest parking go to the Chinatown North Parking Lot, 2001 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616, it's only $2 for the first 3-hours if get your ticket validated at one of the Chinatown businesses).
Need to kill a few hours? Hang out at the Chinatown Branch of the Chicago public library, take advantage of the free wi-fi, and if you’re lucky, maybe someone will pink away on the piano downstairs for some nice background music.
If gaming is your thing, you can check out the Pie Internet Café. Delicious food is available to order while you play.
Your GPS will likely take you to the main Chinatown streets, near Armour Square – but the main hub will be the Chinatown Square outdoor mall. (To find it, search for Pie Internet Cafe or Daebak Korean BBQ in your preferred navigation app).
To jam out to K-pop videos while you eat, check out DaebakKorean BBQ. You’ll want to plan ahead, because it gets packed during BTS weekend. Use Yelp’s waitlist to skip part of the line. Finish your meal with a sweet treat and head over to Joy Yee Plus for a delicious waffle sundae, boba smoothie or instagrammable tea.
Chinatown is also hometown to K-Pop of Chinatown, Chicago’s only full-size K-pop store. The store is a K-pop fans dream and is filled with unofficial merch from your favorite idols. Stickers, light sticks, face masks, post-its, mugs, sock, and hard to find CDs are all under one roof. Some reviews say the staff is rude, but if you respect them, they will respect you. You will be asked to put your bag by a shelf at the front door.
For one of the best Korean food experiences in Chicago, I highly recommend Dancen restaurant. The food is delicious and will be cooked right in front of you by your waiter. K-pop will also pour from the speakers while you eat.
Museums/Cultural Centers
The Heritage Museum of Asian Art, showcases a wide range of art forms, spanning many cultures and time periods of Asia. Admission is also free during the month of May in celebration of Asian Pacific Heritage Month.
You can also check out the Chinese American Museum of Chicago.
The Art Institute of Chicago also has an extensive collection of Asian art, with 35,000 pieces spanning nearly five millennia from China, Japan, Korea and beyond.
Grocery Store
Joong Boo is one of the area’s largest Asian grocery stores. Stock up on some of the cheapest soju in Chicago, grab some hottaek mix, snacks and green tea lattes for your drive home. They have a delicious Snack Corner that’s perfect if you’re looking for authentic Korean food, including noodles or sundae (sausage).
Wkpop
If you're around Sunday night and not going to the show at Soldier Field, check out Wkpop's dance classes.
Garden of the Phoenix
Known as the Garden of the Phoenix, this portion of the Jackson Park's Wooded Island symbolizes the mutual respect between the U.S. and Japan. The Cherry Blossoms are expected to be at their peak during the first two weeks of May.
Did I leave anything out? Share your favorite Asian cultural spots in the comments below.
