Shui Wah

While Chicago Chinatown has a long way to go to reach the quality and ambiance of its cousins in SF, LA, NYC, etc. this place is about as good as it gets for dim sum. Until places like the ones you find in SF outside of Chinatown show up in Chicago, this is where I go. The place is always packed on the weekends and ocassionaly clausterphobic. The crowd is about 90% Chinese and there is a decent chance you will share a table with strangers. No carts since there is no space, so you order and then the food dribbles out from the kitchen. That almost guarantees the food will be hot. This place is no nonsense - its not "fancy" - the dim sum items are all traditional with no fusion specials, but its good and super inexpensive.