Triple Crown in Chicago’s Chinatown is a bustling restaurant dishing out delectable dim sum and Cantonese classics into the late night, perfect for a lively meal.
"On any weekend around lunchtime, there’s probably a line of people snaking up Triple Crown’s staircase leading up to this Chinese restaurant’s large second-floor dining room. Why are all these couples, friends, and families willing to hang out on a staircase? This longtime Chinatown staple’s tasty dim sum. photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik photo credit: Kim Kovacik Don’t let the line discourage you (you can also book a reservation). The busyness has two benefits: it not only creates a buzzy energy in the space with lazy Susans and a colorful dragon mural, it also means dim sum is made more frequently to keep up. Lunchtime is when their plump har gow and sweet BBQ pork buns will most likely be at their most fresh and delicious. But any time of day is great for other highlights like ginger and green onion lobster or flat rice noodles with beef. Just make sure to end any meal with sweets from the dim sum section, like the piggy custard buns that are almost too cute to eat—we repeat, almost. photo credit: Kim Kovacik Food Rundown photo credit: Kim Kovacik Triple Crown Shrimp Dumpling The har gow here is excellent—it's full of plump shrimp pieces blanketed in a supple, chewy wrapper. Get this. photo credit: Kim Kovacik Siu Mai These are some chunky dumplings. And the juicy, savory pork and shrimp filling practically bursts out of the wonton wrapper. Another Triple Crown must-order. photo credit: Kim Kovacik BBQ Pork Buns The BBQ pork buns strike a nice balance between sweet and savory. The dough is fluffy with a pleasant bounce to each bite, and it has a slight sweetness that complements the saucy filling. photo credit: Kim Kovacik Piggy Custard Buns On the outside, these buns look like Looney Tunes extras. But the best part is the custard filling, which isn’t too sweet. photo credit: Kim Kovacik Ginger Green Onion Lobster As its name suggests, this tasty shellfish plate is fully flavored with ginger and green onion. Everything is already cracked for easy access, so you don’t have to slow down the dim sum feast momentum when making a lobster pit stop. photo credit: Kim Kovacik Stir-Fried Beef Flat Rice Noodles Triple Crown’s menu has a bunch of noodles to choose from, but this is one of our favorites. The thin rice ribbons have a pleasant chew and are great vehicles for all of the savory sauce. Onions and bean sprouts give it a little bit of crispness." - John Ringor
"This spot completes the old-school dim sum trifecta. Like Phoenix and Cai, Triple Crown’s food can be pretty average, but when you want dim sum in a classic space in the old part of Chinatown, it does the trick. Also like Phoenix, the quality can really vary depending on the time of day you’re here. Earlier in the weekend when the restaurant is at its busiest, the dim sum is made more frequently and tends to be fresher." - adrian kane, john ringor
"Just beyond the massive Welcome to Chinatown gate on Wentworth avenue is Triple Crown, an incredibly busy dim sum spot. Located on the second floor, it’s not uncommon on weekends to see a line of people waiting on the stairs leading up to the host stand, hoping to grab a table. The good news is that busy crowds mean fresher dim sum, and it’s possible to avoid being a part of this Au Cheval-esque purgatory by making a reservation. Classics like BBQ buns, shrimp dumplings, and beef rice crepes are all solid, and the sweet custard buns in the shape of cartoony pigs are great for people with cute aggression." - john ringor, adrian kane, veda kilaru
"312 Fish Market, Triple Crown, and JJ Thai Street Food are our regular spots we hit on our weekends." - Tim Flores and Genie Kwon
"Head to Triple Crown for family-style dinner and enjoy the views from their second story dining room overlooking Wentworth Avenue." - Jack X. Li
