While every small-business owner should be celebrated 24/7, the Evanston RoundTable is especially pleased to shine a light on these Asian-owned restaurants and food stores during AAPI (for Asian American and Pacific Islander) History Month. They are always worth your patronage! Our apologies to any businesses we have unintentionally omitted; please respond in the comments so that we can add them to the list.
10Q Chicken
816 Church St., 847-859-6100
Will Song and David Yoo, the owners of this downtown Evanston favorite, are as obsessed with Korean fried chicken as you are. So whether you opt for the Kangnam Style jumbo wings, the Chicky Chicky Parm Sandwich or the Fire Chicken Bowl, your mouth is going to be happy.
527 Café
527 Davis St., 847-332-2233
This family-owned spot in downtown Evanston is known for their home-style Taiwanese food, with everything made to order. They’re known for their Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup and a Taiwanese breakfast (served only on weekends).
Backlot Coffee
2006 Central St., 847-859-2144
John Kim’s northwest Evanston coffee roastery and café has become a community gathering place for meetings, breakfasts and more. The matcha drinks are top-notch, and the fluffy egg sandwich is one of the best in town.
Berry Pike Café
1100 Davis St., 847-424-1006
Located just across from the downtown Post Office, this café is known for their steamed sandwiches, Belgian Liege waffles and smoothies.
Blue Horse Tavern / Five and Dime / Lulu’s / Taco Diablo
1026 Davis St., 847-869-4343
Dan and Laura Kelch have created a restaurant dynasty in downtown Evanston, and all four restaurants are under the same roof. The menus are interchangeable, so if you must have tacos but your kids want a burger – or BBQ ribs, tuna poke or eggrolls – they’ve got you covered. And the outdoor patio upstairs at Five & Dime is in Evanston’s top five.
Brothers K Coffeehouse
500 Main St., 847-328-7940
Brothers K is not an ode to Dostoevsky, but a reference to the Kim Brothers who founded the coffeehouse. Latté art is a specialty at this southeast Evanston stalwart, and it’s filled with satisfied regulars every day.
CM Korean Fried Chicken
1009 Davis St., 847-262-8686
The CM Chicken franchise started in South Korea but has happily opened a number of outlets in the U.S. Super crispy, well-seasoned chicken is the name of the game here, available as wings, tenders, half or whole chicken.
Coffee Lab
910 Noyes St., 847-868-8033
Open on Noyes Street since 2010, the locally owned Coffee Lab is a favorite of Northwestern students. You’ll find all the usual coffeehouse suspects on the menu (lattes, matcha, tea, etc.) along with Filipino-inspired desserts.
Cozy Noodles & Rice
1018 Davis St., 847-733-0101
This is a great stop with the family, both for food and décor. The fabulous collections displayed on almost every surface here – bobbleheads, Pez dispensers, lunchboxes, and more – are the perfect backdrop for a raucous game of “I Spy.” And the price is right!
Dozika Restaurant
601 Dempster St., 847-869-9740
This pan-Asian spot on the Main-Dempster Mile has it all: Japanese Takoyaki (octopus balls), fresh sushi, Thai spring tolls, Indonesian chicken satay, Korean Bi Bim Bop, Chinese Honey Walnut Shrimp and more.
Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken
500 Davis St., 847-563-8085
Billing themselves as “Nashville Hot Chicken & Wings,” this recent opening in downtown Evanston brings the heat to their Korean chicken nuggets, chicken fingers, “sandos” and wings. They don’t shy away from the fryer here, but would you want them to? Don’t forget the waffle fries.
Hokkaido Ramen & Sushi Bar
812 Church St., 847-868-8727
Improbably, this franchise started in Montana and now there are 50 or so nationwide. They specialize in Japanese ramen and sushi, but you’ll also find a large bubble tea menu.
Hunan Spring
635 Chicago Ave, 847-328-8082
This longtime south Evanston go-to for Chinese food has an enormous menu that encompasses many of China’s provinces, but the best dishes are Hunanese.
Inspired Indian Co.
914 Noyes St.
Kalpana Waikar will open her new Indian sandwich shop and gourmet grocery in June in the old Al’s Deli spot on Noyes. It’s sure to become a fixture in the community. You’ll be able to get a Madras egg sandwich to go with a warm chai, plus all kinds of wonderful snacks, spice mixtures, and more.
JD Mills Health Foods
635 Chicago Ave., 847-491-0940
Brothers Dinesh and Jagdish Patel have owned and operated this southeast Evanston health-oriented store for more than 30 years. You’ll find tons of organic items and a comprehensive selection of gluten-free and international grocery items.
Joy Yee
533 Davis St., 847-733-1900
The RoundTable’s recent winner of “Evanston’s Best Bubble Tea,” Joy Yee’s sunny downtown corner location is great for a crowd. You can share favorite dishes like the Vietnamese Pho, Thai-style Lettuce Wraps, Malaysian Seafood Rice and Korean Bulgogi.
Kansaku
1514 Sherman Ave., 847-864-4386
The lunch specials are a real draw at this Japanese favorite in downtown Evanston. Bento boxes and rice bowls with various proteins are well-priced and allow you to try many different items. Known for their inventive maki rolls and tasty entrees.
Koco Table
720½ Clark St., 847-866-7055
This popular spot in downtown Evanston offers many Korean favorites, such as pajeon (seafood pancake), dukbokki (rice cakes with spicy gochujang sauce), fried mandoo dumplings and kimchi jjigae (a spicy tofu and kimchi soup).
Koi Fine Asian Cuisine & Lounge
624 Davis St., 847-866-6969
Super-fresh sushi and a wide range of dishes from all around China are on the menu, plus a great happy hour! Sandy Chen’s longtime downtown Evanston favorite delivers – on all levels.
Kung Fu Tea
726 Clark St., 224-307-2314
Beloved by the high school and college set, Kung Fu Tea was founded in Queens, New York, in 2010, and has grown to 350-plus stores in the last 14 years. They specialize in freshly brewed teas that can be paired with fruit juices, boba, milk caps, various milks and sweet treats to create a flavor explosion.
Kuni’s Japanese Restaurant
511 Main St., 847-328-2004
For nearly 40 years, Kuni’s has been the go-to southeast Evanston spot for the freshest sushi around. But you’ll also find classic Japanese dishes such as yakitori, tempura, tonkatsu and udon.
Lao Sze Chuan
1633 Orrington Ave., 847-868-8989
This mini chain has its beginnings in Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood, and has since blossomed to 15 restaurants in Illinois, Connecticut, Maryland, Ohio and Texas, with three more on the way. If you like it spicy, this is your place! They specialize in Szechuan cuisine.
Mogë Tee
1590 Sherman Ave., 847-425-0187
Bubble tea by way of mainland China, now in downtown Evanston. The teas are handcrafted, brewed from loose teas and hand-picked fruits. They’ve got all the latest bubble-tea trends, like cheese foam and fruit yakult (a fermented probiotic fruit tea).
Mt. Everest
630 Church St., 847-491-1069
Indian and Nepalese specialties are on the menu at this downtown Indian spot. The lunch buffet (now available Friday–Sunday) is always a bargain, as is the weekday Happy Hour from 4 to 6 pm. Their tandoor specialties are first rate, and this is a perfect spot for vegans and vegetarians as well as carnivores.
NaKorn
1622 Orrington Ave., 847-733-8424
Sam Rattonapas and Mina Sudsaard, childhood friends from Thailand, opened this world-class Thai restaurant to great acclaim. Super flavorful, inventive dishes plus a full bar with creative co*cktails.
Papa Bop
1047 Chicago Ave., 847-425-0666
This tiny Korean restaurant opened in southeast Evanston a few years ago, but what they lack in size, they make up in flavor. Don’t miss the Soft Tofu Soup with Kimchi, the Stone-Bowl Bibimbap or the Hae Mul Pajeon (seafood and scallion pancake).
Peppercorns Kitchen
620 Davis St., 847-563-8461
Szechuan cuisine is the focus at this downtown restaurant. You’ll find authentic dishes such as Fish Filet with Clear Noodle in Szechuan Pickle Soup, Chongqing Popcorn Chicken, Dry Pot Tofu, and Xinjiang-Style Sauteed Beef among others.
Pinto Thai Kitchen
1931 Central St., 847-328-8881
Northwest Evanston’s favorite Thai spot, Pinto Thai Kitchen does a nice job with soups like the Tom Kha (infused with coconut milk) and the traditional hot-and-sour Tom Yum. Noodle dishes are also a strong suit.
Sea Ranch
518 Dempster St., 847-492-8340
Looking for freshly made sushi to go? Need to feed a crowd? Sea Ranch is a good option for you. They’ve also got an ample array of Japanese grocery items, including imported rice, snacks, mochi and more.
Shang Noodle and Chinese
608 Davis St., 847-859-6868
Downtown Evanston is one of four locations for this local mini chain. You’ll find traditional dishes like Mapo Tofu, Mongolian Beef and Kung Pao Chicken, but there are also some outliers, like the Sichuan Fish Casserole or the Northern-Style Peking Pork Chop.
Shinsen
1322 Chicago Ave., 847-425-0077
This Pan-Asian spot offers modern takes on Thai and Japanese cuisine, like Red Curry Mussels with house-made chimichurri buns, spicy Tantanmen Ramen and Black Widow Maki made with Japanese black rice.
Siam Paragon Asian Bistro
503 Main St., 847-332-2302
Fresh ingredients and homemade sauces are the rule at Siam Paragon, which offers dishes from Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese cuisines. Lunch specials are quite reasonable.
Siam Splendour
1125 Emerson St., 847-492-1008
Curries, satays and Pad Thai: you’ll find them all on the huge menu at this central Evanston restaurant, tucked away in the corner of a strip mall. The Yum Kai Krob salad (crispy chicken with shredded green papaya) is a satisfying summer option.
Soban Korea
819 Noyes St., 847-869-4344
Knowing that this northeast Evanston spot has tteokbokki (Korean rice cakes, sort of like a rice gnocchi) is reason enough to stop by Soban, a newish place on Noyes Street. But you’ll also find numerous soups, bibimbap, kimchi pancakes and bulgogi among other classic Korean dishes.
Table to Stix
1007 Davis St., 847-859-6847
Pick a perch at one of the high-top tables at this downtown spot and order a big, soothing bowl of ramen, like the Spicy Tonkotsu. If you want to gild the lily, order the Crispy Chicken Buns, too. No judgment here.
Todoroki
526 Davis St., 847-733-0536
Hibachi in downtown Evanston – is it any wonder it’s such a hit with families and NU students? Not much is more exciting than seeing your food cooked in front of you with a little flair.
Tomo Japanese Street Food
1726 Sherman Ave., 847-425-0069
They started as a food-hall stall in downtown Chicago but ended up in Evanston in 2022 as a brick-and-mortar restaurant offering ramen, udon, chicken kara-age, gyoza and other Japanese street foods.
Yasotorn Thai Cuisine
809 Dempster St., 847-425-0425
The inspiration for this Thai restaurant in southeast Evanston comes from Yasothon, a northeastern province of Thailand. Hoi Tod, a pancake with scallions and fried New Zealand mussels, is representative of this provincial cuisine, as is the Ka Norn Joan Nam Ya, a rice noodle soup with fish curry and fish balls. You’ll also find many Thai menu standards as well.
