![]() ![]() Instead, waiters circulate taking orders. Unlike many restaurants, though, the Happy Chef does not serve dim sum off of waiter-pushed carts, where customers point at the dishes they want. Most dim sum houses are loud and raucous, and the Happy Chef is no exception. On the weekend, entire families crowd around tables to sip jasmine tea and drink “heart’s delights.” However, even on the busiest days, there is no need for a reservation. It’s not merely a great image the Happy Chef serves Cantonese dim sum from 9 am to 2 am every week. My roommate says it makes her think of old men gathering around the table, surrounded by tea, memories, and dishes from the good old days. ![]() ![]() As such, it’s especially well suited for the adventurous eater, but there’s definitely something to please every palate. Dim sum-literally “something that touches the heart’s delight”-is the Chinese version of a smorgasbord, a little of everything served in small portions. To satisfy our appetites, we made our way to the Happy Chef Dim Sum House, located in Chinatown Square. Right around the time finals hit, it’s just what I need, so my roommate and I decided to spend the Saturday of reading period gorging ourselves with one of the best types of food in Chinatown: dim sum. I get to see an entirely different side of Chinatown. Whenever we visit the bakeries and restaurants together, I become, by association, more than just a tourist who doesn’t speak the language. I know that the owner of one of the food markets is something of an herbal expert, and if only I could ask him in Mandarin, he would happily recommend the best tea to help a sore throat or tension headaches. She has an opinion on everything in Chinatown, as well as interesting scraps of gossip about the owners of the various shops and restaurants. Perhaps I’ve been exposed to more of Chinatown than most because my roommate is Chinese and a Chicago native. Even as a first-year, I found myself wandering the crowded streets, breathing in air rich with mouth-watering smells as I explored the gift shops in search of beautifully painted chopsticks, affordable trinkets, or the odd jade bracelet. The real reason I find myself in Chinatown so frequently is that I love Chinese food. Since it’s a simple matter of jumping on the Red Line, Chinatown is also one of the easiest ethnic neighborhoods to reach from Hyde Park. One of our favorite spots in Chicago (when the pressure of even being in the immediate vicinity of the Reg is too much to bear) is Chinatown. ![]()
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