Add some excitement to your Chicago meeting or event by showcasing culturally rich venues, food, and programming. The city’s Asian American and Pacific Islander-owned businesses are ready to help with planning and executing an unforgettable experience for your attendees.

Venues

Hold a meeting or event in the Bridgeport neighborhood at Zhou B Art Center, owned by China-born brothers and internationally renowned painters ShanZuo and DaHuang Zhoushi. Stunning artwork by the brothers and resident artists surrounds attendees in the 28,000-square-foot, two-level space. Planners who book the Earth space can invite 150 seated attendees or 200 standing, while the Moon space can host 400 seated or 750 standing. The outdoor Secret Garden, featuring a charming pond surrounded by sculptures, accommodates 75 seated guests or 100 standing. A venue manager is on hand to assist with arrangements.

After a day of meeting sessions is over, schedule a fun outing for attendees at King Karaoke, an Asian Pacific-owned entertainment venue in Chinatown. Rent one of 12 private rooms in various sizes that can accommodate up to 25 people who are willing to step up to the mic and sing karaoke. Match your budget and attendees’ interests with party packages that can include everything from bottle service and snacks to Asian-style dishes such as bao buns, grilled skewers, orange chicken, and egg rolls.

Host a meeting or event at the Chinese American Museum of Chicago. The museum’s fourth-floor event space accommodates 99 people for receptions, 80 for theatre-style seating, or 40 attendees for conferences. Request an appointment for a group tour of the nonprofit Chinatown museum, which features exhibits and events showcasing Chinese American culture, immigration to the United States, and the resiliency of the Chinese people.

Private dining

Treat attendees to upscale Indian fare at ROOP Chicago in the trendy West Loop neighborhood. Book the bar, a private room, or the main dining area. ROOP Chicago’s staff is happy to help customize your event. The restaurant’s cuisine focuses on traditional Indian flavors paired with modern techniques. A sample meal might include small plates of sweet potato chaat and pork belly with fig-and-ginger sauce, followed by butter chicken, Scottish salmon, or tandoori cauliflower. Accompaniments like naan, chutneys, and saffron rice add to the authentic Indian dining experience.

For Cantonese-style cuisine and dim sum, book a group dinner at MingHin Cuisine in Chinatown. Seven private rooms can accommodate from 12 to 30 people. Groups of 140 to 200 can reserve one of the two larger areas. Restaurant staff can help with menus, which might include crab rangoon, egg rolls, orange chicken, Mongolian beef, seafood, and barbecue platters. Popular dim sum selections include shrimp dumplings, a baked creamy egg yolk bun, and the pan-fried turnip cake.

Exquisite Japanese food, including sushi and sashimi, is served at Momotaro and The Izakaya at Momotaro in the West Loop. Momotaro offers several options for private dining, accommodating from 16 seated guests to 200 reception style. Choose from hot or cold starters like miso soup or chicken liver paté, followed by entrees such as wagyu and tuna cheeks. The Izakaya is Momotaro’s underground bar. Book its Hanami Room for a formal meal for 16 people, or the entire bar for a private reception for 120.

HaiSous Vietnamese Kitchen, a two-time Michelin Bib Gourmand honoree and James Beard Foundation semifinalist, offers private event space at its Pilsen restaurant. Opt for an assortment of passed hors d’oeuvres and a three-course menu featuring HaiSous’ signature whole fried fluke. End the meal with whipped rice pudding spiked with toasted peanuts, sesame, and coconut. Arrange for a private room seating 45 people or a complete buyout for 110 guests.

Sisters Mary Nguyen Aregoni and Theresa Nguyen, and their mother Mama Suu, helm Saigon Sisters Vietnamese restaurant in the West Loop. Saigon Sisters can accommodate 35 people seated or 60 reception style. They also cater off-site meetings and events. Catering menus feature flavorful Vietnamese and Thai options that include banh mi, pho, and curries.

Impress attendees with unique flavors from the southern coast of India at Bar Goa in River North. The restaurant’s open space can accommodate up to 100 people for buffets or seated dinners. Palate-pleasing seafood dishes include Malwani fish curry, lobster ghee roast, and crispy shrimp Kolidwada. Malabar lamb shank, cauliflower, and chicken dishes are other popular choices.

In Lakeview, BITES Asian Kitchen + Bar‘s menu reflects inspiration from Thai, Chinese, Japanese, and other Asian cultures. Reserve the entire dining room for up to 100 people. Consult the catering menu for a full range of appetizers, sushi, noodle and fried rice dishes, hearty entrees, and desserts. Impress attendees by ordering a Paradise Sushi Cake featuring colorful sushi pieces stacked to look like a cake and topped with blazing sparklers.

Niu B Sushi & Noodle Bar, a woman- and Asian Pacific-owned Loop restaurant, specializes in contemporary preparations of Japanese ramen, maki rolls, sushi, and sashimi. Other popular menu items include wonton soup, vegetarian spring rolls, teriyaki chicken or steak, and spicy Kung Pao entrees with chicken, tofu, beef, or shrimp. Niu B’s sleek interior was designed to resemble a 1930s Tokyo izakaya. The dining room can accommodate 80 people with a full buyout.

At Kama Bistro in Wicker Park, private dining and catering are offered by father-and-son duo Manmohan and Vikram Singh. The elevated, made-from-scratch Indian menu features authentic dishes and a fusion of flavors. Among the options are tandoori Chilean sea bass, lamb chop masala, and vindaloo. The dining room accommodates 70 guests. Kama Bistro also has a suburban location in La Grange, where a private area accommodates up to 100 seated guests, but a full buyout can host up to 200. Both locations offer catering.

Services

Chocolat Uzma specializes in personalized gifts for meeting or event VIPs and attendees. Sweets at the woman- and Asian Indian-owned chocolate shop in Pilsen reflect South Asian culture. Some of the choices to fill customized gift boxes include Himalayan caramels, cookies, date cakes, and sipping chocolate. Dark, white, and milk chocolate bon bon flavors include Moroccan mint, ginger, Kashmiri chai, passion, coffee, and more. 

Mandala South Asian Performing ArtsHire entertainers from Mandala South Asian Performing Arts to add South Asia traditions and beautifully choreographed presentations to your event. Talented ensemble members can perform Indian dance, music, and even Bollywood shows. Mandala can bring a show to your venue or ask about their outreach events, such as programs and workshops.

Chinatown tourChinaPro Marketing Partners, in conjunction with the Chicago Chinese Cultural Institute, offers informative walking and food tours of historic Chinatown, in addition to experiences such as dumpling-making dinners and workshops in paper cutting, kite making, and tai chi. The bilingual staff can assist with planning and transportation.

Custom Color 3D Printing ensures your event’s 3D printing needs are completed efficiently and professionally. Staff can design and engineer projects, even quickly creating a prototype of your product. A fun activity for meeting or event attendees is to create Minikins. After taking a selfie, attendees design a miniature action figure of themselves, personalizing their face, body features, and clothing.

Learn about the many ways to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in Chicago.