Albany Park, North Park

Widely considered to be one of the most diverse zip codes in the country, the Albany Park neighborhood is a unique and multicultural visitor experience. A vast panorama of ethnic shops and eateries - Korean, Middle Eastern, Thai, Indian, Mexican and more - are located within blocks of one another. Albany Park has, percentage-wise, the largest immigrant population of any Chicago neighborhood. The Korean community is the largest demographic within that group, lending the stretch of Lawrence Avenue between Kedzie and Pulaski the official nickname of ‘Seoul Drive’, thanks to its concentration of Korean shops and storefronts. The Chicago Korean Festival celebrates the rich heritage and traditions of Korean-Americans every August in this neighborhood.

North Park, another historic Chicago immigrant neighborhood, may be found due north of ‘Seoul Drive’, centered at the corner of Kedzie and Foster Avenues. This traditional Swedish stronghold is home to North Park University, founded in 1891 by the Swedish-Covenant Church, and Swedish restaurants like Tre Kronor, which is known throughout the city for its reliable Swedish fare and brunch classics like Swedish pancakes with lingonberries and an amazing salmon quiche. The Chicago River’s north branch cuts through this picturesque neighborhood, affording fitness buffs a nearly 20 mile path for running, walking or biking along the North Branch Trail.

Read, Learn, Discover at the Chicago Public Library. Search programming and event information at your neighborhood branch (Albany Park, Mayfair).