Head to an unassuming neon-lit storefront in a strip mall on the outskirts of Lincoln Square for the best private-room karaoke on the north side. The interior is no-frills, the drinks are cheap, sometimes warm and include mini bottles of Korean wine, the food is fried. Hourly rates for groups of all sizes run from $30-50.

Chinatown is Chicago's mecca for private-room karaoke, but Sakura actually has a scene at the main bar that feels like an actual bar scene. The longtime subterranean spot on Cermak is dim and almost divey, includes a stage in the gently neon-lit main room, a full beverage menu with bottle service that's cheaper than others, and unveiled an expansion that doubled its size. Private rooms cost between $30 and $50 per hour.

Like many north side bars that specialize in karaoke, Louie's Pub on North and Paulina is a neighborhood bar that changes from snoozefest to mob scene when karaoke kicks off at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays through Sundays. There's a long main front bar and a back room, with a karaoke booth in the middle where "karaoke jockeys" play songs that tipsy revelers sing using wireless mics. Look for crowds of people spilling onto the sidewalk.

This divey Lincoln Park bar has unique character that belies its upscale location. Raucous and loud, it's one main room where locals, DePaul students and travelers loudly sing karaoke standards deep into the night on Fridays and Saturdays and munch on free popcorn. Also of note: Cocoa crispy bombs, (sometimes) angry bartenders, and comedy open mic nights.

How many karaoke bars are affiliated with Ogre from "Revenge of the Nerds" AND have a free trolley to and from Wrigley Field? This Florida-imported island-themed karaoke bar has a neon sign inside proclaiming it "Chicago's best karaoke bar," and it gets raucous many nights due to the sugary drink-fueled masses and karaoke that brings out the best of the amateur voices in Lakeview.

This large neighborhood tavern near the Belmont Blue Line stop in Avondale transforms from a dive where you may have to be buzzed in during the day into a packed karaoke mecca at night for a mix of young and old singers.

One of Chinatown's newest private-room karaoke clubs, accessed through a staircase inside Little Lamb Hot Pot on Cermak and Wentworth, draws a young crowd to a neon-lit clubby space to sing American and Asian pop. Of particular note is the large food menu including Mongolian barbecue, snacks, noodle soups and other Chinese dishes, a big beverage selection featuring Chinese liquor and bottle service, and free drinking games. Also of note: Private rooms are only available in four-hour increments, running from $120-300.

This classic, divey tavern in the heart of Lincoln Square draws an eclectic crowd of neighborhoodites, lesbians, and amateur singers for karaoke on Friday and Saturday nights, cheap drink specials, free pool and free popcorn.

Want to sing karaoke in a nightclub on the outskirts of Chinatown? This loud, loungey neon-lit nightclub has private rooms, an eclectic crowd of young and old, decently-priced drinks, and a food menu offering Asian-themed bar snacks such as "Everything on a Stick," "Ham and Egg Instant Noodles," and a "Fatty Beef Bao Sandwich."

The hot new bi-level Sichuan Chinese restaurant and bar from Hogsalt protege Austin Baker is more than another Randolph Restaurant Row destination for food and drink — it also houses one of the top up-and-coming karaoke options in town at the large red-lit bar space upstairs. It's only on Tuesday nights (for now), but dim sum carts, great cocktails, and an industry crowd make it destination-worthy for any food and drink enthusiast that also enjoys belting out a tune.

Right off the Sedgwick CTA Brown Line stop, Lan’s is known more for its party atmosphere than its Chinese-American food. It’s a rare BYO karaoke spot, so grab a mic and prepare to perform while other guests dig into their egg rolls. They know how to throw a party here in Old Town, and they go hard.