50 Best Bubble Tea in Chicago

“Rejoice! The place for some great Chinese teas had arrived near you! Yes, it does share the fad with the Taiwan born boba drinks. But our eye was caught by the nice website with images of nice teacups and ambiance. Only 23 miles away from home we discovered that the trip in a hot and still pandemic day was totally worth it. In few words owner, Shaolong picked the teaist vibes in us and offered us a great real experience of sharing a favorite tea - he introduced us to the wonders of Zhang Ping Shui Xian (漳平水仙). Unlike the real "black tea", the Pu-erh, this one also comes in bricks, yet is a type of oolong with an amazing floral scent. We were honored with 4 different samples which we are currently slowly and thoroughly testing (3 pics). And yes, the fermentation levels are different - some definitely will give you a great oolong taste, but others are just a unique elixir on its own. But back to the house itself. I see and hope for great unrolling potential. This could become a place for tea lovers and teaists in training. Why not theme days, classes, shared experiences, a club? We would join. The 23 miles are a drive, but there isn't much of a real tea-drinking place in our Chicagoland (unlike smaller cities in North America like Portland and Montreal). However, Living Water Tea House is a great promise and it totally won our full support! Keep the cups warm!“

“超正台灣滷肉飯、珍珠奶茶🧋氣氛歡樂滿滿😊“

“Such a delicious treat in any kind of weather.“

“I've been twice, and both times were lovely. it's both a fun and relaxing atmosphere and is a great place to just sit down and relax.“

“My favorite boba spot! I love this chain. I tend to get the peach slush with cheese foam, and recently tried the yogurt with crystal and it was yummy - trying to branch out and try their other drinks and so far nothing has disappointed me! The mozzarella sticks though.....I have been looking for amazing mozzarella sticks for years and I think I finally found the perfect mozzarella stick. Of course to each their own, but do not miss out on trying them!“

“Legit bubble tea! Hot fresh takoyaki! What a pleasure.“

“This place is pretty, warm, has inside seating, is inside the mall in 88 market. It’s decorated nicely. The teas are well priced in that they are not overpriced. They make the teas fresh. It’s a $0.65 cent up charge for bubbles. So it’s very reasonable. Enjoyed the tea here and will return. Clean, pretty, nice freshly brewed tea and charge of bubbles or crystals are slightly cheaper than other places … tasted good.. can ask for less sugar .., nice seating even if it’s small … inside 88 market so nice to shop after or before tea. Inside is a nice ambience. It was also warm w heat blasting bc it’s still cold outside in Chicago like 35 degrees F. So it was cozy. Recommend Pure Tea.“

“Omg all food was amazing … Worth every penny and more .. the staff super friendly and attentive..!! Kudos“

“Delicious boba tea! I had the Coconut milk tea with boba and my husband had the mango fruit with boba. This was our first time here! It was busy when we walked in with lines for those wanting to get there bubble / boba tea. There was a great menu of options to choose from and a nice sitting area to relax, and enjoy the drinks. Staff were quick and busy filling in the orders that were coming in. This is located in Chinatown near the Chinatown square. Great spot and delicious boba teas! We will definitely come back when we visit this area again!“

“Amazing place to chill and hangout with friends and to do some of your homework“

“This place is always a winner with their delicious drinks! So unique and so satisfying! Love all the textures and combinations! I would try everything if I could!“

“been here a few times, each is better experience that the last, attempt to try most of their items on menu. So far, my favorite is their Mango smoothies with cloud cheese, as drink. Their cloud cheese is really good and a balance of salty taste with the sweetness of the mango, the tapioca in the drinks is plentiful but not overpowering the water content. I had it in other Chinatown restaurants, some had too many tapiocas that my teeth were tired chewing them. Cuckoo is not. Their Don (Japanese rice bowls) and their bibimbap (Korean rice bowls) are excellent. Have not decide which is better because each have their own uniqueness and tastes; I had 2 types of their bibimbap before and only 1 type of their Don. So far, I am leaning towards the Don but there is excellent amount of veggie in their Bibimbap, which is ideal for weigh concise person. Wish they have a loyal customer rewards style of drinks incentives, much like some restaurants, for example, buy 9 and get 1 free drink, or some % off after 5 drink purchases, and give customers an advertisable nice pocket size reward card to keep track of their purchases. That may also work with food item purchases as well. Crossing my fingers that this may happen soon. With summer in Chicago, cool refreshing drinks is ideal and as loyal customers, return for more drink purchases with rewards will be even better.“

“This was my first time trying mochi donuts, and they were delicious. They are light and airy and not too sweet. I had the iced vanilla latte with oat milk, and my husband got a hot one. It was the perfect combo. The staff were friendly, welcoming and efficient. The place was super adorable.

Parking is paid. Come prepared to park and walk. Worth it though!“

“The owners are so wonderful and the environment is GREAT. Service was amazing and overall just a good place to go for a sweet treat with your family or just yourself lol“

“Before entering Chicago, I was thirsty and happened to buy a drink here by chance-it turned out to be a fantastic choice! I was blown away by how delicious it was. I ordered the passion fruit tea, which had jelly bits that added a fun, popping texture. It was so tasty! I highly recommend trying this spot when visiting Chicago. You won’t regret it!“

“Got to meet Peter at a wedding last night! Such a great idea. They must have made about 500 boba drinks in 3 hours. They were in and out quick, no mess, smiling... I'll definitely be by the shop to check it out!“

“I loved the ambience here. The people working here are very polite. The boba came in a cylindrical packaging which is very decent looking.
The boba tea itself was nice, It tasted fresh with enough ratio of boba added. Overall good experience.“

“So many flavors to try. Tried the Taro milk tea and Lychee Like You with boba today. So good. The Taiwanese popcorn chicken has a great flavor - definitely try it!“

“Organic and not powdery at all! Very sweet so I recommend 50% sweet to start. Kinda expensive but worth it! Their boba is made in a special marinade so it’s better than the average!“

“Always love coming here! Staff is very friendly and helpful with my questions, and the drinks are always refreshing. I've tried the white peach oolong, the rosé series, the fruit teas, and one thing I can say is that the fruit flavor is always prominent. I just got the sunset rosé milk tea with a bogo deal right now, and the rose flavor is so prominent, which is nice. The rose lychee has a sweet taste, with the lychee being very prominent. I went by the recommended amount for sugar, and the drinks were still decently sweet. I love getting the rice mochi as a topping in my drinks! The packaging is super cute.“

“The bubble tea is amazing and delicious, but i was so surprised that you need to purchase the boba separately. So I ordered my bubble tea and thought that they are asking if i need extra boba, i pressed no, and it ended up having it with the tapioca balls! But the friendly staff fixed it immediately! Love it!“

“Favorite place to get boba tea!“

“The food is made fresh and so delicious.“

“love hello jasmine! we’ve been coming here consistently since august and really appreciate the atmosphere since it’s so pretty and calm. also, the drinks are sooo good with so many flavors to choose from! this drink is the passion fruit and i love it sm!“

“It’s very tasteful and packed with flavor. The bowl of noodles looks very colorful and the essence of aroma smells really good. The broth tastes rich simmered perfectly, with layers of yummy spices, and slow-cooked amazing melt-in-your-mouth tender beef. For sure, a must try. A top 30 chicago food item!!“

“Glad to have found a good Vietnamese restaurant in River North. My husband and I go there at least twice a month. We love the pho there, I especially love the pho bo vien. Their vermicelli with grilled chicken is also great, very refreshing during the hotter months. I keep ordering their bac xiu coffee so I haven’t gotten around to try other drinks on their menu yet.“

“The Taiwanese popcorn chicken is amazingly good and a fulfilling snack! The popcorn chicken is definitely shareable for 2 people. The mango lemonade drink was certainly refreshing for a hot summer Chicago day. The black tea boba milk tea was nicely balance in terms of taste and sugar. The milk tea wasn't too sweet at all, which I like. The amount of tapioca pearls you get is adequate for the size.

TBaar is one of THE only few places that actually have good boba tea.“

“Am avut experiența de a încerca băuturile acestui brand de băuturi, am băut foarte multe alte băuturi de la alte firme și este o diferență extremă. Băuturile chiar sunt fără coloranți, zahărul este foarte,foarte puțin iar aceasta firmă merită din plin maximul stelelor posibile !! Felicitări conducătorului și să o țineți tot așa !!!“

“Tea Monster has really great bubble tea. I got Lime & Passion Fruit Green (C1) and it was quite refreshing! The lid is also the best lid I’ve ever seen for bubble tea. It’s not a soft plastic lid that you puncture. It’s a hard top and it makes sure you won’t have any spillage at all.“

“Absolutely love their tea. It is a much needed treat during study sessions. �“

“Best coffee shop in town. Highly recommend!“

“Fantastic! Went here for the first time and was not disappointed.

The ordering process is different, you fill out a form when you walk in and give it to the counter person.

Don't worry, they have patience with newbies.

Food was fresh and tasty, quantity was not lacking either.“

“Went today for the very first time and I absolutely love it! The prices are very reasonable and it tastes so good! Definitely will be returning.“

“Great place for boba, dessert, and a drink. They had lots of choices and cakes, and got the mango drink which was a summer deal for $11-$12 including a donut. The mango was very good and had some jelly at the bottom, but way too much ice, so the drink lasted only a little bit. This is a super expensive boba shop in my opinion, which small crepe slices over $10 each. They asked for a tip like most places do but the person working there didnt call my name, which was annoying. But a worthwhile stop after a fancy meal and great atmosphere“

“Good desserts but fruits are canned fruits not freshly cut… I got the shaved ice with my friends. A big bowl with different fruit toppings. However, fruits taste like they’re out of a can. If they’re freshly cut, it becomes even more of a a question why the mangos, red beans, and pineapples taste like that. But friendly service, with free parking lot. Nice fun decorations for pre Halloween.“

“I went during the Agust D cup sleeve event! Very fun, social employees, and organized!“

“I was downtown craving boba at like 7pm, when a lot of boba shops were closed, and this vending machine came up on google, so I decided to try it! I got the roast oolong milk tea with agar and it was sweet and creamy and tasted the same as what I I would expect fresh from a boba shop. My only complaint is that I wish the different bubble teas were clearly labeled right in the vending machine. Instead, you have to go through and click on each one on the touch screen to find out what they are.“

“I love the drinks and food“

“Love the dim sum! Great service didn’t wait long at all! A place I will go back!“

“This little shop is a perfect stop on your stroll along the Magnificent Mile, or on your way to Millennium Park. I am a long time lover of Boba! I decided to go with the Strawberry. It was refreshing, sweet and delicious! The Mango Popping Boba was fruity, tasted like real Mangoes. Service was friendly, fast, and the shop is kept very clean. I will be back for more!“

“great selection and customer service“

“This boba place is the BEST I’ve had since moving. The sign makes it totally unassuming though. The interior is quite nice compared to the sign, but I’m so glad I stopped by. Their mango tea was so refreshing and I love the little fruit bits that made it taste like fresh orange. And their brown sugar boba is sooooo good please try“

“Very delicious and great customer service!“

“Legit bubble tea! Hot fresh takoyaki! What a pleasure.“

“I've never left a review on Maps before, but the service was so pleasant here that I felt compelled to!! The cashier was so friendly and greeted everyone who walked in + she was so considerate in preparing my order :) She also cleaned the tables so quickly after patrons walked in and out. So hardworking and sweet!! And my food was amazing 🩷🩷“

“Friendly staff unique menu. Very child friendly. Made good. Use of the space hot chocolate, fried chicken and donuts were out of this world delicious… overall a unique one-of-a-kind experience was had“

“The Takoyaki here is simply delicious – perfectly soft on the inside, slightly crispy on the outside, and packed with flavor. I haven’t tried many of their milk teas yet, but I always order the Lychee Black Tea and it’s wonderfully refreshing and rich. I usually get 8 pieces of takoyaki with my lychee tea, and I have to say the combination is just perfect. I’ve ordered from here many times and I always look forward to coming back for their takoyaki!!!“

“This is my second time here. Today, I tried the strawberry cheese boba and the mango/strawberry ice cream roll. Unfortunately, the boba drink didn't impress me; it was oddly bland and not sweet at all, even though I requested 100% sweetness. It tasted more like 25%. On the other hand, the strawberry/mango ice cream roll was delicious! I highly recommend their ice cream roll. The consistency is thick, firm, and creamy. I wasn't a fan of the strawberry cheese boba tea. The first time I visited, I had their jumbo fruit tea and their original waffle. The waffle was tasty, chewy on the inside, and had a nice fried texture on the outside, but I didn't enjoy the jumbo fruit tea. It had a strange taste that I can't quite describe, and it just wasn't for me. Overall, I would definitely return for their ice cream roll and waffle!“

“It’s WILD how good this place is. I’ve been literally dozens of times, always amazing. Haven’t missed once on something off the menu, but faves for sure are Rose Matcha with snow cream, Mango Green Tea both original and Passion Fruit. Staff is always so helpful as I bumble my way through trying something new 😂.“

“Such a delicious treat in any kind of weather.“