40 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.“

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

“I have been going this place for long and always love their bobas and snacks. Brown sugar is the best in the area, and their mango smoothie and sagos are on the top of the list as well. Popcorn chicken is authentic just like what I’ve had in Taiwan!“

“I'm glad I found this little gem. The own is super welcoming and kind. The coffee was the best I've had I'm a long time and the food was amazing! And the prices were on point. It's a tight space and that's my only complaint, but I'm not even complaining. Go here, you'll be happy you did.

Vegetarian options: Small menu, in general, but a few vegan options.“

“One of the best if not the best boba spot in Chicago. Beats all the chains in the area. I am all the way in Uptown and drive 45 min each way to come here couple times a week. Tea is very flavor full, boba is just right. Very friendly staff thats always accommodating. 11/10 and would recommend. Stop by before or after shopping for groceries/eating.“

“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“

“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.“

“It was my first time here, cashier was nice and very helpful and man I loved their hot cheeto corn dog! I chose all cheese and it was a pretty decent size with so much cheese, their mochi donuts are so cute and taste really good and are packaged in a nice cute box“

“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!“

“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!“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“The food is made fresh and so delicious.“

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

“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.“

“My husband and I wanted to get some Boba because we wanted to get some caffeine since we didn’t get coffee. this place wasn’t too bad. However, I think it’s expensive and the drinks are OK and really small for what they charge. However, they had a deal where if you were to write a review after you made at least one purchase, you would get a free drink, but you must have had to purchase one prior. And got a second drink. I may or may not return and recommend to friends.“

“All the way at the very lower level of Block 37 on the way to the train. Cute little Boba shop.
The boba was very soft and chewy. I got the Brown sugar, dirty boba. Less sweet. Ordered on a kiosk. It took a little over 7 minutes, and there were no people there.?“

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

“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 !!!“

“The Jasmine Milk Tea with Agar Jelly was so delicious! I was skeptical about expiration dates and the taste of the tea but I’m thoroughly impressed as the flavor was fresh and drink was cold. The jasmine flavor is probably one of the best I’ve had in a while. Super accessible for a quick drink especially when all other shops are closed :)“

“Very delicious and great customer service!“

“Delicious Taiwanese Street food & Boba tea! The coffee Boba milk tea is my go to drink!
Tried the pork dumplings, got them spicy, they were perfectly crispy on the outside and soft and tender on the inside. The Korean spicy sauce ?? Very much enjoyed the grilled Taiwanese sausages! ?“

“This place has some fantastic shaved ice
desserts and great beverages. I'm addicted to the grapefruit slushy...the taro and boba milk tea shaved ice was fantastic. It's extra authentic when the red bean shows up in the center of it.“

“I love the drinks and food“

“Best coffee shop in town. Highly recommend!“

“My daughter is a huge fan of boba drinks in Omaha but Te’ Amo is the cutest & best tasting spot we’ve visited so far!

Our barista, Aiyanna, cheerfully explained every drink option! She was kind and professional.

My daughter chose the Organic Strawberry Dalgona Coffee with boba and a strawberry Mochi donut! My son and I had coffee with boba drinks! Fancy!

We will visit this location again when we visit home again!“

“great selection and customer service“

“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!“

“Really good food. Great for when you know you need to up your healthy food consumption but also want some delicious food & sauces. Not expensive. I love the seating. Employees are always nice. Excellent value. Also, I am allergic to sesame and miss traditional sushi and this is an amazing substitute.“

“Favorite place to get boba tea!“

“Top Tao Tea is undoubtedly one of the cutest and most aesthetically pleasing boba cafes in Chicago! From the moment you step inside, the charming decor and cozy atmosphere make it an inviting spot to enjoy your drinks.

During my visit, I had the pleasure of trying several delightful flavors: the Dragonfruit Kumquat was a refreshing delight with a vibrant hue and a perfect balance of sweet and tangy. The Oreo Brown Sugar was a rich and indulgent treat that combined the creamy flavors of Oreo with a deep brown sugar sweetness—absolutely divine!

The Thai Milk was smooth and comforting, capturing the essence of a traditional Thai drink, while the Passion Fruit Tea brought a burst of fruity freshness that was simply irresistible. Last but not least, the Matcha Tea provided a lovely earthy flavor that's both calming and revitalizing.

Overall, Top Tao Tea offers a fantastic selection of beverages that cater to a variety of tastes, all within a beautifully decorated space. I highly recommend this charming cafe for anyone looking to enjoy a delicious boba experience in Chicago!“

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