“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!“
“BEST MILK TEA IN CHICAGO! Absolutely delicious and never, ever disappoints. The quality and flavors are impeccable - it’s one of those places where you can tell the owners really love and care about what they do. The Banana Milk is my favorite - unreal flavors and unlike anything I’ve ever tried. I hope they keep it on the menu forever!“
“Everytime we come here we feel so welcome. They use the finest ingredients and the teas are made fresh to order. The Crab Rangoon is delicious, I always get the Passion Fruit Tea with Lychee Boba. He got the brown sugar Boba.Mama always makes us laugh and takes great care of us. Perfect for Bible study or double date night!“
“This is one of the cutest places in Andersonville! I HIGHLY recommend getting the Ancient Brown Sugar Tea, it’s deliciously sweet and my only complaint is that it doesn’t come in a bigger size. The employees are very kind and welcoming.“
“The best bubble tea in town! Super friendly and let us sample some different boba. Lots of great options excited to try more. We had the honey dew and green appleKid-friendliness: Kids love boba! And right across the street from Fit City Kids“
“The Delight Of Having CROFFLE Yummy ? The Taste Is So So Good , Their service is 10/10. It has a nice environment inside where you can just hang out with friends, play games, and to study! Love it here! …Very Good ? Keep It Up GuysLove Ur Food Drinks And Everything“
“Absolute gem. It’s just one of those hole in the wall restaurants that have food that’s to die for. I got the pho tai nam (if I’m not butchering that) and the broth is one of the most flavorful broths for pho I’ve ever had. The meat was generous and not fatty . They have an adorable upstairs seating area as well. Their bubble tea was fantastic too! The boba is cooked perfectly and the tarp milk tea is smooth and sweet :)“
“My daughter and I decided to check out Eli Tea Bar last night and we loved the atmosphere so much! it is so cozy. We were there to watch all the talented beautiful performers at open mic night. The tea was fresh and so good I really appreciate that it's alcohol free and welcoming to people of all ages. We will definitely be back!“
“My favorite Mochinut so far!!!! ?They're eager to help you and if you're indecisive like me then that's a huge help!!!! I wnjoyed the recommendations and so far they're my new FAVORITE items!!!!!! The Ube Donut and Hot Cheetos with Beef Sausage and Cheese with avocado sauce are what I got and really enjoyed!“
“It’s my first time visiting this place, so many unique flavors of ice cream, black sesame, mango sticky rice, Ube, it was overwhelming and made me wanted to try everything on their menu.Recommended by the friendly staff, she highly recommended the messy boba! It was a WOW moment.Highly recommend!“
“Was craving boba tea and tried this place out today. Pleasantly surprised with the place and how simple and cozy it felt. Tried their Hokkaido with cheese foam and it was great - a bit too sweet but overall it was delicious. Do wanna say that it is a bit on the pricier side in comparison to other boba shops. Going to try other drinks from here in the future. Overall a good experience and no complaints.“
“Not only is the place super cute and aesthetically pleasing - the staff is also very knowledgeable and friendly! I got the iced rose matcha latte with oat milk, and it is honestly the best matcha latte I’ve ever had!! The rose flavor was fragrant but not overwhelming or artificial tasting. It’s like drinking springtime! Light and refreshing, and definitely caffeinated - exactly what I was looking for and absolutely blew my expectations out of the water! This will be my new go-to coffee shop ☺️“
“This place wholeheartedly deserves it 5 star review!We walked passed it a few times whenever my gf and I are in Chinatown. I always stare at the newspaper clippings they showcase on the outside because it exemplifies what they have built!All the great reviews and newspaper clippings do this joint justice as it deserves all the praise.We loved the way they top of the lids on their cans right in front of you, then they hand them off. It’s cool thing to visually watch time do it.We tried some of the bao and they weren’t something I’d try again but not bad at all for being a pizza bao and a cookies and cookies and cream“
“This is THE bobba shop! We got the signature brown sugar fresh milk with tapioca and cheese foam it was lovely. Perfectly sweet but also refreshing, bubbles cooked perfectly too. Make sure you get the cheese topping on whatever drink you get it’s amazing. The bobba cups come with little bear ears, so darn adorable! The place is decorated so cutely too, bunch of spots to chill and take pictures, especially if you have little kids. The staff are also friendly and they inform you about the menu and your choice of drink very clearly, I appreciate that. This is where I take my bobba every time I come to chinatown now.“
“Been going for years and I'm so happy that this little boba stall that started with just one worker has expanded into a full store! They deserve all the good ratings, boba and food here never fails to make my day! Also, their hot boba cups are always so “
“Food taste delicious and authentic. You be surprise how many pho restaurants food does not taste authentic. Love the fact you can place your own order using the tablet and don’t have to wait for a waiter to come take your order which means faster service.“
“We loved the food so much and we ordered more we could eat so we could pack some back to hotel for later. But we went back again the next day for more. That’s how great of the food were! We definitely would come back again when we visit Chicago! So gooooooood~ I forgot to take a picture before I eat.“
Bubble Tea • $
“Really liked the Boba! I tried the Creme Brulee. After trying it in SF, I was trying to find a good creme brulee in Chicago/Indianapolis and finally found one at Te'Amo!Kid-friendliness: Fresh and friendly ambience. The staff was humble.“
“Visited 16MAR2024Great: The brown sugar milk tea boba was delicious and the tapioca pearls were so fresh and not too chewy. The peach tea drink was refreshing and I loved the real peach fruit pieces. The decor is very modern and cozy.Good: The place got crowded rather quickly, due to limited seating.Bad: Nothing bad.“
“Great customer service. The owner Robin is very nice, polite, and friendly. The food is amazing acia bowls are great. The smoothies are amazing. Perfect spot to get some quiet time, study, and get some work done if needed. Clean and welcoming!!! Definitely give this place 5 Stars!!!!“
“Oreo Wow with Bobba and Extra Oreo WOW!!!! So good!! Also for dairy free folks try Strawberry Lemonade with Crystal Lychee yum!!!Parking: A few parking spots in the lot and sometimes street parking.Kid-friendliness: Wide open seating area and enough room for baby strollers.“
“I am very picky about my Chinese Food.. I would travel to Oak Park from Chicago South side for food, since trying the food here… I must say the food is excellent, clean energy and nice space… staff nice and food is always fresh…Vegetarian options: Everything nice“
“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 !!!“
“We loved the food so much and we ordered more we could eat so we could pack some back to hotel for later. But we went back again the next day for more. That’s how great of the food were! We definitely would come back again when we visit Chicago! So gooooooood~ I forgot to take a picture before I eat.“
“This is a great stop for those exploring Chinatown in Chicago. The seafood is fresh - and even alive! The oysters were massive and delicious. The roast duck was an all star at the table. Explored with the jellyfish, which was perfect with chili sauce. The tofu and mushroom dish with bok choy is a must. Their dumplings are so filling and perfectly crafted with the herbs and meat.“
“Grabbed an order to go since a warm March day. The order was easy to place but it took a while as they had several orders before ours that mistakes were made on. We tried the orange chicken and beef dumplings. The orange chicken was delicious and would have that again. The dumplings were good as well. Interested to try other items on their menu“
“I've ordered a dozen Mochinuts for pickup 4 times now and not only is everyone in the Fullerton store helpful and welcoming, but the donuts are delicious and an office favorite. Everyone wants them when we're celebrating a birthday and they are truly a treat! Please open a location in Avondale!“
“I love this cafe so much u will always catch me here studying or having lunch w friends after school. The atmosphere is amazing I love the vibes and the setup it’s so earthy and peaceful. It gives studio ghibli cozy cafe and the food is super hearty and filling. Also love their drinks menu they have so many delicious drinks like milk teas, loose leaf tea, boba, smoothies, and milkshakes. Their deserts are also so good I will 100% reccomend this place.“
“Unfortunately I've only been there a couple times so far. My lady took me there to experience a Strawberry smoothie ? with strawberry bobbas? (think that's what there called?) Stuck on that drink for now till I try something else?“
“I was super intrigued by the concept of a boba vending machine so I had to check this out! I got the Thai tea, which tasted better than I expected for being in a machine. I do wish there was nutrition allergen information listed, either on the machine or the drink.“
“Islands Cafe was deeeee-lish and Asel, the woman who works there, was very nice, provided excellent customer service and is a really good cook! I got a chicken sandwich (that came with plantain chips and garlic oil) and a passion fruit tea with strawberry popping. O. M. G! Everything so good! My sandwich was one of the best pressed sandwich I've ever had! Asel toasted it perfectly. The chicken was cooked just right. Juicy and hot and cooked just the right amount. Cooked until done, but not overdone. All toppings were just the right amount too. The bubble tea was great as well. I can't wait to return to try their chicken with maduros, black beans and rice lunch special. Thank you Asel and Islands Cafe!“
“This is the only place you’re going to find such customizable Che in Chicago, or really at all.When I come from out of town I always try to stop here because it’s so delicious Thank you guys for bringing such a refreshing and healthy dessert to the area.I hope Che becomes just as popular as bubble tea one day!Vegetarian options: All drinks are vegetarian friendly and most drinks are vegan friendly as well“
“KURIMU offers a delightful ice cream experience. The tiramisu and kurimu swirl flavors were creamy and smooth, boasting excellent soft serve textures. Each bite was a burst of flavor, leaving a lasting impression. A must-visit for ice cream enthusiasts craving quality and innovation.“
“This was a very fun ice cream. I loved the fish cone. It was crunchy on the outside and soft in the inside. I also had a boba tea. But the boba was not fresh and hard to chew. So I took a star away because of the boba, but the ice cream was good!“
“I am a frequent diner at Wabi Sabi - it is a great place for dine in or takeout. Good selection of appetizers, sushi rolls, and entrees. Everything I’ve had on the menu has been fantastic, but I especially recommend the gyoza. Definitely affordable for sushi in the area. If you are picking up, food is usually ready 15-20 minutes after you call in even if the place is super busy.Parking: Paid street parking in Kedzie. Surrounding neighborhood streets have some free parking usually but be sure to check permit signs.“
“I come here waaaay too much, it will become your new addiction. The tapioca boba is so good! I love their milk teas and Thai tea. They also have a fun punch card where you can get your 10th drink free!Dietary restrictions: Offer multiple milk options“
“I love that the smoothies are made with fresh ingredients, not syrups. And you can add other ingredients off of the menu toVegetarian options: Most of everything is a fruit or vegetableParking: Parking is kind of scarce... I usually order ahead and just double park on the cross street or put on my hazards...Kid-friendliness: Sweet smoothies get kids to drink their fruits and vegetables...“
“My daughter loves this place for the fresh (not powdered) taro w. sago drink that they have. The workers have always been pleasant each time.This time I took a picture of the menu so I can look at it and decide what to order the next time we visit lol.“
“Super cute place with great rolled icecream my husband and I went for my birthday. I gave 4 stars cause although my rolled ice cream and service was good it was so packed/overcrowded no where for people to stand/sit. Trying to leave /come in was challenging.“
“cutest little store with nice ambience and different music rotation everytime i’ve come in, so that’s fun and new! i’m sure i’ve had at least 100 drinks from top tao!! so good and so fresh; everything they make is wonderful! so many options for everyone; fruit lovers, creamy and sweet, or traditional boba style, there’s something for everyone here! my favorite for a while was the thai tea with double sago (even in the winter!!), but on a particularly sweltering day, i will go out of my comfort zone and get either the avo coconut smoothie with flan and sago, or the mango smoothie with cream and sago: one of the nicest creations in my opinion! anything taro is also delish (add flan for a new flair!), but for me, sometimes trying something totally new makes a bad day better <3 top tao 4ever!“
“Love the Shoyu ramen with pork belly. Very generous. I can never eat all of the noodles. Sometimes I order extra broth to have with my left over noodles. The staff is very friendly and professional. I've only had the hot black tea with ginger and it Really helped when I had a cold. I've done takeout and delivery. Next time I have a guest in taking them there. Gonna order right now! ?“
“I like quite a few bubble tea places, but this is the favorite. They've got lots of stellar premade combinations and let you alter sugar and ice and additions. I think I might be obsessed with the milk mochi options.The atmosphere is barebones, and the music interferes with taking sometimes, but you're more likely to walk out with the drink anyways. Service is pretty fast unless they're unimaginably busy. Fries don't consistently come salted or with cinnamon but taste great when they do.“
“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!“
“Si, I came today to try their chicken which tastes very fresh and extremely delicious and servings are worth it! I was half way through of my food and was already full.They give discount to DePaul students.Something very sweet that happened to me was that I requested a low sugar Strawberry lychee iced tea 30% sugar, but it tasted still extremely sweet. Then, one of the workers made it for me 0% and compensated me. He was so sweet and very helpful! Yes, these drinks can be sweet of the fruit they use and the fruit already has sugar, of course, but it was extremely different. Environment is peaceful, and the vibes reminded me of California.“
“This Kung Fu Tea located in new Chinatown upper level is fairly open space for a bubble tea place. Has a few seating area. You can ordered from the cashier or from the self served on the tablet they have up front. There's plenty of options to choose for milk tea including black, green, oolong or thai milk tea. I liked you can reduce the sugar level on the drink.“
“Incredible boba menu! Their Mango Passionfruit can't be missed when ordering and their honeydew milk tea actually tasted like honeydew. Sally and her staff were so sweet and gave the best recommendations! If you find yourself in the South Loop, swing by TEA% for some of the best boba I've had in Chicago!“
“the food was pretty good, but not the best Thai I've had. pad see eiw was pleasant but not enough sauce for my liking. panang was tasty, but could've used a tad more spice. Tom kha was delicious, but I wanted it to be just a little more sour and creamy. satay and crab rangoons were amazing tho, no notes. overall, tasty, but just needs a liiiiitle more oompf to it. vibes are great tho, love the ambient light and soft fancy restaurant music.“
“The staff here was very efficient and nice. I can tell they have so many orders right before the eclipse at lunch time, yet they were able to get everything out so quickly. The atmosphere is cute & they have the cutest little uni uni pin for sale.The strawberry lemon jasmine is my favorite!“
“Food options looked delectable! Trying a super cute mochi donut for them first time. Drinks menu offers so much variety! Only problem is narrowing down what to get. :-) Service was efficient. Lots of seating. Music fun, but not too loud. Really enjoyed my experience!!! Will return soon!!!!“
“Took my wife for a brunch date. Came to this cutest lil mama papa shop. Amazing Americano! Cardamom Black Tea yum! We shared one injera firfir almost couldn’t finish it. Very Delicious! Will come back with friends. If yall want really authentic Ethiopian food with homie feel. Look no further. This is our new favorite “