We were big fans of the old meetfresh (despite the consistently bad service) and were super excited to see it reopen under the Autea brand with much better service and a refreshed interior. The menu items are a pared down version of meetfresh and now includes savory foods as well as the old hot and cold desserts (and popular taro balls). The interior now is much cleaner than the old meetfresh and a lot more lively. There are board games and ample seating, and a lot of tables tend to hang here for a while. read more

Autea Sweets & Eats - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Was on the hunt for shaved ice and decided to try out Autea- our only regret was not bringing more people to share the dessert with! Between three of us we got the mango pomelo sago shaved ice which was super refreshing and not too sweet, but as you can see it was massive and ended up being too much for us to finish. The inside was decorated nicely and eccentrically and there are board games for guests to enjoy as well. Will definitely be back to try more flavors and to explore the food menu as well! Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 (self order kiosk) Price: 5/5 Ambience: 4.5/5 read more

I was sad when MeetFresh closed and happy to see AuTea open because I love these type of desserts and I don't feel like there are many other places in Chicago, if any, who serve food like this. Last time I went here, we got the purple sweet potato shaved ice, which was a delightful flavor and texture and such a massive portion. Between two people, we could not finish it. I guess that's my only feedback - I would prefer they do smaller portions and lower the prices, but that might not be as profitable for them. I think that's the only thing that stops me from coming here more often, because I feel like it may only make sense if you have like 2-4 people. read more

Autea Sweets & Eats - Purple sweet potato shaved ice - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Very very cute interior, lots of decoration, even has some card/board games. I really appreciate how incredibly decked out it was for halloween lol i was too spooked to go to the bathroom read more

Autea Sweets & Eats - Raw coconut ice&Mochi/生椰麻薯芋圆挫冰 - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I got excited because I haven't had bingsoo for awhile. We ordered a mango pomelo bingsoo. It was way too sweet for me and my mom. It wasn't the refreshing sweet comes from fruit but from the overtly sugary syrup. There was like 1 tablespoon worth of pomelo. Decent mango. Sago and the taro ball were undercooked. In general, such a waste of money read more

Autea Sweets & Eats - Mango Pomelo Sago Taro Ball - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We came here with some friends after eating in Chinatown nearby. I didn't realize Autea had food so will keep that in mind for the future. We shared a mango taro ball shaved ice (taro balls, small glutinous rice balls, tapioca pearls, mango, and shaved ice). I was expecting it to be super sweet but was pleasantly surprised that it was only mildly sweet. All of the ingredients were delicious but my only complaint is that it could have had more shaved ice. We will be back to try other menu items! read more

One of the best coconut coffee we have had ever. The density of the coconut cream and the coffee was just different enough that it doesn't mix immediately, required a few swirls. The coconut cream is light and just the right Asian sweet level. And the coffee is not too acidic but just the right amount of bitter for me. Super surprised how good this drink was, as it was a totally random order! read more

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I love shaved ice cream and wanted to try this new place. They had some good options and let me change out toppings. The server was very helpful and they brought us the drinks and ice cream we did not have get up to get our desserts. They also have some games you can play and everything was clean and nice for groups. Definitely will be back! read more

Autea Sweets & Eats - Matcha strawberry shaved ice - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We decided to come early to avoid the traffic in downtown to find out the location wasn't open yet. We waited about 30 minutes in the car which wasn't a big deal but the website hours can be updated. We walked in but were not greeted by the staff. We ordered at a kiosk which was easy. The food was brought out by staff. The food tasted great! Ordered the garlic wings, fries, braised chicken, taiyaki and french toast. The braised chicken was chopped into small pieces and still had bones so it was hard to eat since we had to fish out small pieces of bone. The wings were great and had a small kick. The french toast was the best item we ordered! Bread was nice and fluffy. Overall, I would return. Highly recommend. read more

Autea Sweets & Eats - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Like many other reviewers, I was excited to see that another Asian dessert place had popped up after Meetfresh closed. I was happy to discover that Autea is an improvement on the old Meetfresh in terms of ambiance, service, variety, and food quality (in my opinion). We stopped by on a Friday night and it was almost full! Definitely a great place to hang out after dinner and spend time with friends. The decor is fun and cute. We ordered on one of the kiosks up front, and the food came out in a timely manner. We got one shaved ice dish and a warm taro ball dessert. I loved the different combinations and options. The purple yam shaved ice dessert was huge! The texture of the shaved ice was fluffy, and somehow it took forever to melt. I saw that there were many other savory options to choose from, so that might be a quest for another day. read more

They've made a great improvement since before they were "meet fresh". Not sure if the owner is the same but I love this redo. The dessert is a lot more fresh, the options are endless and you can modify to your own preference. I tried the house special dessert and fried chicken wings. The chicken wings were not as "fresh" but the flavor was good. The service is very slow since there's only one person serving food AND cleaning all the tables, alone. Not sure why the system has changed but it would have been a lot easier if they can call out our order number and we pick up the food ourselves. The restaurant has a new decor which is cute and IG worthy. read more

I was originally lowkey upset about Meet Fresh getting replaced, but my visit to Autea did not disappoint! Love the new decor- somehow feels brighter, warmer, and more welcome. Service was good. I ordered from the kiosk and it was brought directly to my table even though I didn't have a number card or anything. And for customers of the old Meet Fresh, no need to bus your own table here! I came here after a big meal, so unfortunately did not get to try any of the food items. The photos look delicious though! I'll definitely have to update once I try. The shaved ice though? A+. The taro/potato mochi isn't the best, but every other ingredient was perfect, especially that scoop of mashed taro (it's not ice cream!). My only complaint is the lack of menus outlining each of the dessert options. There was a menu for the drinks and a menu for the food, but I ended up having to click into each item on the kiosk to see what was in each dessert option. read more

Autea Sweets & Eats - a bowl of food on a tray - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

nice flavor and very spacious inside!!! not too sweet so very yummy. They have a special tea called duck shit, very interesting concept. Would love to go here again and the menu is ginormous so many to choose from. I am really interested and like this. read more

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Had the Brown Sugar Milk Tea w/boba and it was delicious! The boba had a good texture, I will be back!

Located near main chinatown area, this not so hidden gem has the best bingsu! They also have main entree that are worth to try. read more

Autea Sweets & Eats - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We came here because we want to try some shave ice dessert and gave this place a try. So glad we did. Our orders arrived at our table within five minutes after we ordered. The staff brought us extra spoons and small bowls without us asking for it. Both our orders were delicious because the sweetness was perfect, sweet but not overwhelming like many dessert. I highly recommend their mixed fruit shave ice-it was sweet yet refreshing . The shop is clean and very open. Definitely come back and try some of their entree next time. read more

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I'm Taiwanese and love stinky tofu as well as taro/sweet potato tapioca balls. This place is perfect for me to find both these things that Chicago was missing for the longest! The desserts are good and the stinky tofu was very yummy. There is enough seats inside to have a good amount of people especially if you want to share a dessert with friends. The workers are always so nice and helpful. I will say I didn't particularly love their beef noodle but otherwise have liked everything else! read more

Had a great time at dinner with my friend. The inside is so big. Loved the decor and interior design. We got the edemame & vegetable gyoza to share. The edemame is perfectly salted and the gyoza potstickers were so flavorful and crispy. I also got the California roll and shrimp tempura roll. This is definitely my new go to sushi spot in town! read more

Autea Sweets & Eats - Edemame, California roll - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ordered their mochi ice, it was good, the shaved ice was really fine, I wish they placed more of the real mochi. But it's ok the serving was huge too! And loved the vibe. Will taste more of their desserts next time. read more

A nice, big spacious restaurant with a friendly staff. Their selections of bubble and fruit teas and their food menu is huge! read more

Autea Sweets & Eats - Braised Chicken with Rice Beef Brisket Noodles Pink Pineapple&lychee Green Tea Caramel Bubble Milk Black Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ever since meet fresh closed I have been craving for grass jelly dessert!!! They opened this year and I finally got to try it out today So much toppings and the taro balls are guuuuuud I'll definitely go back for dine in! Hopefully they don't cut down on the toppings read more

Autea Sweets & Eats - The store is so cute! - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Super friendly service and lovely interior decor & seating. I got the Super Rich Fruit Tea at 50% sugar which is the perfect amount of sweetness. It comes in this huge bucket , which is perfect as a summer refreshment. There's also real fruit chunks inside! We also got the signature roasted grass jelly in coconut milk which was . Tastes just like coconut sago but with more stuff inside read more

Autea Sweets & Eats - Super Rich Fruit Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I brought my friends here who've never been and they were excited to try but compared to my visit before, this visit was no bueno. They advertised BOGO 50% off on their window, but the kiosk didn't automatically apply that. When we went to purchase our drinks at the counter, they still didn't apply the BOGO when that was the reason why we ended up at the counter. We were the only ones in the shop but our drinks took some time to make, which honestly was bizarre, but they did bring our drinks to the table. While my mango milkshake was still delicious as always, my friend wasn't too happy about her drink. She added taro balls, but you can't drink them up the straw like boba balls. She ended up having to use a spoon to scoop them out to eat them. She ended up getting another drink to make up for the disappointing first drink. She then got a third drink and asked if it was possible to BOGO the 2nd and 3rd drinks, but that was a no from the staff. The music wasn't one I'd associate with a boba shop. It sounded like the staff were just fighting to play their preferred music today. It fluctuated from iconic classic Chinese music covers to Chinese rap. Overall, I wanted my friends to like this place but one had a not-so-great experience and my visit overall was kinda soured. read more

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- ordered the taro ball series dessert (customize your own) and snowy ice - Overall I think it's a little overpriced -- more like a 3.5 stars, but a little bonus for being a good place to sit and talk/hangout - Music can be a little loud - Parking is available read more

The newly opened Autea Sweets & Eats in Chinatown is now my go to place for Asian dessert, drink, and snack! We stumbled upon this cafe after scouring Chinatown for an authentic place for bubble tea, fruit teas, dessert, and late night snack. The cashier was super friendly and manager was eager to welcome us in. The spicy chicken wings were crispy on the outside with lots of flavors. The best part is their signature taro bowl with coconut milk there are just so many toppings -- colorful mochi bites, red beans, tapioca, grass jelly, barley, and a whole freaking piece of taro! Can't wait to go back again to try more options! read more

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Look in your bag and you might find a pack of Trident gum, ready to freshen your breath. Alternatively, if you live in Seattle, go to Pikes Place Market and look at that one wall to find gum. Chewing gum belongs to the confectionery category. The global chewing gum market is forecasted to make sales amounting to 48.68 billion U.S. dollars in 2025. This restaurant does not sell gum. But it does sell sweet CHEWY BALLS™ which is close enough. We ordered the taro fruit mix and it was light and refreshing while still being fun to eat because of the CHEWY BALLS™. Each CHEWY BALL™ had a slightly different texture and taste which made the experience extra unpredictable and exciting. Service was quick and the seating area was decorated nicely, making it a fun spot to hang out with friends after dinner. I would love to come back to try different CHEWY BALLS™ or maybe some of the other foods they have to offer. Pouring the coconut milk over the bowl was a lot of fun too and I would like to do that more often in my life just in general. Star docked since CHEWING™ on so many BALLS™ inflamed my TMJ... Star actually docked because GIVE ME MORE FOR MY MONEY PLEASE THANK YOU read more

Autea Sweets & Eats - taro fruit mix - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The dessert here was just okay. The wait was a bit ridiculous- about 20 minutes for one shaved ice dessert it was just okay. Nothing special. Random red beans in the middle were unexpected. read more

Autea Sweets & Eats - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food 3/5 - Chicken wings were pink. All the food products on the skewers are drenched in the same spicy sauce. Service 1/5 - Quoted 20-minute wait for chicken wings but it was actually 45 minutes! We were one of the first morning guests. They obviously forgot about our order and then realized they didn't have the kitchen/fryer ready. No apology. No updates on the food. read more

The BEST place to stop by for some summer refreshment like Shaved Ice, Bubble Tea, Sandwiches, Cakes, and those oh-so hard-to-come-by Chinese summer snacks and light refreshing dishes. And if you are looking for something to keep you warm, there are a good selection of hot dishes as well. The atmosphere is a combination of modern chique wall decor and cool cafe for bringing your work. Funny things always playing on the wall behind the cafe - gaming videos of all things! Service is impeccable - staff are all young and friendly so you can expect it to be a very approachable atmosphere. Overall, one of my favorite hangouts! read more

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Awesome place. Delicious warm, spicy food paired perfectly with unique, giant desserts

really good taro balls, and loved the taro ball bowl with grass jelly here. Not too sweet (for Asian standard), and all the ingredients are tasty. read more

Lisa give us some amazing recommendations, everything was freshly made and absolutely delicious. read more

Best bubble tea like place for us in china town of Chicago. I like the drinks better than that in chain like meet fresh. Very nice people and service. Lots of drink places here and this is our pick! read more

Friendly crews and delicious food! Nice strongly recommend taro 3! Nice decor , good for young people meetup.

I like this place. Glad I decided to try it one day soon after they opened. We used go next door but wanted to check this place out. Low and behold it is my go to spot. I've already gone so many times I'm on to my second reward card. My favorite is the grape oolong tea (without milk foam). I've even tried their chicken which was nice and crispy. It's clean inside and has cute decor. Give it a try at least once - chances are you'll go back. read more

I love the ambiance here and the staff is always helpful and nice. Recently they decorated for Halloween and is totally on theme. read more

Autea Sweets & Eats - the interior of a restaurant - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The lamb and rice was BOMB! So were the fried dumplings. The fried chicken was meh- needs more Salt seasoning and a bit chewy, the shaved mango ice was really good! It's a lot so meant to share. Bubble tea was good too! read more

Really delicious and the atmosphere was really nice. The place had a cool vibe and the server was really nice. They helped us take a picture together. I loved the Taro Ball, first time trying it! read more

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The quality of the food is fine the service is not .. I ordered one super Rich fruit tea . And waited 15 minutes for it . There were 5 people standing behind the counter talking and doing other things .4 left and went outside for another 5 minutes leaving the one worker by herself . One guy finally came back in and made my drunk with out washing his hands I would patronize any of the other shops on this strip read more

I came here on a rainy day just to get something quick. The inside is really cute and I was greeted at the front. I just got a matcha boba and takoyaki to go but definitely will be coming back to check out some of their other sweet treats on the menu. read more