My wife and I live in Seattle. But when we come to Chicago to revisit some of our old stomping grounds, Boka is, without question, on our list of places to revisit and reminisce. Hands down, and I don't say this lightly - Boka is one of my favorite restaurants in the country. I don't think it's too wild to say it may certainly be my FAVORITE restaurant in the US of A. This past week was my second pilgrimage to Boka, and I was stoked as ever. We ordered some non-alcoholic drinks, a few appetizers, and our entrees (duck and black truffle chicken). We had a nice discussion with the waiter and shared our enthusiasm and excitement with him. We shared that this was our return to my safe culinary haven, and I was prepared to be dazzled again. And dazzled I was. The chicken was phenomenal. The flavors were amazing and so poignant, and the tenderness of chicken made you really question if you were eating chicken at all. Everything was so moist and tender, and each bite was a ballet of flavor in your mouth. The duck, although not the star of the show, was hearty and delicious as well. The parsnip puree added an earthiness complexion to each slice of duck. The kicker of the night was when our server brought us our bill at the end. He gifted us complimentary menus of what we ordered that night, paired with a generous "Welcome Back" and the date of our wonderful evening. That small, but mighty, gesture encapsulates Boka in a nutshell. Fine dining, excellent quality of food, topped with service that was personally catered to make our meal enjoyable. It's about the experience, and every aspect of our experience at Boka was met with extraordinary marks. I'm dreaming already of round 3 at Boka. When? I don't know. But I'll be ready to tango again. read more

I've been to Boka a few times now, and every visit has been a great experience. The food is consistently excellent, and the staff is always friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. We started with the bluefin tuna tart, which was light and refreshing. The topping was delicious, but I think dialing it back just a bit would let more of the tuna shine through. The dry aged beef tartare was one of my favorite dishes of the night. The crispy potato chips added a great crunch, and the cornichons brought just the right amount of acidity to balance everything out. Next came the Hokkaido scallops, and they were cooked perfectly. I also appreciated that the kitchen split all of our appetizers onto separate plates since we were sharing. It's a small detail, but it made the meal feel much more thoughtful. For our entrees, we ordered the black truffle chicken and the glazed beef short rib. I'm not sure how they prepared the chicken, but it was incredibly tender with some of the most flavorful skin I've had. Every bite was juicy and almost melted in your mouth. The short rib was just as impressive, perfectly cooked and full of flavor. I've also done the tasting menu here before, and it was just as memorable. You definitely won't leave hungry. The restaurant has a great atmosphere too. It feels perfect for a date night without being so dim that you can barely see your food. read more

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We went here for our anniversary and we were seated in the back section in the corner table. It was decorated beautifully. They had the heat on just right because it gets kind of chilly in there. We both had the tasting menu in my husband is not a fan of tartare so they were able to substitute his with roasted tomatoes and he said it was excellent. Everything that we had on the menu was great. I got the wine pairing and my husband ordered drinks. The drinks were great and the wine pairings went well with the courses that we were served. This was one of our favorite tasting menus in a while and we said we wanted to go back when they had different seasonal items. The wait staff was amazing and they were very attentive to anything that we needed. If you are a foodie and you don't mind paying a little more for food it is definitely worth it if you were in Chicago or if you want a nice night out. read more

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The service was mind blowing. I've never had such thoughtful and attentive servers like them. The food was highly innovative and their creativity shines through each dish. You CANNOT go wrong with any dish you order, and I believe the menu rotates which adds to the charm of the restaurant. read more

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This spot has been a staple in Chicago since 2003 and you can really tell with how polished everything feels. The ambiance was amazing, even better at night. Dim lighting, nice music, and not too loud so it still feels intimate. 9/10. Service was incredible. Our server suggested we do the tasting menu as a surprise without knowing the dishes beforehand and that made the experience even more fun. They were super attentive with water refills, switching silverware, and all the small details. They even gave us a cake at the end to take home which was such a cute touch. 9.5/10. Food-wise, there were a lot of standout moments. The trout was one of my favorites. The sauce was amazing, not too fishy, and the seaweed on top made it perfect. 9.7/10. The tuna had such a clean texture with a bright citrusy flavor. 9/10. The panna cotta was also sooo good, loved all the textures. 9/10. The foie gras toast was sweet and really enjoyable. 8.5/10. The venison was great with the sauce and veggies. 8.5/10. The caviar worked much better when everything was mixed together. 8/10. Some dishes were a bit more mid. The asparagus had a great sauce but was too soft. 7/10. The ravioli had great flavor overall but I wasn't a fan of the bits inside. 7.5/10. The yuzu pâte de fruit was super refreshing like little yuzu gummies. 8/10. The mignardises were good, just not super memorable. Overall, such a beautiful and well executed tasting menu experience. Definitely one of those spots for a special occasion. read more

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I had the tasting menu at Boka and the food was delicious and the presentation was nice, but there weren't any standout dishes. Hospitality was great and service was very friendly. We were celebrating a birthday and the birthday dessert was super cute and the team did a great job making the meal feel special. I enjoyed the Sublime cocktail which was pretty light and not spirit forward. There is a coat check and valet service available. read more

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We went for restaurant week so the menu itself was great for the prices. I got the wine pairing as well which was great. The appetizer was good, tried something unique. The main dish was underwhelming, expected a lot more from a Michelin start restaurant. The dessert was tasty but I wish it was a warm/cold brownie. Service was great, they were very informative about the dishes and the wines. Ambience was beautiful, I love how spacious it was. read more

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We are back at Boka after a 6 year hiatus. It was nearly impossible to get reservations so we had to stalk the openings to try to get a date and time that worked for us. We ended up getting 4:45 pm on a Saturday. It was a bit early for us but we made it work. Traffic going to the city was a colossal nightmare, so we called to let the restaurant know we were running late and they held our reservation for 15 minutes - thank you to the nice women at the host desk! We got a nice corner booth in the main dining area and it was so nice. The booth seats up to 5 people from what we've seen. It's a great table. This was Restaurant Week and the food was good as always. My dinner date and I chose the same items this time and got the tuna, scallops, pork, and we each got a different dessert. My favorite was the tuna. My date's favorite was the scallops. The weird thing with the scallops is that they didn't give us a knife. We had to try to cut the scallops with the fork and spoon they gave us. Pork was tender. Everything was very good, but I don't think it was as good as pre-Covid years. The one thing that detracted from the ambiance and the food was the service. Our server "F" seemed annoyed to serve us. Like he didn't want to work during Restaurant Week or he didn't like having just 2 people in the big booth. He took our order, gave us the check, and that was it. Never once asked how we were doing, how the food was, nothing. When we were done with our drinks, he just took it away. Didn't ask if we needed or wanted anything else. Another weird quirk was that I was able to order a house made soda Hibiscus Mint, but when my date asked for a mojito, they came back to tell him that the restaurant didn't have mint. Um. Ok. FYI - They still share valet with Alinea, so they may be a little bit of a wait when they are busy. read more

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(Kari's Rating 9.5/10) Came with a group of six people on a Monday evening and had to wait 24 minutes, but I'm sure people are here for restaurant week so the wait was kinda expected even though it was slightly inconvenient. The vibe was an upbeat, calm/modern vibe almost like my therapist's office. Very relaxing. They started with a Hawaiian looking roll with a light whipped butter, but was a little bit dry but the butter saved it. The first course for restaurant week was a steak tartare with a delightful combination of mayo and carrots on top. It was just the right portion size and tasted really fresh with crispy toasted bread crumbs. My friend got the cured tuna which was not very fishy and overall good mouthfeel. The apple jelly was interesting, it wasn't bad in combination with the tuna but I wouldn't eat it by itself. The jelly made it feel very Michelin star. The scallops were absolutely delicious, the seared crust and inside were cooked perfectly, there were two sauces that came with them, the yellow sauce was airy, light and paired really well with the green dill sauce, however, they had a light mayo sauce, I believed was a little bit unnecessary and made the overall dish a little bit heavy, but it was one of my favorite things I ate of the night. For the main course, most of us got the cod. The oyster mushrooms were very meaty and actually quite delicious with a brown sauce. The cod itself was a little bit underwhelming, although I know it's not necessary a flavorful fish on its own. The presentation was nice but not very colorful. The fermented cabbage was kind of an interesting contrast, but it gave some color to the plate. I probably won't finish this entree and I didn't. Glad my friends were hungry. The dessert was absolutely delicious. I opted for the Bavarois^, which I had no idea what it was but I was pleasantly surprised. It came with a nutty, meringue piece. The best part was the mango gelato and the honey oat topping. The actual bavarois^ was so creamy and light. This Bavarois^ can whip me anytime On contrast, the caramel brownie was relatively average, I'm glad I went out of my comfort zone to try something new as it really paid off. I would definitely come back. For the price I paid for this meal without a drink, I absolutely would come back in a heartbeat! read more

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The Michelin-starred Boka was recommended to us as an exquisite fine dining experience in Chicago. They serve seasonal American cuisine and you have the option of doing the tasting menu or ordering a la carte. Everyone at the table must select the same. Service was lacking for a Michelin starred restaurant in my opinion. We were warmly greeted in the beginning but once we decided against the tasting menu, our server disappeared for long periods of time. My mom ordered a drink and it was never brought to her. It just felt like it went downhill over the course of the night. Service aside, the food was the best we had during our visit to Chicago. We decided to order a la carte and really stuffed ourselves. Each table is started with complimentary bread and butter and it was so simple but one of my favorite parts of the meal. For my small bite I started with the Chicken Liver Mousse. The texture was perfect and I loved the sour cherry on top. We shared the Brown Butter Roasted Hokkaido Scallops and they split them for us. As a starter, we felt that each of our portions were rather large. They absolutely melted in our mouths! My main was the Colorado Lamb Loin with Jimmy Nardello peppers. It was the best lamb I've ever had, so tender and flavorful. The real star of the meal was the entree that my mom selected, the Roasted Dry Aged Duck Breast. They really know how to do their proteins. The crisp skin with tender meat was absolutely phenomenal. We selected two desserts and they bring you out two complimentary small bite desserts as well. Overall we had a fantastic meal. I think it's worth a visit! read more

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Boka is consistently good food over the years and service is decent as well - definitely make a reservation Bread 4/5 Carrots 5/5 Pasta 5/5 Chocolate dessert 4/5 read more

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one of the best chicago restaurant week menus i've had! we had an early dinner reservation and didn't have to wait and coat check is provided. everything was very well curated and perfectly seasoned. all the options we chose were so good. the personal favs were the beef tartare, cured tuna, scallop, and pork collar! both desserts were tasty as well the brownie being perfectly fudgey with nurs and ice cream while the yuzu had a great crunch and sweet tart ending the whole meal well. service was really good with water and clearing of plates and silverware after eacg course. they also continued to offer us complimentary bread rolls once finished during the first 3 courses. overall such a good time with this fine dining option and a great deal. my partner and i were fully content and would come again!! read more

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So, so delicious. Everything--from the bread and butter to the mains and dessert--was outstanding. My favorite dish by far was the scallops: perfectly sweet, fresh, tender, and not even slightly rubbery. I could have honestly eaten a whole bowl of the sauce it came with. I also really appreciated how accommodating they were with dietary restrictions. You could tell they genuinely wanted every guest to have a great experience. It felt like the food was made with so much heart, and that level of care really came through in every bite. The ambiance was nice and moody, a bit semi formal but it didn't feel super dressy. Service was wonderful, the food was exceptional, and I'd happily return again and again. read more

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I am sad to write that I was not impressed! While visiting Chicago with my sister for the 4th of July I decided I wanted to check out a Michelin Star restaurant. I was able to secure a reservation for two on the 4th of July ! I guess it's not a popular spot for 4th of July plans. We did not rent a car for this visit, but were able to get to this restaurant using the Chicago Transit Authority!! ( you can get a day pass for $5- highly recommend)!! I live by the saying that if you are early you are on time , and if you are on time you are late ! As such a we arrived about 15 minutes prior to our reservation. We snapped a few pictures outside and headed to the host stand. We were immediately seated in what appears to be the main dining area. Our wait staff came over and welcomed us in. He introduced himself and took our drink orders. My sister and I both ordered the Smoothie king. We also ordered a bottle of water. The drink was ok, nothing memorable or a drink I would have to have again. I was excited to try the entree Black Truffle Roasted Chicken. The waiter advised that it is prepared with either pork or beef. I don't eat either. I was so disappointed, because online it gets rave reviews. I imagine that beef or pork enhanced the flavor. Since I would not be able to order the chicken I had to take another look at the menu to decide what I wanted. I opted to just order a number of appetizers. My order included the following: Kampachi Crudo Grilled Scallops Parsnip Tortelli The best tasting of the 3 would be the parsnip tortelli. The others were good, but nothing I woke have to have again. My sister ordered the lamb loin. She said it was good. We did opt for dessert and had the dark chocolate ! Now the dessert was divine!!! I was so happy eating every bite! The dessert was done right! Service was mediocre at best. A good wale of this is that I actually also ordered the chicken liver mousse but I assume the waitstaff forgot to put it in. After trying the items that did come out I was happy he forgot since I was not blown away by the food. However, It's fair to expect more attention to details from a restaurant of Boka's status. Overall, I was expecting more! Better service , food that tastes so good I would be thinking about it the next day! Maybe my expectations were too high! read more

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Best restaurant week menu in Chicago, and one of the best meals I've ever had. Every single course was a homerun, including the cocktail. Great service and great environment too. It felt like we were in a different world when we walked in the doors. I can't wait to come back here. read more

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Returned to Boka to enjoy a Valentine's Day Dinner with my husband. Boka is such a treat for us and never disappoints. We were very excited to revisit and try some dishes we hadn't had from 3 years ago. We enjoy doing the A La Carte menu so we can choose items ourselves but I have heard amazing things about the tasting menus. This visit, we were sat in the bar area along the front of restaurant window. It was nice to enjoy the city as we ate and I'm always surprised at how well Boka has noise control amongst the three dining spaces. We started with a complimentary glass to champagne since we were celebrating Valentine's Day. They had both alcohol and non-alc options which was nice. The preference is to order all courses at once and the kitchen will pace out your meal. We started by sharing the Bluefin Tuna Tart, Brown Butter Roasted Hokkaido Scallops, and Chestnut Agnolotti. They did a great job of separating the dishes into two so my husband and I could enjoy our own plates. The Tuna was a perfect two bite dish that balanced fresh tuna in small pieces and what I experienced as a mustard like acidity. The Scallops were the dish of the night for both of us. We each got 4-5 scallops covered in a sauce that left us wanting more. This was both of our first times trying scallops and wow! The chestnut agnolotti was a sweet, filled pasta that was a nice break from the savory dishes. Could not recommend these three dishes more! For entrees, I got the Black Truffle Tajarin and my husband got the Roasted Dry Aged Duck Breast. The black truffle was served in smaller shavings so one can enjoy throughout the whole pasta dish. The noodles are perfectly aldente and the sauce was the best part. The duck is their signature dish with a crispy crust, rich flavor, and perfectly fatty balance. For dessert, we got the Black Walnut Chocolate Cake which came with a lovely celebration message. The cake was chocolatey, rich, and toffee flavored. We also got complimentary dessert bites with our check. So happy to be able to revisit Boka, try some new dishes, and revisit some old favorites. This is the perfect approachable one Michelin Star restaurant if you're looking for an elevated date night out or special occasion celebration. read more

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This was hands down one of the best dining experiences of my life. The restaurant was perfectly laid out and the ambiance was perfect. My sisters and I treated our aunt in celebration of a milestone birthday. The staff made a point of assuring our time was amazing. The tasting menu was top tier- every single course was perfectly prepared and left us excited to see what was next. We also enjoyed the wine and mocktail tasting . If get a chance please go. read more

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Finally found a time to try Boka and the tasting menu was a great way to do it. Wished we'd been able to sub one or two seasonal a la carte dishes into the menu like our server offered but then backtracked from, but regardless the tasting menu was great and would love to return. That said, won't return frequently as it is quite pricy. Started with tempura honey squash and beef tartare tartlets; both were incredible, amazing way to start the meal, and maybe even our favorite dishes. Marinated cherry tomatoes were really creatively prepared, the sort of modern gastronomy you'd expect from Boka or the Alinea group in general. Then came a pair of fish dishes - the bluefin tuna in a clear slightly tart sauce from the cucumber was the better of the two thought eh ocean trout was still very good too. The pasta was the only dish we didn't really love - the squash tortelli was just so so buttery. I know when you eat high end food you're getting a LOT of butter, but this was too much. Ended with the duck breast which was incredible, especially loved the duck heart sausage. Really good and came with an incredible sauce. Like I said, will definitely return, but certainly not frequently given the price. read more

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Beautiful environment, delicious cocktails and wines on point, and a highly-attentive staff. The tasting menu was excellent with the reserve wine pairing that accented every bite. I will say that the experimentation went a little far with some of the courses (ie apple jelly lathered on a raw oyster), however the execution of the later plates and the divine bread were truly memorable. read more

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We were first time Boka visitors for this year's Restaurant Week and it was such a treat to be able to experience this upscale dining at an entry price. This was a 4 course offering where you could choose between 3-4 items based off your preference (of course we each got different items so we could taste as many dishes as possible!). As a tasting menu, portions are smaller but we did not leave unsatisfied! The dining spaces are beautiful and unique, offering a little different ambiance in each room and service was impeccable. Note: not all dishes are on their regular menu so there have been iterations or specialty offerings for Restaurant Week but based off these menu items, I would certainly come back to try more! The only dish that didn't blow us away was the cod. Pro tip: get whatever dessert they have at any time--both were incredible. read more

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Some things never change, and it's great to see that Boka is one of those! I had the chance to visit for restaurant week 2026 and the visit was every bit as stellar as the last. The chic decor and subdued lighting make for a special occasion vibe right off the bat, but the ambience never feels stuffy. Gracious, knowledgeable, and attentive, the staff has been consistently amazing. This time around, I opted for the lightly cured tuna, roasted scallops, and grilled pork collar. The tuna was super fresh and the apple jelly was both savory and very slightly sweet. I had the chance to try the beef tartare as well, which had a really outstanding depth of flavor and perfect balance of horseradish. Would order that next time. The scallops in brown butter sauce were divine- there was so much going on yet the flavors came together so well. My favorite had to be the pork with apricot- it was unbelievably tender and I loved how there were two different purees to pair it with. Somehow, Boka always manages to create very impactful flavors from the summation of delicate complexities. We ended with the miso caramel brownie and the bavarois- while both were delicious, the bavarois really stood out with its delicate cream and citrus compote. We left in high spirits after another great experience. Boka is always worth the hype and I'm looking forward to the next visit already! read more

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Not as good as last time. The Golden Osetra Caviar was delicious; the Bluefin Tuna Tart was good. The Dry Aged Beef Tartare was drenched in an aioli that was overpowering. They brought us another with the sauces on the side. Much better. The Ricotta Gnocchetti were light and perfectly cooked, but the sauce was a bit thick and one note. The Grilled Arctic Char was perfectly cooked with a crisp skin; the sunchoke puree was a perfect complement. The Glazed Beef Short Rib was salty (I bit down on a large chunk of salt). I only know short rib to be tender and falling apart. This was a thick type of short rib. The asparagus purée was nice. Service was engaging and attentive. I don't like dropping such coin for only one or two bites when time stops and I'm transported. read more

Boka - Gnocchi. - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was my first Michelin starred restaurant experience in the US, and it did not disappoint! I booked my dinner reservation through my Capital One dining portal and was greeted with a glass of sparkling wine to start the night off. My group and I went with the 8-course tasting menu along with the standard wine pairing, and every course was 10/10! The wine pairings elevated each dish, and by the end, I was definitely full and satisfied. Favorites of the night: the foie gras strawberry toast (had a nice balance of sweet, savory and then sweet again), the lightly cured hiramasa (light and delicate, with just the right amount of citrus to brighten it up), and the slow-roasted Colorado lamb loin (perfectly cooked and flavorful). I am usually not a fan of lamb because of the gaminess, but this was so well prepared that you would have never guessed it was lamb. Highly recommend if you're looking to splurge on an unforgettable dining experience! read more

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Great Michelin star restaurant! We started with the smoothie king mocktail and chicken liver mousse. Then they came out with unlimited bread buns that were super soft and warm (on the house). The bread was salted on top and came with a whipped creamy butter. I got the ribs. They were cooked perfectly and MELTED in your mouth. I'd recommend having a side with it since the meat was rich. My husband got the duck with the duck heart sausages. It was the best duck he's had! Then they gave us complimentary birthday desserts too. It was a great atmosphere and we appreciated that it wasn't too loud for a Friday night. The quality of food here was unlike any other! Highly recommend. read more

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Wow, everything was really good. I love Michelin stars cause you can always expect good service (most of the time), but this held up to it. Cute aesthetic restaurant with a vibe. Our waiter was super attentive and told him I have a flight to catch in a few hours so the dishes came out accordingly. We didn't do the tasting menu cause of time, but we ordered a lot of the amazing dishes from the ala carte. First off the drinks are amazing. Shout out to the bartender. Made me one of the best drinks in awhile. I requested tequila, refreshing, and spice. It had yuzu and passion fruit in it. Onto the food. Started off with veal sweetbreads. They split it into two 5/5 Lions mane mushroom. Loved the sauce 5/5 Chicken: wow amazing 5/5 Duck: this was really good and perfect portion for two when we did the order for one 5/5 Black sesame: a bit sweet, but good 4/5 Everything was Michelin worthy and I'd come back to try the tasting menu. Thank you to our waiter for getting us out on time. read more

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Chicago, you guys have really outdone yourselves here. I know Boka has been acknowledged by Michelin and James Beard, but so many restaurants with those distinctions are so underwhelming. But with Boka, you've knocked it out of the park. We ordered the following dishes: Dinner Roll with butter - 10/10 Chicken Liver Mousse - 8.5/10 Bluefin Tuna Tart - 8/10 Brown Butter Roasted Hokkaido Scallops - 10/10 Smoked Chestnut Agnolotti - 9/10 Black Truffle Chicken - 9/10 Whole Roasted Dry Aged Duck - 10/10 Espresso Martini - the best espresso martini I've ever had I've eaten everything on this list before, but Boka figured out a new way to enjoy each of these their own way. Man oh man, this meal was unbelievable delicious!!!! read more

I came here while visiting Chicago. Everything from start to finish was exceptional. We came in early for our reservation with a service animal and they were accommodating they took our coats (which were stored in a heated closet so were so nice when you put them back on), and showed us to our table. Kevin oversaw our dining experience. We decided on doing the tasting menu which was amazing. I had a concern about some of the meats but they were willing to be extremely accommodating on any concerns I had and tweak the menu based on dislikes. But honestly even dishes I thought I would dislike were absolutely delicious and I was so happy I just went with the choices. While the dishes were small the food was plentiful, I left fully satisfied. I also after have bad experiences on my trip ordering gin sours did ask to make sure what I would get was right. The bar tender came over to our table to talk through what I was looking for to make sure I got exactly what I wanted. The attention to detail, the people and their engagement was beautiful. I would highly recommend coming here when in Chicago. read more

Wonderful welcome, great ambiance, impeccable service - the attention to detail is amazing, really friendly staff who explain everything and know their menu well, and DELICIOUS food! We did the 8-course tasting menu and it did not disappoint. It's definitely worth a trip! read more

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Boka was wonderful last night. Kevin and the serving staff all did a great job. Our company dinner started with fabulous passed appetizers. Then incredible rolls and a tasting menu. My main course was arctic char. I can't wait to get back. What Charlie Trotters was, Boka is, and better. See you ASAP Boka! read more

This restaurant is awesome but pricey. The most amazing stuff is the non alcoholic pairing, which I was never that impressed but this place took it to the next level. The food is New American food, they are good but you get this kind of good in other Michelin, the banana bread was given as a gift at the end which is the average bakery item and not as good as the other dish, which was somewhat disappointing. I highly recommend shishito soda if you don't plan to get any pairing. Oysters are pricey and average, the sauce they used on the oysters didn't stand out. One very knowledgeable staff - Diego, the others are not as knowledgeable. About $400 per person with tips for chef's choice menu(omakase). Ambiance: 10/10 Food:9/10 Price: 8/10 Service: 10/10 read more

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I'm so glad I gave Boka another chance. The first time I thought was just ok and not as memorable (years ago). This time around the tasting menu was awesome. We were the last group to leave - great company, great service and great food. The pasta dish was my favorite but everything was delicious. We will be back! read more

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This was my first domestic Michelin star experience and was truly wonderful. I went with my boyfriend for our anniversary and we had excellent time. The wait staff is something else- the service is incredibly personal and really was one of the main highlights of the meal eating here shows you that everything has attention to detail from the timing of the plates to the dish presentation to the service. It feels like a special meal. Onto the food ! The bread service is complementary and excellent. I believe the butter had fennel in it, but it was addictive. We started with the caviar, and it was my first time trying this flavor profile was insane and unlike anything else I've ever had. I loved the presentation in the eggshell and it almost felt like you were eating out of a plant terrarium. Then we tried the gnocchi and the parsnip tortellini along with the veal sweet breads. The sweet breads were incredible and I wished that we had gotten two orders of them. The tortellini also had an incredible flavor profile and a lovely rich center. The gnocchi was the only miss of the night. It honestly tasted like air and we were left wondering if they had messed up on the dish. Then we split the short rib, which was also paired wonderfully with grilled raddico and beets. The highlight of the night for me was the chocolate dessert. I honestly don't know what was in this other than it was three layers of pure goodness. I almost started tearing up eating this because it was so decadent and lovely. Again, this is the perfect place to go for a special occasion or to dip your toes into the Michelin eating experience. It didn't feel stuffy, and everyone was very hospitable and kind. We also split a bottle of wine and that paired so nicely with our meal. I've heard that some people do not like the ambience of this restaurant, but to me it felt like any other nice restaurant in the city. It was definitely modern with cool light fixtures and the type of decor that feels sleek. We had a really great seat and were able to look out on the rest of the restaurant so I have no complaints. Highly recommend if you are looking to try Michelin ! read more

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For our Anniversary we are sticking to trying out Michelin starred restaurants and this year was Boka. A couple of friends mentioned they have it on their list of places to try so that made me excited. First thing I will say, maybe because the other areas were booked already, even though I did see 1 table in particular that was never occupied, but it only let me make reservations at the bar area. When they sat us I didn't think we would literally be sat at the bar. My husband wasn't too happy but then again we could've asked to be seated elsewhere and they most likely would've accommodated but we got over it. Why? Because the bar staff was amazing. We did the Valentines tasting with the non alcoholic pairings....trying something different and it was quite enjoyable. With every drink option given they described it with enthusiasm and were so engaged and attentive. It was the first night of the special tasting and one of the workers joked that they were listening in on the description of each dish because they haven't learned it yet. I did ask if I could keep the menu and they printed out new ones to give us at the end of the dinner. I actually forgot and they reminded me that I had requested one when I was heading to the bathroom. When I returned from the restroom they had the special menu, that only had our tasting menu on there, along with some complimentary chocolate muffins(delicious) at our area when we were getting ready to leave. Overall the staff was amazing and the restaurant is nice, darkish, and I do love the different areas they have. read more

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Food was incredible. One of my top 5 all time meals. Had the short ribs, and the beats as our mains and we were super impressed. Worth the price. Would go back! read more

Boka NEVER misses! My hubby and I came here for our 9 year wedding anniversary because we knew that they would deliver. We have dined with Boka every time we've visited Chicago and we were certain we wanted to celebrate our anniversary with them. My hubby made reservations months in advance and we were on our way. We arrive, the front of the house greeted us and took our jackets and our host led us to the bar, where we wanted to experience their tasting menu and wine pairings, as we have dined in their main dining room. Our bartenders/servers were Maharlika (sorry if I misspelled your name) and Jack and both made our anniversary dinner very memorable by means of their customer service and hospitality. We opted for the 8-course tasting menu and the wine pairing and Maharlika did a phenomenal job in accommodating our taste for natural/biodynamic wines, even though it was outside of his comfort zone. My favorite dishes had to be the Brown Butter Roasted Hokkaido Scallops and the Whole Roasted Dry Aged Duck. The dishes took umami to a whole nother level! Overall, we had a fantastic dinner for our celebration and Boka yet again confirmed the fact that they are our favorite fine dining restaurant time and time again. We have returned 4 times and each time has risen the bar of culinary excellency. Thank you to Maharlika, Jack and the Boka staff for the wonderful food, drinks and hospitality! We will definitely be back. read more

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Amazing Michelin star restaurant in Chicago. My wife made reservations to this awesome restaurant for my birthday dinner and it was truly magical. Everything was high quality and the appetizers were splendid. We were a bit full from a full lunch of dim sum but what we did enjoy here was absolutely amazing. We ordered 3 starters, 1 appetizer, and 1 entree and shared. It was perfect. Service was professional, and the ambiance was lovely as well. 4.6 stars rounded up for Boka! read more

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Restaurant week 2025!! My first ever one Michelin star experience... and I was blown away!! Def worth the $60. Service was efficient, and everyone was quite nice! Start: Bread and butter - a bit hard, but loved the salt on the butter. Cold: Lightly cured tuna - The gelatinous pear was sour and didn't complement the tuna as much as I'd liked. Dry aged beef tartare - delicious!! So smokey and creamy, tastes like an elevated burger and not like raw beef. Hot: Roasted scallop - scallop to cream ratio was off. Scallop was cooked PERFECTLY - a bit torched and crispy on the outside, melt in mouth tender on the inside. Duck leg ravioli - quite salty and hard, but the parm was strong. Entree: Roasted chicken - BEST thing on the menu hands down! So tender for a chicken breast, seasoned perfectly. Veggies were perf. Grilled pork collar - great! Dessert: Yuzu namelaka - yuzu ice cream was so tangy, but perfectly balanced with the burnt honey wafer and ricotta. White sesame crémeux - tastes like a peanut butter cup. A bit too rich for me. read more

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One of the best restaurants I've had the pleasure of dining at in Chicago! The chicken is quite possibly the best chicken I've ever had. The service was impeccable, accidentally dropped a fork and it was replaced within 30 seconds without even needing to ask for a new one. If my wallet would allow it, I would be back here every week! read more

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Boka's Chicago Restaurant Week menu was a steal--four courses for $60, with an optional wine pairing for $40. Yes Every dish was fantastic, but our favorites were the Beef Tartare, Duck Leg Ravioli, Scallops, and Pork Collar. And dessert? Absolutely divine. The flavors, presentation, and service (except for 1 rude hostess with blonde hair- hence the 4 ) were all top-notch and a perfect spot to celebrate my partner's birthday. Boka is a must-visit if in Chicago! Food 5/5 Staff/Service 4/5 Atmosphere 5/5 read more

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** Restaurant Week Review ** Boka is one of my favorite restaurants in the city! Truly part of my top 10 restaurant list. This year I opted to come for restaurant week and Boka did not disappoint! I love the dark moody vibe it has. The service is always great and staff is so friendly. Starters: The dry aged beef tartare was perfection. I love that it didn't have that super raw taste to it. Our favorite starter was actually the smoked carrots. We kept joking around and saying "are we sure this is carrots and not salmon?" Hot: The ravioli is basically a small bite plate but my gosh was it so good! The roasted scallop's flavors were delicious. The soup was hearty and filling. Entrees: the cod was cooked perfectly and did not feel overly buttered or under seasoned. The chicken was delicious. The pork collar just melted in our mouth. Dessert: The ricotta dessert was so interesting and delicious! Naturally being a chocolate lover, the white sesame cremeux was our favorite. I highly recommend the wine pairing because the choice of wines are always 10/10. The flavor profiles of the wine painting with the foods really did elevate each dish. read more

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