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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.
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.
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.
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.
(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!
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!!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
1 year ago
2 years ago
I went to Boka with my girlfriend for our anniversary dinner (back in Feb 2024) and had a generally positive experience. The service was absolutely out of this world. The ambiance was also phenomenal -- romantic and modern. We opted for the 8 course tasting menu. The food was good, but we were kind of disappointed and expected it to be better. Many of the dishes had a similar smokiness flavor to them, which is great for one ocoutrse but for multiple it was like the chefs lacked creativity and diversity in the flavor profile. It was just pretty repetitive. We also both found the dishes to be on the edge of being too salty, which just isnt acceptable for meal at this price point. For me, the real issue is the value. I left not feeling hungry but not stuffed at all, yet I've left other tasting menus feeling more satisfied with MUCH more elaborate, elegant, creative, and frankly delicious food all at a much lower price point. We paid roughly $600 for the tasting menu and one wine pairing (and one gin & tonic), and for what we got I think it should've been at least $200 cheaper. That said, the food itself was still quite good, and the shaved fois gras was unlike anything ive ever had (yet still deciding if that's a good thing). They also left out many of their star dishes, such as the caviar, wagyu, and duck -- any of which would have helped to justify the price more. My girlfriend tried the standard tasting menu, which was -- again -- good not great. She had wines mostly from Portugal and Greece, which was interesting, but it wouldve been nice to see more of a variety. In general, we had a very good time at Boka, yet the food is not something you'll be dreaming about. Maybe we just had a bit of an off night, but the next time I go to Boka I will likely not opt for the tasting menu and will have very high expectations. read more
michelin-star worthy !! took my boyfriend to Boka for his birthday and got the eight-course tasting menu, which i would definitely recommend for special occasions! sometimes michelin restaurants try to do too much or be toooo quirky, but Boka stuck to the classics and made them excellent, which i loved tasting menu: - maine uni & tempura honeynut squash - lightly cured hiramasa - foie gras - tasmanian ocean trout - maitake agnolotti - châtel farms american wagyu - concord grape - lapsang souchong ice cream - drinks: espresso martinis read more
First time trying a Michelin star restaurant and the experience was really good! The food was great for the restaurant week price of $59. The location is really pretty. Person who seated us seemed kind of spacey, but the staff that cleared the plates were very kind. read more
6 months ago
Came to Boka for their restaurant week! For restaurant week they only have a 4 course prefix menu to try and it was amazing! The whole experience from the waiters to hostess was so kind. The highlights of the meal for me were the scallops, cod, and whipped cheese cake! Scallops - cooked perfectly, and amazing flavor with the sauce. Not much else I can say, definitely getting another variation of their scallops if I will be going back. 9.2/10 Cod - the Chinese broccoli added a good texture mixture for the melting cod. Very easy to eat - light and flavorful. 8.6/10 Whipped cheesecake - probably my favorite dish from my restaurant week adventure. The whipped gave me an impression it would be creamy, but there was a slight solid texture for a slight ice cream feel. Perfect sweetness for me. The sorbet ice cream together was a great mixture. 9.7/10 read more
1 year ago
Great restaurant week menu for 2024! Professional service, artistic and sophisticated ambiance, and delectable food. 4 menu selections for $59 was unbeatable for the sizes. Highlight item was the scallop and not pictured, the green bell pepper soda. So unique and refreshing! read more
Business owner information
Brianna
Your review is music to our ears, Paige! We're ecstatic that our…
I went for the $59 restaurant week and it was incredible! The portions aren't great but the service was immaculate. The ambiance is very cozy and great for date nights. I think the flavors were all around delicious and would definitely come again. read more
1 year ago
Hands down my favorite restaurant in Chicago. I don't have enough positive things to say about BOKA. From the overall ambiance, level of service, to the intricate yet beautiful presentation and quality/taste of the food - this restaurant is chef's kiss! I have been here twice - once for restaurant week last Fall to try a few different dishes for a great deal with a few of my girlfriends, and another time most recently where I took my mom when she came in town to visit! Both times have been memorable and delicious experiences. The restaurant has a few different seating options. The inside of the main restaurant has warm lighting where we sat my first time. The second time we sat in almost like an outdoor enclosed area (window ceilings to allow natural light). There is also an outdoor patio area, great for summertime Chi! BOKA's menu is seasonal so they change up their dishes - this is nice to try new items but definitely miss some favorites! Must trys: - Golden Osetra Caviar - the presentation of this is insane! Comes in a small open egg shell - I don't know how I can describe the taste. Unique and delightful? It's definitely a lot of different textures, liquid, foam - I think there were hints of diced cucumber - of course topped with caviar. - Dry Aged Beef Tartare - the best beef tartare I've ever tasted. If you are a beef tartare fan, there is absolutely no reason why you should not order this! - Grilled & Glazed Beets - I love beets in salad and I love the warm take on this and the smokiness you get from the grilled component. Topped with feta - this was definitely one of my favorites! - Grilled Hokkaido Scallops - cooked to perfection. Loved the flavor! I've also tried: - Mushroom Rigatoni - this was like heaven on a plate. I tried this during restaurant week and was bummed not to see it on the menu when I came back! - Duck ravioli - smooth, buttery, rich in flavor. My friends liked this during restaurant week but I favored the mushroom rig - Lightly Cured Kampachi - a fresh take on raw yellowtail, great portion size for the pieces of yellowtail! - Beausoleil Oyster - delicious fresh oysters! - Black Truffle Tajarin - upscale take on alfredo - topped with fresh shaved truffle - Slow Cooked Halibut - cooked perfectly, in a creamy sauce - Grilled Short Rib - comes paired with beets, melt in your mouth short rib! Things to note: - A lot of the plates are small bites. You definitely come here for the overall dining experience. It's not somewhere to consider for feasting or pigging out - Pricier side. Great for special occasions (birthday, anniversary, celebration, important business meeting) or a fancy evening out with friends! They do have a 7 course tasting menu ($165/person) - with wine tastings available ($80 for standard or $160 for reserve). I have not tried either but definitely will have to come back to try! Huge fan of BOKA and excited for my next visit! read more
Business owner information
Brianna
Alice, thank you for sharing your experience so others can see what…
2 years ago
Restaurant week is a great opportunity to check out this Chicago icon. The curated 4 course tasting menu was excellent this year. There are 4 courses, cold, hot, entree and dessert. Three options for the apps, 4 for entree and 2 for dessert. We loved everything that we tried. Husbands favorite was the duck leg ravioli, it was rich, savory and really nice. Duck is sometimes too stringy or fatty but not the case this time. Really excellent. My favorite was the scallop- never have I had such perfect texture and flavor. It seems in the Midwest at best you can get one or the other but this was heaven. I'm still thinking about it a full day later. Other highlights: the Icelandic cod was melt in your mouth good obviously but the cauliflower purée was the most fought over. The whipped cheesecake was an incredible flavor and texture and we fought over it. The brownie was fine, didn't capture the interesting flavors or textures as well as the other aspects of the meal. The cocktail menu is great, there's something for anyone depending on what type of liquor you enjoy. The inside is really pretty, it is bigger than I expected and unlike some fine dining in Chicago you don't feel quite so packed in, possibly because of the high ceilings. Service was attentive, there is clearly a lot of training in reading nonverbal cues and it was lovely to have the meal paced perfectly and without unnecessary interruptions. What a lovely experience, we've already booked again to try the full 8 course tasting menu next month. See you again soon Boka! read more
Went for restaurant week. Cozy, date night vibes. Beef tartare was seasoned well; nothing too overpowering and the garlic sunchoke chips worked well with the texture of the meat. Lightly cured tuna was salty and a little too sour for me. I probably wouldn't get the roasted chicken or duck leg ravioli again; both are on the drier side and a tad salty as well. The scallops and cod were better in terms of both texture and easier on the palate. I preferred the whipped cheesecake over the black sesame brownie. It was light, sweet, crunchy with the hazelnuts and overall worked well with the tartness of the sherbet. Overall the portions left me surprisingly full. For $59, the restaurant week dinner is pretty worth it. Our server was nice, but we definitely felt rushed through the course. read more
Came on Friday to start off restaurant week with no reservation at 6pm and they were able to accommodate us! Our service could not have been better Maddy and Jake were amazing and the timing of courses was perfect. It was our first time at Boka and we will be back. everything was rich and delicious. my favorites were the beef tartare and the cheesecake. read more
2 years ago
Yet again, Boka has treated us like kings at the bar to celebrate our anniversary. The tasting menu + wine pairing was beyond delicious and beyond worth the splurge. Shout out to Jesse, Mandy, and Ellery who are just amazingly accommodating and delightful. See y'all too soon read more
2 years ago
This was the best dinner and dining experience I've ever had in my life. My partner and I came here for our anniversary and were amazed by the hospitality. I swear everyone in the restaurant wished us a happy anniversary, we got custom menus, and personalized dessert. Beyond being treated like absolute queens, the food itself was incredible. Not a single miss. The kanpachi was so fresh, the ricotta dumplings were the #1 best thing i've ever eaten, the chicken and short rib had my partner and i audibly gasping. the seasonal cocktails were so cozy and delicious too. 10/10 experience we'll remember this forever ! read more
Came here for our anniversary (and first official one Michelin star experience) and Boka blew us away...ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY HAD AN EQUALLY FANTASTIC GLUTEN-FREE menu. Started off with some spirit-free drinks and we were intrigued by the idea (heard of spirit-free liquors but never chanced trying them before): Gaia's Paradise - my favorite of the two, tasted herbal with fruity undertones, and refreshing Broken Blender - grilled pineapple comes off strong, lime as well, he described it as "sweet minty" and it was his favorite; I wasn't as much a fan because it reminded me of an overstrong cough syrup Tasting menu $165 per 1- Hudson brioche (gluten free for me!) with foie gras mousse with green strawberries, strawberry jam and black cardamom, paired with a side of heirloom tomatoes with lemongrass gel and shiso leaves Break- Gluten free bread (and seeded bread roll) with house butter with fennel salt 2- Crudo hiramasa With melon tomato, spring onion, marigold petals, and apple-yuzu broth 3- Hokkaido scallops in uni and lobster and cognac liquor foam with tarragon leaves and cauliflower foam and crunchy samphire slices My favorite prt was the cauliflower foam but my partner licked the broth dry! 4- Halibut with mushrooms, with butter with chives Impressed. I have never liked halibut in my life but I loved it here at Boka. 5- The last of the savory courses. Colorado lamb loin and belly, With Japanese eggplant puree and zatar Probably my least favorite of the night. The lamb belly was too salty, and the eggplant puree had a very sesame salty flavor that in combination with the sauce and separately were both too salty for my tongue. Overwhelming and I ended up not finishing. My partner agreed it was a bit too salty for his liking as well. 6- raspberry sorbet for me, cheesecake for him 7- matcha chocolate delight Pistachio They also just went above and beyond in general in terms of making us feel well-cared for and despite the large restaurant size and noisy ambience we felt like it was exactly the intimate, personalized dining experience we were hoping for! What really stood out was how one of our main wonderful servers for the night noticed I was still wearing my jacket halfway into the meal and turned up the heat so that I felt comfortable enough to remove it... I hadn't even realized I was uncomfortably cold up to that point but when she adjusted the temperature it made me so much happier and the meal became that much better! Incredible. Wish I had asked her name so I could say thank you yet again. Even the menu had happy anniversary printed on it, and the final overview which they made for us was personalized with our anniversary information! What a wonderful evening. Thank you Boka and our wonderful servers for making our anniversary dinner such a night to remember. Got too carried away and forgot to finish updating 6&7 so I'll update later. 5/5 stars for Boka, would definitely come again. read more
Business owner information
Brianna
Melody, thank you for sharing your fantastic experience so others can…
2 years ago
This was the best restaurant I have ever been to. We chose the eight-course tasting menu. The tasting menu changes every day, and it is always delicious. We made a reservation a month in advance, and when we got there we were seated quickly. The staff were very nice, and I was given a tour of the kitchen. The food was delicious and very creative. The seats were also very comfortable and I overall loved the decor. This was a 10/10 experience read more
I did the tasting menu and while the service was lovely, I didn't find the food to be anything special. I've had friends come that loved it though and said that a la carte is the way to go here! The seafood here was good! The lightly cured kampachi and scallops were my favorite parts of the meal- refreshing and flavorful! However, I found the slow cooked halibut to be way too salty. The chicken liver mousse was good, but definitely could have been more flavorful. I didn't get much of the chicken flavor from the mouse so it tasted more like cream on bread for me. I thought the desserts were just alright. The ice cream from the chocolate dessert was pretty good. I thought the strawberry cake dessert was a bit dry though. Overall, i loved the plating, warm staff, and ambiance but the left feeling a bit disappointed by the food. read more
4 years ago
I've been to Boka twice, once for restaurant week in 2017 and once for a family dinner in 2022. The food and service was just as amazing both times, and I couldn't recommend this place enough. My family got the Spanish octopus as an appetizer, and it came with this creamy and tangy sauce. It had pickles and fennel pieces on top of it too. It was so good we ended up ordering another one after we finished the first one. For the main course, we got both the short rib and the halibut. The halibut was buttery and melted in your mouth, and the short rib was tender and flavorful. It came with bits of tongue and pickled vegetables topped with a mustard sauce. Lastly, we had a roasted rhubarb dessert. They even gave us chai filled chocolate truffles (very unique!) and chocolate financiers as a treat. read more
Business owner information
Brianna
Allison–Hearing that our menu and service were able to impress you…
1 year ago
4 years ago
We happened to be in Chicago for restaurant week and we were pleasantly surprised that Boka was participating! The prix fixe restaurant week menu was a great opportunity to try this one-star Michelin restaurant. THE SERVICE Shaky start to the experience that improved after we got seated. We made reservations and arrived 15 minutes earlier. The hostess said a table would be ready closer to our reservation time. It would've been nice if there was some seating provided for those who are waiting, because you're either left waiting in the cramped reception area or outside in the cold (they had an enclosure right outside the front door, but it was still cold and had no seating). It would've been nice if we were offered to wait at the bar, as some restaurants have done for us. 30 minutes pass and still no table. We noticed some parties the same size as us got seated before us, even though they arrived later. I didn't have the complete picture, but I felt like they should have prioritized parties that arrive on time or earlier for their reservations instead of parties who arrive late for reservations. We weren't happy after having to stand around for 30 minutes despite arriving early. Hostess did not seem to acknowledge us or our wait after the initial check-in for the entire 30 minutes even though we were in front of her the entire time. When we finally got seated, the experience improved. Servers were attentive and friendly despite being so busy and food came out promptly. THE FOOD Almost everything we had was amazing, but our favorite items of the night were definitely the appetizers. We ended up ordering add-ons of appetizers in addition to our prix fixe menu because the initial appetizers were so good. Rundown of what we ordered: -Cured kampachi: Refreshing start to the meal. The fish was nicely pickled and the vegetables added a nice crunchy texture. -Shaved foie gras: This melted in our mouths like butter. The accompanying vegetables added a nice textural contrast to the creamy foie gras. -Smoked carrot tartare: The flavors blew our mind. It was unexpected, but in a good way. We did taste the smokiness and all the ingredients worked together well. -Roasted scallop: Perfectly cooked scallop with a rich sauce. -Cauliflower soup: Server told us this item wasn't as popular and I can see why. The flavor profile was very earthy and almost bitter. I felt like this needed some brightening notes to balance it out. -Roast chicken: A Boka popular item and I would also recommend it. The white meat portion is wrapped with the dark meat, so the entire cut of chicken ends up staying very juicy and flavorful. The flavor profile of the sauce reminds me of Chinese spices. It also came with a delicious mushroom sauce. -Pork tenderloin and belly: Very tender and also delicious. -Winter citrus dessert: This was the best yuzu sorbet I've ever had. Very refreshing end to the meal. -Hazelnut and coffee dessert: If you want a more rich dessert, then opt for this over the winter citrus dessert. Hazelnut lovers would enjoy this. Overall, we had a good experience at Boka and would recommend it. The front desk experience could've been better, but the rest of the experience went more smoothly and the food was great. read more
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Brianna
Thank you for your review, Michelle! We're so glad that you loved…
What I haven't written a review for Boka!? The food at Boka was fantastic with friendly staff and comfortable ambiance. We went in with the expectation for a 1 star Michelin, they did not disappoint. I happen to be in Chicago for a conference and a family member suggested to have dinner at Boka. That was such a great recommendation, all the dishes were so delicious... we were happily stuffed. They offer both regular and tasting menu. Since it was our first time there, we wanted to try their signature dishes. The waiter recommended duck breast being their signature dish, and he was right. The meat was so tender and flavorful with a tasty sauce. Thinking back, I just recall all of the dishes were tasty, it was a lot of food, but we managed to finish them. Whether you are a local foodie or a traveling foodie, I recommend giving Boka a try! read more
2 years ago
Oh, Boka, if only every day was a Boka day. From the sophisticated ambiance to the elegant service, artistic presentation & divine food, we enjoyed such a lovely birthday meal. The beef tartar, short rib and chocolate dessert stood out. I am very particular about my dessert having sufficient texture as well as not being overly sweet and this dessert certainly delivered. Hoping to return very soon! read more
To start, our server is amazing. He has such a positive vibe to him and i find that it would be very hard to have an inch of a bad experience if you interact with him. I had to take a picture of the menus because the breakout would have been way too much to write lol. The starter that was sweet corn, mixed with various ingredients was delicious and the pairing of Dr. Lo was excellent. The summer tomatoes had an interesting flavor and the odd bird pairing was amazing. Honestly all of the pairings were spot on. Because I am not a fan of fish, they were willing to work with me and customize my tasting menu, which took their customer to a whole other level. My least favorite item was the lamb and I must say, I am not a big fan of lamb so you would need to take the critique with a grain of salt. Overall everything on the tasting menu was great and a true journey through multiple flavor profiles. read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
My friends and I tried their eight course tasting menu because we wanted to have a sample of everything! Our waiter mentioned that they change their menu very often to keep it fresh Favorites: Golden Kuluga Cavier: very buttery! Nice starting course Black Truffle Tortelli: I love pasta especially when it's served with cheese. Their black truffle tortelli tastes creamy and well-seasoned Tasmanain Ocean Trout: Delicate dish! The fish was flakey with a soft texture After our desserts, we were given a mini carrot cake loaf each to bring home! Thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience, food and service read more
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Brianna
Michelle,…
This is by far the best vegetarian tasting menu I have ever had! I've been to quite a few Michelin places and I loved boka, by far, the best. Not a single repeat in any vegetable and all the veggies were the star! Great service love it highly recommend. read more
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Brianna
Megha, we couldn't ask for a better review! We're over the moon you…
9 months ago
3 years ago
Love the atmosphere here, we sat at the bar and it was a fantastic experience/ meal. I enjoyed everything we tried and had an amazing time. We didn't do the tasting menu but we enjoyed the A la Carte options and the flavors in the food was amazing. We also had a cocktail, and bottle of wine and were not disappointed. Service was one point, and you understand why they have a Michelin star! read more
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Brianna
Danielle, we're delighted to know you enjoyed your experience at…
Boka does exceptional execution and it's no surprise that they have a Michelin Star. I ordered the items most praised here. Here's my take by dish (way to many people don't break out reviews here by dish!) Beef Tartare: Excellent tenderness and beef showed through while still having some elements of astringency and complexity. This is a great starter. Agnolotti: This is a great dish if you love pasta. I think it's hard to really step way above the competition with a basic stuff pasta dish like this. But, it's worth ordering if you just love stuffed pastas. Foie: The foie was excellent. Smooth and fat was well-balanced with acids. If you like foie or suer savoury complex dish, order this. Duck: I respect the duck. For duck, it was very tender. The breast skin was so crisp and dense. The duck leg was too yogurty for me. That part of the dish could have been more savoury/rich. At it's price point, I'd recommend just trying two apps instead of this unless you really are adamant about great duck. I think other proteins are just more enjoyable. read more
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Brianna
Jack - We really appreciate you visiting us at Boka. It means a lot…
1 year ago
Food (4.5/5): - We got the oysters, kampachi, roasted chicken, dry aged duck for one, mochi brownie, pineapple soda, and raspberry & corn - Oysters were decently good. I've had better so I would say this is probably a skip, but they weren't bad - Roasted chicken was delightful. It was juicy and flavorful. Good for one, maybe two people - Dry aged duck for one was my favorite. The crust was really nice especially combined with the butter and the sauce - Mochi brownie was also really delicious. It wasn't overly sweet and had a nice chocolatey texture - Raspberry & corn was probably the dish I enjoyed the least. If you're not a fan of raspberry, I would skip. I did enjoy the corn cake with the sour cream ice cream, but the tartness of the raspberry sorbet was too overpowering. - pineapple soda was good! I personally enjoyed it but it might be too sweet/sour for some. I would be interested in trying their other flavors Service (5/5): - Amazing service! They were kind, friendly, and very attentive - No complaints! Ambiance (5/5): - Very classy and maybe slightly dressy - Intimate and dimly lit - Kind of has a classy, modern feel to it - Great for groups and dates! read more
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Brianna
Thank you for sharing your experience so others can see what it's…
We had an excellent waiter who was amazing at explaining the menu! The food was delicious as well! Just wish the portions were a bit bigger because with appetizer, free bread, entree, and dessert, I still left a tad hungry. The ambiance was very nice with nice lighting and the noise level was perfect. read more
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Brianna
Annie, we're glad to know you enjoyed the food and ambiance at Boka!…
2 years ago
Exceptional Experience!! The service was excellent. High touch!! I was offered a shawl by my server when he noticed I was cold. The ambiance was very nice. Plenty of room between tables to not feel crowded. The food was art! Highly recommend and will be back! read more
10/10 fine dining experience. My friends and I came to Boka during restaurant week and boy was it packed. We had reservations for 9:15, but unfortunately had to wait another 30 minutes to get seated because they were running behind. Luckily we weren't too hungry, so the wait was fine. Our server was so knowledgeable about everything and was really nice. I recommend doing the wine pairing since they match a glass of wine to each course that comes out. As for the food: - Lightly Cured Kampachi - delicious and full of flavor - Roasted Scallops - one giant piece that was bursting with flavor and the texture was just perfect - rigatoni - had an interesting and delicious sauce; you can definitely taste the wine mixed into it. The pasta was cooked al dente - Hazelnut & Coffee - The hazelnut & coffee cream was so soft and fluffy. Perfect pairing with the ice cream. I wish they gave more ice cream though. Overall, Boka was an amazing place to eat at. It is on the pricier side, but I think that it's worth it for restaurant week. read more
Business owner information
Brianna
Hi Karina - We are so glad you and your friends enjoyed your meal at…
3 years ago
More info about Boka
1729 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60614
Lincoln Park
Directions
(312) 337-6070
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.bokachicago.com
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Ask the Community - Boka
Can you accommodate 4 people, one gluten sensitive, one coconut sensitive and all 4 vegetarians? We would like a degustation menu.
Hi James, We can definitely accommodate this dietary restriction. Feel free to let us know if you need any assistance with a reservation.… Read more
Is there parking readily available or should I take a cab?
They have valet parking that's reasonably priced.
Are vaccine cards required? It seems a lot of restaurants' websites have not been updated properly. Thank you!
They didn't check when I dined in last month.
Does the tasting menu have a lot of seafood?
Only 2/10 (3 if you count caviar) dishes when we went in early September
How long does the dinner tasting menu last?
I'd say around 90-120 minutes to fully enjoy the experience.
How far in advance can you make reservations?
Hi Nina- Reservations are available online up to 30 days in advance. If you are looking for… Read more
Is the new High Top seating just the bar seats with a high top table or would you be standing?
Hello- The High Top seating is a booth across from the bar. You would be seated. Thank you!… Read more
What kind of warming equipment will you have if we have a outdoor dinner? Really want celebrate my birthday at a restaurant instead of at home!
Hello, thanks for reaching out. We currently have heat lamps on both our covered patio, back patio and front patio.
Is there any dress code?
We do not have a dress code at BOKA. Most guests are comfortable in business casual attire but dress coats are not required. Thanks!
Hi - is it possible to bring well behaved kids (3 and 5 year old) to the restaurant? We have a 5pm seating on a Sunday night. Would the chefs be able to accommodate a kids plate? Thank you!
Hi Kwan- Thank you for reaching out! We welcome guests of any age at BOKA! I have brought my own… Read more
Is Boka good for solo dining? Is there a bar where one could sit and get a bite and glass of wine?
Absolutely! Treat yourself to a solo date here, you won't be disappointed. They have lovely cocktails. A great wine selection. Excellent bites. However, the bar area has limited seating. I would call ahead.
Is there an age that is not permitted in the restaurant?
Hi Ethan! There are no age restrictions at BOKA, though we do ask for ID for anyone who looks under 30 and wants to drink alcohol. I'm not sure what you mean by the "Gallery", however. We do have a room with a moss-covered wall that we usually refer… Read more
Dressing code enforced?
While we recommend Business Casual, there is not a strict dress code at BOKA.
We are coming to Chicago to celebrate 25th wedding anniversary. Would love to eat at Boka but no reservations available. Any other suggestions? Gilt Bar? Thank you
Try Bellemore or Somerset. Both part of the same restaurant group. Both awesome.
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Boka - newamerican - Updated June 2026
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