What a delightful welcoming little place in the loop. Love their home made sauces and positive attitude here. The owner Jeremy works with his team and obviously enjoys what he's doing. We plan to return soon. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Vegetarian bowl with chili coconut curry - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Overall: Another "chipotle-esque" Asian option in the loop, but builds on it and makes it even better than others. A solid choice for a quick and easy lunch. The good: Food tastes great and is hot and ready. Made right in front of you. A decent amount of options to choose from in terms of all the different ingredients. I liked how they have a fair amount of sauces available. The service was friendly. The bad: The place is super hot when all the woks are going. We carried out our food, but it was pretty warm while we were there. I know it's in the loop, but it's pretty expensive for lunch. Want steak and an egg with your bowl, and a drink? $18 bucks. Otherwise, a normal chicken bowl is $10. Atmosphere: 7/10 Service: 9/10 Food: 8/10 read more

I'd give the food here 3 stars, but the deco and concept deserves another. Really cute concept with a clean, minimalist b&w interior. I love it! There's plenty of seating too. Then again, I was there at 6:30pm so Im not sure about the lunch rush. Great environment, but sadly I can't say the same about the food. You get to pick your sauce, rice/noodles, protein and vegetables, and they stir fry it for you on the spot. Definitely has the fresh and home cooked feel, but the taste didn't live up to my expectations. My meal was a little bland, and I even chose one of their most popular sauces, the chili curry sauce. Would I come back? Sure, if my friends want to. Would I come back by myself? Maybe.. But great job on the Asian stir fry meets chipotle concept! read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The concept of this place is similar to chipotle. You can order their favorite, seasonal or build your own bowl. It's fast and healthy. I'm giving only 3 stars because of the protein to rice ratio. I paid for chicken and didn't get much for $14. read more

All I can say is the food was absolutely outstanding, the restaurant was clean and the employees were all very nice and helpful. We were so impressed with the menu items and that everything was gluten free! I have celiac and a shellfish allergy so this place is like Heaven to me! We are in the city once a month and I think I have found my go to lunch place! My toddler even ate all of his steak! He loved the food too! Now please open a place like this the northern suburbs! read more

My favorite place for lunch! I have lost track of how many times I have eaten here because each meal never disappoints. With all the options, you can create a different bowl each time and always have something new to try. I have tried so many sauces and variations and have always left satisfied! So good and such a healthy option in the loop. I LOVE the cashew sauce. 10/10 Staff is ALWAYS friendly. Fast too this place is a favorite - if I didn't make that clear read more

Efficient, quick, a good value and (best of all) tasty -- the Bright Wok Kitchen is a solid lunch option in the Loop. I came in just before noon on a summer weekday and figured out the system while in line. It's simple: pick a base, a protein and a sauce from the menu and add up to four vegetables plus an egg or mushrooms for an upcharge. I waited a few minutes for the food and it was hot and plentiful. The basic chicken bowl was $9 for a large portion. Food quality was good -- fresh and quality. I had the teriyaki, and would have preferred a bit more flavor. The only add-on sauce I saw was Sriracha, but I would have liked some soy sauce or for the teriyaki to have more intense flavor. Plenty of seating for small groups or single people, at tables or a long counter. By 12:15, the place was packed, but most of the people took lunch to go. No complaints. I'll be back. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Chicken with teriyaki sauce and broccoli, carrot, green pepper and edamame over brown rice, $9 - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Yummmmm this place is really good! It's so difficult to eat healthy when traveling for work, but this place is right across the street from my hotel so it's super convenient. It's basically an Asian fusion version of Chipotle. You go down the line to choose your base (noodles/brown rice/white rice/greens), a bunch of veggies, protein, and sauce. Then everything gets stir fried and you can add a fried egg on top. I got brown rice, broccoli, squash, mushrooms, carrots, edamame, chicken, creamy cashew sauce, and a fried egg. It was surprisingly really tasty & the portion was pretty big! I don't feel guilty eating this at all and will probably come back again before I leave Chicago :). Don't expect the food to blow your mind though...anything healthy can never be TOO tasty! read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Sooo good - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Mmmm semi-healthy Asian fast food? Yes please! Here's the upside: 1. All of their sauces are delicious. I'm hoping they keep the "limited time only" jalapeño green curry. Super spicy, but the best kind of heat. 2. The banana chips are oh-so-addicting. 3. The iced garam masala chai is creamy, like a savory dessert. A few downsides: 1. It's usually a little smokey inside and I'm worried I walk out smelling like fried food. 2. The line is always long during lunch, but it moves pretty fast. 3. The portion sizes are never consistent. Looking at the people in front of and behind me in line, their bowls are always way fuller than mine for some reason. If I could give Brightwok 4.5 stars I would, but it's got a few things to fix. In the meantime, I'll keep coming back! read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Chicken and veggies over lettuce. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I wish you could grant half stars, as three stars seems harsh, while four stars is quite generous. Visiting Brightwok was hopeful of an urban, tasty experience; implementing urbanized style and interior decoration. The eco friendly implications and fair trade ingredients were rather awesome! I order stir fry with Coconut Curry sauce, which was lacking in flavors of coconut or curry; I would say the profile was more relatable to a masala than a curry. I see this is a reoccurring problem in other reviews, maybe this should be taken into account? I ordered brown rice, and my girlfriend order noodles. There was some sort of confusion, to which I was given both the noodles and rice and my girlfriend was left without a starch. Upon finally receiving our food, I could swear I received white rice (the worker claims it was brown, though I've never seen brown rice turn white upon cooking...?). All in all, a pretty tasty place that could use some working in communication via. workers. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - "THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT" in wooden chopsticks, a unique art piece for this unique restaurant. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Located right next to the Adams/Wabash stop in the Loop, the aptly named Brightwok Kitchen has a bright and open interior and uses woks to cook the food. My friend and I walked in during lunch time on a Saturday and we were pleasantly surprised by the ambiance. Bright, open interior, plenty of seating, and super friendly staff. It was our first time here and the girl at the counter took time to explain the menu to us and share her favorites. It's an Asian build your own bowl place and totally delivers on expectations. In a bowl, you pick your base (rice or noodles), protein, 4 vegetables, sauce, and option of a crispy fried egg or sauteed mushrooms and they cook it in a wok right in front of you. Plenty of options in all columns and what really made it were the sauces. She had mixed the Creamy Cashew and the Coconut Chili Curry while I got the Thai Basil. Both were delicious and my selection of the additional fried egg was well worth it. It took maybe 5 minutes after we ordered and paid for them to bring the food to us, but as she did, she asked us, "Are you guys ready to have a great start to your weekend?!" (referring to the food). A bit over the top, but it got a laugh out of us. The food is billed as a healthy option (over say a Panda Express) and it certainly does taste better. Less greasy, less oil, more organic. Though I don't know if they claim to use all organic ingredients. It was more expensive than its competitors that don't claim to be healthy, my bowl was around $15, hers about $13. It was a great place with great service and food, but not sure I'll be a regular just due to the price tag. Definitely worth a visit though! read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Noodle bowl with steak and a fried egg on top - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Brightwok offers a quick, healthy version of stir fry. The location is modern and clean, and the staff is super friendly and outgoing. I always get the rice noodles with teriyaki, carrots, edamame, purple cabbage and sprouts. Their black tea is also really good. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love love love Brightwok. My coworkers and I have been eating here regularly since they first opened in the loop. Ingredients are always fresh and their homemade sauces are so fantastic. It's very easy for folks with special dietary needs to eat here. While working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, I've regularly ordered for delivery! I will say I think the Loop location (on Adams) has better quality control than the River North location. The RN location often doesn't use enough sauce, and one time they even forgot my rice! I order from the loop one more often, and its always been perfect. The staff is always very friendly and helpful! Pro tip: Get a fried egg or sweet potato fritter on your bowl, you won't be sorry! read more

I thought it is a Chinese place before my visit. It turned out nothing Chinese here. It is one of a kind, a little like Mongolia BBQ. You choose the sauce first, then one meat and four vegi. The mixture will be cooked and put on top of your choice of rice or noodle. The portion is "healthy" if you know what I mean. The home brewed ginger beer is spicy!!!! And I highly recommend to taste it as room temperature not on ice. It's specially banana chip I'd flavorful but contains too much oil. Anyhow, it's worth my visit. read more

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This establishment is heavily soy-based and unfortunately I'm allergic to soy haha. Nonetheless, I went in, got a bowl with brown rice and all the vegetables. I didn't get a sauce, as the only soy-free option was coconut based and I'm also allergic to coconut (go figure). Regardless, it was a very fresh tasting bowl. Added some sriracha and called it a day. Probably won't return as my options are really limited. Would recommend if you can tolerate soy though. Staff is really friendly and service is quick. read more

A solid lunch spot offering good bang for your buck. I am a sucker for make-your-own combos so I made my own noodle bowl - I think I chose too many textured veggies for my bowl (my fault) so the bowl wasn't as good as I was hoping but I like that it's made to order. Service was pretty fast for bowl being made to order as you watch. Will be back. read more

I stopped in to Brightwok Kitchen on a recommendation from a friend and had a great meal. Décor: From the outside this place doesn't look like much, but inside it is modern, well lit, minimalistly decorated, and fun (with the chop stick wall sign). There are a lot of tables that range in size from two-seaters to larger; there is also a "bar" seating side for solo diners. During the lunch rush the line can get long, stretching easily to the door before wrapping back on itself, but no one seems to mind. The menu is easy to read and you can see everything as your bowl is prepared. Finally, there (thankfully) doesn't seem to be a big back-log of people waiting for their food after they pay which helps keep the crowded feel down. Bathroom: unknown Staff: Everyone, from the order taker/preparer to the cooks to the cashier, is friendly and helpful for n00bs (like I was). Food: They have a few pre-made selections but otherwise it is build-your-own style. Like I said, the menu is easy to read and understand and the staff walks you through the process as well. All you do is pick your ingredients and they cook (heat) it on up. I made my own bowl and it came out wonderfully. It is nice to have such a tasty, and relatively healthy, option in the rotation. Value: The serving size is pretty solid and the total (for just a bowl) comes in under my normal lunch budget amount so I was very, very content. Having had such a wonderful experience I plan to return MANY times in the future. This is a great spot! read more

They won't win interior design awards for their near-minimalist appeal, but the food is the star here. Lots of great stir-fry options. I had brown rice, chicken, a few veggies tossed with a creamy cashew sauce, and a fried egg on top. Yummy, but paired with a large order of edamame and water, the price zoomed to almost $17. Lessons learned: Adding extras can get exponentially expensive, and get here by noon or you might wait in a very long line to order. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Large edamame and a rice bowl with chicken, veggies and a fried egg, $17 - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I honestly don't have anything negative to say about this place. You get the choices of proteins and base and 4 veggies, and have the chance to add more stuff on. Then they cook it infront of you on a wok, which makes it even cooler. I tried the coconut curry sauce and it was really good - not spicy, but good. I did add sriracha to it for extra spice. I had the noodle steak bowl with edemame, peppers, kale, and sprouts. The steak was great the sauce was good and service was quick and helpful. Got an egg on top- awesome option worth the extra money! This is probably one of my favorite spots near the DePaul area simply because its fast, healthy, and cooked oh so deliciously. Definitely have been meaning to try other sauces - they all look awesome.. but the coconut curry one is so good haha read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Quality and consistency makes this an ideal lunch spot in the Loop. These meals leave you feeling perfectly full, not nap time full. The staff is always great, very friendly and quick...superstars during the lunch rush. Don't forget to add the fried egg! read more

Stopped in today for the first time and was pretty impressed. The place was packed at 12pm and for good reason- the food was great. I ordered the "Every Day Eat Right" which is essentially Thai basil chicken. I loved that I could get it with light oil. If nothing looks good on their menu, you can fully customize your stir fry bowl which I think is great. If you do get a bowl with a rice filling, keep in mind they give you a LOT of rice. The employee easily gave me over a cup and a half of brown rice, so I asked her to take some out. Only one complaint: I ordered it to go, they gave me a bag... but they didn't provide me with any chop sticks or silverware. Bit of a pain but not the end of the world. At just over $10/bowl, it's not a cheap lunch, but it was tasty and filling- I will be back. read more

WHAT FLAVOR!!! I'm a vegetarian, dairy-free and allergic to gluten...so finding a place to eat out is tricky. I'm not a Chicago local and was visiting from out of town. I was so exceptionally pleased with the menu at Brightwok Kitchen and even more blown away by the food. A wonderful depiction of Asian cuisine with a complex flavor profile! The sweet potato fritters are an absolute must try. The magic cake was an amazingly delicious gluten free dessert as well! Next time I visit Chicago, I will definitely return! If only my home town had something similar... read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Quick, great food at a nice new place. Met a friend here for lunch and really enjoyed it. We went right at noon and beat a pretty large rush that came in after us. The dinning room is small and tables are close together so it felt like the folks sitting at the table next to us were all up in our conversation. Otherwise, the place is clean and new-ish looking. I like that they both compost and recycle. I wish they would deliver food to those who are dining in. Food preparation took a bit but not too long. To eat, I had the Sweet New Year dish. It was very tasty, but not as spicy as I'd hoped so I fixed that with Sriracha. Since this was my first time ordering, I quite possibly could have missed a way to order this and make it more spicy. Price for the meal and a diet coke was a bit high (north of $16) for what I usually spend on lunch, but I think the drink was organic and expensive, so I'll skip that next time. read more

We ended up eating here twice while visiting Chicago. Both times We built our own meal by picking rice noodles or rice. The first time I had the noodles and the second time I had the brown rice (both good). I had the peanut sauce the first time and a sauce with sesame seeds the second time. The sauces are great and add so much flavor to the meal. And you can ask for it to be more spicy if you like a little heat. I did the second time and it was the perfect amount of heat to enhance the flavor of the meal without making it only about the heat. The chef knows his spice palate. We had the tofu and I really liked it as it had good texture and flavor; something some restaurants have a hard time getting right consistently. The vegetables were fresh and flavorful and cut just right for the quick style of wok cooking they received. Since this place is fairly busy with take out orders and people coming in like us the veggies seemed like they had just been cut up, delicious and fresh. We also had the unsweetened green tea. Delightful.and dessert- don't pass up the little "magic cake" sweet goodness they have to offer. We will be coming back next time we are in Chicago (wishing there was one in our home town). read more

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Brightwork was average stir fry. I got the Healty Everydsy bowl. The brown rice was sticky and way over cooked and makes up most of the bowl. The chicken was tender but there wasn't a lot of it. It also had some sliced carrots, onions, thai basil (which I didnt see) and small bits of broccoli. Nothing special or imaginative there, nor alot of veggies outside of carrot. Taste was just ok and not a big portion for $12. Probably won't return. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Brightwok, I'm still in love with you. The Earth, Curry & Fire was delish, as was my dining companion's build-your-own. Local ingredients, fresh flavors, reasonable prices. I'll continue to visit whenever I'm in Chicago but I do wish you were closer. If cheese curds are the currency you traffic in and that would get you to come to Wisconsin, I'm ready to negotiate! read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Noodles with tofu, broccoli, carrots, peppers, kale and ginger tahini sauce. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Saw the Brightwok pop-up at Taste and knew I had to stop in for more. The staff is so welcoming and helpful, the concept is fun, the decor is clean and refreshing, and the food is delicious! I would love to see Brightwok Kitchen in more cities someday, but, until then, I'll just have to keep coming back to Chicago (which I am happy to do in the meantime). read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Green citrus tea and a brown rice bowl with tofu, carrots, bean sprouts, and kale smothered in tahini ginger sauce! Loved it! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Before Brightwok, stir fry bars were only in food courts or sit-down restaurants like Flat Top. They were extremely slow and the food not all that flavorful. Jeremy has changed that completely. It is hard to leave a 5-10 minute walking radius of my office but I do it for Brightwok. Brightwok works the same way all the successful fast-casual spots downtown do: build your own bowl with a base, sauce and protein (+ four veggies). The secret sauce here is ... the sauce. They really elevate the food from what you typically get when you think stir fry. I'm partial to thai basil but they have curries, teriyaki and more. Then there's the option of adding a crispy fried egg, which is the punctuation on the whole experience. Not enough places offer me a friend egg on my lunch. The portions are substantial and the price is very fair at $10-13 depending on add-ons. I've paid much more for much less food in the Loop, plus I always leave Brightwok feeling good about what I've put in my body. I love that this place is open every day, as I did end up here for a quick lunch on a weekend afternoon. My one gripe is that they had no idea how wild of a success they'd be, and the line ends up out the door by 12:30 on a weekday and the space gets cluttered. If you dine in, people will be standing next to your table waiting in line. That said, once you get up there they move fast, and BONUS: I've been with large office groups of 8-12 people before and we've called ahead and they've reserved tables for us. The customer service is on point. Congrats Jeremy and team! read more

I ordered Kick'n Panang. SO. DARN. GOOD. A bit pricey, but you're paying for fresh, healthy ingredients, so it makes sense. Plus it's a healthy portion that will keep you full. read more

it is great. convenient. I always like hot meals. many kind of choice. It costs reasonable nearby art institute of Chicago. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great place for affordable healthy Asian food near millennium park. Tasted great, food was made quickly and staff was friendly and welcoming! Definitely recommend! read more

Amazing!! Would get 5 stars if they were open till at least 7/7:30. This place is sooo good and fresh and is a gluten free dream. Had the earth fire and curry bowl with chicken, it was soo good and actually spicy. The magic cake was amazing too! read more

I'm in love with Brightwok Kitchen. They are my favorite delivery option when I'm hungry and want something I know I'll love. The ability to customize the whole thing is a huge plus. I wish there were a few more already built options, but that's just because I'm sometimes in the mood to not make any decisions. My favorite is the thai basil sauce with chicken and a ton of veggies. Add a crispy egg of course. The pickles are also very good. Try the banana chips too. Oh really, just try it all. You won't be disappointed. read more

I only wish we had a Brightwork in Los Angeles! I was visiting Chicago for the marathon with my boyfriend and we had just spent a good two hours of our morning navigating the tourist trap that is Willis Tower and we were desperate for a good lunch. I found Brightwok on Yelp and it seemed like a solid choice. The restaurant is set-up "Chipotle-style" where you order a base bowl and then you can customize ingredients, sauces, etc. I was starving so I went with one of their signature bowls, the Everyday Eat Right bowl (thai basil sauce, brown rice, local chicken, onions, broccoli, bell peppers, carrots), and boyfriend built a custom noodle bowl. I also ordered their ginger beer which is bottled exclusively for them by Bridgeport Chicago. The bowls were great! Really flavorful, filling, but don't leave you feeling heavy or sluggish which is perfect for a long day of exploring the city. The ginger beer was way too sweet for my taste with not enough ginger. For dining casual, this place is definitely a win! read more

Good formidable lunch option in the loop. You can choose a salad or a bowl with a nice selection of sauces that actually contain spice or not if you like. You then can choose your bases and they stir fry it up for you or give you a salad. The portions are generous and it's pretty simple and straight forward win great taste. Ingredients are bogged down with additives and extra additions. Great lunch spot read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Brightwok is another nice healthy option if working in the loop. There is a lot of these options to choose from. I personally like Honeygrow/minigrow but I was not upset with my experience at Brightwok. The ingredients seemed to be fresh and local and the staff was super nice and friendly. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So good and so easy with a family full of allergies!! I even ordered from them for the whole bridal party while getting ready for my wedding! read more

If you live the Chipotle concept, and you love stir fry, then I'd bet you'd live this. We were hungry and wanted to grab something quick before an event, and his place filled us up with healthy, well sourced food in no time at all. I asked for no carbs and that allowed me an extra veggie choice. We chose the coconut curry sauce and asked for extra heat. Our bowls were delicious. We only wish we had one of these places in Indianapolis. read more

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Brightwok is awesome! The staff is welcoming and the food is great. The quality is just as good as pre-pandemic and I've been ordering online for carry out. The order is always on time and ready for pickup. This is one of the best lunch options in the loop! read more

4 1/2 stars? Seriously who are you people? What criteria do you use to rate something 4 1/2 stars??? Get out!! Ok true clean and probably healthy. After that..... the food is fine? Maybe ok? it ain't close to 4 1/2. It is like 4 star maybe on an average cafeteria scale. I admire skillfully cooked food from an ethic restaurant or from a trained chef. This is like flat top grill, not skilled chefs. Not skilled ethnic family run chef. If you want quick, clean and acceptable ok food it is fine. I had to balance the other ratings Uninspiring read more