I get really excited by places that let you "customize" or "DIY" your meal, so when I was looking for a quickish lunch spot, this place caught my attention. Upon entering I was a little surprised/ the restaurant is much more spacious than the pictures make it seem. There are about 15-20 tables inside. It was also obviously popular, very loud inside and with a long line to get to the counter to place your order. The concept is simple, familiar. You pick your sauce, your base (noodles/rice/greens), your protein, and your veggies. They mix it all up for you in a bowl and you're good to go. I got the limited time jalapeño green curry with noddles. My sister got the cashew cream with noddles. The bowls came out fairly quickly and we're piping hot. Nom. Pros: hot food, multiple mix and match options, fairly "healthy", decent portions, well seasoned/cooked chicken Cons: loud, wait time, tables not cleaned in between patrons, brusque staff, and sadly not too flavorful food :( The cashew cream tasted kind of like burnt pad Thai and the jalapeno green curry was more watery than expected; perhaps would have been better with simply more quantity of sauce added to my bowl. I did get it with chicken which I thought was really well cooked, and they put a decent amount of veggies in the bowl which I liked. I could be convinced to come back and try a different sauce combo if someone I knew really wanted to eat here, but I don't see myself going out of my way to come here otherwise. read more

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I went to an event where they were serving the tofu salad from here and I went to this location the very next day to get it. :) Don't be intimidated by all the options. It's really simple to order. Glad I added the fried egg cause that really made the salad. If you like the pic I posted here's what to order: Tofu Salad with mixed greens, carrots, broccoli, bean sprouts, onions, top with tahini ginger dressing. For a $1.50 more add the fried egg. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Tofu Salad - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We catored Brightwok Kitchen for a work luncheon, large platters of beef and chicken mixed with sauteed veggies. Great flavors and meats were well cooked. The dishes came with sides of banana chips and a combination of white / brown rice. Perfect type of meal for an office luncheon if you're thinking about catoring. Best, Charlie read more

Looking for a quick and filling bite to eat? This may be the spot for you. I got their coconut curry sauce with noodles and veggies. The mint lemonade was delicious! I must have it again! read more

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This place is perfect for what it is - a quick spot to serve fast, cheap, tasty food. We ordered for 8 people and had our food ready within 10 min. It was scary quick, and they had everything exactly as we asked, which isn't easy with a large party. Everything is customizable, so you can be as picky as you want. The food is very friendly to vegetarians as well. I would recommend adding a fried egg on top of your bowl. We had all the sides (banana chips are addicting) and tried their tea as well. The tumeric ginger is really strong and delicious. The restaurant was packed and had a lot of people dining in as well as grab-n-go. Regardless, they're very efficient so lines move very quickly. Everyone loved their bowls and agreed that this is one of our favorite lunch spots in the area. I would definitely come back soon. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Customized bowl with fried egg - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Dropped by for lunch on Saturday. Clean, bright location with lots of space. I ordered a white rice bowl with tofu, thai basil sauce, onions, carrots, zucchini and kale. They cook the veggies just right, tender but still flavorful. At the server's suggestion, I added caramelized pineapple -- so good! My only complaint was the small water glass (hey, you get what you pay for). My thai basil bowl was spicy, and I had to keep walking back to the counter. As a tourist, I needed a break from Chicago's deep-dish pizza and Italian beef. Brightwok was a great, healthy choice. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - White rice bowl with tofu, thai basil sauce, onions, carrots, zucchini and kale. Definitely add the pineapple! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Nice concept. Build your own bowl for about $10 and it's ready in about 5 minutes. Choose your own sauces as well as 4 veggies to put in it. Taste is ok, nothing extraordinary but about what you expect for stir fry. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ive been a fan of brightwok for some time now. They are really good at bringing simple and healthy food options to the fast food arena. They have a ton of a vegetarian options, And unlike their competitors chipotle and Roti, their food comes out hot every time. They can be a little heavy in the sauce- so just let them know your preference before hand. I recommend this place to stir fry lovers who are on the go. If you are visiting this particular location during the lunch hour on Adams make sure you plan your time wisely there's usually a long line! read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Menu options! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Popped in while touring the Millenium Park area. I love the concept of choosing your own ingredients for a stir fry over your choice of rice / noodles. The selection of sauces was really great. Gone are the greasy sauces of your typical Asian fast-food joint that left you feeling bloated! I also really enjoyed their iced tea. It had simple flavours that just work well together. On a side note, the food here is basically how I eat at home--stir fry an assortment of vegetables, serve it over a carb, then add some sriracha for seasoning (although they do have more sauces). I imagine that's the case for a lot of college students. It feels a little silly to me to be paying extra to eat home cooking, but then again it's nice to have a healthier option when you're out exploring Chicago. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Since I'm going to be working downtown for a few weeks, I thought that I should take advantage of the plentiful restaurants around here for lunch time. I came across this place on Yelp as it had good reviews and I was searching for Asian food. Upon walking in, the interior is definitely unique with a modern atmosphere to it. The lighting, decor, and even menus are very simple, yet elegant. As far as ordering, it's much like the chipotle style where you customize your order as you move down the line. You get to customize by choosing your own sauce, base, protein, four veggies, and can eve customize it with extras like an egg. They stir fry it for you and then call your number once it's done. I ordered a chicken brown rice bowl with the coconut curry sauce. It is absolutely delicious! Flavors are so rich and the amount you get for ~$10 is worth it. In addition to their food, the employees were also very friendly and helpful, especially since it was my first time. They appear to be delighted to help you and get your food done rather quickly. Definitely will be coming back! read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had a great dinner here while visiting Chicago! I really like the concept and the fact that all ingredients were freshly tossed in the wok before being served. I enjoyed a bowl with rice noodles, chicken, peppers, broccoli, and edamame. As others have recommended, the crispy fried egg is key! I don't even like eggs that much, but I thought it really added to the dish. There are a few reviews that mention that the sauces are bland. I ordered the green curry jalapeno, which was listed as "limited time only". It definitely was not bland! Perfect amount of spice for those who like spice. Hopefully they keep it around! My only criticism would be that some of the vegetable pieces were kind of large and hard to eat. At the same time, this made them much easier to pick up with my chopsticks than the edamame, so there are pros and cons :) read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My family recently went to Chicago for a four day trip and I'm going to make this review's summary be really really easy: Brightwok Kitchen was the best meal we had. The end, thanks, see ya next time. ...Ok fine I'll elaborate more. The big draw we had to Brightwok Kitchen was that (1) it's a fast casual place like Chipotle so you can pick what's in your bowl. But more importantly to us, (2) it's all gluten + dairy + peanut free, which means not only can we ensure my brother doesn't go to a hospital, it means we can know for sure he won't. The fact they can do that and still have flavorful meals is incredibly impressive. Another big draw is that they give you veggies and they don't stop. The portion size was ridiculously large in the best healthy way possible. You can tell everyone there clearly cared about the food, preparing it well, and treating you well. Nobody was there to phone it in from home, which was impressive since it was Labor Day -- if there was a day to phone it in, it'd be Labor Day! I've been to plenty of Build your Own bowl type places but I'll be honest, it's going to be a large bright hole in my heart, now that I'm back in NJ and there's no Brightwok near us. Come back in our lives please, we could use more places like you in the Philadelphia area. Until then, I'll take my sadness for some common good, they're an automatic five star winner. read more

Came here a little after lunch time and it was still pretty busy. I found this place through Yelp while my friends and I were looking for a place to eat; it was all of our first times here. The inside is a nice size and it's definitely clean and bright. I got the teriyaki sauce with brown rice, chicken, edamame, broccoli, and bean sprouts. The food was ready within 10 minutes after you pay. The food was tasty, but personally, there was too much sauce in my food. Other than that, it's a lot of food and it's worth what you pay for. My friends and I couldn't even finish our bowls because we got full before we could. Also, I really liked their straws. They are biodegradable, but what I liked about them was that they were surprisingly stronger than other straws. read more

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I was greeted with the best form anxiety when I stepped up to the counter to order. Step one of this Asian version of Chipotle was sauce selection, and I was faced with terrible indecision. Each of the many that they offer sounded so delicious! So in a brash decision, I went with the Teryaki. Did not disappoint, but next time I'd like to be more adventurous. They have a wide array of veggie, grain, and meat choices to compliment their sauces, and even provide the option to add a fried egg if you're feeling crazy. A quick toss in the wok, and you're in stir-fry heaven. Decor is also a 10. Prayers to whoever painstakingly stuck all of those chopsticks in the wall for our visual pleasure. You work has not gone unnoticed. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I ordered about 7 bowls and sides for my office. There was an issue with my food arriving late. I just wanted to say thank you to Jermey who was in contact the whole time calling to make sure everything was good. Some of our order was missing and he went above and beyond and got us our meals again plus what we were missing. We really appreciate how committed they are to making this a good experience. Plus everyone loved the food. It was delicious! 5 stars for the taste and overall customer service! We will definitely order again! Thank you!!!! read more

This place is awesome! Love the concept of fast casual Asian stir fry. It reminds me of the quick version of a bd Mongolian Grill. The space is very bright and clean. There's also a good amount of seating. I walked to the back to get in line and then realized I had no clue what to get. The people that work here are nice and walked me through how to create my own bowl. All of the sauces sounded amazing, and I went with the limited time jalapeño green curry! You can choose rice, rice noodles, or salad as the base, protein, and then a choice of 4 veggie items. I went with rice noodles, chicken, and broccoli, peppers, carrots, and edamame. The price was a little over $11 which I thought was kinda pricey but the portion size was enough for me to take home leftovers! I'll definitely come back to check out those other sauces in my upcoming bowls! read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Rice noodle bowl with the jalapeño green curry sauce - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Bright Wok is excellent offering fresh, consistently great food.

Simple, efficient, not too expensive, and fairly well done! This is basically one of those places where you can customize your own rice or noodle bowl with your choice of sauce, meat and veggies. I've actually had pretty bad experiences with places like this, but Brightwok pulls it off pretty well. Some of the sauces are somewhat weak and get somewhat lost, but the vegetables are fresh, the meat choices are great and I like how you can add an egg. Also, this place is very conveniently located downtown and pretty good for a fast pre-theater meal. read more

I can't believe it's taken me this long to give this place a shoutout! Bottom line: I'm a big fan, and if you like healthy, filling food with awesome flavors, you will be too. Brightwok is like many other places in that it offers the loop lunch crowd a choose-your-own-adventure experience, with stir fry as the star menu item. You can go with a base of white or brown rice, rice, noodles, or salad. You then pick a protein (chicken, steak, tofu, etc.), 4 veggies, and a sauce. The sauces are really where brightwok shines. Each of them are made in-house, and there are lots of different options. You can go light with teriyaki or Thai basil, or creamy with cashew or tahini ginger, or bold with one of their curries. You can also adjust the level of spice, from mild for wimps like me to extra hot. And don't forget to get a fried egg on top if you really want to treat yourself. If you don't know where to start, my usual is noodles+tofu+kale+broccoli+onion+zucchini+Thai cashew curry. Or you can go with one of their suggested combos, which are listed on a board above the cash register. It's definitely a more expensive lunch (about $11) but I think it's worth it. Plus, I am all for supporting a small, local business. A few notes: they're cashless, so bring a card. And the line can take a bit because it's all made to order (duh), so I wouldn't stop in if you're in a huge rush. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Decided to try the chili coconut curry on my last visit. It was good, but nothing tops the Thai cashew curry in my opinion! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I ate at Brightwok Kitchen before seeing Hamilton at the nearby PrivateBank Theatre! The aesthetic is modern and clean. The menu highlights the sources/geographic origins of the food, which I appreciate. The concept is simple - pick a sauce, rice or noodles, protein (meat or tofu), four veggies, and add-ons to be stir fried together into a bowl. There are a few suggested combos also. I ordered a bowl with Thai basil sauce, white rice, chicken, carrots, broccoli, kale, & peppers, with medium spiciness. The meal was simple and delicious. It was a great value. If I were to do it again, I would get a crispy fried egg on top :). I also ordered a cup of ginger turmeric hot tea to go with my meal. I would highly recommend Brightwok to those looking for a fast casual lunch or dinner. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Cute presentation of ginger turmeric tea - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place is the best for fresh, delicious and generally healthy food in the loop (although I think they may have other locations now too). I really never have been disappointed in any option, whether it be the fresh veggies over greens or one of the proteins over rice or noodles. My favorite sauce is the jalapeño curry! read more

Excellent food and excellent service. Ive been coming here for years and it's great to have a place with healthy food but also tastes great.

I was diagnosed with celiac in the late 1990's, and since then, grabbing lunch at a local chicago restaurant has been an ordeal. And then came Brightwok. I can order anything and everything. And I have. YUM! A real Chicago treasure. read more

Just tried Brightwok yesterday for a lunch meeting and enjoyed it as a healthy, alternative to most of the Asian or stir fry venues in the Loop. The space is open and bright, and it fills up quickly around noon. The process is pretty straight forward - you "build your own bowl" through a mix of veggies, sauce, carbs base, and protein. I tried the chili coconut curry (hot), rice noodles, chicken, and 4 veggies: onions, peppers, sprouts, and zucchini/squash. I enjoyed the taste and felt healthy (not comatose) after finishing my lunch. With a water cup, it was a good, guilt-free lunch choice. Looking forward to stopping by again when in the mood for a casual stir-fry spot. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Coconut Chilli Curry, Chicken, Rice Noodles - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This Chicago original is among the best Gluten free and delicious dinner spots all at once. Founder / Operator Jeremy has crafted such a rich menu, with amazing custom sauces and the best fresh veggies. You can customize your bowl or go with their recipes, my fave is the Crunchy Crave! And the sweet potato fritter beats the best sides out there. As the logo says, The Future is Bright!! read more

Brightwok Kitchen - The sign of the greatest bowls!! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I enjoy Brightwok for a healthy stirfy alternative to the bbq and burgers in this area. I've hit it up a few times with co-workers, my son, and everyone seems to enjoy it. Order your stir fry type of sauce (I like Chili Coconut Curr), add your protein (I get the tofu), then add up to 4 vegetables, and any premium add ons. Pay, step aside and await your creation to be freshly made in a few minutes! There's Sriracha and a water station by the condiment stand. There's lots of seating here, but it can get busy during the lunch rush. Staff are friendly, and I've always enjoyed my visits and food. read more

Great service, good value, and healthy eats! This is a great place to go if you're by yourself or with the family. I appreciate the fact that they have a dairy free menu and have a great mission statement. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I loved how customizable their bowls are! The fact that it is gluten free makes it even better. The ingredients are fresh and cooked in the wok to order which I absolutely love. So awesome to find a stir fry place like this! read more

Wow! I'm celiac so I eat gluten free and dairy free. This place went above and beyond my expectations. Everything was gluten free and dairy free but had so much flavor! They had grass-fed steak which is a million times healthier than conventional beef. This restaurant was better than all the high end restaurants I went to during my whole trip to Chicago. I'm about to go pick up a bowl to eat on my way to the airport! read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Build my own bowl. Rice noodles, grass fed steak, veggies, curry sauce. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had an A La Card coupon for Brightwork, so I walked over during my lunch break today to try it. The staff were friendly and the service was fairly quick. Upon the recommendation from a staff member, I tried the "Fall in Love" bowl. It's packed with rice, chicken and veggies (bell peppers, squash, zucchini) and comes with a "sweet potato fritter." Delicious stir fry! It had a lot of flavor and a hint of heat (they have hot sauce if you want to up the heat)! I also added the cashew cake for a little dessert, which was pretty good. With the coupon, my lunch was around 8 bucks (would have been about 14 without the coupon). Not the cheapest lunch in the Loop, but I would come back again! read more

I was craving for some stir fry when I was visiting Chicago! You can build your own stir fry or salad here. First you choose your protein (chicken, beef, tofu, or just extra veggies) then you can choose your carbs (white rice, brown rice, or rice noodles). Then you choose your sauce! (Thai basil, creamy cashew, chili coconut curry, Adam st, or light lemon glaze). Then you can choose up to 4 veggies. After that you wait for the magic happens! I requested the Thai basil and it was so good! They cook it pretty fast. The food is very flavorful. I love how they load it up with veggies! I definitely recommend this to those who crave for Chinese stir fry but are looking a healthier option! This is not greasy at all! read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing. I'm a vegan and was traveling to Chicago for business. I ended up needing to grab something later in the night and was limited in options. This was close enough to my hotel to grab a quick something around 8pm. The tofu bowl with curry sauce was DELICIOUS. Not greasy, quickly made, and with a great flavor. There were wonderful, friendly staff and the place was sparkling clean. I will be returning here every time I go to Chicago. YUM! read more

Brightwok Kitchen - The staff at Brightwok Kitchen are wonderful! Friendly, courteous, and helpful. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I stopped in today for lunch pick-up at 11:50. The line was quite long when I joined it, almost out the door. It took about 10 minutes for me to reach the order point, I chose rice noodles with chicken as my protein and thai chili coconut as my sauce. You also get 4 veggies so I went with kale, onion, pepper, and broccoli. They make the food here to order which is quite impressive. My total was $9.60 which I consider reasonable for a healthier weekday lunch in the loop. The food was good- not fantastic like I'd hoped, but good. I was a little mislead by the sauce choice I think- by the read and sound of it I expected a red Thai curry-esque sauce and what I received was that icky yellow Indian curry flavor that I do not like. Personal preference but I wish the sauce stated something like "Indian curry flavors" because I would have steered clear. Big difference between Thai curry and Indian curry. Was this an error perhaps? It took about 20 minutes from line to out the door which is a little longer than I would normally be willing to wait, but today I wasn't in a hurry. I'm glad I stopped in, it's a great place to go for lunch. Next time I'll try the Thai basil instead. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Curry with chicken and rice noodles - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Chipotle meets Big Bowl. Customizable, trendy, inviting and quick. With a line that reached the back of the restaurant, I was in and out within ten minutes. The food is surprisingly fresh, not heavy and I doesn't feel like you're eating some hidden calorie laden meal (such as a Chipo burrito bowl). The space itself is large and airy with plenty of seating. A must try! read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Chicken rice bowl with coconut chili curry sauce, carrots, peppers, squash and sprouts. - 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

I have to order in food A LOT because I love working so much I just never leave.... Anyway, suggested to me by a friend I ordered Brightwok for myself and my co-workers, WE ALL LOVED IT. Now everyone thinks I'm good at choosing dinner places or something. Anyway a few tried the teriyaki and I myself got the chili coconut curry with added spice. The spice was perfect (I like spicy) and my coworkers were happy as well. We all added a fried egg and that was no mistake, fantastic! And there was just the right amount of rice, it was too much or too little. We got the food delivered by Doordash, which forget the tea I ordered. I was kind of irritated but almost didn't do anything because it was that expensive, however I chose to call Brightwok and ask who I should be contacting about the issue and they were extremely kind and friendly and offered me either a free meal or to refund my money. I chose the free meal because I could eat this ish everyday! Keep doing what you do Brightwok, two thumbs up!! read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Chicken stir fry with fried egg and chili coconut curry sauce... I am happy - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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

This is the Chipotle for Asian food. Great taste, friendly customer service and great portion. Their teas are also clean and pure (no sure, no additions). I had the Citrus Ginger Green tea, very tasty! Try it out! read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Thai Basil with hard fried egg! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I don't know why, but this place is kind of reminiscent of Ikea's food court, with its bright lights, minus the godawful meatballs. Don't get me wrong, this is much, much better than an Ikea food court. For the price, it's on par with all the other "quick weekday lunch" places in the loop. The veggies are plentiful, the sauces are varied, and the lines move quickly. So why the 4 stars instead of the 5? I felt underwhelmed after - maybe it's the fact that it's gluten free, but I just didn't find myself wanting to go back anytime soon. Would I go back? sure. But would I crave this place on a regular basis? probably not. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Rice noodles with miso - 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