Underwhelmed with the boba here, but I believe as a chain, their actual tea is decent…read more Unfortunately I wanted boba at night and wanted to avoid caffeine, so went with a simple fresh milk. At another location, outside of Chicago, I had tea that was solid but the boba was still mediocre. Not sure if it's the franchisees or the actual chain, but the toppings may not be freshly rotated. Double Purple Bubble Fresh Milk - ube lining, ube grounding, milk, and boba. Combo sounds pretty great, but felt like execution was off. Ube lining was decent and smooth, just took some effort to scrape. However I expected the ube at the bottom of the cup to be mashed similarly and it was not. Boba was chewy on the outside but ripped apart easily in the center, almost firm.

Nice Tsaocaa that also has a BBQ Chicken in it, they have great coconut water beverages combined…read morewith mango and matcha - great service )they have me both a mango and matcha when they mixed it up) and ambiance inside is cozy and cool. Check it out in Chicago's Chinatown!

If you're a mango lover, this is the place for you! Everything is fresh, packed with real mango,…read moreand not overly sweet. We tried the Mango Mille Crepe Cake and the Special Mango Juice Sago & Pomelo with Mango Ice Cream. The crepe cake came with a generous serving of fresh mango on the side, and the sago dessert was loaded with mango juice, pomelo, and topped with a scoop of mango ice cream. Both were refreshing and perfect for a hot day. Definitely worth stopping by if you're in Chinatown and craving a fruity dessert. I'll definitely be back to try more!

Nice spot for a sweet treat!!…read more This place is upstairs just FYI if you are looking for it. I LOVE mango sticky rice, but not ice cream, so I asked them to make A12 with no ice cream. I found it a little odd they don't offer just a basic mango sticky rice o the menu, but I was glad they were willing to modify for me. It was pretty busy in there but I was able to get a table and got my order within just a few minutes. I would definitely be back if I'm in the area again.

My family came to Chicago on vacation and stopped by here for a quick treat. So worth it!read more

If you're from Chicago, or have lived here for any length of time, you should know about Mario's…read moreItalian Ice. It's one of those summertime destinations that just feels like part of the city. Around since 1954, Mario's has been conveniently cooling down overheated Chicagoans for a very long time. The flavors are incredible, but part of the experience is the camaraderie that comes from standing around comparing what flavors and combinations everyone decided to get. Somehow, the conversation always turns into who made the better choice. As a born and bred Chicagoan, I'm glad I've had the chance to enjoy my fair share of combinations over the years. It's simple, refreshing, and one of those places that reminds you why Chicago summers are so special. If you've never had the pleasure, you're truly missing out on one of Chicago's hidden gems. I wish I could tell you which flavor is the best, but honestly, you'd probably have an easier time winning the lottery.

Gaijin may be a small restaurant, but it makes a big impression the second you walk in. The dining…read moreroom isn't huge, but it has this lively energy that makes it feel exciting instead of crowded. I even was able to watch the chefs cooking just a few feet away. I could hear the sizzling from the grill, smell the food cooking, and by that point I was more than ready to eat. Our server was really nice and gave us a bunch of recommendations. Everything sounded good, but I ended up going with the Pork Belly Yakisoba. This dish was packed with flavor. The noodles had that smoky, slightly charred taste, and they were coated in just enough sauce to make every bite rich. The sauce brought a nice balance of savory, a little sweetness, and plenty of umami that soaked into the noodles. The pork belly was easily the best part. It was incredibly tender and juicy, with just enough fat that it practically melted in your mouth. Every piece had those caramelized edges that added even more flavor. Then you get the crunch from the cabbage and bean sprouts, the freshness from the scallions, and the little nutty flavor from the sesame that tied everything together. Hahaha I'd definitely come back. This is one of those dishes that sticked with me long after I left.

There are few places in general across the US that serve up okonomiyaki, so I was thrilled to find…read morethis spot near my office. Ultimately, the food was just ok. I got the pork okonomiyaki lunch set and added a fried egg to it. I like that the table has a built in grill to keep it warm (I'm a slow eater, so this is extra beneficial for me). The bacon was quite salty, compounded by the okonomi sauce. Hoping the kombu vegetables would offset this, I mixed them into each bite to no avail. The pandan coconut mochi donut holes I chose were probably the highlight. They were crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and there was ample sauce for dipping. I think some people would find the service top notch here--constantly checking in on me and keeping water refilled. I guess that came with a cost: 3% service charge automatically applied, and the server proactively brought over a digital payment system, so the 18% tip I selected calculated off the total leading to what was essentially a tip of 23%.

Delicious. The kind of place where there's always a kid doing homework or playing with legos at one…read moreof the tables in the back. Built on consistency and neighborhood loyalty. Basically two places in one: * Boba Tea - Grab a drink and walk the park across the street. Fantastic boba texture and flavor. * Restaurant - Focus on the Popcorn Chicken and the Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup A easy place to make a regular haunt.

The food here is always consistent and you know what to expect. The purple rice roll is fresh,…read moreflavorful, and the ingredients insides come together perfectly. They also have a parking lot, but finding an open spot can be a bit challenging. The service is usually pretty quick even for togo orders.

The short of it: great place to cool down from the sun, wire variety of tasty beverages for…read moreeveryone and a good variety of food. I had the brown sugar boba milk tea (lowered the sweet) - so refreshing on a super hot day! The pork bun was melt-in-your-mouth perfect. Had to remote work for an hour or so, and the wifi was solid. Every seat has an electrical outlet and there's plenty of seating inside. There's even a kids table with coloring books.

great spot to work/study at!…read more staff was nice, seating is really nice with ample outlets around - big windows for light, drinks were yummers & japanese dishes & baked goods were such nice to have for the long days!

A typical over priced business in a touristy area that lacks customer service…read more It was an oddly warm day so we needed something to drink. Smoothies? Boba tea? Sound awesome. But the man at the cashier was just rushing us to order, it's like "Next! Next!" with no greeting or smile, as if he just wanted to get it over with. The smoothie I ordered was "pina colada" which cost me $10 with tax. It was okay, but I didn't see much value in it.

Tried the macaroons at Snow Dragon and was pleasantly surprised. The flavors were a lot more…read moreintense than you usually find in store bought ones. Really liked the milk and cookies, cheesecake, and red velvet. Would have liked some suggestions from the staff, but they seemed nice and attentive. The store also looked nice and bright. It was a little pricy for what you get, but if you are looking for a good occasional macaroon fix this place hits the spot.

After getting back from a trip to Hawaii where I discovering Hawaiian shave ice I was crazing more…read more Ohana was exactly what I wanted. It was so good and our server was so nice and helpful in creating the perfect flavor combo. Will be back!

Love. Love. Loved! Tried it this week as the hot temps rolled in. Great service and I loved the…read morevariety of flavors among ice cream, shaved ice and sherbets. Quaint location in Beverly, family owned I believe. There are a handful of tables if you opt to sit down and enjoy. It's also really cool to take, walk the neighborhood or grab a bench outside. My kiddo opted for ice cream. Playdough flavor was on a cone. You can opt for waffle, sugar or regular cones in one of 4 colors. I got a regular size of shaved ice: cherry, guava and passion fruit. Super tasty and had me feeling like I was transported on quick island vacay. Summer is only beginning, so we will definitely be back.