On a hot sunny day, we were craving some Korean shaved ice (bingsoo). We decided to stop by Java & Mug cafe after a quick google search of their menu. I was shocked to see how empty the cafe was, especially on a hot day. The quality of the bingsoo was great and really hit the spot! We ordered the injeolmi and strawberry flavors and both were very tasty! I would recommend this cafe for those looking for authentic Korean shaved ice around Chicago. read more

Java & Mug Cafe - Strawberry bingsoo, injeolmi bingsoo - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went solely for their fruit and red bean shaved ice. The ice could've been finer (I had to chew on some larger shards of ice which wasn't pleasant), but otherwise we enjoyed it, and I was very happy to see that it had all the makings of an old school patbingsoo with both fruit and red bean, as well as mochi and ice cream, which is rare nowadays. It was pricey but enough for 2 people to share. Metered parking on a weekend evening was easy. My only complaint is that it had a strange, unpleasant smell inside (we were there in the evening during the weekend of April 25th). Also, when I came a few years ago, it had a really cozy, welcoming vibe packed with comfy couches. Now, it just looks like basic tables and plastic chairs, lacking comfort, character, and charm. I'm hoping to return to try the sweet potato latte and the other shaved ices, but I hope they do something about the smell and make the space feel more cozy and inviting. read more

Java & Mug Cafe - Fruit and red bean shaved ice (patbingsoo) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Super cute Korean-inspired cafe! The sweets were delicious and they had a wide variety of coffee and teas. The lychee chamomile was an interesting combination that turned out quite yummy! The banana milk lattes were VERY banana flavored, but still good! The cashier was very helpful with organizing all of our orders on this cute tray, and offered help with item selection since it was our first time! read more

Java & Mug Cafe - Fruit Bingsoo, Berries & Crème Croffle, banana latte, and lychee chamomile tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's been a while since I've been here but it's been a favorite for so many years. Great owners with a perfect spot to hang out with friends or study. They also have great smoothies, tea, and food options. Looks like there's been some updates and that's so awesome! Love to see them growing! The owners are so nice. read more

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To say I love this place is an understatement. I would come here once in a while to grab snowflake bingsu which is the best in the city. The texture is perfectly fluffy and there are no chunks of ice by the end I finish. I've tried black sesame, corn, and injeolmi, and for me corn is the best with a balanced salty and sweet flavor. read more

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Visited 11/8/25 at 8pm and had a wonderful experience. Emily was SO helpful in making a choice at what to try! My partner and I have varying palates, she does not prefer sweet drinks, whereas I enjoy them. Emily helped us pick us a sweet potato latte (silky, buttery, subtle sweetness) and the dalgona latte (traditional coffee flavor, sweet but not overly, served iced) and both were perfect! We capped the perfect drink selection with a Nutella croffle with strawberries. The croffle (crispy waffle?) had a crunchy exterior and chewy interior, with a subtle nutty flavor. The consistency felt a little like a pastry, or a folded dough. Such a delightful experience that was highlighted with expert service. read more

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Always so nice! Food and service is great and super friendly! Quiet place to study and work to, and just in general a nice place to go with friends or alone. read more

A very cute little cafe with great desserts and bubble teas. There are comfy couches to hang out on and excellent pastries and just a good vibe. read more

We absolutely love this place! It's a great hang out for studying or spending time with friends. Hands-down, they make the best black sesame latte - I won't go any place else. A large variety of unique beverages and authentic Bing Soo as well as others. Service is the best!! Staff is attentive to details in everything they make. Wish they were open on Sundays. read more

I went to the Java and Mug coffee shop, and I must state that my experience there was nothing short of wonderful! Upon entering the shop, I encountered a staff that could not have been more congenial and welcoming. They made me feel as though I had been a regular customer forever! I was very much in the mood for some Korean coffee so I ordered up a cup of their very own. I have had my share of Korean coffee, and I can say, without hesitation, that the cup I had at Java and Mug ranks among the best I've ever tasted! The quiet little coffee shop is extremely clean so much so that I almost didn't want to leave. The restroom was as spotless as the coffee shop itself, and the seating was comfortably posh. The ambiance could only be described as tranquil, with an array of what seemed to be the perfectly calibrated calming sounds that one hears in a coffee shop. If not for the cup of java in front of me, I could have lulled away the afternoon in this place, which I wholeheartedly recommend as an excellent stop. read more

Java & Mug Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Are you craving something sweet, crunchy, chewy with layers of milky soft snow? Do you also enjoy corn and condensed milk? Try the Corn Snowflake Bingsoo. It is delicious!!! read more

Java & Mug Cafe - Corn Snowflake Bingsoo - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I went around 3 pm on a Saturday and was surprised to see it empty. I don't remember exactly what this spot was before, but they've remodeled it, and it looks really nice inside. I wish there was a more complete menu available. I had a hard time finding their menu but ultimately saw they had passion fruit ade which I found on Google pics. My husband was craving an affogato, and they have one on the menu. He says he doesn't think it was made with espresso, but he was satisfied nonetheless. The passion fruit ade is made with a puree and topped with sparkling water. It was really tasty and refreshing! My kid tried their cookies & cream milkshake, and that was also good. read more

Java & Mug Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Shaved deserts and coffee. What else can I say? Very nice quality and family type environment tho you can work or just chill with friends. Our favorite location for Asian-styled deserts in the city. We wish there were more. Enjoy read more

My go to study spot! They have delicious matcha drinks and the croffle here is to die for. Also appreciate how much space they have for studying and outlets are available everywhere to plug in computers read more

Food: I've had bubble tea from this place for years and I love it! My whole family loves this place for bubble tea. I've tried panini's from here and they're pretty good as well! They make everything fresh! Service: The staff were nice and they started on the orders as soon as they were paid. So it wasn't too much of a wait. Ambience: The ambience of this place is cozy. It's a small cafe but it has a cozy vibe that gets all of the high schoolers and college students to come here to get work done. Overall: The place and food is great if you're ever around the neighborhood. read more

Got the citron ade and nutella croffle(mix of a croissant and waffle), 5 stars. Service was also very good. It was kind of pricey at 9 dollars for a croffle and 6 bux for a drink but once in a while doesn't break the bank. read more

Java & Mug Cafe - Croffle nutella - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a very cozy cafe that is great for hanging out or studying. They have comfy couches, free wifi, calming music, and they are open late. Although, there isn't a dedicated parking lot, just street parking. The taro smoothie was 4/5. It was made from powder and tasted a bit powdery, but the boba was chewy and bouncy. The taro latte was a 4.5/5. The latte art was really cute, and the taro flavor tasted more rich in latte form than in the smoothie. read more

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Although they market themselves as a coffee shop, Java & Mug is best known for their bingsoo desert. If you've never had it, you should do yourself a favor and grab the first bus to Albany Park, because this is some of the best shaved ice I've ever had. It comes in a lot of varieties, it we got the red bean bingsoo and the fruit bingsoo. Both are to die for. That said, the aesthetic is pretty sterile. There's tons of seeting, and they never tell you to leave, so if you just need a place to sit, this is perfect. If you're looking for a cozy environment for a date or just to hang out, I'd recommend grabbing your desert to go read more

Java & Mug Cafe - Seating area - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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They had new ownership and change up the interior which makes it look more minimalistic and modern at the same time. They also changed up their menu which was nice to try out. Their croffle is amazing and their passion fruit ade is so refreshing. Such a nice place to chill with friends, play games, or even to come here and study! The service was amazing as well! read more

Java & Mug Cafe - a slice of cake and a piece of pie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Was looking for boba in the area after eating lunch in the area, and this place popped up on Yelp. We walked over here and the place had a decent amount of people here. There's ample amount of sitting and it feels very very cozy with piano cover music and sofas. It's basically an Asian cafe like the ones I'm used to in LA. If you're looking for a place to study or get together with some friends, this is a perfect spot. I ordered the Yulmu-cha (Yoolmoo) smoothie which was delicioussssss. I'll for sure come back here if I find myself in North Park! read more

First of all, the cafe interior is so cute and cozy. It's really clean and spacious as well. Also, the cafe has several (10+) board games so it felt like a really nice hangout area!! Secondly, the service was good. The wait time was not long at all. The employee was really nice and answered all my questions. Lastly, food was AMAZING! I especially loved sesame bingsoo and cheese pizza croffle!!! For drinks, I loved lychee-chamomile tea and grapefruit sparkling ade! They were really refreshing. read more

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I love their croffles, it's a bit pricey imo but they are very tasty. I like their injeolmi and fresh cream fruit croffle, very light and tasty. I like their Korean inspired coffee drinks especially the iced corn cream latte! Next time I'll try the mugwort latte, dalgona and yoolmoo coffee! read more

This place went through a crazy face-lift and it's amazing. The vibe is so nice for either studying or coming and having good conversations or fun. The desserts are so interesting. I've tried almost everything here because they have such a unique taste and its so good. Recommend the croffle or the snow bingsooooo. I had so many questions and the workers and managers were so kind and answered any questions I had. The service was great and can get a bit busy. Would definitely go back again read more

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A calm space for great food. Had a croffle and a slice of pie. Delicious. Recommended for late lunch or hanging out with treats!

The cutest little shop just 6 minutes from the hospital! It's super cozy, has lots of places to curl up and relax with a book or catch up on work (there's free wifi!). The owner is super friendly and helpful. I came twice in 2 days because it was such a welcoming atmosphere. I got the spicy raymun with egg, the turkey panini, the mango blended bubble tea, and the pineapple blended bubble tea (with homemade boba, which was perfect). I'm visiting Chicago and I'm sad this place isn't in my hometown. Everything about it is wonderful, you won't be disappointed. read more

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This place used to be one of my favorite places ever, best panini, best waffles, bingsoo, everything was amazing Now idk if they sold it to someone else but they have a new menu and it's horrible no panini no waffles, idk about the bingsoo but they have new menu items its a mini waffle thats so small and nothing compared to what it was. noone comes here like they used to and i will never come back unless it goes back to what it was before, i'll just be going to outdoor cafe next door. :( read more

This cafe has been recently remodeled with all new furniture and I love the warm, modern and clean atmosphere here so much! So much better than before. The menu has been also completely upgraded and has many unique flavors. I personally can't get enough of their croffles, matcha and black sesame are my favorites. The croffles are buttery and crispy, topping on top is so nutty and creamy, but not overly sweet and go perfectly with coffee. We also got to try a piece of green tea cheesecake, again so delicious! Can't wait to try other things on the menu! Great service too. read more

Java & Mug Cafe - Americano, latte, matcha croffle, black sesame croffle - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My girlfriend and I were craving authentic Korean dessert and this place did not disappoint! We ordered the 'injeolmi croffle' and mango smoothie which had real bits of mango, and both were timely prepped and delicious. The staff was super friendly, and the cafe itself had a very cozy vibe. Overall was really pleased with our experience here. read more

Java & Mug Cafe - Injeolmi Croffle and Mango Smoothie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Arrived on a late Wednesday night. Easy street parking and only a few patrons. The place is very cozy and feels clean. There are multiple options for how you want to enjoy your time (lounging on a couch, sitting at table near walls and windows, or playing some games in a small group). The food menu is very minimal with most baked goods being wrapped from other sources and unappetizing. I ordered the Fruit Bingsoo and asked for hot water but they said they didn't do "that" so ordered a $4 tea I didn't end up drinking cause I'm breastfeeding and don't want caffeine. (Also didn't want any flavored tea like chamomile.) The bowl came with a spoonful of diced kiwi, watermelon, banana... and I've already forgotten what else. I'm not a red bean fan so I wouldn't order this dessert again but the shaved ice was a refreshing combo with the unmemorable fruit... the scoop of strawberry ice cream was pretty tasteless so didn't do much for me. The worker ended up serving my tea with a small container of hot water... which annoyed me cause that container was all I wanted to begin with. I would have rather had the teabag separate and save it for later etc. but some places are pretty stingy when it comes to hot water for some reason. Thought the worker could have been friendlier overall but the vibe of the place is welcoming and if I need a spot to relax and wanted tea, I would probably venture back. read more

Java & Mug Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Been going here since I moved to Chicago and even when I move away I come back for the chill Vibe and delicious pat bing soo. For me it's a trip down memory lane and just a great place to chill and check emails. Also to have some Korean food near by. read more

I ordered the mocha, and it was fantastic! The barista was friendly and took the time to explain a few other drinks. It's a clean, cozy spot, perfect for working or studying. read more

Java & Mug Cafe - Mocha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Was very yummy and the portion sizes were fair! The waffle was still warm but crispy when we first got it. Service was good. The place is comfy and cozy vibe with big couches to lay back on and coffees tables with a variety of board games. There is also free wifi to do work here if needed! read more

Java & Mug Cafe - deluxe Waffle,m - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Found a new go to place for bingsoo! So much better than other korean cafes in Glenview. It's cheaper and more authentic! They use shaved ice and fresh fruit (probably drenched in sugar to make it sweet). The portion is large enough to share with 3-4 people as a dessert. They even give you small bowls for sharing, without you having to ask. The Oreo milk shake is soooooooo good!!! read more

Java & Mug Cafe - Fruit bingsoo August 2018 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The shaved ice here is so good! I definitely recommend it. This place is very homey and comfortable. Unfortunately during COVID you can't play the board games. read more

Java & Mug Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Idk if they they sold it but its not the same. This used to be my favorite Korean cafe in the city. I used to get the bingsoo and paninis all the time, used to be the best bingsoo in the entire city. they still have bingsoo but it's more expensive and not as fresh and not as expensive fruit. They removed the cozy atmosphere and replaced it with a cold interior. I tried the waffle and it's decent but it doesn't make up for everything they took away from the menu. read more

Stopped by today on a whim with my husband. Very cozy and spacious place with mixed seating arrangements of dining tables with chairs, coffee tables with couches, and some laptop areas. He had boba tea and I ordered the honey ginger tea. The honey ginger tea had slices of ginger in it and came with a small kettle pot of hot water, so you can warm up your tea as needed. It's a nice place to hang out with others or study/work on your own. They have board games but due to COVID, it's off limits. I noticed they wipe down the tables after each patron leaves so it looks like they are trying to keep their guests safe. read more

So happy I can have my Bing Soo fix here through out all the seasons! And their coffee tastes way better than Starbucks. Their caramel macchiato is like heaven without that burnt double roasted aftertaste that Starbucks has. Very homey feel inside and I see a lot of people working remotely there. It's a great coffee and dessert spot. Will be back to try their savory! read more

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This place is a great place to study and eat! The dude that works here makes the best ramyun and hot matcha lattes

ate the matcha croffle and it was FIRE! i didnt see many people in the cafe so i hope they dont run out if business but i will be back for MORE CROFFLE read more

Great little gem! Amazing service and sweet space for coffee tea and sweets. Pre-pandemic they had a variety of board games available. Interior is home-ey and coffees are adorable. read more

Java & Mug Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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