holy shit this was SO GOOD. we got chocolate chip walnut, dark chocolate peanut butter, and twice…read morechocolate chip. we got all of them freshly baked piping hot at 10:45pm 15 min before closing they also had a few options left if you don't want to wait for them fresh. the overall store was also super cute, lots of decor and history and merch! CHOCOLATE CHIP WALNUT SO GOOD BEST CHOC CHIP COOKIE???? crispy outside melt chocolate inside so yums dark chocolate peanut butter v rich, same crispy outside gooey inside. p good but kinda too sweet after a few bites twice chocolate chip has hella chocolate chips and also dark chocolate. tasted diff then the og walnut one i think too much chocolate takes away the cookie flavor idk... yummy but not as good as walnut I WOULD GO BACK JUST FOR THE CHOCOLATE CHIP WALNUT AGAIN OMG

--Location/Parking-- Located in the heart of River North…read more River North parking is the usual paid parking lot. Walking of Merchandise Mart and is a couple of blocks from the L and a quick left off the Main Street. --Ambience-- Small and efficient. When you enter you are right in the ordering line. There was a wait area to the right, but the majority of the store is set for baking. Outside was the seating area which had two tables and can hold about 8 people total. --Service/Staff-- Staff was awesome and friendly in getting me in and out the door quickly. I don't think I was in the store more than 5-7 minutes. --Products-- The black and white cookie drink hit the spot. I wish they came in a bigger cup. I really wanted 2nds. --Capacity-- Only two outdoor tables. Wait area on the inside to pick up your order. --Overall-- If you loved cookies this is your spot. Recommend if you have a sweet tooth.

This is my absolute most favorite bakery. So this is my ode to the bakery and Dom, who is a gem of…read morean employee there. I've been a customer of almost 10 years and have been obsessed since they first opened their doors at a different location. I literally live an hour away without traffic and even longer with traffic, but I make sure to stop by or send someone else to get it for me at least once a month or more. I love the amazing cakes that are so delicious and unique but on top of that, it is Asian owned, LGBTQ supporting, etc. A lot has changed since their little storefront with no seating. The bakery is now a full on cafe and I'm so happy to see how much they've grown and how successful they are. And while it is glorious, I will say I miss the sweet neighborhood charm and great customer service it used to have. Getting in touch with the bakery through phone or text can be tough and to be honest, sometimes one of the people working there is kind of...very mean. It had me questioning if I should keep coming back. I just love this bakery so much though and being raised by parents that had a small food business, I can't help but want to support. I had a particularly difficult last minute request for the bakery a few weeks ago and I was reminded why this place is so great. It had been YEARS since I made this specific request, which was an order for a slice of cake for every flavor and a cupcake for every flavor. This is a BIG and time consuming request, especially if it's last minute. Unfortunately I come to the city whenever the traffic isn't atrocious, so it's always last minute. Dom absolutely pulled through though. Even though there were other employees there (I saw two others but one disappeared and then another male was kind of walking around the cafe and such), Dom took this giant request and fulfilled it himself. The other gentleman (not the mean person previously mentioned) was actually who I made the request to, but he told Dom to do it. I was kind of confused why they didn't do it together but idk, maybe the other guy isn't allowed to handle food? Who knows. Regardless, this request obviously took a long time and the line was getting longer; people were getting a little restless but Dom stayed calm but was swift. I swear he was moving faster than most people in the industry could with a cake knife like that. He was not impatient or rude to me at all. He was just there to do his job as fast and well as possible. It's so rare to see that type of work ethic. He is also so obviously proud of the bakery and the food they serve which makes you feel good about being a patron there. So although I continue to have an unpleasant experience with one particular employee there, Dom keeps my love for this bakery alive. He reminds me of what this bakery was like when they first opened their doors. I hope Dom is cherished there and I bet he is considering his work ethic. I will continue to support this bakery and I recommend everyone else to support as well. It may not be that small little shop anymore but Dom is a reminder of the heart of the place.

I've been to Jennivee's twice now and I also got my college graduation cake from here last year for…read morepick-up! They did a beautiful job. For my graduation cake, I chose the tres leches and it was so creamy, moist, and delicious. I basically ate half of the cake by myself lol. This most recent time, I needed a snack and wanted something sweet. Everything here looks amazing and I'm sure tastes amazing too, so it's hard to choose. I chose to get the berry chantilly cake slice since it was a hot day, and it was the perfect refreshing treat! It was soooo good.

For a take out bakery style restaurant, this place has everything I need and it all tastes great…read more They open super early in the morning if you want that dim sum or bakery fix. There aren't tables so don't expect to sit down to enjoy your food. Service was friendly and prompt. I ordered sui mai, beef rice rolls, lotus leaf rice, zhongzi, and a pineapple bbq pork bun. Everything, and I mean everything, was delicious. This will be my new take out dim sum and bakery spot in Chicago now. Give it a shot, you won't regret it.

This is the best bakery in Southside Chinatown, without a doubt, the line just never stops like…read morethey're handing free food but they're not. Although the prices are very reasonable, you could come here everyday...BTW, make sure to bring cash as it's cash only. I really love coming here after a meal because the buns are soft, light, airy, and sweet. Thus far, my favorites are: - egg custard topping with a red bean filling and - the coconut bun with whipped creme Wow, those are really good but do try their other offerings and determine your own favorite item. I have to try their Argyle location to see if they're consistently great!! Oh, one more thing, there is a ledge by the window where you can eat quickly whilst standing up but it can get very crowded in there. Xie xie Chiu Quon!!

Designer Food, Pinoy Inspired…read more Earlier this month with my mom, my Pinoy heart was incredibly satisfied to find steamed rice in a TWO Star Michelin tasting menu! A chance to sample Kasama, was a very good reason to revisit Chicago. The last time I was here, I went to Alinea, a formerly THREE Star Michelin restaurant (demoted to TWO). Never have I ever thought back then that I will come back to have Michelin-starred Philippine flavors in this city. Kasama offers a 13-course tasting menu, the only TWO Star Michelin restaurant that serves Phil-inspired creative dishes in the world. It was the first Filipino restaurant to be awarded a Michelin star, &one of only 4 Chicago restaurants with TWO stars out of the over 7.5 K licensed restaurants. To put that in perspective, there are over 18k restaurants in NYC's 5 boros. Only 52 have ONE Star,15 have TWO and 5 with THREE Michelin Stars, none served Phil-inspired food. In recently Michelin mapped Manila, only one has TWO Star. It doesn't cook Phil-inspired food despite its location. kasama named each creative course after a Philippine dish. Plates were called "kinilaw", "pulutan","adobo," (menu in picture) that was lovingly nostalgic of the dish it referenced. It's the essence, the unique flavors of each dish that's evoked, reminding me of that hearty dish. I recognize sinigang, but it's not sinigang. As each dish is presented, its inspiration and origin is explained. For a Filipino diner, it's warmly familiar; For those whose cultural experience is different, it's an excellent intro to the unique Phil flavors presented artfully in a form meant for haute diners. I am super proud! We met Chef Tim and wife, Korean-American pastry Chef Gwen. The chef de cuisine is the cutesie Fil-Am Chef Scott Pamatmat (watch out, foodies and ladies! He will be next in line). Thank you, Angelo &Molly. P.S. Some Pinoys say, "My friend said it wasn't worth it. The line was too long." then gives out that all-knowing disgusted face& disdain w/out even having tried the ACTUAL tasting menu. The critical acclaim isn't for bfast that probably pays for the rent. The stars are for the tasting menu for dinner. #curious_eater #kasama

Kasama was the only must visit spot on my most recent trip to Chicago…read more After checking in to my hotel on Sunday morning, I immediately made my way to this spot. You can get to Kasama using CTA, however, we opted to call a Lyft to get us there quicker. When we arrived there was a decent line. We asked a few people who were dinning outside if it was worth the wait. Everyone we asked said the food was good and worth the wait. One suggestion I have , and I wish I knew is that you can order online. I would suggest logging on and placing your order first thing in the morning. It appears that online orders still require some time, but at least you don't have to wait in the line when you arrive. We joined the line and it took us about an hour to get to the counter to order. Despite how busy this place is, the staff maintained pleasant attitudes, which I appreciate! Items ordered: longanisa, egg, and cheese sandwich hashbrown, egg, and cheese on ho yam coffee drink (Ube) reggie flores( think Arnold Palmer) Black Sesame Coconut Macaroon Ube and Huckleberry Basque Cake Total with tip: $72! After placing an order we were given a number and instructed to sit at a specific table. Our drinks arrived first, then the pasties and the last item to arrive were the egg sandwiches. The ube coffee drink was good. There was not a strong Ube taste. I did not try the Reggie Flores, but my friend said it was ok. Now for the pastries, I really enjoy the basque cake. It was not that sweet and had an interesting consistency, it was different for me, but something I would order again. I also did enjoy the macaron. I would say it is very coconut forward. As for the main event- the egg sandwich- it was good, but not great. I have had better egg sandwich! My friend did say that the meat makes the sandwich much better! I am not a red meat eater so I had to stick with the egg cheese and hash brown version, Overall, I would say that I would place an order in advance and try other items like the chicken adobe. However, If anyone asked me if it is worth the hour wait I would have to say no.

Really cool place to get a great latte and breakfast right down in the loop…read more Cinnamon buns looked amazing. Latte and cereal granola bowl were really filling. Husband got a breakfast sandwich which was hearty. Long lines, limited seating.

Three of us ordered: strawberry matcha latte $6.99, pretty…read moresweet, even though less sweet latte large $5.69 mocha large $5.99 -make it mayan $0.75 Overall ok, nothing too special, definitely gets popular and long waits during peak hours. Seating inside, though fills up quickly.

One of my favorite bakeries in Chicago!…read more The vibes were 9.5/10. Kerrie, the owner, was so nice ringing us up and all the employees were super kind. We got there 10 minutes before opening and were second in line. We even saw the first customer get a free drink, which was such a nice touch. The space feels really welcoming and homey, and I loved the aesthetic. There are only 3 tables though, so seating is limited. The Banana Bread (9.9/10) was ON CLOUD 9. So moist and chocolatey, with a light chocolate cream and roasted candied pecans that had the perfect crunch. Absolutely loved this one. The Raspberry Cinnamon Roll with Espresso Cream Cheese (9/10) had a nice laminated pastry and espresso cream wasn't overly sweet. Such a good combo. The Cookies & Cream Cheesecake Danish (9/10) tasted like a chocolate fudge danish topped with cookies and cream, which I loved. It had the firmest shell of the pastries we got and that extra crunch was perfect. The Hot Dog Pastry (8.5/10) was super flaky, and I loved the crunchy pieces on top. The Guava Custard Danish (8/10) had a great guava flavor and was solid. The Breakfast Pastry (8/10) had hashbrown, ham, and cheese inside a flaky crust. It was a really good flaky breakfast sandwich and WAY better heated up. The Atomic Cake (7/10) had vanilla cake, banana, strawberry cream, cheesecake, chocolate, and a light whipped cream topping. The cake layers were moist and it wasn't overly sweet.

Finally had time to drive over and try the pasteries! Service was super fast, no wait time. It's a…read morecompact and cute store. Only 3 window tables that fill up pretty quickly. I bought 3 and my friend got 2. Calamansi cream + pistachio paste danish was my favorite. The Calamansi cream was the perfect texture and density with a fragrant citrus note. When I took a sip of coffee afterwards it made my coffee taste like I was drinking fresh orange juice. The pistachio is more cake like inside than full paste and isn't too sweet. Flaky dough, soft pistachio center and creamy top with a sharp citrus cut. Peach + raspberry Melba danish. The peaches were soft. I'm not familiar with a Melba dessert but the center of this was almond paste which is not my favorite but if you like almond and tart danish it would hit the spot. Raspberry espresso cream cheese cinnamon roll was a fun fruity twist to a cinnamon roll. Couldn't really tell there was espresso though. Blueberry lime cheesecake danish. I also liked this one because of the lime. It really cuts through the heaviness. The fruits on top were also fresh. They also have one day old blind boxes. I grabbed a 6 piece day old box to go and it was actually 6 different pasteries, half sweet and half savory! It only repeated 1 of the pasteries I had originally tried so I'm excited to try more, especially the savory ones. It's an amazing deal if you just want to try a variety of flavors. Tried the Hot dog danish - really good! Upscale pigs in a blanket vibes. The tiny fried are seasoned perfectly and add a fun crunch. The splashes of Dijon cut through and it doesn't feel oily at all.

Is it worth the hype?? It sure is hard to argue against it. We came on a Friday around 10am and…read moretook us about 30 minutes to get our order in and our food. Street parking wasn't too bad, and my wife got coffee up the block while I waited. Their menu rotates often so here's what we got (and I may be getting my pastry names wrong here): Espresso cornflake cookie Smores cookie Banana pudding croissant Jalapeno cheddar galette Southwest brioche Miso mushroom brioche There's a bit of outdoor seating around the corner from the cafe. Honestly? Not a miss among them. Just reading that list again is making my tummy grumble, and everything was chock full of flavor and toppings. Maybe we ordered too much this trip since my preschooler wouldn't touch the spicy stuff, and no way I was giving them a coffee cookie, but otherwise everything was perfectly soft and a great start to our day in the city. Hard to say if it beats the other popular bakeries in the city, but really we're all winners with so many great spots around now.

Might there be a long line? Yes. Is it worth the wait? YES! The hardest thing here is narrowing…read moredown what to get so you don't order the whole bakery. I bought a few sweets thinking I could enjoy them over the next few days... which is a great idea if you have willpower. I apparently don't and they were gone sadly so quickly. The team is just as amazing as their baked goods! The gal taking my order asked me if I wanted an edge or middle piece for the Blondie I ordered... that type of consideration is pretty rare, especially when there's a line of people down the block waiting to be served. The shops itself is small and I think they have some coffee and merch in addition to their baked goods? Maybe if I wasn't so excited to dive into my treats I would have paid more attention. I WILL BE BACK!!!

I have visited Magnolia Bakery a handful of times and always have a pleasant experience. They…read morealways have a monthly flavor of banana pudding available, which is fun to see rotate, but honestly the original is usually the better choice. The original is creamy with real chunks of banana in every bite. The space has plenty of indoor seating. One small downside: they don't offer cups of water, so keep that in mind if you're stopping by on a warm day. Staff were friendly. Would highly recommend if you have not yet tried magnolia!

I have been wanting to try Magnolia forever. When in Chicago there's a cornucopia of things to try…read moreand something always gets eliminated. Well, I love this place. Open atmosphere with everyone able to answer questions. My only complaint is that I didn't grab enough cookies or banana pudding. The food is perfect

Our experience with Bittersweet Bakery was exceptional from beginning to end. We ordered our…read morewedding cake from Bittersweet, and they made the entire process enjoyable and stress-free. The cake tasting was a wonderful experience, giving us plenty of delicious options to choose from while helping us create the perfect cake for our special day. Throughout the entire process, their communication was outstanding. They kept us informed every step of the way and worked directly with our wedding venue, "Firehouse Chicago", to coordinate the delivery and logistics. Everything was handled seamlessly, and our cake arrived exactly as planned without a single issue. Planning a wedding can be overwhelming, but Bittersweet's professionalism, organization, and proactive approach gave us one less thing to worry about. Their attention to detail and commitment to excellent customer service truly stood out. One feature we especially love is that they keep the recipe and design of your wedding cake on file. Every anniversary, they can recreate your wedding cake or a cake in any size you choose. We've continued this tradition, and each anniversary cake has been just as delicious as the original while bringing back wonderful memories of our wedding day. If you're looking for a bakery that is responsive, dependable, and delivers an outstanding product, I highly recommend Bittersweet Bakery for your wedding cake or any bakery needs. They responded promptly to our questions and requests, unlike some businesses that never replied to estimate inquiries. Their customer service and quality were truly exceptional. A heartfelt thank you to Samuel who conducted the Cake Tasting and the entire staff at Bittersweet Bakery for helping make our dream wedding a reality. We will always be grateful and look forward to celebrating many more anniversaries with your incredible cakes.

The pastries at bittersweet will never disappoint. I grew up going to this bakery and the quality…read morehas never wavered. The quiche is always fantastic, and anything out of the pastry case is a must. Drinks are good as well! Such a cozy spot to grab coffee with a friend (or give in to the temptation of snagging a pastry on your way to the brown line)

This was our go-to coffee spot whenever we were near the Riverwalk area or needed strong matcha in…read morethe morning for the day ahead. I would order ahead via the app, and either my husband would pick up or we would go there together. The baristas consistently made drinks well. It's a cute little PB spot. I would definitely recommend if you're staying at one of the nearby hotels and need a PB fix.

Decided to stop by Paris Baguette to pass the time prior to my flight. This location is much…read moresmaller than the location in CA. The variety of parties is very much limited as well. I love that there is an outdoor patio. It was nice sitting outside during the warmer weather. I elected to try the raspberry pastry, which was flaky and delicious. The cream balanced the tartness of the raspberries. I enjoyed the sausage pastry as well. I love that the woman at the counter offered to warm it up. I will visit again during my next visit to Chicago!