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    Sweet Bean

    4.3 (268 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Sweet Bean Photos

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    SWEET BEAN ATMOSPHERE

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    Vijay C.

    Pretty cool place here in south Loop Chicago. Without being too descriptive as I was only there shortly, it's basically Paris Baguette in its setup and offerings

    Store front
    Min Z.

    We were wondering in the Chicago Chinatown and bumped into it. There were a lot of varieties to choose from. We tried red bean matcha bun, Dorian pastry, Thai tea egg tart, and purple rice taro bun. All were great and mild sweet flavors.

    Matcha custard bun
    Jo L.

    FOOD I had their matcha pineapple bun. It was fluffy and not too sweet, and although the bun was green, the matcha flavor did not really pull through. They still had a relatively wide selection of pastries available, even though I visited around 3pm. DRINKS They had a wide selection of coffee and tea drinks available for purchase. SERVICE The staff are kind and friendly! AMBIANCE Many guests were sitting and working/studying. PARKING Paid street parking is available at a limited capacity.

    Cynthia S.

    Super fluffy and tasty bread! Got the matcha custard and it was perfect! Loved the surprised bites of pineapple on the inside too! Recommend for a quick bite

    Caili C.

    Yum! I stopped by Sweet Bean when I was staying nearby for some buns in the morning and turns out we went too early as the fresh buns were not ready yet. Instead they have their day old buns which they sell for $2.95 each. Apparently their buns usually come out around 10am. I ended up grabbing a pork floss taro bun and the orange cream bun to go. I heated up both buns at home (I only added the orange cream bun in for a couple of minutes) and they were as good as fresh out of the oven buns. Loved the pork floss taro bun which has fresh taro paste with chewy, stretchy mochi inside. The flavor combination of the salty pork floss, sweet taro and mochi was great. The orange cream bun was nice as well - the dough is a little sweet with the cream but overall a nice sweet bun. Will definitely need to come back to check out their other items! Super happy to see this Taiwanese inspired bakery open up near South Loop.

    Sarah P.

    This was a great coffee stop on my walk to the Field Museum. They had lots of pastries and were pretty crowded on a Saturday morning, but moved fast. The inside is decorated cute and had some indoor seating. They had a seasonal menu which included a cardamom latte which I really enjoyed!

    Anna M.

    Came to Sweet Bean to get some work done. My boyfriend and I enjoyed the Pork BBQ pastry as well as the Ham Scallion pastry. The ham scallion was my personal favorite, and I would definitely get that one again!! The bread was so soft, to the point it was super easy to pull apart. Prices aren't too bad, both of them were ~$8 total (~$4 each) You serve yourself by picking out the pastries you want, and then you bring them to the counter for them to be heated up. They offer discounted pastries that were made the day prior to prevent food waste, which I appreciate. It seems that the workers also regularly restock the pastries, which is great. Not too may seating options, maybe ~10 tables total. Very few tables have outlets.

    Mooncake (pork floss)
    Heather F.

    I've stopped by Sweet Bean the last two times I've been in town, as I'm a sucker for this style of bakery and pastry. They offer a wide variety of items, including savory offerings (egg and bacon, hot dog cheese, tuna & mayo, ham & scallion), and sweeter treats featuring red bean, taro, egg buns, matcha, etc. You use a pair of tongs to grab and bag your items as you go along. They offer a wide variety of beverages served hot or cold, including matcha and hojicha with customizations (latte, ube/black sesame flavors, and miso caramel). I got a hot Matcha Black Sesame latte this latest visit with a recommended pump of sweetener. The black sesame settled a lot during drinking (and was a bit gritty at the end), so I will probably skip that particular one in the future, to try another fun option. Pastries run about $3.75-$4.50 depending on the item. They offer day-old sales on remaining pastries as well, but I do appreciate getting them while more warm and fresh. Sweet Bean is conveniently located off the red line Roosevelt stop. They have some modest seating inside, where I've seen people chatting or studying, but everything is served/collected in to-go packaging. It would be nice if they offered hard plates/cups for those dining in, but I imagine that presents additional staffing considerations. The employees I've interacted with though have been friendly and helpful. Definitely check it out if you're a fan of Taiwanese or Asian pastry treats!

    Matcha pretzel bun
    Leslie C.

    Cool place! Huge variety of sweet and savory items. You pick up plastic bags and tongs, and walk around and choose what you want and then go check out. I was there on a crowded Saturday morning but the line moved quickly. I really enjoyed the items I tried, especially a ham and cheese square, an egg tart wrapped in bacon, and a matcha pretzel bun. I also enjoyed a rose almond chai tea latte. They have a cute area in the back for seating. Some of the decor was nice but then there were a few random (and possibly broken) printers along the wall, which seemed strange. I didn't see a restroom but maybe I missed it. It was the day before the marathon and very crowded and the staff did really well to keep up with the demand. New fresh items were consistently being brought out. If you want some yummy carbs, this is the place to go!

    Spicy Chicken Bun
    Felice B.

    I've walked past here often enough so I finally went in and I'm glad I did. We picked up three buns and no beverages this time. I was fairly dubious about the Spicy Chicken Bun but it's a rock star. The dough is soft and lovely and the sauce is not sickeningly sweet. There is some genuine heat but it's not overwhelming. The crunch from the visible peppers adds a welcome textural contrast. The Taro Bun was not quite what I expected but it was delicious nonetheless. I was expecting something more savory but it turned out to be a really appealing mix of sweet, salty, and savory. The Red Bean Bun is waiting for later. The tea selection looks nice and they serve Counter Culture coffee so it looks like I'll be back for drinks with my pastry soon - which will be happening as there are a number of the buns that I'm looking forward to trying. Day-old baked goods are available at a small discount. I expect that the quality would still be good as the dough is likely a tangzhong. The location is convenient for walking, train, or bus. This is a cashless business.

    Vicky H.

    I like a simple Taiwanese green onion (scallion) bread that is very difficult to find these days and voila, I'm so happy to have found them at Sweet Bean! Granted, it is green onions and ham (tiny pieces), it is the closest I can find! It is tasty, but a bit pricey... two green onion bread were almost $9 (hence the 4 stars). The bakery has a good variety of breads, pastries, cakes and coffee/beverages. It has a small area with tables and seats that are in a separate room from the main area with food and cashier's counter, so it is not as noisy especially when it's busy. I will definitely be back....because of the green onion bread... will try their cakes too!

    Alvin Z.

    Just moved here from NYC and saw that there was an Asian bakery nearby so came to check it out. Got some pastries and everything was pretty good. Also got the hojicha which I really liked. The staffs were super nice and overall pretty good experience. Worth the price too (pretty average pricing in the south loop). Decent amount of seating too and cozy.

    Black sesame matcha, taro bread, orange custard and cranberry pineapple cake.
    YuShan M.

    This Taiwanese bakery is amazing! I can't say enough good thing about their bread and drink. I feel like o teleported back home right when I took a bite! 100% recommend their taro bread and black sesame matcha. Orange custard is good as well, more suitable for American palate.

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    Delicious little Taiwanese cafe with to go / eat in pastries, coffee, and more! You get to grab your own pastries too.

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    Ask the Community - Sweet Bean

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    Hello Jasmine - Small order of boneless chicken

    Hello Jasmine

    4.5(612 reviews)
    0.9 miChinatown, Near Southside
    $$

    I came to Hello Jasmine during a conference at McCormick Place because, let's be real, my dudes,…read morefood at the conference center is largely uninspiring and expensive. One of my friends who went to grad school in Chicago (whose food recommendations I trust with my life) told me I had to check out Hello Jasmine, so I hopped on the bus. I'm so glad I did. The cafe itself is ADORABLE. I happened to visit just before Halloween (10/28), and it was decorated in the most charming "spooky cute" way. There were little Halloween touches everywhere, and someone on staff is very clearly a Harry Potter fan. It somehow managed to feel festive, cozy, and cheerful all at once. I ordered the matcha fresh boba milk tea with fresh milk. My default is always 0% sugar because my biggest beverage pet peeve is when drinks are too sweet. (Despite being an ABC, one thing that definitely survived is my instinct to say "not too sweet, please".) The cashier gently talked me into getting 30% sugar because she said the matcha could be a little bitter otherwise. She was absolutely right. 30% percent was perfect. It was balanced, smooth, and so good that I accidentally drank it much faster than I meant to. (Oops.) I also ordered the pig blood rice cakes (made them spicy), and wow. I don't think I've ever seen these anywhere in Boston. They were seared, spicy, savory, just a tiny bit sweet, and 100% delicious. I was so excited to find something that felt a little harder to come by. 11/10, I would absolutely come back. In fact, my only complaint is that it wasn't closer to the convention center. I probably could have expensed lunch there, and honestly, those corporate dollars would have been much better spent here than on conference catering. I wish I lived in Chicago just so I could stop by more often. Hats off to Jasmine and the staff. It feels bright, authentic, and full of joy. I imagine it's exactly the kind of cafe where students go after a long week to recharge over a really good drink and something comforting to eat, and I'm so glad it exists.

    Lots and lots of options. Wish the menu was clearer to first-timers because I saw food on other…read moretables that I would have preferred to order, but hadn't noticed them on the digital menu. Perhaps the pictures didn't do them justice. Beef tendon soup had lots of delicious tendon and noodles. Not enough veggies, though the bok choy it did have was nice and fresh. Mushroom-based milk tea was a fascinating concept, but in the end tasted like iced coffee. Pleasant and efficient personnel.

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    Hello Jasmine - Halo Jasmine . 2026 S Clark, Unit C,  Chicago, IL

    Halo Jasmine . 2026 S Clark, Unit C, Chicago, IL

    Hello Jasmine - I should've photographed this before spearing the bird with the boba straw, huh

    I should've photographed this before spearing the bird with the boba straw, huh

    Hello Jasmine - Kumquat Orange Plum Tea + Lime Ice Tea w Dried Plum

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    Minyoli - @endoedibles on Instagram 03/22/25    Ganban Noodle - Spicy Tallow, sichuan pepper, braised beef shank, garlic chili crumble

    Minyoli

    3.9(120 reviews)
    8.1 miAndersonville, Edgewater

    Went for the end of happy hour/dinner and had a great time sitting at the bar. I started with an…read moreOolong Island Iced Tea cocktail, which was so smooth but probably as potent as its namesake. They have non-alcoholic options available as well. The sweet potato fries had a great texture from their light batter and delicious flavor. My friend and I both got the red braise noodles. I definitely recommend getting the combo beef and tendon. The tendon added a great texture unlike anything else. The flavor starts out almost like pot roast, but it gets richer and spicier as you eat. Makes for great leftovers! We shared the fried chicken, which was another great bite. I loved the seasoning, I think it was sour plum. I got the pineapple tart for dessert and my friend got the cheesecake. Both were really solid. The pineapple tart was super unique, definitely recommend. This was kind of a last minute thing for us, so I'd love to try table service instead of bar seating next time. Really nice looking restaurant.

    Minyoli? Meh. I ventured into Minyoli this evening for the first time and was sincerely hoping that…read morethe food would be better than the verdicts rendered by several of my friends- which, unfortunately, ranged from mediocre to disappointing. Let's start on a positive note. The ambiance is inviting and the service was decent to good. The prices are on par with other places in the neighborhood. As for the food and drink, well everything was ok, with a couple of stand-outs. My friend and I started with shared appetizers of the talow wings, which were tender, nicely seasoned and accompanied by sweet potato fries that were also good. The other appetizer was the cucumber salad, which was plentiful and offered a nice balance between the pickling and the spice. We originally planned on another starter, but they were out of that. Glad we "settled" on the cucumber salad, since that was the best part of our meal. When it came time to order our main dishes, I selected one of the specials. No dice. They were out of that too. My friend ordered the noodles with beef and the server talked it up enough that I followed suit. I mentioned light-heartedly that I never usually order the same meal as the person I'm dining with and the server said: "You won't be disappointed." Only problem is...I was disappointed. When the entrée arrived, it looked good enough to eat. There was a lot of chili crisp on one side of the bowl, which I love, and about five slices of beef- all over a heap of noodles. I mixed it all together and was excited and ready for a pow of heat and flavor. Only problem is...there was neither. The chili crisp was less than mild and not at all crispy. The noodles were bland, and the meat was way over cooked, chewy and fattier than it should have been. As my friend perfectly put it, the whole bowl was very "one note." As if to add insult to injury, I had a non-alcoholic pineapple and ginger soda. I asked the server if this was very sugary and he said no. In fact, since the soda is made in-house the server told me that they could keep the sugar level down for me. He also said that the drink was very "ginger forward," which was great by me since I love spicy, spicy ginger. When the drink arrived, it was bland, just like the entrée. It wasn't too sweet, so that was good. But there was only a hint of ginger and a whisper of pineapple. The final coup came at the end of the meal. When the bill came, my friend and I both presented our cards to split the bill as we customarily do. That's when the server told us they only take one card. I get not splitting a bill by more than three or four cards per table, but two? That's preposterous! Look, it wasn't a big deal since my friend and I are like brothers. But what if someone happened to be on a first date or whatever? Yes, Venmo, Zelle, etc., can all happen. But not everyone has that luxury. It's awkward, unnecessary and, frankly, cheap of a restaurant that doesn't want to pay the swipe fees. When I politely mentioned to the server that taking only one card was a bit of a surprise, he told me that it was posted on the menu. He was also seemingly a bit annoyed that I brought it up...like I was being bratty or something. Ok. I'll take his word for it. But if it was on the menu, then it wasn't prominent enough to take note of as I was looking at all the meal options (my friend also didn't see it). I checked to see if the one card policy was posted on the front door when we were leaving, and it wasn't. Anyway, not the end of the world, but something you should be prepared for if you dine here. In the end, I sadly have to agree with my friends' assessments of Minyoli as a mediocre to disappointing dining experience.

    Photos
    Minyoli - Interior

    Interior

    Minyoli - Sesame Noodles

    Sesame Noodles

    Minyoli - @endoedibles on Instagram 03/22/25

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    International Mall

    International Mall

    3.8(141 reviews)
    17.1 mi
    $

    Rich in history, the International Mall in Westmont was the place to go for authentic Chinese food…read more(prepared and ingredients) in the 1990's: with its very large grocery store and a large food court serving various cuisines from China. It has definitely seen better days: still open but very empty (of customers, of vendors, of products). But when we stopped by on a Wednesday for lunch, we found the food to be quite good and of really good value along with plenty of space to dine comfortably and nonchalantly: a good stop to refuel while on the way to central Illinois.

    Part 3 of 5 Memorial Day weekend APIHM series…read more Currently, the Mall comprises a bank, a couple of TCM doctor's offices, and a dental office. There are a variety of dishes to choose from 4 different vendors on the first floor. I enjoy coming here every so often to treat myself and my family to authentic dishes that are hard to find elsewhere, particularly stinky tofu, ba wan (Taiwanese meatball), oyster omelet, and pig blood soup. It is a food court. You are expected to return the tray and empty dishes back to designated areas. Although not required, I've never seen anyone do otherwise. The bathrooms are small and could use additional lighting in my opinion. Parking, you asked? Yes, there is a large parking lot. It is easily accessed from Route 83 (Kingery Hwy) or Ogden Avenue. On this particular visit, 988 Oriental Food House was closed. Reopening date is May 30, 2023.

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    International Mall - A pretty dead food court scene.  It's early afternoon on a Wednesday and hopefully business is better on the weekends and prime time.

    A pretty dead food court scene. It's early afternoon on a Wednesday and hopefully business is better on the weekends and prime time.

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    Mabu Generation - Mabu egged Sukiyaki with rice

    Mabu Generation

    4.3(58 reviews)
    1.0 miChinatown
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    We came to Mabu Generation on a Sunday evening when the restaurant was not busy and was actually…read moreunusually quiet. One thing I personally did not like was that they require customers to pay first before the food comes out. For a sit-down restaurant, I prefer to eat first and pay after, especially when service is expected. The service was not very proactive during our visit. The food was okay, but nothing really stood out to me. For the price, I felt it was a little pricey compared to Taipei Cafe, and the overall experience did not feel worth it. Overall, the food was just alright, the service could be improved, and the pay-first system was not something I liked. I don't think I would come back.

    Decided to spontaneously eat here on a friday night while walking past and did not regret it…read more The restaurant wasnt overly crowded or loud and, the service was great while the food was even better. The taiwanese style popcorn chicken and pork cutlet were super juicy and tender with nicely crisp breading. The sausage had a pleasant sweetness to it and was served with garlic chips, which added a nice touch. Finally, the broth of the Sichuan noodles was packing with flavor: sweet, tangy, spicy, umami - truly hit all the spots without being too numbing to your mouth, if thats one of your concerns Would definitely return to try the other menu items, especially their hot sizzling plates and their dessert/drink offerings

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    Mabu Generation - Inside

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    Sweet Bean - bakeries - Updated August 2026

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