I went here because I wanted to try their stinky tofu. This place was one of the few places in…read moreChicago that offer it. I ordered it for pick up. Pick up was super fast and easy. If you want to try stinky tofu be prepared for the smell. It does have a very strong, intense smell. For me, this is a one and done kind of snack. Next time, I will just stick with their boba tea or normal Smelling snacks.

One of my favorite places to go to get homework done. A lot of seatings. They serve food, dessert,…read moreand drinks. I can sit here for hours. They also have a parking lot but get ready to do a little off-roading. They always decorate for the holidays which is super cute.

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!

I want to love OMi so badly, I really do. But now that I've been here a handful of times, I'm…read moreconfident in saying that it's a more middle of the pack option for the cafes I frequent. Let's start with the positives. I love the vibe of the cafe itself, it's one of my favorite spots just for the abundance of natural light and the cute decorations & art strewn across the walls. It's also just a very social atmosphere due to all the meetup events that congregate there, which can be a pro or con depending on who you ask. The employees are all super chill! Generally good vibes and never had a problem with their service. Now the negatives. The drinks and food are so mid. I keep trying different options hoping that I picked the wrong item, because I so desperately want to find that "go-to safe item" at my favorite spot. But all of it is just so, so mid. Sometimes it's too sweet (the most common problem), other times the flavoring is just super underwhelming or grossly artificial. The baked goods are all pretty low quality as well, I honestly think I could make better pastries myself (and I am a person who tends to be hypercritical of my work, so that's saying something).

BAMBU on North Broadway completely exceeded my expectations. From the outside it looks casual and…read moreunassuming, but once you step inside, there's a lively, colorful energy that instantly lifts your mood. It's the kind of place that feels welcoming whether you're meeting friends for a relaxed dinner or just stopping in because you're craving something flavorful and different. The menu is what really makes this place stand out. There's a creative mix of Vietnamese-inspired dishes and modern fusion options, and everything tastes intentional. The ingredients are fresh, the herbs are vibrant, and the flavors are layered without feeling heavy. I appreciated how balanced everything was -- nothing overly greasy or overwhelming, just clean, bright flavors that keep you going back for another bite. Even the presentation shows care, which adds to the overall experience. The drink selection is just as impressive. Whether you're in the mood for something refreshing and fruity or a more classic option, they've clearly put thought into crafting beverages that complement the food. It's not just an afterthought -- it's part of the experience. Service was another highlight. The staff were genuinely friendly, knowledgeable about the menu, and quick to offer recommendations when I asked. They checked in often enough to make sure everything was perfect but never hovered or rushed us. That balance is rare and really appreciated. Overall, BAMBU delivers more than just a meal -- it delivers a full experience. Great atmosphere, flavorful food, solid drinks, and attentive service. I'll absolutely be back, and I'll be bringing friends next time.

A neighborhood staple and always busy. However, I am also realizing that the service is slow, which…read morecauses the place to get backed up and in turn, causes there to appear to be a flood of customers. Prices are about $7-10 per drink. I really like #10 Bambu favorite: Coconut milk, pandan jelly, red tapioca, and grass jelly (and then I add coconut meat for an additional $10). My friend loves the pandan waffles and always wants to come here for it when she visits.

Wow! My friends took us to this restaurant while we were visiting Chicago, and it was amazing. We…read morehad a reservation and did show up about 15 minutes late. The hostess said we could still be seated but another reservation was coming an hour later. I had never had okonomiyaki before, but I got to try three different kinds plus some yakisoba. We ordered four dishes and shared them among the four of us. We got the pork belly yakisoba, pork osaka style okonomiyaki, shrimp osaka style okonomiyaki, and the mushroom and yuba Hiroshima style okonomiyaki. My favorite dishes were probably the pork ones, but I really liked trying all of them! When our waiter asked if we wanted dessert, we said how the hostess told us we would need to leave by a certain time for the next reservation. However, he said we could order dessert anyway. I thought it was weird the hostess was being so finicky about the time, since usually 15 min late is within reason. We did get the red panda. It's mostly ice and a little ice cream, but it was very good and so cute! I would definitely come here again! It is a bit loud if you have anyone in your party who has trouble hearing. You are also quite close to other people in the restaurant.

Our little fam had such a great, cozy weekend lunch here. The restaurant wasn't busy or packed, and…read morethe host and staff were so friendly. We really enjoyed the Beef Osaka and the pork belly soba noodle stir-fry - both were yummy and satisfying. The red panda shaved ice with ice cream was also a huge win for our toddler. Overall, we had a really nice experience and will definitely be back.

Had a gf in town and she was craving shaved ice. We normally go to gaijin in the city but had to…read morechange course as they were closed for their holiday hours. We had dinner in China town so we decided to give this place a try! We ordered through the kiosk and it was served quickly. It was great! The snow ice had a nice texture and they didn't skimp on any ingredients. Will be back!

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.

Tsaocaa is the cutest milk tea shop in Chicago! Their wall is lined with colorful plushies great…read morefor a photo op. Bring your kids and friends.

First time trying bingsoo at this chain and it was SO GOOD! Perfectly soft and creamy ice adorned…read morewith beautifully balled melon.

Something to take the edge off on a 90 freaking degrees weather! Honestly, it hits! When you got…read morethat Chicago humidity hitting, it's freaking brutal so having some Italian ice will most definitely help you cool down. Coconut - hands down the best of the three Strawberry - was good but it wasn't as strong enough as I'd hope for it to be Lime - I always love lime flavor things but this was more in the icier side which made it lack the lime flavor I was anticipating You can easily find free parking right in front!

I'm mad cause as many years as Ive been to Chicago I've never tried Italian Ice...I was truly…read moremissing out. I got a strawberry and mango Italian Ice and it was SOOO good. We went after a summer storm so the line was short and service was quick. The is a walk up spot but great neighborhood feel.

I celebrated my 50th birthday here, and the experience was more than I had dared hope for…read more Delicious food, excellent service, and a comfortable atmosphere. We had the 7-course tasting menu. It was varied, filling, and memorable. My partner is not usually a fan of octopus, and she still talks about how incredible that course was. We did the wine pairing, which was generously poured and perfect for the dishes. Alfredo is a masterful server who facilitated our experience like clockwork. I would not hesitate to return here. Phenomenal for a special occasion or just a nice night out.

Tasting menu: 1. Prawn Kinilaw - coconut, thai chili, yuzu…read more2. Duck Croqueta - foie gras, guava sweet & sour 3. Arroz Caldo - black rice, lobster, calamansi, quail egg 4. Adobong Pugita - octopus, potato, black garlic emulsion 5. Lechon Asado - iberico pork collar, sour orange, yuca con mojo 6. Ropa Vieja - wagyu brisket, plantain, olive sofrito, congri 7. Chocoflan - coconut flan, chocolate bibingka, passion fruit, miso, white chocolate caramel, black truffle Well worth the price for the service, flavor/presentation/texture execution, and portions. My few criticism are prawn was a tad overcooked and black rice was too buttery for my personal taste. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole tasting menu. Service was good and ambience was simple and relaxing. Highly recommend this place for foodies and special occasions.

It's the 4th of July and I am feeling festive! I am also hot and want to treat myself to something…read morecool and refreshing that isn't necessarily cold water. So I traveled to Rita's and purchased an Italian Ice & Frozen Custard combination. WHAT A DELIGHTFUL TREAT! I realize I sound like Mary Poppins, but it was delightful! Every spoon full! Everyone needs to try this place which has so many combinations and flavors. Bring your family. There's something for everyone!

OMG! This place is fabulous! I had an Italian ice that was alternating with a vanilla frozen…read morecustard. It was the best of both worlds. Highly recommended

I went here for boba with a friend. She appreciated how there were a variety of non-caffeinated…read moreflavor combinations. I opted for the matcha dalgona with boba. It was delectably foamy and sweet. My only regret was that it was this particular flavor combination didn't come with an option for a larger size. It really hit the spot for a cold, foamy beverage with perfectly chewy boba. I also tried out their house special braised beef noodles. They were great, but I wish there were more vegetables and noodles. (This was just personal preference.) The beef was well braised, seasoned, and excellent. Patrons order from kiosks and pick up items from the front desk. It would have been nice to interact more with staff, but the system is definitely set up for efficiency. Parking is a shared plaza private lot with plenty of spots during the weekdays. Weekends can be hectic given the amount of businesses here. Worth a visit for sure!

Honestly if you're wanting a tea or a drink this place is great for that...but that's about it…read more I've been a number of times and really have had decent experiences and again would recommend the Nile's location for to-go drinks only. Everything else is sub par...the dan dan noodles may have been the worst I ever had. The noodles were over cooked and stuck together, there was hardly any toppings and it was not at all as it was described. We also got the "Chinese burger" honestly this was also not something I would ever get again. The "bun" situation was dry and had no flavor...also the pork had no flavor and was also dry...I can see why the girl behind was questioning if it was even on the menu still because clearly no one is ordering it and when a customer does they're surprised. Now what really put me off (aside from the surprise piece of aluminum foil found in our food) was the horrible customer service. While waiting for our drinks and food to come out all I hear is one of the employees behind the counter commenting on multiple items on our order. Is it really that hard to make a drink and add extra ice without questioning why you need to add extra ice if that's the special request? It's requested because maybe we like our drinks to not be luke warm and prefer them cold. Then to make comments and being surprised an item was ordered ("chinese" burger). It was on the menu it sounded interesting we wanted to try it...after hearing the reaction it honestly made me second guess placing the order. Then to top it off when the drinks were ready our name was called...I asked if the food would be coming later and the attitude I received back being told that it takes longer threw me off completely. Yes I asked if the food would be coming later but I was asking to ensure that they knew we also had a food order. The attitude implying that I didn't understand that it'll take a bit long was not necessary. Needless to say if we ever come back our orders will be ONLY for drinks, we will NOT be ordering food and I will hope to not have much of any interaction with the staff at this location. It will strictly be pick up & go. Hopefully your team takes some time to work on their customer service skills cause it's lacking.