Boka Photos
Business Info
Boka Popular Dishes
BOKA ATMOSPHERE
Recommended Reviews - Boka
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
I've been to Boka a few times now, and every visit has been a great experience. The food is consistently excellent, and the staff is always friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. We started with the bluefin tuna tart, which was light and refreshing. The topping was delicious, but I think dialing it back just a bit would let more of the tuna shine through. The dry aged beef tartare was one of my favorite dishes of the night. The crispy potato chips added a great crunch, and the cornichons brought just the right amount of acidity to balance everything out. Next came the Hokkaido scallops, and they were cooked perfectly. I also appreciated that the kitchen split all of our appetizers onto separate plates since we were sharing. It's a small detail, but it made the meal feel much more thoughtful. For our entrees, we ordered the black truffle chicken and the glazed beef short rib. I'm not sure how they prepared the chicken, but it was incredibly tender with some of the most flavorful skin I've had. Every bite was juicy and almost melted in your mouth. The short rib was just as impressive, perfectly cooked and full of flavor. I've also done the tasting menu here before, and it was just as memorable. You definitely won't leave hungry. The restaurant has a great atmosphere too. It feels perfect for a date night without being so dim that you can barely see your food.
We went here for our anniversary and we were seated in the back section in the corner table. It was decorated beautifully. They had the heat on just right because it gets kind of chilly in there. We both had the tasting menu in my husband is not a fan of tartare so they were able to substitute his with roasted tomatoes and he said it was excellent. Everything that we had on the menu was great. I got the wine pairing and my husband ordered drinks. The drinks were great and the wine pairings went well with the courses that we were served. This was one of our favorite tasting menus in a while and we said we wanted to go back when they had different seasonal items. The wait staff was amazing and they were very attentive to anything that we needed. If you are a foodie and you don't mind paying a little more for food it is definitely worth it if you were in Chicago or if you want a nice night out.
I came here while visiting Chicago. Everything from start to finish was exceptional. We came in early for our reservation with a service animal and they were accommodating they took our coats (which were stored in a heated closet so were so nice when you put them back on), and showed us to our table. Kevin oversaw our dining experience. We decided on doing the tasting menu which was amazing. I had a concern about some of the meats but they were willing to be extremely accommodating on any concerns I had and tweak the menu based on dislikes. But honestly even dishes I thought I would dislike were absolutely delicious and I was so happy I just went with the choices. While the dishes were small the food was plentiful, I left fully satisfied. I also after have bad experiences on my trip ordering gin sours did ask to make sure what I would get was right. The bar tender came over to our table to talk through what I was looking for to make sure I got exactly what I wanted. The attention to detail, the people and their engagement was beautiful. I would highly recommend coming here when in Chicago.
The service was mind blowing. I've never had such thoughtful and attentive servers like them. The food was highly innovative and their creativity shines through each dish. You CANNOT go wrong with any dish you order, and I believe the menu rotates which adds to the charm of the restaurant.
yes! The vibes and food was great. I could have had 110 more tuna tartlettes and beef tartare. Absolutely would come again. Didn't love the short rib - would skip next time.
This spot has been a staple in Chicago since 2003 and you can really tell with how polished everything feels. The ambiance was amazing, even better at night. Dim lighting, nice music, and not too loud so it still feels intimate. 9/10. Service was incredible. Our server suggested we do the tasting menu as a surprise without knowing the dishes beforehand and that made the experience even more fun. They were super attentive with water refills, switching silverware, and all the small details. They even gave us a cake at the end to take home which was such a cute touch. 9.5/10. Food-wise, there were a lot of standout moments. The trout was one of my favorites. The sauce was amazing, not too fishy, and the seaweed on top made it perfect. 9.7/10. The tuna had such a clean texture with a bright citrusy flavor. 9/10. The panna cotta was also sooo good, loved all the textures. 9/10. The foie gras toast was sweet and really enjoyable. 8.5/10. The venison was great with the sauce and veggies. 8.5/10. The caviar worked much better when everything was mixed together. 8/10. Some dishes were a bit more mid. The asparagus had a great sauce but was too soft. 7/10. The ravioli had great flavor overall but I wasn't a fan of the bits inside. 7.5/10. The yuzu pâte de fruit was super refreshing like little yuzu gummies. 8/10. The mignardises were good, just not super memorable. Overall, such a beautiful and well executed tasting menu experience. Definitely one of those spots for a special occasion.
My expectations for this establishment unfortunately surpassed the reality of a mediocre experience. Aside from a very fine pasta dish ordered by my sister, the rest of the meal--including my lackluster fish and average drinks--was uninspiring. Furthermore, the dining room's dim lighting felt heavy and poorly suited for an early 5:00 PM dinner.
We went for restaurant week so the menu itself was great for the prices. I got the wine pairing as well which was great. The appetizer was good, tried something unique. The main dish was underwhelming, expected a lot more from a Michelin start restaurant. The dessert was tasty but I wish it was a warm/cold brownie. Service was great, they were very informative about the dishes and the wines. Ambience was beautiful, I love how spacious it was.
I had the tasting menu at Boka and the food was delicious and the presentation was nice, but there weren't any standout dishes. Hospitality was great and service was very friendly. We were celebrating a birthday and the birthday dessert was super cute and the team did a great job making the meal feel special. I enjoyed the Sublime cocktail which was pretty light and not spirit forward. There is a coat check and valet service available.
We are back at Boka after a 6 year hiatus. It was nearly impossible to get reservations so we had to stalk the openings to try to get a date and time that worked for us. We ended up getting 4:45 pm on a Saturday. It was a bit early for us but we made it work. Traffic going to the city was a colossal nightmare, so we called to let the restaurant know we were running late and they held our reservation for 15 minutes - thank you to the nice women at the host desk! We got a nice corner booth in the main dining area and it was so nice. The booth seats up to 5 people from what we've seen. It's a great table. This was Restaurant Week and the food was good as always. My dinner date and I chose the same items this time and got the tuna, scallops, pork, and we each got a different dessert. My favorite was the tuna. My date's favorite was the scallops. The weird thing with the scallops is that they didn't give us a knife. We had to try to cut the scallops with the fork and spoon they gave us. Pork was tender. Everything was very good, but I don't think it was as good as pre-Covid years. The one thing that detracted from the ambiance and the food was the service. Our server "F" seemed annoyed to serve us. Like he didn't want to work during Restaurant Week or he didn't like having just 2 people in the big booth. He took our order, gave us the check, and that was it. Never once asked how we were doing, how the food was, nothing. When we were done with our drinks, he just took it away. Didn't ask if we needed or wanted anything else. Another weird quirk was that I was able to order a house made soda Hibiscus Mint, but when my date asked for a mojito, they came back to tell him that the restaurant didn't have mint. Um. Ok. FYI - They still share valet with Alinea, so they may be a little bit of a wait when they are busy.
(Kari's Rating 9.5/10) Came with a group of six people on a Monday evening and had to wait 24 minutes, but I'm sure people are here for restaurant week so the wait was kinda expected even though it was slightly inconvenient. The vibe was an upbeat, calm/modern vibe almost like my therapist's office. Very relaxing. They started with a Hawaiian looking roll with a light whipped butter, but was a little bit dry but the butter saved it. The first course for restaurant week was a steak tartare with a delightful combination of mayo and carrots on top. It was just the right portion size and tasted really fresh with crispy toasted bread crumbs. My friend got the cured tuna which was not very fishy and overall good mouthfeel. The apple jelly was interesting, it wasn't bad in combination with the tuna but I wouldn't eat it by itself. The jelly made it feel very Michelin star. The scallops were absolutely delicious, the seared crust and inside were cooked perfectly, there were two sauces that came with them, the yellow sauce was airy, light and paired really well with the green dill sauce, however, they had a light mayo sauce, I believed was a little bit unnecessary and made the overall dish a little bit heavy, but it was one of my favorite things I ate of the night. For the main course, most of us got the cod. The oyster mushrooms were very meaty and actually quite delicious with a brown sauce. The cod itself was a little bit underwhelming, although I know it's not necessary a flavorful fish on its own. The presentation was nice but not very colorful. The fermented cabbage was kind of an interesting contrast, but it gave some color to the plate. I probably won't finish this entree and I didn't. Glad my friends were hungry. The dessert was absolutely delicious. I opted for the Bavarois^, which I had no idea what it was but I was pleasantly surprised. It came with a nutty, meringue piece. The best part was the mango gelato and the honey oat topping. The actual bavarois^ was so creamy and light. This Bavarois^ can whip me anytime On contrast, the caramel brownie was relatively average, I'm glad I went out of my comfort zone to try something new as it really paid off. I would definitely come back. For the price I paid for this meal without a drink, I absolutely would come back in a heartbeat!
The Michelin-starred Boka was recommended to us as an exquisite fine dining experience in Chicago. They serve seasonal American cuisine and you have the option of doing the tasting menu or ordering a la carte. Everyone at the table must select the same. Service was lacking for a Michelin starred restaurant in my opinion. We were warmly greeted in the beginning but once we decided against the tasting menu, our server disappeared for long periods of time. My mom ordered a drink and it was never brought to her. It just felt like it went downhill over the course of the night. Service aside, the food was the best we had during our visit to Chicago. We decided to order a la carte and really stuffed ourselves. Each table is started with complimentary bread and butter and it was so simple but one of my favorite parts of the meal. For my small bite I started with the Chicken Liver Mousse. The texture was perfect and I loved the sour cherry on top. We shared the Brown Butter Roasted Hokkaido Scallops and they split them for us. As a starter, we felt that each of our portions were rather large. They absolutely melted in our mouths! My main was the Colorado Lamb Loin with Jimmy Nardello peppers. It was the best lamb I've ever had, so tender and flavorful. The real star of the meal was the entree that my mom selected, the Roasted Dry Aged Duck Breast. They really know how to do their proteins. The crisp skin with tender meat was absolutely phenomenal. We selected two desserts and they bring you out two complimentary small bite desserts as well. Overall we had a fantastic meal. I think it's worth a visit!
Service was great and drinks were good, however food was extremely disappointing. The caviar starter is overpowered by the cucumber. The chicken liver mousse is as a miss. The dry aged beef tartare reminded me of looking like corn flakes. The gnocchetti had a ridiculous amount of grated black truffle on the top. If you need that much black truffle to save the dish, Lord help us. The halibut was the only dish that seemed to save this meal. The dish presentation may be artistic but the food was not worth the price in my opinion.
Amazing Michelin star restaurant in Chicago. My wife made reservations to this awesome restaurant for my birthday dinner and it was truly magical. Everything was high quality and the appetizers were splendid. We were a bit full from a full lunch of dim sum but what we did enjoy here was absolutely amazing. We ordered 3 starters, 1 appetizer, and 1 entree and shared. It was perfect. Service was professional, and the ambiance was lovely as well. 4.6 stars rounded up for Boka! read more
1 year ago
Restaurant week 2025!! My first ever one Michelin star experience... and I was blown away!! Def worth the $60. Service was efficient, and everyone was quite nice! Start: Bread and butter - a bit hard, but loved the salt on the butter. Cold: Lightly cured tuna - The gelatinous pear was sour and didn't complement the tuna as much as I'd liked. Dry aged beef tartare - delicious!! So smokey and creamy, tastes like an elevated burger and not like raw beef. Hot: Roasted scallop - scallop to cream ratio was off. Scallop was cooked PERFECTLY - a bit torched and crispy on the outside, melt in mouth tender on the inside. Duck leg ravioli - quite salty and hard, but the parm was strong. Entree: Roasted chicken - BEST thing on the menu hands down! So tender for a chicken breast, seasoned perfectly. Veggies were perf. Grilled pork collar - great! Dessert: Yuzu namelaka - yuzu ice cream was so tangy, but perfectly balanced with the burnt honey wafer and ricotta. White sesame crémeux - tastes like a peanut butter cup. A bit too rich for me. read more
1 year ago
One of the best restaurants I've had the pleasure of dining at in Chicago! The chicken is quite possibly the best chicken I've ever had. The service was impeccable, accidentally dropped a fork and it was replaced within 30 seconds without even needing to ask for a new one. If my wallet would allow it, I would be back here every week! read more
Boka's Chicago Restaurant Week menu was a steal--four courses for $60, with an optional wine pairing for $40. Yes Every dish was fantastic, but our favorites were the Beef Tartare, Duck Leg Ravioli, Scallops, and Pork Collar. And dessert? Absolutely divine. The flavors, presentation, and service (except for 1 rude hostess with blonde hair- hence the 4 ) were all top-notch and a perfect spot to celebrate my partner's birthday. Boka is a must-visit if in Chicago! Food 5/5 Staff/Service 4/5 Atmosphere 5/5 read more
** Restaurant Week Review ** Boka is one of my favorite restaurants in the city! Truly part of my top 10 restaurant list. This year I opted to come for restaurant week and Boka did not disappoint! I love the dark moody vibe it has. The service is always great and staff is so friendly. Starters: The dry aged beef tartare was perfection. I love that it didn't have that super raw taste to it. Our favorite starter was actually the smoked carrots. We kept joking around and saying "are we sure this is carrots and not salmon?" Hot: The ravioli is basically a small bite plate but my gosh was it so good! The roasted scallop's flavors were delicious. The soup was hearty and filling. Entrees: the cod was cooked perfectly and did not feel overly buttered or under seasoned. The chicken was delicious. The pork collar just melted in our mouth. Dessert: The ricotta dessert was so interesting and delicious! Naturally being a chocolate lover, the white sesame cremeux was our favorite. I highly recommend the wine pairing because the choice of wines are always 10/10. The flavor profiles of the wine painting with the foods really did elevate each dish. read more
2 years ago
What a great way to close out Chicago Restaurant Week! We highly enjoyed all the dishes we had and LOVED each of the wine pairings. We especially loved the beef tartare, scallops, roasted chicken, and the white sesame cremeux! We could have done without the black truffle addition, but overall the food was spectacular. We definitely want to come back to try their golden oster cavier! The service was awesome! Shoutout to Diego for his insights and recommendations for the wines. We loved it! The ambiance was great and the personalized additions for my birthday celebration was so sweet!! read more
Was able to snag a reservation for Chicago Restaurant Week and wowie, Boka did not disappoint! The ambiance, service, food all were amazing. We started off with a dinner roll that came with butter made in-house - I never thought I could rate a place just based on butter alone but here we are. The butter-bread combo was a great start to the meal - I don't know what they do to the butter but it's unreal. The appetizers I chose included beef tartare (fatty, salty, rich) and roasted scallops. Boka does a great job plating their food with accompanying sauces and I was constantly intrigued by the flavors. For my main, I went with the Icelandic cod but got to try my friend's chicken dish and another friend's pork collar dish. The cod was good but the other protein mains were exceptional. Dessert was beautifully and artistically plated and I especially loved the white sesame cremeux - what a treat. Friggin' love Boka and will make it a point to be back at some point. read more
6 months ago
(CRW Dinner) We had to wait ~40 minutes after our reservation time to get seated. Out of all the restaurant week menus I've tried, I thought this was the best value. Went with a group of 3 so we were able to try every dish, most of them were hits but there were a couple dishes that were not memorable. Still, I think RW is a great time to try Boka if it's been on your list. The service was extremely attentive. read more
3 months ago
2 years ago
I want to preface this by saying I judge expensive restaurants (and Boka is very expensive lol) harder than I do more affordable spots because if it costs this much, it better be delicious. Better be a really really good meal. I went with a friend who had positive experiences at Boka before and said the food was really good and spoiler alert, they were right. Boka is so delicious - I would go back again (when the budget allows) and highly recommend trying this place at least once, especially for special occasions. This seems like a place that would take care of you on your birthday, anniversary, etc at least based on my experience. The staff was so nice and warm, and happy to provide recommendations or guide you through the menu. Ok onto the food - truly almost everything was excellent. Like maybe one thing was not as good as the others, but I can't even recall which one because everything blew me away. I felt the flavors and ingredients were interesting, but not just novel, also delicious. Excuse my photos since it was dark and I wasn't trying to take flash photos (no judgment if that's you, pls do you). The chicken entree was excellent. Like so good - I didn't expect it to be so good but lowkey I feel it could be one of the best things on their menu. I am always a fan of scallops (a bougie sentence I know), but the hot scallops were so yummy. The ricotta gnudi??? So delicious! I'm sure I have said the word delicious so many times but these three were some of my highlights and food I would happily eat again. The appetizers were also super yummy. The chicken liver mousse was great, cucumber salad is lowkey a basic thing but the sauce / flavors were unique and so so good. I also love that their desserts were inventive and so yummy. I think their menu changes based on what's in season, but my friend looooved the strawberry dessert like he said sorry, but I won't be sharing this. So we got other ones lolol which is not a complaint. Also as an aside that does not affect their rating, but I found the key theme so cute. Love the little key wallpaper and literal key attached to the coat check. read more
7 months ago
10 months ago
2 years ago
This was my 3rd or 4th Michelin experience, but might be my favorite of them all! Everything from the service to the food to the ambiance was immaculate. We had a reservation and were seated promptly, and our waiter was keen at explaining all of their specialties and recommendations. To start, we ordered the brown butter sauce scallops to share. Before that arrived, they gave us the most delicious complementary house bread with butter. The bread was so fragrant, well seasoned, and soft that I could have inhaled like five of them at once. I'm usually not even a butter fan, but this one was so smooth and creamy and had such a nice flavor that I had to keep adding it on the bread. When they came back around again, we definitely accepted more bread! The scallops were also fantastic - that sauce was so smooth, creamy, and rich and had such good flavor. I could add it to anything! For my entree, I got the signature duck breast. I've never had such well cooked duck as this, and I've had peking duck quite a few times! This duck was absolute perfection - crispy seasoned skin, a thin layer of fat, and tender juicy meat. The plum sauce on the side added such a nice sweet tart balance to the meat and every bite was fantastic. I will say that the sides weren't my favorite, but the duck itself made up for that. They even gave us some complementary sweets for dessert. The jelly was good, but the honeycomb chocolate was insanely good. I would buy that if I could! I took some to go since I was so full, and they even gave me two more bread rolls to take home! I was so happy and full - this was such a lovely experience. Thank you Boka! read more
2 years ago
Loved the ambiance. Everyone was friendly and welcoming! I tried during restaurant week and it was delicious. Perfect portion size and absolutely flavorful. read more
4 months ago
1 year ago
The food was incredibly flavorful and yummy, especially the seafood but the short rib wasn't anything that noteworthy. The scallop was insane and the hamachi. They split all the dishes for us and had a special congrats menu for me. They are very attention to detail and it's a great place to try for a nice date night. I would recommend but we didn't try the tasting menu I'm not sure it would be worth the price. But the service was 10/10. read more
1 year ago
Got a reservation early. Service was immaculate - server was very kind with explaining the restaurant + wine options (quick samples as well). Loved having the whole duck explained to us, especially with its presentation. The butter was so good lol. The Slow roasted beef short rib was great too, but the duck was clearly the main course. Come for that alone! read more
2 years ago
THE BIG: 1 michelin star restaurant in the Old Town area of Chicago. Indoor/outdoor seating. Parking is relegated to the street. Best to take a taxi. THE BLACK AND WHITE: The wife and I came here for our anniversary after our reservation at Smyth was botched from the concierge. Regardless the service and food here at Boka did not disappoint. If you head downstairs to the bathroom, you can see all of their Michelin stars for the past decade. As for the food, we did the tasting menu which was $175 for 7 courses. The first course were a few bites followed by the other courses. Our menu included: - Gem Lettuce, Beausoleil Oyster, Foie Gras - Blue Fin Tuna - Black Truffle Strascinati - Slow Cooked Ocean Trout - Roasted Colorado Lamb - Hibiscus Sorbet - Raspberry buckwheat coconut All were great however my favorite was the black truffle strascinati. Something about truffles always wins over my heart. THE FINAL BAMBOO: Overall the damage done for 2 tastings and a bottle of wine was around $570 including tax and tip. Everything was great and I highly recommend read more
10 months ago
Boka has never failed to impress me. The dishes that they create are some of the best I've ever had, and this visit has cemented its place in my top 3 favorite restaurants of all time. The dishes are innovative, but not to the point that they are ridiculous. Everything was cooked to perfection. The agnolotti was perfectly al dental, the duck had a crisp skin with tender meat, and the scallops and venison were incredibly tender. The sauces they curate here blend together with the dishes incredibly well. And the plating is always immaculate. This place does elevated dining without being pretentious. Boka is a must-try if you are in Chicago and can get a reservation! read more
Boka was a charming and delightful fine dining experience. We had an amazing server who was knowledgeable, pleasant and overly accommodating to make sure certain food item modifications were made for our group. All of the courses were beautiful to look at and equally delicious, but the standout course for me was the bluefin tuna with strawberries. Please see menu for course list. Boka was a great addition to my weekend dining experience in Chicago! I highly recommend. read more
2 years ago
Wow wow wow! What an incredible dining experience. My husband and I dined at Boka to celebrate our 1 year anniversary on a Friday night. We sat in the greenroom area which was very pretty and well lit in the day time. We opted for the tasting menu. It was quite an experience. Every dish was paced very well and packed with flavor. My favorites were the fois gras bite, pasta dish, and tuna dish. I left the restaurant pretty full and they gave us a small blueberry bread to take home! We didn't do a wine pairing, but the whole meal pair very well with a bottle of Alexana Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley. Finally, service was top notch. Our waiter was very attentive and kept things moving. Highly recommend for a special dinner out! read more
2 months ago
2 years ago
Disclaimer: We opted for ordering things a la carte instead of choosing the tasting menu. The duck was delicious, but it was a little cold (even though we were told it's torched before serving). Also, the vegetables were over-salted. Everything else was great -- not pictured here, but the cucumbers were delicious. Service was good, not over the top (in a good way). I would probably come back to try the tasting menu. The dim lighting (light fixtures are gorgeous) and dark decor makes for a romantic evening. read more
5 months ago
2 years ago
Came as a group of 4 for the 8 course experience and the server was very sweet. Please see menu picture to get real names of meal 1 - Lettuce - 9.5/10 2 - Bread thing - 9/10 with the nonalcoholic pairing 3 - Tomato - 8/10 4 - Tuna Tartare - 9.5/10 5 - Trout - 9/10 6 - Ravioli - 8/10 with the mom alcoholic pairing 7 - Lamb - 4/10. Not the way I would have wanted to end the courses. 8 - Blackberry Sorbet - 6/10 - it taste like perfume but gets better with more bites no, it's the thought. It was like red hot chili it the bread first painful. 9 - Raspberry - very interesting. 7/10 Ambiance: Business casual read more
2 years ago
Came here for restaurant week and it was such a good deal for such high quality food!! Portion were small to be fair but it tasted delicious! I really enjoyed the cod, beef tartare and the scallops. Would definitely recommend coming for restaurant week or normally to try different things on the menu. read more
We were visiting from out of town and saw that this was a 1star Michelin rated restaurant so booked a reservation for 2. Let's just say we did not have a Michelin star experience. For what we paid the value was not there in service or product. We were both very disappointed with the experience. Let me break it down for you: Food: we ordered the Lightly Cured Kampachi and the Brown Butter Roasted Hokkaido Scallops for our 1st course. These both had excellent flavors. Presentation was so so. Not what u would expect from a Michelin experience. See attached pictures. For our main course we had the Duck for 1 person which was accompanied by separate serving dishes of delicata squash and duck heart sausage, the second entree was the Black Truffle Roasted Chicken. The Duck was perfectly cooked and served with a sauce administered table side by the waiter. It was delicious. The delicata squash was limp, soggy and room temperature with little to no flavor. The duck heart sausage was very tasty but alas was also at room temperature sadly. Unfortunately this malady carried over to the Black Truffle Chicken which was room temperature on the ends of the chicken pieces but stone cold in the center. Definitely would have tasted better had it been served hot. And again with both these entrees the presentation was very lackluster. I am not sure how this restaurant maintains a Michelin star. My only thought is that more attention goes into their tasting menu and these items on the regular menu have become afterthoughts. Desert menu not very tempting, they could use the input of a good pastry chef. We did taste one dessert that was given to us as a recovery for the missteps of the meal. I believe it was sweet corn with blueberry. It was not that appetizing. Service: Meh. Staff just didn't seem sharp. From appearance of uniforms or suit jackets of managers, to prompt clearing of empty dishes, utensils and glasses between courses. Server technique left a bit to be desired. Our server had to be reminded 3 different times to deliver or replenish drinks. She was nice enough but didn't seem to be engaged. Frankly there was not a lot of energy or enthusiasm from any of the staff we encountered or observed. Except perhaps for the ladies that greeted us at arrival. They were very warm and friendly. Overall, I'd say this restaurant needs a refresher from top to bottom. There were some hits but the misses were glaring enough to leave us wondering how they attained Michelin recognition. Ambiance - sat near bar in booth. Lighting from above was bright at first, but then adjusted by staff to improve ambiance in that area. read more
2 years ago
Dry aged beef appetizer was flavorful and delicious. The slow cooked cod and roasted chicken are both so tender. The mushroom flavors of the chicken. And the creamy sauce for the cod. match made in heaven. I also enjoyed the scallops. Delicious flavored and delicate. Desserts and drinks are good too. I liked the yuzu namelaka a bit more. read more
I first visited Boka back in January for Restaurant Week. That was the 1st time I decided to try beef tartare. The beef tartare is exactly the reason why I visited Boka again in April. The beef tartare was SO incredibly silky, and the flavor was unlike anything I'd ever tasted before. If I lived in that area, I'd visit Boka every day just for that dish alone. In addition to the beef tartare, I also enjoy their caviar (the presentation alone is great because it's served in an eggshell). My friend tried the duck, and I could tell by the empty plate at the end of the dinner that she really enjoyed it. The ambiance and service Boka provides makes them such a pleasant and refined dining experience. I can't wait to visit again! #ImNotAFoodie #ImJustAGirlWhoLovesFood #YelpEliteSquad read more
We went to Boka for restaurant week, and it was a great experience overall! It was really busy as you would expect but the service was great and everyone was very friendly. We sat in the garden/green house type room. It had a weird draft that oscillated between warm and cold air that was slightly distracting but not enough to deter from the meal. On the restaurant week menu, I got: 1. The dry aged beef tartare. This was delicious. I liked that there was a crunch. The mayo-y sauce kind of reminded me of a take on a hamburger. 2. The duck leg ravioli. Arguably my least favorite dish of the night. While the sauce was delicious, the inside of the ravioli was dry and I felt like it lacked any real flavor. 3. The pork collar. Another delicious course. It was tender, and the cabbage I could have all on its own. 4. The whipped cheesecake. So yummy! I loved the crunchy bits. I will definitely be back to try the regular menu. read more
it a great way to experience a variety of their dishes at a more accessible price. To start, we shared a cold beef dish and the cold tuna. The tuna was exceptionally fresh, and the pear paired with it was absolutely delicious--one of the best tuna dishes I've ever had. For the hot dishes, we tried the duck leg ravioli and the roasted scallop. The ravioli was perfectly al dente, as expected at a restaurant of this caliber, and packed with rich flavor. My dining companion was especially impressed with the roasted scallop, saying it was cooked to perfection and melted in their mouth. For entrées, I had the grilled pork collar while my friend had the roasted chicken. The pork collar was outstanding--so tender it practically melted like butter. The purée served with it was so unique that I had to ask the server about it, and I learned it was an Israeli root vegetable. Absolutely perfect. Meanwhile, my dining companion raved about the roasted chicken, particularly its incredible juiciness. Dessert was the perfect ending. We tried both options, but my favorite was the brown sugar banana and milk chocolate dessert. The crispy element added great texture, making it even more enjoyable. Beyond the food, our server was fantastic--offering great recommendations that truly enhanced our meal. And I have to mention the espresso martinis--they were excellent! Overall, Boka provided an exceptional dining experience. Restaurant Week made it an even better value, and I would absolutely return. If you have the chance to visit during Restaurant Week, don't hesitate--you won't be disappointed! read more
6 months ago
Boka is our annual sister tradition and we love their tasting menu!! The service is outstanding and our waiter from last year, Augustas, even came out to see us as we were leaving to say hello. The entire restaurant is intimate and cozy. Already can't wait to be back next year! read more
2 years ago
Yes, Boka deserves to get all 5 stars. After my meal there last night, I think it might be the best restaurant in all of Chicago (including its neighbor). The nice thing about this place is that its a fine dining establishment where you can just straight up order or get the tasting menu. We went for the tasting menu with the wine pairings. Most of us got the standard, but one did get the enhanced. Tuna Taco: Excellent fresh start. Most at my table thought this was the "worst" dish of the night. With all the courses, it got a little bit lost in the mix, but I think it was more of a palate cleanser. Tempura Mitake: This came out with the Tuna Taco, but most of us ate second. We were glad we did as this was a little heavier than the taco. It went excellent with the wine which was bubbly. I am not a big mushroom fan, but this was good! Bread and Butter: While technically not a course, I greatly enjoyed this. Very good bread and fresh butter! The others at the table were not as excited for this, but I loved it! Cured Hiramasa: This had a great citrus flavor and had crunchy bottom. It was also served with a Kabinett which is my favorite wine. Up til this point, the table agreed that this was the strongest dish. White Asparagus: We also really like this with its citrus sauce (sense a theme?). Again, not the biggest asparagus fan, but I liked this! Stracinati: This was my absolute favorite dish (it was everybody else's third favorite). It had a buttery and crunchy thing going on that I absolutely loved. The pasta was also cooked perfectly! Ocean Trout: This was everybody's favorite hands down (it was my third favorite). This trout was flaky and served in a bed of sauce. The wine that went with this was outstanding! Wagyu: Who doesn't like a piece of steak? This was everybody's second favorite dish. Steak was nearly melt in your mouth and the lettuce was grilled which gave it a neat charred flavor. Sorbet: We started to get super filled at this part. The sorbet was good, but nothing too exciting. We REALLY lied the brown butter crumbles on the bottom. I could have eaten a bowl of that granola looking thing! Buckwheat Porridge: We were unsure on this, but this was a VERY STRONG ending to our meal. There was so much sweet and fruit flavor in here. We ended with some chocolates and small cookies which were good, but I didn't really get much of a description. We all got a little tea cake to take home which sounded excellent. I will be eating it when I get home tonight as I didn't have any more room in my stomach! As for the service, it might be some of the greatest I have ever gotten in a restaurant. Augustus was outstanding and perfectly matched the excitement of our table. We had a few people new to fine dining and he fielded so many great questions. His wine speeches were top notch. As for the wine pairings, I would say that they were the biggest deal of the night. We got 7 samples of wines that went with dishes perfectly. The higher end pairings went well for the one person except the second to last wine (he ended up bringing out the standard one that we all had for her instead). While the wines she had were of the higher end, please know that the standard pairing aren't much lower in quality. Theres a big difference between a $10 bottle of wine and a $50. Its harder comparing a $50 to a $100 so don't feel bad about getting the "cheap" pairing. Shoutout to Max and Juan who were helping Augustus with making sure our table looked presentable and our waters were alway filled. Once again, outstanding service! Speaking of cheap. This place isn't cheap, but it never pretends to be! This is the fine dining that you see on "The Bear". In fact, I would say that this is a slightly better deal than most of the other fine dining restaurants in Chicago. The food is fancy, but approachable. Its upscale, but not stuffy. The food, wine, and service is all top notch so I will be coming back here again sometime in the future. This will be my "go to" super fancy place. read more
Overall an incredible experience. To start off the cocktail, the needle in the Hay was the best cocktail I've ever had. It's a perfectly balanced drink & The coffee aftertaste is really satisfying. The chicken liver mousse was well worth trying. Personal favorites were the baby beets - didn't know beets could be that good. And the Chicken. I think it's fair to say, beef is much more forgiving of a meat than chicken, and their execution of the chicken shows the quality this establishment runs on. Was truly blown away! Was definitely worth the trip from the suburbs. As expected the service is outstanding and personable. The ambiance is cozy, yet elevated. read more
Went here to celebrate my birthday with a friend. Did the 8 course tasting menu on Sunday, April 7. Service was incredible - water was ALWAYS full, and the food had a lot of variety. They do serve a vegetarian tasting menu, and it looked comparable to the normal one. Highlights included the strascinati (pasta with a cream sauce), the slow cooked Tasmanian ocean trout (tasted like a perfectly cooked salmon with a cream sauce), and the French white asparagus. The tasting menu was heavier on the cream side and the first few bites of the tasting menu had more gelatin that I was expecting. $175 is a little pricey, but Boka is a staple to go to. I'm glad we went, and it didn't feel pretentious or over the top. You can come in nice sneakers or heels - which is a plus for the environment :) The service was INCREDIBLE and we felt taken care of the entire meal. I'll definitely want to come back for a restaurant week one year! read more
More info about Boka
1729 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60614
Lincoln Park
Directions
(312) 337-6070
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.bokachicago.com
Full menu
Hours
Payment methods
Food & Alcohol
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
From the Business
More Info
Health Score
Boka Reviews in Other Languages
Ask the Community - Boka
Can you accommodate 4 people, one gluten sensitive, one coconut sensitive and all 4 vegetarians? We would like a degustation menu.
Hi James, We can definitely accommodate this dietary restriction. Feel free to let us know if you need any assistance with a reservation.…
Is there parking readily available or should I take a cab?
They have valet parking that's reasonably priced.
Are vaccine cards required? It seems a lot of restaurants' websites have not been updated properly. Thank you!
They didn't check when I dined in last month.
Does the tasting menu have a lot of seafood?
Only 2/10 (3 if you count caviar) dishes when we went in early September
How long does the dinner tasting menu last?
I'd say around 90-120 minutes to fully enjoy the experience.
How far in advance can you make reservations?
Hi Nina- Reservations are available online up to 30 days in advance. If you are looking for…
Is the new High Top seating just the bar seats with a high top table or would you be standing?
Hello- The High Top seating is a booth across from the bar. You would be seated. Thank you!…
What kind of warming equipment will you have if we have a outdoor dinner? Really want celebrate my birthday at a restaurant instead of at home!
Hello, thanks for reaching out. We currently have heat lamps on both our covered patio, back patio and front patio.
Is there any dress code?
We do not have a dress code at BOKA. Most guests are comfortable in business casual attire but dress coats are not required. Thanks!
Hi - is it possible to bring well behaved kids (3 and 5 year old) to the restaurant? We have a 5pm seating on a Sunday night. Would the chefs be able to accommodate a kids plate? Thank you!
Hi Kwan- Thank you for reaching out! We welcome guests of any age at BOKA! I have brought my own…
Is Boka good for solo dining? Is there a bar where one could sit and get a bite and glass of wine?
Absolutely! Treat yourself to a solo date here, you won't be disappointed. They have lovely cocktails. A great wine selection. Excellent bites. However, the bar area has limited seating. I would call ahead.
Is there an age that is not permitted in the restaurant?
Hi Ethan! There are no age restrictions at BOKA, though we do ask for ID for anyone who looks under 30 and wants to drink alcohol. I'm not sure what you mean by the "Gallery", however. We do have a room with a moss-covered wall that we usually refer…
Dressing code enforced?
While we recommend Business Casual, there is not a strict dress code at BOKA.
We are coming to Chicago to celebrate 25th wedding anniversary. Would love to eat at Boka but no reservations available. Any other suggestions? Gilt Bar? Thank you
Try Bellemore or Somerset. Both part of the same restaurant group. Both awesome.
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
100 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
3 years ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
2 months ago
12 years ago
13 years ago
3 years ago
19 years ago
9 years ago
15 years ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
1 year ago
17 years ago
2 years ago
8 years ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
Boka - newamerican - Updated August 2026
Best of Chicago
People found Boka by searching for…
Michelin Star Restaurant in Chicago, IL
Celebrity Restaurants in Chicago, IL
Trendy Hip Restaurants in Chicago, IL
Restaurants Dressy Attire in Chicago, IL
Revolving Restaurant in Chicago, IL
Upscale Vegetarian Restaurants in Chicago, IL
Proposal Restaurant in Chicago, IL
Michelin Restaurants in Chicago, IL
Pre Set Menu Restaurants in Chicago, IL
Tasting Menu Wine Pairing in Chicago, IL
Adult Birthday Party Dinner in Chicago, IL
Private Booths Restaurant in Chicago, IL
Trending Searches in Chicago, IL
Browse Articles
Browse Nearby
BEST of Chicago, Illinois Restaurants near Boka
BEST of Chicago, Illinois Coffee near Boka
BEST of Chicago, Illinois Breakfast near Boka
BEST of Chicago, Illinois Things to Do near Boka
BEST of Chicago, Illinois Desserts near Boka
BEST of Chicago, Illinois Dinner near Boka
BEST of Chicago, Illinois Parking near Boka
BEST of Chicago, Illinois Cocktail Bars near Boka
Browse Brands
Related Searches in Chicago, IL
Best Appetizers to Enjoy Around Chicago, Illinois
Best Bar Food and Snacks Served in Chicago, Illinois
Best Bar and Grill Experiences in Chicago, Illinois
Best Mac and Cheese Dishes Available in Chicago, Illinois
Best Places for Brunch in Chicago, Illinois
Best Restaurants for Large Groups in Chicago, Illinois
Book Rehearsal Dinner Spots in Chicago, Illinois
Celebrate With Birthday Dinner in Chicago, Illinois
Discover Authentic Italian in Chicago, Illinois
Discover Farm to Table Restaurants in Chicago, Illinois
Discover Hip New Restaurants to Try in Chicago, Illinois
Discover Popular Sports Bars in Chicago, Illinois
Discover Popular Sunday Brunch Places in Chicago, Illinois
Discover the Best Romantic Restaurant Options in Chicago, Illinois
Enjoy Breakfast & Brunch Favorites in Chicago, Illinois
Enjoy Casual Dining Options in Chicago, Illinois
Enjoy New American Dinner Options in Chicago, Illinois
Enjoy Patio Dining Options in Chicago, Illinois
Enjoy Prime Rib Specialties in Chicago, Illinois
Enjoy a Refreshing Mimosa in Chicago, Illinois Today
Enjoy the Best Cocktails in Chicago, Illinois
Explore BBQ Restaurants Near Chicago, Illinois
Explore Delicious Vegetarian Food in Chicago, Illinois
Explore Dog Friendly Restaurants Near Chicago, Illinois
Explore Fun Restaurants in Chicago, Illinois
Explore Popular Foodie Restaurants in Chicago, Illinois
Explore Restaurants With Private Rooms in Chicago, Illinois
Explore Top Breakfast Restaurants in Chicago, Illinois
Find Family Friendly Restaurants in Chicago, Illinois for All Ages
Find Fresh Lobster Dishes in Chicago, Illinois
Find Fresh Salmon Dishes in Chicago, Illinois
Find Restaurants With Views in Chicago, Illinois
Find Valentines Day Dinner Places in Chicago, Illinois
Find the Best Happy Hour Deals in Chicago, Illinois
Fresh Oysters Served in Chicago, Illinois
Great Diners to Visit in Chicago, Illinois
Highly Rated Steakhouses Around Chicago, Illinois
Order Fresh and Tasty Salad Options in Chicago, Illinois
Plan Anniversary Dinner in Chicago, Illinois
Popular Kid Friendly Restaurants Near Chicago, Illinois
Saturday Brunch Spots to Visit in Chicago, Illinois
Taste the Best American Food in Chicago, Illinois
Top Fine Dining Restaurants in Chicago, Illinois
Top Gluten Free Restaurants in Chicago, Illinois
Top New American Restaurant Choices in Chicago, Illinois
Top Outdoor Dining Spots to Try in Chicago, Illinois
Top Places for Bottomless Mimosa Brunch in Chicago, Illinois
Try Unique Restaurants Around Chicago, Illinois
