Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Brightwok Kitchen

    4.4 (255 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Brightwok Kitchen Takeout or Delivery

    Brightwok Kitchen Photos

    BRIGHTWOK KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    More like Brightwok Kitchen

    Recommended Reviews - Brightwok Kitchen

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Pat C.

    Service here was great. The nice guy behind the counter knows the menu very well. He was very nice and friendly. Earth, Curry, and Fire was not really spicy. It was white rice, onions, carrots, peppers, kale, chili coconut curry, and crispy egg. I added additional chicken with it. Magic cake is homemade cashew butter and chocolate chips. Food here was alright; I think it could be more flavorful.

    Inside, some of the seating.
    Tara R.

    Wow so glad I gave this place a chance. Was hoping for something delicious and healthier and it definitely delivered. Employees were friendly too. I ordered the Sweet New Year bowl to-go, because I was craving BBQ. It was amazing. I ordered with no zucchini and that was no problem. I love that everything is stir fried right in front of you and even though sweet potato is usually not my favorite, the sweet potato cake was one of my favorite parts of the bowls. Though about $18 with tax and tip, the bowl is huge- easily feeds two people or gives you a meal for later. Give them a chance, especially if you are craving something quick and healthy but still delicious.

    Build your own bowl (veggies, chicken, & sweet potato)
    Danielle F.

    Quick place to grab a made to order meal. With several healthy options and the ability to build your own bowl, this is a great fast casual option at an affordable price in downtown Chicago. Service was friendly and my order was accurate.

    Build your own bowl (diy vegan) - noodles, veg and tofu in curry sauce. This is what's left after I was already full!
    diana m.

    Delicious, huge portions, affordable, and vegan friendly! Built my own bowl (noodles, veg, tofu, curry sauce) and the woman at the counter was super patient and friendly. I couldn't decide which sauce and she was so helpful and polite. The food was steaming hot, delicious and huge portions. I also got a side of their pickles which were delish. The inside is super cute too. Couldn't have asked for more!

    a meal in a container
    Andy N.

    They have a lot of vegan friendly options which made it appealing and easy for me to build my own bowl. Their bowls follow a similar structure of brown rice as a grain, choice of protein, then topped with veggies and some type of Asian inspired sauce such as a tahini-sesame dressing or their chili oil. I enjoyed the two tofu bowls that we had here although I found them to be overly saucy and oily. I would suggest requesting to go light on both if you are able. Their tofu was good and I appreciated the many veggie options. Plus their fried plantains were also a nice side to accompany the bowls. Service here was really friendly and helpful, and even when you dine in, your bowls will be served in takeout containers. This is helpful if you aren't able to finish your food in one sitting but seems wasteful when you toss it out right afterwards.

    Food was great. Nick, the cashier was awesome. Very welcoming ambiance and the staff was great. Super friendly, provided great insight on the menu. Would recommend eating here!

    Bowl

    I was hesitant because presentation wise it wasn't anything fancy, and actually order got it because it accepted ClassPass credits. It actually tasted good and super filling. I ordered it again!

    Green curry stir fry - doesn't look the most appetizing but it's delicious
    Sky W.

    A great little spot to get stir fry in River North! I love that you can customize everything you want in the dish. I came with a friend on a relatively quiet Saturday for lunch and there weren't too many other people. For my stir fry, I got brown rice, chicken, carrot, broccoli, bean sprouts, and kale. The sauce I chose was the green curry. All the ingredients were cooked well, and the sauce tasted great. The only remarks I have are that the chicken was a bit dry (though that's usually the case with breast), there was a disproportionate amount of carrot that made me feel like I was eating a carrot dish, and there was too much sauce so at the end it was almost soupy. These are all minor things but added up. If I'm ever in the mood for stir-fry I will definitely come back, though maybe try a different protein and ask for less sauce. A side point, the restaurant was a bit dark inside even though it was a bright day outside. Not sure if that's an intentional decision or not...

    BYOB
    Serlina K.

    Rice noodle was a little soggy. Nothing was really flavorful. Would probably not get again.

    Earth, Curry, and Fire
    Samuel A.

    Ordered the earth, curry, & fire for delivery. Food came hot and fresh. The fried egg on top was a nice touch and added some flavor contrast to the curry & spice. This was not overly spicy so don't be afraid to order. This was a great healthier option for lunch and decently filling without making me feel stuffed.

    Create your own bowl
    Lisa C.

    I order from this location somewhat regularly and I love how it's vegetarian friendly! I'm a picky b*tch, so I always do a create your own bowl, but I love their tofu. It has a chewy texture somewhat similar to chicken. You can choose your spice level for your bowl and so long as you don't pick a sauce that's marked as spicy, they can make your bowl a true mild in case you have anyone in your life who cannot handle spice. On the other hand, if you do like spice, you can select that. I find their portions to be generous and I usually get 2 meals out of it. I'm also obsessed with their magic cake, which if you like chocolate and cashew, is glorious and not to be forgotten.

    Jennifer H.

    Hello gluten free yumminess! Brightwok is 100% completely gluten free. Which mean folks with Celiac and gluten intolerance can safely eat here without worry. But even if you're not gluten free, you're going to want to check out this place! The menu is really a suggestion - they suggest combos and sauces, but you're welcome to create your own as well. We popped in for lunch and had an absolute feast! Yummy sauces and clean healthy food. What more could a girl ask for?

    Build your own - chicken, veggies, and rice noodles, and Thai fresh basil sauce
    Samantha G.

    I was absolutely blown away by how fresh and tasty the bowls are here! Everything is stir fried to order, and definitely set a new level to the fast casual experience! The veggies were fresh, and so were the rice noodles! They did not take orders at the counter when we were there. Everything was done online, and once your order is ready, they will call your name. It took about 10-15 minutes for both our bowls to be ready from the time we ordered it on our phones.

    MYOB: Thai basil, tofu, brown rice, broccoli, kale, sprouts, zucchini, add crispy egg and mushrooms.

    See all

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    24 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    19 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Megan L.

    Megan L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rick L.
    2
    171
    80

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Megan L.

    Megan L.

    Thanks so much! We really appreciate it!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Megan L.

    Megan L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Andy N.
    1115
    2660
    7135

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Megan L.

    Megan L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Megan L.

    Megan L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Serlina K.
    1
    125
    264

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 1

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jeremy K.

    Jeremy K.

    Wow! Looks amazing! Thanks for sharing.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jeremy K.

    Jeremy K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Megan L.

    Megan L.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Donna K.
    321
    10
    1

    1 year ago

    Came here for lunch and was pleasantly surprised! Food was delicious and everyone was so friendly. Will be back!

    Business owner information

    Photo of Megan L.

    Megan L.

    Great to hear, thanks so much!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Megan L.

    Megan L.

    Thanks for visiting!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kyle A.
    182
    17
    47

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Megan L.

    Megan L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Megan L.

    Megan L.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 30
    Thanks 0
    Love this 24
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Clara S.
    610
    1679
    2387

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Megan L.

    Megan L.

    Thanks so much!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Jaleh S.
    4
    62
    169

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Brightwok Kitchen

    You might also consider

    Gaijin

    Gaijin

    4.3
    (797 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    Gaijin may be a small restaurant, but it makes a big impression the second you walk in. The dining…read moreroom isn't huge, but it has this lively energy that makes it feel exciting instead of crowded. I even was able to watch the chefs cooking just a few feet away. I could hear the sizzling from the grill, smell the food cooking, and by that point I was more than ready to eat. Our server was really nice and gave us a bunch of recommendations. Everything sounded good, but I ended up going with the Pork Belly Yakisoba. This dish was packed with flavor. The noodles had that smoky, slightly charred taste, and they were coated in just enough sauce to make every bite rich. The sauce brought a nice balance of savory, a little sweetness, and plenty of umami that soaked into the noodles. The pork belly was easily the best part. It was incredibly tender and juicy, with just enough fat that it practically melted in your mouth. Every piece had those caramelized edges that added even more flavor. Then you get the crunch from the cabbage and bean sprouts, the freshness from the scallions, and the little nutty flavor from the sesame that tied everything together. Hahaha I'd definitely come back. This is one of those dishes that sticked with me long after I left.

    There are few places in general across the US that serve up okonomiyaki, so I was thrilled to find…read morethis spot near my office. Ultimately, the food was just ok. I got the pork okonomiyaki lunch set and added a fried egg to it. I like that the table has a built in grill to keep it warm (I'm a slow eater, so this is extra beneficial for me). The bacon was quite salty, compounded by the okonomi sauce. Hoping the kombu vegetables would offset this, I mixed them into each bite to no avail. The pandan coconut mochi donut holes I chose were probably the highlight. They were crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and there was ample sauce for dipping. I think some people would find the service top notch here--constantly checking in on me and keeping water refilled. I guess that came with a cost: 3% service charge automatically applied, and the server proactively brought over a digital payment system, so the 18% tip I selected calculated off the total leading to what was essentially a tip of 23%.

    Photos
    Gaijin
    Pandan-Coconut Donut
    Pandan-Coconut Donut
    Old fashioned

    See all

    Old fashioned
    Duck Duck Goat

    Duck Duck Goat

    4.1
    (2.2k reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$$

    Duck Duck Goat lived up to all the hype and everything I have ever heard about it. One of the best,…read moreflavorful meals I have had in a long time. I was able to get a last minute reservation for me and my friends, and we were even able to sit inside. The teapot "group" drink was hard to pour, but that was truly my only complaint of the night. The potstickers melted in your mouth and the scallion pancakes were so unique. We could not get enough! The dan dan noodles were our other favorite. The inside is so cute, intimate, and dark, yet lively and fun at the same time. The perfect restaurant for any occasion!

    I really wanted to love Duck Duck Goat as it was recommended by a friend. The atmosphere was great…read moreand the drinks were good. A few dishes, like the Duck Fried Rice, Pork Belly, and Beef Noodle Soup, were actually pretty solid. But the rest of the night was just so frustrating that I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. The Jiaozi were the first big letdown. The menu said they were beef short rib and bone marrow, but they didn't taste like that at all. The filling was just super mushy and the flavor was just weird. The manager and the food runner were nice when we mentioned it, but our actual server was a disaster. When we tried the Goat Noodles, all we could taste was cumin. It was so overwhelming that it covered up everything else. We couldn't even tell if there was actually any goat shoulder in there. When we told our waiter, she couldn't care less. She got totally defensive, wouldn't even listen to us, and just said, "Oh, I told you when you ordered that the dish is cumin forward" and walked away. It got worse when the bill came. She was holding on to the payment machine so hard and almost yanked it right out of my friend's hand. She was staring at it to see what we were tipping. It was so awkward and incredibly rude. No thank you, no nothing. She just grabbed it and left. The place has potential, but they really need to fix the food and retrain the staff. A cool vibe doesn't make up for bad food and awful service.

    Photos
    Join us for Dim Sum every Saturday from 12pm to 3pm.
    Join us for Dim Sum every Saturday from 12pm to 3pm.
    Join us for Dim Sum every Saturday from 12pm to 3pm.
    Join us for Dim Sum every Saturday from 12pm to 3pm.
    Duck Duck Goat To Go - Order via Caviar or Tock.

    See all

    Duck Duck Goat To Go - Order via Caviar or Tock.
    Three Dots and A Dash

    Three Dots and A Dash

    4.1
    (4.2k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$$

    I made reservations at Three Dots and a Dash to kick off my sister's bachelorette party. She loves…read moretiki bars, so it was only appropriate to gather and welcome everyone. OpenTable only allowed up to 8 people per reservation at a time. We were a party of 13, so I had to split the reservations into two. I made a request for the tables to be close together, but I understood that there was no guarantee the tables could be together. Our reservations were at 9pm, and the place was packed. Three Dots and a Dash did us a solid and managed to reserve an entire alcove for us! I was so appreciative. Loved the vibe at Three Dots and a Dash. It felt much classier, like a mid-century modern tiki lounge. The music was fun too. Instantly recognized a retro Italian song by Pino D'Anglo, which just added to the ambiance. The drinks were great. We ordered a couple of rounds of the shotstapus, and I got the rum barrel for good measure. The drinks were sweet but tasty. Too easy to knock back.

    When I was visiting my friends in Chicago, they insisted on bringing me to Three Dots and a Dash…read more We were able to walk-in on a Friday evening, although we were relegated to standing room only since we weren't able to get a reservation. Upon entering the bar, I felt like I was entering a catacomb with skulls lining the entrance. The bar was packed, and we squeezed in at the bar to order our drinks. The drinks were on the pricey side, but I appreciate how the cocktails are garnished with real fruit (mine had lychee and dragonfruit) and was served in a fun tiki glass that was unique to each drink. The setting is a huge part of the experience, and I had a fun, memorable evening.

    Photos
    Interior Entrance
    Interior Entrance
    These Loaded Luau Cheese Fries
    These Loaded Luau Cheese Fries
    Tiki gift shop.

    See all

    Tiki gift shop.
    High Five Ramen

    High Five Ramen

    4.0
    (1.1k reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    First time here we were seated immediately! It was Thursday night around 10ish I'll say. The staff…read morewas super friendly and helpful! Very welcoming and attentive, but then again it's a hidden little ramen spot where everyone's huddled up at a bar pretty much lol The food was absolutely delicious! I got their signature ramen and the pork just melted in your mouth. Noodles were 10/10, broth even better.! Will be coming back for sure. Hopefully we have a similar experience with waiting and dining

    I never leave negative reviews, but this experience was unacceptable. On 7/18/2026 at approximately…read more9:30pm-9-45pm My friend and I were waiting for our ramen, we watched one of the kitchen staff check the noodles by reaching into the bowl with his bare fingers, pulling out some noodles, and putting them directly into his mouth to taste them. Then wiped his fingers on a dirty rag and proceeded to finish making the bowls. A short time later, we were served that same bowl of ramen. Watching an employee use their bare hands and mouth on food that was then served to a customer was extremely concerning and completely unacceptable from a food safety and hygiene standpoint. It ruined the experience and made us lose confidence in the restaurant's food handling practices. I hope management takes this seriously, retrains their staff on proper food safety procedures, and ensures this doesn't happen to anyone else.

    Photos
    Entrance into the restaurant, located in the basement
    Entrance into the restaurant, located in the basement
    Ramen
    Ramen
    Kirin ichiban

    See all

    Kirin ichiban
    Mott St

    Mott St

    4.0
    (1.2k reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$$

    With a creative menu and rave reviews, Mott St. had been on my bookmarked list since it opened! I…read morewas finally able to visit recently and it was all I hoped it would be. The interior was pretty sleek and it was packed around 6:30pm on a weeknight. It's definitely the kind of place to go when you want to have a dinner out that feels like an occasion without getting dressed up. Most of the dishes were served family style, so I recommend going with a group if you can! We tried the chef's special menu for 4 people, which had about 8 courses at a great price. To drink, I started with the white lotus, which did not come to play! It was very strong and barely sweet- maybe a bit much for me, but if that's your vibe, you'll like it. Appetizers included the Thai papaya salad and imperial rolls. The first was solid and the rolls were extra hot and crispy. I enjoyed the perilla leaves that they were wrapped in. Next came the garlic rice with whole roasted cloves of garlic, sauteed mushrooms, everything wings, and chili cauliflower. The rice was super fluffy and garlicky, but the miso butter mushrooms are not to be missed! We definitely drank a little bit of the sauce. The wings could have been a little crispier, but I really liked the sweet and spicy Korean style sauce. The crispy chili cauliflower was sweet and actually tasted a bit like orange chicken- we demolished it and this may have been my favorite dish of the whole night! Finally, we had the mentaiko kimchi udon, steak kalbi, and ordered one of their burgers on the side because why not. We agreed that the bonito flakes on the udon covered up the kimchi flavor a bit and wished it was stronger, but I liked the creaminess of the sauce. The steak kalbi had a great flavor and sauce, but I do think it could've been more tender. The burger was as good as it looked and indeed one of the best I've had in Chicago. I loved the balance between sweet and savory, and all of the flavors were balanced very well. We ended the meal with the seasonal dessert, which was sticky rice with strawberries and fermented rice. I thought it made for a refreshing end, but we agreed that it would've been even better served cold rather than hot. Overall, this was a very fun and great experience with delicious food! I would absolutely return and recommend paying a visit.

    I loved Mott St!!!! We went before a show at Salt Shed & it was perfect that we could walk on over…read moreto the venue right after our dinner. My favorite thing we got was the garlic rice & crispy cauliflower. The tofu was good but not amazing. Our service was good and the patio was very fun to sit on even on a super hot day. Can't wait to go back here!!!!

    Photos
    Dragon shots
    Dragon shots
    Everything Wings
    Everything Wings
    Lichi Mocktail

    See all

    Lichi Mocktail

    Brightwok Kitchen - asianfusion - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...