I always liked brightwok but it's been inconsistent recently. I placed an order online for delivery and an hour after I placed the order the delivery person informed me the restaurant was closed. Won't be ordering online again. read more

Filling, tasty food on the go. Kick'n Panang - 4/5. Good flavor. Lots of veggies. Medium spicy. Large portion. Came for lunch on a Friday and it was relatively busy but operates like a well oiled machine with employees busily working over their wok stations. It appears that it is a mostly order ahead business. Requested the dish with brown rice, an egg, and grilled pineapple. Something got mixed up and didn't get any of those. Brought it to the staff and they quickly added the egg and pineapple (I didn't realize the rice swap until later) and gave me a coupon for the future. read more

Fantastic wok fare! Everything is ordered by app/phone, but it is all cooked to order and takes 5 minutes or so. We have tried four dishes and liked them all; the sweet potato fritter side is nice too. Nothing but good things to say, honestly ; nothing has disappointed. But read up on your sauce before ordering, as they really Makes it breaks each dish read more

This is set up like a Chipotle. Sort of. You line up and walk down the line placing your order. Then you have to wait for them to cook your bowl in a wok while you get seated. It only takes maybe 5 minutes from start to finish. It's pretty quick. I ordered a Chicken Thai Basil with veggies and brown rice. Chicken was cooked tender. Veggies were crisp tender along with a perfect rice. Sauces were house made and all fresh and flavorful. Everything had a fire roasted flavor and was simply delicious. Iced Chai was amazing. A cashew butter, chocolate chip and vanilla cake finished off a delicious lunch. I would eat here regularly if I lived nearby. The chopsticks message on the wall was also a nice touch that adds to the ambiance. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Chicken Basil Thai. Chai. Cashew butter cake. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love a good allergen friendly build-your-own type of fast casual restaurant and Brightwok didn't disappoint! All gluten-free, dairy-free, and peanut-free with meat options for omnivores and tons of veggies and organic tofu for plant-based folks. I had a noodle bowl with the chili curry sauce and it was delish, the roasted mushrooms are definitely worth the added "premium" cost. The only reason it's not 5 stars was the price point and taste of the sides. The fritter was just ok in my opinion but my husband loved it with his BBQ tofu rice bowl. The pickles were bland and the magic cake wasn't magical in my opinion. For two bowls, pickles, fritters, and the cake it was over $60, that was with delivery though but still a bit high. I would definitely eat at Brightwok again when in the area and just stick to the bowls which were on point. read more

Hallelujah! With so few gluten-free options for my celiac brother, I'm frequently stuck eating at that well known German restaurant on E Adams. But with the opening of Brightwok, I can now put that creamed spinach to rest! This place is gluten-free, dairy-free, and peanut-free, but it's certainly not "taste-free". Brightwok is busy at lunch, but the line moves fast. I love the "Eat Right Bowl". Delicious and free of decision making since it's one of two "chef favorites". The other options are customized by the customer. The "Eat Right" is everything I love. --Chicken breast, slightly charred broccoli, onions, carrots, and peppers. It's served with brown rice and a Thai Basil sauce that is neither heavy nor scarce. -It's all perfect. Breaking my typical rule, I am compelled to eat the whole bowl. I can't help myself. And for only $9?! Thank you, thank you. read more

Their Motto is "Eat Right, Live Bright," and That's What You Do Here. We dropped in here for a quick, cheap bite during lunch and had a great experience. Brightwok is a veggie-focused, Asian-inspired restaurant serving fresh and colorful bowls of delicious-goodness. Their sauces are all homemade and flavorful, and their menu is dairy- and peanut-free. I ordered their Kick'n Panang bowl ($9), that came with white rice, local tofu, zucchini, squash, carrots, broccoli, and onions--I added a crispy egg on top ($1.50). It was great--lots of fresh veggies and a tangy sauce I made sure to sop up with every grain of rice. My date ordered the Earth, Curry, and Fire ($10), a bowl with chili coconut curry spiced hot, white rice, local tofu, kale onions, carrots, bell peppers, and crispy egg. She loved it too. We're not from Chicago and were so glad to come here for lunch. This is a great place to have a quick, healthy meal that's easy on your wallet and easy to fit during the work day. read more

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Brightwok Kitchen checked a lot of boxes for me. It's near school, affordable, healthy, and, for my dining buddy, gluten free. They were handing out samples of a couple dishes at the entryway, and though we already knew we were eating there it sealed the deal. The dishes were yummy and healthy! Lots of veggies without feeling like it was bogged down with an excess of health food lol. If you're downtown near the Art Institute, it's a nice Asian-Inspired lunch. read more

Okay, I have to give the 5 start rating for this place. I was surprised by the ambience when I walked In(My first time though), given how it looks from the outside and how confused one of my colleague, searching for the door to get in..LOL. This place is neat and and bright as it sounds. They have pretty good amount of eating for dine in. I liked the decor on the wall with chopsticks, nice touch. On the menu you will have options you s order straight in for the stir fry or you can choose to build your own bowl. Build bowl -Chicken with veggies and brown rice, this Basil sauce. To place your order is of same style you do at chipotle or most of the Mediterranean places. I went in during lunch hour, didn't have to wait for long time. It was quick. You get to choose 4 veggies for free and you have to pay extra for others and I believe some veggies come under this extra category which you have to pay ..for example mushroom which I had to pay extra. You choose your options, pay and wait. Your order number will be called when it's ready which was pretty quick in my case. Food was delicious, cooked well enough, veggies crisp and tender. Good food and healthy Choice. This is a place worth trying and even going back. The price range, I would say a bit more compared to what you pay for a stir fry in other places(Depends in what you have in your order). Food quantity and taste is pretty good for what you pay, worth it ! read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Build your Bowl - Chicken,veggies,brown rice(in the bottom) - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food is nothing special and extremely overpriced for what you get. The dishes/woks are dirty with old dry food from previous customers. It doesn't surprise me after witnessing how the owner treats the staff. I saw him yelling at a man in the back that was coming back and forth with woks. He seemed to be working very hard yet was bashed pretty recklessly. The long line and noise made other oblivious, and that kind of bothered me. The only other time I went there the same owner was giving off awkward creepy vibes towards females in the store. I don't recommend going here and supporting business owners of that caliber. ... Thanks for your response. Unfortunately the same man in the picture under other yelp reviews "business owner: Jeremy K." Is the one I'm talking about. I would hate for an innocent employee to get blamed for the actions of the owner. I believe low-income workers deserve respect and should not be used as a scapegoat. I would appreciate if you listened to my concerns rather than attempt to discredit them. Best regards to your employees. From what I saw, many of them are hard workers. Thank you. ***Edit*** ... And yes I just sent you an email. It explains that this occurred on the 21 Adams Street location by the State & Adams Red Line. I live and work in Chicago and frequent the area, so I've seen this man before in passing through the area. Sorry for any confusion on which location this occurred. Thank you for your time. read more

This place is delicious! This is such a great place for lunch. You get a lot of food and you will be full. You can build your own bowl and see them make your food on the wok. It's a great place for work lunch with coworkers if you work downtown in the loop. Service was great, very kinda service. And the place is big plenty of room to sit. read more

(Wo)man cannot live by salad alone, so I decided to come here last week for a late lunch. I was the only one in line, although there were a handful of patrons seated in the restaurant. I had wanted to try this place as I had walked by here on a few occasions and am glad that I finally stopped in. The interior was inviting and clean (love that chopstick wall art!) and the service across the board was efficient and friendly. I quickly scanned the wall menu which features a few seasonal specials in addition to the "our favorites" rotation and build-your-own options. I decided on the Kick'n Panang with brown rice, tofu, curry, and fresh carrots, yellow squash, and zucchini. The tofu provided a hit of protein and the sauce had a definite kick which I appreciated. The bowl itself was a little pricey ($10 including tax) but I felt the pricing was fair as the ingredients that went into it were fresh and it wasn't 80-90 percent rice as can so often be the case at these types of places. I look forward to returning to trying the sides and seasonal offerings. read more

Awesome lunch spot in the loop! And love the ability to build your own bowl to make it as healthy as you want. Portions are big, so I often split my order in to two lunches. Def worth a try! read more

Open on Memorial Day. Everything else in this part of town was closed for lunch. Kinda like chipotle style, pick what you want in your bowl. Then they fry it up for you, like fried rice or pan fried noodles. The Noodle were over cooked and kinda soggy almost. Flavor from the sauces were pretty good though. Healthy, gluten free portion. Friendly staff. Would recommend. read more

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I am so impressed. Tastes as good as it looks. The line moves quick during that loop lunch rush hour. The owners did a great job making the place look bigger than it is. Also, the staff is trained so well. They give great suggestions and are patient as hell. In my opinion, if you happen to find yourself near one of these restaurants you should definitely try it! read more

4.5/5 My team at work ordered from Brightwok Kitchen for dinner. I ordered the Sweet Umami Mushroom and it was delicious. Don't let the name deceive you - it was not sweet at all, it was savory. It was a noodle dish with steak pieces and vegetables. The meat was very succulent and the mushrooms paired well with it. If you work in the loop or not, I definitely suggest you visit this place for lunch. One of my coworkers ordered the Jalapeño Love because of the jalapeños and said he hated the other ingredients inside the bowl: onions, pineapple and kale, but said the Jalapeño Love was absolutely amazing, not once but multiple times and wants to go again. This place will definitely become a lunchtime regular for me. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Walking by, looked good. Walked in, was good. Went with a summer special--Hot In Here Jalapeno, then watched the magic of the wok. Every ingredient was fresh and lively. Superb! read more

Didn't really have high expectations for this spot. Relatively healthy lunch place offering up quirky creations at a reasonable price point. Saturday late afternoon and no one in line. Quickly decided on the "Earth, Curry and Fire" with chicken instead of tofu ($13ish), as well as the Iced Masala Chai ($4). Bowl is made in front of you as all the ingredients are mixed together and topped with a freshly made fried egg. Amazing taste from the coconut curry, the perfect amount of heat that went well with the chicken and veggies. Rice at the bottom wasn't overbearing as the egg softened everything up. Masala chai is a little heavy on the clove, yet a good combo for the meal. Service here is patient and there's a lot to add from the condiment station to the left. Definitely a spot I wish I had the option to go to near my office. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Earth curry and fire plus iced masala chai - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This restaurant is super cute for starters. Very clean and simple design, but still stands out on their street. The workers were all super helpful and guided us through our first visit. The food was delicious! It was a little overpriced, but you got a lot of fresh veggies and great flavors. I order the chicken bowl with white rice, chili coconut curry, and varying vegetables. This all came with an egg on top. It was delicious and I had some leftovers! read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Chicken bowl with chili coconut curry sauce and an egg on top! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

T H E S T O R Y I eat here often for lunch and I am usually able to save at least half my meal for dinner. T H E G O O D - Everything I have tried here is good. - Lots of flavor, (hopefully) healthy. - Enough food for two meals. Below is my go-to order. Veggie Brown Rice Bowl Thai Basil spice Add a fried egg Make it spicy! Veggies I choose include: Onions Peppers x2 Broccoli Kale Edamame T H E B A D - Expensive. - Orders can be somewhat inconsistent. - Not as good for delivery. T H E S T A R S I ultimately gave 4 stars because: - I eat here often and sometimes it's not as good as other times. - I have received a few delivery orders that were missing the flavor/spice. - It would be nice if they would provide nutrition information. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Veggie Bowl, brown rice, thai basil spice, with a fried egg. Veggies include: double onions, double peppers, broccoli, edamame, kale. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ordered this for a group of 15 and it was a big hit! Really nice presentation and was fresh. Everyone liked the variety and how it was filling but not heavy. We ordered: White / brown rice Crunchy Crave stir fry Everyday Eat Right stir fry Sinful banana chips Magic cake --- reallllyyyyy good! Try this place out if you're in the loop and want some great stir fry! read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I enjoyed what I ordered but I don't think this will make it into my regular lunch rotation. First, it did take a significant amount of time compared to most of the lunch places around because they cook to order. So if you're on more of a restricted lunch hour, then I would probably call in your order and just pick it up. Second, my bowl that I made myself was good but it wasn't really worth the price for me. And I only say that because this is something I can very easily do or make at home and so the end product wasn't something that necessarily blew my mind in any way. I will say that the egg was perfectly cooked, however. Also, I loved how everything tasted fresh. The veggies here all looked great. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Wok time! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Bright wok is a shining beacon of light, both before COVID and during. But I'm going to focus on during- they quickly shifted their model to allow you to do typical take-out or stir fry kits to make at home! So unique, I love it. The food is just all ways spot on. I love to make a veggie bowl with noodles and a mix of the ginger tahini and the teriyaki sauces. DROOL. It's amazing. Fast, fresh, delicious food you can enjoy without feeling guilty. And it's FILLING and good value. Can't say enough good things- if you haven't tried it, YOU MUST! read more

Very consistent, tasty, and (maybe) healthy fast casual food. Great for a quick work lunch or dinner on the go, and portions are decent and pretty filling. They do a Chipotle / Subway assembly line style which seems to be really popular now. Brightwok has asian inspired stir fry bowls, with different sauces and grain/noodle base. They have a selection of proteins, including fried tofu which is a pleasant surprise - the texture and taste is a lot different than regular tofu. You get a selection of veggies and then they fry it up on a wok in front of you. They also have "local mushrooms" which are just button mushrooms (when I first ordered I thought it would be a more exciting mix of other types) and a fried egg (which is actually fried all the way, no runny yolk) as options that cost extra. The bowls themselves are super affordable. I love the tofu on brown rice with the cashew sauce. However my only gripe is anything you want to add extra, like extra veggies or sauce, is $1.50+ which is pretty pricey. Gets pretty busy around typical lunch and dinner times, especially on weekdays. read more

Great spot for fast fresh food in the Loop! They have several protein options, so you're easily able to eat vegetarian/vegan if you'd like. I especially like the tofu. The vegetables are very fresh, and they provide a lot in each bowl, which I really appreciate. I've only had the Crunchy Crave Bowl, so I'm excited to try others. read more

Brightwok is one of my favorite lunch choices for something healthy and flavorful. Brightwok makes their food Chipotle-style and by that I mean you go down the line and pick out your ingredients and they cook it up for you. Everything is made with quality ingredients and the sauces are really tasty. I typically go with the BYOB (build your own bowl) veggie option with 6 veggies, rice noodles and change up the sauce. Brightwok can get really busy at lunchtime, but the line moves quickly. If you're looking for something fast and fresh for lunch, I think it's a solid option. 4.5 stars read more

Perfect lunch option that's quick, healthy, and flavorful! Definitely gets crowded during peak hours but the line moves very fast. Step 1: Choose your sauce. - Thai Basil - Creamy Cashew (so good!!) - Chili Coconut Curry - Adams St. Teriyaki - Light Lemon Glaze - Tahini Ginger - Golden Miso Step 2: Choose a base. - Brown Rice - White Rice - Rice Noodles - Mixed Greens Step 3: Choose a protein. - Chicken - Steak - Tofu - Extra veggies Step 4: Choose four veggies. - Onions - Carrots - Broccoli - Peppers - Kale - Cabbage - Bean sprouts - Edamame - Butternut squash You can also add on extra items like a fried egg or local mushrooms for $1.50. We loved our bowls and the food came out so fast. I really wish we had a Brightwok in Boston! I'd be going there everyday. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Brightwork is incredible and would literally get a meal plan with them if that was possible! I have a very sensitive stomach and my go to is always BW. (Get a well steamed bowl if you also have tummy troubles). - FB: I would love if they had my rotating vegetables and sauces. The staff is also super awesome and friendly. LOVE Brightwok read more

I was in Chicago for work and was excited to see that there was 100% gluten free and 99% dairy free food establishment less than a mile from my hotel. My BF dropped me off to run in and order the food since there was no parking close. The concept of the restaurant is to build an Asian style bowl with a base of either white rice, brown rice, rice noodles or salad. Pick a protein; chicken, beef or pork. Topped off with (4) veggies of your choice and then a sauce. I really enjoyed this concept, after building our bowls they sauté everything in a wok and you are ready to go. You can also specify if you want yours medium or spicy. I ended up getting half chicken and half tofu with the teriyaki sauce extra spicy. I got my BF the chicken with thai basil sauce and just kept it mild like it typically comes. On top you have the option to add extras. I got my BF a fried egg which they cooked exactly like he wanted! We thoroughly enjoyed our bowls and the side of pickles you can get are mighty tasty. I can't wait to come back here when I am in Chicago again. We both have celiac disease so having a restaurant like this that is naturally gluten free is always nice. I promise this is a great place and definitely worth giving a try. Only real bummer is they are only open till 8:00pm! We would have came more if they would have been open later. read more

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A surprising little shop, to say the least! Unlike most boxed-asian places, Brightwok Kitchen actually lets you choose everything -- then stir fries it! It's great if you're looking for something quick, healthy, and vaguely reminiscent of Thai cuisine. Choose between protein, starch (+1 for rice noodles, yay), veggies, and the all important SAUCE. Be sure to specify what level of heat you want -- their spicy isn't actually all that crazy, but experiment first and you should be good. They had a great assortment of vegetables, although I wish some of them were soaked a bit first (like the carrots), as they tended to come out significantly harder than everything else when the bowl was finally assembled. Additionally, and I'm not sure if this was an issue with the wok's heat, or just how long they have it in there, but the protein (I got beef) came out a little bit drier than I expected (hence why I say, "vaguely reminiscent" of Thai). It wasn't overly problematic, just not the traditional velvety texture that I'm used to when it comes to wok stir fries. Still, overall it was a pretty filing bowl, and at prices that won't hurt your wallet, especially considering how many veggies they toss your bowl with. Cheap + healthy never hurts! Definitely recommend for a quick bite. --- sweet: quick, inexpensive, and the stir-fry at the end is a nice touch. bitter: consistency of veggies, meat could use balancing read more

Brightwok Kitchen - The crunchy crave ($12), sub brown rice for rice noodles. Tastes Great, like a healthier pad thai. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place has become one of my favorite Loop options. The food is fresh and super flavorful. Plentiful portions. Allergy and vegan friendly. My must-have-meat mom loves their meat stirfries. I love their tofu and veggies. It's really great when you are craving vegetables. And the sweet potato fritters-- mwah! read more

After a lot of recommendations, I had to try it out. I am glad to pass on the recommendation now. Tried the Jalepeno Love bowl which comes with pineapples, brown rice, chicken and not so spicy jalepeno sauce. The Japanese yuzu lemonade is in for the season and goes well with the bowl. The folks at this place are really nice and friendly. Infact the guy who took my order was so nice that I started to doubt if he was on something. You dont find such happy staff nowadays, do you! Dont forget to fancy up your bowl. There are 3 options, but the one I missed on was the fried poached egg. Until next time.. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Jalapeno Love - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Place buzzing with Millennial office crowd, food healthy and fun. I asked for Estrada's spice and it was! That NEVER happens. The veggies were fresh, the egg crispy, the vibe uplifting. The perfect lunch. read more

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This place is BOMB I stopped here by chance and couldn't be happier I did. The food (i had earth, curry, and fire) is absolutely delicious. It was fresh, spicy, and filling. I'm so bummed that there's not one of these back home, if there was I'd be a frequent visitor read more

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If you enjoy concocting your own stir-fry creation then this place is for you! You start by picking your carb (or salad), sauce and protein, followed by your choice of up to 4 veggies, and you can top it off with some of their premium toppings such as fried egg, pineapple, or local mushrooms. For my visit, I went with the rice noodles in seasonal Fall 5-spice sauce which was a warm, sweet, and spicy mix with tons of flavor, and chicken with broccoli, carrot, peppers, and onions. They cook it pretty quickly and you can grab utensils and a cup of water while you're waiting. Overall it was a decent meal at a decent price and pretty filling! read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've eaten here a few times and each time was really good! I really enjoy that they are very gluten friendly and is always so flavorful! You get enough food for 2 even 3 meals in your order! read more

Been here a few times since I work around the corner. No complaints on food, I think it is good. Price is a bit high, you're looking at around $20 for lunch. read more

Walking by looking for something new. Place was empty but it looked inviting. After the lunch rush / hour so it had an almost dirty vibe to it but not enough to really keep me from entering. Not sure what to have so I settle on the Earth, Curry, Fire. Great choice! Hot, fresh, crispy veggies and just enough sauce. Food was brought to my table.. I was the only one in there at the time. Friendly staff. Good portion size. Definitely worth a try. I recommend. read more

Heard a lot about this place and finally had the opportunity to go. It was noon on a Friday and there was indeed a healthy line upon arrival, but it moved very quickly. I'm going to start with their service. This has got to be one of the most efficiently run establishments I've ever seen. Yes, it is another 'Chipotle' type of assembly line, but the entire staff was super on point. Right after ordering, it was promptly picked up and being made. Then at this point, I was paying. I waited maybe two-three minutes and it was ready. I noticed about ten woks going on and four hardworking guys going at them. I even saw another staff member filling up their waters for them so they could somewhat have some comfort while cooking. Other members readily refilled the water station and cleared tables. They have a nice system going and seem to be a genuine team. Now on to the food! I got a mixed greens/brown rice bowl with their limited time jalapeno green curry sauce to be made extra spicy, chicken, bean sprouts, kale, and onions. This was very tasty and all worked together. Not only that, but it was very fresh. The spice level was satisfactory for a spice lover (though I could have handled more). To note, I wasn't initially drawn to the more Southeastern Asian flavors that Brightwok seemed to draw on, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Pricing is appropriate. Space is fresh and vibrant. Definitely will come back here. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - Jalapeno green curry (limited time), mixed greens and brown rice, chicken, edamame, onions, kale, bean sprouts, extra spicy - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Absolutely loved this place. Extremely gut friendly!! You pick your ingredients and craft ur very own stir fry. High quality ingredients, worth the price. Fast service, clean facility! Can't say enough good things about this place. Stop by and give it a shot, especially if you have gluten, dairy and other intolerances. read more

Brightwok Kitchen - I ordered my bowl with chili coconut curry sauce. Don't be misled by the name and skip this sauce, it was not spicy at all. Loved it! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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