Visiting out of town and was looking for an authentic Viet restaurant to try. Decided to come to…read moreVinTea and I wasn't disappointed. I got the Hu Tieu Muc Tom and it was delicious. Fresh squid and a balanced broth. The seafood chili sauce was also on point. My mom and sis got the vermicelli with lemongrass pork and it was great as well. Very good nuoc cham. My mom is still talking about coming back to try something else before we return to California!

We stopped by VinTea with a pretty large group while we were in Chicago, and honestly it worked out…read morebetter than I expected. They have a good amount of seating upstairs, so we didn't have to split up, which is always a plus when you're traveling with a bunch of people. It was also only about a 7-minute ride from our hotel in downtown, making it an easy lunch stop. One thing I really appreciated was that you order at the counter. For a big group, this made life so much easier because everyone could order exactly what they wanted and pay separately. No awkward math at the end trying to split the bill. The staff were all really sweet and patient with us, and our food came out pretty fast considering how many people we had. I ordered the Bun Cha Ha Noi. It was decent, but if I had one complaint, it'd be that the grilled beef patties needed a little more seasoning. Everything else was good, but a bit more flavor would've taken the dish up a notch. Overall, I'd come back. The convenience, quick service, friendly staff, and plenty of seating made it a great option, especially if you're traveling with a larger group.

We stopped by TBaar on a hot summer day and were pleasantly surprised. My wife had the lemonade…read morewith 50% sweetness, and I had the green tea with honey and aloe at 25%--both were perfectly refreshing and kept us hydrated during our 90-minute architecture boat tour. The ambience was cozy, and the staff was friendly and welcoming. We loved the drinks (and the vibe) so much that we came back the next day. Will definitely return next time we're in Chicago.

Kari's Rating 9/10…read more Came with a friend and it was a really good experience. The taro was a perfect and not too sweet. I'll definitely be back! I love that this is in my neighborhood!! Place is pretty small and the servers are nice!

While waiting in the stores to open yesterday I saw this and had to wait for them to open too!…read more Love these donuts and I've been missing them since we moved from Louisiana. Friendly staff, nice sitting area, and delicious mochi donuts! Next time I'll try a boba tea because they looked so yummy.

It tastes good but they forgot my brûlée on top and only gave us the pudding itself at first. And…read morethen when we asked them for the brûlée they just did it haphazardly and torched it for like 2 seconds.

We stumbled upon Te 'Amo at Water Tower while looking for another spot and decided to give it a…read moretry. They offer a range of hot and cold beverages, as well as desserts, though we've only tried their drinks so far. My husband is a big fan of their hot Strawberry Dalgona coffee--he's ordered it both times we've visited. I've had the cold Ube Dalgona and the pumpkin spice Dalgona, both of which were absolutely delicious. This place has quickly become our favorite boba spot nationwide. The ordering process is pretty streamlined. While there are staff members available to answer questions, you place your order using touchscreen pads. It took about three minutes from placing the order to receiving our drinks. Fast and easy!

Yummy drink!! I was pleasantly surprised to taste the fluffiness of the matcha. The pumpkin spice…read morelatte part was also spot on and not too sweet. I do regret getting boba (personally) bc i think the drink was great on its own. the cups + presentation are GREAT! there's also a wide menu with lots of drink and dessert options!

Literally the cutest café. This was my favorite breakfast spot while visiting Chicago…read more The second I walked in, I was obsessed. The green and white color palette immediately reminded me of Ralph's Coffee. It felt classic and polished but still charming. Everyone working there had a smile on their face, and the warmth felt so genuine and comforting, especially first thing in the morning. They had such a huge selection of pastries and cakes that it was honestly hard to choose. I ended up getting the cake shaped like a cherry because it looked so interesting. It was a black cherry cake and I paired it with a cappuccino. It was the perfect combination. The cake was beautiful and tasted just as good as it looked. We also ordered the breakfast burrito, which came with a small side salad. It was fine, but not the standout for me. If I came back, which I would, I would probably stick to the pastries and coffee and try more of their baked goods instead. Service was amazing. The ambience was adorable. I loved how all the silverware, plating, and dinnerware matched that perfect green tone. Every detail felt intentional. It was just perfect.

We had a toddler date with a friend and her son here at the cafe at the Peninsula. They had some…read morelimited-time St. Patrick's Day specials that caught my friend's eye, including the Pot of Gold, a special dessert only available for the weekend. The food was really excellent, as was the service. But it was ridiculously priced. The reuben sandwich was $28. It was a great sandwich, very lean, but you could get a sandwich as good for half the cost elsewhere. They only have a couple of kid's items, but my friend requested buttered noodles for her kid rather than the cheesy noodles. I got the hibiscus drink and lavender lemonade, both non-alcoholic, and they were very good. My little one especially liked the hibiscus. And we ordered the appetizer of whipped ricotta and honey; my daughter liked this more than anything else we ordered. We didn't have dessert at the restaurant, but ordered to go. The pot of gold was really good. There were little "gold nuggets" on it and that was my daughter's favorite part; good thing since I didn't realize it had a layer with Bailey's in it. It was very rich, and the cauldron was really thick chocolate (and actually was a struggle to get into, a bit!). The restaurant is small but it didn't feel crowded. We never felt rushed or unwelcome, and we were there for a couple hours (longer than I realized; it took an unusually long time to make two reuben sandwiches). Their pastries are really nice but somewhat expensive, like the rest of the menu. It was a nice, sophisticated experience.

I've had their black sesame hojicha (regular menu) and pumpkin cream hojicha (fall seasonal) at 50%…read moresweetness and both are FIRE. Gathers does not miss when it comes to hojicha - the flavor is always strong, earthy, and never overpowered! They also have the cutest cups! They have some outlets but no wifi, and it can get crowded, so not super ideal for studying. But it's a nice spot to sit for a bit and take a break!

I've always stood firm in disliking matcha, but the Gathers Strawberry Matcha changed my mind. It…read morehad the right amount of sweetness while still keeping its matcha essence. After school/work hours, it does get very crowded inside, but service is quick. It would be nice if the space was larger to permit more seating. Overall, it's a cute place to visit to grab a beverage and I look forward to trying more flavors.

Honestly wayy better than I expected. We need more of these places and learn from Asia!! It was…read morebetter than some of the boba stores I visited on my trip. No boba, but jellies and it's basically a giant refrigerator. Great service and chill price

Way too sweet and not customizable. Since there's plenty of empty slots, it'd be great if they can…read moreput in some options like "less sweet, half sweet, less sweet no boba, half sweet no boba, etc"

The decor and packaging are both incredibly cute, and the menu offers plenty of fun and creative…read moreflavors. I ordered the strawberry matcha, which was nicely balanced and not overly sweet. Both the strawberry and matcha flavors came through clearly without overpowering one another. I'd definitely stop by again to try a different drink the next time I'm in Chicago's Chinatown.

The drinks are really pretty and the containers are very functional. I opted for the can since I…read morewas walking to the hotel with multiple drinks. My kiddo got the strawberry lemonade 50% sugar, but add lychee jelly. She said she liked it. It was refreshing on a hot sunny summer day around town. Glad it was close to the hotel

Lots of variety. They have screens that you can order on. I really liked the signature drink with…read morepudding. There's some seating. People were nice enough.

One of the BEST milk teas I've had!! Not based on quality of tea leaves or anything, but just cuz…read moreeven the 100% sweet was the perfect amount, in addition to their super unique milk mochi topping. It felt a bit like pudding but more creamy, a bit like burrata texture?? Absolutely obsessed, and most boba stores don't have this topping as an option. It was holiday season, so you could add a $1 to get it served in an adorable gingerbread bottle. We got to pick our own mini crochet hat and scarf!! The drink came out very quickly and you order from a tablet. Perfect for pictures inside, the decor was so cute!

I've been coming many times now since it's in a super convenient location to me. Decent place for…read moreboba drinks and popcorn chicken. Their boba is consistently cooked nicely so that's definitely a plus. Popcorn chicken is also good although not authentically Taiwanese style, but still tasty (I get them with the sour plum flavor and spicy). Inside has a small seating area. Their operating hour is quite short, I wish they would open earlier or later! Their menu is also not as full as the location in Chinatown, much limited options at this location (both drinks and snacks).

Come on, Ume Tea - you just need to do better…read more This location is extremely dirty and unhygienic - the place has grime and marks all over the place (floors, walls, seating areas), and there are insects/gnats just flying around. The staff aren't helpful, and you'll have to do the ordering on their kiosk. I wanted to check out their Surprise Cups, but they were all out, and the plushes that you could purchase were 'sold out'. No dice, Ume Tea. +extremely dirty! +unavailable items +unhelpful staff