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    Daboba

    4.4 (108 reviews)
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    Updated 1 month ago

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    Cute flower corner that makes a great place to take photos at.
    Stephanie T.

    It's located on the second floor. The place is super cute as is the drinks with the teddy bear lids and it makes me giggle when it's juxtaposed next to its very serious bear that is part of their logo. It was very clean and spacious feeling. I loved the flower backdrop that is great for taking photos. The boba was delicious! I recommend ordering at the counter as opposed to ordering via the kiosk as it seemed like your drink was made faster that way. It also gave me the opportunity to ask for more information about the drinks which helped me decide to get the brown sugar taro bubble tea with both honey and brown sugar boba.

    Brown sugar milk tea (right) and traditional milk tea (left)
    Claire W.

    This is one of my favorite boba spots in Chinatown. They have very extensive menu, with lots of choices, from brown sugar teas to milk teas and smoothies. Also lots of boba and fruit jelly add on options. Ample seating as well

    Adel W.

    No complaints with Daboba! It's a newer spot on the upper level inside of Chinatown, so there's less of a crowd. The inside is super spacious and well decorated, and there are some tables as well as a bathroom. They also have a touchpad ordering system. I got a hot boba and my only qualm was the paper straw and too small a hole!! haha

    Brown sugar pearl taro milk tea
    Hope L.

    Came here after lunch in Chinatown and there was no line. I ordered the brown sugar pearl taro milk and it came out in 5 minutes. It was good; I just couldn't really taste the taro flavor and it tasted more like a brown sugar milk tea. The boba was okay; it was chewy but wasn't soaked in anything so it tasted pretty bland. Might come back to try another drink but wasn't a huge fan of this one.

    Jenny H.

    First time here and was very impressed.. workers were friendly, store was cute & clean, and my drink (roasted brown sugar fresh milk tea) was excellent! I would definitely come back the next time I come back to Chinatown.

    Roasted Brown sugar pearl fresh milk
    Vincent Y.

    Located on the second level of the Chinatown Square Plaza, it can be challenging to locate at first, but I luckily stumbled upon it and decided to give it a try. I got their Roasted Brown Sugar Pearl Fresh Milk and it was good, not too sweet and a good amount of pearls that are cooked perfectly with a nice chewy/bouncy texture. The cap on the cup is also cool, it's shaped like a bear. I think it's on the pricier side of boba in Chinatown, being $8.76 for their top seller.

    Jasmine Green Milk Tea with Boba
    Kevin L.

    [ DRINK ] Taste tested the classic jasmine green milk tea with boba since it is my first time at Daboba. More on the creamy side but you can still taste the jasmine tea. The boba was fat and chewy. Overall this passes and it's pretty good honestly. [ SERVICE ] Standard. [ PLACE ] It's kind of hidden on the top floor of the Chinatown Plaza. The interior is very nice, modern, and cozy. Great place to spend time with friends and kill time. [ VERDICT ] Overall, Daboba is a solid choice and you can't go wrong with this place. I've only tried 3 other boba places in Chicago and this is the best one so far.

    Crystal C.

    We tried two drinks and here's my take: Kumquat Lemon Seasons Tea: This drink is quite refreshing and enjoyable. However, I would recommend getting it with 50% sugar instead of the default. This will probably help the tea flavor stand out more. Cheese Green Tea: While the tea seemed to be of good quality, I found myself wishing the tea flavor was a bit stronger. I got it with 50% sweetness, but I think 75% or even 100% sugar would enhance the taste. The cheese foam was light and complemented the drink well. Overall, both drinks were good but needs stronger tea flavor.

    Cierra L.

    Adorable place and bustling but we got our drinks super fast. The flavor was everything and you can get multiple types of popping boba in one drink I got mango and passion fruit in the mango slushie drink and I was in heaven. You can choose the level of sweetness as well which is always a plus. There are so many great flavors add ins and mixtures you can do! I will definitely be back! Def my favorite boba spot in Chinatown!

    Brown sugar pearl matcha

    Ordered a couple drinks here and one of them the staff somehow forgot to put the boba it. How that happened I don't know but then instead of just taking the seal off adding the boba the resealing it they gave me the boba on the side. I would understand doing that if there is a rush and you do not have the time to redo the drink but there was no one else waiting for their drink. So this is getting a 3/5 stars because while it was good, there is also seating and a restroom but I shouldn't have to fix my beverage.

    Kumquat Lemon High Mountain Tea ~ 16oz
    Lele Y.

    TLDR; Roasted Brown Sugar drinks are great, creamy and sweet Kumquat High Mountain Tea at 75% sweet tasted like 100% sweet , will opt for 50% sweet next time (along with their other fruit drinks) -------- 2nd floor of the Chinatown eateries strip mall Self-order kiosk + ordering with cashier is available Bathroom is available for customers Good amount of tables~ typically seats just 4 Regular and Large size cups are available Roasted Brown Sugar drinks are great, creamy and sweet - really enjoyed this drink when I tried it in Houston, TX Kumquat High Mountain Tea was really good and refreshing but realized over time their 75% sweet actually tasted like 100% sweet so will try to opt for 50% sweet next time for their fruit teas Will be back so I can try their Roasted Brown Sugar Matchaaa

    gold pearl green milk tea
    Magda N.

    We got the gold pearl green milk tea. Looks like everyone's favorite at this place. It was good. Pretty solid. Comparable to good boba places outside of Chicago. The drink was good, balanced flavor and not too sweet. The boba balls was soft and chewy. Delicious. The place is located on the 2nd floor, so it may not get as much foot traffic as downstairs. But the place is big with lots of seats and decor is nice. Staff was nice and fast.

    Taro milk tea
    Isra A.

    Very cute spot in Chinatown to take a break at and enjoy some delicious drinks. They have tons of options that you can't really go wrong with. I tried the taro milk tea with brown sugar boba which was the perfect level of sweetness. Personally i found the amount of boba to be a bit too much but otherwise still really good. I'd recommend stopping by if you're in the area!

    Mango yogurt IG: @mealswithmarina

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    I greatly enjoyed the Kiwi Green Boba Tea. The staff were friendly and the atmosphere was cool.

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    Buttercup  - Buttercup - shaved iced on top.

    Buttercup

    (39 reviews)

    Near Southside

    Buttercup in the South Loop is an absolute gem, especially if you're even remotely into amaro. The…read moreselection is unreal, like the kind of list that makes you pause and realize you're about to learn something whether you wanted to or not. It's curated in a way that feels intentional, not just "we stocked a bunch of bottles." You can tell whoever built it actually cares. And shoutout to Axel behind the bar, because she is amazing. Friendly, dialed in, and genuinely knowledgeable without doing the annoying bartender thing where they make you feel dumb for asking questions. You can tell she really enjoys working here. She makes a fantastic Negroni. Great vibe, great drinks, and the kind of place you immediately want to make "your spot."

    It's nice to have another coffee shop in south loop and this place is very cute! Cozy vibes and the…read moreservice is nice and fast enough. My friends and I each tried their specialty drinks and i got an everything croissant. We had high expectations because everything looked so good on the menu. Unfortunately none of us particularly enjoyed anything we got. All of our drinks just tasted like milk (both iced and hot options) and my croissant was oddly sweet because of the filling and I didn't love that. The pastries are actually being shipped in from elsewhere (they have exactly the same one in coffee shops out in Naperville too lol). Which leaves nothing special here. It's also very small so it gets crowded and swamped pretty fast. You're really constantly stepping out of someone's way when you're just waiting for you order, so that's not ideal either. Likely won't return.

    Sawada Coffee - Military Latte

    Sawada Coffee

    (1.2k reviews)

    $$

    West Loop, Near West Side

    One of my favorite coffee spots in the city in Chicago! There's always a huge line to order so best…read moreto plan ahead and avoid peak hours. The spot has plenty of picnic style seating and great music to catch up with friends, grab a drink, or a slice of pizza! I typically go there for coffee. Their cold brew and lattes are fantastic! I like the Tokyo style syrup in my oat latte (1.5 pumps). The baristas are very friendly and have great recommendations.

    DRINKS I opted for their black camo latte. The hojicha…read moreflavor was strong, and the drink itself was not too sweet. Their military latte is their iconic drink, so if I'm ever back in Chicago, it'll definitely be something I'll check out! FOOD They have a limited selection of pastries like donuts available for purchase. Selection was limited near the end of the day. SERVICE The staff are kind and friendly! It gets busy fast, but they are efficient in pumping out orders. AMBIANCE Ample seating is available inside the store that is shared with the BBQ place adjoining the coffee spot. I visited around 2:30pm and it was filled with people working/studying or meeting with friends/coworkers. Complimentary wi-fi is available (password on the menu board). Finding the entrance was a bit confusing despite all the signs, but it's the one with a lot of stickers! PARKING Paid street parking is available at a limited capacity. BATHROOMS Restrooms are available downstairs at the back of the establishment.

    TARY Coffee - Cottage Cheese Pancakes with Balkaimak Cream

    TARY Coffee

    (200 reviews)

    $$

    River North, Near North Side

    Fresh food and beverages prepared in meticulously neat and clean area and served in peaceful and…read morecalm environment

    What a place. This is so much more than just a coffee house. Tons of options, great ambience, and…read moregenuinely kind people. We started with a mocha, a solid, well-balanced drink that wasn't overly sweet and was just perfect. We didn't plan on eating here, but the menu was way too tempting. We ordered the cinnamon roll, and wow. This was insanely good. Most cinnamon rolls in the U.S. feel like sugar-heavy, cinnamon-flavored buns, but this one was light, flavorful, and beautifully made. The irimshik on top really elevated it, subtle, warm, and just sweet enough. Easy 10/10. Next was the cottage cheese pancake, which was also very good. It had a generous amount of cottage cheese stuffed inside, and paired with the sweet irimshik dip, the dish came together really well. 9/10. We then tried the qattama. It was good. flaky, crispy, and reminded me of a paratha. It came with a sour irimshik dip. While each component was good, I felt the qattama would shine more with a gravy-based dish. 7/10. Finally, we ordered the Nan Salma pasta. It's a tarry-based white sauce pasta with a unique flavor profile, and it was genuinely yum. Definitely something different and worth trying. Highly recommend it. 8/10. You have space to sit down and work as well. Service was good too. Some of the dishes might take 7-10mins to get prepared. It's not like your daily coffee shop who have stuff ready to go Overall, a great spot with unique food and a welcoming vibe. Definitely coming back. 9/10

    Starbucks Reserve Roastery Chicago - Starbucks

    Starbucks Reserve Roastery Chicago

    (2.3k reviews)

    $$

    Near North Side

    DAY 1: This "sniffs…read morein" at 4.5 stars... We sniffed in here multiple times during our 3-day visit. Some of the things we consumed: YUZU NITRO COLD BREW: -- my favorite coffee drink here of the trip -- yuzu works very well and is clearly present -- very visually appealing -- smooth and tasty and not too sour -- only orange or multiple citrus blend coffees may beat out this for me RATING = A WHISKEY BOURBON CAKE DONUT: -- lightly sweet w/gentle lean towards moderate -- up to moderate bourbon sniff and taste -- not oily or greasy -- soft interior almost layered -- leans moist, not dry -- size is small -- $5 plus is pricey but a rare find donut flavor RATING = A NOTE: I do miss their Sicilian cannoli from 2022, but I tried something else here as a substitute later in the trip PROSCIUTTO PROVOLONE CROISSANT: -- buttery -- not heated up -- medium sized -- soft flaky croissant flatter, not airy -- nice quality pastry -- lightly loaded inside but good balance of inserts to bread -- a good light snack to save belly for our Italiano dinner RATING = A- We snuck in at the last moment apparently as we were nearly cut off from lining up at the bar at 9:29pm. We ordered the "ESPRESSO MARTINI FLIGHT" for $25.00. CHERRY LIMONE (LEMON/CHERRY): -- very cherry forward -- partial slices of fresh lemon rind -- not too tart, tad bitter -- it works RATING = A- MOLE SPICE: -- tiny cacao bean shrapnel on top -- moderately plus spicy overpowers the chocolate -- okay but weakest of the bunch RATING = B+ ORANGE CACAO: -- cut slice of orange rind -- clear orange on sniff and taste -- my fave of the three -- all 3 had creamy heads to them RATING = A DAY 2: NITRO COLD BREW w/UBE COCONUT WHIP ADDED ON TOP: -- very pretty visually -- initially the slow sipping for nitro drinking worked and I got a balance of everything in my mouth but then I mostly just tasted coffee....so I stirred it up and agitated it to blend it better and it improved -- not an item I would order often -- 2" foamy head RATING = A- RASPBERRY MASCARPONE CHEESECAKE: -- semi-firm exterior -- big price around $11.00 plus -- medium-sized -- bone/ecru coloring -- 5 fresh raspberries on top with a slice of dark chocolate -- thin shortbread crust was fragile and not thick enough, but I love the shortbread vs. graham cracker idea -- texture is layered and dense -- it is not NYC style nor Chicago style w/mascarpone but closer to Chicago style than NYC -- very creamy -- I tend to prefer ricotta cheesecake or Chicago style, but this is nice and anything is better than firm heavy brick dense NYC style RATING = A- The wife grabbed a fresh bag of the "Chicago" beans that we sampled on day one. It was a smooth tasty cup. The seating is great here if you can get it. Weekends are "sold out" almost so pick your time carefully and cross your fingers.

    DRINKS I had their signature tiramisu latte. It was a solid…read morelatte, but I couldn't taste the tiramisu flavor. It is on the expensive side at $8+ for the drink. FOOD I tried their raspberry croissant. The pastry was flaky, and the raspberry cream was light and not too sweet. SERVICE The staff are kind and friendly! You can order at any of the floors. The first floor is largely for grab-and-go customers and ordering at the floors above are typically for sitting down. AMBIANCE Ample seating across floors 2 and upward is available inside the reserve, ranging from tabletop seating to small round tables. Most guests visit the reserve in a tourist capacity, but some visitors were working/studying as well. PARKING Paid street parking is available at a limited capacity.

    Goddess and the Baker, 33 S Wabash-Millennium Park - Cinnamon Roll (~$7)

    Goddess and the Baker, 33 S Wabash-Millennium Park

    (1.8k reviews)

    $$

    The Loop

    Ordered: Turkey Bacon & Egg Croissant (~$11) w Avocado…read more(~$2): scrambled eggs, turkey bacon, smoked gouda and sambal aioli on a flaky croissant Cinnamon Roll (~$7) Iced Banana Cream Cloud Latte (~$6): creamy banana milk topped with light espresso cold foam sweetened with date syrup Iced Banana Fosters Latte (~$6): blend of espresso, creamy banana, and sweet caramel Aya's take: First stop on my recent Chicago trip and we decided to try a Chicago classic. This is a fast casual spot so service was pretty fast. There is a decent amount of seating, most of which was surprisingly taken around 11am on a Thursday. For starters, they no longer have their rainbow cake! I was surprised to hear that considering how popular it's supposed to be. We got both banana lattes which were extremely sweet. It's basically dessert with a hint or caffeine. I'm a big fan of banana, so I actually liked this but I would've preferred half the sweetness. The Turkey Bacon & Egg Croissant was so good! A solid breakfast sandwich - the eggs were cooked perfectly, the turkey bacon was insanely crispy, and that sambal aioli was just what this needed. I highly recommend adding Avocado like I did for some freshness & creaminess since it's a heavy sandwich as is. The Cinnamon Roll was soft, moist, and not overly sweet. Overall, I really enjoyed this breakfast!

    Cute vibey breakfast place conveniently located in walking distance from my hotel. If you Iike…read morediabeetus for breakfast/brunch there are tons of pastries and specialty drinks to get your blood sugar spiking in AM. Avocado toast was great, definitely felt bougie and filling. The "matcha Americano" is just an iced matcha without the sugar or milk which was refreshing and what I wanted.

    3 Arts Club Cafe at RH Chicago - Cheeseburger

    3 Arts Club Cafe at RH Chicago

    (1.7k reviews)

    $$$

    Near North Side

    I had a really good experience at 3 Arts. I wasn't able to get a reservation for Sunday brunch, so…read morewe made sure to arrive before opening. There was already a small line of guests with the same idea, but we were able to get on the waitlist. While waiting, we checked out the small coffee shop inside the gallery and browsed the furniture, which helped pass the time. Our wait was about an hour before being escorted to our table in the courtyard. Initially, we were placed at a low coffee table with couch seating. It's a cool lounge style setup, especially for drinks, but not ideal for a meal. It would have been pretty awkward trying to eat comfortably. We asked to be moved and were told that table preferences should be requested when joining the waitlist. Since it was my first time visiting, I wasn't aware of that, and it also wasn't asked by the hostess. Thankfully, they were able to accommodate us and moved us to a table in the wine cellar. The wine cellar had a completely different vibe, dark and moody, compared to the bright, airy courtyard with its beautiful glass ceiling and natural light. We ordered the lobster roll and the RH Burger, both with fries. The food came out fairly quickly and was well-presented. The lobster roll was served on a buttery brioche with just the right amount of seasoning, and the burger was juicy and flavorful. Overall, I had a great experience and would definitely visit again.

    1. Service is top notch…read more 2. Food was great! Enjoyed breakfast menu items on a Sunday morning. Mimosas were 3. The ambiance is really the big draw here (in my opinion). It's artfully designed. The esthetic is inviting - feeling like you're enjoying both an indoor and outdoor atmosphere.

    Daboba - bubbletea - Updated May 2026

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