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    Eli's Ark

    4.5 (335 reviews)
    Open 3:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Eli's Ark Photos

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    Cora C.

    Came in before closing and the staff was patient and very quick with our order. The interior was cute and clean. They have homemade specialty flavors with the cutest animals faces. Everything we tried was amazing. Prices were very reasonable too!

    Mint chocolate chip ice cream
    Clarissa C.

    Guys this place is so adorbs!! This was one of my first saved dessert places in Chicago purely for the fact that I LOVE cute things. The cuter, the better!! Step aside clean modern aesthetics! I want my future house to have pastel furniture and pastel exteriors and cutesy tootsy everything. I had the mint chocolate stracciatella ice cream, and you have the option to make your scoop into an animal, ranging from koala, monkey, pig, and unicorn to capybara. I'm OBSESSED with capybaras, owing tribute to the song on tiktok "Capybaraaaaa! Capybara capybara capybara capybara. Capybaraaaaaa! Capybara capybara capybara." (You get it I'll stop now). The ice cream scoop was SO generous, and it was refreshing. The capybara design was so incredibly adorable, so aptly designed. We were one of the first customers at 1pm on a Saturday, so there was no wait time and the staff were very friendly! There is a bathroom in here, and they let you try flavors before buying!

    Mark T.

    I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The only thing I post on Instagram with any regularity is my cat. All those ice cream cones that look like various animals? Cute, no doubt, and same for the names of flavors. However, I eat for enjoyment of food, not likes on social media. After sampling the 'You Pecan Do It,' 'I got Ube,' and a "Miso Mon Cherie," The ube has mild ube flavors, and the Miso Mon Cherie was spectacularly chocolatey, seemingly having very dark chocolate. I opted for the pecan flavor, not because there was anything wrong with the others, simply that's where my mood was. I got the smallest size, with a cone on top, for 'ice cream hands' is only fun on TV. ' In a word, I found the ice cream underwhelming. The pecan pieces were too small to make a notable impact, and the ice cream itself lacked that creamy, luscious goodness that makes ice cream so great. Not that it was bad per se, but not very enjoyable. The same thing goes for the macaron. I asked to be surprised, and I think I was given a raspberry, but am unsure. What I can tell you is this once lacked the textures that makes macaron fantastic, without the necessary contrast of textures. In terms of value, I felt that ~$4 for the smaller size is reasonable. On that note, I want to point out that while their menu seems simple, it can bring some confusion. A single scoop can be done in the style of an animal without additional cost, but 'piggybacking' does cost extra? What is 'piggybacking' anyway? As I said, confusing. The vibe inside is clean and modern, however, I feel they have plenty of unused space that could be taken up by more tables (though, to be fair, it was not very busy that night). Final verdict: The product at Eli's Ark decidedly did not hit the spot. In a situation where I find myself preferring ice cream from the grocer's (store brand, to boot), a return visit is not in the cards.

    Semira A.

    Eli's ark is peak cuteness! This little gelato shop has lots of flavors to choose from. My favorites are "I got ube" and "mango tango". The ube flavor is probably my favorite ube desert in the city, they have to be using some high quality ube in their mix. The mango is also super fresh tasting. The service is always great with my gelato served up with a smile. The decor is simple yet inviting. A perfect spot for the family.

    Capybara in mint flavor ice cream!
    Melanie T.

    I love the cute animal gelato! You get to pick your size and then your animal. You have the option of a cup or cone and I like there are many different sizes to choose from. It's nice to have the option of a small size that actually is a small portion! Sometimes ice cream spots serve massive portions and I don't want that commitment if I'm already full from dinner. The price for the small portion was also really reasonable. They also let you sample their flavors and they have lots of unique options. The ones I tried were fruity and more subtle in flavor which was nice, so not too sweet. I ended up getting their mint chocolate ice cream in the form of a cute capybara! So cute and perfect small size in a cup.

    Myra Z.

    Cute animal ice cream! The staff is very friendly. Nice place to chat and catch up with friends over a little sweet treat. Each cone has a good amount of ice cream. They have some fun ice cream flavors. Kids would love this place.

    Jessica T.

    Some good tasting gelato! I love the variety of flavors, and the animals are cute too. I would definitely come back and recommend this place.

    Linda Y.

    I've had this place bookmarked for so long now and finally made my way over which I am questioning why it took me so long. This is hands down the cutest ice cream spot in town. I love that no matter which flavor you get, you can pick your little animal. It's so tempting to stack so many flavors but I limited myself to 1. I got the Ube gelato which I personally think is the best Ube icecream/gelato that I've ever had. The flavor was so prominent and it was so creamy. You can also get your ice cream in a cup if you don't want a cone. I'm already thinking about which animal to get next!

    Aditi D.

    Cutest dessert spot ever! I got the pig-shaped soft serve with the Pretty in Pink flavor (yakult + strawberry + rose) -- so refreshing and unique. My friend's koala soft serve was just as adorable. They also offer 4 non-dairy flavors and are super accommodating about it, which I really appreciated. Fun vibe, great service, and desserts that are as delicious as they are Instagram-worthy.

    Claire T.

    If, like me, you have been craving animal shaped gelato your whole life, boy do I have the place for you. Eli's Ark. This place is so stinking cute. A variety of unique flavors and designs. Well priced, nothing crazy. I got the ube, and my friend (vegan) got the vegan chocolate. Lots of vegan choices! They were very nice and did such a perfect job making our animal gelatos. I will be sure to come back and bring friends!

    Ube icecream
    Anita P.

    Capybara icecream was sooooo adorable! They have tons of animals to choose from and a lot of pretty unique icecream flavors as well. My go to is the ube for sure:)

    Brianne C.

    My friend found Eli's Ark on Instagram so on my next visit we went looking for it. During a Thursday afternoon the shop was pretty calm, only a few other guests at the same time. The adorable shaping of the different animals from gelato and things like cookies, nuts, or marshmallows was a fun touch. I tried Dulce de Banana in the shape of a monkey. I liked the flavor of the gelato! We also picked out some macarons to try later. They had a lot of fun flavors, a mix of fruity options and other dessert options. The texture of the macarons was good and we liked some flavors more than others.

    Ube unicorn  @dangit.all
    Lisa D.

    Looking for a spot to take your kids? Looking for a spot that is sure to put a smile on your face? Looking for a spot that is Instagram worthy? Well, this is that spot if you answered yes to any of those questions. Ordered: Ube Unicorn Chocolate Ice Cream in a cup Strawberry Koala Vietnamese Coffee in a cake cone Great flavors to choose from. Staff are friendly and try their best to serve although I definitely think that they can use extra help as there was a line and only two staff working. They offer a few cute characters to choose from. It will definitely be a kids pleaser &Instagram worthy photo for the adults! I definitely would come back if I am in the area. This yelper approves. Tips: *Street parking only *Indoor seating only *They do offer samples *Prices are very reasonable *Credit card accepted

    Kiddie-size lemon + yuzu with monkey face (Nilla wafers)

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    Eli's Ark Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Eli's Ark

    How's the parking situation?

    Just hope you're lucky! We actually just had someone stay in the car, parked somewhere that wasn't a spot while we ran in really quick because there was no close street parking

    Are there dairy free options?

    Yes, there are a few dairy free options

    Is it vegan?

    I believe they do offer vegan options.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Matcha En

    Matcha En

    4.2
    (294 reviews)
    4.4 mi
    $$

    Wanted something tasty for dessert and came upon this place from IG…read more I ordered the cream soufflé and the matcha float. Both came out in pretty quick time even though it was a busy Saturday evening. Loved the cream soufflé! It was something different that I wanted to try and it wasn't too sweet which was amazing. The soufflé was so fluffy and hot and fresh. The cream inside was sooo good! Everything was well balanced together and the float was also great. Only downside is that it's a really small place. So inside felt very cramped and crowded.

    Kari's Rating 8.5/10…read more TLDR: -Any combination you want is possible -Single bathroom for patrons with Dyson dryer -appreciative of the different drink combinations They had considering I thought it was only Matcha milk tea Came as the first people on a Saturday, although we took 25 minutes to decide what we wanted, the cashier was really good at giving recommendations and she said we were able to do almost any combination mixing match of flavors. We ended up getting the Matcha smoothie with red beans on the bottom, as well as a matcha float with Ube soft serve. My friend got the Matcha smoothie and said the Matcha was a tad bitter, but also a little too much he said that the Matcha and the ice wasn't really well mixed. Therefore it tasted a bit icy, but he agrees the overall flavor was all right, but he probably wouldn't get that if we came back. On the other hand, my Ube and Matcha float was absolutely delicious. I knew I wanted the Ube soft serve over the Matcha soft serve because I'm very picky with my Matcha, but I also didn't want to get Matcha tea as well as the Matcha soft serve as I figured that would be a little bit too much. I would literally come back just for the Uber officer, it was perfectly sweet, but not overly sweet and the texture was extremely creamy and soft, perfect for a hot day. I'll definitely be coming back just to get that and I also appreciate the server, giving us her favorite combinations and suggestions. It was extremely crowded by the time we left the place literally opened at 11:30, so you know the restaurant has a good reputation already in the community! We will definitely come back!

    Photos
    Matcha En
    Chocolate crepe cake
    Chocolate crepe cake
    Super M (left) and Black Sesame Matcha Latte (right)

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    Super M (left) and Black Sesame Matcha Latte (right)
    UFOUU

    UFOUU

    4.3
    (60 reviews)
    4.4 mi

    I recently tried UFOUU, the Chicago-based bakery known for their Japanese-style cheesecakes, and…read moreoverall it was a really a hit for me. I wish I was able to travel with one of their cheesecakes but they require refrigeration. Anyhow the cheesecake itself was delicious super light, fluffy, and honestly felt like biting into a cloud. I had the salted egg but they had several flavor options that I would've loved to try if slices were available. The texture is what really stands out, and the flavor was unique and interesting in a good way. I couldn't quite put my finger on what it taste like, but it was sweet, but not too sweet They only sale but I consider a personal size but it's definitely enough to share with two people, maybe even three depending on how much of a sweet tooth you have. My only downside like others is the price. Paying around $19-$20 for a small cheesecake felt a bit steep, especially since they don't offer slices. I really wish they had smaller portions available so you could try different flavors without committing to a full cake prize. They package it very well and they also serve you a cute little fork set and a knife for cutting which I think is contributes to the price. The shop itself is very cute with chic décor and a lot of Asian-inspired artwork, which adds to the overall vibe. Customer service was friendly. When I visit Chicago again I'd definitely go back the texture and taste alone make it worth it but I do hope they consider offering smaller portions in the future.

    Came here for a hot drink while it's very cold in Chicago and not a lot of lot of places around…read morethat offer hot chocolate, hot coffee, or any hot drinks. We got here when it just was opening. The place was clean and the staff was really nice. We got the sweet roasted milk and it was very good and unique flavor. We were watching them while they were making that and the cheesecake and you can tell they put a lot of care and in time to their products.

    Photos
    Matcha
    Matcha
    UFOUU
    UFOUU

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    Mabu Generation

    Mabu Generation

    4.3
    (58 reviews)
    4.4 mi
    $$

    We came to Mabu Generation on a Sunday evening when the restaurant was not busy and was actually…read moreunusually quiet. One thing I personally did not like was that they require customers to pay first before the food comes out. For a sit-down restaurant, I prefer to eat first and pay after, especially when service is expected. The service was not very proactive during our visit. The food was okay, but nothing really stood out to me. For the price, I felt it was a little pricey compared to Taipei Cafe, and the overall experience did not feel worth it. Overall, the food was just alright, the service could be improved, and the pay-first system was not something I liked. I don't think I would come back.

    Decided to spontaneously eat here on a friday night while walking past and did not regret it…read more The restaurant wasnt overly crowded or loud and, the service was great while the food was even better. The taiwanese style popcorn chicken and pork cutlet were super juicy and tender with nicely crisp breading. The sausage had a pleasant sweetness to it and was served with garlic chips, which added a nice touch. Finally, the broth of the Sichuan noodles was packing with flavor: sweet, tangy, spicy, umami - truly hit all the spots without being too numbing to your mouth, if thats one of your concerns Would definitely return to try the other menu items, especially their hot sizzling plates and their dessert/drink offerings

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Ovaltine Condensed milk French toast
    Ovaltine Condensed milk French toast
    R07. Japanese Style Curry & Garlic Udon With Mashed PotatoTempura Shrimp

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    R07. Japanese Style Curry & Garlic Udon With Mashed PotatoTempura Shrimp

    Eli's Ark - gelato - Updated August 2026

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