Love the extensive menu, easy and quick to order. Really yummy drinks. The golden boba tastes really good, loved the Hong Kong style--the milky taste is really strong but a light ice shake evens it out really well. read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Hong Kong style, rose matcha with custard - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Got the hojicha with sesame. Customizable sweetness levels. Mucho options for customization. Tea: Assam Black, Jasmine Green, Peach Oolong, Osmanthus Oolong. Fruity: Lychee, Mango, Passion Fruit, Peach, Strawberry (Directly Sourced Japanese Matcha) Lattes: Regular / Black Sesame / Brown Sugar / Rose / Strawberry Ditto on the Hojicha Lattes. Add "milk" to your tea to obtain milk tea. Specialities: House Chai / Hong-Kong Style / Thai Tea / Banana Milk / Ube Taro Monster / Mango Matcha (Latte / Cream) / Strawberry Matcha Cream / Lattes with Kinako Cream (kinako is a type of roasted soybean flour). If I was a college student in Chicago, I'd also come here to get a boba fix. The menu itself has quite a bit of variety, so it'll take several visits to work your way through all their offerings. I estimated waiting between 5-10 minutes after placing my order. The interior has a nice design. Since the place is popular, it can be a bit loud, so listen carefully for when they call your name at the pickup counter. Along the walls and the front window is some counter seating. They also sell some merch, like hoodies, if you're into that kind of stuff. read more

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Worth all the hype and then some! A coworker and I stopped by Gathers for matcha and it is a must try for authentic matcha, straight from Kyoto. We tried multiple drinks including strawberry matcha cream, mango matcha cream, matcha and kinako cream, rose matcha latte, and brown sugar matcha. All drinks were served iced and looked like a work of art! My number 1 was the mango matcha cream. A layer of mango is at the bottom of the cup, then cream, and then the matcha. Mixed together, it was sooo yummy and refreshing. I'm not even the biggest mango fan, but the flavors complimented the matcha perfectly. My second favorite was the rose. Again, not a huge fan of rose, but paired with the matcha it was so delicious and gave a light, candy flavor to the drink. I can't wait to come back and try some of the bobas! read more

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Pros: Gathers Tea Bar makes some delicious matcha! I would recommend trying the Mango Matcha Latte AND/OR Peach Oolong Tea, but everything I have tried is yummy Cons: I wasn't impressed with the atmosphere of the cafe, but I usually grab to-go and walk around Randolph Street so it doesn't matter to me read more

Literally the best matcha I've had. I got the Mango Matcha Latte because I wanted go taste the Matcha. This was actually so amazing and lived up to hype. I can't speak for other flavors because that is the only thing I had. The inside is cute and warm but I wish they were more like a cafe with real sitting. The service was quick for them usually being so busy. I got my order in like than 8 minutes. read more

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As soon as you walk in, you place your order using a kiosk. This place is located right next to the university campus so be weary as it can get super busy! There are a few street parking spots in front of the business as well as in the surrounding neighborhoods. I love their hojicha. It is so delicious and has the perfect amount of sweetness!! read more

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A nice place to try a variety of teas. Upon our visit, it was busy but the staff were friendly. There was a small wait but well worth it. Looking forward to trying other drinks in the future. read more

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I've been to Gathers Tea Bar twice now. I live in LA but spend half my time in Chicago. I have to say, good matcha was missing in Chicago so I was so excited to hear everyone raving about Gathers on social media! The space is pretty small with some bench seating. The first time, I came I ordered a matcha latte (50% sweet), strawberry matcha latte (50% sweet), banana foster milk and a sesame hojicha latte (50% sweet). I thoroughly enjoyed everything and felt the sweetness level at 50% was good for me. I got the banana foster milk for my friend who loves banana milk and she said it was delicious! I believe they use a different matcha in the strawberry matcha vs the matcha latte. The quality is better for the matcha latte. It's grassier, slightly more bitter, just a stronger matcha flavor which I like. The 2nd time I came here, I got the matcha latte with an extra scoop of matcha (unsweetened) and a strawberry matcha latte (50% sweet) with an extra scoop of matcha. This is now my new favorite way to get the strawberry matcha latte! It was so delicious. Perfect sweetness and perfect balance of the matcha! The strawberry bits were heavenly. The strawberry matcha gave me good steady energy without the jitters or feeling anxious. I only had a sip of the matcha latte and let me tell you! It really slaps you in the face haha that extra scoop is no joke! It was delicious, but I think next time, I'll keep it at the reg amount of matcha. I do have one wish which is for Gathers to have more milk alternatives. Maybe just one more, either soy or almond would be appreciated! Right now they only have the option of whole milk or oat, which I don't really drink either. Other than that, I would highly recommend Gathers! read more

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YUM! I thoroughly enjoyed my drink. I got a mango cream matcha and instantly wished i got the bigger size. it was so good and grateful i tried something new because i was tempted to get the thai tea lol 10 out of 10 i'd go back. also loved the convenient ordering service and our drinks were prepared pretty quickly. read more

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Hands down, got me hooked and wanting to come back for more! Currently in love with the mango matcha creme! Maybe obsessed! This place can get packed but you will understand once you are there and try one of their drinks! There's kiosks to order your drinks and it's a nice friendly space. Looking forward to the next time I am back again. read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Gathers is perfection...far and away the best boba you can find in Chicago, and as far as I can tell the best you'll find in the Midwest. It's truly as good as bubble tea gets. The teas are flavorful and strong (in a good way), while the tapioca pearls are perfectly chewy and sweet. It's obvious how much time and effort they put into sourcing their tea leaves, tapioca, and all their ingredients. I've been to Gathers about a million times and everything on the menu is excellent. The fruit teas are great but I generally prefer milk teas so here are some of my personal favorites: - jasmine milk tea - earl grey milk tea - peach oolong milk tea - longan honey jasmine milk tea - roasted oolong milk tea - Hong Kong style milk tea - Thai milk tea You can adjust the sugar for most of the drinks but some of them have more limited adjustment options on account of the how the drinks are made (e.g., Thai and Hong Kong milk tea). You can also adjust the ice, though may need to order with a person instead of the kiosk to do so. Everyone who works there is super friendly and accommodating to make sure you leave happy. Given it's a popular destination, there may be a crowd depending on when you go but I promise it's worth the wait! Enjoy! read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Peach oolong milk tea, strawberry matcha latte - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The hojicha with kinako cream was the perfect combination of roasty tea and creaminess, without being too sweet. Kinako, the roasted soybean flour, adds a nutty sweetness that blends beautifully with the tea. It's a winter time limited drink, so I definitely recommend trying if you're a hojicha fan and enjoy Japanese flavor. The shop's interior is cozy, providing a welcoming atmosphere. Service is quick and staff is friendly. read more

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The mango matcha cream was soooo good!!! Also had a sip of my friend's matcha latte and it was perfect. No clumps, well mixed, and strong matcha flavor. I do recommend adjusting the sweetness level to the lowest as drinks were still sweet at lowest sweetness level. read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Mango matcha cream - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Rated the top tea place in Chicago for a reason! I'm a regular here and they nail it every time. Great options & quick service. read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Strawberry Matcha Cream & Rose Matcha Latte - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great jasmine tea, I like the sea salt cold foam too, it's fun! Good Thai iced tea tooooo. Good vibes, not a ton of seating though, good takeout too read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Jasmine milk tea with tapioca boba - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Heard this place had good matcha! I'm a sucker for mango anything and this hit the spot! Could still taste the quality Japanese matcha and the actual mango purée at the bottom. Perfect summer drink. Pretty small place but service was good and the place was busy. Cute decor and photo spots. read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Mango, and rose matchas - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Was studying at the Chicago library nearby, and saw everyone with matcha lattes from this place. Did some research online, and then discovered that it was from Gathers. Got the mango matcha latte. It was a lot heavier than I thought it would be, but I understand the hype. The matcha flavor was strong, didn't taste too much like milk. The interior was new and super crowded. Would come back again and try the black sesame matcha. read more

Hands down, this is by far the best matcha I've had in Chicago, and I can't recommend it enough! I got the mango matcha and my friend got the strawberry matcha, and we were both completely blown away. The flavors were perfectly balanced.. not too earthy, just the right amount of sweetness, and super refreshing. If you haven't tried Gathers Tea Bar yet, this is your sign. GO NOW. Seriously, don't wait. Whether you're a matcha lover or just curious, this place will completely change the way you think about matcha. Amazing flavor, smooth texture, and just the perfect combination of fruity and earthy notes. My friend that came with me didn't think he would like matcha. Now he's gone back multiple times since. HE LOVES IT! Trust me, after reading this, you're going to want to go and you won't regret it. It's THAT good. read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I have been coming to Gathers since their old location. I'm finally writing my review. I came here a few days ago looking for a sweet pick me up! I brought my two friends with me so they can try it out. Interior: nice and bright. They have counter space with seats along the window and wall. There's also a bench on the side near the drink pick up. I would say that this boba place is more of a "to-go" and not a sit down and chat type of place. However, the design and space felt modern and clean. Service: This place would be perfect for introverts who don't want to interact with others. They have two screens for easy ordering. This made it quick and efficient for the customers. Drinks: I ordered the Ube Monster as I've been seeing it a lot on social media. My friends ordered the Assam Milk tea with boba and Jasmine Green Milk Tea with boba. For the ube monster, you truly need a sweet tooth to handle this drink. I was caught off guard but after drinking it some more... it grew on me. The boba texture was sweet and chewy according to my friend. My friends said they would come back and try another drink! This means that they enjoyed their drink. read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Ube Monster (seasonal drink) - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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relatively quick service. even right after they opened, they were quite busy. they have many different drink options and i chose the strawberry matcha cream latte, which was delicious. i'd come back to try their different matcha options! read more

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Best matcha I've had in Chicago BY FAR and I've had quite a few. My fav is the strawberry matcha, but what I really love about this place is no matter what flavor you get the matcha taste is still sooo pronounced and creamy. They sell individual tins as well which is super nice (but they've been sold out recently due to the hype)! Despite the crowds though service is usually very quick but seating is generally hard to find read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Mango cream matcha, rose matcha - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A review update: I came back here twice for the hojicha - it's just incredible. The line can get really long but it's truly worth the wait - I have yet to find a better or even decent hojicha elsewhere. read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Top favorite place! I love the cream collection. The mango matcha cream and their matcha powder are my must-go-to! They tend to be pretty busy these days read more

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Good matcha but the standout for me was actually the hojicha latte. The roasted and nutty notes were amazing it has even made me maybe like hojicha more than matcha. read more

Hands down the best matcha in Chicago. I will never stop recommending this to friends & family! Please give it a try if you're in the area. It can get pretty busy as this place has recently blown up on social media. They have many other options (including milk tea, fruit teas, etc.) if you don't like matcha. read more

This is the best boba spot in Chicago! Located in the Little Italy neighborhood. They offer a unique variety of teas and matcha drinks. I wish I had more time in Chicago so I could come back again. I had their jasmine milk tea and would say that it was a high quality drink! Boba is cooked and sweetened well too. Cute interior with some counter seating. Clean restroom too read more

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Came to this place to try out their drinks. I got the seasonal mango matcha and sesame. The drink isn't bath would like it to offer other types of milk instead oat milk. Street parking. They accept credit card. The drink comes out pretty quick. The menu is big so I would come back to try other drinks. read more

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A few days ago, I went there with my friend, and we had such a great experience at Gathers Tea Bar! The atmosphere was calm and beautifully designed, making it a perfect place to relax and catch up! The tea selection was impressive, and everything we tried tasted fresh and flavorful. The staff were very welcoming and helped us choose the best options from the menu. Service was quick, and the presentation of the drinks was lovely! read more

Went on a Saturday afternoon with a couple friends and it was busy! The line never seemed to end, but we got to order and got our drinks pretty quickly for how many people were there. My friend and I couldn't decide on a fruit tea or milk tea so we ended up getting two. I got the mango matcha cream and it was absolutely delicious. The brown sugar milk tea was also very good. There's seating along the periphery of the store and many people were standing in the middle waiting for their drinks and heading out. Overall great atmosphere with good music playing and delicious drinks. read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The pull of Gather is that you can get beautiful and unique flavorings. They are beautiful, for those that want that Instagram picture, but they also taste amazing. I had never gotten a sesame seed Boba before so I was very interested to try a more savory drink. It packed a punch that I was not expecting. It is definitely an acquired taste. I liked the sesame seeds in the drink. It gave it a great texture. I did not add any tapioca boba or jelly. I thought that it wasn't needed. My husband had the Thai tea with lychee jelly. He absolutely loved it. It was not a very sweet Thai tea flavor, so the jelly added a nice little burst of flavor. Lastly, we tried the strawberry Matcha latte. I added two different types of jellies, one lychee and another that I cannot remember. I will say that the strawberry in the drink is actually a jam/jelly and there are pieces of strawberry in the drink so added toppings, jellies or boba are not necessary. It was very sweet. The strawberry really overpowered the Matcha in this drink. So if you're wanting a more Matcha flavor, I would suggest a different drink.The Strawberry Macha was the drink I saw ordered the most while there. I think it is probably their most popular (again, probably for presentation of the drink. It is very beautiful/instagram-ablilty). I would be interested to try the Matcha latte by itself. It was very crowded. I would definitely take a drink to go instead of sitting there because it was a small space and very loud because of the crowd. The prices were actually comparable for what we got. There was a sign saying they would not change the level of ice in a drink. And if you did get no ice, the amount of liquid not change. All three of our drinks had the perfect amount of ice. I did not feel like it was too much ice. We got a lot of drink out of our orders. If I'm ever in Chicago again, I will definitely come here again. read more

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We came here after our walk and it was busy. It's close to UIC and has the best matcha! I came here years ago during undergrad when it was still inside kana and the strawberry matcha is still as good as it was. We also had the creamy ube taro monster and it was sweet and creamy. This is more of a pick up and go and not as many seats but there is seating if you would like to chat with friends or wait for your drinks. The decor and ambiance was amazing. They have three order kiosks which was fast and convenient. The drinks were amazing. read more

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Was a great experience. We went Sunday during noon time and they were packed! The line was long but they moved as quickly as they could. The matcha was delicious. There is street parking but be careful since they are fixing up the road. Overall a very good spot for matcha latte!! read more

From ordering in person and online, the workers haven't let me down. The consistency of their drinks remains top tier in Chicago. I really like the strawberry matcha (not the latte form). If you order the mango matcha, I would say to not get boba with it because they skip out on the mango a bit. Doesn't fully give mango matcha taste. read more

Gather Tea Bar has definitely become my go-to spot whenever I'm in Chicago! They use fresh tea leaves, and their commitment to quality really shows--every sip has a rich, strong flavor that's perfect for tea lovers. Plus, they offer plenty of milk options and let you customize the sweetness, which is a huge bonus for me. You can also ask the bobaristas for no ice and they will happily do it for you. I did this to drink the peach oolon later in the day. They also have a great variety of toppings, and the boba texture was spot-on: soft, chewy, and just the right consistency. The space itself is fantastic--spacious, with lots of comfortable seating, and a modern aesthetic that makes it great for hanging out or even getting some work done. They also carry some really cute merch. If you love tea or boba, Gather Tea Bar is a must-visit. This place will always be on my list when I'm in the city! read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Peach Oolong Tea and Hojicha Latte with Boba, Grass Jelly and Egg Pudding - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I came here with my partner to check out the drinks and get her some ceremonial matcha they offer. its a cute shop with limited seating, more geared to takeout orders. They sell Japanese imported matcha but the demand is high, so they don't always have it. They have many matcha making accessories, including these gorgeous pottery matcha bowls. We ended up just getting some drinks since they were out of matcha. I got the banana milk tea with boba pearls. I am a huge banana milk fan but have only had it out of a bottle or can. The freshness of this drink was noticeable, and the banana flavor was vibrant. The boba was soft and tasted like it was just made. This would bring me back here alone. My partner got the matcha latte and she loved her drink too. The matcha was prepared just right. I would love to come back to try more beverages they offer. read more

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amazing black sesame hojicha! it was the baristas recommendation and it was one of the best drinks i have had in a long time! i need to find an excuse to be in the area again and try more flavors! read more

Very nice matcha drinks! We got the matcha mango lattes and sesame lattes, both were delicious- creamy and fruity on the bottom and refreshing matcha on top! read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This has and will always hopefully be MY favorite spot in Chicago. It's aesthetic, chill (they do play a lot of kpop so maybe not too chill music), but their qualitEA of teas is just superb and the prices are just WOW especially in this economy. When I used to go to Chinatown, one bubble tea with boba would easily be $10. Here it's $6.50 (fruit teas with boba at least). I know they had to recently charge more for the matcha lattes due to the tariffs. This will easily be my favorite bubble tea spot in all of Chicago. They have so many good Taiwanese drinks while also not trying too hard. Plus the location is so nice -- not hard to find parking at all! read more

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Hands down the best boba spot in the city. I've been coming here since they were a counter in Hana sushi and they've kept the quality up ever since. The staff are always super welcoming and know their way through the menu offerings. They keep things fresh with seasonal menu offerings as well having a core menu. In my most recent trip I tried the Ube Monster boba (a new seasonal item). My main complaint with most Ube foods (and drinks) is that they lack enough Ube flavor, this drink does NOT have that problem. The Ube flavor is strong and complimented with come coconut as well. Very worth stopping by and trying this seasonal offering. And of course the core menu is always a hit. This place has a fun, light vibe that makes you want to try something new. I love the decor of their new location and I hope for many more great things for them to come! read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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super underwhelming the taste wasn't bad but i guess we were expecting a little bit more. it wasn't as rich as i'd hoped. i got the black sesame and my friend got the seasonal flavor (forgot which one but it was a sort of cream?). the place wasn't so packed thankfully but it was a cute location. read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois