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Went solely for their fruit and red bean shaved ice. The ice could've been finer (I had to chew on some larger shards of ice which wasn't pleasant), but otherwise we enjoyed it, and I was very happy to see that it had all the makings of an old school patbingsoo with both fruit and red bean, as well as mochi and ice cream, which is rare nowadays. It was pricey but enough for 2 people to share. Metered parking on a weekend evening was easy. My only complaint is that it had a strange, unpleasant smell inside (we were there in the evening during the weekend of April 25th). Also, when I came a few years ago, it had a really cozy, welcoming vibe packed with comfy couches. Now, it just looks like basic tables and plastic chairs, lacking comfort, character, and charm. I'm hoping to return to try the sweet potato latte and the other shaved ices, but I hope they do something about the smell and make the space feel more cozy and inviting.
To say I love this place is an understatement. I would come here once in a while to grab snowflake bingsu which is the best in the city. The texture is perfectly fluffy and there are no chunks of ice by the end I finish. I've tried black sesame, corn, and injeolmi, and for me corn is the best with a balanced salty and sweet flavor.
Visited 11/8/25 at 8pm and had a wonderful experience. Emily was SO helpful in making a choice at what to try! My partner and I have varying palates, she does not prefer sweet drinks, whereas I enjoy them. Emily helped us pick us a sweet potato latte (silky, buttery, subtle sweetness) and the dalgona latte (traditional coffee flavor, sweet but not overly, served iced) and both were perfect! We capped the perfect drink selection with a Nutella croffle with strawberries. The croffle (crispy waffle?) had a crunchy exterior and chewy interior, with a subtle nutty flavor. The consistency felt a little like a pastry, or a folded dough. Such a delightful experience that was highlighted with expert service.
I went around 3 pm on a Saturday and was surprised to see it empty. I don't remember exactly what this spot was before, but they've remodeled it, and it looks really nice inside. I wish there was a more complete menu available. I had a hard time finding their menu but ultimately saw they had passion fruit ade which I found on Google pics. My husband was craving an affogato, and they have one on the menu. He says he doesn't think it was made with espresso, but he was satisfied nonetheless. The passion fruit ade is made with a puree and topped with sparkling water. It was really tasty and refreshing! My kid tried their cookies & cream milkshake, and that was also good.
I went to the Java and Mug coffee shop, and I must state that my experience there was nothing short of wonderful! Upon entering the shop, I encountered a staff that could not have been more congenial and welcoming. They made me feel as though I had been a regular customer forever! I was very much in the mood for some Korean coffee so I ordered up a cup of their very own. I have had my share of Korean coffee, and I can say, without hesitation, that the cup I had at Java and Mug ranks among the best I've ever tasted! The quiet little coffee shop is extremely clean so much so that I almost didn't want to leave. The restroom was as spotless as the coffee shop itself, and the seating was comfortably posh. The ambiance could only be described as tranquil, with an array of what seemed to be the perfectly calibrated calming sounds that one hears in a coffee shop. If not for the cup of java in front of me, I could have lulled away the afternoon in this place, which I wholeheartedly recommend as an excellent stop.
Are you craving something sweet, crunchy, chewy with layers of milky soft snow? Do you also enjoy corn and condensed milk? Try the Corn Snowflake Bingsoo. It is delicious!!!
Got the citron ade and nutella croffle(mix of a croissant and waffle), 5 stars. Service was also very good. It was kind of pricey at 9 dollars for a croffle and 6 bux for a drink but once in a while doesn't break the bank.
This is a very cozy cafe that is great for hanging out or studying. They have comfy couches, free wifi, calming music, and they are open late. Although, there isn't a dedicated parking lot, just street parking. The taro smoothie was 4/5. It was made from powder and tasted a bit powdery, but the boba was chewy and bouncy. The taro latte was a 4.5/5. The latte art was really cute, and the taro flavor tasted more rich in latte form than in the smoothie.
They had new ownership and change up the interior which makes it look more minimalistic and modern at the same time. They also changed up their menu which was nice to try out. Their croffle is amazing and their passion fruit ade is so refreshing. Such a nice place to chill with friends, play games, or even to come here and study! The service was amazing as well!
Although they market themselves as a coffee shop, Java & Mug is best known for their bingsoo desert. If you've never had it, you should do yourself a favor and grab the first bus to Albany Park, because this is some of the best shaved ice I've ever had. It comes in a lot of varieties, it we got the red bean bingsoo and the fruit bingsoo. Both are to die for. That said, the aesthetic is pretty sterile. There's tons of seeting, and they never tell you to leave, so if you just need a place to sit, this is perfect. If you're looking for a cozy environment for a date or just to hang out, I'd recommend grabbing your desert to go
First of all, the cafe interior is so cute and cozy. It's really clean and spacious as well. Also, the cafe has several (10+) board games so it felt like a really nice hangout area!! Secondly, the service was good. The wait time was not long at all. The employee was really nice and answered all my questions. Lastly, food was AMAZING! I especially loved sesame bingsoo and cheese pizza croffle!!! For drinks, I loved lychee-chamomile tea and grapefruit sparkling ade! They were really refreshing.
3 years ago
8 years ago
Stopped in to get a quick smoothie. It is a nice kept place in old Korea Town on Bryn Mawr. It is a nice place to get work done from my perspective as a visitor. They have a variety of seating options from tables, couches, picnic like tables. They have outlets available if needed. The place is definitely well lit so even at night, you can get work done here. I came here an hour before closing and people were still here. The noise is just average so you can study or just have a casual conversation or catch up with friends. The crowd is here quite mix as a high school and university is close by. I asked for a smoothie recommendation and went with the blueberry and banana smoothie. Got it in 5 minutes and tasted great! Definitely tasted the blueberries and bananas. Will definitely come here next time to try their desserts in the future. read more
Winter has officially begun... So what's more appropriate than visiting the North Park neighborhood? Some say Rosa J. is a polar-bear incarnate, and the answer is...yes, she is. Tonight she's out and about, munching the bingsoo and drinking the green latte. While most Chicagoans were hiding inside of their caves, I am the courageous one who wanted bingsoo. The entire coffee house was quiet tonight. However, the service was warm and friendly. Upon entering the door, we were seated and handed menus by the barista. Hubby and I shared the couple bingsoo and I had the green tea latte all to myself. I'm still thinking about that creamy green tea latte. I wish there was a patent for that so it can be sold in the k-cup format. That would really make my day! On the other hand, the bingsoo was good, even on an extremely cold day. The couple bingsoo was definitely large enough for two (2). The ice cream flavors featured strawberry and vanilla. I just wish that there was green ice cream flavor available for the bingsoo option, but I didn't ask if such special request could be accommodated. Perhaps that was feasible; I just didn't know. They provide free wifi, and signal didn't flag for the duration of our stay. The seating was very comfortable; the ambiance was soothing (classical music and Korean praise and worship songs playing in the background); and venue was well-maintained and clean. Nevertheless, on the back of the store there were jewelry and watches displayed and were advertised for sale. I guess there's always some side business going for every business owner, except I found a bit odd. Well, that doesn't really bother me, and I will be back for certain! read more
2 years ago
I haven't been here in a while, but I was craving bingsoo. I think Outdoor Cafe was closed? My friend and I ordered the couple bingsoo. We devoured it and I was a bit overwhelmed by the amount of ice leftover at the bottom. I think they could have drizzled some more red bean to even out the ice to fruit/ice cream/mochi ratio. I heard they changed owners, so that's why they sell sports paraphernalia in the corner. I don't remember that being there before. I think it's quite tacky and out of place. I would rather update the games and magazines and turn that into another seating area. I liked the bingsoo, but I wasn't really satisfied. I heard the Koreans are moving into the suburbs, so maybe I'll get my bingsoo fix there. read more
Some friends and I came here for some after dinner treats. I had a virgin Pina Colada-like smoothie (nice and refreshing), and my friend had a chocolate espresso shake topped with whipped cream. We also shared a bowl of pot bing soo, that came with mochi, kiwi slices, fruit cocktail, sliced bananas, shaved ice, sweet red bean, and a a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top with a maraschino cherry. Definitely big enough to share, everything was tasty and refreshing. The place does get extremely busy and very loud in the late evenings and you can tell that groups of people come here to relax, share a dessert, as well as to play games/chit-chat. +virgin Pina Colada smoothie +pot bing soo read more
6 years ago
My fiancé and I had car trouble and were waiting for it to be serviced. The staff at Java & Mug were incredibly warm and welcoming. Not being from the area, and having a full day of car issues, my phone was almost dead. We got a full charge with some amazing cappuccinos. Please support this incredibly nice place. You will not regret it! read more
4 years ago
3 years ago
5 years ago
I totally fall in love with this cafe on the first visit!! The owner of the cafe was so nice and caring. And I ordered the milk tea bubble tea and the size was much bigger than I expected! The taste was great and I'm gonna love this place. read more
Cute, small, low-key, out-of-the-way spot for fancy coffee, tea, smoothies, and milkshakes. Small selection of regular food, lots of bubble tea, fruity stuff, and something called a bull frog. (You can figure that one out for yourself.) Couches and low tables in addition to standard table seating, and some clutter and counters in the back that Mae it look like they were retailing something (gifts? decorations? picture frames?) in the back. Korean-owned. No hipster shit. Looks a little like someone's living room. read more
Probably one of my favorite places to hang out and get some milk tea and Bingsoo. It's a charming place to hang out with friend or get some work done. They provide board games and books to pass time, which I love. Also, they have an array of tables and couches, depending on what mood you're in. Their Bingsoo is great because they are actually very generous with the red bean (from all the places I've tried Bingsoo at, my favorite red bean is in this place). The only down side is, they don't have fruity pebbles (unlike Coffee Haus). Which, I think, why I will put Coffee Haus above this place in my list just cause of the additive fruity pebbles...it somehow adds a bit of texture to the Bingsoo. But overall, their other ingredients are fresh. I also like their taro milk tea. It's one of the best because it's not overly sweet and you really get the taro taste. I'm not a fan of their tapioca (aka bubble/boba). It's bland, I wish they soak it more in brown sugar simple syrup to make it more caramelized. But, the taro milk tea is legit. read more
4 years ago
7 years ago
9 years ago
Honestly came across this place while being in the neighborhood and looking for a cafe to chill in for a bit. Ended up ordering a matcha latte and getting patbingsoo!! The matcha latte was perfect. It wasn't bitter from the matcha and it wasn't too sweet either. And the latte art on it was gorgeous. Probably one of the best and most unique I've had in Chicago. The patbingsoo was delicious! It filled us up pretty quickly. If you're looking for a dessert that isn't your typical cake, I recommend trying it out. I'd definitely love to come back and spend the day working here. It's such a cozy place! read more
Definitely my favorite cafe in Chicago so far. Spacious seating area, ranging from sofa to bench tables. Great selection of board games, free wifi, awesome service, and a wide selection of drinks and food. Besides coffee and tea, they have authentic Korean bubble tea. Matcha latte is awesome. The latte art they draw is much more sophisticated than most of the American cafes. Redbean Bingsoo is super tasty. That's one of frozen dessert I miss from Asia but hadn't been able to find a good one in Chicago until I visited Java & Mug. Opens until midnight. Definitely gonna come back again just for the bingsoo and work. Street parking available. They don't accept American Express credit card though. read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
Great little gem! Amazing service and sweet space for coffee tea and sweets. Pre-pandemic they had a variety of board games available. Interior is home-ey and coffees are adorable. read more
Such a great hangout spot for teens or young adults. There are plenty of cafe drinks and Asian desserts on the menu such as dessert waffles or bingsoo (I believe they may have listed it as Hawaiian ice on their menu). There are lots of couches and seats for groups and in the corner, you can find board games and card decks such as Uno or Monopoly. It is also a nice spot to come get some work done if you don't mind being surrounded by young adults/teens laughing and talking. There are also a few food items on the menu (e.g. sandwiches). My friends and I accidentally left without paying but I came back a few days later to pay for my bill once realizing what we did. The owner was so nice, he gave me a bag of chips as a thank you for coming back! Although Java & Mug is relatively far from my place, if I'm ever in the area with my friends and we want a place to kill time, hang out, or study, this is our go-to! read more
13 years ago
My sister and I have been looking for a close place that serves patbingsoo and Java & Mug didn't disappoint. They have large servings and they also offer couple patbingsoo and group patbingsoo (I'm not sure what it's called). I also ordered some macarons but the guy said they don't sell those anymore. I was disappointed but the cheese cake and oreo cheese cake were able to make up for it. Both were so good! I love that they have a game table where groups can borrow board games, etc. while they wait for food or just to hang out. It's also very clean and chairs are comfortable. Definitely going back! I love this place already! read more
13 years ago
I love this place! I literally come here three times a week to do work. Great place to study and get things done without any interruptions. The employees try to greet everyone who walks through the door. Large selection on drinks and some snacks/food if you become hungry and want something to snack on. This place is mostly quiet and seats are available right away, but beware, it can get busy. I very much prefer this place than Outdoor Cafe because the WiFi is a lot better and the space is more open. Pros -Local Business (I support them more than chains like Starbucks) -Great place to study or hang out with friends -Free WiFi -Cozy -Friendly employees -Food = Tasty (patbingsoo is delish!) -Close to my university and home -Board games available for entertainment Cons -Music can be loud and distracting (Bring headphones) -Food is a little pricey -Jewelry displays can be turned to extra seating -Street parking (a con for cheap drivers since you have to pay) Kind of sad that I'm leaving this behind when I move to Cali but I definitely would visit this place when I come back to Chicago. I recommend! read more
13 years ago
I only had the pattbingsoo while I was here, but it was AMAZING and very authentic! It had watermelon, strawberries, bananas, mochi, and red bean. It was great for sharing for 4 people and it was prefect for a summer day. There is free wifi and it is a very chill place. You could bring a date here, study, play board games and just relax. It has a great location and lots of cute desserts and blended drinks. Like a Starbucks, but with a lot more character! read more
13 years ago
I recently was yelping for a place to find good Bingsoo and came across Java & Mug. To my surprise its a place that I use to come to back in my high school days for my late night coffee fix. The place is cozy and has free wifi and board games you can help yourself to. This place can get kind of loud considering a lot of people come here as a meeting place to hang out, surprisingly my kids were not the loudest one in the cafe. The sit down service is slow but we opted to order at the register and have them bring our order to the table. We ordered a couples Bingsoo, caramel macchiato and some macaroons. The macaroons were delicious, minus the fact that they were the size of a quarter, the macchiato was A-Mazing....I have to say it tasted better then Starbucks and the barista even made a leaf design in my coffee, and the Pattbingsoon was delicious! The Pattbingsoo consisted of shaved ice on the bottom, topped with sweet red beans, two scoops of ice cream and a whole bunch of fresh chopped fruits. It reminded me of an American banana split but better! If you're looking for a place to hang out, relax, play some board games or just have a damn good cup of coffee head over to Java & Mug, it has something for everyone. read more
This cafe is unique with a large variety of Korean desserts such as large bowls of pabingsoo (shaved ice with red bean and fruits). It was a busy Friday night with several large groups of high school kids hanging out; this must be the place to be. It was a loud environment, but reasonable enough to enjoy catch up with old friends over some sweets and espresso. The service was terrific, and our desserts and drinks were tastey and filling. Can't believe I didn't find this open-late cafe until now! read more
Writing this as I sit in Java with my second macchiato. Been coming here since my high school days. Great, relaxing atmosphere. Good selection of drinks from coffee to bubble tea. The workers are polite and wi-fi is readily available and fast. There are plenty of tables and nooks for you to settle into. There are clusters of couches for bigger groups and a balcony-esque stage with smaller tables. It does get a lot busier (and REALLY loud with groups almost screaming while playing games/talking/whatnot) during nighttime so either come early and stake out your spot or you'll mostly like walk into a full establishment and be forced to wait for service (as with most cafes here there's only like two people working at all times). I've accomplished a lot of work here and have also treated myself to several servings of their fruit bingsoo (shaved ice with fresh fruits and ice cream much like the Filipino halo-halo). If you want something heartier they also have ramen, desserts (macaroons!), and chips. Five-stars for the service, good food/drinks, and the overall atmosphere. Open-late and plenty of board games as well. I'll be here a lot doing schoolwork this semester and that's not even a complaint. Good job, J&M! read more
13 years ago
After an awesome Korean BBQ, my friends decided to go get bingsu and the best place we know was Java N Mug. We decided on this café instead of this other café that also serve bingsu because of the atmosphere, the food, and the games. The atmosphere is really cozy and warm with sofas and couches; it is slightly dimmed, creating a relaxing mood. The games are organized and complete (not missing any game pieces). The service was nice and the staff was friendly. When we arrived, it was pack. We were able to get a table. I shared a Couple Bingsu with a friend. There were so many fresh fruits. I like everything about it - fresh fruits, ice cream, and red beans. However, my friends and I were heavily disappointed because there were no mochi in our bingu like we had in our previous experience. We played Taboo while eating bingsu. We had a lot of fun. This place is really great for late night to relax and chill. Hopefully, there is mochi when we order bingsu again. Despite the missing mochi, this place easily deserves 4 stars. read more
Whenever I'm in the city and craving bingsoo this is my go to spot. Next door is abort her Café titled outdoor, but in terms of position size Java beats Outdoor any day. The size I always get is couple size bingsoo and it's always enough to fill 4-5 people to be honest. The couple style has a plethora of fruit and toppings from kiwi, banana, strawberries, mochi, and red bean. The ice Itself is just the usual shaved ice that most places have. I'd give the bingsoo 4/5 compared to most places I've gone to. My friends and I also got a waffle it had ice cream and chocolate drizzle on it. Over I won't go much into detail but the waffle itself was flavorless. I was pretty disappointed. If I got a chance I'd pass on this one. The environment is a cafe, but can get a little loud since it's a general hangout spot. They have plenty of games that you can borrow and play while you're there. There is free WiFi as well! read more
14 years ago
7 years ago
I've been coming here for years! If you're down for a game night with friends or study sesh, this place is great. The food is always made to order and always fresh. I love ordering their bing-soo or waffles when I want to treat myself. Usually I get their bubble tea and it's always yummy! read more
13 years ago
Came here last night with a friend after dinner. We ordered the red bean bingsoo--like all bingsoos, it had shaved ice, condensed milk, and the toppings included canned fruit like pears and peaches as well as fresh strawberries, kiwi and banana. Other toppings included red bean and mochi. It was all topped off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream with strawberry sauce? For $7 it was pretty small but so delicious. We then got a waffle which was $10. A bit pricey for what it was though it was good. Think really fluffy waffle with two scoops of ice cream (vanilla and strawberry), whipped cream topped with granola, strawberries, and bananas, drizzled with chocolate sauce. The atmosphere was cute--it reminded both of us of cafes in Korea and a range of people came while we were there. High schoolers hanging out and playing board games, girls taking bubble tea to go, a couple studying together. It's a nice space to hang out with friends and when quieter, to get some work done while enjoying their teas, smoothies, bingsoos, and snacks! Wish there were more places like this closer to Evanston! read more
12 years ago
My boyfriend and I absolutely love this place! We visited for the first time on one of our date nights. Our first impression was that this place is very cozy and the overall atmosphere was very warm & relaxing. The drinks and desserts are reasonably priced and very delicious. The staff here are very welcoming and helpful. The guy that helped us made some really great suggestions and guided us through the menu since he knew it was our first time there. Many people there met up with a group of friends or were also on their date nights. They do offer free wifi, so this would be an ideal place for studying. We really enjoy this place and will be visiting this place fairly regularly. read more
Bored late at night with nothing to do? Come to Java and Mug with a bunch of friends and enjoy some food or dessert and play a board game! They have an extensive collection of games from Uno to Scrabble to Jenga. Unfortunately, they don't have Settlers, my favorite. The games are well maintained and the ones I've played haven't been missing any pieces. Not entirely sure how service works here. Sometimes they come by with menus, and other times I've had to order up at the counter. I love the Taro latte and bingsoo (shaved ice with toppings). The Java family size is GIANT! Worth the $15. 6 of us shared it once and we all had plenty to eat. They don't skimp on the toppings either. Don't get their smoothies though, they are kind of icy. Service is super friendly. They close at 12, and once we literally stayed until 11:59 and they did not rush us, pressure us to leave, or make us feel unwelcome at all. Everything is super clean and comfortable, and they play soothing music too that isn't too loud. I much prefer Java over Outdoor Cafe, and I would recommend that you give them a try. read more
5 years ago
More info about Java & Mug Cafe
3247 W Bryn Mawr Ave
Chicago, IL 60659
North Park
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(773) 539-0407
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