Great smoothies and drinks. Fabulous service and prices are great too. I always come here and love this place.

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

Java & Mug Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is a perfect late night spot if you want to relax with coffee, shaved ice, bubble tea. I love how there are board games, comfy sofas and tables for those who need to work. They play relaxing music for you to relax and get comfy. I got the red bean shaved ice and it was delicious. It was perfect for 1-2 people and it had so much fruit, ice cream, red bean, mochi and cereal topping. I would highly recommend for you to get it here. read more

Java & Mug Cafe - I would work late at night if I could have this with it! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Perfect place to visit if you are in the mood for some delicious Bingsoo. The place has some nice seating area to chill. And the prices are reasonable as well. We'd definitely come back again when we are nearby. read more

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

Java & Mug Cafe - Blueberry and Banana Smoothie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Bingsu hits the spot. Open late night. Lots of college kids hangout spot. I will definitely be back . Coffee is awesome too.

Java and Mug is my absolute FAVORITE cafe to go to!! The croffles and the refreshers are incredible, especially the black sesame croffle!! My sisters and I ate 9 croffles at once. Totally worth it :) The atmosphere is very clean and simple. The service is 125%, everyone is super kind. PLEASE COME AND VISIT you won't regret it :D such a LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE! read more

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

Java & Mug Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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

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I recently wrote that this place might have closed, but I might have visited on Sunday (I did not know they are closed on Sunday). I might try again next time we are in town... read more

A nice little hidden treasure! Very comfy ambiance with games and couches. An interesting and unique spot! read more

Java & Mug Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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

Java & Mug Cafe - Couple bingsoo - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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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

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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

Java & Mug Cafe - Milktea bubble tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great place to relax and study--they close late and have a printer. The tea is fabulous and my son loves the bubble tea.

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

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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

Java & Mug Cafe - Family Bingsoo - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great ambience and decent pricing. The Korean man who owns the place is very friendly and the space is spacious. I like that they play Lofi-type piano music and are open decently late. I come in to get some work done sometimes. read more

OMG?! Where to start???! This place makes me go bananas. I drink some of that keefer and a I go in to have some tap ramen. YUM. I really like this place though because it is bird friendly. I can bring my bird as long as he can sit on my shoulder the whole time. I am also industry and I know that this place knows how to take care of people. NICE. Please bring some more Marsala items. read more

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

Java & Mug Cafe - latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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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

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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

Java & Mug Cafe - Waffle deluxe--waffle topped with vanilla and strawberry ice cream, bananas, strawberry, whipped cream, nuts, and chocolate syrup! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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

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Pretty cool joint where you can hangout with friends, sip on some tea, munch on some dessert, and play a board game or two. I'm way past my college years, but this place is frequented by North Park University students apparently. As if I need any more reason to feel old. Ah, to only have to worry about exams and finals... the life. But I digress. I ordered a simple latte but it was delicious! I didn't have the stomach for some bingsu, and I regret it :-( But it wasn't my fault, as the laminated menu I was handed, differed from the menu on the wall, and the laminated menu didn't have bingsu on it. Learn from my mistake people! But yeah, pretty fun place. I just like the whole vibe of it. Come here to mingle, play some boardgames, or even bring your laptop to study (or play videogames). They have several tables and a couple of couches to just sit back and relax, while sipping on some Korean concoctions. BATHROOM REVIEW: Super clean and located past the front counter, the bathroom was very inviting. Just don't bring any boardgames inside and you'll be fine. Sit or squat? Sit! read more

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

Java & Mug Cafe - 2 person Waffle - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Their tea is really good, enjoyed their tapioca options as well. Many different choices

Great place I found taking a short cut from ways , trying to avoid traffic from the Deerfield to get back to the city . This place is great for studying and just catching up with your friends . The WiFi was fast . There is a of lot seating and light classic music playing. There a comfy looking sofas for larger groups and many tables and work areas . the have a lot of board games for customers to play with . The coffee is strong and the plum tea is delicious !! read more

Great service. Cozy n Clean. Awesome prices. Bing soo had so many fresh fruits combined with so many other yummy toppings. Neighborhood gem. We dont need to drive 45 minutes to Coffee Haus anymore when we need our fix. read more

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

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Java and Mug is a really cute cafe that has made pretty significant strides in their menu since they first opened. I remember coming here back in high school (right around the corner) when they had instant ramen(?!) on their menu...though admittedly, their clientele was clearly a younger crowd at the time. But now, they have really legitimately delicious things available like pat bing soo with generous servings of fruit (even for the small size!) and exotic coffee drinks of various sorts! Probably secondary to the college/young adult population they target now (in addition to the Northside peeps, I'm sure). Well done, J&M! The atmosphere is comfy and cozy, the staff is nice, there are board games available and they are even open to midnight now! What can possibly be wrong? Great place to catch up with friends and chill over some games. read more

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

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This cafe is a hidden gem! My friends and I are regulars here. They have scrumptious desserts and delightful drinks - hot or cold! You can have a seat anywhere, and the servers bring out menus to you. They also serve you the food and drinks. The staff is very friendly and have good customer service! Afterwards, you pay up by the cash register. They have real good Patbingsoo, macaroons, green tea bubble tea, taro tea lattes (as well as a vast selection of other hot or cold drinks), shrimp chips, Korean onion ring chips, and even udon noodles or spicy ramen for snacking! The place is filled with manga and board games that you can play while you are there. There are tables, couches, and picnic tables near the front. During the afternoons, you can come here to study and take advantage of their free wifi. At night, it does get louder with all the different kinds of games going on. Best part? They are open late, so you can bring your friends and just have a chill hang out night. This place is definitely one of my favourite cafes in Chicago. read more

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

Java & Mug Cafe - Patbingsoo! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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

Java & Mug Cafe - Healthy and delicious what more can you ask! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Tea was pretty good. Staff got weird with us for sitting on the couches when the place was empty

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

Java & Mug Cafe - Cafe gelato with vanilla and coffee ice cream. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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

Java & Mug Cafe - caramel macchiato - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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

Java & Mug Cafe - Couple Bingsu without Mochi - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I came here on a Saturday evening with friends...it wasn't too packed so we were able to find seats immediately...you just go to any open area and sit down ...and the server will come to you with a menu.. Drinks: probably around the same price as Starbucks.. Dessert: I haven't tried their pattbingsoo so I'll have to update the review once I try it... Atmosphere: it is a coffee shop that sells ppatbingso so people come here to study or to hang out with friends after dinner...I would say it's a hangout place for females (but both genders are welcome)...and yes.. it's mainly filled with asians....and they also have boardgames that you can play with if you get bored staring/talking with your friends..:) WiFi: they do have WiFi, but you have to ask the staff for the pw...which means.. you should probably purchase something before asking them for a pw... Costs: it seemed a little pricy to me for quality of the food/drinks..but it's very comparable to Starbucks.. I guess I would rather go to Starbucks to get coffee.. would I come here again..?.. or to Outdoor?.. not sure...maybe with friends.....how about Starbucks + Yogurtland instead?.. :)... read more

Sberry bingsoo ($6.99) - 4 stars. Delish, would be better with misugaru. Bf tried their coconut taro bubble tea at a kfest, and he was v happy with it. read more

Java & Mug Cafe - Sberry bingsoo ($6.99) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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