Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    OverLay

    4.7 (27 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order OverLay Takeout or Delivery

    OverLay Photos

    Business Info

    OVERLAY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    You might also consider

    More like OverLay

    Recommended Reviews - OverLay

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Lico J.

    Ordered the strawberry cream latte and osmanthus matcha to go, and I have to say - the to-go packaging was probably the best and most thoughtful I've seen here. It honestly reminded me of the kind of careful drink packaging you'd see in China. The drinks were very good, and I was pleasantly impressed. The strawberry puree in the latte tasted fresh, and the matcha was strong and flavorful. Love love. We ended up sitting down for a bit so my son could have some shu mai, and he liked them. The soy sauce really reminded me of what I grew up with in Guangdong, which was such a nice little nostalgic moment. Personally, the shu mai themselves weren't the best I've ever had, but for a small snack, there was really nothing to complain about. Overall, a very cute and thoughtful spot with drinks I'd happily come back for.

    Ube Matcha
    Lauren M.

    Thai place was incredible. The ambiance is so cute and the staff is incredible. The menu had a ton of options from matcha, to lattes to boba tea and some food. I ordered the Ube matcha and my friend got the strawberry one. Both of them were incredible and I would go back in a heartbeat!

    Interior
    Jemyra I.

    Stopped by this new spot after grabbing breakfast nearby, and I've been on a mission to try different matcha drinks lately. I ordered the ube matcha, and my friend got the strawberry matcha. Both were really enjoyable and nicely balanced. Ordering was easy through the kiosk, and the place started to get a good crowd while we were there. The worker was very friendly and helpful, which made the experience even better. There is also street parking available, which is always a plus. Definitely a solid spot if you are looking to try something a little different!

    Biscoff Latte
    Jessica M.

    Cute speciality drink and coffee shop if you're in the area. The ube swirl smoothie was amazing. I'll never need to order the biscoff latte ever again. It didn't taste like biscoff, most had the coffee. And I actually like that taste of coffee. This didn't really taste like anything. I'll try something else next time. The young lady working the register was super sweet.

    Ube matcha

    First and foremost, the ladies behind the counter are SO NICE. I came here for the first time after seeing it on Instagram and they were hand whisking the Matcha behind the counter, love to see it. When I walked in, they all smiled at me and were super friendly when I asked about the Osmanthus. The Matcha is the most beautiful green color. I got the Ube Matcha with some boba, which costs an extra dollar but I love how it tastes. The ube is sweet and earthy, it adds the perfect flavor to the drink. One thing is I think they forgot to give me a boba straw and gave me a regular one, so I had to opt to use the sip lid, but that's no trouble. They have a bunch of special drinks, including one that's been trending called "dot cake." I have to come back and try this place again! Overall the atmosphere is also very welcoming. Theres lots of seats, and board games with a couch by the back. It's such a cute place with the sweetest baristas. I'll definitely be visiting again.

    Strawberry Cream Croffle
    Mark L.

    Service was very friendly and made you feel welcome. The place was super chill cafe style, to simulate Taiwanese style cafes. The food was solid, nothing to rave about but was flavorful and filling. The drinks were great but a little sweet.

    Betty U.

    Such a fun and yum experience at Overlay Café! Owner and hostess Casey warmly welcomed me and described the extensive menu offerings. It was difficult to choose my beverage, but I went with the awesome Hong Kong style coffee with milk boba plus a small serving of sui mai topped with furikake flakes and a tasty sweet soy sauce. 10 out of 10 easily! While enjoying my food, I could not help but be tempted by the many running photos on the monitors promoting their other inviting beverages and treats. Had to takeout encore sui mai and steamed barbecue pork buns which were perfect meaty filling & soft pillowy bun. Café peppered with many cozy tables, some with cute games for interactive activities for adults and children as you sip & munch away. Highly recommend repeat visits!

    Mango milk tea
    Stephanie L.

    Quick service, cute boba shop. Mango milk tea is just with added mango puree but refreshing!

    Rhonda F.

    Wow! So much more than expected! I was invited to try this woman owned business by Kate. Thank you!! As it is International Women's Month, I thought it was fitting. Walking in, this small shop offers so much eye candy. Orange sharks coming out of the wall under a big tree, board games, comfy pillows and many seating options created a fun and welcoming first impression. The young lady working was an ace. She was answering questions,taking orders and was smiling and sweet the entire time. Her exceptional customer service made my experience even better. I picked up my order to go so I could bring goodies to my family who live nearby. In addition to lattes and fruit teas, my Thai Milk Tea was the best I have ever had. It was so creamy and full of flavor. I also tried an order of Siu Mai dumplings, a Strawberry Shortcake smoothie and 2 croffles. Now my son & daughter-in-law are regulars! They can't get enough. Parking was easy, the food & beverages were tasty and the customer service could not have been better. There is no reason not to try this great little spot.

    Front of OverLay
    Monica L.

    Hey fellow Yelp users! This was my first time visiting OverLay as part of the Yelp Experience. I took my best friend with me as my plus one. For starters, I'm obsessed with their cute logo of a blue shark on a floatie. Like sooo cute!!! I was kind of indecisive on what to get even though I already looked at the menu before coming. I was debating between the ube smoothie with boba, ube milk tea with boba, & the hearbreak punch lemonade. I ended up getting the heartbreak punch lemonade which is strawberry lemonade. Casey, the owner of OverLay, recommended me to try it with lychee jelly. This was my first time trying lychee jelly, so I didn't know what to expect. It was so good!!! I totally recommend if you're looking for something fruity and refreshing to drink. My best friend ended up getting the strawberry shortcake smoothie and it was so good too!!! Honestly everything was delicious! Customer Service: We were welcomed by the owner, Casey, and one of the staff members. Casey was so sweet, gave us some recommendations, and shared more about her business with bringing the Hong Kong culture to Chicago. Atmosphere: I love the atmosphere OverLay brings as it's a cute and cozy spot to enjoy a drink or even munch on light snacks/meals like their siu mai or bubble waffle. Great place for a coffee date/chat, hanging out with friends, or even for a date. Overall Experience: Overall, I had an amazing experience for my first visit to OverLay for the Yelp Experience. Thank you Casey (owner of OverLay), OverLay, & Yelp for putting this experience and event together. I highly recommend this place if you want to try a new spot in the University Village neighborhood. I hope this review helps OverLay & its current and future customers. Have an amazing day!

    Padma A.

    Very cute cafe with free wifi and a self order kiosk . Enjoyed the free yelp elite mango tea boba with green tea and 3 pieces of pork shumai . I also bought another brown sugar boba for my daughter, customer service was excellent and the space is cute to work in peace. . Would certainly come back.

    Crème brûlée latte
    Myra Y.

    On our second visit here we got the Oreo milk tea and strawberry milk tea. We also got the Oreo egg waffle. Service was quick and each item tasted great. Can't wait to come back to try other items on their menu!

    Original bubble waffle and crème brûlée latte.
    Malynn T.

    Did I come in for the free shark air tag holder? Yes, yes I did. Other than coming for the free keychain, I've been here a few times and always had a good experience. Not going to talk about the current promo because they have different limited ones randomly but their drinks are pretty solid. I like to dip the original bubble waffle into the crème brûlée top. Thank me later. I wouldn't say the bubble waffle batter tastes traditional and fluffy but it's fine. It's a good snack to share with friends. I also like their mango matcha. This place is also cheaper than other boba places on Taylor so that's a plus. Their coffee is easy to drink and their matcha is decent so I would suggest any of those. They also have a good brown sugar boba if you want a more traditional boba drink. The staff is always super sweet and the owner is really nice as well.

    Hong Kong Original Bubble Waffle

    See all

    21 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rhonda F.
    1502
    1208
    12040

    2 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 1
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Padma A.
    328
    1551
    7309

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Friendly staff and delicious coffee! Cute environment with games and such. I'd definitely recommend this spot.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Hong Kong decour gave a unique vibe. Ube Cream Matcha Latte and siu mai was DELICIOUS! Very friendly staff and good service.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Arika M.
    0
    33
    109

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    the boba is so good and the workers there are so nice 10/10 service and 100/10 boba would reccomend!!!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Their matcha mango latte is amazing. Must try. Good service. And great ambiance to work in.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - OverLay

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Coffee & Tea 8,357 times last month within 5 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Gathers Tea Bar - Ube Monster

    Gathers Tea Bar

    4.8(350 reviews)
    0.2 miUniversity Village
    $$

    This is one of my favorite matcha spots in all of Chicago! It gets pretty busy sometimes, so expect…read morea wait during their peak hours. It will get a little loud too if it's crowded, so be sure to listen to your order name or number in order to grab your drink at the delivery counter! Probably my 3rd or 4th time visiting, but the drinks always hit the matcha itch each time I love the Strawberry Matcha Latte since it brings a good level of sweetness from the strawberry puree but also the bitterness from the matcha. The matcha has such a deep flavor that with any of the specialty lattes, you don't lose any of that matcha flavoring to the add-ons. The Mango Matcha Latte is also very good! You get a lighter mango taste (in comparison to having a stronger strawberry taste), and you can still taste the depth of the matcha flavor. Even after the ice melting after time, you can still taste the matcha as if it was not watered down. That's how you know you're getting premium quality matcha. tl;dr If you haven't tried Gathers...you're missing out on some delicious matcha.

    Cute and busy cafe! We came midday on Saturday and everyone seemed to be here. Good vibes,…read morefast-paced and so many drinks options. I LOVED their menu because they have a good mix of boba, matcha and other decaffeinated drinks. Boba prices are good too, and regular drink is around $5.5 on average. I got mango matcha and I can tell it's a high quality matcha. Even towards the end, the matcha didn't get watered down much (see one of the pictures). The mango didn't taste authentic, but good quality matcha made up for it. Ube monster was also tasty; it has Oreo crumbs on top. The sweetness was just right. Service was fast and there are so many self-check out stations.

    Photos
    Gathers Tea Bar - Strawberry Matcha Latte

    Strawberry Matcha Latte

    Gathers Tea Bar - Brown Sugar Hojicha, Brown Sugar Matcha Latte, Black Sesame Matcha Latte

    Brown Sugar Hojicha, Brown Sugar Matcha Latte, Black Sesame Matcha Latte

    Gathers Tea Bar - Thai Tea

    See all

    Thai Tea

    Daboba - Interior

    Daboba

    4.4(111 reviews)
    1.8 miChinatown
    $

    We stopped in here after visiting the gachapon arcade upstairs and immediately noticed how clean…read moreeverything was. The whole shop is really cute, too. They have plushies sitting on the couch in the waiting area and a little floral Instagram wall that's clearly meant for photos. We also very much appreciated that they have a bathroom, which isn't always guaranteed in Chinatown spots. I got the large Fruity Party drink and loved it. It had slices of citrus floating in it plus a rainbow of fruit jellies at the bottom. It was both super refreshing and really pretty. I'd absolutely order it again. My sister got the medium kumquat lemon seasons tea. It was super strong and concentrated, which is just the way I like my tea. I learned that I liked kumquat kumquat so that's a fun bonus. We'll definitely be back next time we are in Chinatown.

    This was a cute little boda shop to stop by! They have ordering kiosks that you can use to place…read moreyour order or you can order at the counter. They have a good amount of options but not too many that it's overwhelming. I got the mango green tea with fruit jelly at 25% sweetness and regular ice. As someone who doesn't love overly sweet drinks this was pretty solid, any sweeter and it would have been too much. The drink came out super quickly and there is a ton of space to sit inside if you choose!

    Photos
    Daboba - Happy tea time clock

    Happy tea time clock

    Daboba - Interior design

    Interior design

    Daboba - Gold Pearl Green Milk Tea 25% Sugar

    See all

    Gold Pearl Green Milk Tea 25% Sugar

    OverLay - coffee - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...