holy shit this was SO GOOD. we got chocolate chip walnut, dark chocolate peanut butter, and twice…read morechocolate chip. we got all of them freshly baked piping hot at 10:45pm 15 min before closing they also had a few options left if you don't want to wait for them fresh. the overall store was also super cute, lots of decor and history and merch! CHOCOLATE CHIP WALNUT SO GOOD BEST CHOC CHIP COOKIE???? crispy outside melt chocolate inside so yums dark chocolate peanut butter v rich, same crispy outside gooey inside. p good but kinda too sweet after a few bites twice chocolate chip has hella chocolate chips and also dark chocolate. tasted diff then the og walnut one i think too much chocolate takes away the cookie flavor idk... yummy but not as good as walnut I WOULD GO BACK JUST FOR THE CHOCOLATE CHIP WALNUT AGAIN OMG

Love the cookies here! Crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside…read more A small location that's pretty quiet when we went in. The ones working make recommendations if you ask.

This is my absolute most favorite bakery. So this is my ode to the bakery and Dom, who is a gem of…read morean employee there. I've been a customer of almost 10 years and have been obsessed since they first opened their doors at a different location. I literally live an hour away without traffic and even longer with traffic, but I make sure to stop by or send someone else to get it for me at least once a month or more. I love the amazing cakes that are so delicious and unique but on top of that, it is Asian owned, LGBTQ supporting, etc. A lot has changed since their little storefront with no seating. The bakery is now a full on cafe and I'm so happy to see how much they've grown and how successful they are. And while it is glorious, I will say I miss the sweet neighborhood charm and great customer service it used to have. Getting in touch with the bakery through phone or text can be tough and to be honest, sometimes one of the people working there is kind of...very mean. It had me questioning if I should keep coming back. I just love this bakery so much though and being raised by parents that had a small food business, I can't help but want to support. I had a particularly difficult last minute request for the bakery a few weeks ago and I was reminded why this place is so great. It had been YEARS since I made this specific request, which was an order for a slice of cake for every flavor and a cupcake for every flavor. This is a BIG and time consuming request, especially if it's last minute. Unfortunately I come to the city whenever the traffic isn't atrocious, so it's always last minute. Dom absolutely pulled through though. Even though there were other employees there (I saw two others but one disappeared and then another male was kind of walking around the cafe and such), Dom took this giant request and fulfilled it himself. The other gentleman (not the mean person previously mentioned) was actually who I made the request to, but he told Dom to do it. I was kind of confused why they didn't do it together but idk, maybe the other guy isn't allowed to handle food? Who knows. Regardless, this request obviously took a long time and the line was getting longer; people were getting a little restless but Dom stayed calm but was swift. I swear he was moving faster than most people in the industry could with a cake knife like that. He was not impatient or rude to me at all. He was just there to do his job as fast and well as possible. It's so rare to see that type of work ethic. He is also so obviously proud of the bakery and the food they serve which makes you feel good about being a patron there. So although I continue to have an unpleasant experience with one particular employee there, Dom keeps my love for this bakery alive. He reminds me of what this bakery was like when they first opened their doors. I hope Dom is cherished there and I bet he is considering his work ethic. I will continue to support this bakery and I recommend everyone else to support as well. It may not be that small little shop anymore but Dom is a reminder of the heart of the place.

Excellent though expensive cupcakes Coffee is good…read more Plenty of seating and tables if you're eating in Service is very good

For a take out bakery style restaurant, this place has everything I need and it all tastes great…read more They open super early in the morning if you want that dim sum or bakery fix. There aren't tables so don't expect to sit down to enjoy your food. Service was friendly and prompt. I ordered sui mai, beef rice rolls, lotus leaf rice, zhongzi, and a pineapple bbq pork bun. Everything, and I mean everything, was delicious. This will be my new take out dim sum and bakery spot in Chicago now. Give it a shot, you won't regret it.

We came here for a quick breakfast and were satisfied with what we got. There was a bit of a line…read moreinside, but it moved quickly. We got a few buns and pastries, then ate them inside at the standing counter they had along the window by the front door. This did feel very mych like a grab and go spot, but it was raining so we stayed a bit longer. Food was nice and tasted correct. Prices seemed fair, and the space was clean - felt like your typical Chinese bakery. Overall, we left feeling full with our choices and it was a nice experience. Thanks, Chiu Quon!

We had an amazing experience during our recent trip to Chicago at Kasama. Our dinner consisted of…read more13 courses. Each dish was thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, and delicious. It was such a fun experience getting to try the chef's own take on Filipino cuisine. The quality of the food really stood out. My personal favorites were the nilaga and halo halo. The service was also excellent -- everyone was attentive, welcoming, and made the entire dinner feel special. I also couldn't help but notice how different the ambiance was. The kitchen area was open to where you could directly see the chefs. I usually feel chaos at times watching their every move along with them shouting over each other, but I felt a sort of calmness here. No one looked stressed or angry - just a bunch of chefs doing what they do best in a calm and quiet manner.. which I appreciated! Overall, a wonderful dining experience from start to finish. Definitely worth trying if you're in Chicago!

Came for a dinner tasting menu with my friend. Had extremely high hopes coming into this given the…read morereputation and status of the establishment. While the food was good, it was overall a pretty severe let down for me. Most of the dishes were missing the element of a carb, i.e. some simple white rice on the side for most of the courses would've put this whole meal on a new level. I fear they are trying to cater too much to the standard Michelin crowd expectations of viewing white rice as too simple and cheap to include in meals. Courses were still good, just nothing stood out too much and felt like each one was missing an element. The desserts carried the meal heavily, and without them, I would've given this a 2/5 review for sure, because of the overall let down, not meeting my expectations of exhibiting Filipino cuisine and the 2-Michelin star level, and the price I paid. I got a couple of drinks and the standard tasting menu... $450. I do not think this meal was worth the price at all. I hear amazing things about the breakfast sandwich, so next time I'm back in the city I will make sure to order the sandwich ahead of time so I don't have to wait in the 100-person line that forms on the weekend mornings. For the dinner experience, if you truly love food and have high standards and expectations, this would honestly be a pass in my opinion given the price.

Really cool place to get a great latte and breakfast right down in the loop…read more Cinnamon buns looked amazing. Latte and cereal granola bowl were really filling. Husband got a breakfast sandwich which was hearty. Long lines, limited seating.

Sub standard shawarma. I tried it only because of the "halal" tag. Disappointed totally not worth…read moreit. But the folks at the next table were having sandwiches which looked sooooo much better. Then I tried the butter chicken samosa. The size looked awesome and they warmed it up. Big inside, it was full of squished chicken pieces, peas and rice!!! Horrible!

A very cute place that I'm so happy to have found! It was small, intimate, and cozy. Definitely the…read morekind of place you'd want to hang out in for a bit while you sip some coffee and chat. The staff were super kind and patient! It was my and my friend's first time there. We both got the raspberry cinnamon roll and she got a latte. She loved her coffee, and the cinnamon roll was amazing! It was just the right amount of tart and sweet, and the cream cheese frosting was very light. Can't wait to come back and try the other options!

One of my favorite bakeries in Chicago!…read more The vibes were 9.5/10. Kerrie, the owner, was so nice ringing us up and all the employees were super kind. We got there 10 minutes before opening and were second in line. We even saw the first customer get a free drink, which was such a nice touch. The space feels really welcoming and homey, and I loved the aesthetic. There are only 3 tables though, so seating is limited. The Banana Bread (9.9/10) was ON CLOUD 9. So moist and chocolatey, with a light chocolate cream and roasted candied pecans that had the perfect crunch. Absolutely loved this one. The Raspberry Cinnamon Roll with Espresso Cream Cheese (9/10) had a nice laminated pastry and espresso cream wasn't overly sweet. Such a good combo. The Cookies & Cream Cheesecake Danish (9/10) tasted like a chocolate fudge danish topped with cookies and cream, which I loved. It had the firmest shell of the pastries we got and that extra crunch was perfect. The Hot Dog Pastry (8.5/10) was super flaky, and I loved the crunchy pieces on top. The Guava Custard Danish (8/10) had a great guava flavor and was solid. The Breakfast Pastry (8/10) had hashbrown, ham, and cheese inside a flaky crust. It was a really good flaky breakfast sandwich and WAY better heated up. The Atomic Cake (7/10) had vanilla cake, banana, strawberry cream, cheesecake, chocolate, and a light whipped cream topping. The cake layers were moist and it wasn't overly sweet.

Magnolia Bakery is known for its banana pudding, and for good reason! After recently trying banana…read morepudding somewhere else that honestly didn't impress me, coming to Magnolia's and enjoying their banana pudding was exactly what I needed. My companion ordered the classic banana pudding, while I tried the banana pudding with a brownie bar. Let me tell you, that brownie version was AMAZING! It was delicious, and I'm disappointed I forgot to take a picture because it deserved its moment. Both options were enjoyable, but the brownie addition was definitely a highlight for me. The bakery is always clean, and I love that it's relatively spacious for a bakery. The customer service was also top-tier. We arrived when they were getting ready to close, but the staff still welcomed us in to grab our desserts. We were able to get in and out quickly, and I really appreciated them accommodating us so close to closing time. Between the delicious banana pudding, clean environment, and excellent customer service, Magnolia Bakery continues to live up to its reputation. Five stars from me!

I have visited Magnolia Bakery a handful of times and always have a pleasant experience. They…read morealways have a monthly flavor of banana pudding available, which is fun to see rotate, but honestly the original is usually the better choice. The original is creamy with real chunks of banana in every bite. The space has plenty of indoor seating. One small downside: they don't offer cups of water, so keep that in mind if you're stopping by on a warm day. Staff were friendly. Would highly recommend if you have not yet tried magnolia!

Our experience with Bittersweet Bakery was exceptional from beginning to end. We ordered our…read morewedding cake from Bittersweet, and they made the entire process enjoyable and stress-free. The cake tasting was a wonderful experience, giving us plenty of delicious options to choose from while helping us create the perfect cake for our special day. Throughout the entire process, their communication was outstanding. They kept us informed every step of the way and worked directly with our wedding venue, "Firehouse Chicago", to coordinate the delivery and logistics. Everything was handled seamlessly, and our cake arrived exactly as planned without a single issue. Planning a wedding can be overwhelming, but Bittersweet's professionalism, organization, and proactive approach gave us one less thing to worry about. Their attention to detail and commitment to excellent customer service truly stood out. One feature we especially love is that they keep the recipe and design of your wedding cake on file. Every anniversary, they can recreate your wedding cake or a cake in any size you choose. We've continued this tradition, and each anniversary cake has been just as delicious as the original while bringing back wonderful memories of our wedding day. If you're looking for a bakery that is responsive, dependable, and delivers an outstanding product, I highly recommend Bittersweet Bakery for your wedding cake or any bakery needs. They responded promptly to our questions and requests, unlike some businesses that never replied to estimate inquiries. Their customer service and quality were truly exceptional. A heartfelt thank you to Samuel who conducted the Cake Tasting and the entire staff at Bittersweet Bakery for helping make our dream wedding a reality. We will always be grateful and look forward to celebrating many more anniversaries with your incredible cakes.

The pastries at bittersweet will never disappoint. I grew up going to this bakery and the quality…read morehas never wavered. The quiche is always fantastic, and anything out of the pastry case is a must. Drinks are good as well! Such a cozy spot to grab coffee with a friend (or give in to the temptation of snagging a pastry on your way to the brown line)

This was our go-to coffee spot whenever we were near the Riverwalk area or needed strong matcha in…read morethe morning for the day ahead. I would order ahead via the app, and either my husband would pick up or we would go there together. The baristas consistently made drinks well. It's a cute little PB spot. I would definitely recommend if you're staying at one of the nearby hotels and need a PB fix.

I was in Chicago last month and, while exploring the city on foot, I came across Paris Baguette and…read moredecided to stop and try one of their pastries and a coffee. From the moment I walked in I was impressed. The store was spotless , everything looked fresh, and the displays were beautifully organized. It was honestly hard to choose because everything looked so good. They had outdoor seating, which made it the perfect spot to sit back, relax and take in the city while enjoying a yummy pastry and coffee. Service was fast and no lines. Favorite unexpected spot during my trip to Chicago!

Finally had a chance to check out D'amato's in River West. They are apparently remodeling so…read morethey're a bit more limited in what they have available but it was a line out the door when I came by, decided to try a chicken vodka sauce parmesan sandwich and a meatball sub. Also took home chicken cutlets with rigatoni, a loaf of fresh sourdough and two big canolis. Neededless to say, this place is legit!! I will definitely swing back in in a few weeks when the restaurant reopens. Yelp tip: the restaurant is in one side of the street and the pickup and wholesale is directly across the street. You feel like you are standing inside the kitchen, very cool.

Okay, y'all are going to have to bear with me on this one…read more Back in the day, I was such a fan of D'Amato's Bakery. They had everything you wanted when it came to a sandwich. Hot or cold, you got exactly what you were asking for. On this particular day, I was pretty much undecided on what to eat when a friend suggested D'Amato's. I hadn't had them since I moved away, so I was looking forward to reliving some food memories. They have a new place, but the same menu and maybe even some of the same people. All I knew was that I was excited to have them again. How it went so wrong so fast, I'm still not sure. I ordered a chicken parm for myself and a turkey club for my friend. What I got was a chicken parm and a Caesar club. Strike one. Unfortunately, things didn't get much better from there. The chicken parm was gritty and mostly crust, with hardly any chicken. My friend said the Caesar club wasn't good at all. They told me I should go back and get my money, but honestly, I chalked it up to them being in a new place and maybe still getting used to their surroundings. I think part of me just couldn't believe that a place I remembered so fondly had taken such a turn for the worse. I couldn't even bring myself to go back and face them. I can't say I'll be going back anytime soon. Somewhere, an angel just lost its wings.