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I love any shop with hot chocolate options that don't immediately scald your tongue, having hazelnut flavoring as an option was a pretty great addition too. Sweet Bean is a cute stop for some friendly service and a great selection of Taiwanese baked good. If you're just coming into the city from Midway, it's an easy stop off the subway and a great idea to get your trip started right.
We were wondering in the Chicago Chinatown and bumped into it. There were a lot of varieties to choose from. We tried red bean matcha bun, Dorian pastry, Thai tea egg tart, and purple rice taro bun. All were great and mild sweet flavors.
Pretty cool place here in south Loop Chicago. Without being too descriptive as I was only there shortly, it's basically Paris Baguette in its setup and offerings
We came around 12:30noon and got a huge bread haul at this bakery. I'm SO glad we did! Here's what we got: * Purple rice taro bun / 5 (OUR FAV!!!) * Matcha custard bun / 4.5 * Matcha pistachio bun / 5 * Tuna egg mayo bread / 4.5 * Hot dog & cheese bread / 4 * BBQ hot dog skewer / 3 * Sesame roll / 3.5 * Cheese pudding tart / 3.5 * Banana bread matcha c oat milk / 4.75 If there's one thing you get here, get the purple rice taro bun. Suuuuper soft & chewy bread filled with purple rice and taro. The textures were amazing. Best baked good I ever had. It's pricey but SO worth it!! 10/10, 5 stars, 100%. Service here is just okay, nothing special. There's also a small seating area in the back that is open until 4pm!
Yum! I stopped by Sweet Bean when I was staying nearby for some buns in the morning and turns out we went too early as the fresh buns were not ready yet. Instead they have their day old buns which they sell for $2.95 each. Apparently their buns usually come out around 10am. I ended up grabbing a pork floss taro bun and the orange cream bun to go. I heated up both buns at home (I only added the orange cream bun in for a couple of minutes) and they were as good as fresh out of the oven buns. Loved the pork floss taro bun which has fresh taro paste with chewy, stretchy mochi inside. The flavor combination of the salty pork floss, sweet taro and mochi was great. The orange cream bun was nice as well - the dough is a little sweet with the cream but overall a nice sweet bun. Will definitely need to come back to check out their other items! Super happy to see this Taiwanese inspired bakery open up near South Loop.
FOOD I had their matcha pineapple bun. It was fluffy and not too sweet, and although the bun was green, the matcha flavor did not really pull through. They still had a relatively wide selection of pastries available, even though I visited around 3pm. DRINKS They had a wide selection of coffee and tea drinks available for purchase. SERVICE The staff are kind and friendly! AMBIANCE Many guests were sitting and working/studying. PARKING Paid street parking is available at a limited capacity.
Super fluffy and tasty bread! Got the matcha custard and it was perfect! Loved the surprised bites of pineapple on the inside too! Recommend for a quick bite
Came to Sweet Bean to get some work done. My boyfriend and I enjoyed the Pork BBQ pastry as well as the Ham Scallion pastry. The ham scallion was my personal favorite, and I would definitely get that one again!! The bread was so soft, to the point it was super easy to pull apart. Prices aren't too bad, both of them were ~$8 total (~$4 each) You serve yourself by picking out the pastries you want, and then you bring them to the counter for them to be heated up. They offer discounted pastries that were made the day prior to prevent food waste, which I appreciate. It seems that the workers also regularly restock the pastries, which is great. Not too may seating options, maybe ~10 tables total. Very few tables have outlets.
I've stopped by Sweet Bean the last two times I've been in town, as I'm a sucker for this style of bakery and pastry. They offer a wide variety of items, including savory offerings (egg and bacon, hot dog cheese, tuna & mayo, ham & scallion), and sweeter treats featuring red bean, taro, egg buns, matcha, etc. You use a pair of tongs to grab and bag your items as you go along. They offer a wide variety of beverages served hot or cold, including matcha and hojicha with customizations (latte, ube/black sesame flavors, and miso caramel). I got a hot Matcha Black Sesame latte this latest visit with a recommended pump of sweetener. The black sesame settled a lot during drinking (and was a bit gritty at the end), so I will probably skip that particular one in the future, to try another fun option. Pastries run about $3.75-$4.50 depending on the item. They offer day-old sales on remaining pastries as well, but I do appreciate getting them while more warm and fresh. Sweet Bean is conveniently located off the red line Roosevelt stop. They have some modest seating inside, where I've seen people chatting or studying, but everything is served/collected in to-go packaging. It would be nice if they offered hard plates/cups for those dining in, but I imagine that presents additional staffing considerations. The employees I've interacted with though have been friendly and helpful. Definitely check it out if you're a fan of Taiwanese or Asian pastry treats!
Cool place! Huge variety of sweet and savory items. You pick up plastic bags and tongs, and walk around and choose what you want and then go check out. I was there on a crowded Saturday morning but the line moved quickly. I really enjoyed the items I tried, especially a ham and cheese square, an egg tart wrapped in bacon, and a matcha pretzel bun. I also enjoyed a rose almond chai tea latte. They have a cute area in the back for seating. Some of the decor was nice but then there were a few random (and possibly broken) printers along the wall, which seemed strange. I didn't see a restroom but maybe I missed it. It was the day before the marathon and very crowded and the staff did really well to keep up with the demand. New fresh items were consistently being brought out. If you want some yummy carbs, this is the place to go!
This was a great coffee stop on my walk to the Field Museum. They had lots of pastries and were pretty crowded on a Saturday morning, but moved fast. The inside is decorated cute and had some indoor seating. They had a seasonal menu which included a cardamom latte which I really enjoyed!
A popular Taiwanese and coffee shop for a reason! First and foremost, this place has the best bread I've ever tasted in my life. The bread is as soft as a pillow and has a lot of bounciness as you chew. The matcha custard and purple rice bread aren't too sweet and still has a lot of flavor! Interior has a super chill vibe with chill employees. Definitely will come again for my next LA-Chicago trip!
Amazing Taiwanese bakery in the heart of the south loop! Pastries are very fresh and delicious. Tried the blueberry cream cheese along with the lemon Madeline's.......SO GOOD! Quick service and friendly employees, give this locally owned business a try! Pro Tip: seasonal drinks and matchas to go along with the pastries read more
I wanted one last matcha in Chicago before flying out, and Sweet Bean was right around the corner from our brunch spot. I can't speak for their pastries, but their matcha was pretty good! This bakery reminds me of other Asian chains like Paris Baguette or 85°. When you walk inside, you can see the different pastries on display, from sweet to savory. You can pick and choose and pay up front. They also have a menu board with a variety of drinks--caffeinated and non-caffeinated. The service was fine, with limited interaction. They also have seating inside, but it's a bit limited. I got an Iced Mango Pandan Matcha Latte with Soy Milk. The matcha quality was fine. It was sweet, and there was a good amount of mango. I didn't taste any pandan, though. Overall, it was a good drink. I recommend coming here for matcha if you're in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way. Sweet Bean is a good spot in the Loop for matcha or Asian pastries. It's on the corner of Wabash Ave. read more
A Taiwanese bakery. How could a place that loves Michael Jackson be bad? Salted Egg Yolk Bolo Bun流心菠蘿麵包: Calling it "流心"(runny) isn't quite accurate; it's a bolo bun菠蘿包 (pineapple -shape bun) with a salted egg yolk filling, but it had an authentic, old-fashioned flavor that made me feel like back to childhood. The crust was thin and crispy, with a large air cavity, making it very soft and fluffy. The salted egg yolk has just the right balance of sweetness and saltiness, and wasn't too cloying. Garlic Cheese Brioche Bun蒜香奶酪麵包: Perhaps its more Taiwanese name is "八蒜包" (Eight Garlic Bun). Its appearance and taste were very similar to those I've had at Taiwanese bakeries in mainland China. The cheese and garlic flavors were very strong, but the bread itself was slightly coarse. Hojicha Latte: The whole milk was very milky, but the hojicha flavor felt a little weak. However, it's already great to find a tea latte that's not very sweet. read more
I love any shop with hot chocolate options that don't immediately scald your tongue, having hazelnut flavoring as an option was a pretty great addition too. Sweet Bean is a cute stop for some friendly service and a great selection of Taiwanese baked good. If you're just coming into the city from Midway, it's an easy stop off the subway and a great idea to get your trip started right. read more
We were wondering in the Chicago Chinatown and bumped into it. There were a lot of varieties to choose from. We tried red bean matcha bun, Dorian pastry, Thai tea egg tart, and purple rice taro bun. All were great and mild sweet flavors. read more
We came around 12:30noon and got a huge bread haul at this bakery. I'm SO glad we did! Here's what we got: * Purple rice taro bun / 5 (OUR FAV!!!) * Matcha custard bun / 4.5 * Matcha pistachio bun / 5 * Tuna egg mayo bread / 4.5 * Hot dog & cheese bread / 4 * BBQ hot dog skewer / 3 * Sesame roll / 3.5 * Cheese pudding tart / 3.5 * Banana bread matcha c oat milk / 4.75 If there's one thing you get here, get the purple rice taro bun. Suuuuper soft & chewy bread filled with purple rice and taro. The textures were amazing. Best baked good I ever had. It's pricey but SO worth it!! 10/10, 5 stars, 100%. Service here is just okay, nothing special. There's also a small seating area in the back that is open until 4pm! read more
Yum! I stopped by Sweet Bean when I was staying nearby for some buns in the morning and turns out we went too early as the fresh buns were not ready yet. Instead they have their day old buns which they sell for $2.95 each. Apparently their buns usually come out around 10am. I ended up grabbing a pork floss taro bun and the orange cream bun to go. I heated up both buns at home (I only added the orange cream bun in for a couple of minutes) and they were as good as fresh out of the oven buns. Loved the pork floss taro bun which has fresh taro paste with chewy, stretchy mochi inside. The flavor combination of the salty pork floss, sweet taro and mochi was great. The orange cream bun was nice as well - the dough is a little sweet with the cream but overall a nice sweet bun. Will definitely need to come back to check out their other items! Super happy to see this Taiwanese inspired bakery open up near South Loop. read more
FOOD I had their matcha pineapple bun. It was fluffy and not too sweet, and although the bun was green, the matcha flavor did not really pull through. They still had a relatively wide selection of pastries available, even though I visited around 3pm. DRINKS They had a wide selection of coffee and tea drinks available for purchase. SERVICE The staff are kind and friendly! AMBIANCE Many guests were sitting and working/studying. PARKING Paid street parking is available at a limited capacity. read more
4 months ago
Super fluffy and tasty bread! Got the matcha custard and it was perfect! Loved the surprised bites of pineapple on the inside too! Recommend for a quick bite read more
Came to Sweet Bean to get some work done. My boyfriend and I enjoyed the Pork BBQ pastry as well as the Ham Scallion pastry. The ham scallion was my personal favorite, and I would definitely get that one again!! The bread was so soft, to the point it was super easy to pull apart. Prices aren't too bad, both of them were ~$8 total (~$4 each) You serve yourself by picking out the pastries you want, and then you bring them to the counter for them to be heated up. They offer discounted pastries that were made the day prior to prevent food waste, which I appreciate. It seems that the workers also regularly restock the pastries, which is great. Not too may seating options, maybe ~10 tables total. Very few tables have outlets. read more
10 months ago
I've stopped by Sweet Bean the last two times I've been in town, as I'm a sucker for this style of bakery and pastry. They offer a wide variety of items, including savory offerings (egg and bacon, hot dog cheese, tuna & mayo, ham & scallion), and sweeter treats featuring red bean, taro, egg buns, matcha, etc. You use a pair of tongs to grab and bag your items as you go along. They offer a wide variety of beverages served hot or cold, including matcha and hojicha with customizations (latte, ube/black sesame flavors, and miso caramel). I got a hot Matcha Black Sesame latte this latest visit with a recommended pump of sweetener. The black sesame settled a lot during drinking (and was a bit gritty at the end), so I will probably skip that particular one in the future, to try another fun option. Pastries run about $3.75-$4.50 depending on the item. They offer day-old sales on remaining pastries as well, but I do appreciate getting them while more warm and fresh. Sweet Bean is conveniently located off the red line Roosevelt stop. They have some modest seating inside, where I've seen people chatting or studying, but everything is served/collected in to-go packaging. It would be nice if they offered hard plates/cups for those dining in, but I imagine that presents additional staffing considerations. The employees I've interacted with though have been friendly and helpful. Definitely check it out if you're a fan of Taiwanese or Asian pastry treats! read more
Cool place! Huge variety of sweet and savory items. You pick up plastic bags and tongs, and walk around and choose what you want and then go check out. I was there on a crowded Saturday morning but the line moved quickly. I really enjoyed the items I tried, especially a ham and cheese square, an egg tart wrapped in bacon, and a matcha pretzel bun. I also enjoyed a rose almond chai tea latte. They have a cute area in the back for seating. Some of the decor was nice but then there were a few random (and possibly broken) printers along the wall, which seemed strange. I didn't see a restroom but maybe I missed it. It was the day before the marathon and very crowded and the staff did really well to keep up with the demand. New fresh items were consistently being brought out. If you want some yummy carbs, this is the place to go! read more
This was a great coffee stop on my walk to the Field Museum. They had lots of pastries and were pretty crowded on a Saturday morning, but moved fast. The inside is decorated cute and had some indoor seating. They had a seasonal menu which included a cardamom latte which I really enjoyed! read more
2 months ago
Delicious bakery items! So fun to pick out an array of what you want from sweet to savory. Everything was so good! I've been a couple of times. Good drinks here too, and amazing kind service! It's cute they have some gift Shop items if I'm remembering right. Lovely experience! read more
5 months ago
A popular Taiwanese and coffee shop for a reason! First and foremost, this place has the best bread I've ever tasted in my life. The bread is as soft as a pillow and has a lot of bounciness as you chew. The matcha custard and purple rice bread aren't too sweet and still has a lot of flavor! Interior has a super chill vibe with chill employees. Definitely will come again for my next LA-Chicago trip! read more
I've walked past here often enough so I finally went in and I'm glad I did. We picked up three buns and no beverages this time. I was fairly dubious about the Spicy Chicken Bun but it's a rock star. The dough is soft and lovely and the sauce is not sickeningly sweet. There is some genuine heat but it's not overwhelming. The crunch from the visible peppers adds a welcome textural contrast. The Taro Bun was not quite what I expected but it was delicious nonetheless. I was expecting something more savory but it turned out to be a really appealing mix of sweet, salty, and savory. The Red Bean Bun is waiting for later. The tea selection looks nice and they serve Counter Culture coffee so it looks like I'll be back for drinks with my pastry soon - which will be happening as there are a number of the buns that I'm looking forward to trying. Day-old baked goods are available at a small discount. I expect that the quality would still be good as the dough is likely a tangzhong. The location is convenient for walking, train, or bus. This is a cashless business. read more
I like a simple Taiwanese green onion (scallion) bread that is very difficult to find these days and voila, I'm so happy to have found them at Sweet Bean! Granted, it is green onions and ham (tiny pieces), it is the closest I can find! It is tasty, but a bit pricey... two green onion bread were almost $9 (hence the 4 stars). The bakery has a good variety of breads, pastries, cakes and coffee/beverages. It has a small area with tables and seats that are in a separate room from the main area with food and cashier's counter, so it is not as noisy especially when it's busy. I will definitely be back....because of the green onion bread... will try their cakes too! read more
This Taiwanese bakery is amazing! I can't say enough good thing about their bread and drink. I feel like o teleported back home right when I took a bite! 100% recommend their taro bread and black sesame matcha. Orange custard is good as well, more suitable for American palate. read more
Just moved here from NYC and saw that there was an Asian bakery nearby so came to check it out. Got some pastries and everything was pretty good. Also got the hojicha which I really liked. The staffs were super nice and overall pretty good experience. Worth the price too (pretty average pricing in the south loop). Decent amount of seating too and cozy. read more
8 months ago
Cute coffee shop with amazing pastries! Love their seasonal drinks! I tried the cardamom mocha and ube thai tea and both were excellent read more
I've been meaning to visit Sweet Bean for a long time, and it did not disappoint! It's such a cozy, inviting little spot tucked into a bustling corner of the city. I love the unique mix of Western-style pastries infused with authentic Taiwanese flavors. The staff were incredibly friendly and took the time to be helpful while I was choosing from all the delicious options. I'm already looking forward to my next trip into the city so I can stop by again! read more
11 days ago
1 year ago
Sweet Bean's location is incredibly convenient and ideal for a variety of reasons. It is right off the CTA stop and within walking distance of some of our favorite and frequently-visited spots. As such, we have stopped by Sweet Beans on a few occasions, sometimes in the morning and sometimes in the afternoon. There are more selections if you go earlier in the day. Some of the items that we have tried are: Matcha glazed bun with custard filling Matcha glazed bun with red bean filling Pineapple bun with custard filling Sesame bun with curry filling Pineapple bun with shredded coconut and jam filling Earl Grey tea latte The bread is soft however the flavors for all of the bread are way too subtle for our preferences. A good way to try a variety without breaking the bank is that there are some days in which they would have yesterday's bread for a discounted price at $2.95 each. read more
10 months ago
I have passed this place a million times and never stopped until recently. this place is very quaint and inviting. it is self serve so you go get your own tongs put your items in a little baggie and return the tongs to the front for them to be washed and sanitized. They have so much stuff and it is so good, which is a understatement. I will definitely be trying just about everything in the store. read more
Cute space with very fresh selection of savory and sweet Taiwanese pastries and cakes. The garlic cream cheese brioche was a bit too much for me, but the bbq cheddar pork bun and the Thai egg tart were both phenomenal. You have to plan ahead and grab several bags right away so you don't go back and forth, but there weren't too many people when I went so it wasn't too cumbersome. The Sakura lemonade was an interesting menu item, but I think the Sakura flavor got lost. It was pink and not too sweet so still very good in my book. Lots of seating in the back and very friendly service. read more
2 years ago
Great study spot. The playlist the day I went was *chef's kiss* The strawberry matcha was good but nothing too special. The black sesame pastry I got was okay - The mochi in it was really good though and the chewy texture made the pastry fun to eat. I prefer the savory pastries here. I got the ham and cheese pork floss pastry (not pictured here) and enjoyed it. It's a nice snack. I would keep coming back just to try other pastries and to get work done! They also have a few outlets and a restroom. read more
Cute Taiwanese bakery with a bunch of delicious pastries. We tried their egg custard tart, salted egg yolk bun, bbq bun and scalllion bun. The bbq bun was tasty but idk if I'd call it bbq pork it's more of a pulled pork but still yummy. My favorite is the scallion bun. I got their miso mocha with dark chocolate and my partner got their rose matcha latte. I enjoyed my miso matcha but his rose matcha latte had a bit too much rose in it read more
5 months ago
Stopped by at a Sunday around 11:30. Bought an egg tart, mini hot dogs buns on a skewer, and pork floss and mayo bun, red bean mochi bun, black sesame matcha, and Pandan mango matcha. Egg tart: this has a crumbly crust. But not a flakey crust. The egg custard was more on the creamy side. Overall, this stemmed away from a traditional Hing Kong egg tart. 3/5 Mini Hot Dog Buns on a skewer. These were delicious. Three bite sized hot dogs in a bun with some melted cheese. The skewer was a fun way to eat this. You would probably get more bang for your buck by getting the regular hot dog bun instead, but the skewer was still good. 5/5 Pork flops bun with mayo. This was solid. The pork floss paired well with the mayo and bread. 5/5 Red bean mochi bun. This was also a solid red bean bun. The mochi inside was unique. Not overly sweet. The bun was good but the bread can be softer. 4/5 Black sesame matcha. I do recommend getting some sugar added. The black sesame isn't just flavor, but you can feel the crushed black beans. 4/5 The Pandan mango matcha was also good. The mango didn't taste like a typical mango, I'm not sure if it's because of the Pandan, but it tasted a little like coconut. Pandan always pairs well with matcha. 4/5 Overall, this is a solid place to grab a drink and get some pastries. Staff was nice and there were tables to sit down and enjoy your drink and good. read more
Ambiance: 5/5 This is a small, but cozy bakery located in the South Loop. There are a couple of small tables to sit at, but everyone mainly buys and goes. Service: 5/5 Food: 5/5 There are a variety of sweet and savory buns, pastries, and treats to choose from. The egg tarts were just okay (the Thai Tea flavored one barely had any tea taste), but the buns were delicious! My favorite was the pork floss taro bun. Yum! We will definitely be back to try out all the other goodies. read more
This is a bakery/coffee shop combined in downtown Chicago that reminds me of Taiwan. They have a good variety of breads and pastries, my boyfriend and I picked 5 breads (2 from the reduced-priced section) and ordered hojicha. All were so good! Our favorite was the pork floss bolo bun. It's very savory and authentic. They have working wifi and a seating area at the back of the shop. We were there studying and enjoying our drinks and breads. This place is within walking distance from Shedd aquarium. It was a nice day to get some treats here after the aquarium! read more
1 year ago
Sweet Bean was just a short walk away from our hotel, and we stopped by for breakfast on our last day in Chicago. It was evident that this was a popular spot as there were several visitors checking out what they had to offer. I had red bean bread during my last trip to Austin, and I was excited to try it again. Sweet Bean did not disappoint! I grabbed some clean tongs and a clear bag and picked up a Taro Bun and Red Bean Mochi Bun. I ordered an iced hojicha, or "roasted matcha", latte as well. Everything was top-notch. I was told that the Thai Tea Egg Tart was amazing, so I'll have to try that during our next visit. read more
1 year ago
If I could give Sweet Bean 6/5 stars, I would. This place is so well organized, the pastries are all delicious and unique, and the drinks are also varied and tasty! I highly recommend this place to anyone in the city. It is well worth going out of your way for! read more
1 year ago
Such a cozy cafe! I came here to pass time and grab some snacks, and I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the bread and drinks. The decorations and plants bring everything together, and you can see other people working or studying. read more
Cute little Taiwanese bakery we visited for breakfast! They had so many baked goods to choose from and they were so fresh and soft when we went in the morning. They were continuously bringing out fresh goodies as we were walking around. The packaged breads they sold are day old baked goods that they sell at a cheaper price but they were still so soft. Lots of drink options and customizations available. The cashier was nice and helpful. read more
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