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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
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
3 years ago
What a find! A huge collection of sweet and savory Taiwanese cakes, buns, cookies, and pastries. We tried the ham and cheese bun with pork floss and the ham and corn bun and both were fantastic and took some Earl Gray and lychee shortbread cookies to go. So many more things to try. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
3 years ago
Been here for more than 5 times, Sweet Bean is my favorite bakery in Chicago of all time. Coming from Taiwan, I can say this is very authentic & tasty Taiwanese bread and pastries! Be sure to get there early (usually before 2pm is good) for wider selections, as they sell pretty fast. I love the pudding egg roll so much that I can't help keep buying it and sharing with friends - they love it too! read more
2 years ago
i wasn't really a fan of the acai bowl but love the sweets! i've had the salted yolk bun, mini cheesecake tart, and coffee walnut bun and they were all delicious, although i think my favorite is the coffee walnut bun. they sell out of the popular items quickly so it's good to go early! read more
5 years ago
Sweet Bean!!! Just keeps getting better and better! The soup dumplings are fabulous as are the unique and authentic Taiwanese self serve sweet and savory pastries. I notice new and interesting pastry types with each visit which is both great and sucks as I never know whether to try to try the new delicious looking pastries or get the delicious pastries I've been thinking about since my last visit!! Damn you Sweet Bean! ;-) Also, the pastry chefs are Taiwanese so the stuff is legit. Pastry dilemma aside, they have great coffees, teas matcha stuff and other unique reasonably priced eating and drinking menu choices! Warm light fills the loft style interior space and friendly welcoming staff make this fresh concept one of my favorite destinations for unique eats and great beverages. read more
1 year ago
5 years ago
This place is right around the corner and we wanted some coffee and snacks! One nice thing about this coffee shop is that it stays open til the evening and it has a variety of food! We decided to grab a few things from the self serve bakery. I love red bean, so we chose the red bean bun to try and a walnut coffee cream cheese bun that sounded good and unique. Everything seemed to be very fresh! The lavender lattes were decent. I've had better, but they were fine and there was a good amount of foam! The dumplings with chili oil are so delicious! You taste all the flavors of the filling - shrimp, pork and it's well balanced with the chives. The chili oil adds a nice hint of spice without making it soggy. The lemongrass wings are surprisingly delicious! They looked dry, but were not. Crispy on the outside, the wings had a nice hint of lemon without being overwhelming. The strawberry bowl was good topping wise and the flavor was fine. However, it was very very runny and a little hard to eat. The ambiance in here is great, simple but comfortable with the big windows. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful!! The WiFi isn't great, so maybe not the best place to get a ton of work done. Overall a good experience and lots of options to try! read more
3 years ago
Amazing bakery! I would highly recommend their Taro Mochi Pork Floss Bun. It's not too sweet nor too salty, and the price is also affordable! I would say their coffee might be okay, but not so outstanding. Anyway, please please try their buns! read more
5 years ago
Great Asian bakery in south loop! Matcha strawberry latte is not like the boba guys version but still enjoyed the matcha taste. Great variety of baked goods. Portuguese egg tarts were great, not too sweet. I'll have to heat it up before I eat it next time. Corn, bacon brioche was excellent. Will definitely be back and will want to try their dumplings next time. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
Another overhyped and over priced place. First thing walking in was the disgusting door. I get its the city, but the door itself was already giving us a huge ick. 2 small 12oz drinks were $14.14 with a $1 tip. Asked for a caramel macchiato, they gave us a caramel latte. Only reason we drank it was because we had already paid for it. Hot chocolate was tasteless and watery. They had low quality milk and syrups. Would've been better off even going to Dunkin' or Starbucks. Only got drinks due to the fact that most of their pastries had pork in them. Let alone all of their tongs were clumped up and who knows how many people with their "city hands" might have touched them. 3 words to describe this place: tasteless disgusting unauthentic read more
I think I found my new favorite asian pastry spot in the city... Sweet Bean I made it out to south loop yesterday specifically for @sweetbeanchicago to try their pastries and I am SO glad I did. All the pastries were so well made, so luscious & fresh tasting and I will definitely be coming back as much as I can! (They also just opened a month ago and they deserve the warmest of welcomes into the windy city so go show them some love!) My rankings of the pastries we got (and not to say any of these weren't good because they all were great- just my personal preference): 1. Coffee Cream Puff 2. Pineapple Bun 3. Blueberry Chocolate Cream Puff 4. Salted Egg Yolk Lava Bun 5. Sesame Ballo 5. Portuguese Egg Tart 6. Egg Tart : 10/10 : $2 -$7 per pastry read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
Newly opened right next to the green line, Trader Joe's, and grant park. I wanted to find a snack bc I was starting to get hangry before grocery shopping for dinner. This place really hits the spot. As a Taiwanese American, this is what I grew up eating and it's very comforting. Love the coffee, pastries, and food options. For pastries- I got egg tarts, lotus filled beignet, and bbq pork bun. All very fresh and good! Wish I could heat them up. Maybe I'll ask them next time if they can do that. For drinks- Drip coffee and the iced vanilla latte with oat milk really perked us up after a long day For food- Shanghai soup dumplings AKA xiao long bao (XLB) were homemade and juicy!! It's a place to catch up with people, chill, or get some work done. Wifi works well too. Everything was delicious! read more
I'm so happy we have a Taiwanese bakery in Chicago :) Everything we got had amazing flavor and texture. Some of the items were sold out so definitely come early. The cafe area is also cute and is perfect for catching up with a friend or doing a work/study sesh! read more
I love Sweet Bean!! There's usually a good selection of Taiwanese bakery items and I really like their drinks -- favorites so far are the pineapple fruit tea and masala chai. The staff is always so kind and helpful as well. The food menu is pretty extensive for a cafe. I got the soup dumplings once and thought they were delicious and very juicy :) Plenty of seating and some outlets for working but it's very popular during the day so I'd come early! Only complaint is that the wifi has been really slow the last couple times I was there read more
5 years ago
Quick prelim review just on the pastries Soooo happy we don't have to go to Chinatown to get Portuguese egg tarts and salted egg buns These are so good We also really liked the sesame ball Get tongs and tray and pick the ones you want A little confusing which was front door because we accidentally went in the back and had to circle around Lots of really cool snacks and hipster chocolate tea coffee Can't wait to try their drinks Only the first shelves are stocked right now, can't wait to see what else they get! read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
Great spot for a light breakfast! I got the egg yolk pineapple bun. I loved the salty/sweet flavors, and that they were generous with the yolk. I also got the lavender iced coffee, which was wonderful. read more
5 years ago
I was so excited to see a new cafe pop up in the South Loop near me and had to stop by! I ordered the Mango Iced Tea, and it was delicious! They definitely use real fruit - the flavor wasn't artificial at all and there were also chunks of mango in it. A lot of stores just use powder, so I really appreciated the real fruit and it was so tasty!! Everyone in the store was really nice too :) I haven't gotten a chance to try the pastries or food, but I definitely see myself coming back here. There aren't really any similar cafes in South Loop, so I'm very happy it opened up so close to me. read more
2 years ago
Wowowow. Just wow. These are the best sweet treats I've ever had. I stopped by in the morning and there were so many yummy choices! I got the ube mochi bun which was puffy and soft. The black sesame matcha was also good! There were some tables to sit at and lots of chill K-pop tunes playing from the speakers, it's the perfect place to bring a laptop and study. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Came here for a quick breakfast, decided to get the garlic cream cheese bread and coconut toast. The bread was so soft and fluffy, the cream cheese was savoury with a hint of sweetness. I loved the coconut toast as well. It was crispy on the outside and incredibly soft on the inside. The interior was very cute with lots of seating. I will definitely be back to try the other breads! read more
2 years ago
Sweet Bean is a Taiwanese bakery and coffee/tea spot that is always churning out deliciousness. Every time I stop by here, I get to try something different and so far nothing has disappointed. Today I tried the matcha red bean bun and it was well balanced and filling enough for a between meal snack. It went well with my iced latte. I love that the sweets are not overly sweet and you can really taste the ingredients. This is a great spot if you want to trying something different outside of the typical pastries. They offer unique spins on classic bakery items like yuzu flavored Madelines in addition to items like their classic egg custard tarts and buns. At Sweet Bean you can grab & go or have a seat in the back with a latte and people watch. Definitely worth a stop if you are in the area and looking for a treat! read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
Excellent spot for some Japanese inspired pastries and treats. Great to see such a variety of savory and sweet, and the interior is cozy and charming, especially in the early afternoon with a bit of sun. Hojicha iced latte is the way to go if you want to try something a little different. read more
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