I went around 3pm on a weekday. There were a decent amount of pastries available, but it was clear that many had been sold out. After tasting two of them, I can see why. I got a taro (?) filled bun and a pork floss bun. Both were very soft and fresh. They were the perfect combination of sweet and savory. The workers were very nice and the checkout process was very quick! The front area where the pastries are is a little small and has two tables to sit, but they do have more seating in the back. I didn't get to take photos of all the pastries due to the small area and since there were multiple people grabbing pastries. However, I can say that they have so many varieties and it all looked delicious!! I really recommend trying this place, I will definitely come back at opening one day to try some of the items I missed out on :) read more

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I visited Sweet Bean yesterday. Positives: The workers were polite and friendly, and the store layout was very organized. There is a little area along the window to purchase some food and non-food items. The bakery offers a little day-old section of pastries sold at a reduced price. The items in the display case are clearly labeled so you know what each pastry is. Room for improvement: My friends previously visited in the afternoon and stated things were sold out for the day, so I intentionally visited in the morning. Yet, at 9:00am on a Sunday, the workers were still bringing out freshly baked goods, even though they opened an hour prior. Since literally half the display case was empty, I was unable to try everything I wanted to. And, just my opinion, the pastries are a little overpriced. I can find some of the same items for less and at equal or better quality. Plus, single-use plastic bags are wasteful, and they do not offer you anything to seal it shut. I asked for a larger box or bag to carry my pastries home in and was given 1 tiny box that barely held 1 treat. I am lucky I brought a bag to bring things home in. Based on previous reviews, this seems like this has changed in the last 3 months. If I return in the future, I will be using the online ordering feature to ensure I get to try more things and that my trip will be worth it. read more

Yooooooo! The first thing I did on my first full morning in Chicago was jump on a bus and head straight for Sweet Bean. I had high hopes and it did not disappoint! Taiwanese bakeries are beginning to be right up there with my favorite places I have to visit when I'm in another city. Sweet Bean is definitely no exception and has fueled my addiction to Taiwanese baked goods. Walking in there was a laid back vibe. No one trying to rush you. People coming in and out grabbing breakfast. I took my time and looked at every single item before ordering. I ordered a Hot Dog and Onion bun and a Ham and Green Scallion. I had a lot to do that day, so I didn't want to overeat or I would have ordered more. With that being said, after I polished off the hot dog and onion, I went and got another one. Off Tha Chain! I ate that one and then had to physically restrain myself from ordering one to go. Let's face it. That third one wouldn't have made it to the bus stop. I ordered an Iced Jasmine Green Tea (my go to tea) and a flat white coffee. I sat there for a bit while eating and drinking and then went about my day. My only regret is not coming back again before I left Chicago. If you've Bean a Sweet person this year, ask Santa to stuff your stockings with Sweet Bean baked goods. Better yet, leave Santa a Hot Dog and Onion Bun. He won't even remember the cookies! read more

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stopped in for a quick caffeine boost on the way to the Field Museum. it was an adorable shop, the lighting wasn't too bright or too dim, the decor was well thought out and tasteful, and I enjoyed looking through their pastry options! the barista (I wish I could remember their name!) was friendly and knowledgeable and made the best oat milk cortado I've ever had. I'll definitely be returning next time I'm in Chicago and look forward to trying their pastries!! read more

The pastries are good but it's unfortunate that they have poor customer service. I came in and smiled and greeted the cashiers and they both looked at me with a look of disgust. Not one of them said anything back. When it was time to pay they didn't say anything besides my total. Then they turned the screen over so I could tip. This is very disappointing. read more

Super friendly, extra convenient for me so I added a star. There's a wonderful pastry case and some unusual pantry goods for sale, but we decided to try the hot food during lunch. We weren't very hungry so wings and soup dumplings were shared. Everything was hot and made to order and tasted good. I'd say there are better versions of both nearby, but this shop makes it easy to eat and work or read or just hang out. They also have more western breakfast options. Prices are fair for the neighborhood, but note the street outside near the El is a big rough. Not their fault of course, but something to be aware of. We'll come back to try the pastries and teas another time. read more

Sweet Bean - Chicken wings - loved that they were all flats (didn't have to ask) - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Almost $40 of bread and only loose open bags that don't seal for each piece... no boxes or big bags so had to hand carry it out hoping nothing drops on the ground. Cashier just walks away after ringing me up, no "thank you", no "sorry we are out of bags/boxes" ‍ Bread is just ok. Nothing to write home about. Parking is hard and street parking only. Came for the Taiwanese pastry that the chef supposedly learned from Taiwan but none made. It's a Saturday and Lunar New Year Day mind you so if not available on a day like this then what would be available on a regular weekday read more

Sweet Bean - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Sweet Bean is the best!!! I'm so glad we randomly came across it because their drinks and bread are amazing. I would arguably say they're way better than a 85 degrees or another Chinese bakery chain. The drinks were so delicious. I got a matcha pandan latte, and it was phenomenal. The matcha and pandan flavor were both really apparent in the drink, and it was surprisingly a great combination. I tried my friends' drinks as well, and they were super yummy too. The bread is definitely the star of the show. We got this garlic cheese bread, and that was so good. I thought the cheese would be more stringy or melted, but it's more like a cheese sour cream sauce, but it was delicious regardless. The strawberry cream roll was super yummy and fluffy. The taro bread wasn't too sweet and was a lighter option. I saw a lot of students studying inside, and there are so many outlets. If I lived in the area, I would 100% want to study here because it's bright, has lots of seating, and offers yummy snacks and drinks. I couldn't recommend Sweet Bean enough. I can't wait to visit again the next time I come to Chicago! read more

So many delicious Taiwanese dessert options. The desserts are kept in closed containers, and you self-serve with tongs, so it's very sanitary. I got the matcha red bean bun and loved it, the red bean filling had a perfect flavor and was not chalky. I also really loved the mochi sesame roll. The mochi was very soft and it was not too sweet. I got an iced oat milk latte and thought it was a little overpriced + wished the espresso was stronger, so I'll be sure to get an extra shot next time. read more

Love this place! There are so many cute products! I came later in the day, so many of the options were already sold out. I did grab some buns for the morning and they stayed soft and fresh. The red bean pineapple was delicious. They use boxes to help maintain the pastries. There are also other treats like packaged cookies and honey. Will be back! read more

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Amazing. We came before noon so we will be back to try the hot food menu and hopefully see all the pastries in their full glory, but the breakfast menu and the morning pastries (freshly baked) were delicious. Reminded me of the pastry shop downstairs of my grandparents' place in Taipei and I treasured this feeling of homey comfort. Bbq pork bun with pineapple top was tasty - flaky warm bites of delicious sweet and savory contrast with oomph. Avocado toast was surprisingly good for a Taiwanese cafe and I dig it. Eggs platter was solid as well- we felt like the eggs were more delicious than Yolk. read more

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Offers a wide variety of baked good items that are perfect for enjoying at a table or on the go. Meat, no meat, sweet, savory, plain and unique... something for everyone. Surprisingly there are very few gluten free options if you don't count the juices. I did managed to get two GF items that both contained a lotus filling. They were ok. Be aware that homeless individuals haunt this establishment... but hey, it's the city. read more

Sweet Bean - The only two gluten free pastry items. Both with the lotus filling. Enjoyed them. - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped by because we needed coffee. Once in we realized we should probably get some food, too. We each ordered and smoothie bowl and a coffee drink. My masala chai with oat milk had great spiced flavor. Served *very* hot, but at least it didn't cool quickly. :) While we spied our coffees, we waited about 10 minutes for our smoothie bowls. They were delicious!!! A quality açaí bowl for me, my daughters each got the strawberry smoothie bowl. So refreshing! They were topped with wonderful fresh fruit, crunchy granola and shredded coconut. Yum. The interior atmosphere is fine. Not a lot of seating for groups. Most tables were for two, unless you dragged over an extra chair. But the vibe is also welcoming and LBGTQ+ friendly, which I liked. So glad we gave Sweet Bean a try. :) read more

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It is the top 2 Asian bakery that I go to here in Chicago. It is always packed on a weekend and you will need to wait in line (the line does move fast though). There are a lot of selections and they are constantly working on new products as well. The bread and drinks are very fresh and tasty. I haven't never tried to sit down to have any hot food but I bet there are good as well. My favorite: taro bun and garlic bread Korean style. Try them! read more

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I saw that they had XLB soup dumplings and I had to give it a try at 1230 on a Tuesday. I'm so glad I did! No lines, plenty of seating, but still quite busy. I ordered the chicken XLB (Xiao Long Bao) and they called my name in about ten minutes. They were all perfectly intact and steaming hot. After my first bite I couldn't stop until they were all gone! I've waited in the super long lines in CA for Din Tai Fung and wondered what all the hype was about when I tried theirs. Here however there was no stress or crowds and I thought they tasted better! So glad I stumbled by this shop on my way to the orange line. Was looking for coffee and saw the name sweet bean and instead found my favorite lunch in Chicago! Update I went back two days later and had the pork XLB and while very good, the chicken is my favorite! read more

Sweet Bean - Delicious!!! Chicken, soup dumplings - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Of course the first thing I visit in Chicago has to be an Asian bakery and this one is great. First of all the location is very convenient, close to and Museum campus and the Metra station. They have a great selection of sweet and savory items and everything looks amazing. My friend and I got the classic tuna and egg bun and a salted egg yolk bolo bun. Both were good but the salted egg filling blew me away. It was properly salty, not too sweet or artificial at all. The dough was also flavorful, buttery, and nicely sweet. We left no crumbs behind. Prices range from $3-4, which is quite reasonable for the quality and location. There is a sizable seating area at the back, good for doing some work or catching up with friends. Only note is that you have to ask the cashier for the bathroom key if you want to use it. read more

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Hands down has become my top Asian bakery place in Chicago with various bakery items to choose from and a delicious hot matcha latte. I am absolutely in love with the taro bun as it reminds me of those hmart taro that you heat up in the air fryer. I've tried the pork buns as well and was very happy. There's plenty of seating but it can get busy as group of friends stop by here to chat or individuals bring their laptops to study. Either way, it's a good environment with lots of food items to choose from. I will be back! read more

This was a really cute bakery filled with Taiwanese treats. The pastries lined the counter accompanied with tongs for self service. I tried the ham and scallion pastry which was slightly sweet but very savory. The matcha was also pretty good although the matcha power was slightly clumpy. Overall good experience. read more

There was a wide selection of pastries but nothing too unique. I would say all of the things I got (peach oolong scone, ham and green onion bread) were a little dry but i like it more compared to other similar Chinese style bakeries because it's not as buttery. The service was very fast. Less than 2 minutes to get boba tea and the staff was helpful with recommendations. There is no seating in this bakery so plan on taking everything to go. read more

Completely forgot to press post review on this one. So here you go. Location - it's in the heart of South loop. Really accessible from everywhere with the Roosevelt train stop just around the corner. However, if you drive, parking is definitely a b****. I'm used to south loop so I know when is the best time to get parking around here so it's not a hassle for me. Price and taste - I think price is pretty fair. I don't mind paying more as long the taste is up to par. With that being said, let's move on to the taste. Everything that I bought was YUMMY. I also bought a couple of stuff for my friend and she said everything was yummy and her pastries were gone in one day. Trust me! I bought a lot for her! Drinks - I bought a couple of drinks here. I didn't take a picture as I have my kids with me at the time. Taste is okay. The milk tea taste was not as strong as the ones in Chinatown but hey! Their customer is not just me so who am I to judge their target audience. Overall, will be back here if I have time. Will definitely get the dog bread again. read more

Sweet Bean - The cute dog bun - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Sweet Bean's pastries surprised me! They have many varieties and all of them look tasty. I started with a few today, and they taste as good as they look. Will definitely go back and try other options. They also carry breakfast, fruit tea and coffee. All they need is the bubble tea! read more

Sweet Bean - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great freshly baked items and excellent coffee. Tried the scallion and ham bun and a pork string bbq bun. Both items were baked well and very flavorful. Clean and welcoming environment with good wifi and comfortable seating. I had a meeting and found it to be a great place for working remote. read more

Sweet Bean - Pork string bbq bun - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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There's a Taiwanese bakery that's accessible AND affordable in the Loop! The mochi pork floss bread was awesome -- there's a bit of nori on top and plenty of pork floss on the inside. The mochi texture made it chewy and each bite felt substantial. Their egg tart was also really tasty, perfectly eggy and a bit jiggly on the inside. The filling almost reminded me of flan in terms of texture. And the pandan latte was refreshing and not too sweet. There are plenty of tables to work inside but that intersection is so busy that I think I'd find it hard to concentrate. The staff was super friendly and helpful. read more

Sweet Bean - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very friendly staff. Great variety of pastries and drinks. I would go here again if I am in the area

Nice little bakery within walking distance from the Museum Campus! I went during the late afternoon/early evening, and the bakery selection was already pretty sparse. I was still able to get a couple of buns, egg tarts, and a sesame ball! Like 85C Bakery, you grab a tray and some tongs and pick what you want from the display cases, then bring it to the front to pay. Honestly, I still prefer 85C's baked goods; some of these tasted a bit dry to me. I also prefer to eat sesame balls warm/hot, but these were room temperature. What makes this place stand out is their big menu; not only are their also drinks, but there are also food items you can eat for lunch/dinner! I was craving XLB (soup dumplings), so I ordered those and found a seat along the bar by the window. The vibe is nice for studying; there were both groups of people chatting and hanging out as well as people solo who were working in their computers. XLB were fine but not the best. No spoons available in the front, but there were chopsticks. They call out the order when it's ready and you have to go to the counter by the kitchen to pick it up yourself. When I opened the container, the soup was already leaking out of the XLB, so definitely not the place to go to get high quality (8 for $11.95, I'd prefer places I've eaten in other cities like Din Tai Fung or Dumpling Inn). For a place that has so many Asian goodies, the food/baked goods' authenticity didn't quite seem up to par. I would come back to use it as a study space and try some of their drinks instead, but probably won't be ordering their food items or getting as many baked goods in the future. read more

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On a Saturday morning, we drove out to Sweet Bean to check out their pastries. At about 9 or 10 am, a couple of the pastries were sold out, but they did keep bringing out some fresh ones! If you've been to 85 degree bakery (there's a lot on the west coast), this place is infinitely better!!! So many more unique options and noticeably more savory options (which I love). They also have a food menu you can order from beyond the baked goods and several coffee and tea selections. The store has two rooms. We entered the door to the room with the baked goods in display cases, which feels small and has no seating. There are a stack of clean trays and tongs on a table that you use to pick up your pastries. You pay in that room, and then you can walk to the other room, where there are several tables and bar seating, and the full espresso bar where drinks are made. The tables were pretty packed when we got there. A few people were on their laptops, so I assume you can do work there. However the tables were very close together and it was pretty full of people eating so I would probably not come here as a study spot. It has more of a weekend morning social vibe than a study vibe but perhaps it's different on a weekday. Items I recommend: Pineapple Bun, pork sung pup, and the round pastry with curry filling (forgot what it was called). Everything was good but those were my favorite. Honestly want to come back and try everything! Highly recommend! read more

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Have to leave a review so I know to come back!! This place was such a good find, and I believe the type of pastries are so much more creative, unique, and tasty than 85C degree bakery! read more

I came to sweet bean after a walk and this was really lovely. A new cafe/tea place opened up! A ton of snacks and it felt like I was going through my childhood again. The have a lot of Chinese pastries and I also grew up with those. In addition to pastries, they have random snacks from Indiana too! I came in craving and wanting a coffee, but they were out of iced coffee for the moment. So I thought about it and got a mango iced fruit tea, green tea and unsweetened. Tea is made in store and it was pretty good' I had a ton of fresh mango in my tea, and my tea was more or less like mango water, but either way, it tasted good. Their menu is pretty big for a nee place and I wish I was able to try more things! This reminded me of an Internet cafe where people come in, study, do homework, have meetings, and much more! It's been over for a little over a month and the owner looks super young. Was trying to learn more about the business, but nonetheless, it was nice interior, good snack selection, amazing drinks selection & some good food' I recommend this place if you could drop by. I didn't find a ton of parking around the area and everything looks super delicious and great! Pop in and give it a try! read more

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This Taiwanese cafe has great coffee and wide range of pastries. This cafe is a bit small and is always busy. read more

I could not believe our luck having eaten at Taiwanese bakeries daily during a fall trip that we were a couple of blocks from one in the South Loop. Sweet Bean has great seating, a wonderful ambiance, and was just packed with customers. And the baked goods were flying out the door. We loved a really fun matcha pineapple custard bun and yuzu-infused pineapple cakes--the national dessert of Taiwan. They even had suncakes, the city snack of Taichung. I had a passionfruit smoothie infused with mango fruit. We'll return earlier in the day to see what else we missed that clearly sold out prior to our arrival. Fun staff and super fast service. Went back a day later and partner loved strawberry & blueberry cruffins & the madelines, I snarfed down thai iced tea egg custard, strawberry-infused pineapple cakes, the cutest taro bun....and can I get ya'll to come to NYC to open up shop? Great coffee and that citrus tea......hopping packed both times we visited and we can see and taste why. An absolute gem. read more

Their pork bun with salted egg and mochi changed my life - I've never had anything like it at Asian bakeries in California and they told me it was a new item! I also appreciated the size of the pastries and how 1 or 2 could serve as a great grab and go breakfast. The bakery is connected to a coffee shop where you can enjoy the pastries. There were plenty of seats to hang out and work. 5/5 for the innovative/delicious pastries, heart size, and space to hang out. read more

Sweet Bean - Pork floss bun with salty egg and mochi - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Visited when I was in Chicago for a weekend. This is a cute Taiwanese bakery. There is so much bread that is available (as pictures show). I'm not sure how they make it but it is some of the softest bread that I have ever had. I ended up buying around seven different breads and brought some back when I took my flight. It's also a nice study space and they have ample seating available as well. I also got the strawberry watch a drink, which was really delicious, but I will say is on the sweeter side either way this is one of the highlights of my trip, and I would totally recommend checking this place out if you have time. read more

Sweet Bean - Strawberry matcha - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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they sell leftover pastries from the day before at a discounted rate. i got an ube mochi bun and it was delicious.

I intended to order an açaí bowl but walked away with a super heavy box of pastries and desserts! We went this weekend and we were so pleasantly surprised. We picked about 7 different items from the showcases and my husband got a yuzu lemonade. My favorite was the bbq pork buns but everything tasted so good! I can't wait to go back! The seating area is actually pretty big, however it may be hard to socially distance and space out. Random note- When we went they were low on trays, must have been a big rush of people before us? We waited a bit and then had to ask for they to bring out more trays. One of the staff members brought out just one. Was a bit odd but not a huge deal. read more

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Great coffee - super clean - polite and quick I will definitely stop by for a drink when I'm in the area. They do offer food items. Overpriced in my opinion, but that's because I buy the same items for pennies on the dollar in Chinatown. If you aren't able to get there then it would not seem overpriced. I would pay for them if I was looking for a quick nosh in the area. read more

Sweet Bean - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love Taiwanese bakery! So surprised to find a place in Chicago. I had the Pineapple Bun and Pork Bun. So savory and sweet. The place is so cute with nice tables to do some quick work. The girl at the counter was so nice explaining about the specials. This may be my favorite cute cafe in Chicago now. So excited to find this place. read more

Asked for a bun to be held and that I would be there in 10-15 min, actually took an hour because I ran into some issues, but when I went in they said they were sorry they sold it to someone else and that I would get a free item tomorrow. Wrote my name down and everything. I called and they said they aren't able to do so and that "she's just an employee and doesn't know better." Lack of communication and organization read more

Love Sweet Bean! Great coffee, and baked goods. Love their bacon and egg muffin, matcha custard, walnut coffee, tuna and egg, ham and cheese buns. Literally everything tastes fantastic, and very reasonably priced. One of my fav hidden gems in SLoop/Chicago read more

The pork floss bun was unlike any other version of this pastry I've had before in California. It's a unique twist on a classic bread and the sweet and tangy salted egg and mochi layering was amazing. Highly recommend, especially for the price point - you'd expect something this good to be way more expensive. Twas so delicious! What I'd pay/what it cost: $3.5/3.5 read more

Sweet Bean - pork floss bun - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I wish I discovered this place earlier on my vacation with my girlfriends so I could try the XLB (soup dumplings) - which they only have after 12p (would take 15-20 min to prepare)!!! I came on the day that we were leaving Chicago but the pastries I had (mango tart and a mochi bun) were BOTH VERY GOOD. The breakfast sandwich with egg on brioche and the homefries were WELL-SEASONED and very delicious!! There is ONE bathroom and it is well-kept. Street parking only - not the easiest to find, like anywhere else in Chicago. Overall, I was VERY happy with this find and would highly recommend folks to check this place out!! read more