Welcome to Taipei Cafe Chicago
Taipei Cafe Chicago is a charming eatery located in the vibrant Lakeview neighborhood. Specializing in authentic Taiwanese cuisine, it offers a cozy atmosphere paired with a menu showcasing delectable dishes such as flavorful beef noodle soup and crispy fried egg tofu bento. Boba tea lovers will delight in the extensive selection, including popular options like mango and lychee green tea. Customer experiences reflect a commitment to quality and generous portions, making it a favorite among locals. While seating is limited, the inviting interior and quick service create a welcoming environment for both dining in and carryout.
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820 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States820 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States Hotline: +1 773-904-7910
Welcome to Taipei Cafe Chicago, a hidden gem nestled in the vibrant Lakeview neighborhood at 820 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL. This quaint cafe stands out with its authentic Taiwanese dishes and refreshing beverage offerings, making it a must-visit for anyone craving a taste of Taiwan in the Windy City.
Taipei Cafe Chicago boasts a menu that features comforting classics like Spicy Fatty Beef Noodle Soup and Noodle With Black Pepper Sauce. Customers have raved about the superior flavor and generous portions of these dishes, particularly highlighting the beef noodle soup as the best they’ve encountered in the U.S. The rich, savory broth and tender beef create a delightful experience, perfect for those chilly Chicago days. One visitor remarked on the heartiness of the soup, emphasizing how it warms you up when the temperatures drop.
For those with a sweet tooth, the cafe offers a tempting selection of milk teas and refreshing smoothies. Try their Matcha Red Bean Smoothie or Okinawa Pearl Milk Tea—you won't be disappointed. The unique flavors and textures are a reflection of true Taiwanese heritage, and at just $5.50 for a smoothie, these indulgences won't break the bank.
The atmosphere at Taipei Cafe Chicago is cozy, albeit limited in seating. With just a few high-top tables and counter seating, it encourages a quick bite rather than a long stay. However, the simplicity complements its purpose as a casual cafe where you can both dine in and take out. The interior is charming, adorned with tasteful decorations, giving you a glimpse of Taiwanese culture.
Feedback from patrons reveals a consistent trend: the food is not only affordable but also flavorful. Customers appreciated the speed at which their meals arrived, noting the Fried Egg Tofu Bento and Popcorn Chicken as particularly satisfying options. While the service maintains a solid reputation, the menu's limited selection compared to other locations has prompted some to explore alternative dishes on future visits.
If you find yourself in the Lakeview area, do yourself a favor and stop by Taipei Cafe Chicago. With its delectable Taiwanese offerings and irresistibly creamy boba teas, it promises a vibrant culinary experience that transports you to Taiwan without ever leaving Chicago. Don’t miss out on discovering why this cafe is carving a niche as one of top spots for Taiwanese cuisine in the area.
it has real Taiwanse food ,maybe the best beef noodle soup I came across in US , soup was delicious ,hot soup taste a lot better when outside was 1F /-17C . Very cool building and interior decoration . Most customers ordered boba teas and carry out . They didn't play Chinese nor Taiwanse music in the background was little strange , I guess it was Japanese music.
Overall Thoughts: The food here is tasty with very reasonable prices for the portion sizes. Everything was flavorful, and came out quickly— my favorite order was the fatty beef black pepper noodles; it’s pretty oily but the flavors and textures are impeccable. It’s a small space and seating is limited (just a few hightop tables and bar counter seating). I need to go to their Bridgeport location next, which has a more expansive menu (including hotpot) and seating area! Food I tried: - Fried Egg Tofu Bento (4.4/5): The Japanese egg tofu is great here: crispy and well-seasoned exterior with a soft, scalding interior. The other sides were solid too— it’s an overall well-balanced, filling meal option. - Fatty Beef Black Pepper Noodles (4.7/5): I especially enjoyed this dish: the beef and noodles were packed with flavor (the black pepper flavor is very distinct) and the soft textures paired perfectly together. - Popcorn Chicken (4.2/5): A Taiwanese classic; this was good with a crispy exterior and juicy interior— no “wow” factor but very solid! It didn’t come with any sauce, but dipping it in the egg tofu bento chili sauce was pretty good. - Matcha Belgian Waffle (4.2/5): This is a huge, filling dessert that tasted good but quickly became a bit monotonous/tedious to consume (especially since we were already so full by then). The waffle is soft, warm, dusted with detectable matcha powder, and topped with matcha Pocky sticks and vanilla ice cream. — Price (relative to peers): 4.5/5 Food: 4.4/5 Ambience: 4.7/5 Service: 4.8/5 Overall Value: 4.5/5
Tiny corner restaurant with decent boba and Taiwanese food. Sitting options are a little bit ascetic, so I wouldn't plan to spend much time here. The signature beef bao-wich was stuffed with meat and onions, while sauce was dipping everywhere. Quite tasty. French fries with citrus sauce were interesting.
A simple cafe serving Taiwanese eats in Lakeview. While the menu selection is more limited compared to the Chinatown location, the quality remains great. The Taiwanese Noodles are consistently good for their hearty portions of beef and flavorful broth. The bento boxes offer a variety of flavors, and our favorites include the braised pork and grilled prawn. There is also a wide selection of boba available. We tried the roasted oolong and found it to be of decent quality. Note the seating is somewhat limited, though we have always managed to secure a spot easily during our visits.
The food is good with generous portion, but on the salty side. Although named Taipei Cafe, the food did not remind me of my hometown. Maybe it’s just the dish I ordered. Looking to try out something else next time!
A nice cozy corner eatery. Offering foods and assorted drinks. Dishes look appealing. I had the shank tendon noodles soup and matcha drink afterward. It was good. Family had various dishes and drinks. The consensus was good. Price reasonable for the type of food. This was the Belmont location.
I gotta give credit to the lightly seasoned popcorn chicken done right. The dark meat was juicy and lightly battered fried to perfection. Definitely throwback to Taipei night market. The beef sandwich in the fried bun was fatty but yummy The beef noodle soup was not bad. The sour veggies, beef and extra veggie I ordered was fresh. The soup base was a bit too oily and not as flavorful as I wished. The short beef rib bento was great except for the ribs It needs more seasoning. The grapefruit tea and strawberry mousse hit the spot to balance the meal. Can’t wait to try the rest of the menu. Overall a solid Taiwanese meal when I miss 士林 和 九份。
we were walking around the area and looking for food to eat, and we settled on this since it looked really good, and we were not disappointed. the taiwanese fried chicken was very good, although i do wish there was some sort of sauce. my partner got the noodles with fatty beef which was delicious, i really enjoyed the texture of the noodles. i ordered braised pork with rice, which i was very impressed by! the pork was tender, flavorful and melted in my mouth. however, it was a little salty for my liking, but still very yummy!