Asian cuisine happens to be one of my favorite and I always jump at the chance to have it. When I first saw a deal for Boba tea and Bao, I was not at all familiar with this particular style of asian cuisine, but was definitely intrigued enough to find out. I got a craving for something asian on a random weekday night and thought it would be the perfect time to redeem my coupon.
The deal was offered by Bee & Tea, a new shop located in Wicker Park that is ‘on a mission to make boba tea mainstream.' Boba tea is a traditional beverage from Taiwan that starts with a milk or tea base and is then sweetened with different flavors.
My first impressions upon arriving were that the restaurant was bright, inviting, and modern. A large sign on the wall announced the name, and wooden honeycomb structures opposite brought together the “bee” theme very well.
The menu at Bee & Tea is not extensive, but the many flavor options allow for a variety of choices. As I was not familiar with boba tea before arriving, I needed a full break down of how it all worked. Thankfully, the cashiers were extremely helpful in explaining how to create my own flavor of boba. They even offered suggestions of which flavors worked well together. I ended up going with their advice: black tea milk base, coconut, mango, and passionfruit flavoring with honey boba tapioca. It was absolutely delicious!
The deal also came with six baos – steamed, soft, sweet buns stuffed with various fillings. I tried three different kinds: BBQ pulled pork, chicken teriyaki, and butter chicken. My favorite was the latter, an indian inspired little pocket of joy. The bao were incredibly soft and the slight sweet flavor was a welcome delight.
Overall, Bee & Tea is doing a great job at being the leader in the boba tea movement. As I ate my dinner, many patrons came to try out their own flavor combinations of the hip Taiwanese drink. Some seemed to know what all the buzz is about, while others looked intrigued by the vibrant decorations of the restaurant itself and popped in to try it out. If you are in the mood for something new, and find yourself in the Wicker Park area – stop in and check it out!
The Deal:
I Spent: $17.88 $11
I Got: 2 Bubble Teas and 6 Baos
Click HERE to buy the deal
Restaurant Info:
1843 W North Ave
Chicago IL 60622
(773) 270-4196
