Taipei Cafe

Food: authentic Taiwanese food, very flavorful, not too spicy. Veggies on the side makes this a relatively healthy meal. Good portion size. On other occasions I have tried boba, which is as true to origin as they get. They might not have the biggest variety of boba tea but it is truly Taiwanese (origin of boba) Service: adequateAmbience: small cafe, better suited for pick me up.

The popcorn chicken here is tasty. It was made fresh to order, so we had to wait for a little bit, but it came out very hot and crispy without being too greasy. The portion size is also pretty good, although do note that in the picture, they gave it to us with one of the box flaps folded down, which makes the volume seem bigger than it actually is by making empty space in the box (sneaky tricky marketing strategy perhaps). Still a good amount though. The seasoning was a bit uneven in places. The chicken lacks a certain "sparkle" or "oomph", but it's a good snack to share with 1-2 other people, depending on how hungry you are.The mango smoothie is good as well, very tropical syrup flavor vibes. Smoothie has a smooth consistency. (Disclaimer, I don't like mango, my boyfriend reviewed this part.)This is a small restaurant and boba tea place with 3 small tables and counter seating along the window, so take out would probably be the wiser option if you're going during a popular time. Counter seating is good for people watching. Nice vibes, plus there's free wifi.

Good ambiance, and a great place to either grab and go or to pass some time. Orders are quick and the quality is nice as well.I ordered the Taipei Fruit Tea, which was very refreshing. Would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking to try something different from the usual coffee shop.

Do you have a craving for Taiwanese food and bobas but don't want to drive to Bridgeport or Chinatown? Taipei Cafe in Lakeview boasts crispy popcorn chicken, nostalgic braised pork rice & bobas of every color and flavor. Always hits the spot! Quick delivery and they always get the order right.

Came here with some friends and we all got the traditional fan tuan (rice roll). The rice roll was a bit different than what I'm used to, but it was very filling and delicious. I like that they use purple rice and include all the add ins (pork floss, pickled vegetables, egg and fried dough pieces) without extra charge. Their other entrees also looked good so I'll definitely be back to try more.

Excellent bubble milk tea! I'd come again just for this. Group of shares multiple dishes:Pork belly bao bunBeef bao bunPopcorn chickenChicken wings with spicy sweet and sour sauceBok choyBeef tendon noodle soupSpicy beef shank and tendon noodle soupGroup favorites were the wings and baos. The noodles were overcooked and soup flavor was a bit thin and lacked character, but it doesn't seem to be much different than other Taiwanese Beef noodle soups I've had in the city.The staff was very friendly and the food & drinks came out quick. There's not a whole lot of sitting space (2 tables of 4, 1 tiny table for 2, and counter seating for up to 6 people total). So either come during off peak hours for a seat or get carry out and eat by the parks.Street parking is aplenty. If you're willing to walk a few blocks. You might even find free parking!

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): 4.5/5Food: 4.4/5Ambience: 4.7/5Service: 4.8/5Overall Value: 4.5/5

Great Taiwanese cafe right outside Wrigleyville and Boystown. Very walkable from the Belmont Station or N Clark St. Today I got the braised pork rice bowl and fried egg tofu, both of which were delicious! The pork was cooked just right, with a balance of its gravy, pickled veggies and green beans over rice. The dedicate fried silken tofu was the right amount of salty and sweet, complemented well by the sweet and spicy sauce on the side. I also got an oolong milk tea with grass jelly, which hit the spot. Service was friendly enough, and the food came out super fast.

This is a great little place for filling food and fun drinks!! I think everything is fairly priced and comes out quickly. I got a crème brûlée milk tea with boba, and it's so sweet and good! I thought the beef noodle soup was a bit plain. The popcorn chicken is scrumptious though! Their menu is extensive so I want to come back to try more.

Authentic Taiwanese food. Very fast and good service. I would highly recommend anything fried here. Especially the popcorn chicken. It was so good that I forgot to take a picture of it. The bento box is just like the ones I've had back in Taiwan. Happy that this restaurant is in Chicago. The beef noodle soup lacked a certain flavor but overall still good.