Chi Yatai

Chi Yatai is the best place for incredible bubble tea and Japanese dishes. They have the best takoyaki, chicken karaage, katsu sando and strawberry custard I have ever tasted, which are very hard to find elsewhere. Everything is made from organic ingredient, and they have the perfect balance of flavors and textures that add a sophisticated touch to the dishes. Takoyaki has the warm creamy fillings inside that will melt way in the mouth, especially with its unique combination of mentai (salmon roe), green onions and seaweed on the top. Macha latte bubble tea with sesame cheese foam is what I would urge everyone to try here since it will give you exhilarating experiences of varying savory tastes. I think these dishes are something that anyone can’t help not like once one tastes it. With the most welcoming and friendly team of wonderful people at Chi Yatai, anyone who visits the place will walk out full of savory food and warmth. Much much recommend this place. Hope to return soon.

Chi Yatai is an amazing hidden gem! It's a must try! We ordered the Chi Yatai chicken karaage (6pcs) and the Ponzo Takoyaki. Each with its flavoring sauces drizzled gently. Topped with seaweed shavings. Yum!! We also ordered the Chicken Katsu Miso sandwich which was equally delicious. This sandwich has juicy white breast meat with thinly julienne cut cabbage and miso sauce which gently soaked into the white bread. The bread was ideal because it was light rather than a heavier bun. Dessert was absolutely made to perfection We had the Matcha milk custard with fresh strawberries. The custard will cool and firm and tasty! Food was delicious! Presentation of the food is appealing and the packaging so cute. Owner- management is extremely friendly and ready to help with food descriptions. So if you're new to Japanese small plates or street food... no worries. Portions are great. Order a few orders. Definitely shareable. Prices are good too! My daughter recommended Chi Yatai. Great job! Remember it's a hidden gem. Located in Chinatown at the Richland Center. Proceed to the lower level- food court. It's the 2nd business on your left.

Chi Yatai is one of my favorite small businesses in Chicago. My takeout budget isn't large, but I order from them 2-3 times a month because it always feels good to support a family that deserves space in Chicago's food scene. Mier and her partner, John are helpful, considerate and open, and provide excellent customer service. Mier's parents help prepare their high-quality, fresh food. I'd call ahead with your order but it's worth the wait if you find yourself exploring Chinatown's Richland Center food court, which is located in the building's basement. Below are items I've tried from them: MENTAI MAYO TAKOYAKI My favorite item from Chi Yatai. I've had takoyaki in Osaka, Japan before, and this is the best I've had since. The size is generous, the outside is crispy and dressed with umami-rich toppings and the inside is soft with tender bites of octopus. Because of the made-to-order nature, keep in mind to call ahead or exercise patience for the wait. There is plenty of flavor in each piping-hot bite, and even my foodie friend who travels regularly to East and West coasts exclaimed it's the best takoyaki she's ever had! CHICKEN KATSU SANDO For the white meat lover, this massive breaded chicken sandwich comes with shredded cabbage and choice of sauce, wedged between fluffy pieces of bread. It's generously portioned and is competitively priced compared to other sandos in the city. ORIGINAL CHICKEN KAARAGE It has a light but crisp exterior with juicy chicken meat. Comes with a lemon wedge for a flavor explosion, no sauce needed! CHI YATAI KARAAGE DONBURI As a dark meat lover, this is becoming my new regularly ordered item. The tender pieces of chicken are topped with seaweed, Japanese mayo, and savory sauce, and sit atop a bed of perfectly cooked Japanese-brand Koshikari rice. The sizing is also very generous. PANDA BOBA TEA LATTE Smooth and balanced between the tea and milk, this is my go-to for jasmine milk tea. It comes with boba and clear jelly, and features quality organic milk, which I can digest with minimal discomfort without Lactaid, despite being lactose-intolerance. You can customize the ice and sugar level, which I appreciate as someone cutting down on sugar. FRUIT SMOOTHIES Creamy, fruit flavors that can be customized to be less sweet. I've tried the mango, but they also have strawberry, peach, and passion fruit, with the option to combine two flavors. MILK CUSTARD This melt-in-your-mouth dessert is topped with two pieces of ripe strawberry and is a delightful finish to a Chi Yatai meal. There's a choice of topping (plain, cocoa powder, matcha powder, or brown sugar boba), with cocoa powder being my favorite.

I found Chi Yatai's menu on Google and know I had to try it. The food did not disappoint! We ordered the ebi katsu sando, chi yatai karaage don AND bento, soy milk tea latte, brown sugar boba tea latte, mentai mayo takoyaki, and milk custard with cocoa powder and strawberry. Everything was so tasty--I felt like I was having a Shokugeki moment. Even the rice in the karaage donburi had this delicious subtle mayo-like taste. It's the details with Chi Yatai that really make the food! The staff were so friendly and gave us recommendations on what to order, and what kind of tea went best with the boba we wanted. Definitely looking forward to coming here again!

This place is located in the basement food court in Chinatown, it takes over where Hello Jasmine previously was. We got the chicken karaage bowl and chicken katsu bento box which both are cooked with egg and onion and come with Koshihikari rice. The owner, John, was very kind and gave us some background on the Japanese rice and explained some of the dishes to us. The dishes were delicious, and largely portioned, I couldn't finish all of my karaage bowl but my bigger fiance, who got the larger bento box which has even more food and a miso soup, could eat it all(although they didn't have miso that day but kindly subtracted it from our total) Since the seating area is gone during covid times, I'd recommend walking over to the Ping Tom memorial park and finding a table to eat there by the river like we did Thanks Chi Yatai and John, we appreciate the extra attention and kindness!

Highly reccomend !! Kindest owners that I have ever met. They keep me coming back with their friendliness but also their boba!! So so good! The brown sugar matcha latte is my favorite drink now and their Chicken katsu sando is outstanding! This shop is my new favorite place to go in chinatown! (They gave me chocolates as well ♡) so cute ♡♡♡

i love the dirty brown sugar boba matcha latte and takoyaki balls!! I also really like the panda boba tea latte and jasmine green milk tea. They have recently released new drinks -- the fruit tea and honey citron tea. I really like the fruit tea because it tastes refreshing, not too sweet, and has a variety of fruits in it! Also, the owner is really nice and welcoming. If you any have questions about the drinks or food items on the menu, he is more than willing to talk about the ingredients and share his opinion on it. Stop on by and give it a try ;)

I came here for the first time and it was absolutely the best experience! Although the kitchen was closed (came around closing time), I got to try their Panda Oolong Milk Tea and it was amazing! Also, the owners were very welcoming. Awesome customer service! John and his girlfriend were very accommodating and amiable. I can’t wait to go back and try their food menu!