Outdoor Cafe

Such a lovely spot! Cozy, relaxed vibes with a great atmosphere. The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming. And the coffee? Absolutely delicious! This has definitely become my new favorite neighborhood stop

We were craving boba and bing soo. We ordered on the kiosk but you can also order in person. Service was pretty quick, we played with Jenna and dominos while we waited and ate. The ice in the bingsoo was a bit icier than I would like but the portion was big! I enjoyed my strawberry mango boba smoothie- I’ll have to try other flavors next time!

My boyfriend and I went to this place and we each ordered Boba, the Boba itself was good but my boyfriend ordered Mango and they didn’t even give him Mango

I love this place and I wish they had ceramic mugs for coffee and use less plastic. The atmosphere is nice for chat or work there. Smoothies are great 👍

Cute place where you can play board games while you sip coffee and have a snack. There are multiple types of seating and a small variety of free board games. The coffee is good and the staff are always very nice.

I love this cafe so much u will always catch me here studying or having lunch w friends after school. The atmosphere is amazing I love the vibes and the setup it’s so earthy and peaceful. It gives studio ghibli cozy cafe and the food is super hearty and filling. Also love their drinks menu they have so many delicious drinks like milk teas, loose leaf tea, boba, smoothies, and milkshakes. Their deserts are also so good I will 100% reccomend this place.

Outdoor Cafe is one of those rare places that instantly makes you feel at home. Tucked away from the noise of the city or the usual busy café crowds, it’s a quiet little sanctuary that manages to combine relaxation, creativity, and great coffee all in one space. If you’re looking for a place to slow down, recharge, or connect with others in a meaningful way, this is it. The first thing that struck me when I walked in was how calm it felt. Unlike most coffee shops that are loud and rushed, Outdoor Cafe is refreshingly peaceful. The music is soft, the lighting is warm, and the overall vibe invites you to settle in and stay a while. Whether you’re coming in with a laptop to get work done or meeting a friend for an unrushed chat, the environment supports whatever pace you want to take. But what truly makes Outdoor Cafe stand out is its impressive collection of board games. There’s an entire wall (yes, a wall) lined with everything from classics like Scrabble, Jenga, and chess to newer strategy and party games. It’s such a wonderful idea—and it’s all free to use while you’re there. Whether you’re a hardcore board game fan or just looking for a fun way to spend time with friends or family, there’s something for everyone. The tables are arranged with enough space to play comfortably without feeling cramped. The coffee is equally impressive. You can tell the baristas really know what they’re doing—the espresso is smooth and balanced, the lattes are crafted with care, and their tea selection is surprisingly diverse. They also offer light snacks and pastries, which are perfect for sharing during a long board game session or just enjoying on your own. The food and drinks are consistently good, and prices are very reasonable. Staff here deserve a shoutout as well. Every time I’ve visited, they’ve been friendly, patient, and welcoming. They don’t rush you, and they seem genuinely happy to help you find a game or recommend a drink. It’s clear that creating a positive, low-pressure environment is a big part of the culture here. The seating is comfortable and spaced out enough to give you privacy. Whether you’re tucked in a corner reading or sitting at a large table with friends, it always feels just right. The decor is minimal but charming—natural wood tones, cozy lighting, and a few plants make the space feel warm and inviting without being overly styled. All in all, Outdoor Cafe is much more than a coffee shop—it’s a place to relax, think, play, and enjoy time with others. It’s a perfect balance of quiet charm and thoughtful touches, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Whether you come alone or with a group, you’ll find it’s the kind of place that quickly becomes a favorite.

My first boba drink, went with the suggestion made by the girl at the counter. The best, Taro boba drink will be my forever favorite. Cute little place with alot of board games. Will be going back often. Their NYC cheese cake was delicious.

Great place to work or hang- has both good bahn mi for food and a huge drink menu. Bahn mi and bubble tea make for a great day. Ambience is quiet with amble seating, great for work. They also stock a good shelf of board games, so also a great place to hang.

Food is so overpriced it's not even funny. Spent a 20 on a SMALL milkshake and a grilled cheese??? Took long to prepare and wasn't even that good for its price smh...

Great vibe, food and drinks but the only downside is the WiFi. If you guys could upgrade your internet you would keep more customers such as students, teachers, and others.

Stopped here while we were waiting for our table. So happy we did!! Drinks were phenomenal!! I got the chai tea with tapioca and my bf got the pineapple. Both were great! The young lady at the counter was so sweet and friendly!! Great service!

Boba tea is so delicious here and the food as well! My favorite is the tofu banh mi as it is served with chips. It is such an inexpensive place to hang out with friends. They have plenty of game to choose from. It might get busy depending on the day and time.

I've been going here for years and years and years. Solid bubble tea and a nice quiet atmosphere. The sandwiches are pretty good too. Can't complain about anything, and I'll be going back for as long as they are in business.

Driven by this place a hundred times and finally decided to give it a try. Really pleased at the coffee quality and we ordered a simple grilled cheese. That's what I call a grilled cheese. Sweet tomatoes mayo and several types of cheese and I believe a sourdough toast. Cute interior and lots of games to pass the time if that's your thing. I was looking for a non Starbucks coffee house to make my own. Found it!

Cute place with great bing soo and coffee. Fun to hang out with friends and play games.

such a cute little cafe w/a very korean twist. reminds me of a k-drama. boba tea on point, panini on point, service excellent. quite enough to get some work done but also a great date/one-on-one hang out.

Lovely place for family with good drinks, sandwiches, and other treats. The service is always on point and consistent.

I've been a few times to get the Bing su and I've loved it. Today I went and bought two and it's not the same. The last few times I ordered it, it came with mini Mochis and vanilla ice cream. This time it didn't come with mini mochis and the guy was trying to give me strawberry ice cream instead of vanilla. When I called him to complain about it being inconsistent the guy kept trying to give me excuses telling me I need to ask for it to be added. How am I supposed to know to ask for it if every other it came with it without me having to ask for it? Definitely won't be back here. Poor customer service.

The bubble tea is super smooth and made with real fruit. Love this place, so cozy and great staff. Update: Use to come here all the time. Best boba in the area. I love their green tea mango (I always ask for half the sugar) Staff always super accommodating. Delicious!

The best pat bingsu in the city! The size is just right to share with others and the all the ingredients taste so good together. This is one of my favorite desserts in the city. They have a large selection of boardgames and card games that you can play to pass time at this cafe. It is nice that this place is open late.

I ordered two Thai milk tea and I received Slushy of Thai tea that has no taste. When I confronted I ordered milk tea, I was told "we don't have milk tea and we don't sell milk teas"

Random stop...had an iced black currant tea, bubble tea and shared a banh mi sandwich. Great atmosphere, super clean and delicious items ordered. Sandwich didn't look like much but was packed with flavor. Definitely would return!

It's 11PM, your sign outside says it's open till midnight - why are you closed?! We drove 30 mins to get here and we knocked and the people inside ignored us so we decided and call and they simply just said 'actually we are not open.' What the heck. It's not even close to midnight and there are clearly two people inside still working... I read the bad reviews about service and was hoping to have a different experience but guess Yelp is always right! Bad service = closing an hour before your advertised time.

It has been YEARS since I've visited Outdoor cafe. We were in the area and were craving something refreshing to drink so decided to get nostalgic and give it a go. We arrived around 8:30pm and it said they were open until 9pm. There was a group of 5 seated and there was 3 other parties of 2. Seats were far enough from one another. We waited in line to figure out what to drink. I went for the classic green tea milk tea with light boba and my friend went for milk tea with light boba as well. Considering it was later in the evening, the barista looked concerned that his boba was running a bit low. We were okay bc we didn't care for too much boba. However more people started to arrive and soon there was a line behind us with 3 other parties of 2. Not sure how he ended up handling the low boba inventory situation but we ordered Togo and left. I was relieved to see they were still in business and seemed to be doing well!

A great spot to relax and study with some friends or play some board games and chill. The drinks are alright, not my favorite spot for anything on the menu. I mainly come here to study and I will continue to come here for that reason and not for their menu. Their bubble tea is my opinion is very average and their coffee items are just alright. Last night I had the cafe sua da, which is Vietnamese coffee and it did not really taste like Vietnamese coffee in my opinion. Also the tables could have been cleaned a little better, super sticky.

Can't wait until restaurants open for dine-in again, I would love to eat inside this place! It's really nice, and I was pleasantly surprised by how great their tea was.

Came here last night and I thought it was the cutest spot ever. Cozy and comfortable. They have free Wifi and board games which means an awesome spot for a date and catching up with friends. I saw a lot of people having study groups and some people brought their laptops to watch movies. A great hang out place. They offer a wide variety of drinks on their menu including espresso coffee, frappuccino's, fruit smoothies, and bubble tea! They also have banh mi sandwiches on the menu but i didn't try it. They have pat bingsu which i was very excited to try. We ordered red bean but unfortunately they ran out so we got the strawberry pat bingsu instead and we devoured it in minutes ! the right size to share with 2 people. Overall, i like the place and atmosphere and would definitely come back.

Stopped here for some Boba and to hangout with a couple of friends. This place is awesome- atmosphere and drinks! I got the milk tea & taro boba. It was absolutely delicious with tons of Boba with in it. The service was quick and it was pretty inexpensive compared to other places downtown. The atmosphere was very calm. They have tables and chairs everywhere with a ton of games. I found a game and my friends and i were able to play without any issues.

Outdoor cafe is a college vibe place to be. To hang out and study. I have came to many times before in the night to just sit back and read a book but to also do some homework from time to time during major exam weeks. I have enjoyed the strawberry smoothie, the only things I have not tried yet is the food. You can come to this spot for studying, to relax or just to play some games with friends. (games are missing some pieces and need an update on those) When I go I usually we call the number on the jenga. The last time I came it was quite loud, you have to find the right to come to read and study but I would mostly suggest 7pm to 12 is the best time to go.

I popped into Outdoor Cafe after a meal to grab drinks. The atmosphere is so cool! If I had to pick one word it would be cozy - the inside is warm and inviting. They have board games and card games that you can play with your friends. There's free WiFi for the students who come here to study or for people who come to get work done. They are also open pretty late. The menu is fairly diverse drink wise - you can get coffee, boba, smoothies, milkshakes, or tea. There is also bingsoo, banmi and some other food/dessert options. The drinks were a little too sweet for me - I suggest going with something the cashier recommends. I had a white chocolate mocha latte hot with no whip and found it to be fine, but my friend's Thai Iced Tea was overly sugary. I thought Outdoor Cafe had the perfect atmosphere to meet up with friends and catch up. I'll be back again!

Excellent place to grab a little sweet treat and hang a bit with your friends. Or even study! They have free wifi. The staff is really friendly. I love coming back to outdoor. Their bingsoo is really good so I do recommend that!

Mango Boba Smoothie is on point. Open Late. Street Parking. Great study cafe. Many options. Nice vibe.

incredible, board game and book cafes always are, but outdoor cafe especially is! love the communal and cozy vibe (without pressure to be silent) and the tea and classic pork/beef banh mi were both very good :) also their set of catan has the expansion and every piece is still there *and* in good condition 100/10

I don't know what it was like before the new management took over, but my experience tonight was great. I had a high expectation on the red bean bingsoo ($6.38, as of 12/30/2014), but I was slightly disappointed and felt the bingsoo in Java & Mug was better. However, their coffee made up the deficiencies. The young man who was in charge of the cafe was also a good barista. We had the green latte and raspberry mocha. They were delicious and artistic. We enjoyed them a lot. The entire atmosphere was relaxing, with the 2014 pop music playing in the background (except the TLC's "no scrubs" came up from nowhere...that's ok since I'm a super fan of TLC). There were quite many patrons in the house on a chilly Chicago night. Hubby and I had a great time hanging out as well. We will probably be back for the coffee, since that category is more of their forte .

Bad greeting from girl with blue hair! When we walked in the door she said "just to let you know we closing at 10!" After we order snd left out the door , she slammed the door with a bad attitude!

Food/Drinks/Dessert: -ppatbingso tastes good -tea: tastes like tea, can't go wrong with making tea right? *haven't tried any of their food items yet.. Customer Service: -good customer service, the people there are usually friendly Atmosphere: -i like the feel that the atmosphere gives...comfortable and casual place to just go and hang out with friends (group setting) or to go to study (individual setting). Costs: -reasonable pricing (within norm for coffee/dessert shops) -ppatbingsoo portion is small during k-fest Parking: -street parking is available

I hardly ever leave reviews, but I had to for this charming place. I stumbled upon it looking for bubble tea that was closer than my usual place, and I was super impressed by how much thought and care went into their menu, recipes, decor, and quality of ingredients! I had a red bean smoothie which is super hard to find plus it had real red bean purée in it which is even harder to find. I could have it for breakfast lunch and dinner. But I had to have actual food as well so I got the chicken banh mi which didn't look like much, but was so packed full of freshness and flavor I devoured the whole thing! They have a huge yummy sounding menu that I want to try more as well but I'm currently addicted to the red bean smoothie. Try it you won't regret it!

i've been coming here since i was in high school (i just graduated college) and it has always been a fantastic place to meet friends/study/work! their delicious coffee and paninis have gotten me through high school + now being back in chicago, i always make a point to stop here to get work done! (their bingsoo is also really good!) this is absolutely a neighborhood staple + i can't recommend it enough!! the atmosphere is so homey and lovely. they also have a lot of board games :) i don't often leave reviews, but i had to for my favorite place in north park!!

Allow me to warn you, I absolutely cosher cafes with board games and Asian sweets and treats! This place is irresistible. The wait staff was especially friendly and welcoming as they immediately greeted us when we entered the cafe. My friend and I ordered a red bean bingsoo and green tea latte to go with our intense game of Scrabble. Neither of them were disappointing. In fact, it's one of the better lattes that I've ever had. It wasn't watered down and the foam was just right. They don't have a website or online menu, so I took a few snapshots of it. Please take note of their word play: Milkshakes - "get in touch with your inner moo" Chillax - "don't choke on the ice" Panini sandwiches - "Porky Meets His Match" The downside is I reside in the Bridgeport area so I wouldn't be able to frequent this cafe as much as I would like to.

I came here with a group of friends on a weekday night and it was packed. I shared a green tea bingsoo with the hubby. It was good but I wish they gave us more than a teensy tiny dollop of ice cream. And is it just me or did the ice melt in lightning fast speed?

Came here for a cup of coffee late at night and it was still packed with students studying on their laptop. This is very similar to Java Mug. I had the green tea latte and whenever I see the word green tea I just have to order it. Nothing special imo but it's a coffee shop and the goal is to chat with friends and enjoy some caffeine!

Terrible customer service. Extremely disappointed! Forgot about our order and refuse to listen to us. Ppl work there show their attitude when I complained.

I had been craving bingsoo after having it for the first time in the Maryland/DC area a month ago. Outdoor cafe was recommended to us by one of the servers at San Soo Gab San, a Korean bbq restaurant a couple miles away on Western. Although not the same kind of bingsoo I had in Maryland, I still enjoyed the bingsoo at Outdoor Cafe. It reminded me a lot like my favorite Filipino dessert: halo halo except no flan, ube ice cream and questionable jelly pieces haha. We got the fruit bingsoo which mainly consisted of shaved ice with sweetened condensed milk, tons of fresh fruit, Mochi pieces and a scoop of strawberry ice cream. It was super yummy, light and refreshing after eating a ton of Korean bbq! The bingsoo I had in Maryland did have the edge because instead of shaved ice they use shaved sweetened frozen milk and it had a lighter fluffier texture. However, as mentioned before, I did enjoy this bingsoo as did my mom and sister. We had the hot pineapple and passion fruit green tea which was delicious on an unusual "cold" and rainy August day. We loved the ambience of this place; as mentioned by another reviewer you wouldn't expect it to be cute from the outside. They had comfy chairs, free wifi, tons of board games, cute decor and it was really clean inside. We plan on coming back, I'd like to try their coffee and other tea selections along with their bubble tea. They also sell lunch items like Vietnamese sandwiches and soups. Plenty of street parking outside, but it is metered.

This place has been here for as long as I can remember. Shaved ice dessert always good. However, the drinks are never really good for me. Last time I got their milk tea and it was just so bad that I couldn't finish it.

This place is so cozy and cute. This is perfect for studying, a date, or even to catch up with friends. They have board games, tea, dessert, coffee. The service is super friendly. I will definitely be back.

Originally, we were going to go to Java 'n Mug but it wasn't open at the time. So, we decided to stop inside here. The interior is very nice - super cute and trendy. It reminds me of a chic cafe you would find in an old movie. Their menu has variety whether you want to dine in for ramen or sandwiches. There is also bingsoo and many drink options. When I was talking to the cashier (& he was the barista for the day), I wanted to know what was in the green tea frappe. I wanted to sub the whole milk for 2% or skim. However, he said the place only carried almond & whole milk. It didn't really make sense to me because that means they're making their lattes out of whole milk or drinks etc. In my opinion, that is not very accommodating to your customers which I was disappointed about. The drinks were mediocre. The green tea milkshake was way too heavy for my liking, and it tasted like milk more than the actual matcha flavor (which is why I wanted to opt out of the whole milk option). The thai tea was not that great either. I most likely won't go back, but if you need a place to study this is a good place to study at since it is relatively quiet with WiFi!

Liked the seating here. It is such a quaint and cute little place to hang out and play some board games and get some tea or dessert. I got the green tea ice cream parfait which was okay. But will definitely want to come here again to try the other stuff.

Very cute place, it's a little smaller than I thought though. Quiet and mellow atmosphere. The hot chocolate was good!

The Outdoor Cafe is the best little study space that makes you feel like home without all the distractions from home. I truly enjoyed the ambiance that this cafe provided. The decor made you feel at home and there was relaxed atmosphere that made you feel like you weren't in Chicago. Outside the atmosphere, Outdoor Cafe also provided many drink options including a personal favorite of mine, bubble tea. The drinks were pretty good, and definitely added to the experience. I did however fail to try the food they had available only because I had dinner plans the time I visited. I am very curious however how the food would taste as someone ordered some noodles and the scent carried over to my table, and it smelled fantastic. This only means I'll have to try the food here as well. To sum up my thoughts, Outdoor Cafe is a nice little neighbor spot that you can come study, read, or get some tea and hang out. I definitely will return. As please note they have free wifi and board games to use for your study breaks. Enjoy.

This was the perfect reprieve for a cold, grueling morning. The atmosphere is very homelike and cozy, and conducive to conversation and the music is relaxing to the mind. We had some miso ranting soup-it was spicy but not overly so. It was spiced to perfection and the serving was large for one person. So I'm glad we planned on sharing. It was full of flavor and was fun to try and eat with chopsticks (though more westernized utensils are also provided). We also got the hazelnut heaven (Nutella and banana on toasted panini). Again, the sandwich is large for one person. The service was timely and courteous. It is a little pricey but we definitely got our money's worth. I almost forgot-my favorite thing we got was the honey ginger tea. Oh was that ever good! By far, the best ginger tea I've ever had (and I've had a lot). Parking may be tricky here but it's a nice area to walk in.

Need a late night study spot? Perfect place! Their low light and relatively quiet ambiance is a plus for students. And I keep coming back for their iced coffee. The blend tastes like its been cold brewed and you can go back for refills! Plus they have the best bbq chips (also refillable) for your simple carb needs! New management definitely helped the business thrive with their simplicity, nice staff, and Vietnamese flavor. Regulars are here on a daily basis. Come by, bring a date, or your books, or yourself; just come!

Though most only go for the bing soos, I was starving and tried the ramen and turkey prov panini. Surprisingly, the panini was simple and delicious! The chips were just "freshly" opened from the bag. The ramen was just...ramen that you could buy from the store but a good option if you're hungry. There's also games there to play!

Cute and love the aura in here with its lounge feel and outdoor look. They even have games to use and people look like they can just hang around. Definitely a place to visit if you're in the area. They also have food available if you want but I didn't try any. I had the taro milk tea with boba though and it wasn't good. I couldn't even finish it. The boba was soggy and the flavor just isn't anywhere near other milk teas I've had.

Such a cute cozy cafe! So surprised by the inside of the cafe since the exterior is quite bland. Great place to hang out with friends, have drinks, snacks and they also have shelves of board games. They have a very large menu, from Boba Teas to Paninis to scrumptious banana split sundaes. Their Redbean Bingsoo is good. Will certainly be back to try other items on their menu.

In a nutshell, it's one of those cute IG worthy cafes. It's got coherent décor, both cozy and cute furniture, wall art and other eye candy, and board games as well. More than that, the menu offerings are also pretty good. I'm a big fan of the matcha smoothies which are made with green tea ice cream for extra creaminess. The tapioca here is always cooked fresh and is extra soft.

Came here to relax and catch up with friends after eating my weight in burgers and mac n cheese at Kuma's Corner. The cafe is quaint with a welcoming and warm atmosphere. There is plenty of seating from large armchairs to couches and benches. It's perfect for studying, relaxing or just hanging out with friends. There are also a large variety of board games and magazines to choose from as well. Although we had just eaten dinner, we decided on order some desserts to share as we were talking. FRUIT BING SOO For those who aren't familiar with this asian dessert, it's basically shaved ice that's topped with fruit and ice cream. The fruit bing soo wasn't anything special, but it was fine. It came topped with strawberry ice cream and mochi along with fresh fruit including strawberries, kiwi, peaches, mandarin oranges, cherry, etc and topped with condensed milk. Outdoor Cafe also offers sandwiches and a large variety of coffee drinks in addition to their desserts. The owners are visible, incredibly friendly and hospitable. My friend had a special request and the staff member was more than happy to make the accommodations for us. I'll definitely be back!