TAO TEA

Last night we got two hot drinks and both of us seriously burned our tongues and the roof of our mouths. We understand the drinks are meant to be hot, but these were extremely overheated — way beyond a safe temperature — and no one warned us about it. The milk was scalded, and the tea in the other drink was literally boiling🥲

I have come here twice and both times I loved it! The boba tasted great and the service is good. There are so many drink options too. The decorations inside are so cute. I recommend coming when in Wicker park.

Cute shop with good amount of options. Brown sugar boba is nice, very creamy. It does not have tea though. Nice place to hang out.

Awesome brown sugar boba, perfect texture and delicious tea. I ordered the roasted oolong milk tea with 25% sweetness and brown sugar boba. Loved it, would come back.

I recently visited Top Tao Tea, and I loved it! The cozy atmosphere made it a great place to unwind. I had the taro tea—so delicious and creamy! We played Uno while enjoying our drinks, which added to the fun. The staff is super friendly and helpful. Overall, it's a perfect spot for tea lovers looking for a relaxed vibe. I can’t wait to go back!

My favorite is the brown sugar boba and the thai milk tea. :) It's pretty consistent, I always ask for extra ice just bc drinks are always better when they're iceyyyyy and cold. A few staff members seem like teenagers so they didn't really care if there was a customer waiting for their drink for 10+ minutes while they sat down and chatted.

You could definitely taste the fruitiness of the Passion Fruit drink. The Dragon Fruit Kumquat Tea was not bad either. It had a nice sour taste, and I loved the bright red color. I also liked how it had slices of orange, lemon, pineapple, and grapes. Lastly, the interior is aesthetic, and the staff was quick.

My husband and I were pretty serious about finding a public restroom while walking through Chicago with our kids. How lucky, to have picked this place to stumble into. The environment is clean, and inviting. The bathroom..immaculate (thank you 💗). And since it was so clean and inviting we decided to grab a few of their teas for our kids. They reported all good things and devoured their beverages. Thanks for keeping such a clean shop, and for having facilities for customers to use. We will be back next time we come to the area! Many blessings to you, and we pray your shop is good good success 🙏

I had the roasted oolong tea with boba. The boba texture was great and the tea was perfectly sweet at 50% sweetness. My friend got the avo coconut smoothie at 25% sweetness. This drink is delicious and worth trying! I would get this one next time.

Total random stop for a drink and Top Tao Tea didn't disappoint! Had a Thai iced tea and my daughter got a Taro Tea with boba. Both yummy. Quaint spot to hang out as well. It's decorated cute. Service was fine.

Always a great experience at this location! The people who work here are helpful. I've been at this location more times than I can count and I'm always pleased; so many options to order from and it's always delicious. They have two kiosks where you can self order and pay. In addition to a few places to sit, but the place is very small, always clean and welcoming.

i got the oreo drink and my bf got the mango slush and they were okay. I didn't like that the oreo one didn't come with tea and i basically paid $6-7 for oreo crumbs and milk, but it was good nonetheless. I enjoyed the mango slush better and it came in a cute heart shaped cup as well. i wouldn't recommend getting the oreo drink.

Really like the choices of add up. Especially the sago! Goes really well with the coconut dragon fruit drink! The coffee latte also really good balance. Just a bit slow. Kinda pricy though. Almost 10$ a drink

This is one of best boba places i've tried in Chicago. I have a pretty high standard since i'm from the bay area and i'd say this is pretty comparable. Kellen was so sweet to me when she took my order. I was a little confused with the types of toppings but she was able to answer them with such ease and expertise. My drinks were made so fast. I literally was just going to chill in the booths for a bit but they were already done. Exactly what I needed today

Such a cute spot to pick up your favorite Boba. The restaurant is whimsical with flowers all over the walls, ceiling, and chandeliers and cozy seating. We ordered three teas, all of which were very yummy. You can mix and match the different milks, control the amount of sugar you want, add more topping. Really customize it to how you want it. The menu shows all of the top teas however there is a kiosk that you can order from that has more tea options than what's on the main menu.

So good!!!! Reasonably priced, and came out quickly. I got the Taro Lover smoothie with tapioca and it was delicious. Some places are hit or miss with taro, but this place has it down. I also love the heart shaped cups! I would definitely come back here.

Somehow I hadn't tried this place yet despite it being pretty close to home. We got the dragonfruit and coconut milk drink and the Tao special. The dragonfruit and coconut milk drink was really good. It was primarily coconut milk and sometimes that can be overpowering, but it was light and pleasant. I do wish it had a little bit more dragonfruit in it though as that part wasn't very obvious. The Tao special wasn't anything special. The flavor was good, but it was really just an assam milk tea. With the name I assumed it would be something unique and interesting, but it was quite boring. Aside from the drinks, I ordered online for pickup. They weren't particularly fast, despite not being that busy when I got there. The store was cute with some very instagram-y decor if that's your thing.

Stopped by with friends after the Dim Sum and Drag show at Furama. Very cute and cozy place. Ordered on a kiosk and only waited a short time. I enjoyed my drink and so did my friends. We grabbed a table by the window and chatted. Steady business and quick. Pretty decor for IG photos. Some seating but not a big place. Bathroom in the back. I would return.

Good value and variety. Comfortable layout. Nice efficient staff. And Britney Spears rocking tunes.

Very good service and cute environment I will definitely be coming again if you wanna get good pictures this is the spot

Of all the great places to get boba in this neighborhood, Top Tao is my favorite. The customization options are top tier and all the flavors taste very fresh.

Small shop but quick service! Order at the kiosk and drinks are ready in less than 10mins. Thai iced tea was delish, strong but sweet and creamy. Loved the boba and the coffee jelly. We also tried the fruity tea which was tasty and refreshing!

Very upbeat, bright boba tea place. Got the jasmine milk tea with grass jelly and taro milk tea with taro crystal boba, both with 25% sugar and no ice. Was very pleased with the sugar level- a lot of times, the drinks tend to be too sweet even with lower sugar levels, but 25% really means 25% here! The drinks were super cute and colorful (see picture). The employees were efficient even with a fairly long line. Do note that the taro drinks appear to be made from taro milk tea powder, not real taro (judging by the color and taste). I would also recommend against the jasmine milk tea. The tea tasted over-roasted. Seems like a place better suited for fruit/non-actual tea flavors.

Fun spot in Argyle. It's hard to go wrong with any choice here. I ended up getting a mango smoothie to cool down after a warm day. There are also a few solid taro options, which friends have said are phenomenal too. Taro enjoyers will be pleased here. Would highly recommend stopping here after getting pho for lunch or dinner!

I would recommend taking a trip to Tao Tea. The tea selection is wide and the pictures really help with making a decision. I have had the taro, brown sugar, and thai tea milk teas and they were awesome. Flavorful and aesthetically pleasing. The cafe area is not the biggest but there is room to wait for your drink and seating by the window if you want to have a drink with a view. The service is quick and friendly.

Loved the ambiance here, it's very cozy. A hot Rose Garden Tea with lychee jelly hit the spot on a chilly evening. Definitely will come back next time I'm in Chicago!

Great boba spot in Uptown! Workers were friendly, easy ordering system, and our drinks came out timely. Boba was tasty and the cups our drinks came in were so cute! Pro tip: order 25%-50% sugar since these drinks do get sweet! They have a lot of seating (mostly booths) and an area with a pretty flower backdrop. There's some board games at the front of the place, so you can spend some time here!

My friend got the brown sugar milk tea while I got the Thai green tea! I really enjoyed my drink since not a lot of places offer Thai green tea. The boba was good. You are able to order at two kiosks! I was hoping to get nuoc Mia here but I guess they don't have it anymore? Nonetheless it was a good spot to grab boba

Once again, another great boba shop! I have no complaints. I got a thai milk tea with black boba (50% sweetness). Probably could have done even less sweetness, but the flavor was spot on! The boba had good chew and overall you get a fair amount of drink for the price. The shop itself is cute with an Instagram picture wall, pastel tables/chairs, and several board games for you to play with your friends. You know this is a good place when you see a line out the door. Would go again!

At first I was very excited to try the tea due to the high ratings on Yelp. There were 2 order kiosks that were easy to use and there's ample seating room. Ordering was seamless and the staff were nice and friendly. However, I should taken more notice of the warning sign that was posted at the counter. I was wondering why it was placed there and then I quickly realized that it must be because of many customers not liking their tea. I was extremely disappointed with the tea I received from this place as the tea tasted unpleasant. I had personally ordered 2 teas - pandan milk tea and pineapple black tea with milk foam. Adding sugar did not salvage the drinks at all. My friends also ordered different items and felt the same. Overall, I would not recommend the tea to anyone. Maybe other items taste better...

I'll change my review back to its original 5 star review because this place honestly serves the freshest beverages and toppings for your drinks!

My drink had no tea in it... just milk... and was supposed to be brown sugar flavored but just had caramel in it?? I'm honestly confused and pretty disappointed over all. But the boba itself was pretty good.

Solid boba tea spot in Uptown located by Asia on Argyle. I live in the area so I'm surprised it took me this long to try this place out. I came with a friend around 8:30pm on a Monday night and there were two girls working behind the counter. We didn't really get much of a friendly welcome, but we walked up to the counter after reviewing the menu, she walked over and took our order quickly. I ordered this Orea milk tea which is usually not something I'd typically order since I prefer lower sugar drinks, but I was feeling it. I'm happy I ordered it though cause it was delicious! This place also has a festive decor! They had a tree in the corner that was displaying autumn colors/fall foliage which I found to be a nice addition. I'll be sure to come back and try other drinks!

It's officially boba tea season in Chicago! Top Tao Tea was busy and you will have to wait to get your order, but nothing too crazy. They installed two new digital menus that you can place your order on which helps things move along more quickly. They have a few booths to sit in while you wait or some seating by their cute wall of pink flowers. I got the taro coconut milk tea with boba. It had a great coconut flavor! I like how many options they have for free add-ins to your milk tea, including different types of boba, jelly, or the mango bursting balls.

Top Tao tea has a lot of options and they're pretty unique too! I've never had pandan milk tea before, so of course I had to try it. It was okay, mostly unique. I love pandan flavor in general and the milk tea definitely tasted like pandan, but it didn't go very well together. I usually drink oolong or jasmine milk tea, so this was out of the ordinary for me, but I am glad that I gave it a chance. Next time, I'll be back to try the oolong milk tea :)

I can't say enough good things about this tea spot. I come here Everytime I visit my boyfriend. Every flavor of the fruit tea is super good. The tapioca is always nice and chewy. The coffee flavors are good too. Strongly recommend visiting here if you're in the Argyle area. The interior is very aesthetically pleasing as well. If you wanna get a nice Instagram photo in they have a cute pink cherry blossom tree and a purple couch to take a picture by. Customer service is always kind and they even provide games if you decide to dine in.

Stumbled across this bubble tea shop while walking through viet town. The decor was cute and I loved how bright and welcoming it is. I got the taro lover fruit smoothie w/ crema and chose the taro crystal boba as my topping with 75% sugar. The drink was delicious and loved seeing a variety of toppings. Would definitely come back to try the other flavors of crystal boba in a new drink!

Okay, there are legit 4 [bubble] tea and beverage places located on the exact same corner. Tao Tea is the best one. The variety of tea flavors and choices for toppings is extensive, plus all drinks come with a free topping/boba/tapioca. Top Tao is my favorite in the neighborhood. Competition is steep here too.

I would say I have been to many boba shops and top tao tea is pretty good! I believe I got the milk tea with boba and it was solid. I have a rule where if it is my first time going I get milk tea or thai tea ... because then you know if they are a good boba place. They also have different desserts along with boba like bingso which was pretty good. I believe there was mango, strawberry, and melon. So good and authentic. I highly recommend

Possibly the best bubble tea shop on the north side of Chicago serving teas, juices and smoothies. High quality ingredients, but also prices are on the high-end. Drinks: Passion fruit juice - 5/5 - love the fresh tarty taste especially with the passionfruit seeds Passion dragonfruit juice - 5/5 - excellent presentation and taste; I recommend adding aloe vera as your topping! Passion strawberry - 3.75/5 - a little bit too sweet Sugarcane dragonfruit juice - 4/5 - very interesting taste definitely worth a try but don't know if the flavors actually fuse or complement each other Taro lover - 5/5 - blended smoothie with rich taste of taro Strawberry paradise tea - 5/5 - strawberry flavored green tea Ambience: Small shop loaded with perhaps too much decor Service: Very patient and helpful

I really love this place! I had a brown sugar boba with flan and it tasted pretty good! Just the right amount of sweetness and didn't feel overwhelming. Being in the shop was also a pleasant experience, very aesthetically pleasing. The employees were also pretty friendly and got my drink out pretty quickly. Overall, this is a place worth coming back to for sure!

Absolutely delicious. Better than Kung Fu Tea across the street. Staff is super friendly and helpful. Atmosphere is nice. There's a big tree inside that would make a cute backdrop for pics.

I just discovered this boba shop this summer and you have to go there! The drinks are a nice size and the quality of the drinks are very good as well. If you like the Korean popsicle 'Melona', you have to try the, 'peachy melon smoothie' because it tastes identical to the ice cream! I also like the tapioca balls because they aren't too hard or too mushy! The scenery is also very beautiful inside and it's perfect for pictures!

Top Tao Tea is a delicious tea shop with super quick service and an extensive drink list. A dear friend of mine, who moved away from Chicago, and I meet up for a non-alcoholic drink and a walk around Lake Michigan each time she is back in town. Because of that, we want a place that is quick and has an extensive variety of great non-alcoholic drinks so we can return multiple times without feeling tired of the options -- Top Tao Tea on Broadway is our place. We visit on different days and can always order and receive our drinks in 5 minutes or less. However, they do have around five booths at this location in a clean and adorably decorated space. for those who don't want their drink to-go. Masks are required to order and when not seated though a sign on the door does read masks are not required for those with the vaccine, so make sure to bring one regardless. The staff are also wearing masks! The drinks are a great value as well, around $5 for a 16 oz tea. I highly recommend visiting and trying the Thai Milk Tea if you're not sure where to start on their menu!

Okay these cups are so nice! Lol I never knew how much a quality cup makes such a huge difference. This is the best bubble tea shop I've been to in Chicago. Also, I love the ambiance. I enjoy sitting and doing work here while drinking my fave- Thai Milk Tea with Boba(-: So good. The staff is also super friendly and ready to answer any questions you may have. Definitely stop in when you're in uptown Chi!

I first tried this place last summer and had been back again recently. Ambiance: The interior was so adorable when we went in June (not sure if it's still the same now). We did a mini photo shoot with the flowers and Hello Kitty. This was when the covid cases weren't too bad so we were able to take our masks off for pictures! Service: Fast and efficient. We didn't have to wait too long for the bubble tea to come out! Drinks: The first time I tried their Matcha milk tea with tapioca. It was refreshing and tasty. I love the cups they come in. You can sip from the mouth piece or stick a straw in for the balls. The second time I had the Brown Sugar milk tea with tapioca. While I usually stay away from brown sugar because it can be too sweet, this didn't give me that kick of sweetness I was looking for. I'll be back to try more flavors!

Where's the rest of our drinks?! We were so disappointed and in disbelief in the amount of tea in each cup. We literally got drinks that were half emptied. We ordered the Tao tea (without ice) and White Winter tea (with ice). BOTH of them came almost half emptied. We ended up with even less when our 1.5 inch of foam went away... There's really no justification. I understand that the one with no ice may come with a little less, but it should not be that much less. Definitely will be taking my business else where. Over priced for half emptied drinks.

There are so many fun options to try. We decided on the mango paradise smoothies with black boba and they were refreshing and delicious. Recommend!

WOWOWOWOW JUST WOW . Guys , I love boba and I love smoothies and I love bubble tea shops. And I've been to MANY in the city and this is literally the best place I've been . First of - avo-coconut smoothie , unbelievable and not chunky like some place . The strawberry tea also had fresh strawberries and fruit in it - which I rarely see. Also , they have a TON of options, you can come back 50 times and probably still have options. I without a double will be coming back in the near near future - perfect shop for summer. Awesome side the note : the containers are adorable and amazing .

I didn't like the boba or flavors. But I may have just ordered the wrong thing - got the pandan milk tea and boba + grass jelly. Not that they have both the dark boba and also the brown sugar boba. So maybe they gave me the black boba that's tasteless and didn't have a chew. Might order the "flan brown sugar salted cream " one next time!

Brand new tea spot in Argyle! This place is a cute spot with an assortment of teas. You will be able to find milk teas, hot teas, fresh fruit teas, fresh milk sea salt cream teas, iced fruit tea, sugar cane juices, passion fruit juices, fruit smoothies with cream, freshly squeezed coconut milk, and coffee. I went with the Dragonfruit Green Apple Fruit Smoothie with Crema. I've been looking for the cheese foam but haven't found it in Argyle yet. This crema was a sea salt cream and hit the creamy spot. The dragonfruit green apple was juicy and refreshing. They sealed the top and gave a straw to poke through but I much prefer a sipping lid so I can get cream and smoothie at the same time. This drink did taste good mixed together though. I'll definitely be back to try some of the other teas! Looking at you fresh milk sea salt cream teas.

Order by touch screen, super fast, clean bathroom. The boba was super chewy and fresh and the tarp was very flavorful. A little grainy but expected.

This is my first foray into bubble tea in the Uptown area, and it did not disappoint. Sadly there is only one size (large) which is a little too much for me, but I really like the balance of milk and tea (I tend to prefer a more tea-based flavor). It is a little on the sweeter size, but 25% sugar was good for me (albeit slightly too sweet). I tried both tapioca and grass jelly, both are great here! I have not tried any of the fruit tea yet, may update with that afterward.

My friend and I came here after dim sum and drag at furama across the street and I was impressed! The ordering process was very efficient (there was a crowd from the event) and the bubble tea was very solid! I got the Oreo brown sugar boba with flan and it was delicious. I liked both the flavor of the drink and texture of the boba (soft and chewy). I'll be back when im back in the area!

A variety of amazing options! My favorite is the brown sugar with boba and coconut milk. It's my go to now.

I am updating my original review to 5 stars. You can customize the level of sweetness. This is great, I did 50% and that made a world of difference. I also tried the strawberry Mojito this time around. Yum, Yum, Yum! I really needed a larger size. Even at 50%, I feel like I need to go down to 15%. The staff is friendly as always and it's nice to have something other than a Starbucks refresher tea where they try to mix everything with lemonade.

I love this place- I was uptown, in the mood for a Bubble Tea- and did a search on Yelp- found this place- What a nice surprise- so many different variations of Bubble Tea- I must admit I was overwhelmed. I managed to pick something- I can't even remember what I picked- so unfamiliar with the menu and what is offered- But I will be back for sure- The Server was very helpful - service was fast, price was about what I expected.