Yolk - Test Kitchen

First time at the test kitchen, however have visited both south loop restaurants several times and have always been a fan! Went for Sunday brunch with our 3.5 year old, we ordered their special Redemption Avocado Toast, which is an adult entree, our 3.5 year old ate almost the entire thing and it was pretty large! Everything on the menu sounded awesome, I went with the sunrise burger and got fried pickles to share Wife got the Hexe Old Fashioned which was awesome and creative

Yolk Test Kitchen tries out all the new menu items to determine which ones will go out to all their restaurants. It is, therefore, the best Yolk to go to! Their menu is intensely seasonal, from mains to drinks, with interesting specials. The Vanilla Spice Latte (ordered light on sugar) was the perfect fall drink and the chai latte with less concentrate and more milk is a less sugary option. The pumpkin pancake special with goat cheese drizzle, cranberries, and pecan crumble was delightful on a rainy morning. The chilaquiles are always delicious and not too spicy. The ham is a great protein choice, not on the menu but easy to ask for. If you go early, no reservation needed. Later or with a big party? Make sure to make one. The atmosphere is lively and family friendly. Great servers who know the menu well.

In Chicago for the day and stopped here around noon on Sunday. Very busy but there was no line and being by myself, I was seated right away at the counter. My server was friendly and the food was amazing. I especially love the "Mod Bar Specials"! I chose the Hexe Old Fashioned. I had the KFB Bites - Kentucky fried bacon with panko and blueberry BBQ and Josie's Benedict made with fried green tomatoes! I found the bacon tasty but a little difficult to bite and chew, nice thick chunks of bacon in there and very crunchy coating! The fried green tomatoes in my benedict were good, but the biscuits on the bottom were to die for! One of the eggs was broken when it arrived and the server noted it and asked if I would like a new egg, but I declined. I think it is great that she brought it up and offered! The counter was a little high for someone my size (5'1") so get a table if you can. I gave the atmosphere 4 stars only because it is quite noisy and there is a lot of open space and hard surfaces as well as a high ceiling so the sound really carries. Otherwise it's open and airy with lots of natural light streaming in from the large windows. As for parking I found a free spot on a residential side street about 2 blocks away. I would definitely visit again!

So this was my first time going to the test kitchen and I how to say that I have been to other Yolk locations and I like them. So I was anticipating a similar experience. Our server Colleen was amazing very, helpful very, And insightful very accommodating. Note that we asked for augmentations on virtually everything we ordered. The food came and the presentation was gorgeous, as you will see by the pictures, and it tastes even better than i expected. I genuinely appreciate it the quantity of condiments are forgiven, note that with the white chocolate macadamia nut pancakes that were covered in Melba sauce (which was delicious) they gave me syrup which was Overkill but appreciated.

Amazing experience. Food was delicious, chicken was hot and crispy, and don’t miss out on the hot sauce on the table. The coconut latte was refreshing. Overall great unique spot for breakfast I would visit again for the rotating menu and new items. Worth the price for the atmosphere and fun foods.

We really enjoyed our food on a busy Saturday morning. It was worth the long wait. Unfortunately staff seemed a bit busy, especially the servers. The runners/bussers had more down time but didn’t fill our empty waters (oh well!) we absolutely loved the breakfast Mac and cheese. Their coffee was yummy too. They didn’t split our check, too, but we figured that out! Worth it for the good quality and delicious food! J’Wann was a great server!!!

Ate breakfast here a few weeks ago and overall had a pleasant experience. The crepes they had were too sweet for my taste (like chocolaty syrup sweet). I also wish the test kitchen menu they had online was the same menu served at the restaurant. I had tea with my meal and I loved that our server brought out a timer for steeping.

If you've been to any of the other yolk locations this is a small step up. I was expecting a few more "out there" dishes, but the YTK coffee bar picked up the slack, lots of good drink selections. Food was a little under salted and under spiced, but not so much as to make anything bad.

Yolk is always dependable for their combos - good potatoes, eggs done well, and the chicken sausage was super tasty! Nice portions. My husband enjoyed his Benedict and the KFB bites but he also really likes the fried chicken biscuit. Their downfall is the pancakes. I've tried three now and though this was the best (strawberry kiwi), the base recipe is just meh. Could use more flavor and texture. I'll stick with the cinnamon French toast from now on. But overall good experience. Love that you can join the line ahead of time!

We came on a weekend at prime time and only had to wait like 5-10 minutes. Service here is excellent, both the host and our server were great. They have Hexe coffee here, which is one of my faves in the city, so good. The churro French toast bites were decadent and so tasty. I got the bfast tacos, which were alright. The side salad that came w the tacos was actually my favorite part. Husband liked his omelette just fine. This is a lovely neighborhood bfast joint, well def come back! Parking over here isn't great as they just added the bike lanes and took away alotta of the parking spots on Milwaukee.

It's a test kitchen, so I guess I shouldn't have expected to be blown away but I have to admit I was a little let down throughout the experience. I'm also fairly sure someone put chili powder in my latte and I still cannot explain that to this date.

We LOVE the test kitchen!!! They seriously have such delicious items that you can't get at regular yolks. The KFB bites are a must to start with. I had the autumn and spice waffles and they were great. I thought the breakfast tacos my boyfriend had were just okay. The coffee drinks are delish and always festive. The interior is standard but clean and inviting with the wall of windows. I love coming here and will be back asap!

We came in after eating at another location and we're excited to try unique menu items at the rest kitchen. However they kept continually making errors on our order (hot coffee instead of iced, plain pancake instead of the monthly special), and took quite a while for things like refilling our water and bringing us condiments. The food itself was fine, but given the experience we've had at another location we expected more.

Open till 2:30pm Wed-Sunday, you can walk-in and get seated immediately except on weekends during peak brunch hours. This is awesome for groups of 2-10, especially if you're looking for a "catch-all" menu cause THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE here!!! DO's: * Coffee menu - I prefer the Nutella or Matcha one * Pressed juices - they are tiny but delicious! * Test Kitchen menu items - feedback is welcomed! * Egg Sandos - FAV is Chicken or the Egg paired w/ house-made hot sauce! * Anything with house potatoes * Flip the menu for more food options ;) DON'Ts: * Feel pressured to finish your plate - there's a lot of food! * Forget to ask for condiments * Miss out on the coffee bar - cheat sheet: https://bit.ly/45b4jhw This location ain't for those who have menu paralysis... because trust me when I say there's a lot to choose from. You will likely shoo away the waitstaff the first 2 times, but that is okay - I do it too! Ah yes and this location does NOT accept reservations! So make sure to place your name on the waitlist (similar to taking a number at the deli) to ensure you have a place. You can do so here: https://bit.ly/Yolkwaitlist

Large portions! They have gluten free bread and pancakes. I wish they had their GF items marked on the menu. Coffee drinks are wonderful and my avocado toast with smoked salmon was really good.

I have been coming here for years! This was my first time getting there early enough to have the overnight oats! They've always been sold out by the time I arrive. I brought my 7 year old with. He LOVED the orange juice while I enjoyed an oat milk horchata latte. He got the Nutella Crepes with a side of scrambled eggs. I ordered the chicken and waffles with fried eggs! We both left full and satisfied!!

I've been to this location a few times now and am happy to say each time is better than the last. The service is always on point, the food options are endless (lots of sweet and Savory options) and our meals are always very tasty as well as the coffee options. Last time we stopped in our server, Zachary was so nice and helpful. If you're in the area definitely worth a try!

This is my second time coming here, and I was hoping for a different experience then my first time. Staff is friendly, ambiance is casual. Food, is overall mediocre. The breakfast burrito lacks any flavor and depth and needed salt as well as a ton of hot sauce. The chicken sandwich lacked any depth. The place is also incredibly over priced for the food they are serving.

I want to start out with the positives. The atmosphere was great. The place was busy but we were still seated timely and service was very attentive. We ordered the KFB bites which were super flavorful and delicious. The Scotch eggs were good as well although not overly memorable. I ordered the yolk special chicken and waffles and unfortunately it was severely underseasoned. The "bacon infused waffles" were just plain waffles with chunks of bacon in the batter. The waffles, chicken, and gravy tasted to be fully absent of salt (and pretty much any and all other seasonings from what I could tell). My friends that ordered other variations (traditional, Korean) all pretty much came to the same consensus. The menu here looked so appealing. The food looked appealing when it hit the table. I wanted to enjoy this place so badly but I just left feeling a bit underwhelmed. It may have been an off day and I wouldn't discourage anyone from going here - however, maybe order something other than chicken and waffles.

The doughnuts are without question the best part. Eat them and don't regret it. The flat white is high on the list of favorite coffees. Delicious. And strong. I enjoyed the 'healthy waffles'. Were they the best I have ever had? No- but soft fluffy and good. The cinnamon roll French toast looked fantastic- could have been better if the French toast was also cinnamon roll inspired. Others at our table had the healthy omelette with spinach - it looked quite good. And one person had some type of Mac and cheese skillet thing. They said it was amazing. The orange juice is mandatory. The service was perfect. And the vibe was perfect for brunch. We did have a screening child next to us which was annoying but luckily it only lasted a bit. I love this location. I have only been to the wicker park and west loop locations. Try it!!

This spot is a hit or miss with some of their foods. I understand it is a test kitchen but if you trying create something new then take a risk and add some unique flavors to the food. Many of the test kitchen food was fried with little to no flavor or still fairly basic that some restaurants would already offer and do it better. Place was nice and clean but overall I would rather go to a brunch spot that is a bit more unique than this test kitchen.

Food: eggs were delicious. Sausages were delicious as well. I wish my bacon were crispy as requested. The GF pancakes were super dry. I probably won't order them again. Service: My waiter was fairly slow. Took him 15 minutes from the time I was seated to actually come and take my order. He was friendly though! Ambiance: open and well lit. Great for families

Excellent service is the hallmark of this test kitchen, plus how could you go wrong with fried bacon and twinkies!!

By far one of the best experiences ever . Great atmosphere and excellent service. Food was amazing and fast. Let's not forget everything is fresh and make from scratch. Home made potatoes sold me there #testkitchen #jorgesandwich

Great availability and service and food options. Lots of seating during Sunday brunch.

We came here for Sunday brunch because it's super close to where I live. Unfortunately, the good parts end there. I got the brisket burger, which ended up being dry and all the individual ingredients were somehow lacking in taste. It was just overall not a good sandwich, and I had a hard time getting it down. Definitely would not order again. I should've gotten one of the drinks because those actually looked good and would've helped wash the food down my throat. My friend actually like her bagel sandwich, The Cheesy, but it looked unremarkable to me -- like something I could've made in my own apartment, so nothing too special. Overall, the food here, at least what we got, was over simplified and desperately needed more flavor.

We ate breakfast there yesterday and were blown away. The many selections and the quality and quantity of food was unbelievable. We started out with deep fried pork belly with a dip. I had two scrambled eggs and sausage and bacon with French Toast and maple syrup. I actually had a hard time finishing everything but did manage. My wife had three pancakes with sausage and she couldn't finish hers. The pancakes were the largest I've ever seen and filled with all kinds of good things. I know I couldn't have eaten them all. They made a good breakfast for today. My son in law had an egg white sandwich on a bagel. We were definitely all very stuffed when we finished eating. I highly recommend Yolk and will definitely eat there again. Being a test kitchen the menu does change.

Have been meaning to try this place for a little bit and came with a group of friends. Some things were hit or miss but it's a test kitchen so you can expect some of that! But some items were really great. I had the YTK egg sandwich and I didn't absolutely love the bacon sausage patty. It was maybe just a little too much being a full patty. I also had the seasonal pumpkin cheesecake pancake and it was pretty good. I loveeeed the sauce but ate around the pumpkin seeds. My friend had the Buffalo? chicken and waffles which she loved. Also had the fried bacon bites. This was pretty good and came with a unique and yummy sauce. Overall still gave four stars because the service was so good. I can't remember our waitress's name but she was so sweet and had great positive energy. Oh and it's BYOB! No cork fees either. Also used the Waitlist feature here on Yelp Which was so convenient since they do not take reservations. Really loved that

Expansive breakfast menu! Something for everyone.. the Berry Bliss is light and fresh, just a hit of sweetness depending on how much honey you add. My bf always loves a mix of sweet and savory options.

Maria is the best server at this place. You can tell she has a lot of experience on the job and is very dedicated to pleasing the customer with their hungry needs. I also will like to give a shout out to Ely he makes great coldbrews and always has a smile on his face. The only thing I miss is their manager Grace she was also a great person. If you go to the restaurant you will have a good experience and good quality of food. On another note the food a bit overpriced but I guess inflation plays a part.

This place is busy for good reason, that food is goood! We had wonderful drinks (pictured) and breakfast. I can't wait to try more menu items on my next visit!

Amazing place for a last minute affordable breakfast! Fast attentive service. Check in on Yelp before hand for a place in line so you do not have to wait long when you arrive. Ordered the chocolate french toast special and California omelette with feta cheese. Both were delicious and generous portions. Cant wait to come back and try more items. Only negative was the door to the restaurant makes a horrible screeching sound! Like nails on a chalk board. Oil this baby up!

i went last weekend and had the Jorge and it was the best sandwich I've ever had. I have also had the tator tot skillet which was just as delicious. The service is top tier, always taking care of the customer and checking in.

We went for a late breakfast on Sunday, September 4. The food quality, taste and presentation were perfect. I ordered the Chilaquiles, my daughter ordered Chicken and waffles with bacon and the birthday girl ordered chicken with waffles with jalapeños. The kitchen was also great at given the birthday girl an order of Nutella crêpes. Breakfast Burrito was just perfect! The server and overall staff were great! Congrats to @Jorge Martinez in the kitchen, he is very creative and makes amazing food! Kudos to this location!!!!

Good food dishes, but bad coffee. Great staff that is friendly and attentive! Have been many times and many dishes are good, but stick with the staples. Don't get too experimental

Wow! What a great concept! A test kitchen- where the chefs have the latitude to try out new recipes that are a little more off the cuff. I loved this because regular brunch places can be run of the mill, regardless of trendy decor, the menus are pretty basic and standard- NOT THE TEST KITCHEN!! I highly recommend this place for brunch!! Definitely go here if you're into trying more exploratory brunch items. A great selection of hot beverages and juices too!

Service was great! We had a big party, about 20, and even though they do not have an area for big groups they were excellent at accommodating our request! The food was okay. It wasn't bad but it wasn't anything impressive. The menu offered a decent variety of options which was nice. We had some of their specialty coffees and they were delicious! We loved the pumpkin horchata option! Overall, it was a cool place to try with fun decor with the added bonus of being family-friendly.

Had a very filling breakfast/brunch. 2 pieces of Bacon, 2 link sausages, eggs scrambled. 2 pancakes couldn't finish. Plus Espresso tonic. Smoky hot sauce is nice touch.

The menu is quite extensive and full of creative and unique items that can't be found anywhere else. Our server was very knowledgeable and helped navigate us towards dishes that were perfectly sued for our individual culinary desires. P.S - DONT SLEEP ON THE K.F.B!

As a fan of the Yolk restaurant in streeterville after a long shift at the hospital, I was excited to try out the Yolk test kitchen spot in Bucktown that has experimental items on their menu, as well as the traditional classics. It was an incredible experience! Going in, I wanted to try all the new items so my partner and I ordered the KFB (Kentucky fried bacon, award winning per our waitress) which were served similar to pork belly with a deliciously sweet and tangy blueberry sauce. The texture medly of crispy outer layer and the smooth inner fat were decadent, I'm drooling even just thinking about them right now. These were chomped down promptly and left our stomachs hungering for more with the main meal. I ordered the banana nut cake, which was a very strange name for what was an absolutely glorious banana stuffed pancake with flowing amounts of toppings. I only needed one pancake, which can be ordered as a side, but they also offer 3 cakes as a stack, which would've sent me straight to the hospital in a food coma. Incredible place with friendly waiting staff, would highly recommend

I didn't realize this was a "test kitchen" prior to sitting down but I was definitely not impressed. I honestly wasn't a huge fan of yolk beforehand bit I remember I did enjoy the red velvet French toast but I guess I'm getting old because it was far too sweet on this chilly Sunday morning. Way too much cream cheese & whipped cream. My wife ordered the avocado toast & she didn't enjoy them. I also ordered the eggs Benedict but after one bite I asked the waitress to take it back & remove it from my bill.

Checked in at yolk for brunch this Sunday and it was a really nice experience. The menu makes you want to try everything since everything sounds so goodddd. The oat milk horchata is definitely worth trying, but the fried donuts have too much cinnamon for my liking (still worth a try). Overall, good service with good food. Will go back again! Also check in with yelp and get 10% off! So fried donuts on me :)

very nice ! good service and the porc belly sandvich was delicious, very nice ambiance with good music at the perfect volume

We had a really great experience at the Yolk test kitchen. I took a chance and tried the breakfast Mac and Cheese with the sunny side up egg and it was delicious. I will be back. The French toast was also delicious. I wasn't a the scotch eggs, I'm sure they were fine, but not my taste.

Pleasant staff, tasty food, cozy atmosphere. I love this place ! And the pancakes are the best I've had in a while. I asked if they could put berries on top . It was sooooo good!

Went for brunch with a group of 4 on a Saturday morning and were able to get a table @10 am. There were a decent number of people there, but didn't seem overly busy. Server was not very friendly or attentive - we had to ask a bus boy for plates since she dropped off the appetizer and didn't come back until she brought our entrees. I got the chicken with biscuits and gravy and it was very bland. The gravy had basically no seasoning and just tasted like oil/butter. The waitress asked how things were and I told her the gravy was very bland, and she just said "ok thanks for the feedback", but didn't offer to get me anything else or comp it. We also ordered a side of fruit that never came. Overall, a disappointing experience and there are plenty of other options in the neighborhood with better food/service.

Went to Yolk Test Kitchen cause I heard it was a more fun/experimental version of the regular Yolks all over Chicago. I got the breakfast Mac & Cheese and I think my whole table agreed it was the best thing but also it's a bunch of cheese and butter on top of carbs it's hard to mess up lol. One of my friends got the Korean Hot chicken and waffles and I think it was just fine, not good enough to take home the left overs and I don't even remember what my other friend got. Also got the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup seasonal coffee and it's surprisingly light/not as sweet and overwhelming as it sounds on the menu. Overall not bad but still kind of forgettable, a slightly more fun option than a regular Yolk.

My friends and I honestly had a great experience! The food was good and even though it was a packed sunday afternoon, we got seated pretty fast and only waited 15mins.

I came here for my birthday. The food was great. I absolutely loved the red velvet french toast. Perfect treat to start the morning. It surprisingly was not too sweet.

This is my second time back to yolk, and each time that I've been has been amazing. They are very innovative when it comes to their menu, and I love the fact that all of this is a test to see if it even goes into the restaurants that's such a cool factor to the restaurant overall 10 out of 10.

Stopped by with a friend by their recommendation for a hangover brunch. I gotta say, this hit the spot pretty good. The service was quick and I knew the Mac and Cheese was gonna be my target as soon as I saw it on the menu, with some sausage on the side. The Mac and Cheese was delicious and cooked just enough to make it a little crispy. Definitely will stop by another time when I spend a night in the city.

Early Sunday morning, was able to beat the brunch rush at this popular eatery. Plenty of seating inside available, though no outdoor seating from what we could tell. As promised, this location has some more interesting options from their normal menu. Ordered the KFB ($8) to split, as well as the Hibiscus-Berry Palmer ($5) and Healthy Waffle ($14). Drink comes out first - a refreshing combo of light tea and lemonade that wasn't overly sweet. Food comes out shortly after; the bacon is served as large thick cubes crusted in a thin layering of bread crumbs. This was hit or miss, as some pieces were extremely fatty while others more meaty. The side sauce of blueberry BBQ was an odd pairing, would have preferred hot sauce instead. The "healthy waffle" is actually served as four mini-waffles and topped with granola, yogurt, and berries. Yogurt is light and went well with the syrup provided, and the waffles themselves weren't too heavy. Our waitress is super friendly, and they seem to have plenty of staff to clean up/fill drinks as they get people in and out fast. Would recommend coming here early and trying some of their regular items.

I've tried Yolk in south loop downtown many times but never have experienced their test kitchen. I was able to experience yolk test kitchen menu during a yelp elite event. The place was actually larger than other original Yolk locations. As you walk in the first thing you'll see is the coffee bar and all the aromas of the freshly brewed coffee will hit you and your nostrils in a very pleasant way. During the event, there was a set catered menu. In the shareable appetizers, I was able to try the breakfast Mac n cheese, roasted red potatoes and the KFC bites(thick cut of pork deep fried in panko breading with a bourbon glaze on top). My favorite was the Mac n cheese with bacon bites. For my main dish I ordered the chilaquiles which are deep fried tortilla strips with salsa and cheese. These were a party in my mouth. I would definitely ordered this dish again. Other members ordered the Korean hot chicken and waffles, which also looked appetizing. It was a giant portion of chicken coated in a sweet tasting sauce with 4 mini waffles. All the portions were very hearty. I definitely needed a nap after my meal. Our service Jess was amazing and definitely checked up on us to make sure everything was going well. I will definitely be coming back to this test kitchen to try new dishes that can potentially be added to the main menu.

Good food, great service. Suggest you sign up for the waitlist online - it's pretty fast that way. Everything we tried was super tasty. Also tried the french toast bites (not pictured) but they were good too!

Such a cool concept. I love that they have a place to test their new menu items! We got 3 shareables: mac n cheese, roasted red potatoes, and the Kentucky Fried Bites. All were great. I thought the Mac n cheese with an egg on top was deliciously cheesy and really flavorful. I was hesitant because most places I try mac n cheese, it usually disappoints, but not here! The roasted red potatoes were a good complement that I enjoyed as well. The KFB were tasty too - I really liked the sauce it is served with. These 3 were a great start to the meal! My main dish was the Waffle Benny. The waffle Benedict was awesome (I'm a big waffle fan) and was very flavorful. I enjoyed the salad that came in the middle of the dish too, a nice light accompaniment. I almost forgot to mention they have cool drinks too! I didn't get anything other than fresh squeezed OJ, but everybody else got their fancy pressed coffee (pressed WW2 style, seriously, ask them about it!) and alcoholic brunch drinks like the mimosa or Bloody Mary. They even had kombucha for you fans of that! Overall, great service, good food and I recommend you visit! More chains should have a test kitchen like this, cool concept guys!

Best breakfast in bucktown IMO Great food, I've never had something I didn't like here. Service is very friendly, and they leave a water pitcher at the table so you are never thirsty Try the Korean chicken and waffles they are my favorite! Also the iced horchata oat milk latte was to DIE FOR OMGGGG

The food was amazing. My family and I tried various things off the menu and everything tasted delicious. The kids menu was algo great! The service was outstanding. Highly recommend. Congratulations to the Chef @Jorge and all staff!