Oriental Tea Chicago Review: Come for the Boba, Stay for the Blowtorch
Oriental Tea Chicago Review: Come for the Boba, Stay for the Blowtorch
It was Pokémon GO Fest weekend in Chicago, which meant one thing:
Thousands of people wandering around downtown looking at their phones, chasing digital monsters, dressed as trainers, Pokémon, and occasionally things that weren’t Pokémon but nobody questioned it anyway.
Since we were already downtown, Mike and I decided to take a walk through Chinatown.
Good decision.
The cosplayers were out.
The tourists were out.
The Pokémon trainers were out.
And thankfully, so was Oriental Tea.
Located at 2244 S. Wentworth Avenue in Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood, Oriental Tea immediately stands out before you even order. The bright red logo catches your eye from down the block, and from a distance the bags almost remind me of something you’d see at Lululemon until you get closer and realize you’re about to consume an unhealthy amount of sugar instead of doing yoga.
Which honestly sounds more fun.
Mike and I stopped in looking for something cold on a warm afternoon and quickly found ourselves staring at a menu full of milk teas, boba creations, desserts, snacks, and enough options to make an indecisive person panic.
I decided on the Crème Brûlée Boba Milk Tea.
Mike went with the Oreo Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Milk Tea.
And because we’re professionals conducting serious culinary research, we also ordered the Fried Oreos.
The first thing worth mentioning is that Oriental Tea doesn’t just hand you a Crème Brûlée drink.
They make it.
Right in front of you.
With a blowtorch.
As the sugar caramelized across the top, half the customers were watching and the other half were probably recording it for social media.
It’s one of those moments where you realize you’re not just buying a drink.
You’re buying entertainment.
And frankly, every beverage should involve fire whenever possible. Remember on the Simpsons the flaming mo? Or Homer? What about a flaming Dr Pepper?
The result was fantastic.
The top developed that signature caramelized sugar crust you’d expect from an actual crème brûlée dessert while the tea underneath remained creamy, sweet, and packed with boba.
The instructions on the lid even tell you to drink from the cup first before using the straw so you can experience the brûléed top layer correctly.
That’s attention to detail.
Mike’s Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Milk Tea looked like someone blended together childhood happiness and dessert and then served it in a cup.
Rich.
Sweet.
Cold.
Dangerously easy to drink.
Then came the Fried Oreos.
And this is where things got serious.
The order came with eight Oreos.
Not two.
Not four.
Eight.
Freshly fried.
Steaming hot.
Crispy on the outside.
Soft on the inside.
The type of snack that immediately makes you stop pretending you’re making healthy life choices.
If you’ve ever had Fried Oreos at a county fair, you know exactly what you’re getting into.
If you haven’t, imagine taking an Oreo and improving it in every possible way.
The shop itself is beautiful.
Colorful decorative umbrellas hang from the ceiling, the seating area is comfortable, and the overall atmosphere feels welcoming without being overwhelming.
It has that modern dessert-shop energy while still feeling connected to Chinatown and the neighborhood around it.
Service was quick.
Staff were efficient.
Everything came out fresh.
And despite how busy Chinatown can get, the entire experience felt smooth from start to finish.
What I appreciated most is that Oriental Tea knows exactly what it is.
This isn’t pretending to be a coffee shop.
This isn’t pretending to be health food.
This isn’t trying to reinvent beverages.
It’s a place built around fun drinks, creative presentations, sweet treats, and giving customers something memorable.
Mission accomplished.
If you’re visiting Chinatown, walking Wentworth Avenue, looking for boba tea, milk tea, desserts, fried Oreos, or simply something different from the usual coffee shop experience, Oriental Tea is absolutely worth a stop.
Come for the tea.
Stay for the blowtorch.
Order the Fried Oreos.
Thank me later.
Orientalteail.com
Our social media video:
Crème brûlée boba milk tea #boba #tea #milk #chinatown #chicago #icedtea #drink #ice #fire #dessert
