Boka

Featured reviews

• Y

  Yuliya Lubin

  ·1 month ago

  “Boka has been a Chicago staple since opening in 2003, earning a Michelin star and becoming one of the city’s most celebrated restaurants. Led by Chef Lee Wolen, whose cooking is refined yet approachable, the menu blends creativity with comforting flavors in a way that feels effortless. Boka — very hip, polished, and completely on point. The atmosphere is laid back with dimmed lighting and eclectic decor that gives the space a cool, modern energy without feeling overly formal. Surprisingly kid-friendly too, with coloring books and simple options for children, which made the experience even better. On a Saturday evening, the restaurant was bustling with fun energy and a stylish local crowd. Favorite dishes:
• Hokkaido scallops
• Tuna tartare
• Char
• Truffle chicken
• Walnut chocolate cake Overall, Boka strikes the perfect balance between elevated dining and a warm, welcoming atmosphere — the kind of place that feels equally suited for a special night out or a relaxed dinner with family and friends.”

• J

  JJ.X

  ·1 month ago

  “We made a last-minute reservation for our anniversary dinner and were pleasantly surprised when the restaurant called to confirm and asked how many years we were celebrating — a small but thoughtful touch they used to personalize our …”

• J

  Jess BoYd

  ·1 month ago

  “First time visiting Boka and it was such a beautiful experience. I brought my friends from out of state who had just gotten married, and the staff surprised us by printing “Congratulations, Newlyweds!” on the menu. Such a small gesture, but it made the night feel very special and personal. We loved the Bluefin Tuna Tart, Lightly Cured Kampachi, Dry Aged Beef Tartare, Brown Butter Roasted Hokkaido Scallops, and Glazed Beef Short Rib but the Roasted Dry Aged Duck Breast was definitely my favorite dish of the night. Perfectly cooked with so much flavor. Wonderful hospitality, elegant atmosphere, and a truly memorable dinner in Chicago ✨”

• S

  Sharon

  ·1 month ago

  “Great food, amazing presentation, very nice and professional staff. I’ve been to Boka multiple times and I’m always left with a better impression each time. I love their wine list because I don’t usually see Chenin Blanc on the menu. The food is so flavorful and aesthetically pleasing as well. I recommend Boka and will be back!”

• P

  Pauline McKinney

  ·2 months ago

  “We celebrated our wedding anniversary here and from the moment we walked in to the moment we left: the service, atmosphere, and food were utterly delightful! We had an incredible time! Thanks Benny and the Boka team for making sure we had a truly special and delicious experience! We'll definitely be back and can't recommend this place enough - the food was divine!”

• N

  Nate Vu

  ·2 months ago

  “Booked last minute through opentable after setting a notification for openings. Sat at the bar with my wife and the bartender/waitress was very attentive. The entire wait staff were great and overall service was incredible. …”

• C

  Claire Hess

  ·3 months ago

  “We came in for restaurant week in January and had a great experience! Really enjoyed the atmosphere of the dining room, although the courses seemed a little rushed at times. Especially enjoyed the duck leg ravioli and scallops. Hoping to come back again to try another tasting menu!”

• C

  Camden Kaminsky

  ·4 months ago

  “This is the first Michelin star restaurant I have ever been to that I intend to return to. There’s so much BS in Chicago and Boka is the exact opposite. Every course was a banger. They made an exception for me on the tasting menu because I don’t eat veal. Usually wine pairings are 40/60 hit/miss but there was only one paring I didn’t like and that was out of personal preference. The staff was awesome. I will 100% be back. This place is demonstrably better than Smyth, Oriole, Alinea, Elske, and Sepia.”

• C

  Chad Kowalewski

  ·4 months ago

  “I had a fine visit to Boka recently. I came here on a Tuesday date night. Was met with very friendly staff at the front and a handful of people waiting to be seated. Our table wasn’t ready yet so they lead us to the bar area while we waited, before we even fully sat down they let us know that our table had opened up and was ready to sit us. I think this leads into the best part of our visit. The staff. Across the board everyone was very friendly, diligent with their work, and knowledgeable about the restaurant, menu items, and more. Our table was constantly being stocked with more silverware, removing old plates. There was never a long time after we finished a plate that it sat empty. They also had a ton of workers. It seemed like there was a million people running around keeping this place going, and they were all great. The food was okay. I think my favorite dish was the chestnut agnolotti. Very rich but also light and a tasteful starter. The bread was wildly soft. If you need to swap out some pillows at home just grab a batch of these things and use them because that’s how soft they were. They have a pastry team that isn’t a part of the restaurant? I don’t know how it works but they get a kudos from me. The beef tartare was very solid. The crisps on top were a nice bit of a crunch to go with the cold aged beef. Everything after that was okay. Both our entrees were alright. My dates cocktail was fine. Nothing was bad but there wasn’t really anything outside of the staff that was fantastic. Boka is a fun spot to adventure off to but as far as food goes there’s a long list of places I’d go before coming back here.”

• V

  Vipin Menon

  ·4 months ago

  “Boka is here to remind you what dining out should feel like. Went in during CRW, expecting the usual hustle, but Boka delivered a masterclass in hospitality from the first greeting to the last crumb. The atmosphere? Effortlessly chic, …”