
TARY
Quick info
About TARY
TARY is a Kazakh cafe in River North, Chicago, at 111 W Illinois St, where colorful rugs and an old tiled stove bring Kazakh elements into an industrial interior. The menu runs to 52 dishes and includes baursak, the traditional dough balls, alongside Tary milk tea. Brunch adds Cottage Cheese Pancakes With Balkaimak Cream for those who want something sweet. Dogs are welcome, so owners can bring their pets along for a visit. The cafe is closed on Tuesdays and open the other six days of the week.
Good to know
- ParkingPaid street parking · Difficult to find a space
- AccessibilityHas wheelchair-accessible seating
- DietaryServes organic dishes · Serves vegetarian dishes
Menu & Prices
52 dishes · mains $4–25- Sunny Side-Up Eggs On Melted Butter With Rye Toast$13.95
- Scramble Eggs On Brioche With Cream Cheese And Green Onions$13.95
- Royal Benedict With Smoked Salmon$15.95
- Cottage Cheese Pancakes With Balkaimak Cream$12.95
- Tary Porridge$12.95
- Bylamyk Porridge$12.95
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention latte, traditional Kazakh bakery, Tary milk tea and eggs Benedict with salmon.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention latte, traditional Kazakh bakery, Tary milk tea and eggs Benedict with salmon.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often come back to the coffee, with the latte singled out for being smooth and well-balanced, and one reviewer noting it arrived in a nice mug on a little wooden board. Close behind are the brunch and bakery plates: the eggs Benedict with salmon described as flavorful without being too salty, and cottage cheese pancakes called light and mild. Others name the Balgyn quyrdaq, the Baursak, the milk tea and the matcha, and one praises the traditional Kazakh bakery as fresh. Several mention a cozy, welcoming room with colorful rugs and an old tiled stove, plus a mom and pop feel among River North chains. The caveats are practical. One reviewer found seating very limited, with only three paper menus to share, and called the place disorganized and super crowded. Another says the Tari porridge and a simple chicken salad took a long time to arrive. One reviewer's rainy Wednesday coffee order still came out quickly despite a packed room, and a visitor from North Carolina praised the polite waiters.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often come back to the coffee, with the latte singled out for being smooth and well-balanced, and one reviewer noting it arrived in a nice mug on a little wooden board. Close behind are the brunch and bakery plates: the eggs Benedict with salmon described as flavorful without being too salty, and cottage cheese pancakes called light and mild. Others name the Balgyn quyrdaq, the Baursak, the milk tea and the matcha, and one praises the traditional Kazakh bakery as fresh. Several mention a cozy, welcoming room with colorful rugs and an old tiled stove, plus a mom and pop feel among River North chains. The caveats are practical. One reviewer found seating very limited, with only three paper menus to share, and called the place disorganized and super crowded. Another says the Tari porridge and a simple chicken salad took a long time to arrive. One reviewer's rainy Wednesday coffee order still came out quickly despite a packed room, and a visitor from North Carolina praised the polite waiters.
Featured reviews
- Naresh Thadani
“It took a long time for them to prepare the Tari porridge and a simple chicken salad. Would not rate it at 5 star review level. The matcha was good though.”
- Shelly R
“I had an excellent experience at Tary. I ordered an iced latte with espresso and a shot of vanilla, and it was prepared beautifully. The drink was smooth, flavorful, and well-balanced… you could really taste the richness of the espresso and the freshness of the coffee. I also had the eggs Benedict with salmon, and it was delicious. The salmon was flavorful without being too salty, served with olive oil on fresh, lightly toasted wheat bread. The egg and sauce brought everything together perfectly. Overall, the meal felt fresh, thoughtfully prepared, and satisfying. I’d definitely recommend Tary for both coffee and brunch.”
- ibrahim şahin
“Absolute 5-star experience! We came all the way from North Carolina, and this place is worth every single penny. The food is legendary—absolutely delicious. We ordered the Balgyn quyrdaq and the Baursak, and topped it off with the Tary sweets for dessert; everything was exceptional. We also tried the Tary milk tea. It was my first time having milk tea, and I absolutely loved it! If you are visiting Chicago, this is an absolute must-visit. On top of the incredible food, the service is top-notch. The waiters and staff are incredibly polite, attentive, and welcoming. A special thanks to Yersultan for taking such great care of us and making our visit so memorable. Highly, highly recommend!”
- Жансая Базаркул
“I’m absolutely in love with TARY Coffee House 🤍 Without exaggeration, this is the best place I’ve been to in Chicago. Everything …”
- Tim
“A very nice Kazakh café in River North, with good latte, friendly staff and a pleasant atmosphere. The place was packed on a rainy Wednesday afternoon in early March, but they managed to bring out my coffee order quickly. I appreciated the way in which they served the latte, in a nice mug on a little wooden board, accompanied by some sort of very light wafer roll. While I did not try any of their food this time, the sweet treats on the surrounding tables looked delicious and tempting. The eclectic interior features the insignia of a modern, upscale coffee shop paired with some industrial looks and a number of Kazakh elements like colorful rugs and an old tiled stove. Definitely a place to return to.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Closed
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
- Has fast service
- Serves great coffee
- Serves great dessert
- Has great tea selection
- Popular for popular for breakfast
- Popular for popular for lunch
Amenities
- Has Wi-Fi
- Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Paid street parking
- Dogs allowed outside
- Has no-contact delivery
- Offers takeaway
Show more amenities
- Serves dine-in
- Serves vegetarian dishes
- Has bar on site
- Casual
- On-site services available
- Serves coffee
- Dining options· 6
- Serves breakfast
- Serves brunch
- Serves lunch
- Serves dinner
- Serves dessert
- Has seating
- Facilities· 2
- Has gender-neutral toilets
- Has toilet
- Offerings· 4
- Serves alcohol
- Serves healthy options
- Serves organic dishes
- Quick bite
- Highlights· 3
- Has fast service
- Serves great dessert
- Has great tea selection
- Parking· 1
- Difficult to find a space
- Popular for· 4
- Popular for breakfast
- Popular for lunch
- Good for solo dining
- Good for working on laptop
- Atmosphere· 3
- Cosy
- Quiet
- Trendy
Location
Cafes near TARY
- Mojo Coffee4.64000.9 mi$1–10Reservations
great coffee, free wifi for remote work, smoked salmon on rye
- Two Shades Cafe4.52821.9 mi$10–20Wi-Fi
matcha, lattes, turkey panini
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TARY | 4.7984 | — | $20–30 | latte, traditional Kazakh bakery, Tary milk tea |
| Mojo CoffeeReservations | 4.6400 | 0.9 mi | $1–10 | great coffee, free wifi for remote work, smoked salmon on rye |
| Two Shades CafeWi-Fi | 4.5282 | 1.9 mi | $10–20 | matcha, lattes, turkey panini |
The 2 nearest cafes by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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