Hello dear
Welcome To Boka
At Boka, located in the vibrant heart of Chicago, the culinary experience is elevated to new heights. This New American restaurant harmonizes flavors, featuring standout dishes like the perfectly roasted chicken and the smoky dry-aged beef tartare, both hailed by patrons. With its classy ambiance, Boka offers impeccable service that makes each visit memorable. Reservations are welcomed, and the menu caters to diverse preferences, including pescatarian and vegan options. The restaurant’s commitment to quality is evident in every carefully crafted dish. Boka is not just a meal; it's a celebration of taste, making it a must-visit destination for food lovers.
About
Boka
Introducing Boka: A Culinary Gem in Chicago
Nestled in the bustling streets of Lincoln Park at 1729 N Halsted St, Boka stands as a beacon of New American cuisine. Known for its exquisite dishes and inviting ambiance, this restaurant has become a must-visit for both locals and travelers alike. With a commitment to exceptional service and a menu that boasts both pescatarian and vegan options, Boka caters to a diverse array of dietary preferences, ensuring that everyone can indulge in its culinary delights.
As you step inside, the classy decor envelops you, offering a warm and moody vibe that delights the senses. The atmosphere strikes a perfect balance of moderate noise and intimate comfort, making it ideal for romantic dinners, family gatherings, or a night out with friends. With facilities that are ADA-compliant, including an accessible entrance and restroom, Boka prioritizes inclusivity, welcoming all patrons to experience its culinary magic.
- Culinary Highlights: One of the standout features of Boka is its carefully curated menu, which reflects a harmony of bold flavors and artistic presentation. Guests rave about the dry-aged beef tartare, praised for its creamy texture and smokiness—an elevated experience that feels anything but traditional. The roasted chicken, often hailed as the best on the menu, is tender, juicy, and seasoned to perfection, while the grilled pork collar melts effortlessly in the mouth.
- Exquisite Dessert Offerings: Finish your meal on a high note with Boka’s innovative desserts. The yuzu namelaka and white sesame crèmeux are must-tries, showcasing unique flavor combinations that leave a lasting impression. Diners describe these sweet creations as divine, providing a delightful conclusion to an unforgettable dining experience.
- Impeccable Service: Beyond its culinary excellence, Boka is distinguished by its exceptional service. Patrons frequently commend the staff for their attentiveness and professionalism. As one diner noted, even the swift replacement of an accidentally dropped fork exemplified the high level of care provided.
Boka also makes the dining experience seamless by offering a variety of practical utilities, including outdoor seating, takeout, and delivery options. The restaurant embraces modern payment methods, from credit cards to cryptocurrency, ensuring convenience for all guests. For those who wish to enjoy a meal outdoors, the heated seating area allows for comfortable dining year-round.
As highlighted by satisfied customers who have basked in the culinary offerings during events like Restaurant Week, Boka not only provides delicious food but also a remarkable experience. It stands out not only for its food but for the cherished memories created within its welcoming walls. If you find yourself in Chicago, don’t miss the opportunity to savor the delightful offerings of Boka—where every meal is a celebration of taste and artistry.
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“ Restaurant week 2025!! My first ever one Michelin star experience... and I was blown away!! Def worth the $60. Service was efficient, and everyone was quite nice! Start: Bread and butter - a bit hard, but loved the salt on the butter. Cold: Lightly cured tuna - The gelatinous pear was sour and didn't complement the tuna as much as I'd liked. Dry aged beef tartare - delicious!! So smokey and creamy, tastes like an elevated burger and not like raw beef. Hot: Roasted scallop - scallop to cream ratio was off. Scallop was cooked PERFECTLY - a bit torched and crispy on the outside, melt in mouth tender on the inside. Duck leg ravioli - quite salty and hard, but the parm was strong. Entree: Roasted chicken - BEST thing on the menu hands down! So tender for a chicken breast, seasoned perfectly. Veggies were perf. Grilled pork collar - great! Dessert: Yuzu namelaka - yuzu ice cream was so tangy, but perfectly balanced with the burnt honey wafer and ricotta. White sesame crémeux - tastes like a peanut butter cup. A bit too rich for me. ”
“ One of the best restaurants I've had the pleasure of dining at in Chicago! The chicken is quite possibly the best chicken I've ever had. The service was impeccable, accidentally dropped a fork and it was replaced within 30 seconds without even needing to ask for a new one. If my wallet would allow it, I would be back here every week! ”
“ Boka's Chicago Restaurant Week menu was a steal--four courses for $60, with an optional wine pairing for $40. Yes Every dish was fantastic, but our favorites were the Beef Tartare, Duck Leg Ravioli, Scallops, and Pork Collar. And dessert? Absolutely divine. The flavors, presentation, and service (except for 1 rude hostess with blonde hair- hence the 4 ) were all top-notch and a perfect spot to celebrate my partner's birthday. Boka is a must-visit if in Chicago! ”
“ ** Restaurant Week Review ** Boka is one of my favorite restaurants in the city! Truly part of my top 10 restaurant list. This year I opted to come for restaurant week and Boka did not disappoint! I love the dark moody vibe it has. The service is always great and staff is so friendly. Starters: The dry aged beef tartare was perfection. I love that it didn't have that super raw taste to it. Our favorite starter was actually the smoked carrots. We kept joking around and saying "are we sure this is carrots and not salmon?" Hot: The ravioli is basically a small bite plate but my gosh was it so good! The roasted scallop's flavors were delicious. The soup was hearty and filling. Entrees: the cod was cooked perfectly and did not feel overly buttered or under seasoned. The chicken was delicious. The pork collar just melted in our mouth. Dessert: The ricotta dessert was so interesting and delicious! Naturally being a chocolate lover, the white sesame cremeux was our favorite. I highly recommend the wine pairing because the choice of wines are always 10/10. The flavor profiles of the wine painting with the foods really did elevate each dish. ”
“ Loved the ambiance. Everyone was friendly and welcoming! I tried during restaurant week and it was delicious. Perfect portion size and absolutely flavorful. ”
“ I'm so glad I gave Boka another chance. The first time I thought was just ok and not as memorable (years ago). This time around the tasting menu was awesome. We were the last group to leave - great company, great service and great food. The pasta dish was my favorite but everything was delicious. We will be back! ”
“ What a great way to close out Chicago Restaurant Week! We highly enjoyed all the dishes we had and LOVED each of the wine pairings. We especially loved the beef tartare, scallops, roasted chicken, and the white sesame cremeux! We could have done without the black truffle addition, but overall the food was spectacular. We definitely want to come back to try their golden oster cavier! The service was awesome! Shoutout to Diego for his insights and recommendations for the wines. We loved it! The ambiance was great and the personalized additions for my birthday celebration was so sweet!! ”
“ Was able to snag a reservation for Chicago Restaurant Week and wowie, Boka did not disappoint! The ambiance, service, food all were amazing. We started off with a dinner roll that came with butter made in-house - I never thought I could rate a place just based on butter alone but here we are. The butter-bread combo was a great start to the meal - I don't know what they do to the butter but it's unreal. The appetizers I chose included beef tartare (fatty, salty, rich) and roasted scallops. Boka does a great job plating their food with accompanying sauces and I was constantly intrigued by the flavors. For my main, I went with the Icelandic cod but got to try my friend's chicken dish and another friend's pork collar dish. The cod was good but the other protein mains were exceptional. Dessert was beautifully and artistically plated and I especially loved the white sesame cremeux - what a treat. Friggin' love Boka and will make it a point to be back at some point. ”
“ it a great way to experience a variety of their dishes at a more accessible price. To start, we shared a cold beef dish and the cold tuna. The tuna was exceptionally fresh, and the pear paired with it was absolutely delicious--one of the best tuna dishes I've ever had. For the hot dishes, we tried the duck leg ravioli and the roasted scallop. The ravioli was perfectly al dente, as expected at a restaurant of this caliber, and packed with rich flavor. My dining companion was especially impressed with the roasted scallop, saying it was cooked to perfection and melted in their mouth. For entrées, I had the grilled pork collar while my friend had the roasted chicken. The pork collar was outstanding--so tender it practically melted like butter. The purée served with it was so unique that I had to ask the server about it, and I learned it was an Israeli root vegetable. Absolutely perfect. Meanwhile, my dining companion raved about the roasted chicken, particularly its incredible juiciness. Dessert was the perfect ending. We tried both options, but my favorite was the brown sugar banana and milk chocolate dessert. The crispy element added great texture, making it even more enjoyable. Beyond the food, our server was fantastic--offering great recommendations that truly enhanced our meal. And I have to mention the espresso martinis--they were excellent! Overall, Boka provided an exceptional dining experience. Restaurant Week made it an even better value, and I would absolutely return. If you have the chance to visit during Restaurant Week, don't hesitate--you won't be disappointed! ”
“ Boka NEVER misses! My hubby and I came here for our 9 year wedding anniversary because we knew that they would deliver. We have dined with Boka every time we've visited Chicago and we were certain we wanted to celebrate our anniversary with them. My hubby made reservations months in advance and we were on our way. We arrive, the front of the house greeted us and took our jackets and our host led us to the bar, where we wanted to experience their tasting menu and wine pairings, as we have dined in their main dining room. Our bartenders/servers were Maharlika (sorry if I misspelled your name) and Jack and both made our anniversary dinner very memorable by means of their customer service and hospitality. We opted for the 8-course tasting menu and the wine pairing and Maharlika did a phenomenal job in accommodating our taste for natural/biodynamic wines, even though it was outside of his comfort zone. My favorite dishes had to be the Brown Butter Roasted Hokkaido Scallops and the Whole Roasted Dry Aged Duck. The dishes took umami to a whole nother level! Overall, we had a fantastic dinner for our celebration and Boka yet again confirmed the fact that they are our favorite fine dining restaurant time and time again. We have returned 4 times and each time has risen the bar of culinary excellency. Thank you to Maharlika, Jack and the Boka staff for the wonderful food, drinks and hospitality! We will definitely be back. ”
