TAO Chicago

“TAO is vast and impressive, the kind of space that makes you pause mid-sentence and look up.”

TAO is vast and impressive, the kind of space that makes you pause mid-sentence and look up. I hadn’t been inside a TAO in at least 20 years, and never the Chicago location, but Restaurant Week felt like the right excuse to revisit my past and see how it aged. (Pretty well, it turns out.) Start at the bar and arrive early — the lychee martini is very sweet, but at happy hour prices it’s basically irresponsible not to have one (or two) before heading to your table. We kicked things off with the Spicy Tuna Tartare on Crispy Rice, which leaned a bit hotter than my personal comfort zone, but was still solid. The Pork Potstickers, however, were the runaway hit — amazing, addictive, and I absolutely could have eaten a dozen without regret. The Cashew Chicken was surprisingly clever: somewhere between sweet & sour chicken and cashew chicken, but executed at a level that makes you think, “This is like P.F. Chang’s… but in the best possible way.” Comfort food with ambition. The Wagyu Skirt Steak was plentiful, perfectly cooked, and delicious. I wasn’t a fan of the cilantro lime dip, but thankfully the soy sauce on the table understood the assignment and handled things just fine. Cocktails continued their subtle mission to disguise alcohol. The TAO-tini was tropical, sweet, and dangerously easy to drink — a recurring theme. Dessert was indulgent. The Chocolate Buddha was large, rich, and layered with chocolate on chocolate on chocolate. But the surprise winner was the banana pudding, which quietly stole the show. We also added a crunchy spicy yellowtail roll, which was a great addition and far less spicy than the tuna — a welcome plot twist. Overall, TAO delivered exactly what you want from it: scale, fun, solid food, and drinks that sneak up on you. I’m already looking forward to coming back with a group to try more dishes — assuming it doesn’t tip too far into clubby territory next time.

Jordan Gary

Feb 2026

“Very welcoming service, great food, had a good time there, nice decoration also.”

Lawaco Didier Toe

Feb 2026

“Food was fantastic and the service was top tier.”

Food was fantastic and the service was top tier. Music was loud but we didn't mind it since we were getting ready for the Rave concert that evening. We tried Grilled Branzino, Crispy Coconut Alaskan Halibut and their off menu Dish that was suggested to us by our waitress, short rib fried rice with bone marrow and truffles 🤯🤌🤌🤌

Kanthita House

Dec 2025

“The food here is sooo good.”

The food here is sooo good. A bit pricey but worth it for the atmosphere and presentation. My favs were the fried rice and bao buns.

Jordan

Dec 2025

“I've been to the Tao in Vegas and it was nice but the Chicago location is so much better.”

I've been to the Tao in Vegas and it was nice but the Chicago location is so much better. The atmosphere and service were perfect for a pre-holiday dinner. Our server, Lauren, was amazing and very attentive.

Allena Marco

Nov 2025

“The restaurant has a beautiful interior with a great atmosphere that makes the whole dining experience feel special.”

The restaurant has a beautiful interior with a great atmosphere that makes the whole dining experience feel special. The food is delicious and meets the standard you would expect from a place like TAO well-seasoned, flavorful, and thoughtfully presented. The service is attentive, and the overall vibe is energetic yet elegant. Definitely a spot worth visiting if you’re looking for good food and a stylish ambiance in Chicago.

Peachy Chan

Nov 2025

“Beautiful place, great food — but poor welcome at the front.”

Beautiful place, great food — but poor welcome at the front. The food was amazing, and the ambiance was absolutely stunning. However, the hostess was extremely rude. I arrived alone just hoping to enjoy dinner, and she told me there was nothing available—without even offering me a seat at the bar. I had to walk over myself and kindly ask the bartender if I could dine there. Thankfully, the bartender was exceptional and completely turned the experience around. I’m not giving a lower rating only because of the food and the wonderful service I received from the bartender.

Alexandra

Oct 2025

“Beautiful establishment.”

Beautiful establishment! The setting, the decor, the vibe was so cozy yet ornate. Service was fast and superb. Food was beautifully plated yet tasted as good as it looked. Definitely coming back.

T. K Fam

Oct 2025

“I have a peanut allergy and our waiter was very receptive and attentive.”

I have a peanut allergy and our waiter was very receptive and attentive. he ensured everything was safe for me to eat. additionally, the food was delicious, especially the dessert! the interior is beautiful!

viana chau

Jul 2025

“I always love Tao in any city.”

I always love Tao in any city. Tao Chicago is a cut above in the way that it feels very welcoming and the staff was very helpful. The food was exquisite, the presentation was artful and precise. Loved the ambiance, the music was loud (as you would imagine) but still at an acceptable volume for a lively business dinner. The filet mignon with shishito peppers was so tender and perfectly seasoned. We had appetizers to share and they were all hits. The cocktails were beautifully presented and tasted great. We ended the dinner with the dessert tower and were so impressed at the beauty, execution and masterful taste of all of the desserts. 5 stars all around! Great job to the management for skillfully placing all the groups around the restaurant; having a business dinner closer to the Buddha statue was a testament to amazing planning. I noticed a family seated in a more quiet area and larger groups celebrating were closer to the center of the restaurant. Hats off to the servers for being prompt and attentive. Will definitely come back to the Chicago location.

Johanna Slocombe

Mar 2025

“Wow. From the minute you walk in, you get absorbed in the ambiance of Asia and while a large place,...”

Wow. From the minute you walk in, you get absorbed in the ambiance of Asia and while a large place, a cozy feeling. Great background music playlist. Absolutely fantastic food. The peking duck was legit and done perfectly. Service was excellent - prompt, helpful, friendly. Superb experience. Definitely returning often!

Judith Breisch

Jan 2025

“TAO is an experience which i dearly enjoyed.”

TAO is an experience which i dearly enjoyed. I am not big fan of the Asian cuisine in general but good here was awesome. I loved their non seafood sections. Awesome cocktails and good service. In my opinion,two things they should improve at is the music part and the cleanliness of the restrooms. Overall,awesome place

Nikolina

Oct 2024