Bun Appetit: Chi Tea Blends Burgers and Boba

Despite the gloomy gray skies and below-freezing temperatures, spirits were high amid the line of more than 100 people. This wasn’t a line for a basketball game or a club — it was the queue for the grand opening of Chi Tea’s first Chicago location.

Even though the halal burger and bubble tea chain is named after Chicago, Chi Tea didn’t have a location in the city until Jan. 24, when it opened its doors at 6474 N. Sheridan Rd. It has three other locations in Illinois — in Lombard, Schaumburg and Bolingbrook — along with one in Frisco, Texas.

Abdurahman Sharif said he and his fellow co-owners, Zak Ayyubi and Aman Siddiqui, always dreamed of owning their own business. Sharif said they looked for five years for a space in the city with a built-in, bare-bones kitchen structure, which they found after the June closure of The Halal Guys.

Sharif said they were also looking for a location with heavy traffic, and the new location, sandwiched between Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus and the Loyola Red Line stop, was “amazing.”

“I hope to be humble, but it’s a shock that people still support Chi Tea the way that they support it,” Sharif said. “The lines — people wait in the cold, in the rain, in the snow. Whatever it is, it’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

Saad Qureshi, a second-year nursing student, said he waited for 30 to 45 minutes in line. Qureshi said he was excited to see the new location because he was familiar with the location near his home in Bolingbrook.

“It always surprises us that every time we open we get this response, at every single location of ours,” Sharif said. “Whenever we open, there’s just — the hype is real.”

The new store celebrated the grand opening with a burst of bright blue confetti, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a promise of free banana pudding for the first 100 customers.

First-year nursing majors Ariana Lozada, Eileen Escamilla and Kimora Punsalan were among the first in line. Lozada said she’d been eyeing the place for weeks and ran to the grand opening with Escamilla immediately after their afternoon class.

“I think I have a new favorite — other than Cane’s,” Lozada said.

The chain’s burgers come with grilled or fried chicken or beef, ranging from $7.59 to $10.59, and also come as sliders which are priced between $4.99 and $5.59.

Sides include popcorn chicken, chicken tenders, loaded fries, fried pickles and mac and cheese — all of which come with the chain’s secret “Chi sauce.”

Customers can order their bubble tea as either a blended smoothie or an iced tea. Patrons can then choose between 18 flavors, six toppings and three sweetness levels. Regulars cost $4.99 while larges are $5.99. Lemonade, soda, water and hot chai are also available.

Kowsar Adam, a first-year accounting and marketing major, was also one of the first 100 customers to receive free banana pudding. Adam said she was excited to have another option for off-campus eats.

“Even with different dining halls, Damen gets repetitive, Deno gets repetitive, so I’m looking forward to this new spot,” Adam said.

Chi Tea’s Rogers Park location is still determining its hours. It posts daily updates regarding its hours on its Instagram account.