Papparoti — The Coffee Bun of Memories ☕

I’d heard about Papparoti for a long time and always wanted to try their famous coffee buns, which are said to taste just like the ones back home. This time, I was invited by the manager Yousif for a tasting, so I got to try all the flavors I’d been curious about! 🍌🍓 Mona Lisa Bun with Karak Tea The Mona Lisa bun is a coffee bun topped with banana, strawberries, chocolate drizzle, and — yes! — a scoop of ice cream (I think it was chocolate flavor, not sure if you can choose). The warm, fragrant bun paired with cold, creamy ice cream creates the perfect contrast in texture and temperature. And can we talk about this Karak Tea? 🍵🤩 It’s an absolute must-try with the bun! Made with milk, cardamom, and saffron, it’s rich, aromatic, and not overly sweet. If I were ordering on my own, I probably would’ve just gone with a safe choice like a latte — but the staff highly recommended this tea, and wow, it was love at first sip! Sometimes you really do need a little push out of your comfort zone to discover something amazing. 🥜🍯 Basca Bun This one is topped with Biscoff cookie crumbles, chopped nuts, and a coffee drizzle. Compared to the Mona Lisa, the Basca bun really lets the original coffee bun flavor shine — with an extra hint of toasted aroma. The coffee bun itself is exactly like the Southeast Asian-style buns I remember from childhood — fluffy on the outside, soft and tender inside, filled with the comforting scent of coffee in every bite. ☕🧡 If you prefer it plain, you can also go for their Signature Bun. 📍 The Chicago location is right in the Loop, making it perfect for breakfast or an afternoon treat. It’s like a little trip to Southeast Asia without leaving the city! Papparoti: 218 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60606 #ChicagoLife #Chicago #Coffee #MyCoffeeDiary #WeekendEats #CafeHopping #Papparoti