I been wanting to try this place for years. I always drive by it and never stop. I was said it's such a cute place I love the art! But today was the day! The lady behind the register was so patient and kind with me as a new person coming in being very indecisive. I tried the ham, cheese and egg burrito! The burrito was so filling and so yummy. It was perfect. Then I tried the guava and cheese empanada...oooooh MY this was soooooo yummy!!!! I would just get this any time. It was the perfect combination/blend of sweet and savory. Lastly I tried the Horchata Lata!!!! What that was sooo yummy too!!! Every things was so yummy. I will for sure be back, can't wait to try more! read more

Cafe Tola - Love this place! Bag is super cute to me. - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Alright, 4/5 due to their food only. The service here is slow and when they delivered our tacos the woman was annoyed that she had to explain which one was which. The horchata is soooo good. Very cinnamon-y, which I loved. The 'Green Spicy Pork Empanada' was one of the best things I have ever put in my mouth. I would get the empanada version and taco version of that if I was you. *For the chips & quac/pico, the guac and pico are combined into a small cup. I felt like this was a rip off. read more

Cafe Tola - Chicken Verde Taco (left) & Al Pastor Taco (right) - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Only been once but I am definitely looking forward to going again! Horchata is a big deal-this one is perfect: sweet but not too sweet or cinnamony. Delicious steak tacos and the bean cheese empanada was also awesome! Their salsa doesn't seem that's spicy at first taste but. it. is. Still tasty but good to know. Wish they had dessert..they were out of the guava con queso and the apple pie empanada was good but didn't give me the sweet fix I was looking for. I'll be back! read more

I don't travel to this part of the city often, but when I do, I have to stop at Cafe Tola! The empanadas are phenomenal! Like out of this world good. I like that the menu is constantly changing with empanadas and I get to try new ones with each visit. It's a cool spot to come grab a bite to eat. They do have indoor seating and outdoor seating as well. Small and cozy with cool art along the outdoor wall. They're always friendly and try to get you out the door pretty quickly. Definitely check them out if you haven't. read more

Cafe Tola - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

If you're looking for the BEST chicken mole burrito, try this place out. I've been going here for years, ever since I discovered their downtown location back in 2019. You're outside and you'll see they have the coolest murals, you walk in and notice their menu is painted on the wall, and they have empanadas, burritos, tortas and tacos, amongst other things. Both their veggie and chicken mole burritos are exquisite, I haven't tried anything else. On the drinks side, definitely try their horchata. They have snacks and drinks from Mexico which is the coolest. Their bathroom is accessible and clean from my experience. A great place to go by yourself or with a small group of friends. It's got a hip vibe. read more

Cafe Tola - Comida chingona - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The best empanadas I've tasted in Chicago! A must visit when I'm in Chicago. The Pernil along with the beans and jalapeños are my favorites but they are all good!!! Have to get there early as flavors run out quickly! read more

See all

Very tasty empanadas and a bright and colorful atmosphere. I will stop in again when I am in the neighborhood

So good ! Biggie Smalls breakfast tacos and ham/cheese empanada are amazing. Ice coffee is pretty good too. read more

Cafe Tola - Biggie Smalls breakfast burrito is the modern day cure for the hangover. - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Super fast service and very friendly. I love their homemade empanadas. The tacos are all great too! You can't go wrong with any of the selections. Go early or call ahead bc they sometimes sell out!! read more

Cafe Tola - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing tacos and empanadas :) good cute vibes inside. I got the black bean goats cheese empanada and chicken verde taco. Reasonably priced 6$ empanada 3.50 for the taco. I WILL BE COMING BACK! read more

Cafe Tola - Chicken verde taco - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Cafe Tola is worth a stop, but not for the reasons you might expect. Skip the empanadas. I know, I know, how I could I say such a thing? Well, first of all the pastry has an off-putting, mealy and greasy texture that can veer into slimy. It is neither crunchy nor crispy, the hallmarks of great empanadas. Second, the fillings can be both deceptive and unappetizing. The beef sirloin empanada is actually just ground beef, not, as advertised, steak, and the pintos & cheese empanada had an unpleasant texture and flavor combination. Instead, go for a burrito. The al-pastor was fantastic; delicious and filling. I'm looking forward to visiting again to get the skirt steak and goat varieties. Mmmm goat. read more

Debated a three or four star review. Whatever you see now is what I eventually settled on. I ordered a late lunch from here. Though they are relatively closeby, I took advantage of my "shifted schedule" to order delivery from them via grubhub. The delivery was made almost 30 minutes under the GH estimate and the delivery cyclist was a cool dude. Went with the OG Burrito, which is a steak one, with guac on the side (extra ¢) and I did the "Empanada Roulette" (restaurant's choice, you save a bit) which seems like a fun thing to do when you can't decide. I'm not sure I even looked at the list and ended up with what seemed like a shredded chicken doused in a sauce, an egg and ham breakfast one, and an apple pie. Was really surprised on the sweet one! I split the food into two meals. The burrito is plenty for a meal. It was good, but not much different from your average burrito, in my opinion. The price is a little high to justify it as a good buy. It ended up giving me a bit of indigestion. The guac was pretty good, but 75¢ for a little cup. The chicken empanada was really greasy and the sauce a bit too much (even though I usually like sauce), the breakfast one was pretty good, though I'm not a big fan of cubes of ham like that, and the apple pie was like McD's apple pie... you decide if that's a compliment or an insult. I have nothing too bad to complain about, but because of the price I don't think I would regularly get food from here. There are so many Mexican places in Avondale that are significantly cheaper and produce the same, or better food. read more

Wow! So glad I stumbled into this little spot while waiting for my dog at the MedVet across the street. Beware tho, the empanadas are bigger than they appear. I bought three when I really only needed two but now I have some for later so no complaints here . The coffee is also delicious, I ordered a spicy mocha with my 2 Lechon and 1 Rajas empanadas. Sitting down to eat was also a nice experience. There's cute houseplants everywhere and a good variety of seating. I'm glad I sat down too because they gave me some red salsa which went perfectly with the empanadas. The lady at the register was so kind and waited patiently while I made my choice among the many empanadas available. I loved it so much, I'll have to find an excuse to come to this side of the city more often! read more

Loved this place ! Tacos were great and the Empanadas were awesome too Even the music is good Highly recommended ! read more

If you're ever in the Chicago area, you have to stop at this cute place! I believe they have more than one location. They serve authentic Mexican food and also a variety of yummy sweets. I got the pozole and the empanadas. It was delicious. This cute place has alll the vibes from the music, the plants, and the murals outside to take cute pictures! Street parking is available and seating is available inside and outside as well! read more

See all

I am obsessed!!! In Chi for work for a couple weeks and this was on the way home. My coworker and I stopped here several times for empanadas. I fell in love with the bean, goat cheese, and plantain empanada. I prefer meatless empanadas but I had the green pork and a chicken one as well that were delicious esp with the salsa you're given. The staff are so kind, one of the girls that worked there remembered us and she is so sweet. The artwork is awesome too. A must try. read more

See all

Ham egg & cheese and rajas empanadas are soooooo good. Photo evidence of how it makes you feel below. Also horchata latte very very good. Eh anyway I'm not an English major but uh very very very good place with very good food. Very good (the food, that is) read more

Cafe Tola - Egg ham and Ham, Egg & Cheese Empanada - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Bomb.com! Attended an event that brought in several different flavors of their breakfast empanadas: ham, egg, cheese and chorizo, potato. Both were outstanding! Comes with a great salsa and sour cream, but flavorful enough to eat them plain. read more

I love this place so much. They have a rotating menu of empanadas and tons of taco options. You stop in and peek into their warmer and get to see the empanada flavors of the day. I love whenever they have sweet empanadas but I also dig their breakfast ones so much. Egg and chorizo hits the spot every time. Their spinach and cheese one is also amazing, especially when you get a few of the chicken or beef ones as well. read more

A cute little neighborhood breakfast joint with lively vibe. Staff were friendly and helpful. Looking at the menu on the wall made me wish I hadn't came in only for coffee. I will definitely come back one day soon with an appetite and try a couple of dishes. read more

See all

This little taco spot has great torta. Outside has patio seating! Food comes put fast and delicious read more

See all

Stopped in here the other day just to check it out because I used to come when it was Hot Dougs all the time and I just wanted to see what it looked like. The smell of the food enticed me to order. I ordered the skirt steak burrito for $9, which seemed expensive, but when it arrived I had to ask the server if it was a joke. The burrito was enormous and could have fed two people. It was also totally delicious. I managed to eat it all but fell into a total food coma for several hours later. I also order a cheese quesadilla for my 2.5 year old son and an order of chips and guacamole. I have to say I was impressed with all the food. It was good quality and they didn't skimp. And the staff was as nice as could be. I didn't try any of the empanadas, but based on the food I had I will certainly be back. read more

Cafe Tola - I don't have small hands. This burrito is enormous for $9. Serious food coma happening now.... - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fresh made food. Best tortillas and empanadas dough. Tacos were loaded with lots of meat.

GO HERE NOW. If you have found this and you're looking for the best quick cheap meal grab these empanadas, do not go to BigWig like a chump. Check out the Green Pork, Chicken Mole and Apple Pie empanadas. UNSTOPPABLE. read more

Was a great experience, food and service! One of my things that I check, the most is the bathroom clean, and it was immaculate, even with the busy flow of business. read more

OOF! SO good. Was our first time there and totally forgot to take pictures, but the guy working there was chill and helpful. Most importantly, the empanadas really were the BEST! Fluffy breading, but with a small crunch and most importantly packed with food inside. Definitely going back. read more

I have eaten here before and their food is pretty good. However, they park their company vehicles in the bike lane in front of their store making that stretch of Milwaukee Ave unsafe for cyclists. They know this is illegal and dangerous and they do not care. They want your money but care not for your safety. read more

Fantastic machaca burrito. Nice friendly family run business. If I lived in Chicago I'd be back her regularly

This is a good place to stop for quick tacos and empanadas. We've kept coming back because of the empanadas but sometimes don't see the flavors we crave as their options vary by day. The ones we tried most recently seemed a lot wetter than we are used to with braised/saucy meat fillings. We also enjoy the tacos--especially the breakfast options which come with a generous serving of egg. Another favorite taco of ours is the carne asada which is also generously filled with perfectly cooked steak, onions, and cilantro. We tried out the guacamole last time with chips but found it to be watery and bland. It was more of an avocado puree with a spoonful of pico overtop. It wasn't bad but definitely won't be on our order next time. The service is always quick and friendly and the establishment clean. For quick, traditional tacos and great empanadas, this is one of our go-tos. read more

Cafe Tola - Ham, Egg, & Cheese Breakfast Taco and Carne Asada - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Absolutely love this spot! Their burritos are amazing, especially the Al pastor. There's so many different empanadas to choose from- sweet and savory! The Buffalo chicken empanada was 10/10. Oh and the best horchata I've had! read more

I wanted to stop by Cafe Tola and see what all the fuss was about, and while it was pretty good, I'm not convinced that they're the best empanadas in town. I grabbed a Ropa Vieja and a Red Spicy Pork. Both were stuffed with filling, which was nice because it made for a really satisfying bite. I think their downfall was their flavor, though. The spicy one had no spice at all, but the flavor improved tremendously when eaten with the salsa. The Ropa Vieja has more potato flavor than anything else, so the meat is kind of lacking in this one. The empanadas are not bad at all, in fact I think this is a good spot to grab them when you aren't looking to hunt for great ones elsewhere. I do look forward to trying their other flavors as well! The decor in and out is also killer-- very instagrammable! read more

See all

It's a no for me. Walked in after an overnight call shift excited at the prospect of some fresh and yummy food. First was assaulted by a powerful musty odor upon entering at 8am. It was part sewer, part restroom, part kitchen smell. The two empanadas I got ( $6 each) were disappointing. I tried this place a few years ago. I live a few blocks away and the first time I came was so underwhelmed I haven't been back in years and for the record I am a person who will SHOW UP for quality products. Today was not just underwhelming but disgusting. The chicken tinga tasted gamey. The spinach and ricotta was sour. Ricotta is not supposed to be sour. I feel like they skimped on quality ingredients big time. Save your recession dollars for somewhere more authentic. This place is pandering to IG aficionados at the expense of quality. read more

This is a neighborhood restaurant where my family resides. We finally decided to give them a try. Our order: 2 steak burritos, 5 chicken tacos, and 2 empanadas (chicken salsa and buffalo chicken). Steak burritos and empanadas were a hit. The chicken was dry and bland. Overall, it is overpriced [$3.25 for 1 taco]. I guess the justification is because they do give a lot of meat, but whenever I am back in the city, and we go there again, I will get a steak burrito instead. Maybe my review will be different. Definitely will get the chicken salsa empanada and try other ones. read more

I can't say enough good things about this restaurant! I reviewed one of their other locations for a delivery order, but this location is the one I have been coming too recently after I discovered this restaurant via Caviar. The food is amazing! Every item I've tried has so much flavor. My favorite is still the machaca con huevo tacos or the burrito. Their pozole is off the charts too! I also reaaaally like their spicy chicken empanadas. I took my boyfriend for his first time the other day and all he did the whole day was say, "I should have gotten another pastor burrito to go" and "I can't stop thinking about that pozole! When can we go again!?" So needless to say we are both in love with this place. The interior is super fun and the customer service is great too. There is street parking out front too. I honestly can't wait for another afternoon off so I can come in for lunch! Thanks again for the deliciously well flavored food! read more

Cafe Tola - Machaca con huevo taco and a spicy chicken empanada - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Such good empanadas. I'm vegetarian so I had the poblano pepper and cheese one, and the refried bean and cheese one. Best of all: the horchata latte is best I've had in the city! Local owned, stellar customer service, and such a creative interior. 10/10 a great spot for some coffee and lunch. read more

Cafe Tola - Iced Horchata Latte - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cafe Tola saves the day when you have to wait for emergency care for your companion/pet/family member in this age of Covid. My wife and I ordered chicken salsa verde tacos and chicken mole tacos. Delicious !! We were there yesterday evening, and I did not get her name, but she was a very pleasant and understanding young woman as I explained our family member's health situation. I have not had such well prepared tacos and delicious salsa. And I should know. I'm Mexican drawing on my Mom's dishes. And my wife is a chef BTW My Mom's nickname back in her hometown was Tola. So maybe I'm a little biased. We had a great experience with Cafe Tola on California. read more

Ordered breakfast: the "Biggie Smalls Burrito", ashredded beef taco and a chorizo taco. For a drink, got the coconut milk coffee thing. TL; DR: I will never get breakfast here again. The steak in the burrito was pretty bad. I have seriously never had to spit out so many pieces of gristle and fat and chunks of meat so chewy they just make you want to put the whole burrito down. Also, it has hardly any flavor. Like yeah, there were eggs and cheese, but the steak seemed pretty much unseasoned. I added rice, beans and pick to it, and you could hardly tell. On the up side, it was huge and piping hot when we unwrapped it! Shredded beef and chorizo tacos were decent, but again, really falling short in the flavor department. They don't provide salsa verde or limes, so you can't even attempt to fix the bland food. They do have a solid orange salsa but it wasn't enough to salvage the experience. The coconut milk coffee drink was delicious - the only saving grace. I might return to try lunch, but overall if you want delicious Mexican food in Logan, you're much better off going to Taconazio el Tio, L'Patron or El Heredero. read more

Felt nostalgic upon walking in because the space was previously occupied by Hot Doug's. They truly transformed the space. Colors galore and contemporary art everywhere. The building is definitely impossible to miss. Had the pancita and the OG, which were both tasty. The guacamole lacked something, but we couldn't quite put our finger on it. Also tried the housemade hibiscus lemonade, which tasted extremely tart. I notified the cashier and she was quick to remedy it. She made sure that I was satisfied with the taste and kept tweaking it until it was perfect. She was super friendly and patient. The ambiance was chill. Great place to grab a quick bite. Also, a casual place to do work in because they have coffee drinks, WiFi and outlets everywhere. Always happy to support a family-owned and operated joint. Plenty of free street parking along Kedzie or Roscoe St. read more

Cafe Tola - left: pancita, right: steak OG - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

This whimsically decorated bodega turned simple casual corner Mexican dinnerette serves simple fresh taditional dishes along with different types of some twists, such as Horchata Latte. And then... There are the delicious empanadas, which is there thing. Big, full and with tasty filings such as black bean plantain and goat cheese, Cuban braised beef potato and pinto, pintos and cheese, poblano peppers potato and cheese, fresh chorizo and egg. The skin is tasty and thin, not too bready or crusty. A nice stop if your in that hood. read more

See all

Black bean and plantain empanadas ?Sounds weird right ? I find myself craving and drooling over these quite often. Thankfully I was up North this past weekend to get my fix. I stopped in for a delicious horchata latte and empanada and was pleasantly surprised to find they were serving machaca breakfast tacos!! Whuuut !!? Machaca is so dear to my heart . I have memories of my grandma making it for us during Mexico trips and my mom making it when family traveled to Mexico and would bring her some of that delicious dehydrated meat . This taco was on point! Artwork is to die for at all 3 locations. Cool murals,Friday Kahlo ,Kanye and Michael Jordan artwork and the music is always bangin. Such a fun ,casual date place or place to bring friends . They have pozole on the weekends too !! Cafe Tola ya'll need to bring a Cafe Tola to the Southwest side ASAP!! read more

Cafe Tola - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois