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

The best horchata latte EVER! Can't wait to go back and try some breakfast tacos. Everything looked good read more

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Agnes was awesome. She was busy but was able to take care of everyone. Food was great!! And the chef was also very helpful.

Empanadas are amazing-guava and cheese is the bomb! Very flavorful and they are big!!

What a cool looking spot! My cousins and I stopped by on a cold winter night and were the only people there. The guy who took our order was super chill and let us take our time and told us all about the empanadas available. We each ordered two empanadas and shared a little bag of Takis (YOLO). I was definitely surprised when my total was $30, but I guess the empanadas were pretty big and filling. I especially loved the spicier meat empanadas. You know the ones that make your nose runny? They had quite a few hot sauces and their own sauce which was delicious. I liked the self serve water station because I never like ordering beverages at restaurants. On another occasion my husband stopped by on a Saturday morning at 7:30 am and ordered 30 breakfast tacos. They were accommodating and made it happen even though it was last minute and should have been a catering order. They were hesitant at first, but the wonderful cooks pulled it off! I got to have some of the leftover tacos and loved them! Great flavor and perfect size. read more

Cafe Tola - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is a woman owned small business and has some of the best, hands down empanadas in town. I love this place. The decor, the atmosphere, and the people are incredible, not to mention the variety of empanada flavors! The availability depends on the day you go, but every empanada i had was mouth watering. 10/10 read more

Cafe Tola - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Horchata Latte is a 10/10 Empanadas 10/10 Customer service 10/10 The workers here give such great customer service and quick food service as well! read more

They have the best empanadas!! Different flavor and all are delicious!! Great service and fair prices. I highly recommend this place!!

Overall this place is pretty good. I'm a bit disgusted by the price increases that they have done. The food has practically doubled in price the empanadas are now 6$ per which is absolutely insane. In my opinion they are not worth that they should have stopped at 4$ per because that was an absolutely perfect price for them. The empanadas are a hit or miss with the flavor making the price extra irritating. The coffee is great and the staff is nice but if they continue these price increases I'd be shocked if they stayed in business. read more

I'm impressed with the tacos here. Very tasty, meaty and well seasoned! The emapanadas were soooo stuffed! I wish there was more crust. The place is quirky nice perfect for a brunch/lunch date! Will def come back for more birria and pork belly! read more

Cafe Tola - Take that Voltron! - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great little spot. Prices are a bit higher than normal but well worth it. Highly recommend this joint to anyone looking for good food.

I've been coming to this location for a minute now but after my recent visit, I felt compelled to leave a review! The vegetarian empanadas are always fire-the rajas and black bean ones are my absolute favorites! And of course, I can't forget about their perfect iced horchata latte. But I wanted to come on here and give a shoutout to Roosevelt! I've been having a rough week but he made my whole day today-his vibes and energy were everything! Thanks Roosevelt! read more

AMAZING food, drinks, and vibes. Super friendly people and delicious food - could not recommend this spot more!!!!

They had a nice variety to choose from! The Cashier was very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Overall a great experience and I highly recommend stopping by! read more

Short and sweet ... the best dam empanadas in town , the best dam tacos in town .. byob !! Stacy and Paul super cool.. , met the owner on this visit .. this guy is awesome , he gives back to the community.. a restaurant owner who gives back , go figure ! .. this is why I'll keep going back ... thank You Cafe Tola for serving amazing food and taking care of the community !! I wish there were more stars available on yelp to give you !! " CHOOSE LOVE " is definitely the motto here !! read more

Cafe Tola - Frida , enough said !! - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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25 minutes until the stated close time. Lights on. Doors locked. Employees inside not making eye contact but clearly saw me. Get all the way bent. read more

Very cute little shop we stopped in to try the Empanadas/Coffee while staying at the Ohio House. Friendly and efficient service. We had their breakfast empanada with ham, egg, and cheese and it was a great size for breakfast to get us going. Great coffee as well! read more

Cafe Tola - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Walk in and apparently the staff didn't like my shirt. It had a ( religious statement on it.) But I order anyway when I tried to order the buffalo chicken empanadas from the case they don't me they were already taken and the I tried to order beef empanadas and again I was told they were already taken. There was no one else in the store. It was apparent they didn't want my business so I left. Haven't been back since. this was 4 months ago. read more

Got a few empanadas and a . Was impressed with the colorful and kitschy decor. An empanada is a piece of dough fried I believe and the insides vary of contents some have meat, vegetables, cheese. They also provide salsa. read more

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Their empanadas are fantastic; so much meat per serving and very tender. When I said I was craving something savory, I was recommended the lechon by the cashier, and I was impressed. The pork was melt-in-your-mouth tender and so savory. I also tried the horchata, which was great; not too sweet and just the right amount of cinnamon. The interior decor is neat mix of Latino and American culture, and plenty of outlets along the wall with free WiFi. I want to come back here to try more empanada flavors and their tacos! read more

Cafe Tola - Lechon pork empanada - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This Café Tola used to be the spot to hang, have coffee, and enjoy yourself. But throughout the pandemic they have gotten worse unfortunately. The prices have skyrocketed and the food just doesn't justify the price. Honestly, go anywhere else unless you wanna pay $5 for an ok taco. They also blast music during business hours to the point that we can't hear our own conversation. We were less than 1ft away trying to talk to each other and enjoy our coffees, but they put on earsplitting music. There was NO event and NO party, just a Thursday morning. I don't mind some good background music, but goddness gracious I came out of there with my ears ringing. read more

Cafe Tola - They upped their prices recently. - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love Cafe Tola! Before I moved, I used to come to Tola all the time. They're empanadas are amazing! Especially there steak and potatoes empanada. The empanadas rotate daily so you might get the ones you come for. It's the luck of the draw, but they are all good! I also really enjoy their birria (goat) and skirt steak og taco. You get a lot of meat in whatever you buy. The vibe in Tola is awesome. They have great art decor. It's spacious and they've added outlets which makes it an ideal place to work. Definitely worth the visit, and many more! read more

Cafe Tola - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is my favorite breakfast joint in the city. Their chorizo breakfast taco is a favorite of mine as well as their buffalo chicken empanadas. Don't skip out on the coffee. Also delicious. The staff there are also wonderful. I have never had anything but a great experience and undeniably good food. read more

Best tacos in Chicago per my Mexican husband. They were really good. Super cute place. read more

Cafe Tola - Tacos so good, we devoured most before the photo!!!! - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I live really close, and decided to order some pickup today as our usual place is under renovation. I forgot how good their burrito is. Solid quantity of meat, and not a greasy mess. Everything was tasty. There was a tiny issue with our order, and it's great I have it handled well and we weren't made out to be criminals over a small hiccup. We went back, chatted about cars, and we were off. I've never been inside this place and not felt welcomed. Thanks. read more

If you're a hipster with a penchant for Americanized tacos, this place will be your heaven. "Our house sauce is pretty spicy" says the girl behind the counter as my taste buds experience the mildest salsa I've ever tried. 2 stars for the cool atmosphere and their vintage/era piece decor because I genuinely enjoyed it. read more

Cafe Tola - A la carte - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is simply amazing! Don't let the small, quaint appearance fool you. This is an awesome and eclectic shop with the best empanadas I've ever had. I was only in town for the weekend and we went for breakfast both mornings! They have a nice selection of meat and meatless varieties. The portions are very generous and their coffee is on point. They even have 32 oz of cold coffee. Go here, you'll be delighted by how good a breakfast empanada can be! read more

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The exterior of the place is super cute and artsy. The service was ok.... But the empanadas were a waste. Soggy, like they have been abandoned all day in that warmer. Seriously you could not even take the wax paper off them because it was "glued" to the empanada. But if you are looking for a place for Instagram photos.... This is it, from the exterior. read more

I really like this place. It's becoming a regular for a quick breakfast or dinner. It's so hard to find tacos and burritos filled with grilled veggies. Theirs are pretty good. The price is reasonable. The service is friendly and quick. They have a ton of savory empanada options that look good. Trying those today! read more

You guys have the potential to be 5 star establishment all across the board. You have a beautiful facility, amazing interior decor, your food is good, and it's an overall pleasant experience... I understand you guys get busy and are a tight spot... Which is great. However, I expect to be greeted with a friendly smile when I walk in! Even if you're ringing out a customer, it takes a millisecond to turn around and say "Hey! Welcome!" Instead, took about 5 minutes to get acknowledged. (With no line). Second - environment: I love the Mexican American theme going on. Very trendy, very Chicano. However, match that environment with equally good music! I was here for 30 minutes and listened to 80s pop the whole time. Play some Spanish music. Prove your eye for detail (which shows in your decor) and demonstrate your versatility with matching music. I would love to share some curated playlists with you guys that would fit your theme. People come back to restaurants more for the experience than the food tbh. And when your tacos are $4+ when down the street we have La Zacatecana, La Guanajuato, and 3 other taco spots for half the price... you should really make your experience stand out here! The food was great, and your place is very Instagram worthy. But if you want lines down the block to live up to the fame of your location, you need to amp up the customer experience with more excited employees who are more attentive and who's energy rubs off on you. It all starts with your team. Then, make the experience unforgettable. I recommend you observe places like Nini's Deli, Bang Bang Pie Shop, or BISTRO 6050. They make you feel at home, and I'd love to be able to see you guys do the same and earn your 5 stars! read more

Cafe Tola - Enchiladas w / steak & eggs - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It looks like the old Hot Doug's has finally found a new tenant worthy of its legendary digs. And when you think about it, it's a perfect fit. Avondale is already home to some of the coolest eats in the city, like HBFC and Parachute. But simply adding Southport's best and tastiest empanadas wouldn't be enough. Fortunately, they've added a few new tricks, like an awesome assortment of tacos, both traditional and breakfast, to supplement the menu. The new owners have also decked out their new space with some of the coolest art celebrating their other passion, vintage 80s toys like Voltron, He-Man, and G.I.Joe, with murals and actual oversized figures in an awesome glass case display that overlook the comfy and spacious eating area. Best part? The baños has a GORF arcade cabinet in it. So after you relieve yourself (and wash your hands!), treat yourself to a few games! read more

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The empanadas may be good, but I can't go to the space on Addison again until they clean things up. It looks to me like they keep a dirty restaurant and nasty alley. I think the outside of a restaurant counts just as much as the inside and what's on the menu. read more

I came in and the cook was not wearing a mask as she was cooking on the grill. The music was so loud that I couldn't hear my friend next to me. Simultaneously as she was cooking, she was also singing along to the loud music in the background. Imagine all the germs and spit coming from her mouth on the food. Disgusting. Shut them down. read more

Was so excited to grab a coffee from Cafe Tola on such a beautiful winter day but definitely left much to be desired. My experience however may be because of my request to have only half the sweetness of the Cafe Con Leche with coconut milk. Took a first sip and thought it was bland and gritty (I normally drink coffee black) took another sip and it just felt like gritty hot water sadly, there wasn't any coconuttiness or the indulgence of cafe con leche. Took it home and added Kahlua to drown my sorrows. Empanadas looked really good though. read more

Cafe Tola - Cool Tola mural outside - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Love this place! Empanadas are a must! I come from outside of the city to regularly eat here

I really, really want to give a higher rating because I want to love this place, but I also want to be fair. The food is phenomenal. The empanadas are amazing, particularly the chorizo and egg. The tacos are great. They have unique offerings like spicy goat tacos. The friendly attitude of the employees is wonderful and I love seeing them when I come in. If you've ever watched Bob Farrell's customer service video about "The Pickle," you'll know what I mean when I say that these people have figured out what their pickle is. They are incredibly adept at making their customers happy with seemingly no effort. BUT The coffee bar is not that great. I've had a cold (supposed to be hot) chai latte, and several super bitter/burnt coffee drinks. Full disclosure - I am not a coffee connoisseur. I think my biggest complaint is that there's just one person manning the register and coffee bar, at least during the times that I've been there, and things can back up very quickly. I waited about 5 minutes today just to order, while the guy running the show up front made 3 separate and intricate coffee drinks for the folks in front of me. Don't get me wrong - he was hustling, so there's no foul on his part. And 5 minutes, in the grand scheme of things is not a lot of time. But it *felt* like a long time. Over the weekend, my husband and aunt went there and had a similar situation - it took about 15 minutes to place the order, and another 20 to receive it. The order was small - just 3 empanadas and 2 coffee drinks. For it to take 35 minutes is a little crazy. None of this is enough to make me stop going there. The food is wonderful. But if you're on a tight schedule and can't wait, you might skip it this time. read more

Cafe Tola - Baby agrees with Tola. - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's pretty crazy how you guys decided to remove my review on Grubhub but it's cool, I'm gonna say the exact same thing here as I did there, I always wanted to try this spot out, so I decided to order breakfast, I'm working from home due to the pandemic of course, so yeah. Ordered my food around 6:50. The ordered appeared on grub hub to arrive at 7:20. It's 8:20....no food, called the restaurant, they didn't seem to care, reached out to grub hub and got my money back. I wanna say you guys left a bad taste in my mouth, but I can't even say that since I never got the food. Let's do better please? I'd give you guys a second chance at redemption. read more

Update Came in here 4 times this week. The empanadas are delicious, the red spicy pork, the chicken salsa Verde, the ham, and the list goes on. Don't forget to ask for their house made hot sauce. It's fire! Not a 10 alarm blaze, but enough spark to fire it up. Do say hi to the friendly faces (Joey and Stacy) behind the counter. I usually get an empanada / OG taco with a can of Inca! The cold brew is good too. No bitter or acidic aftertaste. It has a nice smooth sweet finish. read more

Cafe Tola - Empanadas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We have traveled all over for birria, and Cafe Tola is second to none. Unpretentious, friendly and oh-so-delicious. We stop every time we are in Chicago! read more

Always come in here for my veggie breakfast burrito and rajas empanadas also can't forget the horchata latte. All the food is so fresh and servings are huge!! Cool atmosphere and friendly staff ! If u haven't tried it your missing out. One of my favorites. V is the sweetest and very efficient. read more