A treat. Excellent Cuban sandwiches and good service. We thought the dinner type platters were a little over priced, the sandwiches were not....they are a good deal. The Cuban is probably best in Chicago. read more

Tucked just a few steps away from the busyness, this place is a gem. Initially, we intended on getting a breakfast sandwich but after reviewing the menu, more of a lunch order was the decision. I'm not a Cubano fan, but I will say out of the few that I've tried in my life, this was a few steps up. I'm still not a fan of the style of sandwich but they did a good job marrying the flavors here. Now...the Borracho....so delicious!! Shrimp, tomato, jalapeño, chipotle aioli, and Latin slaw. If I didn't have other food to try today, I'd go back for that! And fresh Cuban coffee makes the meal that much better. read more

Cafecito - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cuban Sandwich was great but had to take the food to go since the dining tables were full. Dining in is first come first serve with full service and the restaurant is pretty busy during lunch time! Staff was very helpful and attentive for our first time here!!! read more

Cafecito - Cubano Pressed Sandwich and Tostones - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First patrons in on a Saturday morning for breakfast. Cute place with good food and lively music playing. read more

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Waited over an hour for our food. The waitress came up to us at one point about 30 minutes into the wait and asked if we already ate (the food hadn't come out yet). They were nice enough to offer us a free cocktail. My husband got his food a little over an hour after we ordered and then 10 minutes later the waitress came by and asked me if I got my meal (I hadn't). She asked if I wanted it to go when we were clearly there for dinner. Horrible service would not recommend going. read more

Decently sized menu ... little overwhelming at first however narrowing down to "subject" helps! On a mission to try every sandwich there making a pretty strong dent. Portions are large, and service comes out fast! Would recommend if you're looking to sit down or grab and go. read more

This place is a hidden gem in the Gold Coast area and is much more than a coffee and sandwich shop. I've never had Cuban food before so I'm not sure how authentic the food is but the Mojo Shrimp platter was delicious and I would go back any day. Service was quick and excellent as were the prices. Each platter comes with white rice, beans, and fried plaintain (yum!). I also tried the chocolate cake which was extremely rich and was more like a chocolate mousse rather than cake. Regardless, it was awesome. Definitely recommend Cafecito for a casual lunch in the city. read more

Cafecito - Mojo Shrimp Platter - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We ordered takeout from here and it was our first time. This location is within a private apartment building, so getting in took a minute. The food was ready quickly and everything was in the bag. We ordered the Pollo Chimichurri, GuavaQ Chicken, Mojo Shrimp, Corteza del Mar and the Proveletta. Everything tasted great and it came with plenty of food, enough to feed us five. This is a great dinner option and we are excited to come back and try their breakfast! read more

Cafecito - Pollo Chimichurri and GuavaQ Chicken - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My husband and I came to Cafecito due to their high ratings and their post on buzzfeed for their famous sandwiches. We came here twice during our visit to Chicago. The first time we ordered platters: lechon and ropa de vieja. Both were just okay, either a bit dry or a bit salty. The customer service was just okay as well. We had to waive them down to give us menus and to take our orders, but once the waitress came, we got our orders on time. The second time we came was for take out. We figured that we would order two sandwiches to go for the airport. This did not disappoint and sandwiches should've been ordered the first time around. We ordered the steak chimchurri and the cubano. Both were amazingly delicious. I also ordered their famous iced cafe con leche. I'm not a coffee person at all, but I absolutely loved it. Now, I'm back in New York and I am so wanting one of their cafe con leche along with a sandwich. Definitely will be back the next time I visit! read more

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Came here for a quick breakfast before having to go out to Midway Airport. Service was quick and the food was delicious. Adding extra veggies such as grilled onions to the sandwich came at no extra cost. Definitely would come back. Had El Yucateco green hot sauce on the side. read more

Cafecito - Chivito Pressed Sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm impressed with how inexpensive these sandwiches are! Especially considering the prime time locations. 2 friends and I walked in, saw the ordering counter, but my friend also saw someone being seated by a host/server type of person. Confused, we just decided to walk in and ask the bartender if we could sit anywhere. He confirmed and a waiter came to give us menus. I asked the waiter if the counter in the front was only for to-go orders. He explained that you could either order from there and sit down to eat or you can sit down and order from the waiter. I was disappointed in hearing this because honestly, (if you've been keeping up with my reviews, you already know that) I really don't like having to go through a waiter to get my food. IMO, it's an unnecessary middle man that cost me more since tips. All in all, the sandwiches were delicious. The tres leches cake was disappointing AF. Where was the caramel flavor? It actually just tasted like a vanilla cake that was soaked in something.. Things to note: *Order at the counter, sit at the table. Skip the middleman of serving and save yourself of having to tip the % of the bill *skip on the tres leches cake. Unless you actually don't really want cake that tastes like tres leches cake *If you do choose to utilize a server, asking to split checks was easy enough, just let them know ahead of time. read more

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I've been to the one in the south loop before, but it's been years so when I saw the one in Gold Coast opened, I wanted to give it a try. It's a little off the beaten path for Michigan Avenue, so I hope people still go here and it doesn't close anytime soon! They have a lot of different sandwiches to choose from but my husband and I chose the Palomilla Pressed Sandwich - which has steak, grilled onions, lettuce, tomato and shoestring potatoes. I thought it was okay, but needed something else - maybe a little kick with a sauce. My husband had the Choripan Pressed Sandwich - chorizo, chimi churri and onions. His chimi churri sauce was very good and I would recommend his sandwich. The inside of the restaurant (in the back) was nice and cozy with several booths and two tvs at the bar. I'm not sure if the bar has alcohol or not. It seemed to be more of a coffee focus. If you're in the area - or anywhere within several blocks, I recommend you stop here to grab a bite. read more

Would totally come back again to escape the cold and get a bite to eat. Really great cubano, quick service, and a nice atmosphere.

Visited this Cafecito location for a quick dinner on a Friday night. It's located inside of an apartment building lobby, which for the individuals who live there could be dangerous (only because the food is delicious). When first walking in you get the deli, quick type of grab and go feel however further back they offer plenty of sit down options with seating at booths, tables or the bar. We dined in and I ordered the Palomilla pressed sandwich which comes with chips of your choice for $8 which is a steal of a deal. The sandwich came out nicely toasted, steak was flavorful and I was overly surprised with the quality. I will be back even if it's just for lunch and will definitely recommend to others. Overall rating 5.0/5.0 (nothing to complain about). Well done Cafecito. read more

Very disappointing. The waitstaff were really unfriendly and unhelpful...but the lechon was Apparently store bought sliced roast pork just heated up. No citrus?!?!Terrible! I did like their plantains...the ceviche was super bland but decent. But really missed the mark in being not home cooked and friendly read more

Great coffee, sandwiches and black beans and rice delicious. I had a taste for Cuban food and this place was a hit will be back for more. read more

Cafecito - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I can't agree more with the reviewers below. I'm not Cuban (I'm Puerto Rican) but I've come to expect that when I go to a place in Chicago that says "cuban food" I'm not going to be served anything close to Latin-Caribbean cuisine, rather it will be mostly Mexican food with one option for a Cuban Sandwich. Cafecito is not one of these restaurants. The options for Latin-Caribbean sandwiches are endless with so many sandwiches featuring platanos maduros and guava!!!!! (My mouth was aguada looking at the menu!) I ended up ordering the Guava-Q Chicken Sandwich which was served on a delicious bread. The only negative is that I wish the sandwich had more Guava-Q sauce on it (¡Tan delicioso!). I plan to come back soon to try everything with maduros and guava! read more

Got waited on by a waitress who didn't want to be at work that day. She barely payed attention when taking the order, waited 30 minutes for the food, and what do you know, got the order completely wrong and then made us wait another 20 minutes. We left. read more

Delicious with great veggie options! Definitely recommend La Playa sandwich and the plantains are amazing. The restaurant is in the lobby of an apartment building and looks super nice/clean. read more

I'll give this place a solid three stars. I've had the Chivito sandwich, Pollo Chipotle sandwich, and Vaca Frita platter. All very well touted. They were all good but not great. - Good is 3 stars, Yummy is 4, and mouth watering is 5. Cafecito is very good bland food. Some people love very well made bland food, so Cafecito is for you! If Cafecito is a fair representation of Cuban dining, then I am done sampling. read more

The staff was very rude. It's confusing when you order, they have no signs to dine-in or to go. I ended ordering to go by accident. I then proceeded to sit down in one of their tables. They waitress was very rude and told me I couldn't sit down. The manager then stepped in and blamed me for not reading their small paper sign. Would not recommend at all. This was the first time that I wanted my money back. read more

Best food i have ever eaten! Service was amazing, and atmosphere was perfect! Great for a casual breakfast lunch or dinner spot!!! The Yuca Frita and Jalapeno Hummus were delicious, and any of the sandwiches are great! Definitely will come again! read more

I really wanted to like this place but it's just meh. I've had the corteza del mar and the mojo pescado both twice... and every time the taste differed. I ordered the pollo chimichurri for my mom and she hated it. The chicken itself was very dry. Service is nothing to rave about. Depending on what you order prices can be on the cheaper end. read more

Great value, amazing flavor. The long line leading out the door is testament to their genuine craft during the lunch rush hour. Come around 11:30am to avoid it. I have been here twice and will be back for more! read more

Cafecito - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had the Guaca Q chicken sandwich and it was great! Just a bit too heavy on the BBQ sauce but overall a unique savory sweet sandwich. The place is super cute and authentic which I'm a sucker for. read more

Food was amazing! I would definitely come back. Very authentic. I had the black bean soup and the ropa vieja sándwich

For me, I would rate the food at Cafecito a 3.5, but the service was great and the new space was super nice and clean. This is my second time at Cafecito and I think that I ordered the wrong menu items since I remembered the first sandwich I ordered being much tastier. This time, I opted for the Steak Chimichurri Sandwich and the Exotica Salad. In my opinion, I think that the bread was a bit overtoasted so that it was a little TOO crunchy. The steak was also a little overdone so it tasted tough and dry. I really enjoyed the hearts of palm and the grilled shrimp in the Exotica Salad. I will say that the salad was a bit too sour for my taste (because of excessive lemon vinaigrette?)...Normally, I am not a fan of raw onions, but the addition of the red onions in the salad were extremely sweet and helped to balance the sourness of the vinaigrette. Also, the generous portions of avocado given in the salad was a definite plus. I will definitely be back to Cafecito in order to try the other sandwiches on the menu (and to try to figure out what that delicious sandwich I ordered the first time was...). Also, the opening of this new location makes it extremely convenient for me to access! Hopefully I will be able to have a better sandwich next time to match the wonderful service I received. read more

Cafecito - Steak Chimichurri Sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Inexpensive place to eat if you are looking for sandwiches and salads. Also a good alternative if you are trying to not eat fast food but looking for comparable speeds. However, I wouldn't get the chicken. Last two times I got chicken sandwiches and they always come out dry. I suppose that it is difficult to make chicken at a deli where you have to store food for longer than usual stay moist but still I expected more. Bottom line: Personally I feel that the other Cafecito location in South Loop is higher quality in terms of food but this place is still worth a shot if you are nearby. read more

I love this restaurant it is the best coffee you'll have in Chicago and they have amazing sandwiches. However I've been here multiple times and over the past two years and everytime I've been they just seem to be understaffed. Everything is extremely amazing but you definitely have to be patient coming in here because I've honestly only ever seen one or two servers max working at a time. The seating area is smaller but there definitely needs to be more than two servers at a time. As someone in the industry I feel for them so I have never said anything and I don't think you should either just make sure to be patient when visiting this restaurant. read more

The food and drink are always fantastic! Definitely very authentic and delicious. My boyfriend and I grab coffee here every morning when visiting my mom. Great for dine in or take out! read more

Cafecito - Tilapia Criolla Platter - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I work at the Water Tower, and my coworker first discovered Cafecito. She was raving about how amazing her sandwich was. I am skeptical to try new things at first, especially when it is a meal where I have to commit to it. But, Cafecito did not disappoint me; the first item I ever tried is the Chivito, and it is literally the bomb.com. Not only is it filling, but it is perfect every single time I walk in there. Crispy bread, steak cooked perfectly, and the sauce is spot on. I always find myself coming back for the Chivito sandwich, but I am pretty sure other sandwiches are just as great that I have yet to try. I highly recommend Cafecito to every one! read more

Great little spot in Chicago with great Cuban vibes. Everything from the music, the drinks and food makes you feel home. The Cafecito Viejo is probably one of the best coffee/bourbon drinks I have ever tried and the Bistec con Huevos breakfast sandwich was to die for. read more

It was a long wait and it didn't disappoint. The sandwiches were pretty good, we got the staple cubano. It's cut long ways, so that was interesting. I enjoyed the bread they used and the ingredients tasted fresh. Also tried the yuca frita and those were pretty tasty too, just a little to hard to chew on though. The cafe con leche was too sweet and had lots of sugar granules with each sip, I'm not sure if that is how the drink is supposed to be or not. But overall, a really good experience! read more

Great food. Nice staff. Overall 10/10. The hot chocolate was delicious and definitely a must have!

No words needed. Just go if you haven't been here. We had our best sandwiches here, not to mention it was such a great price for downtown chicago! read more

Cafecito - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Prepare spending your entire lunch break WAITING for your food. EVEN WHEN I CALLED TS IN ADVANCE knowing it was gonna be a wait- all-in-all Potbellys is just down the street read more

They have definitely some of the greatest coffee I had in a long time! I also highly recommend their yummy sandwiches! Can't go wrong with this place especially for the price point! :) read more

yup, yes, look no further. this place is 100% the spot! little booths, a bar area coffee shop meets diner meets bar. what more can you ask for, you say? Incredibly affordable, very kind staff, delicious food, and a cafe con leche that will send you over the moon. An easy spot to miss as it's located right in a residential apt complex, but if you're downtown and looking for a quick and delightful + affordable spot to chill and eat, this is the spot. I'm looking forward not only to going back, but can easily see being a regular here. A lovely business to support. read more

I was so excited to order from this place seeing that it has vegan options. I ordered the Vegan vaca dish. However the rice and beans were never sent. When I called and let them know that the order was sent incorrectly. The guys stated that I needed to go through DoorDash and request a refund without acknowledging the fact they made a mistake. He was very rude and hung up on me. These people do not deserve to be in business if they don't understand the customers is what makes them. Also, I was hoping that at least the food was good but it was so dry. It was actually not good. I had to add leftover fries to make it a full meal. Maybe the Rice and beans would've been good but I can't say since I didn't get them. The customer is always right. These people don't deserve your money. Lincoln Park Location read more

Cafecito - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is cheap and delicious! It's a great place for lunch or dinner depending on what you order. The place is in some residential building area but it's easy to tell you're in the right place since there is outdoor seating (I'm assuming weather permitting). We generally order the plates but I've had the steak chimichurri sandwich before. I really like their chimichurri and I think I prefer the sandwich version over the plate version since the bread soaks in the chimichurri flavor and it's soooo good. I also got the sandwich as a combo with chips + drink. You can choose between a small bag of lays (original) or Doritos (nacho cheese) and a soft drink (refillable). Maybe I was extra hungry but I thought the sandwich was a little small. It would be great for a quick lunch! For the plates, I'd recommend the palomilla or the ropa vieja for beef and lechon for the pork. I haven't tried any of the chicken dishes, but I'd imagine they're pretty great based off their other plates. The palomilla is my favorite, the steak in the "mojo sauce" (mo-ho, a garlic sauce) is amazing with the onions. I'm generally not great with raw white onions, but I honestly didn't mind the rawness and it added some texture. The beans and rice that come with the plate are really good, they might have some of that mojo on the rice (?) because it's so flavorful. Although the meat doesn't need any more flavoring, the green habanero sauce that they have (El yucateco) is a great addition! I found the service to be pretty great. The server came with the menus right away and was constantly refilling our water/soft drinks. The food took maybe 10 minutes to come out and it was nice and hot. Overall, great spot for a quick cheap meal that tastes super flavorful and amazing! read more