OMG!! I didn't believe the hype at first. I had the Palomilla sandwich and it was so good. all the flavors can be tasted in the sandwich. To the marinated steak and onions right down to the sauce. read more

I flew in to Chicago on a 6:30 AM flight, meaning that by the time I got to Cafecito on my layover, I had eaten nothing all day but a single pack of saltine crackers at 4 AM. I ordered the Guava-Q platillo, and I'd hardly taken my coat off and settled down before it was on the table -- seriously about three minute flat. I fell upon it like a wolf, and it was so satisfying and good. Smoky-sweet plantains, sticky onions, garlicky, steaming rice, simple perfect black beans... it turned my whole day around. I was all crabby from my early morning and stressed about the day full of travel still to go, and the delicious hot food and friendly server cheered me up completely. Writing this review from the terminal, still smiling about it, and looking forward to my leftovers! read more

Cafecito - Guava-GuavaQ Chicken Platillo - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Popped in here randomly while waiting for our show to start at the theatre. I had a cafe con leche which was perfect! My friends and I also shared a lechon pressed sandwich, plaintains, and a small beans and rice. This quick bite didn't disappoint and the service was quick. read more

I love this place - unique Cuban sandwiches that are tasty and reliable! The Cubano and ropa vieja are so yummy! Great price point too. I come here every time I'm in downtown Chicago! read more

Cafecito - Ropa veija - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food was delicious and out quickly after we ordered, everything was nice and warm, perfect to combat the weather :) read more

Cafecito - Yuca Frita - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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this place may never have pastelitos or croquetas when i happen to walk in, but they have the tastiest cafecito (cuban coffee) i've been able to order in the city. most places only do espresso that is super bitter. so, there you go. read more

Cafecito - Cafecito Double - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Los mejores chilaquiles en el área. La atención es buenisima. Definitivamente tendré que volver otra vez! Lo amé.

Tried the Cubano as that should be the signature sandwich right? Very poor. All the meat was dry, no mustard couple of half a pickles Food stayed in the job shelf for. While as other things got put ahead read more

I've consistently heard good things about Cafecito; however, I've been late to the party. I grabbed lunch at Cafecito today and I was very impressed. I ordered the Chivito Pressed Sandwich it is now my new favorite breakfast (containing egg) sandwich. All of the ingredients were fresh and flavorful. I have a high standard for my skirt steak, and I was pleased with the cut, flavor, and consistency of their skirt steak. The ham was delicious, and the creaminess of the cheese and egg really pulled the whole sandwich together. I also appreciated the amount of lettuce that they used, it helped bring a fresh crispness to the sandwich. Lastly, I have to comment on the sauce as it also helped bring all of the flavors together. The sandwich was made on a fresh loaf of bread and had a crunch to the outside of the sandwich and a soft chewiness in the inside of the sandwich. I also think that the sandwich is adequately priced considering the quality of the ingredients, the variety of the ingredients, and the location of the storefront. read more

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Amazing Cuban food. Highly recommend. Prices are affordable and the food is high quality. Definitely getting your money's worth. I also got a latte which was good as well! read more

Cafecito - Chivito: I am so happy I tried this place! This sandwich was amazing. Definitely recommend this to anyone wanting food Cuban food. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

terrible. Horrible service, overpriced and my food never came out I ordered 20 minutes in advance and some girl walked and got her food within two minutes because their policy is whoever walked and gets their order first calls and online orders come second. They lied to me on a busy morning and made me wait for a fucking tuna sandwich that should've taken 5 minutes to assemble. The service was just as bad as my experience. 0 stars read more

So... this place came highly recommended but I just wasn't impressed. The sandwiches were messy and basically just grilled chicken in bread with bbq sauce. The pastry was good but hardly any filling. Don't have much to say other than there are better sandwich options in Chicago. read more

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Beyond belief- the Havana Mambo pancakes. With dark rum and lemon zest, I had to try them at 5pm. Went in for a pressed sandwich, but was over delighted with the party of flavors! Great atmosphere and service. Of course, the Cortadito coffee was to die for! read more

Cafecito - Havana Mambo pancakes with dark rum and lemon zest.... - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place popped up when looking for a breakfast spot while visiting Chicago. Wow the chilaquiles were 12/10. The portions were huge, the food had so much flavor and the service was great! Such a quaint warm vibe. read more

BEST CUBAN?!?! Went in and ordered it for take out. When you walk in there are signs that say they have the best Cuban in Chicago. For that reason, I decided to try out the Cubano and Palomilla. It was not long until my order was ready and headed back to my nearby hotel. When I got back, my sandwiches were still pleasantly warm. I bit into the cubano and I was let down. I was expecting the "best" but I find it hard to believe. It was very average. The Palomilla was way better as it was more flavorful. I would get the Palomilla again but not the Cubano. Overall, if you want a sandwich this place is a pretty good option. read more

Cafecito - Cubano Pressed Sandwich, Palomilla Pressed Sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

TL;DR What to order: * cafe con leche ($2.79/$3.29) * cubano ($7.49) * probably anything, really What to watch out for: * this location is very small (might not matter much for the time being since no dining in is allowed anyway, heh) * cafe con leche comes pre-sweetened ======== I've gone to the south loop Ida B Wells location a couple times pre-COVID and really enjoyed the cubano ($7.49) and one of the breakfast sandwiches with steak in it. I've also sampled the Ropa Vieja ($8.29) and Guava-Q ($7.99) and everything I've tried has been really good. As mentioned above, I really like the cafe con leche and it's one of the tastiest coffees I've ever had, but it does come quite sweet. Next time if I have some self-control I'll ask for it to be less sweet. I've also tried the guava cheesecake ($3-4?), which was interesting and not bad, though I wasn't a huge fan of the sponge cake bottom crust and it was on the sweeter side. There was also a really great flan dessert I tried before, but I didn't see it at this location when I went recently. I really love Cafecito and have never had a bad experience the handful of times that I've been at either this one or the south loop location! Will definitely be back to try more of the menu. read more

Cafecito - Slightly sqooshed Guava Dulce de Leche Cheesecake - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had the cubano sandwich and the cafe con leche. The cubano sandwich is a bit on the smaller side, but it is tasty. I would order a side with it, if I was super hungry. The cafe con leche is devine. I wish I could drink this everyday. Order online and pick up is easy and quick! The staff here is nice. I can't wait to try other things from this place. read more

Cafecito - Cubano sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Just stopped in for coffee, but was really impressed! Not much to look at from the outside and pretty tiny cafe/seating area but plentiful menu and counter service was really nice. One of the better cafe con leches I have ever had! Would not hesitate to return for breakfast or lunch. read more

Added this place to my Chicago itinerary after seeing the raving reviews here and ended up trying the chivito and cafe con leche. They were both okay. I liked the soft bread of the chivito, but everything in between the bread was bland. The steak especially was flavorless and had a gray color to it. Maybe like 5 shoestring fries were in the sandwich. The sandwich kept me satiated for sure from all of the protein but not in a satisfying way. First time trying cafe con leche and maybe I should've ordered the coffee drink that has less milk in it (the cortadito) because this one tasted a little too creamy. It may/may not be authentic Cuban espresso in it (saw comments about it on other reviews) but the flavor wasn't remarkable. Overall it tasted like a Starbucks Frappuccino (not saying that it was terrible.....I like Frappuccinos from time to time but I was expecting a coffee drink with some oomph). Ehh maybe this place just isn't my cup of tea (or coffee). read more

I used to come here for a quick sandwich and study when I studied here a few years ago. Came back for a quick lunch on a weekend trip. Lots of different sandwiches available or try. Can eat in or take out and grab to go and eat by millennium park or the lake. Only thing is there is no WiFi if you're looking to study or work read more

I was there this past weekend on a vacation We were looking for a nice cozy place. Food was good. I would eat again. Service was bad the girl literally threw/slide the menus across the table to us. Didn't bring straws or napkins I had to get up to get them. Place would be great with better service. The hot drinks all taste like hot milk no taste at all. I would order food to go. read more

As a Cuban I'd say the food is pretty close to authenticity! The bread was great but was missing something that makes Cuban bread different from most. Other than that the ingredients in the sandwich were all my favorites. The service was quick and the delivery of food was professional. The restaurant is located on a busy street but when you're inside you don't hear much, so it would be a great place to study or have small meetings. read more

Cafecito - La Costa Pressed Sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very good if not one the best shrimp sandwiches I ever had. Shrimp was fresh enough shrimp to enjoy in every bite. You do not want to miss the boat on this. read more

Cafecito - Borracho sandwich(cuban shrimp sandwich) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We took a walking tour in the morning & had another one scheduled for the afternoon in a different neighborhood. We asked our morning tour guide for a quick lunch place in the neighborhood (not far from the Loop) and he recommended Cafecito. It's a casual place with great menu options, sandwiches or salads or platters, nominally Cuban, but really a bit more varied. You look at the menu, order at the counter, and then someone brings your order. The method is that the server is carrying it into the seating area & they call out the order - if it's yours, you claim it! My friend like her sandwich, I don't recall which one she had. I ordered the Jerk chicken sandwich. I get that it was lunchtime. I get that it's hard to get sufficient staff these days. I get that they got slammed around the time of my ordering. But 25 minutes later I still didn't have my sandwich & I was ravenous - my friend was almost finished with hers! So I went to the counter & ordered one of their salads and asked if I could have it right away - the young woman was very accommodating & dished it out & handed it to me. I'm afraid I kind of scarfed it down, but it was a generous portion & very tasty (hearts of palm, olives, in an awful lot of olive oil dressing). Finally I stood up with my receipt & tried to get someone's attention to ask about my sandwich - at that moment, the server grabbed an order from the cook's counter & called out "jerk chicken." I asked if it was mine, because I had ordered to eat there & this was in a to-go bag. She looked at my receipt & the ticket on the bag, & said yes, so then she went back to the cook's counter to get it plated for me. She hands me the plate - and it isn't jerk chicken, it's something else! I hand it back to her - after a back & forth with one of the guys in the kitchen, I did finally get my jerk chicken sandwich. It wasn't much in terms of jerk seasoning, but I'll admit that there was a good amount of chicken on the sandwich with lettuce & whatever, so at least I did have lunch! I'd recommend this place - but don't go if you see a long line. read more

This place is in a dark area under the El so you can miss it. It is a small cafe with breakfast sandwiches and lunch sandwiches. I stopped as it smelled wonderful. They have pressed sandwiches that you can customize. Add a bag of chips and a fountain drink for meal. The sandwich came with a sauce which was a little spicy for me so I left it off. Bread and meat were good. There were desserts and salads in the cooler you can choose from as well. Service was fast as I ordered when I got the there. They had lots of pickup orders and I always saw a crowd so I figured why not? I was satisfied with my choice for lunch and I took it back to the office. They have a few small tables but it is too crowded to eat there as people are waiting for their orders. read more

Cafecito - Treats and sides - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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first time trying this place and i ordered the provletta sandwich. This sandwich definitely has a bold taste, not sure if acidic is the right word but the tomatos and pesto definitely have a strong and almost overpowering flavor in the sandwich. And I don't think the saltiness from the cheese helps. Overall, felt the sandwhich needed more balance The guava salsa was decent kind of reminds me of a spicy barbecue. This place has a big menu so i'd probably come back to try something else. a the price point is fair and the staff was very nice and friendly. read more

Cafecito - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ordered delivery and got the La Costa. The delivery experience was good, but the La Costa definitely didn't taste as good as getting it and eating it at the Fullerton location. Thinking I should try something new when doing takeout. read more

It finally happened! My boss took the whole company out to eat at Cafecito to make an "important announcement" the other night. After the fantastic meal of slow roasted skirt steak with juicy plantains and perfectly cooked rice, he made the announcement: he was going to retire. This is great news because a) Huey has quite possibly been the worst boss I've ever had and b) I'm quite on track to be promoted to his position. Thank you Cafecito! Thank you for helping deliver this fantastic news! read more

Great food. Great prices opens 7am -6p for café con leche and great Sandwiches. Order large meal plates for dinner and pick up on the way home. Great hearty meals. Authentic Cuban food. I got a palomilla sandwich but it wasn't a hole steak it seemed to be a minced bundle of steak meat in between Cuban bread. Though It was perfectly seasoned Cuban style I would come back read more

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This place was fabulous!!!! I had heard of this place before making a trip up to Chicago - and specifically went out of my way taking an uber to try Cafecito. And it was well worth it. On a rainy, chilly day I wandered in and ordered a Cubano pressed sandwich, which has roasted pork, ham, swiss, pickles, mustard. The sandwich was EXCELLENT. Great balance of flavors and quality ingredients. I also ordered a side Cuban Black Bean Soup which I hadn't had before. It was very good. My mouth is seriously drooling just describing this food again. I can't wait to go back some day. Plus the customer service: very good! They were busy, but I was able to slide into a corner and eat my food. read more

The plantains, beans and rice are amazing. The shrimp mojo and the tilapia crusted with plantains are the best dishes.

As I walked into this place I was humming to the beat of despacito lol. I love pressed sandwiches and this is the place to go. I ordered the La Costa which has turkey, chipotle aoili, arugula, roasted peppers, avocado and a chimichurri sauce. The price is decent and the taste was outstanding. It's definitely a go to on a cold day. This location was walking distance from my apt so it was a easy decision to make to go try it out. I will definitely be coming back read more

Cafecito - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Enjoy a cup of great Cuban coffee at this cafe located in the Loop of Chicago! 5 out of 5 stars!

I was visiting a friend in Chicago, and this place was recommended by a family member! It was extremely cold, but the warmth of this cafe made my day. You have to get the Chivito sandwich, bomb. read more

With this cold weather, I needed some warm, delicious, Cuban comfort food. I've been to this location before, beneath the El tracks and unassuming, but food and service are just as awesome as all the other Cafecito locations. Notably a bit smaller though, so most take their orders to go. You can never go wrong with the cubano but I was all in today with the guava-q pork platter. No shame in my excessive lunch game. The meat is accompanied by white rice, black beans, sweet plantains, and a pineapple mix. Super satisfying. Order came up quick. Fun and casual atmosphere. But the fantastic Cuban food and drink is really what I return again and again for. read more

Cafecito - Guava-Q Pork Platter is just what I needed in my life - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We stopped in for a quick breakfast sandwich on our way to sightseeing. We wanted to eat outside, but had to go in to order. The service was extremely slow, but food was made to order. We asked for food to go so we could sit out on their patio. As we waited for our food, the patio opened for full service. Although we both had ordered drinks, sandwiches and treats we were told we could not sit on the patio to eat our food, even though there were tables available. . The staff was rude and unfriendly. Would not recommend. read more

Cafecito - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Why am I just now finding this place? A huge variety of pressed sandwiches, platters, salads, desserts and drinks. I had to start with the tender con leche cookie (melt in your mouth amazing)! I got two sandwiches to share and the jarmon definitely beat out the cubano. The cubano was too dry for my liking but still tasty. The jarmon with the red peppers is a delicious combo. This place is clean, everyone is wearing masks and the service is quick. Go here for a delicious lunch and don't forget that cookie! read more

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Customer service: 5/5 Sweetest lady working in the front. She apologized for not having churros and let me pick whatever dessert I wanted as a replacement. Pandemic precautions: Online ordering is available and very easy to do. Order was ready by the time it said it would be. Pollo chimichurri platillo: 5/5 Very good, full of chicken, and good amount of food. Would appreciate maybe more rice to go with it. Ropa viejo platillo: 4/5 Very flavorful, but pollo chimichurri was more up my alley. Cubano sandwich: 3/5 A little dry. For the price, I've had better. Guava cheesecake: 3/5 Flavors were decent, though I would prefer more of a crust with a crunch than a cake-based crust. read more

Cafecito - Pollo chimichurri platillo - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been a loyal customer for 5 years, great cafe con leche and good chorizo con huevo sandwich. Today, my order was mistaken, I ordered my regular 'no cheese' and when I arrived at work to eat I realized it was a sandwich with only eggs. When I returned to the restaurant explaining the situation, and sharing some empathy for what appeared to be some miscommunication 'no cheese' can sound like 'no chile', the workers did not offer any refund, coupon, another sandwich, or even a cup of coffee. I was hoping my regular business would be a source of understanding. I am disappointed the restaurant didnt respect me enough to offer some type of support for a sandwich I didnt eat because it was not what I ordered. Cafecito just lost a loyal customer. read more

I am off the mark on this one. The vast majority of reviewers are awarding Cafecito 4 and 5 stars. But I'm entitled to my opinion and there's an explanation to it, not to mention that there could be strong, midline, or weak 3 star locales. Cafecito would be a strong 3 stars. I was in Chicago's Loop and had a feeling I could easily find Cuban food. There were some stand-alones and I also saw a few Cafecito locations. I didn't want to expend much effort chasing down Cuban food and this location is right at the base of the stairs and the elevator from the Loop's CTA Washington-Wells station, and in a nice area. In this regard, I even bore myself: I ordered a ropa vieja platter, like I always do. It came with black beans, rice, and plantains. I also ordered a soft drink. I liked that they use those socially responsible sloped top plastic drink cups that don't require a straw. Why didn't someone come up with that design a long time ago? With regard to the ropa vieja, it was stellar. It was among the best I've ever tasted. So, then, what was the issue? There wasn't very much of it ... and staples like rice, beans, and few plantains don't cost much to put together, yet there was a noticeable price gap between their sandwiches (~$8), of which there is also a ropa vieja sandwich, and the platter(s) (~$13). I still went for it because I hadn't eaten that morning and wanted a platter instead of a sandwich. The service at Cafecito was good, the store was fine, with most people picking up food, and the location is very convenient. They've got it dialed in this regard - with another one near the main library and another one in River North, which I guess people call Streeterville, which then leads me to wonder if the platters are priced for the Loop and the CBD. Again, Cafecito is a strong 3 star kind of place. I went back the next day and got a conventionally priced pastelito de guayaba y queso to take with me and snack on. read more

Cafecito - This is the ropa vieja platter with a soft drink.  The platter cost a little bit more than Cuban combo platters I've had at places in Miami. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois