This is a great spot for grabbing a quick lunch bite. They offer a variety of sandwiches and sides as well as strong cuban coffee, after all, their name is Cafecito. Dining area is small and tables do not fit more than 3 people; I would say area is more of a lounge than a dining area. Price for sandwhiches is pretty standard given you're in the loop (~$8). The one thing Cafecito tends to lack is order accuracy. I do not like onions and they tend to add them. Once or twice is forgivable but I take my chances at this point because it's almost 50/50. So, be on the lookout when adding/omitting items to your order. Food suggestion: try the ropa vieja sandwich as it has a very similar taste to the dish but in sandwich form. The Jerk sandwich is also very good; tangy with a kick of lemon - don't be fooled by the fact that it has habanero, you can't taste it at all. I like to think of it as a Cuban chicken vesuvio. If you are looking for a heat "kick" to go with your meal, try the bottled salsas located by their condiment bar. read more

Inspired by my recent viewing of the movie 'Chef' i have a craving for good cuban sandwiches! Well, the Cubano at Cafecito does not disappoint! In a city known for great food, this place easily holds it's own. Shredded roasted pork, ham, melted swiss cheese, pickles and mustard all on an exceptional roll made this one of the tastiest Cuban sandwiches that i can recall feasting on! With the plantain chips on the side and a refreshing Sierra Mist, this truly hit the spot as the unique lunch experience that i was looking for. The place has adequate seating and very comfortable easy chairs strewn about. I was also able to plug in and het a charge on for my depleted iPhone battery! They also were rockin the Buena Vista Social Club-type music... Perhaps the only non-positive comment that i can add is that they serve Pepsi products. Pero, No problemo. This place is muy, muy bueno!!! read more

Cafecito - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Tl;Dr: Great pressed sandwich in a great setting with friendly service. Food: We got the Guava-Q which was amazing. The meat wasn't dry and was covered in the guava barbeque sauce. I prefer sandwiches with strong flavor and this sandwich had it. The combination of flavors was strong but wasn't heavy. The sandwich size was good for one person which is great especially for the price. Really wish we could have tried more of the options on the menu. Store: The store had a really nice ambiance, a busy cafe feel. It was fairly crowded, most of the tables were taken, which was a good sign for us when we got there. It's located in a good location with pretty good lighting and would probably be a great place to stop by and work. Service: We didn't have that much interaction with the staff but the staff was very friendly and were pretty patient with us when we were being indecisive. read more

Cafecito - Guava Q. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been meaning to try Cafecito for quite some time, and I'm so glad I finally did - this spot is a great place to drop by for a quick, light lunch. I came in around noon on Tuesday, and the place was already quite busy. There were a ton of options for sandwiches, which made it hard to narrow it down to one choice, but I ultimately decided to get the La Costa sandwich (turkey, mozzarella, arugula, avocado, chipotle aioli & roasted red peppers) - super flavorful and perfect for lunch. My boyfriend ordered a steak sandwich (I think it was the Palomilla), and ended up loving it as well. I also decided to try the iced Cafe Con Leche - it's slightly sweetened, but the sweetness doesn't overpower the flavor of the Cuban espresso. My boyfriend tried a sip of mine and ended up liking it so much that he had to order one for himself before we left (and he's not even a coffee drinker). Like most reviews mention, the line/wait can be pretty long during prime lunch hour. The space is also kinda on the small side, so you might have to take your order to-go or wait around a bit for a table to open up. However, the sandwiches here are delicious and very reasonably priced, so it's definitely worth trying if you're in the South Loop area looking for a quick bite to eat! I'll definitely be back, and I've already made plans to try their Cubano sandwich. read more

My coworkers and I go here weekly. I always get the cafe con leche (great both iced and hot) along with a breakfast sandwich (bacon/egg/cheddar). Never gotten their lunch sandwiches personally, but my coworkers are big fans, and there's always a line out the door around 12-1pm at this location. read more

Loved this place ! Everything is just great. Loved the - Pollo Chipotle Jerk chicken sandwich They also have some great breakfast sandwich. Make sure you get the timing correct,it is usually bustling with people ! read more

Great cafe. I was in Chicago for a few days with some friends. We grabbed a quick bite here. Lines were long but they were moving along quickly. I had fish sandwich and my friend had shrimp sandwich. Both were excellent. I also had soup which was really really good. Highly recommend. There is a bathroom in the next building in case you're wondering. read more

Cafecito - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We arrived at 8:45 pm, 15 minutes before closing, and ordered our food to eat in. It's a quick service format, so it was plenty of time for us to eat a sandwich and get out without inconveniencing the staff. It took 10 minutes to get the food, so 5 minutes to closing time. We opened the sandwiches and we're about two-thirds of the way through eating at 9:00 or a couple minutes after when an employee came over and asked us to leave because they were closed. I know it's a balance, and it's incumbent on diners to respect closing time, but in a dine-in restaurant, the responsibility goes the other way as well, and the restaurant should be prepared for diners to be finishing their meals for a short time after the doors close. The Cuban sandwich was pretty good. But my cortadito wasn't a cortadito at all. Is was a tiny cappuccino. Also, no plantains and no yuca. Meh. Probably won't go back. read more

The cubano was really good. The toasted bread makes this sandwich. Though I wish there was more roasted pork in it. The black bean soup definitely goes well with the sandwich. Overall good food. However not much space for seating in. read more

See all

This place is so amazing! Great service, food is delicious. I can eat here everyday of the week! I recently moved and wished they had this place here in Phoenix! read more

This place is so good. If you are looking for some amazing sandwiches and other phenomenal food. The customer service at this place is so amazing and unexpected. When you walk in there, lot of their employees will give you a big smile and a warm welcome. Such an incredible and sweet place. Their place has the best Cuban sandwiches all over the city. They have the nicest people I have ever met in the whole city. Everything there made my experience much better and unforgettable. Such a gem place for all of us. Their sandwiches are so phenomenal and delicious, it was made to order, so fresh and tasty, no wonder why a lot of people really loves their sandwiches. It comes with different variety, different flavors, and they also have unique flavors and dishes. Their desserts and other beverages are also a must-try, don't waste the chance once you are there, you need to literally try all of their popular food on the menu. You will not regret it, swear. Their serving for the food was so fast, you can literally tell that your order was so new and fresh, still hot and well-cooked, and also well-prepared. So amazing place. Hands down to this place and to all of the people working here! Kudos to all of you! I will definitely comeback here again when I have some free time again. Will also recommend this place to all of my friends and family, so that they can also try and see how amazing and great this place is, and they will probably love it. See you soon again guys! Thank you for the wonderful experience! Keep it up! You are so great! Thank you! read more

I always like the Cuban here. Nice balance of meat and the right bread. The menu looks good, but I always go for the Cuban.

Great place to grab a coffee and healthy snack or lunch. They have plenty of vegetarian options for food and have non dairy milk in case you like your late with soy or almond milk just like I do. The service is nice and friendly and the place is great and spacious. Definitely a great spot in case you are looking for cafe where you can read your book or get some work done on your laptop. read more

I got take-out for breakfast since a friend and I are staying at a nearby hotel. They are located next to the HI Chicago hostel and nearby Roosevelt University. Their decor inside is very simple and they were not busy around 8:30am on a weekday morning. I ordered their Cafe con Leche and it's a great coffee option for those who like their coffee sweet! It's among the best coffees that I've tried and I'm contemplating ordering again tomorrow morning! Their prices are super cheap and their portions are reasonable. Would definitely recommend :) read more

Very good sandwiches for cheap! Well.. cheap for Chicago. The lines seem long but move relatively fast. Sandwiches are simple but pack tons of flavor! Favorites are the cubano, jerk, and ropa vieja. Could eat this stuff everyday if it was closer to me. Writing this makes me want to get it today, so i might just take a walk for it, thanks for the reminder Yelp. read more

This low rating is not due to the food, it is because of the customer service. I usually like getting a breakfast sandwich every once in awhile at this Cafecito because it is near my job. However I will no longer be going to this Cafecito. There are two employees who are usually curt and unfriendly and usually I've tried not to overthink it....but recently when I went to get my usual breakfast sandwich and guava cheese pastry, when I noticed the bottom of the pastry looked a little burnt. So I asked if I could exchange it with one that wasn't burnt and the person working a the counter irritably grabbed the pastry out of the bag and proceeded to tell me it wasn't burnt and all the pastries all look the same way. I was startled by how she reacted and said it looks burnt to me and I'd like to switch it with one that wasn't or I'd like a refund. She then grabbed one from the case that (surprise!) wasn't burnt and handed it to me. Although I got what I asked for I was upset by the rude service I experienced. As I waited for my sandwich I noticed how others who came after me (who happened to be white customers) were all greeted and spoken to in a friendlier way. I was really uncomfortable and so thought I could speak with someone who else who worked there to express how I was feeling. The person I spoke with proceeded to show me that she ate the one I returned and that it wasn't burnt... She also didn't seem to care about anything I was saying... They lost a customer. read more

Great prices, great coffee, great food. We got the cubano and ropo. The cubano was perfect-well balanced amount of cheese, meat, pickles, and mustard. The ropo was okay. I am not a fan of this type of slow roasted meat though. However, It was very tender, not at all chewy and stringy. The plantain was just a small portion of the sandwich, I wish there had been more. Cafe con leche was wonderful. Just the right amount of sweetness and not at all bitter. They even have soy for those who are lactose intolerant. read more

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

See all

Stumbled upon this place while walking.... All I have to say is OMG, there is a good reason this place is rated so high. They have a variety of choices from Cuban coffee, deserts, salads and sandwiches. If you are in the area or want something different go in for a taste of Cuba. read more

See all

If you want to get robbed of your personal possessions, and get a tasty meal, come here. A person came in a stole my bosses phone, the workers didn't seem concerned at all. They have cameras, and we were not contacted back for a follow up. read more

Cafecito - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My wife and I took a random trip to Chicago. Literally, we decided that day, that we would take the journey from Nashville to Chicago via the Mega Bus at Midnight. It was crazy. It was adventurous. It was exactly the kind of thing we were into. So we showed up at Chicago, luggage in hand, and not enough money to flag a cab to get around town. We just walked everywhere and explored. We checked into our hotel and looked for a place to grab a bite to eat. We stumbled on the Yelp for this place and decided to get a Cuban sandwich here for lunch. Then we noticed they had coffee. This place changed. my. life. The cortadito was this small, cheap double shot of espresso that was sweetened with creme, and it was a flavor explosion in my mouth. The shot was excellent, the sweetness was a perfect combination to the size of the drink to make it delicious, cut the bitterness, and give you a sugar rush that faded into the caffeinated buzz. Perfection. I was an instant addict. We came here more often than all of the other restaurants on our trip combined and doubled. We had it bad. The sandwiches were stellar as well, and they just seemed to have flavor balancing down. Many people think about deep dish pizza when they think of Chicago. Literally the first thing I think of is that Cortadito. My mouth is watering even thinking about it now. Go here if you have the chance! read more

Social distancing was great- every other booth was used. We did have to wait awhile for anyone to seat us- seemed a bit understaffed. Waitress was very accommodating to our children. Food was delish - we tried kids, Cuban, and vegetarian foods. read more

Last week in NYC, I couldn't find anywhere serving a true Cortadito Cuban style. Was so happy when I saw the word "Cafecito". If you're local in Chi and reading at this, ~ 2 PM bring back a colada to your office with a few small shot glasses to pour out cafecitos. All your coworkers will love you for the pick me up. Ask anyone from South Florida! read more

The place is cozy, it has a few tables inside. I had the palomilla (steak pounded thin) with rice and beans. I was pretty disappointed with the rice it was over cooked but the beans and plantains were on point. I def would come back to try the cubano though! read more

Cafecito - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Be prepared to wait 15ish minutes if you come during peak lunch hours (11:30-2PM). The space is tiny and there are about 10-15 seats in the whole restaurant. Their food however, is amazing. Great flavors, tastes fresh and decent portion sizes. I tried the steak chimichurri platter and guava-q pork platter (both $11). Definitely will come back to try their sandwiches and coffee. read more

Cafecito - Guava-Q Pork Platter - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I found this place to be quite charming as I have never stumbled across a Cuban coffee shop/deli before. It was linked right beside the hostel we were staying at, so we grabbed some coffee before our daily adventure. I ordered a caramel iced latte, but sadly there were out of caramel so I went with hazelnut. They were friendly and quick with our orders, and the coffee tasted pretty good. I didn't try the food, although it did look pretty good. read more

The sandwiches are delicious! Great place and friendly staff. To top it off, their prices are fair. read more

Cafecito - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Though I have not visited in awhile, I am remembering Cafecito's guava-q sandwich. It is a delicious barbecue chicken sandwich, but the barbecue is made with sweet guava. Incredible! read more

Dinner here was lovely. Nice sandwiches and I loved the coffee.

Went here with 2 friends on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. It wasn't so busy and there were some seats available. We got the El Toro and La Costa sandwiches and we thoroughly enjoyed both (although they forgot the avocado in the La Costa sandwiches). Two of us also got the cafe con leches and they were subtle-y sweet and so yummy! Would recommend to others. read more

Worst customer service. After receiving wrong sandwich I called for refund. I don't live downtown so a replacement wasn't an option. I went to 7 wells location on a recommendation. Big mistake!! The lady was very rude told me she would only refund the wrong item, which I replied that's correct I only want refund for wrong item not whole order. That should of been obvious. I asked her why she had an attitude with me when they messed up. She hung up on me. I called back asking for manager she refused to help me till I "calmed down" but honestly I wasn't screaming or swearing but had just been hung up on so I wasn't going to be friendly. The "manager " hung up on me too. I called back a 3rd time, She told me to just email corporate and didn't care that she was being unprofessional. I could hear the employees laughing. Finally she took my cc info and refund my missing item. So sad that is how people act when at work. Employees at this location need to learn how to be professional especially when it's their mistake. My mistake too for ever walking in the door. read more

1) Washington/Wells is my stop in the morning. 2) I am really bad about eating breakfast at home. 3) ??? 4) Cafecito profit! I've been here for lunch many times, and it's fantastic. But this is my regular breakfast spot now. All of the sandwiches are tasty (Cuban bread rocks) and the iced coffee does the job for $2. read more

Delicious food. Wait staff was extremely friendly and accommodating. If you are in the Loop area in Chicago, check out this hidden gem.

Oh, Cafecito. Te adoro. Full disclosure: I've only had their coffee, but it is amazing and reasonably priced. While I love me some Starbucks, Cafecito is a special treat. I'll be back for lunch sometime, assuming I can endure the extremely long line. read more

There is a saying, "Good things come in small packages". Godiva chocolate samplers, my wife and Cafecito live up to that saying. Today on the recommendation of my son, we stopped in for a taste of some authentic Cuban food. The place is unassuming and one of many food establishments running down Wells St., but how it differs. Popularity in the food biz is judged by reputation, but more importantly the line running out the door at lunch and dinner of small restaurants. We arrived at 11:15am, at 11:30 the line was 10 deep out the door. I ordered the Ropa Viejo. A tasty combination of skirt steak, sweet plantains, black beans and a tomato creole sauce, all on a nicely toasted Cuban roll. OMG, this was good with the plantains adding that hint of sweetness to a tender and flavorful Cuban wonder. My son had the Guava-Q. He opted for the pork option, with caramelized onions and Guava barbecue sauce. I thought the other sandwich was good . . . This one took it a notch higher in the amazing category. A beautiful sweetness combined with a nice spicy flavor. So, yes, this small packaged Cuban restaurant is not just good, but great. When you have the time, stop by and sample some wonder Cuban fare. read more

Amazing Cubano sandwich. Their cafe con leche was also delicious. read more

Cafecito - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

So many sandwiches to choose from--the variety is definitely a plus, since you can definitely choose something you like or something fun from among them. We had the chivito and tilapia criolla, both of which were top-notch. Lots of flavor and very satisfying. The tilapia was especially good; it was lighter than the chivito, which was quite meaty, but that allowed the fish flavor and texture to stand out. The fish was so soft that it broke apart quite easily, and everything was also very fresh. For a drink we ordered a colada. Though called a pitcher for sharing, it really came in a small-ish cup. I was a bit surprised at the beginning (one wouldn't typically expect to share a drink of that size!), but it made sense given the amount of caffeine in there. Not sure I'd call it a pitcher, but that's okay. It was surprisingly sweet too--while the sugar was subtle, I would've been happy to have a bit less. Nevertheless, I really liked the taste of the espresso, which went really well with the sandwiches. read more

Great Cuban food, loved the salad of the day- great coffees- i tried a couple, all good. And i had a yummy chocolate cooking with chocolate chips and a dash of hot pepper- great combo! read more

Cafecito - Lunch on the go- grilled shrimp, avocado, artichokes, corn, diced tomatoes, spinach leaves - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cheap quick eats. Gets pretty crowded during mornings. I ordered a bacon, egg & cheese (cheddar) breakfast sandwich and a small hot coffee. Wait was about 5 mins for the sandwich which wasn't bad. However; the coffee was burnt and the sandwich was taste-free. This place if is good if you just want something to fill the hunger but if you're looking for quality, this place ain't it. Pass. read more

Cafecito - Bacon, egg and cheese sandwich with very little bacon and burnt coffee to go. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have tried everything on the menu over the last couple years. My personal favorites ?? Guava Q with the pork, Chevito, and Mar y Tierra. I could eat one of those very day if I could. Call or order ahead to save time during the lunch rush, but either way. Enjoy read more

Was skeptical at first but quickly changed my mind once the aroma of pork hit my nostrils. Smell had potential to create world peace. The Cubano is a lean mean mixture of pork and cheese which will always be good. The small cafecito was tasty and warm. 9/10 would devour again read more