Excellent food and coffee, good service. I only give 4 stars because I come from the West Suburbs to eat, and they have stated they won't be having any seating ever again, which is unfortunate. Aside from that, definitely worth it. read more

Probably the least of my favorite when it comes to anything Cuban. Went in for a lunch order recently and everyone of us were pretty disappointed . The place is known for their sandwiches but I don't see why, The so called steak sandwiches are no more than shredded Italian beef which is very peppery and is made with your typical french bread and is made with a mix of shoe string potato chips mixed in with the beef and your typical lettuce and tomato and a very wrong blend of mustard mayo combo. definately not worth trying again and not recommended. others may recommended but I'd have to ask why? even the french fries are made from frozen precut and even those were overcooked so they were hard. this is a big NO... read more

El Cubanito - This is interesting. Yelp asked, see anything interesting? Yep, the front end of this classic - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Best Cuban sandwich!! Everything is Delicious love the Ropa vieja empanadas and Cuban Coffee

Empanadas can phuck a b!tch up.. and you know what can really phuck a b!tch up? A case full of empanadas..OooKAY? You do not eat meat? Cool ,they have options for you. You do not eat red meat? Awesome, they got chicken boo. You do not eat anything fried, meaty, greasy, more than a hundred calories..then hoe you better find another corner cause Cubanito ain't the place for you. I mean how can you not love this place? You got steak.. you got big booty women on a mural... you have the best cafe con leche you will ever sizzzurp in yo life. Their steak sandwich is to die for. Whenever a sandwich has steak and potato shoe strings on it I think they just killed the competition. Iron chef who? Enough said. Now, their empanadas are not small and they are not huge either, but I swear one will get you full. They are perfectly greasy and stuffed with plenty of meat.. no skimping here honey boo boo! Their empanadas get treated with the utmost care.. they have their own heating pad so they are always warm! They have other items but I will keep to the ones I have tried. Cafe con leche is a must, swear best coffee I have ever laid my lips on. Lines on weekends can be a drag, but you can always call ahead and use credit cards here. If you are about this life, then come get some read more

See all

Best Cafe con leche! Coffee is always perfect and the staff is always friendly!! The food is awesome! I always have to stop by if I'm in the area! read more

Best cubanos in Chicago! Delicious empanadas y cafe. Can't beat the prices. Love that it's a mom and pop and the expansion of the original location. read more

First time trying it and I wished I would have tried it sooner. The hot sauce made the empanada even better! Service was great, and didn't have to wait long. read more

Chill place to eat at. The lady cashier there is so sweet and nice. 10 min pick ups which is perfect and fast. Sandwiches are fresh and yummy. My bf and I ate here about 3 times a week when we lived around there. Even their cafe con leche is so good read more

In this area of Logan Square, there is something about eating local and enjoying a Cuban sandwich at El Cubanito. It's just not the area to be eating dim sum or sushi. Remnants of the restaurant's history can been seen from the outside where the original location still contains the artwork. Kudos to them from being a small takeout joint to now being a sit down restaurant. The staff were super friendly and helpful. I ordered the steak where the meat was finely chopped like in a Philly steak. It was a bit messy but the texture of the crusty chewy bread really made the sandwich. Make sure to eat it right away and not leave it in the to-go container. Otherwise, the steam will kill the texture of the bread. Next time, I'll have to get the traditional Cuban. Fork, napkins, and hot sauce. That's what comes in the to-go order and that's everything you'll need to enjoy your sandwich. read more

El Cubanito - Chopped steak sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

The big booty mural adorning the front of El Cubanito is a hard act to follow. How could a sandwich possibly stack up to such a piece of art? Well, they come as close as humanly possible. The menu isn't diverse and the service might be a tad slow but they make a mean sandwich. I'm torn between the traditional Cubano and the steak sandwich (with shoe string potato chips on top!). Both are muy delicioso crunchy meat bombs. They are good enough to paralyze me from trying the other sandwiches on the menu in fear of them not being nearly as great. Empanadas are very solid for a restaurant that doesn't "specialize" in empanadas. The hidden gem was the ham croquette. A salty smooth ham injection I was administered straight into my veins. El Cubanito is pretty small with only room for a couple of stools. It can get pretty packed when the orders aren't coming out as quickly as they are taken. But the staff & clientele interaction will keep you entertained while you shuffle around and wait. NOM'd: Cubano Sandwich + Steak Sandwich + Ham Croquette + Empanada read more

Great place.. I've been going there on and off for the last couple of years. I am a big fan of the shoestring fries that come in their cubanito sandwich. So here are my pros and cons about El Cubanito. Pro: - Sandwiches are all great, still haven't found one I dislike. My favorite is still the cubantio. It's a steak sandwich with the meat that has a great vinegar marinade on it. It's served with the basics lettuce and tomatoe, but the shoestring fries, (as previously mentioned) inside of the sandwich take it to a whole new level. - Great new location (Right next door to the old spot,) bigger, brighter, and my favorite... way more room. - Empanadas are home made and very flaky with a nice selection of fillings. You need to grab at least one before you leave. - Very moderate pricing Cons: - As much as I love their coffee I was disappointed on two of visits their. My cafe con leche had a burnt taste to it, which can only mean that the coffee had been sitting too long in a hot pot. I know this because it took almost 20 minutes before I could properly take a sip. That's it... So to round up, I gave it 4 stars. This place is a definite 5 star place if it wasn't for the coffee. I hope you all enjoy this little taste of Cuba without having to leave the states. read more

El Cubanito - The goodness is just underneath the bread. .. Trust me. .. - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Best Cuban steak sandwich hands down. I've been coming here for more than 10 years, back when it was the little shack next door. The owners are nice and the food is great. Worth stopping by if you've never tried it read more

FANTASTIC! I had to drive out from the west suburbs to pick up a part for a bathroom renovation, and stumbled upon this gem across the street! It's been a LONG time since I had a good, authentic Cuban sandwich, and El Cubanito did not disappoint! Service was friendly and quick, and the food was delicious! It's too bad they were so quick, I was enjoying my conversation with a handsome Cook County officer - and he had nothing but good things to say about the place. You know when the guys who really know the neighborhood go there, it has to be good! If I'm anywhere in the area again, I'll make a point to go back! read more

10/10 service. literally arrived near closing time, Was attended with pleasure. Food was amazing and place has a great vibe

I was looking for a quick and cheap breakfast before heading out of Chicago. I saw the pictures of the big booty girl murals painted on the side of the building and it was enough to persuade me to try. The Cuban was excellent and was on par with my favorite Cuban sandwich at West Tampa Sandwich Shop in Tampa, FL. The chicken emapanada also cannot be missed. Thank you for painting the beautiful mural. Mmm que rico! read more

El Cubanito - Half cuban - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This Cuban spot will ALWAYS be my favorite! They have such amazing empanadas, sandwiches & there AWESOME cafe con leche! read more

El Cubanito - Cafe Con Leche - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

El Cubanito in my memories is the little Cuban sandwich corner shack so to see it expand into the large space next door is unreal. I know that they have a loyal following, but everything I've ordered has been very average. Having worked in the area for almost a decade, I've had my share of Cuban sandwiches, this is really middle of the road. There is much too much cheese and not enough meat in the sandwich! Frankly, if I wanted grilled cheese, I would have ordered that instead. The meat in their Steak Sandwich is very finely chopped to the point of resembling ground beef, and very greasy. While the sandwiches are a nice size, they taste speak the language of fast food in terms of flavor. read more

El Cubanito - Cubano Sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

From the erasures and newly written prices, I think there have been a few price adjustments before I got here. The first time I tried to grab lunch here a few weeks back, a new spray-painted sign was being applied on their south exterior wall. The tagger-turned-pro had parked his van so that no one else could park in the shack's little lot. But the lot was relatively open today, after the noon rush. I ordered the steak sandwich and had none of the language problems others have mentioned. The hand-written menu board has less than 10 items anyway. Today was also the cook, Juan's birthday (this info was posted at their tip box.) My sandwich was served up in less than 5 minutes. It was well seasoned and had just the right touch of spiciness. The chopped steak was not at all fatty as some have said and cooked perfectly. The only surprise was that on the menu, it says shoe string fries are included. And they are, but right inside the sandwich! The owner spotted me as a first-timer and invited me back ("tomorrow.") I'm not sure when, but I will be back for their Cubano. read more

El Cubanito - What Johnny T. saw. The new entrance paint job. - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Hands down the best Cubano in Chicago. My preference would be a tiny bit more mustard but that's just me. Go check this place out. Their menu is solid and the food is tasty! read more

Start with one of the Cubanos--the crusty bread grilled to a flaky crunch, the pork and ham complemented by a healthy slathering of mustard--and wash it down with a cola. But don't fill up: If you don't order a couple steak empanadas and the pan con timba--you're missing the best part. read more

El Cubanito - Steak Empanadas are A1 - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My husband and I love El Cubanito! This is one of our favorite places to go! Been coming here for years! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but my husband and I both agree so far they have the best empanadas we've tasted in Chicago! They're shrimp and tripleta empanadas are bomb! And I love their steak sandwich it is fire!! And last but not least they're cafe con leche is absolutely delicious!! Bomb food at a great price, can't beat that! Definitely worth checking out if you haven't been here before! Your taste buds will thank you lol. read more

Food is sooo good! Every time! They never miss and they're so friendly! I always order through Uber eats but everything is always fresh and delicious. read more

Great steak sandwiches - chopped meat with perfect tangy sauce and shoestring potatoes, generously filled empanadas and perfectly made cafe con leche! Hard to find parking nearby and sometimes the line is pretty long, but for good reason. A lot of people here rave about the shrimp empanadas, but I found the steak and cheese ones to be the best (don't bother with the chicken ones, either). They also have guava and cheese if you're looking for a sweet ending to your meal. Yum! read more

Came here with the wife to eat a Cuban sandwich. I've been here a few times and every time I was happy with my experience and food. Yesterday, however the experience was awkward. The second we walked in there was this smell in the restaurant. If I would have been a newbie I would have walked right out. The smell wasn't very appealing. In fact it was boarder line nasty. Maybe the mop they used had a funny odor and it made the whole place smell. The place is always clean but that smell wasn't very good. Also I felt awkward having a guy at one of the tables selling bootleg Dvd's. I was kind of annoyed and it cheapens the experience. The service: it's always good. The cashier is always friendly and got our orders right. The food: The Cuban Sandwiches were freshly made and a decent average size. Very tasty. My wife ordered maduros on the side and I ordered french fries. The portions of maduros was above average And the fries were pilled high. Very generous servings. Over all, if it wasn't for the smell and the guy selling bootleg movies when we walked was a little annoying. Otherwise the food is decent and service is quick. Hopefully it was just that one day and this won't be a common factor. read more

This place was amazing. Suggested to us by our Uber driver. I tried the Cuban sandwich, and a steak empanada. I originally was only interested in the Cuban sandwich. However, after reading so many reviews about the steak I figured I'd try the steak empanada too. I am grateful I did. The seasoning was incredible. The portions were massive, and cost was low. Would definitely recommend. read more

El Cubanito - Cuban sandwich with steak empanada behind it. - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

If I were to recommend a good Cuban restaurant here in Chicago, then I would most probably recommend this one. I know I just went here for the first time, but the experience I had was so good that they deserve this review and my recommendation. The restaurant may not really look good from the outside, but it is a decent restaurant. I did not want to drive longer, so I chose to eat here. The place is clean, and the customer service is friendly and accommodating. I basically ordered a Cuban sandwich and, of course, the cafe con leche. These are the only familiar foods I know, so that is why I ordered them, but they also have other good options on their menu. The service is also fast. After eating the sandwich and the cafe con leche, I can say that it is an authentic Cuban sandwich. The Cuban sandwich is so good, as is the cafe con leche. It is good and the prices are reasonable. I will definitely be back. I also recommended this place to my other friends, and some of them already know this place, and they also agree that this is an authentic and good Cuban restaurant. read more

This is my ONLYYYY place to go for a delicious Cuban sandwich! You can order in or take to go... Generous portion & well priced! The Staff are welcoming and friendly! Luv the atmosphere! This is a sandwich shop so no alcohol but that's ok with me!!! ANDDDD Less than 5 minutes from home! PERFECT.... Continued success!!!! You will not be disappointed !!! read more

OMG, I love some El Cubanito. I came once a few years ago and had the Cuban sandwich, and thought it was just alright. My husband convinced me to give it another go, so I had the chopped steak sandwich, and I was not disappointed! The sandwich was jam packed full of meat and crispy potato straws, and the meat was so juicy & flavorful. The interior of this restaurant is beautiful, and I love the classic car ordering counter. Food came out quickly. I loved the steak empanado, liked the ropa vieja one, and next time I'll probably pass on the chicken one. It was ok, just not my cup of tea. I'll have to give their Cuban sandwich another go next time I'm in. Whatever you order, you make sure to get their perfect cafe con leche with it! read more

I was looking for a decent spot to snag some takeout to bring to a show at Rosa's Lounge yesterday night and this place had great reviews so figured I would give it a shot. I called in and it turned out they were only doing takeout so it worked out perfectly. This was my first visit so I asked the guy on the phone to give me some recommendations. He said that the Cuban and the Cubanito Steak Sandwich were the most popular but his favorite was the Tripleta so I took his word and ordered that with a double americano (shoulda brought a diaper). When I picked up my order, I checked the contents and there was another little bag in there. Turns out the guy just threw in a chicken empanada because he's the freakin' man so it definitely started things off on a great note. 10 minutes later, I'm at Rosa's diving into the first half of the Tripleta sandwich and I finished it like I was being timed. This sandwich was massive too. It took up the entire container it came in and was so packed that it was a little challenging to remove. The sandwich was also LOADED with ingredients and they did not skimp on the meat. Fantastic ratio. I housed the first half like a feral animal and decided to move on to the chicken empanada so I could try it while it was still fresh. This thing was also a monster and was super tasty! Great pocket dough to chicken ratio and the chicken was still super fresh/ moist. While the chicken empanada was great, the Tripleta sandwich really stole the thunder. I'm no pro food critic but, flavor wise alone, this was one of the best sandwiches I've had in the city. I couldn't even get to the second half that night so I ended up eating it cold the next day and it was still incredible! I think the sandwich was $9.75 and the coffee might have been $2.00 so the total came out to ~$12.50. That's probably the best $12.50 (not including tip) I've spent on a meal in years! Considering the size/ value of the sandwich, the generous helping of all ingredients, and the great rec/ great service - I cannot wait to go back. I did not give the atmosphere a rating because I only did take out. read more

This place is my go to for Cuban sandwiches and cafe con leche. They also make excellent empanadas. They are so consistent and I never have any complaints. read more

Can't ask for anything more when the food is really cheap and good! Came here with two friends on a Saturday--definitely not too crowded and the service at the counter was great. We ordered a couple things to share--empanadas, a cuban sandwich and a cup of coffee. The portions were excellent for the price and I was a huge fan of the guava & cheese empanada. My friend ordered the Steak Cubano and it was honestly the most delicious sandwich I've ever had. I was also delightfully surprised by the coffee, which was creamier than what I expected--so good. Everything on its own was well under $10 (empanadas at like $2 each)! It was also a pretty good place to catch up with friends--wasn't too quiet and wasn't too noisy. Would definitely come again to try more of their empanadas and Cuban sandwiches! read more

The bomb.com!! OH EM GEE! Steak & Egg sandwich please and thank you! Cheap, high quality food, with great service. Hidden Gem. Get your food here after you leave the gym haha Love this place! Great staff too! read more

El Cubanito - Big and spacious so you can enjoy your food! - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love this spot so much. Always friendly staff and the food is so good. It's right across the street from us, so we go here often. Try the guava and cream cheese empanada! read more

Has their number changed? Ever time I call to place an order it rings and rings then someone picks ups and hangs up??

This place is such a gem. One of the best Cuban sandwiches I've ever had. So much flavor. Great empanadas as well. And I do you're looking for a special treat get the cafe con leche. Sweet and smooth. It's always a treat when I get to stop by and enjoy this great place. And to top it all off the order counter is the front end of and old Chevy. Epic. read more

El Cubanito - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Super good ‍‍‍i love the food they alwasy satisfy my cravings when I go get food really nice people

I wanted to love this place; really I did. I have been having these crazy cravings for all food *NOT* Mexican. I work in Cicero, and all there is (pretty much) is taco places and my coworkers and I were getting pretty tired of the same old fare. I read all the rave Yelp reviews and was pretty excited to give this place a try. Plus, you gotta love a place with the big booty girl and the "Ay, que rico" on the mural outside. Sadly, it was just "OK". I ordered two empanadas: a beef and a guayaba. The beef seemed under-seasoned. I was expecting it to have some flavor without having to put any extra condiments on it. The sweet guayaba / cheese one was a bit better. Maybe I'm seriously uneducated about Cuban food -but I just felt like this wasn't "real" Cuban food. It tasted like a fast food / American knock off of real Cuban food. Even the cafe con leche didn't have that strong punch like the Cuban coffee I"m used to. It was good, but just tasted like a regular latte. I love Cuban food and typically go to a regular Cuban restaurant. I don't know -I was just disappointed with what I ordered. My coworkers and I all agreed -it was OK -it just didn't "wow" us like I had hoped per the other Yelp reviews. read more

The best empanadas around! Try the shakes, chocolate made with chocolate ice cream not syrup! Ok

Great hole in the wall steak sandwiches are awesome. I been going here since the first day they opened when it was a small sandwich shop. I love it read more

Had this once before had to admit the steak cubanito had me intimidated so I opted out to try the ham and cheese with egg. I finally tried the steak with potato strings and it's been my favorite ever since. I was never a fan of empanadas, gave plenty places tons of tries and it never hit home until I tried them from here. This place genuinely cares about cooking authentic and you can tell with all the love they out into this food. I swear they have the best cafe con leche/cafe latte. I wish I had the chance to try their rice and beans but since every thing else is such a staple on their menu I'm wondering WHY it wasn't up. I love this place. I live 45 min outside the city and one week I went every single day for coffee and breakfast. Super killin it in the top Chicago restaurants. Hands down read more

El Cubanito - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois