This is a great little brunch spot in Lakeview. It is small and quiet and super clean. There is a lot of nice natural light during the day. I ordered the chorizo hash. Everything was fresh and tasted great. I will definitely be stopping in again the next time I am in the area. read more

Esencia Urban Kitchen - Bottomless black coffee and fresh flowers on the table - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is a very cute mexican-inspired brunch spot. I like going there when I want something slightly healthier for brunch with a bit of a twist. The veggie enchiladas were delicious and the cinnamon coffee is also good read more

Esencia is great for a causal weekend breakfast/brunch. I came in alone on Sunday morning and sat at the countertop. The place was full and there was a waitlist going, but the staff were very attentive. Ordered a coffee and the egg and pesto sandwich, which came with potatoes and greens. The sandwich was so good as were the sides. Would definitely order again! Great service and food worth coming back for! read more

Esencia Urban Kitchen - Egg and Pesto Sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Superlative! Hah, nah I'm jk... I don't really say stuff like that. But seriously, direct quote from my girlfriend: "this is the best breakfast sandwich I've ever had". Her chorizo breakfast sandwhich was amazing. The bread was great quality. Fresh, soft and warm. The beans were very good. I would probably go back just for this. I had chilaquiles with salsa verde. Basic but very high quality as well. Wish I would have ordered something a bit more exciting but I wasn't dissappointed with my meal. The place is tiny so get ready to wait a bit. But the staff is super friendly and warm/welcoming. read more

Esencia Urban Kitchen - Chorizo breakfast sandwich and chilaquiles - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Excellent daily brunch restaurant, tucked away in a cozy corner of Broadway. Seating is super limited, especially when patio season ends, so expect a wait on weekends. All of the food is latin inspired, and the kitchen is fairly small. On particularly busy days, it's not uncommon for them to run out of small sides (like biscuits), which can affect the availability of their larger dishes. So protip: suck it up, pop some advil, chug a coconut and head there early, completely ignoring the effects of that 8th shot of tequila you had the night before. The food was very tasty, fairly priced, and service was quick and friendly. They also served espresso, which I thought was very high quality. I wouldn't say this is my favorite brunch place ever, but if you're craving some chilaquiles, theirs will definitely hit the spot! read more

Esencia Urban Kitchen - Chilaquiles, breakfast burritos, and a cafe con leche. - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Yet another place to go out for breakfast within a few blocks of our apartment, this time with a faintly Mexican theme. The dishes are pretty tasty, although service is a little uneven (not a lot of staff) and so is some of the quality (my salad greens were wilted). In a neighborhood thick with breakfast joints, Esencia's comparative advantage is probably the ambience and charm. This is a tiny little glass-covered storefront filled with light and seating only about a dozen people. The result is that it's cheerful and lively, but without the kid-dominated chaos of Ann Sather, the eternal florescence of Melrose Diner, or the hipness of Kanela Breakfast Club. Sometimes that's exactly the feeling you want, and for that reasons Esencia retains some merit in the crowded breakfast field of East Lakeview. read more

I have been to a fair share of breakfast places in the city, but this one is by far my favorite. Every dish my friends and I have gotten is so flavorful and delicious. It is small and cozy, but that that is something I love about it. I highly recommend getting the chilaquiles! Some of the best I have ever had! read more

It was delicious. I'm returning ASAP. The quality of the food, the service and ambience were what we were looking for. Authentic Mexican options. Love this place! read more

Esencia Urban Kitchen - Egg and Pesto Sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I really enjoyed Esencia Urban Kitchen. The boyfriend and I came in for brunch a couple of Fridays ago, when it was warm and sunny, around 11am and we were the only ones in there for a bit. The place is tiny, with several tables, but it's very well lit with sunlight and welcoming. We started off with coffee and we both commented how delicious the coffee is. It's very flavorful and when I asked, they confirmed that they sell bags of the coffee right there in shop. Cool! They have a pretty decent sized menu. It's Mexican inspired so a lot of the dishes were breakfast staples. For me, it was a toss up between the Chilaquiles and the Sunnyside Huevos Rancheros, but I ended up getting the Sunnyside Huevos Rancheros. Perfection! The eggs were perfectly runny, no overcooked eggwhites, and the salsa was tasty! My boyfriend ended up getting the chorizo mash and he enjoyed it. It was such a chill ambiance, we ended up hanging out there for a couple of hours, sipping on endless coffee. There was a lunch rush, but it didn't get too crowded, and they did not rush us out, which was great! All in all, I would recommend Esencia for great food, nice ambiance and very nice staff. read more

This is easily one of the best brunch / lunch spots in all of Chicago, and my very favorite in the charming Lakeview East neighborhood. The food is outstanding, a kind of authentic Mexican meets Chicago brunch vibe. Intimate setting, BYOB and excellent service. I encourage everyone to support this wonderful, small, local business during tough times. Their carry-out brunch / lunch is still available and very good. read more

Every time I go here, I love it even more. Creative breakfast and lunch options that I haven't seen before. This time, I got the seared salmon salad with mandarin oranges, pickled red onion, sliced almonds, mixed greens, and grilled asparagus. Next time? Definitely adding avocado. read more

Esencia Urban Kitchen - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great egg dishes. Cute atmosphere. Restaurant won't make any modifications on the dishes so if you are picky this is the wrong place for you. read more

Absolutely fantastic breakfast here. Chorizo hash with eggs over easy was perfection; HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Cafe con leche was also excellent coupled with great service. I can't wait to come back here. read more

Esencia Urban Kitchen - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The service was not great. The chilaquiles were good but my egg was overcooked. The barbacoa tacos and the horchata drink were good. Nothing to write home about read more

About a 10 minute walk from Wrigley field. I came with a friend on a Saturday around 11 and there was no wait. The tables and chairs in this place are nice and I really liked them. The only thing I didn't like was that the air vents on the side kept blowing air at my friend and I. It was cold outside so the site was not necessary. I ordered the pesto breakfast sandwich. The sandwich was delicious. I loved the flavor of the egg, cheese, arugula, and bacon together. The potatoes that came with it was actually really good also. The last was just alright and not really special. My friend ordered the lemon ricotta pancakes. They were good and he enjoyed them, but I thought the pancake was a little too doughy for my taste. Good place overall. read more

Esencia Urban Kitchen - Pesto breakfast sandwich and lemon ricotta pancakes. - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Okay this is my favorite brunch place. Their chilaquiles are out of this world. And I normally order a side of buttermilk biscuits because that's the right thing to do. Their salsa verde is also amazing. They have consistently provided quality food & service. You need to check them out immediately if you have not done so. read more

Everything was fresh, spot on, and I just wanted to come back for more. They do brunch better than 95% of Chicago places do brunch. Also, an extremely pleasant experience with staff! read more

Breakfast tacos were fantastic. This side of guac was great too. Ordered coffee/breakfast and got both within a very reasonable amount of time upon sitting down. read more

Just had some tacos delivered, loved the short rib taco & the churros, but didn't like the blackened shrimp taco at all- once again bland. Overpriced for the size of them too. A little under 4 stars overall for the two orders. I think their ingredients are good, fresh, but just not utilizing or seasoning them in the best way. read more

Esencia is a neighborhood treasure. I've been a regular for years and it's always a reliable place for fresh and inventive Mexican breakfast and lunch dishes. The menu changes, but my standby for breakfast is the chilaquiles or poblano eggs, and for lunch I tend to go for the tacos or the tortas. Baked goods and coffee are also standouts. What really brings me back, though, are the great people who work here. It's a family owned restaurant, and the care they put into the place shows. Two caveats: 1. It's a very small space, so if you're showing up at peak brunch hours on a weekend you can expect a wait to be seated. But they will text you when your table is ready, so it's easy to grab a coffee and browse at nearby Unabridged. 2. It's not fast food. If you need to get in and out fast, this isn't the place, but if you have time to enjoy it's always worth it. read more

Simple yet delicious brunch. Food is very light yet filling. I enjoyed the subtle Mexican twist to brunch. The horcatta latte is good. The indoor space is fairly small, with some outdoor seats are available. The wait time can be fairly significant but you can add your name to the waitlist either in person or on the yelp app. read more

Esencia Urban Kitchen - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Third time visiting Esencia this morning. I've had the hash before and wasn't crazy about it but thought maybe they were in a rush so I ordered it again. The potatoes weren't done this time either and tasted like they were doused in Chili-o seasoning. Their menu states they kindly decline substitutions - meaning even meat. My sister is a vegetarian and they politely declined to make one of the menu items without meat. I was really turned off by this. 3 stars because I like the atmosphere and BYOB. Not going to rush back/wouldn't recommend it. read more

Esencia Urban Kitchen - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came here with a friend to check out their brunch menu over the weekend. The ratings are quite high on yelp so I was excited to try it. We were afraid the place was going to be pretty busy so we had planned to get on the waitlist on yelp however it seems that they only allow that at certain times so we weren't able to. Luckily the wait was only 15 minutes. Esencia is pretty small with limited seating. They have outdoor seating which would be great in the summer. There are plenty of options on the brunch menu, mostly pretty standard items. I opted for the poblano eggs which was biscuits topped with sunny side eggs with a delicious sauce on top. It comes some greens and potatoes on the side. I enjoyed this dish and would order again. My friend ordered chicken enchiladas which were delicious. Prices are very reasonable. Overall pretty good and simple place for brunch that feels very neighborhood-y. read more

Esencia Urban Kitchen - Poblano Eggs - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I'm sitting out side on one of there tables , just go she's eating and everything we ordered was sooo delicious me and my boyfriend loved it ! The Tinga tostadas were phenomenal! The horchata was home made and sooo delicious ! It's our first time here and we will most def come back to try other things on there menu! Not that it matters but one of the waiters is really cute ! Hahaha anyways service was wonderful too ! read more

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Shhhh just don't go here. Pretend you never saw this. I don't want there to be a line, the place is too tiny, and there's always a bit of a wait because it's too good. Definitely don't go for breakfast and order the amazing breakfast torta... or the lemon ricotta pancakes with jasmine syrup. Don't do that. read more

The service was terrible. Went for a Monday afternoon lunch and was there for 2 1/2 hours. Unacceptable for a work day (it wasn't crowded either). The food reconciled the poor service but just barely. The Santa Fe salad dressing was overly acidic and the avocados hard, but it was a nice idea. My companions enjoyed their sandwiches and tacos. Recommend, but be cautioned that the overall effect for me was one of inconsistency. read more

I love this place. They have the most authentic and delicious Mexican food in Lakeview. I just heard some great news... they're going to be open on Tuesday EVENINGS for Taco Tuesdays! read more

I love this place. It's right around the corner so I'm meeting friends there regularly for breakfast. I always split an omelette and we are full by the end of the meal. Secret? This food is made with LOVE. You can taste it in the perfectly set eggs; not too dry, not runny, the way the fresh OJ is sweet and yummy and sides of fresh greens and roasted potatoes included. Service is prompt and the coffee delicious. I hope someday they can move to a more spacious and charming decor. Until then, enjoy the food. Still loving our neighborhood jewel. Erica and Page are such wonderful servers and our new fave is chorizo hash with scrambled egg . I get a start on my greens for the day and the fresh squeezed OJ and coffee Make our day. Food is still made with love and patio is CoVid safe. read more

I live in the neighborhood and have gone to this place often enough for breakfast, Taco Tuesday dinner, and take out. Today, we attempted to dine in with our toddler. There were several empty tables. We ordered our food and asked if our son could have the omelet on the menu but a smaller version of it, as he can't eat the salad that comes with it and we didn't want to waste a third of the omelet. "No." We can't just have a smaller omelet? "No." Eventually, our server suggested we could do a side of scrambled eggs. I asked if they could throw some veggies in it, like the veggies that are in the omelet listed on the menu. "No." She then suggests we could do a side of scrambled eggs and a side of greens. Can you put the greens in the omelet? "No." On my way out, I asked the man behind the counter if the same request was possible. Unsurprisingly, he stated they could make a scrambled egg and put some veggies in it. We opted to leave anyways. I don't expect restaurants to go out of their way for kids, but I also don't think a family-owned business should treat families this way. Next time we'll go to Ann Sather's, where they had no problem making a minor compromise to a menu item so that we could eat out as a family. read more

This small family-run restaurant is delicious. We regularly order weekend breakfast from them and are always happy with the food. The chilaquiles are a favorite, as are the huevos rancheros. We have never been disappointed with the food quality, and the bakery treats are also delicious. The staff is always kind and helpful, too. It's a great local spot to try out. read more

Eat the food here. Huevos rancheros. House potatoes. Lattes are excellent. The servers and staff are kind. The decor is nothing special. read more

Esencia Urban Kitchen - You must eat the Sunnyside Heuvos Rancheros (egg over easy & salsa verde) *and the lattes are amazing - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fantastic breakfast/brunch spot! We love going here for brunch on the weekends (or even do take out). The food is great, staff is friendly and decor is lovely. read more

I ordered the chorizo torta... honestly this was the blandest and saddest meal I've eaten in my life. I took two bites of my sandwich and was done because the texture had me gagging. The side of potatoes and the mocha I ordered were the only good parts of this brunch. Definitely not coming back again-- not worth the money paid. read more

So, we, you know, decided to try this place. I parked a mile or so away, to walk around this kinda fun area. We were here for lunch on Friday and were able to get seated right away. I ordered the poblano eggs and sheesh, they were great. The place seemed kind of flooded with male models, too, which was kind of awesome. The food definitely seems to be made with care. It's a great place to lose an hour or two, and reflect on something you want to reflect on. read more

Esencia Urban Kitchen - Poblano eggs. My boo - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've been to Esencia more than any other restaurant in Chicago since I've been living here for a year. The first time I came I ordered chilaquiles and they were amazing. Every time I come I get something different to eat but always get the iced horchata latte. The latte is phenomenal!!! My sister and i will sometimes come in just to get the latte. When I don't feel like eating a big breakfast, I come and get the churros or another pastry and an iced horchata latte. This place is definitely my favorite! read more

Esencia Urban Kitchen - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fantastic Mexican brunch! Went here last Sunday around 10:30 with my two brunch amigos. Esencia is SMALL, so you may have to wait during peak hours. They'll text you when your table is ready which is really convenient. The hostess was super sweet and friendly! Together we ordered the chorizo torta, poblano eggs and lemon ricotta pancakes. Everything was delicious! Portion sizes were generous and prices were fair. Best looking dish was probably the torta but the poblano sauce on the eggs was phenomenal. Can't wait to come back soon! read more

Breakfast can be so blah but Esencia kitchen is anything but boring. Everything I've ever tried there has been absolutely fantastic. The coffee is dope and brewed with cinnamon. On this most recent visit I had huevos rancheros and the breakfast sandwich with potatoes. Both were unbelievably flavorful. Somehow the tortillas kept their crunch under the eggs and the green salsa was amazing. Seriously do not pass on this place anything on the menu is going to be great read more

Mexican infused food. Not authentic but it's infused. Great place to meet a friend for breakfast or lunch. read more

Esencia Urban Kitchen - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The breakfast here is really good! It's a really cute little spot, but seating is incredibly limited. You pretty much have to get here right where the place opens to make sure you don't have to wait for a table. But, I think it's worth popping by if you are looking for a breakfast place and you are in the area. read more

Esencia Urban Kitchen - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Delish! Stopped by for lunch. I had the salmon sandwich and my husband got the green chilaquiles. Both were delish!