Sad COVID birthday? Not with friends who appear on my doorstep to surprise me with Greek bakery! The bougatsa is something I wish everyone could try, because you really need to taste it to believe just how good it is. Chicago treasure. read more

Hellas Pastry Shop - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Yum!!! Delicious pastries of Greece. Fresh and just reopened after being closed for 2 months because of COVID. Great dessert items! Support local read more

I was in the neighborhood and found myself with a seriously sweet tooth. Hellas was the closest dessert spot that Yelp located near me, so I decided to take a chance and check it out. As soon as I walked in, I knew it was authentic. There was just one elderly guy sitting on a stool reading the paper and he promptly greeted me very warmly. He took the time to tell me a little about each pastry and I decided to try the baklava. I've had baklava before, sure, but never one that tasted like this. I grabbed it to go (I mean, no option - there is no seating inside haha) and my biggest regret is that I only got one. I'll be returning to get more baklava and to try out various other pastries they offer. read more

Hellas Pastry Shop - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

They baked a number of Greek desserts for a wedding. There were about 250 people and everyone was raving about them. The best part was we had some leftovers! They were very easy to work with, too. read more

I absolutely love everything we get from Hellas, and the owners are awesome! So friendly and helpful every single time we walk in. We have been coming for YEARS! I have no complaints. In fact, this was one of the first places we returned to after the shelter in place was starting to be lifted in Chicago. My family and I are so happy that they made it! Highly Recommend! read more

I'm not Greek or an expert on Greek pastries, but I know what is good and tasty! This neighborhood jaunt is IT. Gus, the owner, is always a delight; he greets us with his famous "hello!" and we always get the usual -- almond cookies, honey cookies, baklava, and my new favorite, Spinach pie -- DELISH. Visit and get sweet treats! read more

I had to leave the house early and was thinking of getting something in one of the drive through places. I was on Lawrence Ave and decided to drop in on Hellas and get one of their delicious spinach pies. When I got there I looked in the. Case and saw the eclairs. I had to have one. What a difference from the store bought ones. The pastry was just right and the custard was real custard not vanilla pudding. The frosting was fudgie thick and delicious. Life is so uncertain so I decided to eat it as soon as I got into my car. OMG why have I waited so long. I give this place 1000 stars. read more

What a lucky find! While pursuing the sandwich list, I glanced across the street and thought, hmmm, that places looks interesting. I pretended I wanted to get a picture of the sandwich place and scampered across. The owner was super friendly and I loved that he had a little handwritten sign up encouraging people to read or review them on Yelp! I liked the confidence. I also liked the selection - not overwhelming, just the right amount of sugar and honey goodness. I really had just come in to look but it was so friendly and inviting that I bought 8 cookies. They looked like a tea cookie but were double and had sprinkles on the end. I took them all home which was really mean to my companions as they were divine. Sorry, I didn't know! I have to go back - if the cookies are that good imagine the pastries! read more

Hellas Pastry Shop - A proud owner of a great shop - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I had an amazing first visit to Hellas today and I will definitely be returning in the very near future! Every time I drive down Lawrence I always tell my boyfriend "hey, there's that Greek pastry shop, I have to stop there one day". Well I finally did and I was thoroughly impressed. It is very hard to beat my Yiayia's cookies...but Hellas came pretty close! I bought a couple Kourabiethes (the ones covered in powdered sugar) and a couple of the Amygthalota (almond paste cookies with apricot filling in between), a piece of Baklava, and a big rum ball. The woman who was working (who I later found to be the owner, maybe her and her husband?) gave me a taste of their Melomokarona (or Phoenikia, they're the honey-dipped spiced ones with nuts on top). They were all good but -the almond cookies were extra fabulous, so chewy and tasty-and she even threw an extra in my box :) On top of a little cookie sample she also gave me a taste of their Spanakopita or spinach pie and as soon as I had one bite I told her to pack one of those for the road too! This is the best Spanakopita I have ever had-EVER-in my 27 years of family functions and other greek gatherings. My mom called me just as I was finishing stuffing my face and I said "oh my god I just had the best spanakopita ever!". Her response was....you better not tell your yiayia or your theas that! Hella good.....I'll be back! read more

See all

This place is wonderful! I had passed by quite a few times on my way to work, but walked in with no expectations. I was kindly greeted by the owner and asked what he recommended I try. He gave me a honey cookie and almost cookie on the house telling me to try them out and saying I'll be back next time! He was right-- I'll definitely be back! Both pastries were delicious! They honey cookie was extremely sweet and I enjoyed the light and crumbly textures the almond cookie was my favorite! Light and fluffy with apricot jam sandwiched between two cookies and topped in almond slivers. Highly recommend! The owner bakes all of the goods with his wife, and he was really friendly! Sat down with me and had a cup of coffee because there was no one else in at the moment. I look forward to my return. Btw.. $10 minimum on credit cards so bring cash or buy in bulk! (PLUS they have vegan options!!) read more

The best baklava I have EVER had! Same with the chocolate eclairs. They are DANGEROUSLY delicious. I went here for the first time when my family was in town and the owner was incredibly kind. Let us try multiple cookies while we were there and we filled up our box of baked goods! Great prices as well! read more

Turn up the Greek music in the background. Add a great Greek accent and a couple of boxes of sweets. By the end of the night, he says, everyone will say: "this is the best baklava I have ever had!" He wasn't lying! It was sweet and juicy and crispy and just perfect. I also got a few laughs from the party guest as I imitated his accent and mannerism. "This is the best baklava I have ever had!" I also got a box of the kourambiethes which looked perfect but since they were a hostess gift, I did not sample but I am craving so I'm probably going to drop by there later. I've gotten the custard pie (galaktoboureko), spinach pie and the bougatsa and they were fabulous. If you want authentic Greek pastries, Hellas is the place. read more

First of all, bumping into a Greek pastry shop in our new neighborhood was such a happy event for me. Finding out that they have fresh spanakopita and bougatsa me krema made me ecstatic. The fact that they tasted AWESOME made the experience out of this world! Amazing! The real taste of Greece! I was on the Mediterranean again! We are becoming regular, if not on a daily basis. Oh, and the lady working there is super nice! read more

See all

The spinach pies and almond cookies are amazing! I grew up with spinach pies and these are just as good if not better than the ones my grandma would make. Excited to try more treats from here! read more

The almond sugar-powdered cookies and macaroons are so yumm.... I'm definitely coming back to pick up a box of cookies for my next family get together. The owner was so nice he even gave us extra cookies to eat while we waited for him to pack us a box! read more

Hellas Pastry Shop - Yummy almond cookies, sandwiched with apricot tart! - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I place a large order for spanakopitas every month it seems. My family In the burbs can't get enough. If I am invited to a party I am sure it's only because they want me to stop by Hellas. Seriously though best spanakopita, even better than my Yia Yia's. Shhhhh read more

100% the best spinach pies in town. They might be my favorite food.

This bakery is a community staple. The couple that runs it are incredibly nice and gracious. And the treats they make - traditional Greek cookies and pastries - are just flawless. Perfect sweets for a weekend, for family get together or for gifts for when you're out of town. I hope they're around forever. read more

A delicious, must try neighborhood bakery! We especially love their eclairs, spanakopita, and almond cookies. The service is always so warm and friendly. read more

Love this little bakery right in my neighborhood. The cookies with the sprinkles are my favorite but you can't go wrong with a rum ball or the spinach pies. We stopped in yesterday to support them now that they've reopened. They threw in a lovely little sweet Easter bread as a way to thank us for our patronage. What a remarkably kind gesture that makes me want to do everything I can to help them recover from being closed for so many weeks due to COVID-19. Gus and his wife will fill you in on stories from the neighborhood to warm your heart while their pastries warm your belly. read more

I love Hellas! First off, the owners are so kind and warm and just make my day when I go in. Equally important is how freaking delicious their pastries are! Their baklava, eclairs, butter cookies, and almond cookies are excellent. I keep meaning to grab a spinach pie, which apparently is what they do best. So happy to have found this bakery! read more

We're lucky enough to share a neighborhood with Hellas, which is both delicious and dangerous. Owned for years by couple Toula & Gus, this place may be unassuming on the outside, but don't be fooled. Magic inside! They have so many wonderful familiar and unique sweets as well as the BEST spinach pies around (yes, I said it & I stick by that). Seriously. I crave them in my dreams and one pie is a meal on its own. Pro tip: use a pan on the stove to reheat vs. a microwave. SO good. Some of our favorites are the sprinkle cookies, the eclairs, the baklava and the almond cookies with apricot jam. But really...you can't go wrong with anything here. Best of all, everything is always fresh and really affordable so it's a convenient go-to when we need a nice hostess gift or a dessert for a family gathering. The owners are really sweet and not shy to toss in freebies. Vegan and gluten-free friends, there's goodies for you too! If you haven't been, do yourself a favor & check it out. read more

I pass this place on my way to work and had been driving by for years. From the outside it is very unassuming, with handmade signs in the window likely 10 years old or more, made from neon posterboard with a black marker. Nonetheless, I love hole-in-the-wall local places and one rainy day I finally decided to stop and check it out. Inside are trays of goodies in the display case that is half-full and I am literally the only customer. The television in the corner looks about 20 years old and coffee appears to come from a Keurig machine. Despite the meager first impression, I decide the whole place appears very clean and tidy and go for it, ordering a sampling of about 5 different items to go. Pricing is very reasonable considering it's homemade from scratch. I'm not of Greek heritage and have no idea what anything is "supposed" to taste like, however everything was absolutely delicious! So much so that I now find myself stopping about every 3-4 weeks to bring home a box of mixed pastries or to share with the office. Seriously amazing baklava that is about a million times better than I've ever had a restaurant, little cookies that melt in your mouth, chocolate rum balls that are soft and flavorful. Where have you been all my life? Now having been there a few times I can vouch that everything is fresh, no stale items that have been sitting too long and getting dried out. And although some items we find we prefer over others, I've never had anything that was bad or that we didn't finish. Literally every last bite tends to be gone. And with everything being so fresh, they last fine in a tupperware on the counter for up to a week at home (if you can wait that long and not consume immediately.) It tastes homemade too, no artificial ingredients, preservatives, or flavors, but just old-fashioned yummy. So I highly recommend bringing bringing these home to stopping in with the kids to pick out a treat. And because it's not too heavy or anything, a great dessert to share when we have company for dinner -- looks fancy but hits the spot without being overfilling. Soon this will become your new go-to place! read more

Easy 5 stars. Found this place just while driving down Lawrence. Authentic and fresh Greek pastries and the owners are just lovely. Glad to know this place is relatively close by! Support local!!! $10 minimum on credit cards just to note if you were hopping by to grab one thing you will need some cash! However, you will easily spend $10 once you see what they have! read more

THE BEST bougatsa in all of Chicago. Spinach pies, (vegan and gluten free) honey cookies, baklava, all of it is AMAZING. So glad they've reopened. My husband just picked some treats up this morning and my whole household is rejoicing. The owners are lovely, so your heart AND stomach will be blessed with the goodness of supporting this fantastic local bakery. read more

How have I avoided this gem for so long? The lovely couple that owns this place are SO nice and they're food matches their passion. We got some baklava, honey cinnamon cookies and almond-apricot macarons. The honey cinnamon cookies are vegan (if you do honey) and super good w/ a little orange zest maybe. Available by the dozen. The almond maracons they said are gluten free. As a traditional macaron lover, I was skeptical, but they were SO tasty with the perfect outer crispy and soft under part with a nice apricot filling. Right across the street from HarvestTime. Groceries and cookie are an unbeatable combo. read more

I have a never ending craving for melamakarouna. I decided to drive into the city and visited Hellas Pastry shop for the first time 2 weeks ago. My search is over-fresh, crispy, so flavorful-perfection! Just like my aunt used to make! Will definitely be making this a frequent stop when visiting my daughter in the city(or more like on my way to Hellas and maybe dropping by my daughter's place-lol). Also, tried the spanakopita which was outstanding as well. Maria read more

Came in to get some pastries for my boss who's retiring and also grabbed a spanakopita for myself! They were very friendly and helpful and everything tasted amazing!!! Would definitely recommend read more

I adore this Greek bakery in the neighborhood. The owners are so kind and their spinach and custard pies are the best I've ever had! You can taste the real feta deliciousness in the spinach pie whereas other places will use ricotta or some other filler. They also have these yummy chocolate cake squares I love. And baklava! You have to come here, you won't be disappointed :) read more

Great spinach pies! Baklava is amazing. Their creations are very fresh and tasty. As good as any bakery you will find.

Really tasty, fresh pastries. The owners are very nice. They greet you in Greek. A neighborhood treasure.

I have noticed Hellas Pastry Shop for years, and I finally stopped in on Monday as I had a few minutes to kill while waiting for my sandwich to be prepared next door. I ordered a piece of the triangular baklava and a big rectangular slab of the custard pastry (I think it is the galaktoboureko) to go. Each piece was $3 and the manager did not charge me any sales tax. It looks like there is a $10 minimum for a credit card order. Both Greek treats were very yummy, and the custard pastry was so large that I did not mind sharing with my friend. I hear the spinach pie is da bomb, so I might have to come back here soon. read more

Stumbled upon this little gem when making the trek into Harvesttime Foods for a specialty item I can't get anywhere else. I was overdue for lunch and thought, "hmm, maybe this tiny Greek bakery can knock the edge off for me with a homemade spinach pie." Yes. It did, and did it oh, so well. The spinach pie was more of a grab and go lunch item, almost burrito-esque, the crust was not the typical flaky phyllo, but PERFECT to take & eat on the go. If you are expecting a traditional spinach pie, you *might* be disappointed, but I wasn't. It was still fabulously delicious, and a much better format on the run. The man working the counter was sweeter than the baklava (and that is sweet!) He was courteous and amicable, made conversation, and taught me a few things about the baked goods in the case. Grape juice cookies? Who knew? I went home with a bunch of pastries as well, and I must concur with yelpers before me that the honey cookies rock! I was also impressed that there was a small handwritten index card taped to the case inviting you to read their yelp reviews and add your own. They KNOW they are doing it right. I can't wait to come back, and I WILL be back for the seasonal Easter bread. I was told they even bake it with the lucky red egg in it! I haven't seen that since my childhood. read more

Extremely sweet (REAL LIFE GREEK YOU CAN TELL) owners. Almost as sweet as the cookies and cakes and whatnot they provide. I'm probably a better man for moving away from this bakery. Really, no body needs as many spinach pies as I was consuming in my time in Lincoln Square. However, I still make the trip here. The sign on the window does not lie. Once you come here, you will be back. read more

Close to closing time, and wanted to run in and pick up some of my favorite Greek cookies. Figured it was your typical Greek bakery, but was delightfully corrected that they are a better bakery than most. The test: after the cookies were exposed and left out for a whole week, they were still moist and full of flavor. They remained perfectly intact. Believe me, it was no intention to leave them out, but I am very glad that I did. pound of my favorite kourabiethes ran $5. They were about double the size than all the other ones that I've had and were rich, but still crumbled nicely without being dry. Parking is a little hard in the area, but well worth it to get these great treats! Service was great, the owner was behind the counter was a really nice gentleman who shows pride in his store! Love the mom and pop businesses! read more

The first time I went, I tried their ravani and galaktoboureko. They were delicious and keep me coming back. The cookie assortment is second to noon. The prices are very reasonable. read more

I had an amazing first visit last year, and hope to return some time in the near future. My friends and I went in on a whim, but the owner swayed us with some free cookies. As a result we bought at least a pound of them. I don't know what they were called, but they were perfectly sweetened with honey, yet slightly savory with sesame seeds. They had a unique cakey texture - normally cookies like this are too dry. I've been to a few Greek bakeries in Greektown where I used to work, and have yet to find a cookie quite as good. What a gem! We all need to support "little guys" like this! read more

Best spinach pies ever! I've never disliked anything from this shop. The owners are also very friendly

Yum! I've been here twice so far and both times the owner has been super friendly. They have this pastry... it's like 2 almond flavored cookies (taste like marzipan!) with sliced almonds on the outside with an apricot filling sandwiched in between. So delicious. I bought 4 yesterday. Their powdered cookies are also great. Both of my visits the owner has included a free cookie. Try it! read more

Honey cookies. Holy crap....I'm...speechless...oh wait no I'm not. The cookies taste like...a child's happy laugh on a beautiful summer's day. If you could taste that, that's what the cookies at this pastry shop would taste like. The baklava is great, the almond cookies are amazing and the honey cookies make me need to reevaluate my life. Wow, just wow. I just want to go in the shop one day and raid the cases of pastries like a raccoon. Well then, I just added something to my bucket list now... Anyway, go here ASAP. Be prepared to taste heaven guys. read more