The food, the ambiance, the surprise delights...we love Little Madrid! Today we had an absolutely amazing salad that included watermellon, watercress, pistatios, and a bunch of other things...you'll ind it on the menu, do not miss it! The Euro Bacon (bacon wrapped dates with majorca almonds inside) are so good that we ordered an extra couple or orders to go. Tonight, they have flamenco dancing. The decirations are great, the backgroubd music is perfect... And *do* save room for one of their fabulous desserts. read more

Came here for V day and it was an amazing and fun time! It's a quaint, dimly lit restaurant that probably can seat 40-50 people tops. Oh it's a BYOB! So note that if you head out. We ordered several dishes but by far the highlights were the Corte Little Madrid, Croquetas de Jamón Iberico and the Paella de Marisco (although more rice would've been great). I think the big disappointment was their Patatas Bravas. They weren't crispy at all and we think they must've sat out for a few minutes before we got them. Bonus a guitarist from the Gypsy Kings performed as well which was amazing! We'd def come back and look forward to it! Bravo!!! read more

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Food was average at best except for Patatas aioli which was delicious. Albandegas was full of gristle. Salmorejo was sour and nearly inedible. We've eaten it several times in Spain so we have a basis to compare it with. Gambas was ok. Over use of garlic and nothing suggested the chef or cook had much training. Ensaladia Russa was sour and unpleasant. Service was sad as a brand new server could not understand much English and we had to constantly ask for the host to help us. We won't return. Chicago needs an authentic tapas restaurant. This isn't it. read more

How did I just discover Little Madrid after 3 years living in the city! The BEST spanish food I've had since I lived in Madrid - patatas, spanish tortilla, bacon wrapped dates, paella. Everything was delicious and appropriately priced. And if you're gluten free - there's tons of labeled options! And the vibes of the place were totally authentic. Super nice staff. Will be recommending this to everyone. read more

The tapas at Little Madrid is the best in Chicago. The dining room is tight but cozy and comfortably sophisticated.

Stopped in for here Sunday lunch with my mom and the food was so good. We shared the spanish omelette and arugula salad with burrata -- divine. 10/10 recommend ! read more

Little Madrid Tapas Cafe - Arugula Malaguena Ensalada and Spanish omelette - Spanish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

In Chicago on a Friday night and looking for something fun and unique - love tapas. Little Madrid came up in the search - did not disappoint. Called them and they said one of the Gipsy Kings was playing live Spanish guitar that night. I thought - Awesome, great food, great live music. Small and intimate place. Good food and service. IMPORTANT - this is a BYOB place, so if you want wine, beer, booze, you need to bring it. We ordered the sangria - were not sure if it had wine in it. Food was really good, the Paella Was outstanding. Definitely recommend. read more

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I am sorry to say we had a terrible experience. The house wine we were sold when they ran out of CAVA was $60 a bottle. The patatas bravas were very simple, plain, and cost $15 a plate for a small appetizer. Bread was an extra charge, and we had to ask repeatedly for basic service. The final bill was extraordinary for four people and we left hungry. Their vegetarian options, like many spanish restaurants, were very limited. I have lived in Spain so I may be a bit biased, but it was nothing like the warm, comfortable Spanish atmosphere I am used to, or a local Edgewater bistro vibe. read more

Amazing place! Food was great, service was impeccable. Pulpo a la plantxa was divine. I know this restaurant is called Little Madrid but it brought back memories of Barcelona for us. read more

We've walked by this Little Madrid Tapas countless times. I will admit that our tapas experiences in Chicago have all either been somewhat of a let down or just exorbitantly priced up until then, so we were hesitant to give Little Madrid a try. What an absolute shame we waited so long! Having been to Spain I can say that these were equal if not BETTER than our favorite tapas we had on our month long trip. It's BYOB, but I believe they also have wine and beer there. We walked in with a Lambrusco (I realize it's not an expected pairing for food from Spain, but it's the bottle we had in our fridge) and it worked surprisingly well with every dish. The restaurant is fun and lively with a comfy ambiance perfect for a sexy date. The staff are super friendly and it made us feel at home, we walked in without a reservation and they found us a perfect spot in no time. First dish came out quickly and then perfectly paced so we could enjoy our wine. We ordered: Tortilla - EASILY the best tortilla I've ever had. I'm not a fan of when eggs are over-cooked and this one had more of a custardy texture. A bit salty (as is somewhat expected with food meant to be paired with wine and beer) but nothing that would keep me from plowing right thru it and looking forward to have it again. Albondigas - Meatballs with a savory sweet Tomato sauce (think tomato-ey demi-glacé with more red wine reduction and deep smoked paprika flavors). The sweetness paired up perfectly with the salty chorizo filled meatballs. The meat texture was soft and luxurious. I dipped everything in the sauce. Patatas Bravioli - Pillowy potatoes with a thin crunchy fried exterior smothered in paprika and tomato aioli. To say this was addictive and delicious would be an understatement. We. demolished. them. Get it! Croquetas de pollo - CRISPY deep fried balls of chicken and smokey ham in a béchamel that will have you crying. Pan con tomate - TBH at this point we were stuffed and I'm not sure if it was crystal bread or not but it was toasted and delicious topped with garlicky tomato purée coated in decadent olive oil and flaky salt. At this point our server gave us some sweet peach liquor shots on the house which was extremely kind and tasted great. We appreciated them going above and beyond. Churros with melted chocolate - I was about to explode by this point but you gotta end a great meal with something chocolaty. It's exactly what you hope it will be, hot fried crispy dough with an almost creamy middle covered in cinnamon sugar and dipped in molten dark chocolate. If my food description doesn't convince you to at least give the restaurant a try then at the very least it will act as a reminder for ME to go back and try the rest of their menu :P ¡qué aproveche! read more

Want to give 2.5 stars but rounding down due to the 4+ rating. Nice enough people but definitely not deserving of a high rating. The food was average. Had goat cheese, shrimp, potatoes, dates, and octopus. Nothing tasted bad but nothing was amazing. Something was off on every dish. Service was spotty and we waited about 7 mins for menus after being seated and not greeted. It was awkward. read more

Service was horrible- had to ask 3x for an extra place setting, drinks, and had to remind them of our food order multiple times. have never had paella with chicken wings in it and the rice was burnt. Worst ocotpus I've ever had--burnt and slimy. Understand when the kitchen is backed up, but the horrible food (the croquetas had nothing inside? just a fried breaded ball?) was unforgivable. Our bill for 4 was over $300 & definitely not worth it. read more

My husband and I came here for a much needed date night (we are new parents) and were super impressed. The food was great - pretty authentic to Spain. We got the croquetas with jamon, tortilla, bacon wrapped dates, one of the salads, egg dish, and gambas al ajillo. We also ordered sangria which was yummy. The croquetas were very good - very similar to Spain. The tortilla was also good but a little less firm than what we've had in Spain. The bacon wrapped dates, salad, and egg (I don't remember the name of it but it was kinda like a Spanish shashuka) were also great. The one disappointment for me we're the gambas. There was so much garlic that it tasted bitter. My husband liked it though. One thing that excited me is that they have salmorejo on the menu in the summer. It's kind of like a gazpacho with bread in it that we had for almost every meal when we were in southern Spain. We will definitely have to try it when we are back! In terms of the atmosphere, the decor was great and the waiters spoke Spanish to you so it was very much like being back in Spain. I loved it! So happy to have found my new favorite Spanish restaurant in the US read more

Fantastic food great service, very intimate for family or friends! The paella was the star of the night. Will definitely come back again.

We ordered the vegetarian paella and it literally was a bag of mixed frozen vegetables in a rice mix, not even crispy rice. Almost like a Knorr rice packet side dish. We could not believe it for the price we paid. These were not fresh vegetables simmered in spices and saffron and cooked well - these were crinkle cut carrots, same size broccoli pieces, and peas. Fresh vegetables hold their color - these were clearly frozen. We were in shock. The other couple of tapas were fine but the time we waited for the paella, the actual dish they put in front of us, and the price for the entire meal was mind blowing. Extremely disappointing experience. Would rather have decent food for 1/4 of the price elsewhere. read more

Amazing food and service with a cute patio. Asked for recommendations and tried them all, nothing disappointed everything was superb. Definitely will be back read more

Had a great meal at Little Madrid. Food was delicious and our waiter was very helpful. First time eating at a Spanish restaurant and loved it read more

The amazing ambiance was the first thing we noticed when we came in here for the start of a bachelor trip weekend. The host and staff were amazing and welcoming, it felt like home. O would definitely recommend anyone to check this place out! read more

Little Madrid Tapas Cafe - Amazing starter to get us a taste of Spanish food - Spanish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

WOW. WOW. The charcuterie. I could come back here for nothing but that, and be very happy. Generous portion for the price, this was my favorite thing. I am a devotee of charcooooot! Oh, and the Boquerones - gotta get those too, marinated anchovies Oh, and delicious red wine. I LOVE tapas, and this place really has a great Spanish vibe. Friendly staff, LOTS of interesting tapas. Beautiful outdoor area in the summer, cozy dining in winter. Great place in a great neighborhood. read more

Had a lovely dinner New Year's Eve. We love tapas and have travelled a lot in Spain. We enjoyed many of our favorites, including tortilla, gambas al ajillo, patatas bravas, sangria, and churros and chocolate. Presentation was always lovely, service was attentive and everything we had was delicious! read more

This place is cute, dimly lit, and cozy with boisterous music pumping to really make you feel transported to Spain. The service was relaxed and not hurried which was perfect for catching up with an old friend. I would have appreciated more of a warning that the kitchen was closing soon, especially since several of the dishes take an advance amount of time. The paper/online menus lacked a full drink list which made ordering wine a little challenging but it kind of had a quaint charm to it at the same time. Food was tasty! Should have gotten the large size tortilla española that said it served 3-4 because it was so delicious and leftovers would have been divine. One of the people I was with complained the menu items needed better descriptions instead of just an ingredient list but I wasn't bothered by the mystery. It did make for a few surprises but all in all a great tapas experience. read more

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Food here is always fantastic. I love the space, ambience and great service. I have taken friends and family here and every one always enjoys the food and atmosphere. read more

Ok, this place far exceeded my expectations. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but inside is a dimly lit, cozy, dinner by candlelight restaurant. Although I went out with my family, it would be a perfect date night place! Our server was able to point us in the right direction of how many tapas to order for the table. We tried several tapas and a paella, all which were generous portions and full of flavor. It was so fun getting to try different dishes all with unique touches. read more

Love food and the atmosphere at this little tapas Cafe. Owner was attentive and engaged with the entire dining room. First time there last weekend , but it will not be our last Q Buen Provecho ! read more

A sleeper hit of Andersonville! Like others have said, it's so unassuming and can't believe I've been missing out on these tapas! A perfect place for Friday night dinner for 2 or, like me, bring your 3 girlfriends to share a lot of different bites. This was a cozy, lively, and candle lit gem, where we felt so welcomed to stay for well over 3 hours, enjoyed close to 10 well-sized tapas and 3 desserts, over an expertly recommended bottle of their red after we drained our own BYOB. The atmosphere was so fun and inviting -- the staff are all so warm and attentive, we were toasted with multiple liqueur shots on the house throughout our meal. Midway through the night a staff member came out in an Anonymous mask and weaved thru the small space and porron-ed sangria into everyone's mouths. Sounds weird but take my word for it, it was a delight. It's rare when it happens that all the food is one delicious surprise after another to the taste buds! No duds. Standouts include the perfectly hearty and flavorful mariscos paella, gooey cheesy ham croquetas, albondigas meatballs in a rich gravy, plump and tender pulpos, juicy melon with jamon. Also don't skip the crème brûlée crema castellana dessert that comes out brûléed at your table with a sizzling hot iron that engages all the senses. A great dinner, friendly and welcoming service, a fun atmosphere and ambiance. I'll be back! read more

Food was not worth the price. I want something that tastes good. I will not go back. Their food is largely imported and that is part of the high costs. That's fine but doesn't make up for the fact that it simply doesn't all taste great. Worst dish was the chorizo. The ham croquettes were good. Maybe get those and a glass of water. read more

Uhm can I have some more croquettas please???? These are by far some of the best croquettas I've ever had in my life. The service here was very friendly, and well worth the visit. For four + a kid, we ordered 5 tapas, 1 salad (malagueña) and a small marisco paella. Pretty much everything we ordered was delicious and flavorful, so you really can't go wrong with anything here. Honestly I have nothing but great words to say about this place! Make sure you put this place on your list of essential places to try now! read more

Some of the best food I've eaten in a while, and with great company in the owner, Francisco, as well as the staff. Can't say enough good things about this place! They also tend to have house music djs come in on the weekend which is really cool! read more

Little Madrid Tapas Cafe - Sangria - Spanish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Quirky atmosphere- got here at an off hour and was wondering. Shouldn't have wondered: the service was nice, the music was varied and fun, and most importantly, the food was excellent. A watermelon salad, anchovies, very comforting meatballs, delicious blood sausage, and truly amazing croquettes that kind of made us really happy. Great place. Hope to try the paella next time ... read more

Lovely tapas place! We came on a Sunday afternoon and sat outside. We got the chicken croquetas, breakfast paella, and crema catalana. Everything was great. The croquetas were amazing and so was the paella. The dessert was torched/brûléed right in front of us which was pretty cool, too! It's like a Spanish version of creme brûlée. read more

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Great menu and wine prices, thoroughly enjoyed, nice ambiance, will definitely go again

Little Madrid... O how we love Spanish Food! Little Madrid is a great spot for some Spanish Tapas. The ambiance is very dim only candles and a light bulb or two. The menus are paper backlit by like a tablet. You will need a flashlight. The menu is straightforward and covers some of the main Spanish dishes. The beer selections is Barcelona beers odd for the name little Madrid. The food was ok. The gambas ajillo we had was like a soup with the shrimp in there. Nicely cooked low on the garlic though. The croquettes were almost identical to what you find in Spain. The tomato bread was just bread not toasted and missing olive oil. The Calamari was very good one of the best in Chicago. Overall little Madrid is a nice spot with a dark ambiance. It hit well on some points but missed on others. I will keep going back. read more

Great place for romantic dinner. We went for our wedding anniversary. Food was excellent although the paella for two was a little pricey and size was on the small side. read more

Food is spectacular. Bacon wrapped dates and Patatas Bravioli are must-haves. Service is charming, warm and efficient. The room is nice, but even nicer when it's primarily lit by lights on the tables. read more

The ambiance was excellent. The meatballs were amazing. The waiter was very prompt to responding. It was nice to have a little bit of each dish. read more

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Nice atmosphere and small plates. Great service and plenty of help. We had some vegetarian choices.

We have been searching for a decent tapas place since Twisted Tapas closed in our neighborhood during the pandemic. This fit the bill with excellent, attentive service, atmosphere, and food. The albondigas are to die for, and the crema catalana served with flair is a new favorite. Definitely a gem and we will be back. read more

We went here for a friend's birthday, and it was wonderful. Very homey little place with a good selection of tapas and a few paellas and other dishes. The menu is large, but not overwhelming. We ordered a ton of stuff: Spanish meatballs, stuffed dates, grilled octopus, ham croquettes, and more. The meatballs were amazing! I mean, they're meatballs, right? But so tender, and served with an amazing sauce. My friend didn't want to order the croquettes: "Meh. Everyone makes croquettes." Then we got them and she was blown away. DO NOT MISS the pan con tomate. The simplest dish imaginable -- toasted bread scraped with garlic and tomato and little olive oil. But just fantastic! They have a handful of sandwiches, which you can get as a sandwich or open-faced. Definitely get them open-faced! They come with chips and nots and a ton of olives. Woo-hoo, free olives! Paella at $30 or $60 (for two or four people). The $30 size was plenty for my friend and his bf. Not the best in town, but the best for the price. They have liquor service now, of sorts. Which means their sangria is made with wine (it used to be "sin alcohol") and they have a handful of forgettable wines. If you can still bring your own, bring your own. The table are tiny for the amount of food that you'll order, but they do a good job of taking the old plates away. Service is "casual," which is to say, they're not always on top of their game. But the servers are very nice, so it's forgivable. Definitely worth a try! read more

what a fabulous tapas restaurant! We thoroughly enjoyed the food and service. Love that it's BYOB. We highly recommend it! Larisa

From my first visit to Chicago, one of my best friends recommended this amazing gem in Andersonville. And after my visit, this became easily my favorite restaurant. Everything is perfect - it's the combination between the food, the service, and the ambiance. I wish that I could rate this restaurant higher than 5 stars. Thank you Little Madrid for being amazing!! read more

Little Madrid Tapas Cafe - Euro Bacon - Spanish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois