most difficult brunch menu in the north shore! too many fabulous items, whatever i have , there's so much more i'm missing, please note: poached eggs are always perfect. if only they could solve their late summer oudoors bee problem. service uniformly superior. are all the servers in the family? read more

After checking out the very interesting menu online, we stopped by Ovo Frito for a weekday brunch and easily found street parking out front. My Dad walks with a cane and was able to make it up the 3 steps in front with no trouble. We were greeted and seated right away. This sunny cafe is decorated with a really cute egg theme-the lights are fried eggs or eggs in a basket and the walls feature whimsical egg-related paintings. We all opted for breakfast items. Mom and I got omelettes with the potato hash and toast and my brother and Dad got different types of French toast. The coffee is from Julius Meinl! I'd like to try several other items here next time I'm in the area. read more

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I had brunch here with 2 good friends yesterday. We sat outside on the patio. It was a sunny, warm-ish day but kinda breezy so that kept us somewhat cool. The food was really good as I had the El Monte Skillet. The coffee was very tasty as well. An overall nice experience with the food quality & wait staff service. A nice Evanston Brunch experience! Kudos Ovo Frito. read more

WOW what a fantastic meal at ovo frito!!! Right off the purple line Foster stop, this breakfast joint is the BOMB. We were one of a handful of parties at noon on a Friday. Service was fast, so kind, and prompt! Our food came out hot and fresh like 5 minutes after we ordered. The coffee was delicious. Definitely not burnt or left sitting too long. Inside is a bright and warm vibe with interest artwork depicting various types of egg! It felt like eating with family. I would bring anyone here and feel confident they will find something exceptional on the menu. TRY OVO FRITO read more

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Lovely brunch place for everyone! We came in at 10am on a Saturday, very few tables available. Love the atmosphere here with lots of well behaved student and local people. Servers are very friendly, and they seem to know many regulars. My egg white Meat lover omelet is just right size, and good balanced with additional mushrooms inside the omelet. Kyle's Fav Torta is very filling. read more

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Breakfast Lunch and Brunch --- winning menu and delicious food ! Enjoyed this soo soo much . Truly amazing and delicious food ! Ovo Frito has the best sections of omelette, breakfast items , breakfast skillets, burgers, salads, pancakes, French toast and Latin inspired breakfast selection. Really good and yummy ! Highly recommend them when you in Evanston! The food is fresh and ambiance is fun. They close at 2pm as well ! So come here early !!! read more

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It's super expensive for what it is. The banana French toast was not filling. It was just two small slices of bread. The eggs were overcooked and dry. read more

Great brunch spot in Evanston. It's busy on Saturday mornings but you'll be seated within 10-15 minutes. They're a bit slow at getting your drink and food order, we were sitting there for a bit before they came to our table. The hibiscus tea was floral and very refreshing. The inside of the restaurant had a lot of tables for 2 people. There's also seating for larger groups. All the staff were friendly and accommodating. Food was delicious. I loved the flavors of the Derrick's Egg dish. I devoured my over easy eggs and the perfectly crispy potatoes. Everything went really well together in the French toast as well. The caramel sauce really made the fruit pop with flavor. Once they give you your check, they're efficient about giving you a to-go box and cleaning the table. I'll definitely be back to try their extensive brunch menu! read more

Ovo Frito Cafe - Derek's Favorites Eggs - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Yummy! Ordered takeout and it was great. Got the French toast sandwich and I really enjoyed the sweet and savory taste from the sweet bread and savory fillings inside. Lots of potatoes on the side. Service was fast as we received the delivery soon after we ordered. Would love to dine in next time! read more

Ovo Frito Cafe - Roberto's French Toast Sandwitch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

They don't take reservations, but I called ahead (~10 minutes) to put my name down for a table. The service was very efficient and the food was brought out quickly. It was a very reasonable amount of food for what you're paying. The seating was crowded and there wasn't much room to spread out. read more

Ovo Frito Cafe - Ovo Eggs - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Food: Everything was AMAZING, so much flavor bursting! The home fries were BOMB. We devoured everything. I finished those 3 vegetarian tacos easily! Service: Food was so fast, the waiters waitresses were also super friendly! Ambiance: I love it indoors. So bright and colorful inside, with outdoor and indoor seating. So glad I came for brunch here :) read more

Ovo Frito Cafe - Vegeterian tacos, Acorn Squash and Tofu, Breakfast Burrito, Hay Caramba Breakfast Torta - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Great menu. Great service. Lots of parking. Family owned. Go for it!! French toast and omelets are very good.., read more

Great little neighbor breakfast spot. Clean, fast service, reasonable prices, and delicious food. We were there on our way to the big 10 wrestling championships. The place was full of different wrestling fans looking for a good breakfast to kick off the day. This place hit the spot. I had the breakfast tacos and coffee. Both were delicious. I dined with three friends all raved about the food and we even discussed coming back the next day because it was so good. The one annoying thing there was the credit card sir charge. Come on man! Net: i would def recommend ovo's. Friendly service and great food Cleanliness: 5 stars Food: 5 stars Staff: 5 stars Ambiance: 4 stats Overall: 5 stars! read more

Ovo Frito Cafe - Breakfast tacos! Yum! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Tried this spot due to the positive reviews... Friendly staff and service. Food is average, wouldn't go out of my way to come here simply put. Ambiance is where I will deduct a star. It's very small inside and unfortunately you're literally elbow to elbow with the table next to you. Very distracting to carry on a conversation when the people next to you are fairly vocal. Lastly I deducted a star for not disclosing the "surcharge fee". I feel as if this is one of those things carried over during the COVID period. read more

Ovo Frito Cafe - Chorizo and Denver omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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The scrambled eggs were a highlight, cooked with a gentle touch that leaned toward the French style--soft, fluffy, and almost custardy in texture. Rich without being heavy, they were the kind of eggs that melt on the tongue. The smoked salmon, however, was more utilitarian than luxurious. While it carried that clean, briny flavor you'd hope for, the quality didn't quite rise to match the silkiness of the eggs. It was cooked decently, neither dry nor greasy, but lacked that lush, velvety finish that great smoked salmon offers Chives added a bright, herbal lift and brought a necessary pop to the plate. But the addition of crème fraise or cream cheese--if that's what it was--missed the mark. Rather than being gently folded in or whipped into a smooth counterpoint to the eggs, it came in oversized chunks, disrupting the otherwise creamy flow. It felt more like a garnish added too late than an intentional part of the dish. Pancakes are a deceptively simple test of a kitchen's attention to detail, and these landed somewhere between satisfying and flawed . There's no denying their pillowy interior--each bite had that classic diner brunch style fluff. But they leaned too far into the gummy side, clinging to the teeth in a way that dulled my experience (Or I just don't like pancakes in general ). While the batter itself was a touch bland, the exterior had a redeeming toasty, golden crust that offered a bit of caramelized warmth. A hint of vanilla or buttermilk would have brought these to life, but as they were served, they felt like a good foundation that could use more flavor architecture. tdlr; it's a classic brunch spot at Northwestern that we go to get decent breakfast at a not so expensive price. Use your wildcard if you have. Don't expect perfection but enjoy with nostalgia of being back in college, eating brunch while struggling to fight hangovers read more

Ovo Frito Cafe - Smoked Salmon Scramble - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Such a cozy spot and location! This place had me at the first bite of the chilaquiles. I was really impressed by the freshness and the quality of the ingredients! Ovo Frito is def on my radar from now on!! read more

The staff here was very kind and attentive. When we arrived there was no wait which was great. I really enjoyed my dish. I had the chicken and waffles with a bacon compote. This was a very new dish for me but I was pleasantly surprised! Will be returning. read more

Ovo Frito Cafe - O'Mamas Chicken and Waffles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Went there for the first time this morning. The menu was huge, the food was excellent and the service was amazing. We will definitely be back. read more

Food was really good, service was good. The restaurant was really clean!! I look forward to coming back to try more menu options! read more

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Fantastic food. Great and friendly service. Admittedly, I always get the same couple of dishes (huevos divorciados or chilaquiles verde) but I'm never disappointed. I should branch out and try the rest of the menu. :-) read more

Here's what you need to know: outstanding ambiance and service by the team 5 stars for both. Julius Meinl Coffee was 5 stars. Food was enjoyable (pancakes, waffle with fried chicken, and chilaquiles) but not memorable. 4 stars for that. Overall, i will return. read more

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A cozy little brunch spot I stumbled upon by chance -- warm atmosphere, friendly service, and fresh, delicious food. read more

Ovo Frito Cafe - Los Matorales - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Def one of my fav brunch spots! I've never ordered any food item that I didn't like! I always introduce friends and family here and they also loved what they ordered. Can't go wrong with their Viva La France French Toast, Huevos Divorciados and Acorn Squash and Tofu! If you want something savory, also a big fan of their Mexican influenced omelettes and egg Benedict creations! There's something for everyone! Service is always quick, efficient and the refills keep on coming. The location is small and quaint but during the summer, they also have tables outside. Even when it's busy, you can still have a good conversation with your friends while eating delicious food! read more

Ovo Frito Cafe - Viva La French Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Ovo Frito Cafe is one of the more popular places in Evanston to get your brunch on, while also offering a breakfast and a lunch menu. I had a lunch date here to play catchup, and we ordered: +a Fall Harvest Salad - red and green leaf lettuce topped with radish, tomatoes, fried tortilla strips, red onions, goat cheese, and avocado with a side of lime vinaigrette dressing; you also have a choice to add grilled chicken for protein +Zinnia's Spicy Chilaquiles - 2 eggs of your choice, tortilla chips, pepper jack cheese, cotija cheese, sour cream, rice, and beans, with a choice of salsa verde or roja; you can also add extra protein, such as chicken or chorizo at an upcharge +a Veggie Burger - a housemade veggie patty topped with lettuce, tomatoes, and red onions; we opted for the potato salad as the side +the Black Hawk Burger - a 1/2 lb beef patty with grilled onions, marinated portobellos, adobo sauce, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions; we requested the smoked bacon on the side; for this, we opted for the fries Note that the burgers and sandwiches come with a choice of potato salad, potato chips, fries, or fruit. Unfortunately, we weren't fans of the food, as each item was either super bland, basic, or not flavorful. Some of the ingredients made the dishes taste off, such as the salsas, the marinade on the portobellos, and the adobo sauce. Burgers were not cooked per requested temperature, and some of the potatoes were not cooked thoroughly in the potato salad. Service was friendly and efficient, and there's plenty of parking in the area. I'm glad I was able to try this place out, but could not recommend. +unflavorful food +friendly service +plenty of parking available read more

Nice little neighborhood lunch place. Lots of menu options and everything looks great. Authentic mexican breakfast. read more

Ovo Frito Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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It's a great place to have breakfast/brunch, especially when the weather is beautiful! The patio is great. Good service and delicious food for reasonable prices. read more

Ovo Frito Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Service is great, food is delicious and a great price! There are so many options on this menu, they have something for everyone and the food comes quickly. read more

Ovo Frito Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

A lot of people have raved about Ovo as a good brunch spot in Evanston. They have a wide selection of standard brunch items and Mexican-inspired ones. Opted for the veggie bowl since I wanted something lighter and healthy-ish with poached eggs. Eggs were perfectly poached with runny yolks which I appreciated. Decent. Nothing too special and probably something I can whip up at home but that's most brunch food. Will be back to try the other stuff, especially the insane-looking waffle and sweet brunch items. Otherwise a good brunch spot in Evanston with more different options compared to most. They have a lot of good vegetarian options too! read more

Ovo Frito Cafe - Veggie Bowl - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Ovo Frito continues to be the best brunch in Evanston!! The breakfast burrito is elite - one of the best in all of Chicago. Incredibly friendly service, the employees are always so kind and food is made quickly. Huge menu with plenty of options. I love it here read more

I rarely eat breakfast but my wife and I got a late start on our weekend grocery shopping so we decided to have brunch at Ovo Frito. I have ridden my bike dozens of times past the place over the past 7 years or so -- today was the day we tried it. I had the Hay Carumba Torta: Eggs scrambled with chorizo, green onions, chipotle sauce, refried beans, guacamole, and Chihuahua cheese on a telera roll with crispy potatoes -- scrumptious, and enough to bring home to eat the other half tomorrow. My wife had the fluffy Wild Berry Pancakes -- she's typically not a big eater but ate the whole thing! And I love a place that goes to the trouble to serve rich Julius Mienl coffee. Crowded at 9:30 am on a Saturday yet we were seated quickly and got our food in relative short order. We'll be back for sure. read more

Ovo Frito Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Sitting outside on a beautiful Saturday, it was easy to get a seat. Located not far from Northwestern dorms...we arrived just in time to beat the outside rush (inside was at capacity already) Service is fast and friendly. Coffee and water with attentive refills... Ordering was easy and fast. Omelets and potatoes were fresh and delicious. Reasonably priced. We loved this place and will be back. read more

Ovo Frito Cafe - Veggie omelet - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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This review is 2 visits past due. Today was the 3rd time I've come here for b fast and was the 3rd time the food was great, service was amazing and everyone is friendly. Today I did the Toluqueno Omlet and again it was amazing and made so quickly! I love how they also offer Julis Meinl coffee. So good, so strong and the staff always offer refills! There's about 15-20 tables so I can imagine the weekend gets jammed. Parking is limited but you should be able to find but you'll need to look around. Well done Ovo Frito such a gem in Evanston! read more

Ovo Frito Cafe - ¡Toluqueno Omelet! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

My favorite Evanston breakfast place. Great people, atmosphere, food. It's a 5 star local place.

The meat lovers omelette was my personal favorite. The chicken and waffles were outstanding, the bacon jam that came with it was the bomb. We were blessed to see our favorite waiter (from Clarke's) . Seated within minutes. Outside seating option. It gives you that neighborhood dive feel, casual, friendly, no nonsense atmosphere. Highly recommended. read more

An Evanston brunch gem with Mexican inspired dishes! 4 facts for you: 1) Cramped! Both the tables inside and out are smooshed together, so don't expect social distancing much here. 2) No kiddo menu available, so you'll have to split adult sized meals or order some sides. 3) Food is aesthetically pleasing and fresh! Cheeseburger hit the spot for me on our last visit, as it was meaty, well seasoned, and matched well with a pretzel bun. Corn flake crusted French toast with blueberries, peaches, and whipped cream was tasty and a brunch novelty. Plain waffle and croissant sandwich were inhaled by my husband in seconds, so he was happy with his choices. 4) Find street parking on the block. read more

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This spot is worth every dollar!! So tasty and fresh, they know what they're doing. Servers are very nice and attentive (: read more

Ovo Frito Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

This has got to be the best brrakfast spot in Evanston for multiple reasons. Have been coming to Ovo Frito for years now and continue to be amazed by their food and service. Recently have been coming more often as I've adopted this spot to bring the family so decided it was time I actually reviewed. For either sweet or savory, you will definitely find something to enjoy. Some of my favorites are Derek's eggs and Viva La France French Toast. Love the different takes on eggs benedict. I recently told the chef about the best eggs benedict I have ever had which he made a few years ago and he was so awesome looking through his recipe book for that one recipe so he could make it again. Talk about service! Your water and coffee are always full. Freddy does a great job making you feel at home and so do the rest of the staff. It's like you're family. My parents love this spot now not only for the food but also for the service. Armando has made a point to catch up with my dad on the latest soccer games. My 10 year old nephew says: food is pretty good and they're funny. Location is conveniently located west of NU's campus and north of downtown Evanston, a couple minutes walk from Foster Purple line. Parking is typically good to find in the area. read more

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Came by here for a quick brunch on Sunday morning - they were packed! We ordered: - spicy chilaquiles with egg whites - 8/10 - wild berry pancakes - 8/10 Both the items were super filling for two people, though I would have definitely added a bit more spice for the chilaquiles. Overall, great find and we'll be back for more! read more

Ovo Frito Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I do not review places based on service or ambiance. It was fine based on my experience. Nothing egregious. Some of the food on the other hand was OK at best. Granted, I ordered food that was not necessarily the restaurant's specialty, but realistically should not be on the menu in the first place. The chicken and waffles were presented well in the pictures; however, this dish is 17$ for 6 pieces of bite-sized chicken and OK waffles. Next, the skirt steak benedict was also average. The steak was the worst part of the meal which was truly uninspiring to eat. Had poor color and seasoning, and I can get better meat from a taco place for a third of the price. The egg was done well. Overall, this is a tentative score for this restaurant. Do get the specialties at this restaurant (Hispanic fusion items). Do not get the chicken and waffles. read more

This is my favorite breakfast spot in Evanston. The place is decorated with fun egg-themed art and the staff are all friendly and prompt. I keep Ovo Frito in heavy rotation read more