I love Shokolad so much and it is my #1 underrated restaurant in Chicago for a quaint breakfast and lunch. I've been coming here for the past five years and it absolutely never disappoints. I've had everything from the Ukrainian scrambled eggs, ham and gruyere crepes and the Athena omelette (add chicken!) to the pierogis, paninis, hutsulske pechenya (beef stew--OMG it's so good and only available Saturdays) to the delectable assortment of cookies in the pastry case. The carrot salad the comes with a lot of the dishes is amazing! Everything here tastes homemade, and I really love it because nothing is oversalted or overseasoned, just delicious homey perfection. If you are looking for salty American "home fries" or diner hashbrowns this isn't your place. Potatoes are buttery and have a melt in your mouth consistency, but what I love about Shokolad is that the flavors are subtle, savory, and just right. It feels truly European and authentic, and while I'm no expert at all on Ukrainian cuisine, this place is an absolute gem. My only complaint is that the service can be slow (but always, always kind). As long as you come not in a hurry and are ready to enjoy your meal with patience, you will leave delighted. read more

This is one of those bright little unassuming surprises that make Chicago shine. They've got a pastry case full of interesting Eastern European desserts, and some nice simple Ukranian food -- cheese pancakes; a really bright and solid borscht, accompanied by rolls with a biting yet delicious garlic oil; even the simple roast beef sandwich was made with leftover chunks of roast, a tangy horseradish sauce and Publican bread and accompanied by nice scoops of cabbage and carrot salads. The ambience is nice enough that you feel like you've gone out somewhere; but not so nice that you feel like you have to dress up or worry about your kids. And it's just sitting here on west Chicago avenue, waiting patiently for you to discover it one chilly day. read more

Called 20 minutes ahead for pick up and they said it'll take 20 minutes :( When we got there, still had to wait another 20 minutes. Very good! Got the meat, which was chicken. And potato. Carrots were amazing! A lot of filling and not super doughy which was great read more

Shokolad - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The ambience is really pretty and it's nice and quiet here with lots of windows and the sunlight comes right through. There's also indoor and outdoor seating. The desserts are really good and there are unique cakes like honey cake with walnuts and drunken cherry cake with real cherries and cookies and Dumplings (Verenyky) and this amazing shredded carrot side dish which has vinegar and garlic and it's very tasty surprisingly. read more

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This place hit the spot. In college, I regularly ate at a pelmeni dumpling restaurant and had been wildly craving some. I got half orders of the Pelmeni and the eggplant, green pea, and potato varenyky. I definitely recommend getting this combo; the potato varenyky comes with an Indian spiced tomato sauce that is great for dipping the pelmeni in. I basically licked my plate clean LOL. It's a cute cafe ambiance, there was some light jazz playing and they also had an assortment of desserts. I got the coconut cake. So good! The staff was also very nice and attentive. read more

Shokolad - Coconut cake - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Excellent and friendly service. Dined on mushroom soup. $6 for a cup and for an extra $1 for a bowl. Also, Denver omelet was delicious. Quaint little place. read more

Overall Thoughts: A cute and homey spot with an old-school feel, Shokolad serves a wide variety of Ukrainian breakfast/lunch dishes and pastries/desserts. While I haven't tried the pastries/desserts yet, I felt that the food I tried generally lacked flavor, though there were some highlights. The restaurant had a good amount of people for a Thursday afternoon with plenty of seating still available. There was only one server who seemed really busy, so the food came out a little slow, but the service was good and friendly overall. Food I tried: - Ukrainian Cheese Pancakes (4/5): These were not as flavorful as I would've liked, but still tasted good-- I liked the textures which featured a hot, slightly crispy exterior and a soft, curdy cheese interior. It paired nicely with the sour cream and sweet berries. - Eggplant, Green Pea & Potato Varenyky (3.7/5): This dish lacked a lot of flavor. Though I liked the fresh and chewy skin texture, both the sauce and the filling had dull flavors. - Mushroom Varenyky (4.5/5): The mushroom varenyky flavors were much more robust than the eggplant ones-- exceptionally creamy with a nice, earthy flavor. The skin here was also fresh and chewy. -- Price (relative to peers): 4.3/5 Food: 4.1/5 Ambience: 4.4/5 Service: 4.5/5 Overall Value: 4.2/5 read more

Shokolad - Ukrainian cheese pancakes; mushroom varenyky; eggplant, green pea, potato varenyky - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing comfort food at a very affordable price! Variety of breakfast items is incredible- crepes, pancakes, cheese pancakes aka syrniki, pierogies and more. Everything is delicious and food is ready quickly. Also their honey cake is 10 put 10! read more

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While I was in Chicago for the weekend I was craving Crepes and European food so I had step foot into Shokolad in the morning for some breakfast. I had ordered some Borscht which was INCREDIBLE! Ive had borscht before and was craving it when I saw it on the menu. Oh and the price for the borscht was great! A lot of places I've been to before have always charged a lot for just soup so to be able to have a large bowl for 6.50$ is awesome! I had also ordered the Crepes with Berry compote and cream, which was very good as well. I love a good crepe and the touch of berries and whip cream made it very yummy! If I'm in the area again I will gladly come by and order more food :) read more

Shokolad - Borscht - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Shokolad is a charming and cozy cafe that is perfect on a cold Chicago day. Specializing in Ukrainian and Eastern European cuisine, I absolutely love this family-run gem. First, their Ukrainian Pierogies are an absolute must-try. Served with a side of sour cream, the pierogies are flavorful and packed with flavorful. From their potato to meat pierogies, they are all so so delicious! I was also very impressed with their Beet Soup, as it was comforting to eat. This was my first time trying Beet Soup (borscht) and I loved how it was not too salty yet naturally sweet. Their Beet Soup comes in a deep ruby-red color and is both nutritious and burning with flavor. Shokolad's service can be a little slow, but their staff members have the utmost hospitality. Ask them for recommendations if you are unsure what to order! Try as many dishes as you can and don't forget to grab a pastry for dessert! Shokolad offers some of the Chicago's finest Ukrainian food that will make you smiling. Highly, highly recommend! read more

Delicious crepes, dumplings, and pastries. Their borscht is the best in town. No liquor and no dinner though.

This place is on the periphery of the Ukrainian part of town, and is a proper cafe, offering about as much seating outside as in. I spent a fair amount of time perusing the splendid-looking pastries before taking some to go, but also had some crepes there. They offer an option to pick and choose three different ones, with a variety of savory and sweet options. I was quite satisfied with my torched banana with an ultra-rich chocolate sauce (presumably the place's namesake), and the raspberry and tomato-basil made for a varied plate. Other menu options ranged widely; even from a vegetarian perspective (clearly not their focus) the dumplings, salads, and other options were respectable. Additionally, the cookies and a slice of some sort of layer cake that I took with me were rich and delicious. I think they pretty much are succeeding at what they set out to do, and when I was there they were working hard to keep up with demand. read more

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Yaaaaas. Perhaps not perfection, but so much goodness happening here it is absolutely worth a visit or two. The kitchen is the superstar. Just a lot of quality output across the menu. The espresso coffee and the dessert (tried one, one time) were also worthwhile. Service can be delightful but can also be a bit poky. Lovely dining room, patio is nice. read more

My love and I decided to have lunch in Ukrainian Village recently, and we chose Shokolad. This was a popular choice on a random Thursday, as the restaurant seemed quite busy this day. We had a pleasant server, but the poor guy was overstretched as he seemingly was tasked with waiting on all the tables. My love ordered the beef stroganoff, which is listed as a Thursday special. I usually think of stroganoff with noodles, but she opted to have mashed potatoes with the beef and gravy. A side salad (sort of like cole slaw) completed this meal. I ordered a full order (a dozen pieces) of the varenyky (Ukrainian pierogies), and I chose the meaty filling. I usually go light on sour cream, but the cream complemented the meat dumplings very well. Shredded carrots rounded out my plate. read more

These are the best pierogis i've ever had in my life. Cozy atmosphere and great service, this is the place to go if you're looking for authentic Ukrainian food in Chicago. read more

Shokolad - Pierogi with scallion cream sauce - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Sorry no photos this time! Food was delicious, the order of 3 crepes I felt like was a great deal. I had the spinach mushroom feta, tomato mozzarella, and then the Farmers cheese w/berry compote. I appreciated that the savory were on separate dishes than the sweet. Was sort of like my dessert! I was not however impressed with the service. We got seated but no one came to take our order, or even drink order for at least 10 min. Then he took the order but never brought our drinks u til I flagged him down again. Food was brought out in batches so all 4 of us received the food at different times. No one ever came back to check on us or offer a refill on coffee or water for that matter! read more

Marvelous!!!!!! Delicious! Relaxing, lovely, clean setting. Excellent opportunity to reminisce in the flavors and aromas of my mother and grandmothers: hot beet borscht, hot sorrel soul (shav?), mushroom-spinach-feta blini, hoop cheese pancakes W stewed berries and sour cream, a pistachio-apricot cookie, good coffee and tea. What a treat!!! Will definitely want to return, next trip to Chicago. read more

Absolutely amazing and cute little Ukrainian cafe. The borchsch was the best I've had in a restaurant. Perfectly seasoned. My wife and I had the mushroom varenyky - very good! The cook was very good and very inviting. Definitely recommend. read more

Shokolad - mushroom Varenyky - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Very good comfort ukrainian food. Feels like home. Try borsch and meaty crepes, varenyky!

This cozy Ukrainian spot is ideal for brunch or a mid afternoon snack or date. I had the Ukrainian pancakes which are filled with cheese and served with fruit and sweet cream on the side. I'd recommend trying it. The mushroom, potato, tarragon perogies were amazing. This was my favorite. The service is bit slow, so that could be improved. read more

Shokolad - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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No visit to Chicago's Ukrainian Village is complete without some Ukrainian food, and Shokolad Pastry & Cafe was a friendly neighborhood spot for a casual bite. To start, the Ukrainian Borshch was a chunky purple soup made of vegetables including beets, cabbage, and potatoes, served with two soft house-baked ricotta rolls on the side. We also had the mushroom, potato, and tarragon varenyky (Ukrainian dumplings) topped with a Dijon cream sauce. Overall, though the service wasn't particularly attentive, this was still a nice cafe for some simple Eastern European dishes in a pleasant atmosphere. read more

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The best home made you can ever imagine, it is like eating at your mother's house, and the Ukrainian dishes are fantastic

The borscht is amazing. Light fresh and warm and cozy all at the same time. If you like garlic, the ricotta rolls come with a fresh garlic butter for dipping that's so good. I get the bowl and split it but it never feels like I've had enough. I get the pierogis in scallion sauce and they are the absolute best. I've wanted to try other things in the menu but having immediate favorites makes it hard to order other things knowing how much I want the stuff I love. The Ukrainian sausage and eggs is next on my list if I can ever be convinced not to get my usual at this place. The service is warm and attentive. On a Sunday expect a small wait but nothing crazy. It feels like you're in someone's dining room eating food made with love. Happy to recommend this place to anyone. read more

Shokolad - Farmer's Cheese Varenyky (pierogis) in scallion sauce with a side of fried onions - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The services is so great here. I was greater and welcomed with a warm smile immediately. I had a cup of borscht soup (savory beet soup). It was delicious and came with a side of buttery Parmesan buns that I believe they make in house. Ambiance was very soothing- lots of natural sunlight, lowfi music and the occasional sounds of the small bell on the back of the door ringing as people come in and out for coffee. read more

Shokolad - Borscht soup with buttery buns - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We go out of our way to dine hear. The best perogis on the planet. Stop by the Ukrainian museum and visit the Ukrainian churches in the area. read more

Delicious breakfast.Friendly atmosphere. Stuff were good.They automatically bring you water.Good variety of food read more

My boyfriend and I went to this little cafe for brunch and it didn't disappoint! It's very cute inside with lots of tables. Customer service was fine as well. We got a hot coffee and hot latte, which were both pretty standard. We also got the eggplant, green pea, and potato varenyky (half dozen), which was really good! The sauce was savory but not overpowering. We ordered the beef stroganoff with potatoes too, and this was our favorite dish! It was really flavorful and homey. We got the sweet pancakes as a dessert, and the texture was amazing - crunch on the tops/bottoms and fluffy on the inside. The berry compote that comes with it was also very good. Overall, I would highly recommend this cafe if you're looking for some good Ukrainian food! read more

Shokolad - Eggplant, green pea, and potato varenyky - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I love everything here. There are standards as well as special items you wouldn't find many other places. It fills up fast though and no reservations, so time your arrival well if possible. read more

Awful service. Went there once and won't go again. I asked about the name of the place and received an incredibly nasty and condescending person "waited" on me. Since I don't know the language I didn't know that Shokolad means chocolate. read more

Stopped in here for lunch one day. The place was very crowded and there were other people already waiting for tables. The service was very slow, once we ordered, we were completely ingnored. It took forever for everything, even to receive the check at the end. Veal pan fried and served in a cream sauce with sauteed onions and mushrooms. It was accompanied with potatoes and a house salad. Slow cooked Ukranian pork chop with a side salad and rice. For dessert we had the Napoleon and cheesecake. The food was outstanding, and if you have plenty of time and are not in a rush, give Shokolad a try! read more

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This is a wonderful neighborhood cafe with terrific food. The borscht was light and flavorful, and oh myyyy the pierogi/varenyky. We had both the potato and cheese and the farmers cheese with scallion sauce. Everything was delightful and the service was great. read more

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Great spot for breakfast, brunch or lunch. Excellent food and pleasant staff. The bakery items are wonderful.

Ukrainian dumplings to die for ...! And I love the vibe, feels like traveling without traveling. This used to be a secret spot with a nice Ukrainian vibe - now it is crowded with non-Ukrainian because people mix 1) donating to the war to Ukrainian who are actually in Europe right now with 2) spending their money on food with US Ukrainian But nonetheless, I absolutely love this place and come here every time read more

My parents and I came here around lunch time on a Sunday for a sweet treat after walking around the Ukrainian Village. The place is small, but was filled with people eating, laughing, and enjoying each other's company. I loved the energy in here! We just wanted to grab a cup of coffee and try a variety of cookies and cake. We ordered a few things that were recommended by staff, so if you aren't sure what to order, they're sure to help out! read more

Shokolad - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is a really cool little café with lots of Ukrainian and Russian dishes along with good coffee and great desserts read more

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My favorite part about this place is the atmosphere! Just a little sophisticated and relaxed at the same time. The sandwiches were good, satisfying and simple. They had our order ready to go for pickup and were generous with cutlery etc. Definitely a nice place to spend time on a weekend afternoon. read more

Stopped in on a short visit to Chicago several years ago and still dream about the raspberry crepes. Will definitely plan to eat here again next time I'm in town. read more

Amazing food, absolutely delicious! Would definitely recommend. Really nice ambiance and good service. My Ukrainian friends say that this food is some of the best Ukrainian food they've had outside of Ukraine. read more

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I'm originally from Ukraine, and I want to say that I have the best pierogi (vareniki) in my life here! Small place but everything is wow! read more

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sweet little cafe with classy and relaxed vibes! i love the light classical music, a nice switch up from the blaring music of other cafes ! great borsch and love that the bread is publican quality!! read more