What a cute little place! But it's not that big. Love their breakfast. They come in large servings. HEADS UP : It's a cash only place read more

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Cash only restaurant. There were four of us dining. Coffee, potato pancakes with bacon & cheddar and Swedish pancakes were really good. Scrambled eggs were cooked very hard and were rubbery. Service was a bit slow to begin; fair throughout meal. When we received the bill, they had already add 20% to the total (including tax). Their presumption that their service they provided was worth 20% was a bit off-putting. The fact that they did so on the tax is completely unacceptable. For this reason we will never return which is unfortunate. Note: This restaurant used to have lines out the door to get in. This morning (9:30 am on a Sunday), at most 1/3 of the seats were full. read more

A very cute, very vintage diner in Andersonville - Svea will keep you well fed at breakfast or lunch. This spot has been a Swedish restaurant for many, many years - I love that they have kept the old signs and pictures. We visited for lunch, but breakfast was still available. They're home of the "Viking Breakfast" which is a mountain of food, great if you overdid it on ale and aquavit earlier. I opted for a meatball sandwich ($14) which came open faced, with a half dozen plump meatballs, 2 scoops of potatoes and a nice gravy. So much food! I ended up taking half to go. Portions are hearty as befits a Viking themed spot and overall the quality and flavor were good! I'd visit again on my next voyage to raid & pillage Andersonvilles vintage shops. read more

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I went for breakfast and was very disappointed. My salt pork was inedible and the eggs were overcooked. Plus the prices were astounding! The service was adequate. read more

Consistency in cooking is very important. Used to go once per week with a dear friend. I learned about Limpa toast & lingonberries on the Swedish crepes!!! Delicious. Small & cozy restaurant. Try the Viking breakfast ....which give a sample of things....and it's cash only. read more

I loved the quaint Swedish interior and enjoyed my breakfast here. Swedish pancakes are a rare offering and I couldn't believe how much these tasted like my mom's homemade ones, without her having to slave away at the batter and cooking process. I like eggs for breakfast so I had eggs as well, which weren't bad but next time I'd skip those and opt for more pancakes. Especially the "toast" that came with, which I chose English muffin and the good brands from the grocery store are far better. Wasn't very hot either. We were there on a Sunday morning and we had four of us at a 4-top in the row of tables parallel to the bar. One thing that ruffled me was they asked me to scoot in my chair to allow people to get by easier (not a big person but do have long-ish legs, and there was nowhere else for my puffer coat to go other than under me with some overhang off the back/sides of the chair). I tried to adjust as best I could but there was absolutely nowhere for my legs to go or another place to put my coat. So they seemed huffy and annoyed with me every time they passed by. I really was not taking up an abnormal amount of space, and I can't imagine this is an infrequent issue so I feel they should try to modify their table placement. The service also wasn't that friendly in general. Also some question as to the safety of having a candle burning in the small, wooden-walled bathroom. We knew it was cash only, but it was kind of a shock how much cash it took to cover our four breakfasts, 3 simple coffees, and 1 OJ (around $100). I think they should take cards. In summary, Swedish pancakes 5 stars, all other parts of the experience eh. read more

Svea - Swedish pancakes, eggs, English muffin (very bland), potatoes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Quite disappointed in the quality here. What a disservice to Swedish meatballs! There's so much potential if they could put more passion into the plate. read more

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Three years later and the place is just as genuine, interesting and serving incredibly good food as they were the last time! We still LOVE it! I got the Loki, with salmon, and my wife got a customized omelet and they both hit the spot! This is the best place to get Swedish breakfast in Chicago! read more

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Nice , homey vibe. It feels like you're in your Swedish grandmas kitchen. As lifetime Chicagoans we knew about Andersonville and its Swedish heritage, so today we made the trip across town to try Svea. I loved the idea of a Viking Breakfast and some good authentic lingonberry Swedish pancakes. The place is cash-only which they let you know right away, and it's small and cozy inside. After Svea, make sure to stop across the street at RAYGUN, the "Greatest Store in the Universe" according to their sign read more

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Out in Andersonville and needed a break walking. We stopped in for something different. I got yellow split pea soup. It was good. And a Swedish meatball dinner. I like the veg the mashed potatoes and the gravy. The meatballs weren't my favorite. I didn't expect them to taste like IKEA but I wasn't ready for the texture. They were very dense. I'm guessing these were closer to real Swedish meatballs. Husband got an omelette. He was happy with it. It is always nice to try new places. Service was good and the restaurant was cute. read more

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CASH ONLY!!! Charming little Swedish restaurant. Service was prompt but lukewarm. Ham was a generous slab and tender. Potato pancakes were a bit on the mushy side, get the cheddar bacon potato pancake (Thor plate) for crispier texture. The Swedish meatballs were dense and hearty, sadly I can't believe I'm writing this but IKEA meatballs are better. read more

Service was very friendly and food was great. Had a good hardy breakfast with old friends, and this place is even accommodating of kid's nut allergy. I'll be back! read more

I've been there before Covid. I've lived in the neighborhood and around watching our corner of Scandinavia shrink. But I'm so in love with this place( especially the coffee!) that I can't say enough.Janet the waitress is amazing . It's definitely family owned and operated. Best Sweedish pancakes in the us. And beautifull windows, and Yule decorations. Viva Svea 2!!!and they coat hooks on the wall ( next to counter) for this winter!!! read more

Svea - Svea 2 , Andersonville, Chicago - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Outstanding food This is one of the tastiest places in Chicago Great service Friendly people read more

This place is so cute inside & out, reminds me of when I walked through some towns in Sweden. The Swedish pancakes are the best I have ever had! The Swedish meatballs were very good as well! If you get breakfast get the combo plates save you money & you get a variety. The waiter was really nice everyone there was really nice, great service! Very helpful explaining things- we will be returning! read more

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Got to check out Svea with my friend and let me say it was great, so let me get into it! The food was amazing every bite made me want to order another dish! And the freshness of the food was amazing. I have never had Swedish food and I honestly loved it very much. The service was great our waiter walked us through the menu and even gave us advice on what to order. He even talked to us about the history of Svea and Swedish people. And he made sure we were okay and if we needed anything. The atmosphere or ambiance like I call it, was great the decor and all the pictures and things on the wall made me feel about the culture! Overall, I will say give Svea a try if you want to try Swedish food and tastes amazing! read more

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The Swedish meatballs were TO DIE FOR!! The place was really cute and my friends loved their breakfast dishes, too! read more

Svea - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have seen the Swedish Breakfast sign many times and always wanted to come! We had breakfast before Midsommarfest. The Swedish pancakes and lingonberries were very tasty and not too heavy. The server kept the iced coffee flowing. The decor is Swedish and homey - it's a casual place with just a few tables and some barstools. read more

Aight Maybe I'm just in a bad mood because I got here last night and had a garbage dinner down the block at a place they give 4-5 stars, and there was nothing impressive here at SVEA either; Perhaps I should lighten up and realize I'm judging a Swedish breakfast here... Okay... This was so lackluster I never even finished writing the review from over a year ago, so I'll just say the only thing memorable about this place is the gross fat af hotdog they serve as breakfast sausage and the basic b potatoes- none of my Viking breakfast or the food my company had were anything worthy of a couple stars, service certainly wasn't either. Chicago started disappointing us fast on this trip thanks to Svea. read more

Svea - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

After several months of living in the area, we finally made it to Svea for brunch and we were blown away! We were immediately smitten when we walked into Svea with the retro diner vibe, cutesy Swedish decor, and the warm welcome from the wait staff. Once seated, we started with delicious coffee as we analyzed the extensive menu and tried to decide what to get. No matter what, we have to go back because there are at least 4 more things that I want to try! My husband ended up getting one of the meat and veggie omelets and he loved it! Super flavorful and hearty, especially with the crispy Swedish style breakfast potatoes! Since Svea is known for their 'Viking Breakfasts,' I know I had to get one of them. After chatting with the wonderful server, I ended up getting the 'Frigg' so that I could get eggs my way (sunny side up), wheat toast, falkurov sausage, and lingonberry cream cheese stuffed Swedish crepes. Oh. My. GOODNESS! It was so good! Everything was perfect, delicious, reasonably price, and super filling. Of course, the crepes were my favorite, but I LOVED getting the whole meal together! Yum yum yum! Finally, did you know Svea has been around since 1932? This is truly a local/historic staple! You've got to stop by and support this wonderful local business when you can! And SO delicious, too! Stop by Svea next chance you get, I promise you'll have a delectable experience! read more

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Breakfast of Vikings! Absolutely wonderful Swedish restaurant in Andersonville. Super quick and very attentive service which we love, everyone seems incredibly accommodating, accepting, and genuine. Decor is absolutely wonderful and adorable. We ordered the Odin & Balder. Can I just say that first of all, I love that there's a lot of options for food. My balder veggie omelette came with toast, tomatoes, and Dutch pancakes (which taste like Polish jam rolls if you've ever had them). Husband's Odin meal was wonderful as well, really great falkurov sausage. Highly recommend coming here! read more

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Good food but slow getting out of the kitchen. Service good . Plain decor . Nothing special but longevity and history.

A neat restaurant that is Swedish themed in everything from the exterior to the menu to the food and all the decorations. This is a perfect place to go to complement a visit to the Swedish American museum nearby with prices that are quite reasonable and quick and efficient service. The food here was alright for me, not the most amazing versions of these dishes that I've ever had but reasonably good and filling. The swedish pancakes did have a fairly eggy and buttery flavor, and matched well with the lingonberry jam though I do wish that they were a bit more chewy. The omelettes with potatoes were filling and had pretty fresh vegetables inside. The potatoes could have used a little extra seasoning however. I found the swedish meatballs to be pretty underwhelming, relying almost completely on the gravy cream for flavor which wasn't enough to make up for the lack of seasoning in the meatball. Overall, not a bad choice for a meal in a heavily Swedish themed space. read more

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As we were seated, we asked the busboy to turn down the music when the waiter came over and said that he couldn't turn the volume down, only the owner could, he went on to say that he only could turn the music on or off, not up and down. I thought that was a strange response. We ordered coffee but it was a little too strong but acceptable. when we got a refill, It was so much better. I ordered the "Swedish Tease". I tried the Swedish Sausages but didn't like them at all. They tasted like bologna, too bland for me but my friend's bacon was cooked perfectly, the pancakes were very good along with the Loganberries. One other thing that bothered me was the banging of dishes and cups much louder than normal. The one thing that stood out for me was our server. He was great and always asked us if we needed anything the second refill of coffee included. There's one "all gender" bathroom that could use a good cleaning. I might go back to try the Swedish Meatballs or the sandwiches. read more

Expensive!! Which is annoying when cash only. A little slow, took three kids ages 5-10 and myself, no drinks, no meat and $75 for breakfast. Glad we tried it, liked the Swedish pancakes, don't need to go back. read more

To answer your question, yes, eat here! Coming back from a trip to Europe, I wanted to catch up with my brother over brunch at a place that felt inherently European-inspired -- enter Svea. Svea is open until 2 PM most days and I'm glad because we arrived at 1PM on a Sunday. The atmosphere is cozy but no frills. The service was quick and very friendly as well. My brother and I both ordered the Swedish Tease. Home style cooking is my favorite and this did not disappoint. My scrambled eggs were buttery, the Swedish pancakes paired well with the berry sauce, and the falukorv sausage was seasoned well. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking to have a uniquely Swedish-inspired breakfast, lunch, or brunch! read more

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Bizarre experience and a real tragedy in a neighborhood with an amazing food scene. The place was empty which should have been our sign to avoid, but wanted to give them a chance. They were out of meatballs, the prices are insanely high for what compares to IHOP quality breakfast. We got to watch the waiter reheat our food in the microwave before bringing it to our table. Over $50 for an apple juice and two lingonberry crepe plates, one with sausage and one with eggs and toast. Is this place a money laundering front or something?! Go to Lost Larson down the block!!! read more

Svea - Our microwaved crepes. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

When my husband and I went to Andersonville, we wanted to have a Swedish experience, so we stopped at Svea for lunch. This neighborhood Swedish restaurant looks the part on the inside. We were shocked that the prices here were very reasonable, maybe even cheap. I got the Pipi Longstocking omlete that came with potatoes and an English muffin for $13. The food was good, but not special. The severs were very attentive, almost hovering to clear our plates as soon as we were done. Overall, I recommend Svea for good food and fantastic prices. read more

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3.5 South American family carry on the Swedish tradition by giving you your herring, your meatballs, and other Swedish favs. Scratches the itch, but not in a culinarily excellent way; all good just no "wow" factor. Nice folks without being super accommodating. Now closes at 2pm not 3 pm. Washroom is basic but clean. read more

Small-diner type spot with delicious basic breakfast. Sometimes you just want eggs, meat, potatoes, & toast and this is the place for it. Service was friendly & attentive. Will definitely return. Also fyi- they do accept credit cards now. read more

Amazing. I can't recommend any other place as highly as I can recommend this one. All the food is amazing, everyone who works there is working their butts off every second you are there, the prices are reasonable, and overall it just feels like a place that you want to be dining at and hanging out at and make a part of your community. This place is amazing. Definitely get there at least 20 minutes before they close. They will still see you, but you just want your time to enjoy the food. read more

How in the world is this place a 4 star average?! This is the kind of place that makes me not trust Yelp. Food is below basic diner food!! Ambiance is meh. Service was worse than meh. Finally, i have a small rant as someone with a gluten allergy. There is nothing, and i mean nothing, on the menu that someone with a gluten allergy can eat. Even the eggs- they make them on the same griddle as pancakes. It's so awful to go to a place, get excited to eat, and then have to make your friend leave because you can't eat there. So instead I took a chance and just had eggs but yeah got sick from them (I will give them credit that I was warned). All it takes is a small effort to put something on the menu that someone with. a gluten allergy can actually eat. Just one thing. Overall, this place uses a Viking gimmick to cover for some very mediocre cooking. There are soooo many better places on Clark - look elsewhere! read more

Current COVID hours are Thursday through Sunday 7A to 2P with 3 tables indoors and 9 tables on the patio, yes they now have a patio! Ample space to be socially distant out back with a majority of the tables shaded. So great to see places work with the current situation. For the moment they are accepting credit cards if you prefer to not use cash. Same great food, same friendly staff. read more

Svea - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Really good Swedish Restaurant!! Good Food, Service & attention to Scandanavian Attention!!! JA!!! read more

I've been coming here literally since I was in a high chair. My mom took me every Sunday after church and now being an adult living in California, everytime I visit I make a point to stop by. To start, the people who work there are beyond amazing. So kind, so thoughtful, they know who I am and make sure to say hi Everytime I'm in. The food is delicious, made with love. I miss the pancakes in California, there's truly nothing like it. read more

Svea - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went there with a friend this morning and we both left feeling sick. I barely ate what I ordered because it was so bad. Also way overpriced for what you get. I don't know how places like this stay in business. read more

I waited for Covid restrictions to be lifted so I can try this place now that they are open again for dine in..and it was worth the wait. Love the Swedish pancakes and the Swedish sausage it was so yummy and made with veal for better protein. Price is not big so can't bring large parties but the food was delicious and a must try if your in Andersonville area. read more

Svea - Menu - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I love the place. Food is fresh, the portion is right, not the absurd amount of food you sometimes encounter. A secret is the brown mustard they serve the breakfast with. It goes fantastic with the eggs and fulkorve sausage. Limpa toast or Swedish pancake is my recommended side. Swedish pancake tastes slightly sweet and pleasing without condiments, but lingonberry jam is also great. The service is friendly and efficient. We will be back! read more

Great Swedish breakfast spot in Andersonville. Service is friendly, food is good, and the interior of the restaurant is really cute, with lots of Swedish decor. My favorite is the Swedish Tease, with one swedish pancake (with lingonberry sauce, of course) and two eggs. Always a good place to meet friends or family for a nice casual breakfast or brunch. read more

It is like an old friend. Familiarity can be good and Svea is a comfy cove in a sea of chaos. The bright chairs against blue paneling and the wonderful old sign keeping you company. The menu is predictable American fare with Nordic accents like Limpa bread and Swedish sausage. The Viking Breakfast is only for a hearty eater. The coffee is strong. The service respectful. When you need authentic comfort, Svea awaits your visit. read more

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