Great sandwiches Loved the pastries Coffee was okay,having only cream and no low fat milk was surprising Don't go too early, some food are not prepared All the sandwiches are simply awesome read more

Wow! We had the Tikka Toastie and the Gulab Jamun croissant and they were both amazing! There were Gulab Jamuns in the croissant and the tikka was just the right amount of spicy. Everything looks so amazing and the things we got were very tasty. Worth a stop if you're in Chicago! read more

Swadesi Cafe - Gulab Jamun croissant - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Visited Chicago once for a weekend and came here twice for the same meal because it was so good. We still think about their chicken tikka toastie often. I had their dirty chai latte and it was amazing. The butter chicken croissant is ok, but the tikka toastie is much preferred by us. Swadesi will ALWAYS be our first stop in Chicago, honestly wanting to go back just for this place! read more

Swadesi Cafe - chicken tikka toastie, dirty chai latte - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food: the flavors are excellent! I think it's the best chai I have had in Chicago, rich, spiced and not too sweet. The food was very creative as well. I didn't find the peach and date cake that amazing to be honest but the butter croissant definitely was a hit! Service: quick, friendly. Closed at 4pm sharp though. Ambience: relaxed, ideal to work orcatch up with friends. read more

I come here almost every morning which is bad for my wallet but also I'm happy to support a South Asian-owned business, I love that this concept opened right next to me. I'm Pakistani, and their chai is very yummy, I do wish it was kind of thicker (whole milk?) to be richer but the masala flavor is good. Love the salted jaggery chocolate chip cookies, love the butter chicken croissants. Love the smoked oak vanilla latte (hot is better than iced). Honestly haven't really gone wrong! Great vibes, cute decor, they sell some snacks and stuff that look cute, and everyone who works there has been super nice. Definitely recommend. read more

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The best chai! I loved it so much, and the way it was made was just perfect. It was snowing and very cold outside in downtown Chicago, and we enjoyed some chai, croissants, and avocado toast, which were amazing. The plating was so professional. The cookies and chicken puff were incredibly tasty, and the puff was so soft and easy to eat. This place is in downtown, and I was so happy to find it. We were heading downtown with a couple of friends and searched for a cafe, and this one was on our way. It was just wow!! read more

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Place was cool. The chai was surprisingly good. I had the chicken toastie. It was good, but the chicken was still cold. For the place like this, I'd hoped to get served chai in a cup. Not a paper cup. The staff is super sweet. It was a great place to sit and work. It was quiet with good Indian music. read more

Swadesi Cafe - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I love the unique offerings at Swadesi. My first time trying to visit, the line was down the block, so giving it some time and coming back on a weekday morning made visiting here easier. We tried a few items, including the Breakfast Sandwich (Custard Egg, Crispy Potato Tikki, American Cheese, Spicy Garlic Mayo) $12, the Jaggery Chocolate Chip Cookie with Brown Butter and Sea Salt $5, and the Mango Ras Malai Jar ($8). I also enjoyed my Salted Jaggery Caramel Latte $7. Everything tasted delicious, and I have been craving that Mango Ras Malai since this visit in early summer. read more

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While walking in the Loop today, a friend and I decided to try out Swadesi for the first time. The place is stunning, with rich colors and marble-topped tables. The staff were also kind. He ordered the classic chai, and I opted for the butter chicken croissant and a jaggery chocolate chip cookie which came out to about $20 with tip. The croissant was delicious, with the burrata being a nice, if unexpected, touch. The filling had a decent kick, and the pickled onions balanced everything well. The cookie, however, was incredibly rich--almost too much for me, which says a lot. I loved the texture and flavor, but it's definitely a once-a-year treat. A little on the expensive side, but I'm glad I tried it! read more

Swadesi Cafe - Butter Chicken Croissant - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food and drinks here are always banging and interior is very nice. The only downside would be the ice cold customer service and the prices. I would love to be a regular for coffee and pastries but the prices are steep so for now it's just a special treat kind of place. read more

I finally had the time to come try out this little Indian cafe that opened up slightly right outside the loop. I knew I had to bring my boyfriend here because he's a huge fan of Indian food, also I am too especially cafes! The chaat croissant was FREAKING AMAZING! I almost wanted to order a dozen to go cause WOW I loved the spiciness/good kick it had. I was so ready to come back and try other pastries. The chai was really good! It was better than the rose/orange latte, in my opinion so I know exactly what I will get next time I'm back. I thought the breakfast sandwich was just basic, but WOW ! It looks like a hash brown, but it's like so soft and the bread is like so soft/buttery as you take a bite into it. Pictures does not do it's justice at this place. You really have to try it out! I I love the space here because you can totally work from home while sipping on a cup of hot chai during winter time. The service was semi slow when I came here but the place was also jammed pack, so I was like that's cool! The food made up for the wait! Definitely swing by here if you're around the area! read more

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Daughter: Swadesi has a nice ambiance. I didn't get anything since I'm not into coffee or Indian food, but if you are, it's worth checking out. Mom: Finally, a decent Indian chain spot in downtown Chicago! The ambiance is cute and welcoming. The chai is far better than the overly sweetened "chai lattes" you find at most coffee shops--it actually tastes authentic. I also tried the chicory coffee, which brought back memories of traditional filter coffee. My only suggestion would be to offer chai with less or no sugar, as the default was a bit too sweet for my taste. I'll definitely be going back to try their sweets next time! read more

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A must try Indian inspired cafe in the Chicago area! The chai is super delicious and the egg soufflé sandwich is an absolute must get. The rose and orange latte I had was okay, and so was the chili cheese toastie. The gajar halwa tart that we got was also so light and perfectly sweet. Love this cafe! Great for hanging out or getting work done. read more

Swadesi Cafe - Soufflé egg burger Chili cheese toastie - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I had a chance to stop by Swadesi a few weeks back. First off, the vibe of this place is great, feels like modern desi. It was pretty busy with a balance flow of people leaving and coming in. I ordered the cold brew with the rose syrup. Overall, I didn't really taste the rose in it but the cold brew itself was pretty good. I want to come back to try the food next time - they have creative twists on pastries and sweets. read more

Definitely one of my favorite places to go study and be productive. My friends and I love getting the masala chai. and while is not as good as my mom's, it definitely hits the spot and my cravings every single time. they're definitely are not a lot of seats, so if you plan on coming to do work, I recommend you try to get there early. There are only a few outlets so that may also be something to consider. The samosa chaat croissant is interesting, I like the flavors but am not sure it's for me. The service is always fast. Will definitely try the chili cheese toastie the next time I'm there. Also, if you're trying to park, there are not a lot of street parking options nearby. read more

It was my first time visiting, and it happened to be their one-year anniversary, so I got a free chia! Even without that, this place was exceptional. The service was straightforward, nothing extraordinary, but the food truly exceeded my expectations. I only tried two items from the menu, but I'll definitely be back. The puff was incredible--it was a great way to start with something savory, and the pistachio wheel was the perfect sweet finish. The ambiance was filled with remote workers, but I do wish they had more outlets. I had to leave and head to another coffee shop when my laptop died. This place is quickly becoming one of my top 10 favorite coffee spots! read more

Swadesi Cafe - Chicken tikka puff - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The rose cardamom latte was really good. Although they used rose syrup it wasn't too sweet and the flavors were well balanced. The breakfast sandwich was good but a little greasy. It's a big cafe and has plenty of seating. read more

Swadesi Cafe - Swadesi Breakfast Sandwich, rose cardamom latte - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Some friends and I swung by Swadesi to grab some drinks and tried the Swadesi masala chai, the turmeric and ginger honey latte and the orange and rose latte. I had the orange and rose latte iced with oat milk (no upcharge on alt. milks which was nice) and absolutely loved it. I loved the orange and rose flavor notes that came through and didn't think it was overly floral, which I'm always wary of. The space is beautiful and inviting and our drinks were a nice afternoon pick-me-up! read more

Swadesi Cafe - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ahh! This used to be the Ruin Daily, remember that? This is from the people behind Indienne and Sifr. The staff and service is excellent. PS. Extended hours and carry Alcohol is TBA. read more

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Enjoyed the samosa chaat croissant and a black sesame latte :) these are both packed with flavor -- they're giving earthy instead of overly sweet. This place would be great to study or WFH, they offer free WiFi and a printing station. read more

Swadesi Cafe - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First visit to Swadesi an Indian coffee shop in the loop. Had a Salted Jaggery Caramel Latte that was complex and flavorful. Also had their breakfast sandwich with a perfectly cooked custard egg, crispy potato, cheese and spicy garlic mayo. Perfect mix of flavors and textures. Got my items to go, service was friendly and efficient in a cool clean space. Parking can be tough. Definitely coming back. read more

Swadesi Cafe - Breakfast Sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A solid cup of chai to warm up a very cold day! I didn't get to try any of their pastries, but I was satisfied with the quality of the tea. Seating was a little too cramped for me to consider it a solid option to get some work done, but I did see some laptops out. read more

The cutest cafe! I like the pale blue color scheme. I loooved the chili cheese toastie, sooo cheesy! The chicken tikka was alright and both sandwiches were very filling (kept us full for hours). The iced mango & matcha was interesting although i will always prefer the original. read more

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I got to know about this place through social media post of the team behind Indienne when they announced this new Indian focused cafe. I was really thrilled as soon as I looked at the menu and some of the food pictures they had posted. My work foodie group made a plan for a Saturday and we met up here around 11 am. East street parking is there close to the cafe. And crowd was already lining up at the counter. There is limited space for seating so it gets very tight if you have a group and want to experience dine in at the cafe. For the food - I felt masala chai was decent (I make more thicker and stronger at home). The things made me go wild were rose latte, samosa chaat croissant and carrot halwa tartlet. Simply excellent mix of flavors! I also enjoyed chili cheese toastie which had Amul cheese and it made me nostalgic as I grew up eating that dairy brand. They don't have outdoor seating but I could see that happening sometime soon as there is space for few small tables and chairs. read more

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I love Indian food so I was so excited to hear Swadesi opened and to finally try it!! We arrived around 9 on a Saturday morning and it was full but not packed (yet) but we were able to get a table! They have a pretty big space and lots of seating options, but it definitely filled up fast after 9! The space is gorgeous - light-filled and modern with beautiful lighting, colors, and finishes - I love the interior! It's an odd part of west loop that is pretty quiet and super popular block. I decided to get the turmeric and ginger honey latte and the samosa chaat croissant after a stellar recommendation from the kind barista. The latte was delicious and not too sweet which I liked. It didn't have a super strong flavor to it though but was really good nevertheless. I absolutely loved the croissant! Perfectly flaky with the perfect spiced flavor. Very delicious and filling! The barista mentioned that the samosa chaat is usually the first thing to sell out. I can't wait to come back and try more menu items here! read more

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I expected More considering this place is affiliated with the only Michelin/Indian restaurant in the city. My biggest letdown was the masala chai. I've had this years ago while dining at Rooh & I was immediately in love however this version was extremely muted to say the least. The Chat & truffle popcorn was merely spicy & no truffle flavor. Best part about my visit was the chicken sandwich but it too was off putting as the bread tasted like cheap grocery store bread. I put in some effort to get here because they close at 4 & they're not open on weekends read more

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The key lime pie iced matcha latte was one of the best drinks I've ever had! They also have traditional chai.

I really liked the ambiance and vibe of Swadesi. It seems like a pretty chill place to hang out at and get some work done. It was very very busy when I went, but it had also just opened so I'm sure it would go down a little. I got the chilli cheese toastie which was alright. It is definitely overpriced in my opinion. I also got the caramel jaggery latte both hot and iced. They were both good, but the hot one was better. I think I wouldn't have tasted the jaggery though if I didn't know about it. My friend got the masala chai which was objectively not good. It was very flavorless and just bland. He also got the soufflé egg sandwich which was actually very very good. I think it's the one item I would actually come back for. read more

Swadesi Cafe - Caramel Jaggery Latte - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Omg as an outsider my friends and family came here before we hit our train ride back home to Michigan. Not only is the ambiance of the cafe inviting and warm, the food and service were impeccable. I had never had a naanwich like this before. The flavors of the chicken tikka naanwich were spicy and mouthwatering and the cilantro mint coulis it was paired with, was cooling and zesty to the pallate. After such an enveloping amount of flavor with each bite the perfect cleanser for such a cold day was ultimately the perfect cup of chai! We decided right then that every time we come back to Chicago, this place is where we will be before we go home. With that said, I cannot wait to come back! read more

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My office loves Swadesi so a few of us stopped in for a mid morning coffee and some of my coworkers grabbed from food to go. We all were super pleased with our drinks and the other girls said their food was good as well! The drinks all came out super quickly and the food took a little longer, but Swadesi has an awesome vibe that it wasn't unpleasant to hang out and wait. It wasn't too loud in there even though there were a lot of people there, I think it would be a great place to work for a few hours. I experimented and got the Rose and Orange Latte - it was fantastic! It was mildly sweet and very subtly flavored, I'm super happy I went with it! They top all their coffees with fun garnishes (which I didn't know beforehand!) and it definitely added to the umph of it :) also, no upcharge for alternative milk! I will definitely be back but I think I will try another one of their fun drinks :) read more

Swadesi Cafe - Rose + Orange Latte - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This cafe is really cute and bright! I ordered chai and the chicken tikka sandwich for lunch. Both were delicious and kept me satiated for several hours! The curry sandwich was not too spicy and I enjoyed this unique way of eating curry. The chai was lovely -- could really taste a unique blend of seasonings and it wasn't overly sweetened. For a Wednesday morning it wasn't too busy but the food did take a while to come. Would love to come back and try some of the baked goods and pastries! read more

Swadesi Cafe - Chicken tikka sandwich & chai - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The swadesi breakfast sandwich is absolutely amazing (and vegetarian). Their coffee is great too - would absolutely recommend. read more

Swadesi Cafe - swadesi breakfast sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Tried it while in Chicago, some great fusion items. The barista was great, coffee was unique and tasted amazing. The food items were fun to try and will go back there the next time I'm in Chicago. read more

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Loved this place! Great coffee, great atmosphere, unique and tasty snacks! My only complaint is I wish they were open on the weekends or later at night. I would love chill here on a Saturday or have a place like this to read or work in the evening. I feel like this area of west loop needs more evening study/work spots. Latte and food: Delicious! I highly recommend getting the Tikka toasty it's filling and rich with flavors. I must come back for the pastries they all looked amazing especially the samosa croissant. The latte was also great! I got the SALTED JAGGERY CARAMEL LATTE. It was smooth, rich, and on the sweeter side without being overly sweet which I loved. The atmosphere is perfect! When I went it was opening week so it was very crowded. But there's ample seating for individuals and larger groups so I was able to snag a seat. They do a great job of maximizing the natural light to create this open, warm, and welcoming experience. I also want to note that they mastered the best volume of music for a coffeeshop. The Indian music just feels like subtle background noise making this place good for those that was to read and work, but equally good for people that want to talk and catch up with friends without feeling awkward. Long story short so happy this place opened up and can't wait to go again and take my friends! read more

Swadesi Cafe - Tikka toasty and salted jaggery caramel iced latte - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food: We got the butter chicken croissant and the samosa chaat croissant. The butter chicken croissant was average. Biting into the croissant with those flavors weren't really great while chewing but the after taste was pretty good. It had a small kick but overall not spicy. The samosa chaat was alright but I felt like it was really dry. I feel like the flavors would be enhanced with a little bit of tamarind chutney, yogurt, cilantro mint chutney, or something that would make it a bit more. 3/5 Service: The service was quick, not more than 10-15 minutes of a wait. I'd give it a 5/5. Ambiance: The ambience was just a regular cafe type. Wish there was a little bit more decor on the ceiling and some seating outside. Overall I would give the ambience a 3.5/5. Overall: I don't really think it's worth the hype and wouldn't really be going back because it's not worth the price amount. It's just an average type of cafe. read more

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This cafe is beautiful and unique. Got a turmeric drink, savory croissant, and a cookie. All things were good and the service was really nice as well. They were helpful in their recommendations. The prices are on the higher end even for cafes today which is why I am giving it 4 stars because even for the innovation, some of their prices, both for items to buy and consume as well as additional jams and ghees that they sell are extremely high. For example, a 6oz jar of jalopeno ghee was around ~$20 iirc. However I do all in all recommend stopping by to try a unique drink and pastry but wouldn't make this place a regular. read more

After seeing enough TikTok's we finally made it out. Nice new cafe close to Greek town. The vibe is very fresh and aesthetic. Decent amount of seating and thankfully wasn't too packed midday. They have a nice variety of snacks, drinks and pastry. We tried the Salted Jaggery Latte (hot) which has a great flavor profile but lacked the caffeine hit. The breakfast sandwich was probably our favorite with a nicely spiced potato patty. Loved the samosa chaat croissant concept but it needed a little oomph. I love burrata but it didn't really mesh with the butter chicken croissant. Street parking available Service was quick read more

Swadesi Cafe - Breakfast sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came in on a Saturday at around 10am. The place was packed, so I wasn't able to sit and enjoy my chai, but thankfully the weather as amazing. I took my chai to go instead. Very spacious interior! Great ambiance, super quick service for takeout (I ordered a small chai, and it was ready to pick up within a few mins), and absolutely delicious chai. For all the desi folks out there that live in the city and are tired of lack of decent chai spots within walking distance, give Swadesi a try! I'll definitely be back to try out their food. My only issue here is that they close on Saturdays at 2pm I'm hoping that this shop continues to extend their hours on the weekends. I truly do feel that there is demand for more late night chai shops in the city, and Swadesi would make an excellent addition to that scene! read more

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I really and truly enjoyed this coffee shop more than I thought I would. We were a group of 6 and the shop was big enough to accommodate several large groups. We ordered the date cake which was absolutely delicious once warmed up and two different lattes which were both equally as good. Service was fast! Will definitely be back to try different drinks read more

Swadesi Cafe - Date cake - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I love love LOVE this cafe. I am from Edison NJ, and the pastries here absolutely fulfilled my craving for fresh, delicious desi food. I've been back 2 times already and I love trying new things from their menu-- all of their items have a unique flavor profile. I especially love the carrot hawala cake and the blood orange coffee. read more

Swadesi Cafe - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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