I understand that cupcakes are a matter of personal taste, and it is my very personal opinion that the cupcakes from Sweet Many B's are the best I've tried in Chicago. They have the right combination of sweetness (high) to cakeyness (high) that suits me just right. It's kind of a cluster in there most of the time, but eh, what can ya do. Work it out, it's worth it. Also, it's kind of hard to tell what flavors are available, but just ask. One time, I bought a cookie, 4 mini cupcakes, and 3 large cupcakes and it was $10. Maybe it was some kind of error when it got rang up, or the cupcake gods were smiling. I'm not complaining. read more

When I think about the things that I will miss the most when I eventually leave Chicago, Sweet Mandy B's definitely nears the top of the list. I have had a wide variety of their tasty offerings, and have never been disappointed. My personal favorite is their double doozie - that thing is out of this world! Two wonderful chocolate chip cookies sandwiched with an irresistible buttercream frosting. I have also had their peanut butter chip brownie, snickerdoodle, and several of their cupcakes, all of which I can recommend whole-heartedly. Aside from the baked goods, the shop is a class act. The employees are attentive and friendly despite a line that always seems large and bustling. They recently expanded their space to include a large sitting area, making enjoying their delicious treats that much easier. The best thing about this bakery is that they are open late almost every night of the week! Sweet Mandy B's is a must-try if you like delicious desserts as much as I do. read more

This place is just cute as a cupcake! Ha, yah... I just did that! :) But seriously, this place makes a mean cupcake. I love, love, love the lemon and the strawberry! Basically, I love that they have lots of options for people that aren't completely in love with chocolate. read more

What?!?!?! No review for Sweet M.B? So if you know me.....you know I'M IN LOVE WITH CUPCAKES. Yes, that had to be in all CAPS! I've been here twice maybe 3 times. The first time I actually stopped in on a Saturday morning to pick up an order I made for 2 dozen cupcakes. I'm a chocolate on chocolate kinda girl. I can't really say that I'm just excited to have one of their cupcakes. So guess what? I made another go at it several months later. I did however remember not to stop in on a Saturday again with all the kids running around...yikes! Talk about sugar high! Stop #2 was a bit better. Again I ordered their chocolate cupcake and I enjoyed the cake but the frosting is just a tad bit much for me. I can't review any of the other items they sell but I will say that the staff is pretty nice. read more

This place is great! I needed cake for 100 people for a staff birthday! I called and they delivered the next day with existing cakes they had on hand. They decorated them perfectly and delivered to the 28th floor downtown and it was perfect. I live in Texas and had the cakes delivered downtown Chicago. Everyone cheered and raved when they found out! People skipped lunch to have all 3 flavors! Thank you so much. You saved the day when I procrastinated. read more

Adorable bakery with giant cupcakes in fun flavors like Cinnamon Toast Crunch and funfetti. My husband is the biggest fan of their rich, dense cakes and buttercream frosting. Employees are super nice, and very helpful with phone/pick up orders. read more

Sweet Mandy B's - Sweet Mandy B's birthday cake - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

As part of my cupcake research I decided to try Sweet Mandy B's because of all the rave reviews. http://medillimc.tumblr.com/ The store was cute and smelled great when you walked in. However, I left feeling very disappointed. I tried 3 cupcakes an employee recommended: orange creamsicle, yellow cake w/chocolate frosting, and red velvet. The presentation was poor, but I can put that aside for a really good product. The orange was good, but the other two were a huge disappointment (I couldn't eat the whole thing). The red velvet was dry and tasteless. I don't know if it was the frosting or the cake but the yellow cake w/chocolate frosting had a chemical/artificial after taste. read more

Why do I only give Sweet Mandy B's 3 Stars? Because I give them 5 for their cupcakes and 1 for their other goods. 3 IS MY COMPROMISE!! Definitely the best cupcakes I have had so far in the city. Great cake, great frosting, perfect frosting to cake ratio. I would go back here a thousand times for their cupcakes. However, I will never buy anything else from Sweet Mandy B's beside their cupcakes. I have had their pies, cookies, puddings and cakes and was not impressed. Too much sugar in some, strange textures in others. Yuck. I've never had a good experiences with any of their non-cupcake items. Nothing was impressive, and everything was always really good somewhere else and really mediocre here. But, the CUPCAKES ARE EXCELLENT! Again 3 stars is my compromise here - Great cupcakes, Crappy everything else. Fairly high prices, but the cupcakes are the only thing that is worth it! read more

I love Sweet Mandy B's!!! I tell people about it all the time esp. new or prospective students. They would have gotten 5 stars except that they close early every once and a while without notice and once it was on my birthday and Sweet Mandy B's was the only thing I wanted, but I love them no matter what. When in season they make the best pumpkin cupcakes ever, but when it's out of season they make a mean double doozie. read more

I have not tried EVERYThING but I can assure you, as far as flavor, consistancy and pricing go Sweet Mandy B's has it all. My family usually picks up about 6-8 items ranging from brownies, to rice crispies, to cupcakes, to cookies, etc. And the bill never tops $15. I find the staff pleasant, but the patrons can be rude and obnoxious. Plan on having to open your mouth either to call out a 'line cutter' or to ask a parent if their child would prefer a collar and a leash. But try it!! And their turtle brownie I've had was an orgasmic delight. read more

I thought that the reviews of this place must have been over-blown. No way could any place be this good. Wrong again. Utter tastiness! As I've written previously, we're looking for cupcakes instead of a wedding cake. Well, the boy is sick and tired of trying of cupcakes and I had to practically drag him here. So he got a carrot cupcake (his fave) and I got a lemon. Right away he apologized for complaining. He said this was the best carrot cupcake he'd ever had. My lemon was amazing, too. And they're only 1.95? Awesome! Plus, the place was hopping but the people working were very quick and friendly, even with the obnoxious customers who refused to get in the correct line. read more

Having lived in a big city all my life, I really enjoy an experience that takes me out of my element. This is one of those places. From the decor to the employees. The desserts are not as fancy or as inventive as let's say More cupcakes (YUM btw) but they are excellent executions of traditional recipes. You can tell the freshness and qualitiy in their products from the very first bite. Prices are also very reasonable..cupcakes, cookies, and pies. They also do cakes for your occasions as well. I love this place read more

THE BEST CUPCAKES IN CHICAGO!!! I love cupcakes -- and have probably been to every cupcake place in downtown Chicago. I was introduced to Sweet Mandy B's last week on my birthday -- and I feel in love. It was truly love at first sight -- the best frosting ever (butter-cream). I actually don't like most frosting -- it's either to much, too rich or dry. But Sweet Mandy B's is perfection....the cupcake is so moist and melts in your mouth. The other sweets looks amazing too -- I will be back for sure to try them. But all I know it I love their cupcakes!!! My NEW favorite. read more

This place is so adorable and the best part is that everything always tastes even better. Great place to catch up with my bffs and my favorite red velvet cupcakes. Parking isn't always the best, but its a nice neighborhood to stroll through, so even parking a few blocks away is even a hidden treat to help burn away some of the extra tasting nibbles you may try. read more

It's cute, It's endearing, it's yummy, it's the perfect place to take my 2 year old and her posse of toddler friends. While no I would not say that Sweet Mandy B's ranks top notch in bakery-sweet locations in the city, it does have a very fun and kiddo-friendly environment that is pretty darn irresistible and makes my 2 year old swoon with delight every time we enter. Bright colors and copious amounts of sugar abound here. The buttercream that they use for their cupcakes and fillings is really tasty, but be forewarned that you may be in a sugar coma afterwards... their goodies are VERY sweet. I do love the variety old-fashioned treats they offer as well as the overall sweet and simple style. Everything is very classic and traditional American pastry fare here. They do a great job of making you feel like you're a kid again, being treated to an after-school morsel while sitting on a brightly colored stool, watching the pastry candy wizards work their magic. The 4 stars is simply because I feel like their pastries tend to be too much on the sweet, sugary, and well, simple side which while it does fit in line with their aesthetic and vibe, it does not knock my socks off taste-wise so while I would take my 2 year old here for a tasty treat, I would choose a different location if I were to get one for myself. read more

The BEST bakery ever! Getting a cake for my mother's 98th birthday party as a dear friend have her a pre-birthday cake and now my mom is addicted! I have only had their cakes but I understand from my obsessed daughter that there couldn't be much if anything that's not to love! Sinful is a good way to describe it and I look forward to being very sinful addicted to Sweet Mandy b's!!!!! read more

Sweet Mandy B's - A Pineapple Upside Down cake & a 2-layer cake with chocolate frosting, one layer marble and the other white! - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Best damn cupcakes in Chicago. Also try the double doozie (cookie & buttercream icing sandwich). Very decadent. It's like walking into Wonka's factory and not having to turn into a giant blueberry. We usually run in and take our sweet treats to go, as there is not much available parking in the area. We had to quit the double doozie habit, because it caused such a blood sugar rocket/downwared spiral that we'd fall asleep on the couch after eating them. Pitiful. Maybe it was just that we were substituting DINNER for the double doozies to be calorie-conscious. Now I just stick to the cupcakes. They're the perfect size. read more

It goes without saying that this place ranks among the BEST bakeries in Chicago. I'm only writing this review (they already have so many good ones) to alert some on a particular cookie that, in my household has been deemed the 'best cookie i have ever ate in my entire life i would die for it in every way' this cookie is the Iced Molasses cookie. a LARGE chewy molasses cookie topped with a large portion of buttercream frosting. It stays moist, even if you don't eat it right away (although you will) My suggestion: get one for yourself and one for someone you love bc after eating the cookie they will love you back. Hard. read more

Sweet Mandy B's is my reward for battling traffic and parking when we visit friends in the city, even on a Cubs game, marathon, music festival weekend it is worth it! Walking into this sweets filled pastel heaven, your face can't help but smile or maybe start to drool. I always feel like a little kid as I stare into the glass cases wanting to order every last thing. Thankfully my husband tries to enforce a limit for me. The biggest draw is the cupcakes, but I have yet to find a real miss. The Cookie Monster cupcake is outstanding. A decadent chocolate chip cookie baked into a moist cupcake- wowza! Add in an amazing creamy, sweet frosting and you are in dessert nirvana. The original basic cupcake is also not to be missed, go for the vanilla cake I find the chocolate a tad dry for my tastes. The frosting is so good you can order a cup of it alone. Other home runs for me include the peanut butter chocolate ricekrispy treat, the raspberry bar, and the iced sugar cookies. Find a friend who lives nearby and visit them often. read more

Best birthday cake ever!! It creamy and rich but not too sweet (filled with vanilla and chocolate).

holy cow, the best icing ever!!! Everything there is delicious, you really can't go wrong. I ordered a cake for a friends 30th party. It was ready when they said it would be, and I was in and out of there quickly (despite the line out the door) Everyone at the party ranted and raved about how great the cake was! It was a hit! read more

What better way to enjoy a quiet Saturday night than with a pocket full of cupcakes? That's what I figured last night. After dinner, my friends and I meandered over to Sweet Mandy B's to try out their much talked about cupcakes. As we walked in, the place just exuded "bakery". From the baby blue paint, to the cakes in the front window, we were ready for some sweets. There were several to choose from, and we found ourselves ordering all of them. And here we go: Chocolate Frosting on Chocolate Cake: The cake was a little dry, but the frosting was oh so sweet. Vanilla Frosting on Chocolate Cake: The cake was moist this time, but the frosting left you wanting more. There just wasn't enough vanilla in the frosting. Red Velvet: Probably the best red velvet I've had so far in Chicago! In conclusion, if I'm in the area, I wouldn't mind stopping by for a quick nibble, but I don't expect to make a special trip out there. Oh and lastly, they overfilled their cupcakes, causing a crusty top layer. As a bakery, I would expect them to have determined the proper amount of batter to prevent the cupcake from overflowing. read more

Instead of getting one big, fancy wedding cake or go for the ubiquitous cupcakes, I ordered a buffet of cakes from Sweet Mandy Bs. All in, we had 9 cakes of varying sizes and flavors--from vanilla and red velvet to carrot and lemon--including one two-tier devil's food cake with white-on-white scrollwork that was our nod to tradition. I had a great tasting there one afternoon, and they preferred that we order only a few months in advance (about 2). Everything with our order went as planned and the cake buffet was a HUGE hit with our guests! However, you should be aware that they do not deliver, so you will need to make arrangements for pick up yourself (our day-of coordinator did this for us). Visually stunning. Totally delicious! read more

Anyone who doesn't rate this 5 stars is insane. Best bakery in the world. Cupcakes are amazing, chocolate covered peanut butter cookies rock. My favorite are the sugar cookies with butter cream frosting. Seriously amazing. read more

I love this place. Today I brought in cupcakes for my whole team at work, and they were a HUGE hit. I think I might be the most popular person in the office now. The cake is very dense, and the frosting is delicious. I'm not a huge frosting fan, but I love Sweet Mandy B's frosting. In fact, saying I'm not a huge frosting fan is actually putting it lightly. I HATE frosting and before I discovered this place, the only cake frosting I would eat was at Magnolia Bakery in NYC. I scoured Chicago to find a comparable cupcake, and Sweet Mandy B's is it! They are pretty big cupcakes though. I had wanted to get the minis, but heads up - you have to pre-order them they don't just have them around for sale. The staff does a great job of putting together a cupcake arraignment, so it looks as well as tastes fantastic. Although cupcakes are what they're famous for, Sweet Mandy B's does so much else. The cookies are phenomenal, and I love the whoopie pie. I also saw a sign that the are serving ice cream now! I'll have to come back and try it - and probably get a cupcake as well! :) read more

My sister hates me for taking her to this place. She lives in Wyoming, and after tasting Sweet Mandy B's, she swears I have ruined all other cupcakes for her. The cupcakes are top-notch and the buttercream is dreamily smooth and not too sickly sweet. But for my money, the coconut cream pie is the way to go. No other pie has ever come close to this one. My husband loves the cookies, especially the chocolate cookie with mint chips. The price is right too. We always walk out with a big bag of goodies for well under $20. If you can't find something you like here, your sweet tooth is broken! read more

OMG, this place is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. I drive 40 miles from the suburbs for birthday cakes and don't regret a single minute of it - this place is legendary and delicious. Everything is good, but you'll never eat another cake again after you get a slice or a birthday cake from there. I can't say enough good things about them - I only worry by telling you there won't be enough Gold Medal Bars left for me :) read more

Picked up a 6-inch, 3-layer yellow cake with vanilla buttercream frosting for a birthday. Cake was perfectly moist and the frosting was a hit! I recommend leaving it out at room temperature to soften the frosting. By other grocery store bakery prices, it's a little more, but if you're going to get a cake, might as well pick up the best. I also picked up: - peppermint brownie - VERY good, for any lover of peppermint; great with coffee - Cookie Dough cookie sandwich - rich as expected - red velvet cupcakes - always a sure thing; best in the city compared to any other read more

I really like dessert and sweet mandy B is one of my favourite spot in the city. i especially liked their pecan brownie, it is not too sweet and the pecan on the top really compliment the brownie well. read more

Sweet Mandy B's - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

"Traditional homemade desserts" is an accurate description of this cute sweet bakery. With mostly varieties of sugar cookies and vanilla cakes with buttercream it plays on the simple and sweet. I had the chocolate pudding pie and my husband a banana bread pudding both of which were very tasty. Love that they serve varieties of milk to pair with your order. There's a cute area to sit and eat which fits with the overall vibe of pastels reminiscent of a classic bakery. While you can dine in or carry out, I wish that for dining in there were real plates and silverware instead of plastic spoons, cheap paper plates and plastic containers - would fit better with the traditional feel. read more

Eight years later and Sweet Mandy B's is still a slam dunk. Due to moving out of the 'hood, and the north side at that, I hadn't been here in many years. I'm both loving and hating that I recently revisited Sweet Mandy B's. Loving it because it is SO GOOD. Everything! Cupcakes, cookies, rice krispies, brownies, you name it. But hating that it's two months before my wedding and now I'm constantly craving those buttercream frosted rice krispie squares. So much so that I'd be willing to take train ride up there just to get one. read more

Sweet Mandy B's - Rice Krispie Treat with buttercream frosting. Amazing. - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Dear lord, I love me some Sweet Mandy B's. Cookies: fantastic, all kinds I have tried but particularly the chocolate with cherries. Cupcakes: scrumptious. Peanut butter rice crispy bars: phenomenal. The cakes: adorable and delicious. Actually, I have never been disappointed by anything from S.M.B. and I can be somewhat critical of baked goods. This place is very cute, usually busy (can be a bit too overloaded with children some/most times), but definitely worth a trip and a bag full of assorted baked godliness. read more

One of the most memorable parts of our wedding was when my dad sat down, took a bite of a Sweet Mandy B's cupcake, stared at it, flailed is arms into the air and said, "THIS IS THE BEST CUPCAKE I HAVE EVER HAD." So effing good. We got red velvet, chocolate, vanilla, pumpkin and carrot. People raved about the cupcakes. It was hilarious. The cakes had people in some sort of trance. The only downside of doing our wedding cupcakes through SMB was that we had to pick them up ourselves. Ah, a small price to pay for sweet bliss. read more

We recently ordered cupcakes & a 2 tier (3 layers per tier) for our wedding and it was fantastic! The tasting was too much fun. My parents, sister and I went (I wasn't really sure what to expect) and were greeted with a giant platter of cupcakes. Each type was explained and we were left to our own devices... if I hadn't been concerned about fitting into a wedding dress, I think I would have made myself sick! During and after the wedding we had so many compliments (the majority of our guests were out of towners and had never tasted SMB's -- they loved it) Cost: I wish I could remember the specifics, but I do remember it being very affordable... especially for the tiered cake! Tip 1: They do not deliver orders so it's up to you to make that happen. Lucky for me, I had a nice uncle who was up to the challenge of transporting a wedding cake. Tip 2: This isn't the type of place that you need to get your order in months in advance (in fact they don't want it too far ahead of the event.) read more

I was introduced to Sweet Mandy B's a few years ago by a friend who used to order birthday cakes. While back in Chicago for the weekend, I stopped in to pick up an order of cupcakes and ended up trying the red velvet cabinet cupcake. It was AMAZING and had to be at least 1000 calories! I highly recommend trying it, but must warn you that you will need a nap afterwards. read more

Sweet Mandy B's is precious. Walking in you feel like you're in heaven. Between all of the natural light and bright décor, I instantly felt happy. I was already pretty full from eating pizza right before, but still wanted two desserts because they all looked so good; I opted for just a lone cupcake. Sometimes when eating cupcakes at bakeries they tend to be too dense, too dry, flavorless with no much frosting and are underwhelming, but honestly I was pretty impressed with my cupcake from Sweet Mandy B's. I got a vanilla cupcake (I think) that had a chocolate chip cookie baked in at the bottom. The idea was unique as I've never seen a cupcake like that on any menu before. The cupcake itself was tasty and moist, unlike those unforgettable ones I've had at overpriced places like Sprinkles. In addition to the delectable cupcake, the customer service of the employees was really professional, yet warm and welcoming. I think this is a quality business! read more

Not the best cupcakes in the city BY FAR.(Molly's is-sorry!) Kinda dry and the buttercream frosting very flat. Nothing more special than pilsbury or box recipes. BUT I did love the chocolate frosting and ADORED this GIANT peanut butter-chocolate INSANELY AWESOME brownie!! It was so sweet and rich I couldn't even eat more then 2 bites at a time- would definately go back for it. I got like a sugar buzz Bart Simpson style (you know, when him and Milhouse have Squishy's...) read more

I've heard whispers about the goods at SMB for many years and finally made it there today to taste the hyped cupcakes. The cupcakes were good enough, but not great. My all time fav cupcake, red velvet, was a little disappointing - it was kinda dry, and the icing was way too sweet for me. I could barely tell if it was cream cheese frosting or just pure whipped sugar. I also tried a banana cupcake with vanilla icing, which had a great flavor, but was also a little dry. The shop itself reminds me of playing Candyland as a kid... pastel colors all over the place. The cookies and cakes looked great. All and all... this place is good, but will I drive out of my way again for a SMB cupcake? Unlikely. read more

Wow.... how can you not stop in to this cute old-fashion looking bake shop. I swear it calls my name. And that is not good since it's close to my gym and I pass it on the way home. I always go for the cupcakes (white cake with pink or purple frosting) and they are so good. Light and fluffy yet the sinful buttercream is hands down the best. This place is very pricing... 2 dozen cupcakes cost $48 dollars but my boss was in town for work and it happened to be her birthday so I decided to splurge....it was really for my sake though since I was on birthday committee and i really wanted Sweet Mandy B's. I have to give a shout out to the peps over there for rushing my order. I called it in about 3 in the afternoon and they were able to accommodate my request by 8 am the next morning. I truly appreciate this and will be back again. read more

I've got my whole family hooked on this bakery. Since my brothers live in the suburbs, I would usually do a run by here and grab some cupcakes and other desserts on my way out to see them. Now that I have introduced them, we're all hooked. While there are definitely a lot of fancier bakeries, I like the straightforward old fashioned style of this place. This is definitely an all-American, old fashioned style bakery. The desserts seemed to be made from real ingredients as if you baked them in your own kitchen, but just that much yummier. The cupcakes are truly the best cupcakes I have had. Just good cake and frosting, not overloaded with fillings and toppings like other places. My family is crazy about the Red Velvet - I have had anything better anywhere I have traveled. Lemon, and the vanilla/chocolate combos are great as well. And their cocoa, I have no idea what they use, but it's delish. Sometimes I'll take home a brownie or the mini flourless chocolate cake. Warmed and served with vanilla ice cream - heaven! read more