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Cafe 53

4.4 (392 reviews)
Closed • 8:00 am - 9:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

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CAFE 53 ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Good for kids
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Cafe 53

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Reviews With Photos

Corned Beef
Anya J.

Had my eye on this cafe for a while but never stepped in. Finally did and it was worth it. It's pretty small inside but they make it work with enough seating in the front and back. Downside to sitting in is the music is loud so if you need a quiet space this probably isn't it. The service is good. Very swift and to the point. I ordered an iced coffee that I wouldn't get again but not a harsh judge on that. Don't think drinks are their strong-suit. Naturally, best part is the sandwiches. I had a corned beef breakfast sandwich on croissant and it was fantastic. Will definitely be back!

Chicken Parmigiana
Jen S.

We've lived here for 2 years and finally came in! They have a very expansive menu. Husband got the chicken parm sandwich. I got the pineapple teriyaki chicken sandwich. Sandwiches are huge. Good quality bread. You order at the register and they call your number. Indoor seating is limited. We will return

Sumac Chicken
Hanna S.

We got a huge and delicious sumac chicken sandwich on crunchy bread. We enjoyed it on the back patio, which felt like the Hyde Park of my childhood. We enjoyed the fattoush salad, too, though the tomatoes were a little sad on both sandwich and salad. If I still lived in the neighborhood, I'd be getting takeout from here all the time. I'd love to try some of the (many) vegetarian options. Italian cookie gelato was the perfect conclusion.

My new obsession! My friend got the turkey avocado sandwich which I never would have picked based on it looking more simple. It is one of the best sandwiches I've ever tried and I now get it on a weekly basis. Their Dutch crunch bread is the best bread I've ever had and the sauce they use on the sandwich is next level delicious. Lastly, the workers are SO friendly! Will be taking all my visitors here!

Vegan  Eggplant Marinara
Sandi I.

Delicious old school big sandwiches wrapped in butcher wrap. Huge variety of sandwiches, paninis, salads with lots of choices for special diets. Indoor seating with a cozy artsy vibe. Free WiFi for quick studying while having lunch. The service was prompt and helpful. If we didn't live out of state we'd be regulars! Can't miss with this place- yum!!

Chicken Pesto
Cheri S.

I come to this place so often and I can't believe I've never written a review. I love this place. The staff is always attentive, if you need a spot for wifi, if you want gelato on a hot day or if you want to chill in their hidden back patio it's beautiful! Their variety of sandwiches is impeccable and they've been open for years for a REASON! I tried a different sandwich on this trip and they did forget ingredient but despite that the sandwich was still awesome! **For context I got a cranberry tuna salad sandwich and they forgot the cranberry.

Regena K.

Over the years I have visited cafe 53 and it's a nice place locals seem to hang out inside peacefully. Service is always nice a lot of choices and they will break it down for you as plenty of bread choices. The sandwiches are always fresh and very good and remind me of lunch time in grade school as I graduated from Murray right next door very nostalgic. Go see for yourself hot and cold sandwich choices...

Caesar Salad
Julisa W.

Stopped on a whim looking for a good local sandwich shop. The highlight was that bread was very tasty and fresh. The Caesar salad was also flavorful. It had homemade croutons and sides of bread. Got a slice of the carrot cake and it was very moist. Not too sweet with cream cheese frosting. Raisins included, if that matters to you. We got the garlic chicken on French baguette. It was a creamy base and not something I would buy again. Glad we added cheese because there wasn't much to it. the other sandwich we bought was avocado turkey on Dutch crunch. It unfortunately had enough mayo to drown the restaurant. The amount of meat left much to be desired. We asked for chips which they had but only for online orders that came in. ??? Doesn't make sense to me. For 2 Sammie's, a salad and cake it was $45, just for a gauge of prices. The cashier was on the phone the entire time and couldn't hear what we said because of that. Kinda acted inconvenienced we were talking while he was on the phone. The restaurant is pretty chill and seemed like a workspace for people with art on the walls for sale. The art also had a thick layer of dust, and overall the dining room could use a good deep clean. The bathroom cleanliness was decent. This probably won't be another place I would seek out in the future.

Menu (March 2026)
Veronica L.

Oh yea, I can totally see why this spot is popular amongst Hyde Park folks! Friendly and helpful owners when I asked for recs. There's even a community board towards the bathroom, which gives this spot a community-based vibe. It's a quick, casual spot with several tables open for grabs when people leave. I got a traditional everything bagel w cream cheese to start the day, which had the RIGHT amt of cream cheese. Sometimes places give wayy too much, ruining the exp. I also ordered their popular Sumac Chicken sandwich on their Dutch Crunch bread, which was really good!! The bread had a slight sweetness to it that was satisfying and the flavors altogether were soo yummy. I waited ~12 min for my order, since they were rightfully packed. No outside food/drinks allowed if you're grabbing a table to eat. There's WiFi and a restroom in the back. Lots of neighborhood regulars. Bonus points that their food is halal for those w dietary restrictions. Great neighborhood spot!!

Agnes D.

OMGosh! One of the BEST deli i've had. I love that they have several bread option and a lettuce wrap for GF folks. Sandwiches and drinks were phenomenal. I also tried their lemon bar and it was heavenly. So were the brownies, per my Hubby!

Patio area
Kelis C.

Upon walking in, I was a little overwhelmed as the cafe was super busy with people everywhere. Inside is a tight space but it's a nice vibe forsure. We ordered our drinks first and scanned the menu to see what we'd like. I'd definitely recommend taking your time and looking through the options because everything sounded so good. We ended up getting the turkey avocado and sumac chicken both on Dutch crunch and omg we destroyed those sandwiches. The sandwiches are pretty big which justified the price but I do think my drink (Italian soda) was definitely overpriced. The mayo that is used on the sandwiches is delicious and pairs really well with that Dutch crunch baguette. I would highly recommend heading to Cafe 53 on a chill day, grabbing a sandwich (Dutch crunch required!), and sitting out on the patio.

Sumac chicken and vegan sandwiches.
Chris C.

The Sumac sandwiches (chicken and vegan) on Dutch crunch bread were so good, we still talk about them a year later. This place is unassuming, but man, the sandwiches are fabulous.

karina k.

Tasty sandwiches and amazing bread I would say the Dutch crunch baguette was one of the best sandwich breads I've ever had. It was perfect for my tuna, avocado sandwich. The only problem was I didn't really taste the avocado. I would've loved to have more lettuce, tomato, and onion in there, but I didn't ask so that's not their fault. The sandwich was very tasty especially because the bread was so good. This is on a strip of lots of restaurants on 53rd St. near you Chicago so you're gonna get a lot of fun eateries here. Parking on the street and you have to pay.

Sandwich larger than two of my hands

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8 years ago

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4 years ago

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15 years ago

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7 years ago

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4 years ago

The place for sandwiches in Hyde Park. Always great for getting a quick bite. Halal with vegetarian options

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7 years ago

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12 years ago

always excellent customer service and prices are very reasonable. They have great apple cider and caramel macchiatos.

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11 years ago

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15 years ago

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8 years ago

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5 years ago

Haven't had a bad meal yet. Great outdoor patio, which is shaded, hidden from wind and car noise.

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8 years ago

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8 years ago

Really great sandwiches! I would recommend the buffalo chicken and garlic chicken oven baked sandwich. They're bread is the best part!

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6 years ago

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9 years ago

Fun, chill coffee shop. Local vibes and fun art. Definitely will be hanging out here often!

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15 years ago

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Page 6 of 10

Ask the Community - Cafe 53

Do they have parking?

Park Chicago street parking, and if you want to walk a few blocks. There's free parking further down

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4.5(95 reviews)
0.1 mi•Hyde Park
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Super cute cafe in "downtown" Hyde Park with excellent coffee and friendly service…read more I'm not a coffee aficionado, but my dad is, and he was very happy with the quality of the coffee. The cafe doesn't have coffee with "regular" names (eg. Americano). Instead, each item on the menu has a Philz-only name and twist. This makes for a more unique experience that other cafes in Hyde Park. I enjoyed their Iced Coffee Rose, and my father enjoyed both the Silken Splendor and Jacob's Wonderbar. The decor is warm and inviting, and the cashiers and baristas are always friendly and helpful. The cashier in fact walked me through their selection quite extensively and patiently. I haven't tried any of their food so far, but definitely intend to do so. The establishment is open only till 3pm on weekdays, which is unfortunate because otherwise this would have become my default study spot. I still plan to visit, perhaps with a book or two. Overall, I recommend Philz if you are in the neighborhood in the morning or early afternoon.

My first time at a Philz!! They don't have this franchise in nyc and I've been hearing all about it…read morefrom the west coast influencers, so I had to stop by on my CHI visit. TBH, Philz is just like any standard coffee shop, offering different kinds of roasts, teas, and light bites. I asked the cashier for a rec and they pointed to the popular flavors. I'm not a dark roast lover, but also wanted a good cup of coffee, so I got the Philtered Soul, which is their medium roast. I initially ordered it hot, but it was pretty warm (~50+ degrees, warm in chi standards lol) that day, so the barista gladly pivoted and made my drink cold. They asked iced or cold brew and I said dealer's choice - I got the cold brew and it was a GREAT gamble!! Loved that there was a cup of free keychains at the register, so I had to take one back w me as a souvenir. Bright spot with ample seating and locals working on laptops. Shoutout to the Philz staff for an overall delightful visit and enjoyable bev!

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Fairgrounds Coffee And Tea

3.8(13 reviews)
0.5 mi•Hyde Park

The breakfast options at Fairgrounds are outstanding. Too many places that are coffee-centric…read morewill have some pastries (that may be good, but a scone alone ain't breakfast) or some microwaved egg sando thing. At Fairgrounds I just finished a really good breakfast taco with eggs and beans and we'll sauced that was an honest to goodness solid start to the day, along with coffee in a real cup not paper. I'd put this in the rotation if you are near UofC.

I never leave reviews but I felt like I had to. The staff is never particularly friendly here,…read morewhich never bothers me, but today was pretty bad. It took me about 15 minutes for my smoothie because the barista forgot about it. That's fine, it happens. But later in the day, myself and a few other patrons were literally yelled at by an employee to get out since they were closing. We were all on the other side of the cafe, so none of us heard any of the earlier announcements that they were closing soon (they must have been quiet, or I was just too locked in). I even knew it was getting late so I tried looking up hours online (inaccurate information) and even on the door (nothing there). I figured I would just leave when someone asked me to, but I wasn't expecting to get yelled at. Another patron even said "I feel like we're being yelled at right now," and she said "Yeah, you are." So I definitely didn't misunderstand. Weird. Never been yelled at in a cafe before for just sitting, but new experiences are good for growth I guess? That being said, I will not be returning to this Fairgrounds.

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B'Gabs Comfort Cafe

B'Gabs Comfort Cafe

4.4(170 reviews)
0.6 mi•Hyde Park
•$$

Wow!!! Hands down the best vegan food I've had since I've been in Chicago! After leaving the Obama…read moreCenter we were hungry. It's a place in Hyde Park I'd been looking to try another spot but of course it was closed. Back to searching and we found this spot and what a gem! Sammy, greeted us and she was absolutely lovely! It's a local spot in Hyde Park and the decor is amazing! I had a special, jerk mushroom taco plate with beans, rice, plantains and pico de gallo. Hubby had the Mediterranean plate with oyster mushrooms. Amazing! We were given complimentary lemonade in celebration of Juneteenth, thank you so much! They have vegan cookies and we enjoyed a lemon blueberry cookie and it was delicious! We truly enjoyed our meal and the chance to trying out a new spot! Support local businesses!

The food was tasty, but the cafe is expensive for what it is. There are no prices on the menu so I…read morewas surprised by my total ($100+ for four people at lunch), the gallo pinto rice bowl with falafel, for example, was $26 (and a little underseasoned, in my opinion) and dosas were each $20. On top of that, the service was OK for a cafe, but not what I would expect when paying for a $20+ entree... Our table ordered some similar foods and the waiter didn't know what each dish was when it came out, so we had to guess whose was whose. Each dish also came out individually with lag time in between, so when they forgot one of the meals, it wasn't immediately clear and the cashier/waiter were very defensive about it. For those prices, I would rather go to a sit-down restaurant like Mahari or 14 Parish just a few blocks away. This is the cafe's second rebrand that I'm aware of, so some older reviews are commenting on things that don't exist any more. I miss when it was a breakfast spot!

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Cafe 53 - coffee - Updated October 2026

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