Overall , excellent . Absolutely adore their sister restaurant, Galit, so went in with high expectations. The restaurant is lovely and the meal didn't disappoint . Great service. Our group of 5 shared everything which is the way to go. Here is a rating of each item we shared: Salade Verde - A minus Yaya Fries- B - be warned the word fries are misleading as they are actually potato wedges Caramelized Onion Miso Labneh- A Sweet potato harissa chilli crisp - A Big sis lamb burger - A- we split it by 4 - pretty great Ricotta Gnocci - C minus - pass on this dish - we didn't like the sauce/ flavors . Feta fig flatbread - A . This was delicious and the best thing we ordered We ended the meal by sharing " This Week's Sundae " which was an A . Great place for a girls night out , or date night . Recommend ! read more

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Wasn't sure what to expect at Cafe Yaya, and was impressed. The menu is interesting, recommendation to share plates. A French/Mediterranean feel with lots of good choices. We started with the salade verde, which was very nice and fresh, along with their asparagus dish, which had a creamy sauce and some pickled onions. A unique and tasty flavor. For main dishes we split their fig, caramelized Onion and feta pides. They call it a flat bread, but it is more stuffed. It was delicious, and the arugula on top was a nice fresh addition. We also had the mussels, which were delicious. The mergez gives it a little bit of spice, and the broth is definitely worth soaking up. We were stuffed from dinner so didn't try the desserts, but there were some yummy looking options. The service was very good. Our server was friendly and knowledgable. Would love to go back and try some more. read more

My friends and I had a prior reservation. We were sligtly late due to traffic yet they accommodated us.. I loved the vibe of the place and later found out it's from the same group behind Galit. We ordered the shakshuka, yaya fries, veggie bowl, lamb burger, and pistachio rose bun. I really enjoyed the shakshuka, and the pistachio rose bun was definitely my favorite. My friend loved the lamb burger as well. The Mediterranean-inspired ambiance was beautiful and made the whole experience even better. I also ordered a coffee, which was just okay, but everything else was great. Overall, it was a wonderful brunch spot with good food, great service, and a lovely atmosphere. I would definitely come back. read more

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We had a really great experience here! Great ambiance & very very nice staff. My favorite thing we had here was the miso labneh dip it was so tasty. Also really enjoyed the schnitzel & the steak. Great for date night vibes! Finished the meal with the turkish coffee ice cream which was 10/10. read more

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What an adorable little gem in Lincoln Park!! My friends and I stopped in for a weekend lunch, and not only did we enjoy the food and service, but the decor was breathtaking! The tile work and lighting were mesmerizing and made this such a cozy dining experience! My friends and I loved enjoyed an assortment of plates to share, my favorite being the Yaya Breakfast. And we also tried a few of the pastries! I highly recommend snagging a reservation if you can! read more

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I'd heard amazing things about this casual spot from the team behind Galit and had been dying to visit for a while! I was on a mission this time to secure some of their sought after and unique pastries. The staff were very nice and kindly provided recommendations. There's a 25% service fee included with purchases, but they're also very upfront and transparent before checking out, which I appreciated. I opted for the shakshuka focaccia and the baklava, both of which came highly recommended. Unfortunately, the focaccia came out slightly burned and the soft-boiled egg in the center was definitely hard boiled and dry. I wished there was a bit more flavor with the spices and sauce as well, but the bread itself was fluffy. The baklava, however, was buttery perfection and among the best I've ever had. It's also possibly the sweetest dessert I've ever tasted, so a little goes a long way. Definitely glad to have gotten to give this spot a try- the food menu looked really interesting, so I would return to give it a try. read more

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The service was pretty terrible. They forgot our coffee and we had to ask 2 separate people to remind them. The table next to me was served a bill before even getting their food. They were very slow. Seating is a bit crowded. The food was fine, but nothing special. I'm surprised given this is the sister restaurant to a Michelin restaurant, Galit. read more

Cafe Yaya - Shakshukka - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First things first, cafe yaya is by the same group that operates galit and is literally right next to galit! So if you aren't able to get a reservation at galit, cafe yaya is a great option to consider. Cafe yaya was a great experience for us! We had a prior reservation and came here for brunch. We ordered a bunch of things for the table, including the Yaya fries, shakshuka, veggie bowl with sweet potatoes, mushroom, some more veggies with a side of some slaw and a sauce, lamb burger, pistachio rose bun and a veggie twist (this was at the cafe counter). The food was good but for me he standout was the pistachio rose bun. Omg it was to die for, it was not overly sweet, very decadent and had a great amount of pistachios and rose flavor in it, YUMM! The veggie bowl and the shakshuka were decent. My friend loved his lamb burger. The veggie twist was ok, and our server had forgotten about it for a while so we got it late. Overall, the service was great! The server was super friendly, explained everything really well to us and even offered a replacement when I spilled my coffee. Very hospitable staff overall! The ambience was great! Felt like we were in a Mediterranean cafe. read more

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LBLT is a must breakfast sandwhich. Yaya's coffee has a distinctly unique flavor to it, worth the try! Inside seating and outside seating available, I got some work done outside the cafe, the whole team was helpful, the food is delicious, and the ambience is quiet and peaceful. Thank you!! read more

It's very beautifully decorated. I got a Bloody Mary, it was good and refreshing but not a must get. I got the quiche of the day which was perfectly cooked. The crust was buttery and flaky while the filling was light and fluffy. The side salad that comes with it is perfectly dressed and refreshing. We got a shakshuka bun to share at the table and it was a great shareable. Impressive how well cooked and flavorful it was. read more

Cafe Yaya - Quiche - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was craving a pastry and I've been wanting to try Cafe Yaya ever since they opened up. I really enjoyed my meal at Galit, so I knew Cafe Yaya wouldn't let me down. I usually do sweet when it comes to pasties. I decided to switch it up and ordered their Shakshuka bun. It was bigger than I thought it would be and definitely very delicious and filling. It cut it in half and warmed up the other half. Both half's tasted delicious. I will definitely be returning. read more

Cafe Yaya - Shakshuka Bun - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Stopped by for a spontaneous lunch! Service was attentive and friendly, soup and sandwich tasty and very filling (I'm going to be back for that lamb merguez breakfast sandwich again--very messy to eat, but YUM). Got a box of pastries! Everything looked terrific and I'll hopefully try Galit at some point! Due note, there is added service charge AND added lifestyle fee--I wish they would just include the lifestyle fee or such in their prices, honestly! read more

Cafe Yaya - Lamb merguez breakfast sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

An excellent compliment to Gailt. We tried this new(ish) spot for a take-out lunch. First, the decor is very well designed and welcoming. A nice front space for eating and relaxing. The back has an open kitchen with additional seating. The food was excellent. I had the burger which was fresh, meaty and filling. I enjoyed the soft bun. My wife enjoyed the turkey sandwich which she said was divine. Loved the service. While waiting for my order the bartender checked on me, provided free water and helped expedite my order. read more

Cafe Yaya - Burger - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Daughter speaks highly about this cafe, so when we walking the dog, we walk there, she went in got me a mocha oat milk, it taste very creamy and rich. She also got 3 pastries, i like one of them, its crispy and layers, just taste a little salty. The place seems very popular among locals, business on a Saturday morning is pretty busy. I went in with dog, their staff is very friendly, nobody mentioned to me that dog are not allowed. But my daughter said i shall take the dog and wait outside. read more

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Finally made it into Cafe Yaya. Had brunch there. Menu changes a good bit as the day proceeds but the brunch menu has a lot of the other menus and is actually larger. Shared some fries and challah french toast. The fries were really good but $11 for four slices of a potato is a LOT, the seasoning is great and love the idea but hard to justify the price. The challah french toast is really good, easily sharable as well; very fluffy tall bread. I then got the lamb merguez sandwich which had some egg, tabouli salad, and harissa. It was very good. It's not a ton of lamb but it's enough to get good flavor but it's perhaps the harissa that was the star of the show, loved the harissa. Would put that harissa on anything. The baked goods at the front were generally quite good but special call out to the orange blossom babka which was incredible - sweet, textured, delicious. My favorite read more

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Cafe Yaya is a new staple for me. The inside is very open with high ceilings, brick walls, and a good amount of space between tables. There's room to breathe and also at dinner time it's perfectly dim and cozy. My girlfriend said it reminded her of Italy :) so I'm inclined to agree! The food was incredible, we ordered the caramelized onion miso labneh to start, split the lamb burger and mussels, and even sprang for the Turkish coffee sundae for dessert! Everything tasted phenomenal. Like genuinely mouth watering and worth every penny. And our server Emmaline was attentive, kind, helpful, and just genuinely sweet. We came for an anniversary dinner and it was perfect :) The staff even drew on a card and everyone signed it!! It was so cute. Anywho! We had a wonderful time. Even parking was easy. 10/10! read more

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Cafe yaya was a delicious treat! After coming to galit, this has been on my list since opening. Came here around 9am on Saturday with my toddler to meet a friend. Parking was surprisingly easy (but paid). Before 10 they serve breakfast only with open seating at the cafe. You order and pay upfront. I got the shakshuka bun, cinnamon roll, and pumpkin latte. All were good but the cinnamon bun was a standout (and I was told by one or the staff not always available but a favorite of theirs). My daughter liked it too! My friend got the lamb blt and they were able to accommodate her non dairy dietary needs. Good atmosphere to sit and chat! read more

Cafe Yaya - Cinnamon roll -- amazing! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Loved brunch at cafe yaya! I've been here twice but only for the coffee & pastries, so it was fun to try the actual menu and it didn't disappoint! Busy walking in on a Saturday but we were able to be seated immediately and our server was so informative with the recommendations and descriptions of the menu. I got the biscuit sandwich and my friend got the avocado toast and we both loved them! The biscuit was flaky, buttery, and salty and the sun dried tomatoes spread on it was perfect to tie it all together. We split the orange blossom babka bread from the pastry case which was absolutely incredible. The lattes we got were also 10/10. Definitely a great brunch spot for something a little different and elevated! The space is super cozy too. read more

Cafe Yaya - Mary's biscuit sandwich, avocado toast, and orange blossom babka - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cute spot. Went for restaurant week brunch. Started with the biscuit which was very tasty, but also pretty filling (should've gone with the yogurt so I'd have room for the main). The Lamb Merguez sandwich was super interesting. Definitely different, but I really liked it - just a little spicy. The sweet potato side was fine too. read more

Cafe Yaya - Lamb Merguez - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Made a last minute reservation and sat at the bar for dinner. It was lively with many different types of patrons but never too noisy. Our waiter was friendly and calm. We ordered: Caramelized onion labneh with challah rolls - the dish of dip looks small but there's a lot!! It was very yummy and lighter on the onion flavoring in my opinion. Apple-endive salad - the perfect fall salad! I loved the combo of apples, pecans, and cider dressing. It really tasted like fall (though I'd have the dish any season) and I loved the sweet combo with the endives. Veal sweetbreads - think of avocado toast but with a sweet, tender veal instead. Delicious as well. Lamb burger - a top burger for me! I loved all of the flavors and the sauce. Lamb was cooked perfectly too. All in all, a solid meal and one I'd enjoy again! Would love to their coffees and pastries in the morning too! read more

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Food: very tasty. Good take on pastries with middle eastern flavors Ambience: went during lunch hours, can be a nice cafe to sit down with a friend or get some work done Service: good. Value: it's a bit less expensive than when it started considering that they have 50% some items after 2pm. read more

Cafe Yaya - Breakfast sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Such a cute spot in Lincoln Park! It was fun to share different plates with my two other friends and enjoy some wine. We had the Yaya fries (FYI, it's 3 large fried fries - amazing nevertheless), chicken, leeks, and feta flatbread. I was very full by the end and wish I would have saved room for dessert. It was cool sitting near the kitchen because you get to see everything that goes on. read more

I can't wait to come back! It's so cute but not very big so make sure you have a reservation! I came here for brunch with 2 other girls for restaurant and it was so fun and delicious. Everyone loved their food. read more

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I have one word for you, BOREKA!!! My first visit to café Yaya was exceptional. We sat at the bar and were warmly greeted by Kasi (sp?). I have a not subtle obsession for pastries. When I walked into three overflowing cases of gorgeous pastries, I knew I was in the right place. To my surprise that was not the celebrity of my brunch. They recommended the stuffed Boreka. I'm still dreaming of the flaky crispy "bread" lamb merguez, yaya egg, tomato, jam, and garlicy labnah!!! it was an explosion of perfect flavors, combining in my mouth. Step out of the box, try something new and order the Boreka. You will not be disappointed. My friend tried the Yaya breakfast and said that the potatoes were the best she'd ever had. We shared a chai flavored pastry that was dreamy. This morning, I am regretting that I did not pick up two or three pastries to bring home with me. I guess I'll have to go back much sooner than I thought. read more

Cafe Yaya - Stuffed Boreka Mind blowing - best breakfast sandwich I've ever had! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Tried a grain bowl recently for lunch, as there are no vegan breakfast options from what I could tell (disappointing but I'm used to it), and it was alright but the upcharge for tofu was ridiculous. $6 tofu upcharge. Tofu is less than $2 per 14 oz pack and this is a lot less than a block. This may still be a fine price to pay for someone prepping my food were it not a miss. It feels like miscellaneous vegetables thrown together without much thought or anything to tie it all together. There's also completely random unadvertised services charges? Wtf? There's barely any service! The atmosphere is nice but the entryway is always crowded and chaotic, it's confusing when you enter the building. Overall disappointed. It's cute but really felt like I was getting charged nearly $25 for beans and rice. Wanted to like this place as it's near where I live and looked promising. read more

We had reservations for dinner on a Friday evening around 6:30. We were able to walk from where we were staying in Lincoln park. Inside is pretty large with an upstairs and downstairs with lots of seating. Our waitress was very attentive. We tried many different dishes and split between all of us. They organized the dishes and what they brought out when depending on what we ordered which was nice. To start we tried the caramelized onion miso labneh, salads verte, apple-endive salad, challah rolls, and leek gratin. We also split the sides turkish flatbreads feta and maitake. All the dishes were very yummy but some of my favorites were the labneh and salad verte. Both had great flavors. I also loved the feta flatbread, delicious flavors! My friend and I then split the Big Sis Lamb Burger and the Roasted Cod. We tried the Big Sis Lamb burger because it was part of their sister restaurant that was Michelain star. I really enjoyed the burger and thought it was very well done. The cod was okay, I thought it was very salty and fishier than I would have liked. I thought prices were a little high for the portion sizes but okay for a nice evening. Overall we had a really nice dining experience and was fun to try all the different dishes. read more

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First time there. What a great spot! The curb appeal is lacking, we didn't think they were open. Don't let that stop You! Sohappy that we went in anyway! You order at the counter and then they bring your food. Super cute atmosphere, gives bistro vibes Cozy and feels like a hidden gem. Hubs had the Mary's biscuit, which was a perfect homemade biscuit with fresh ingredients, and perfectly cooked bistro fries. I had the quiche. The crust was perfectly delicious and the quiche was a study in understated perfection! Served with a light salad. Excellent food! The ice tea was obviously brewed there and really good! Excellent food!! read more

Beautiful interior design. The seasonal carrot cake latte with whipped cream was delicious. The savory pastry was also light and delicious. Service was fast and friendly. It was a little pricey for a pastry and a drink but the ambiance was lovely. read more

Cafe Yaya - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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What incredible flavors! We really enjoyed the dips which were served with fresh challah and flatbread. The highlight was the leek dish though which I've never had leeks like this. As a vegetarian I LOVE being challenged my vegetables in new ways which this entire experience was. Service was warm and friendly. The cure, cozy atmosphere makes a great place for conversation. We loved every bite and will be back soon! read more

Cafe Yaya - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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As many have already said, I was surprised by the automatic service charge that's added whether you are dining in or taking out. There's also a charge for employee health insurance. It was almost $15 for 2 pastries which is crazy. Pastries were good but this won't be a place I come back to often because automatic service charges on pastries when there are a lot of good bakeries around aren't my jam. read more

Cafe Yaya - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We were passing by so decided to finally stop in and tried the: - Cardamom Kouign Amann - Chai Spiced Morning Bun They were both great and I get the hype around the morning bun, but there are just so many extra fees applied. At this point, why not just raise prices? It's more frustrating to be hit by multiple extra fees at checkout, you can still allocate the money to the employees. read more

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The decor and ambiance are gorgeous so brownie points for that. I got their viral shakshuka bun ($9) orange babka ($5) and rose cardamom latte ($7.70) which totaled to $27.38 including a 10% takeout service charge. Heads up, if you dine in, there's a 20% dine in service charge which I know some people did not like. The shakshuka bun was good, but nothing mind blowing, couldn't taste many spices but the egg on top was good. I liked the babka more- the crumb topping wasn't too sweet and I could taste more spices. The latte was pretty solid and I appreciated the fact that I could still taste the coffee but also the syrup. I can see myself coming back and trying more things. read more

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03/18/25 Cafe Yaya open for 5 days ago @ 2431 N Lincoln Ave. Cafe Yaya has 2 different seating times w/different menus which I didn't know when I went in. They have an early opening from 7:30-2pm serves pastries, coffee & teas The evening hours from 5 -9:30 or 10:00pm serve dinner unfortunately I went during the day so I didn't eat dinner here Cafe Yaya is a beautiful restaurant w/exposed brick walls on the north side very tastefully done w/a nice selection of pastries, coffees & teas to select from. The staff was very friendly & accommodating w/good service. The pastry I ordered was a delicious apple w/a delicious crispy sugared crust & a cold brew coffee. The only negative I was the price point for 1 apple pastry & a cold brew coffee. This set me back $17.02. While the pastry & coffee was very good I felt like this was a bit too much read more

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Ah mazing pastry. Honestly best first bites since Kasama opened. Chicago is an amazing food city so the bar is high but the spice loaf, the cinnamon kouign amann, shakshuka pastry and the ham croissant were all amazing. Top 3 bakery in the city. read more

Cafe Yaya - Pastry case - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Cute shop with great service, house made syrups, and yummy pastries. Lots of tables so you can easily catch up with friends! read more

Cafe Yaya - Yummy pastries! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friend and I came by for dinner and although the prices are high our experience was great! They are vegan friendly and I had the grilled zucchini which was on a bed of coconut rice and the flavors were great. It's definitely smaller portions of food but the flavors are so great, I've heard they have a Michelin chef? Definitely a fun spot to stop by for food and drinks and the margaritas were great. The area is very walkable and I took the bus over too. read more

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Put this in the category of bait and switch. Sick and tired of restaurants tacking on a whole bunch of mandatory extra fees at checkout. If a business wants to charge $12 for a pastry go ahead and post that price. But to post a $10 price and then turn that into a $12 pastry at checkout is wrong Why do they do it? Because, you wouldn't pay $12 for the pastry, so they trick you into thinking it actually cost $10. On to the food: I had the shashuka bun. It was supposed to be warmed up. It was cold on the inside, like they just taken it out of the refrigerator. Tasty, but it would've been better. It had been properly warmed up. I like many coffee places, this place was mostly empty when I came Wish them success, but I'm not like to return read more

Cafe Yaya - Counter and bar area. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I got the lamb burger with fries and a baklava. The fries didn't come with any sauce, but they were well-salted. Both were great. The baklava was one of the best I've ever had. The way I ordered was a little awkward. You order at a counter and then are seated. It was similar to Kasama's set up. read more

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I checked this place out with a friend when we did a bakery crawl and it did not disappoint! We tried two vegan desserts, the Rose date cake and a berry rhubarb scone. Both were honestly incredible and did not taste Vegan or gluten-free at all. I definitely would come back here because the vibes inside are so chill and it is such an excellent Middle Eastern bakery. They were good about accommodating with my food allergy of tree nuts. After coming here I also want to go to their sister restaurant next-door. read more

Cafe Yaya - Date loaf and scone - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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As big fans of Galit, we love Cafe Yaya! We have now come quite a few times eating at the restaurant and for takeaway. We love their coffee and pastries - everything is so delicious! Street parking on Lincoln Ave is generally pretty easy. The ambiance is gorgeous. Sometimes it is hard to get seating during peak meal times, there's been 1 time where we couldn't find seating so we had to go elsewhere to grab our afternoon snack. Service is great and everyone there is so friendly and attentive. I am very appreciative that the service charge has been told to me as I am paying so I am not double tipping. My only gripe is that it can get expensive, for a pastry and a small hot coffee. But nowadays, I feel like a cafe visit can get pricey anywhere. They also have a decent selection for gluten free items which has been a game changer to go out with my GF friends. Our fav item thus far: the Coconut Granola Yogurt Parfait and the rice crispie. We have also gotten take away at night and honestly, I prefer the morning cafe menu more at Yaya and would rather eat at (the sister restaurant) Galit for dinner. read more