Great food (and I'm Cuban), unreal prices for for anywhere but downtown? Crazy! Great sercice and drinks too.

What a wonderful place! Charming location and even more charming staff. Visiting Chicago for the first time and with an hour to my appointment in the Hancock Tower's 360 feature, I had plenty of time to get a quick bite before the Chicago 360. So searching in Yelp I see a Cuban restaurant, and that's my fav, so I went in and I had a great early dinner. Cafecito would be at home in a pre-revolutionary Cuban building, when Art Deco architecture permeated much of Havana and the other major cities in Cuba. Plenty of outdoor seating, but I chose to eat in the cafe area due to time constraints. I had the Vaca Frita which I haven't had in over 60 years and wow, it was amazing. It came with the proverbial white rice, black beans with plenty of condiment, and maduros. Oh yummy. My Cuban grandma would have been pleased... The waiter was indeed, a Cuban American who had come over during the early Cuban diaspora. We chatted a bunch about the old country and had a pleasant conversation about being from the same province in the island. Great reminiscing, great food, great service. Yum. read more

Cafecito - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

pros: -the guavaQ chicken plate was SO GOOD - best thing i've eaten the entire trip -fast and friendly service -clean tables and restaurant -huge portions -great location right next to magnificent mile! cons: -none read more

Cafecito - guava GuavaQ Chicken Platillo and Ropa Vieja Sandwich - SO GOOD!!! - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

作为中国人，对Cubano食物风格接受度还不错。 我们点了Vaca Frita，其实就是煎牛肉丝，嗯...比较不错，因为蛋白质和脂肪有了，还有一些蔬菜带来的纤维素，美式餐食里常见的炸土豆被换成了炸香蕉。以及，配了一份米饭和黑豆mix，混合以后是咸味的，这就是我说的中国人的接受度，膳食均衡----碳水、纤维素、蛋白质、脂肪都要有。 朋友还点了Cafechera，比较特别，薄切的牛排，还有咖啡粉带来的焦香，第一次尝试，很喜欢，我以后手冲咖啡剩下的渣渣，不光可以放在冰箱吸附味道了。 Steak Chimichurri我没有尝试，朋友走了一天很饿，在桌上没留五分钟就消失了，应该是对厨师的褒奖。 Shrimp Ceviche Salad不错，但这是中国人可能会有疑惑的地方，因为酸度非常高，我们在国内还是习惯了沙拉酱、千岛酱，或者油醋汁，柠檬汁为主的酱汁我刚来美国的同伴不是很能接受，但我很喜欢哈哈。 餐厅不是很大，但是也有桌子和吧台，如果是快速吃个三明治，或者晚上想喝一杯，这里都很合适。 可惜我们当天没有喝上一杯，因为独立日餐厅要提前打烊了，所有照片里的餐具也都是pickup的状态，可惜不能拍漂亮照片了。 As a Chinese diner, I find Cuban food surprisingly easy to enjoy. We ordered the Vaca Frita, which is basically pan-fried shredded beef. Honestly, it was quite good -- you get protein and fat from the beef, plus some fiber from the vegetables. Instead of the fried potatoes that are so common in American meals, it came with fried plantains. It also included a mix of rice and black beans, which became savory and satisfying once everything was combined together. This is exactly what I mean when I say Cuban food works well for a Chinese palate: a balanced meal should have everything -- carbs, fiber, protein, and fat. My friend also ordered the Cafechera, which was something quite special: thinly sliced steak with a roasted aroma from coffee grounds. It was my first time trying anything like that, and I really liked it. Apparently, the leftover grounds from my pour-over coffee can do more than just sit in the fridge absorbing odors from now on. I did not try the Steak Chimichurri. My friend had been walking all day and was starving, and the dish disappeared from the table in less than five minutes. I suppose that counts as a compliment to the chef. The Shrimp Ceviche Salad was also very good, though this may be one of those dishes that can confuse some Chinese diners at first because the acidity is quite strong. Back home, we are more used to salads with creamy dressings, Thousand Island, or vinaigrette. A dressing dominated by lemon or lime juice can be difficult for some of my companions who have only recently arrived in the US, but personally, I loved it, haha. The restaurant is not very large, but it has both tables and bar seating. Whether you just want to grab a quick sandwich or come by in the evening for a drink, it feels like a very good fit. Unfortunately, we did not get to have a drink that day because the restaurant was closing early for Independence Day. All the tableware in my photos was also in pickup mode, which was a shame -- no chance to take any pretty food photos this time. read more

See all

Great breakfast or lunch spot in Streeterville / River North area. Hidden somewhere around the MCA, Cafecito's unassuming front wouldn't have you think there's a breadth of food options (and tasty ones at that too) waiting for you. They seem to be most well-versed in their pressed sandwich (panini?) style sandwiches. The staff was all welcoming and friendly. We had some coffee, mimosas and a pressed chimichurri steak sandwich. The restaurant is a bit on the more dimly lit side, almost forgot it was daytime outside when we left. read more

My cousin recommended this spot for lunch, and I'm glad I checked it out. I ordered the Ropa Vieja Platillo, which came with black beans, rice, and sweet plantains. The portion size was generous--I couldn't finish it all--but everything was flavorful and well prepared. I also tried the café con leche, which was rich, smooth, and a perfect complement to the meal. The service was quick and friendly, and the spacious booths and open interior made the restaurant feel comfortable and inviting. Overall, it was a great lunch experience, and I'd definitely come back to try more items on the menu. read more

Cafecito - Cafe Con Leche Large - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Great food and great price! Its a brightly colored space and the food reflects that! I thought the shrimp were awesome and the chivito was delish! Service was slower but it was a sunday at an odd time so I won't hold it against the spot. Id go back! read more

See all

After a day shopping on Magnificent Mile north of the river in Chicago, we stopped at nearby Cafecito on Chestnut. It was early Sunday afternoon, and we were too large a group to arrive without calling ahead. You walk up a lovely old half-flight of stairs under an ornate ceiling. After a short wait, half of our party went elsewhere, and the remaining four of us were quickly seated. The front area is mainly a café, with maybe 10 seats at tables for two. Farther back is a hallway and a larger room with seating in booths and at high-tops for maybe 40, and maybe 6 more at a small bar. The staff is quick and friendly. The food is delicious and fresh and hot! And the music is loud and festive :-) We had the thin-cut savory palomillo steak, a generous serving, pounded to tenderness, served with classic wet black-beans and white rice, sweet soft platanos maduros plantain pieces, and some greens and tomato. We had a lovely colorful medium-sized Mojo Shrimp in tart garlic citrus mojo sauce, with sateed red onion crescents, tomato chunks, and parsley. And we had the huge slow-cooked tender shredded-beef Ropa Vieja pressed sandwich, sauced lightly with slightly-tangy creole sauce, served with platanos maduros and black beans. All of their food delightfully authentic. We liked it so much, a few days later we ate at their South Loop location, too! read more

See all

Melissa is THE absolute best. My boyfriend and I love cafecito, & Melissa single-handedly made it even more of our favorite place. Such great service, and impeccable food!!! read more

Amazing lunch or dinner spot! I have consistently had some of the best food in the area here. Great for dine in or takeout, Cafecito has a large menu and something for everyone. I recommend the tostones, the cubanito or the guava q, and a cortadito. They have a large area and a bar for dine in. It usually doesn't take long to be seated and the service is always very friendly. It can get busy, so don't plan on a super quick lunch if you're dining in, but it will be worth your time! read more

See all

Great spot for some straightforward Cuban food right downtown. I got the GuavaQ Chicken plate which comes with black beans, rice, and sweet plantains. I thought everything was well balanced and very good. Honestly, the black beans and maduros were the highlights for me but everything was good. My mom also enjoyed her meal, she got the proveletta sandwich and added turkey. Service was good and food came quickly though I will say there were only 3 other tables when we went which was at an off time in the afternoon. They have a walk up counter if you'd like to take your meal to go. They have a mix of high top tables and booths. The seating area is dark and cozy. It looks like they have a full bar as well though we didn't check that out. Would come back again! read more

Cafecito - GuavaQ Chicken Platillo - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I can't stop thinking about my experiences at Cafecito. This was my second time and I ordered ToGo before exploring Chicago. I was obsessed with the Lucila's Guava Alfajor! The flavor combination was so good and the inside was so creamy and delicious! I also ordered an Iced Vanilla Chai with Oatmilk and had no regrets. So tasty! I also grabbed a pasta salad from the front, but I wasn't the biggest fan. It had a pretty strong fresh tomato taste. I think my taste buds were expecting an Italian dressing type salad, and I personally don't like raw tomatoes. That's not to say that it wasn't good. I did like it, but the flavors weren't for me. I can't wait to come back and visit again! read more

See all

Staff, service, patio, entrees all get a Its wonderful! The coffee is terrific too ! What a hidden gem read more

Really great lunch! I had the proveletta and it was incredible. Next time I'd ask for a side of chimichurri as the sandwich felt a bit dry but this is me nitpicking. The pollo chipotle was quite plain according to my lunch mate. Could use a bit more flavor but it was super filling. The restaurant has a counter to place to go orders and get coffee and desserts. Some outdoor seating is available too and plenty of inside seating that could be good for big groups. The service was pretty good and quick. I would love to go again to try other items including the vegan options. Also still need to try their coffee ! read more

Cafecito - Proveletta - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Nice late lunch outside at the Chestnut location. Yucca fries, pressed sandwich and a tequila cocktail. Perfect note on a warm, sunny day. Being post peak, service was super fast. read more

Cafecito - Yucca fries and Guava - Q Pork Sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Not much to it. Food speaks for itself!! Amazing portions and delicious. Service can be a bit slow. read more

Cafecito - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food was great! I got a vegan cubano and it was delicious. The staff were very kind. I was looking for a place to work as I was traveling and they didn't mind that I was there for a while at all. The inside was nice -- great decor. Quiet vibe in the mornings. read more

Cafecito - Vegan Pan De Havana - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cafecito had my favorite sandwiches in the city - all time favorite is the ropa vieja. It's meaty from the steak and slightly sweet from the plantains - so delicious. Their shrimp and guava-q sandwiches are also other go-to sandwiches for me. The one on wells is perfect for a lunch in the loop. If you want sit down service, the gol coast location is decent. The location on Fullerton kinda sucks - service is just really slow there so if I get sandwiches from there, I exclusively go the take out route. But all in all, the sandwiches are amazing!! And the yucca fries are good too. Oo and the guava cheese pastry is nice if you want a sweet treat after. read more

I had great service and a delicious meal on a particularly cold evening in Chicago. I was visiting for work and a friend who is a local suggested this place. Three of us came here to have dinner in a Wednesday night. No reservations needed (or accepted, I don't think). The place was full but we were able to get a table quickly. The ambience is cute but casual. Bright colors on the walls and cool eclectic art. There is a counter art the front is you just want to pick up and go. Lots of tables stretching back into the restaurant. My server helped me to choose the coffee ribbed flank steak. I don't really care for coffee but she said I wouldn't notice it, and I really didn't! The steak was a little overcooked/ tough but still delicous. The beans and rice were perfection. I only wish that I had more beans. We also had mojitos because they were on special for $8! read more

Got takeout and it was the best experience. Bomb plantains, juicy and tasty shrimp, rice and beans were perfection. Pretty quick too! read more

Cafecito - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We picked up takeout from Cafecito last night. Mason's cream of chicken soup with everybody's favorite although none of us liked the bacon in it. My husband and I split two of the different Panini sandwiches. The barbecue chicken with guava was the standout star since they have breakfast lunch and serve dinner late-ish we will definitely be back! read more

See all

Tres Leches pancakes were life altering! Was the perfect spot for a yummy and filling breakfast for a good price! read more

Cafecito - Tres Leches Pancakes, Cuban sandwich, and steak and eggs breakfast - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Busiest place we had been to in a while but we stayed and got to drink and eat. It can get kind of expensive so we wouldn't come back often. Cafecito has a few locations including this one across from the John Hancock Center. Has a to go counter if not wanting to wait to eat inside. They have cocktails though so we wanted that with the food so that's the reason for staying. A ton of people always seem to be here. It's expected with it being in a touristy area so if needing a table get reservations. They also have a counter where food can be ordered to go if not wanting to stay and get a table. Bad thing is the cocktails can only be ordered if eating here. We had to eat here because of this. It's about $13 for a cocktail. The one I got was the El Vecino. Hot stuff. This is made with cayenne, ginger beer, jalapeño, lime juice, and vodka. It's about $15 for an entree. There's a section of things for vegans. I got the La Playa Sandwich. This has Beyond sausage, plant based versions of cheese and chipotle mayonnaise, chimichurri, mojo, roasted red peppers, and spinach among the toppings. She had what they call the Sabor Impossible Sandwich, which is similar kind of. This has Beyond meat with plant based versions of cheese and chipotle mayonnaise, along with onions, pickles, spinach, and tomatoes. For sure it's a popular place judging by how it's always busy. It's located on Chestnut across from the John Hancock Center. There's lots of things for vegans and vegetarians. read more

Cafecito - El Vecino And The La Playa Sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We came for dinner one night and it was so good we came back for breakfast another day. For drinks we got a Cuban mule and the Accidente. Both were good. For dinner we had the Ropa Vieja and the Guava-Q Chicken. Both were incredibly good! The black beans were phenomenal, probably the best I've ever had! For breakfast we had the Cubanismo plate (chorizo, peppers and onions, eggs, bread) and the Guajiro. The Cubanismo had so much food, it could easily be shared. Service was adequate- not overly good but not bad either. It had a typical Cuban vibe to it. read more

See all

Breakfast sandwich jamon con huevos. wow wow wow. If I lived near this place, I would be there every. single. morning. It was 2 blocks from my hotel and the great thing is that you can order your meal via yelp. By the time I walked over, it was ready and sitting there on the counter. I wish I ate it there because it was cold/windy out and by the time I walked back to my hotel, went up the 17 floors, and could enjoy my sandwich, it was kinda cold. Nevertheless, this place rocked. I'll be back anytime I'm near the mag mile. read more

Cafecito - Jamon Con Huevos - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I came here on a Friday evening to meet up with a friend I hadn't seen in quite a while and realized how perfect of a spot this was. We weren't looking for a heavy meal and ideally I just wanted to chat over a coffee but still ende up ordering food here. This particular location is located at the bottom of an apartment building so you have to enter the building complex to actually find the door to the restaurant/coffee shop inside. To my surprise, the place id an actual restaurant and has nice booth seating with dimmed lights and is a perfect place to meet up with friends or honestly even go on a date! They have a bar to the side as well with bar seating if that's your vibe. Was not expecting any of this since I imagined it to be more of a coffee shop with food offerings. I ordered the "Boracho" sandwich and my friend ordered a different one. We both liked it, although I think considering mine had "spicy" ingredients, it could have been spicier. We grabbed hot sauce to add to it lol. We had great service the entire time with multiple water refills so the experience overall was great. We didn't spend too much either which was great on the wallets. I'd come back for sure! read more

Cafecito - Borracho sándwich - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came in for lunch and it was fairly empty on a Monday. It's a small cafe, in the same building as some apartments with lots of booth seating. We were seated right away and staff was nice. The Ropa vieja sandwich had good flavor, but wish they added more plantains - mine only had 1. They serve breakfast, lunch, and drinks available and a few other locations throughout the city. read more

Cafecito - Ropa Vieja Sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

One of the best sandwiches I've had. Looks unassuming at first, but decent seating area as you walk back. They had netflix on playing random movies which I thought was quite funny. We ordered several things: maduros, croquettes, chivito, and cubano. The croquettes were the weak point. They were fine, but nothing special and were missing that it factor. The maduros were delicious. They were cooked wonderfully and had the perfect amount of sweetness. Now onto the stars; the sandwiches. The Cuban was great. The meat was flavorful, the bread took me back to Little Havana, and there wasn't too much of anything one thing to throw off the taste. A great sandwich. The chivito was even better. I was a bit hesitant due to all of the toppings on it, but IT WORKS. Steak was cooked perfectly and everything complimented one another. This is worth traveling for; it's that good. Fantastic food. Good service. What's not to like. read more

Former Floridian so I grew up on Cuban food. Cute little spot walking distance from our hotel. They serve breakfast and have a vegan menu. I was starving and forgot to take a pic of the ceviche but it came with a great little salad with red wine dressing, chips, and the ceviche even has corn in it. I also got the guava pork plate portions were huge and has a nice sweet flavor. Did notice the sandwiches come with no sides. With the 2 plates and the appetizer. It was about $50. They have a to go window and a bar. Service was also great read more

Cafecito - GuavaQ Pork Platillo - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped here for lunch on a saturday afternoon, was not disappointed! Waited a bit for someone to greet and seat our party. Ordered the Pollo Chimichurri Platillo, the chicken was very juicy and well-marinated even without dipping it in the chimichurri sauce. I did have to ask for extra sauce on the side since there was only a small amount on the plate. The rice, beans, and plantains were cooked and seasoned perfectly. read more

Cafecito - Pollo Chimichurri Platillo - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Finally caved and hit one of the oddly numerous cafecitos that seem to dot the Chicago streets like stars in a Havana night - shockingly, the Cubano -- which they hyped all over their site and menu like it was sacred -- ended up being the weakest thing we ordered. it tasted like a plain ham sandwich I could've made half-asleep in my dorm. I think it was supposed to be marinated pork that transported me to another dimension, but it just... wasn't. it tasted like Marianos deli meat. - thankfully, I got the shrimp exotica salad, and this thing was massive and actually delicious. spinach base (already a gamble), but somehow had flavor. the mix of hearts of palm, tomato, and vinaigrette made me eat like 12 cups of it without blinking. - my friend got the "el toro" with chicken, Mexican chorizo, tomato, Swiss, chimichurri. this was a hit. the plain chicken was paired perfectly with the spicy chorizo and oily chimichurri. every bite was balanced and flavorful. - we split the tostones which were kinda dry, chewy, didn't do much. the croquettes, though, were warm and mushy inside in the best way. loved the creamy sauce on the side to cut through the salt. - service was... bizarre. multiple servers came up asking for our order after we'd already ordered. then one asked if our coffee was from a different restaurant?? even though their own staff had just handed it to us. baffling. read more

See all

I placed an order online for pickup to grab before hitting the road and it said that it would be about 45 minutes because it was busy. I only ordered 2 coffees a couple of pan con mantequillas, and 2 pastelitos but still waited the time. I got there and no one was the front, so I waited a few minutes and then finally someone returned. The pan had been sitting there for a bit and they said they needed to make the coffees. The guy also informed me that the pastelitos were sold out so they were giving me a different one. I thought that was a bit strange - they didn't ask if I wanted a different kind, but just gave it to me. I figured my husband would eat them, so it was fine, but off-putting. The coffees were done and I was on my way. The coffee was ok, my husband said the pasteilitos were good, and the simple pan con mantequilla was the best thing there. I would maybe return if eating there, but not the best experience overall. read more

Do NOT sleep on the Mar y Tierra pressed sandwich. it is so good!! Smoky chorizo, juicy shrimp, and arugula and tomato.. try it now!

Be prepared for LONG WAIT AHEAD when busy! *** SERVICE / Wait - This location is BUSY! Went for lunch and ordered takeout during a weekday and it was so understaffed, and you had to wait a while before anyone would come take your order at the counter. Also the staff member was just so not friendly when asked to check on our order which we had waited for almost half an hour for, and she just said without going to the back to check, IT ISNT READY I CHECKED. Literally a minute later, we asked another staff, and she actually walked to the kitchen / back and brought out our order. **** FOOD WISE: not a huge portion but decent size 4/5 for the Ropa VIEJA sandwich -- it was delicious. But it was quite oily. There are outdoor seating / indoor seating booths / and it's all very casual. read more

See all

First time here, for dinner, food was great. Large helpings so be ready to eat. Service was very good and drinks were on point. I will be back. read more

See all

Cafecito was everything I was hoping for and more. It had been on my mind for awhile and I'm so happy we finally went. The ropa vieja was spectacular and as an avid potato lover the tater tots with it were just perfect! We also tried the El Fuego sandwich which was just as perfect. I definitely would get both again, just depends on the time of day. We got the cubano too which was definitely good but I just preferred the el fuego. The ambiance was very fun and intimate. Low ceilings but well lit and very lively. I liked how casual it was while still being a sit down place. The service was great, the food came out quick, and I enjoyed the vibe. We also got a Cafecito and tres leches cake. If you don't have time for food, just grabbing these to go is just as worth it! I'm so excited to go back! read more

See all

Let's start with the downsides. While the little restaurant was very nice, I found it also a little dark, and it was loud enough/close enough that I could hear the conversations in the booth behind us and the one behind them over the music. The server did a nice job. He was pleasant and brought our food and drinks fairly quickly. The best parts were the food and drinks. There were several things on the menu we would have liked to try. We went with ropa vieja and guava-q chicken. Both came with black beans and rice. Both were excellent. For drinks, we tried the Cuban mule and the accidente. Both were also very good. On a whole I would gladly go again. read more

See all

Cafecito was very close to my hotel and I desperately needed a midday pick me up. I stopped in around 3pm on a Friday and had an iced cafe con leche and some alfajors. Both were excellent and kept me going, since I had late dinner plans that night. Staff were super nice, very friendly, and just great to interact with. read more

Wow has this place gone down hill. I had in the past enjoyed their pressed grilled sandwiches especially the eggplant and cheese. I ordered delivery which took almost an hour longer than scheduled but I was ok with it until I looked at the sandwich unpressed thrown together in a supermarket bun - soft cold meh. OK I have a paninis press - got out my press and olive oil and cooked it myself. Sit down to eat but wait....where's the cheese where's the juicy eggplant? Inside this $30 with delivery etc sandwich there appeared 4 little hard uncooked squares of eggplant and a scattering of red pepper and no cheese. Shame on whoever let this embarrassment of a supposedly " pressed" nothing sandwich leave the premises. I am only embarrassed myself for having referred Cafecito to friends and family. Yuck. Oh and they do not answer their phone - I wonder why read more

Cafecito - Pressed sandwich not - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

This place was awesome and delicious! The vibe was cozy, service was quick, and the flavors of the food were delicious! One thing about me....I love a sweet plantain! I haven't found them in soooo long and I was so happy to get some good ones. The meat was seasoned incredibly. We had tres leches for desert and it was the perfect balance of sweetness and moisture. Great price point for the portion sizes. We'd definitely go back. read more

Cafecito - Ropa Vieja Platillo - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all