Great vegetarian options here! My sis and I visited this restaurant on Monday late in the afternoon. When we walked in, there was no line. By the time we ordered, about 8 people lined up behind us. The dining room area was comfortable and casual with several tables and chairs, a sofa, and a television. The decor was simple and basic. At this restaurant, you order at the counter and pick up your food when your name is called. The menu was posted above the counter. Pressed sandwiches, salads, platillos, and yummy sides were listed on the menu. I ordered the Jardin and my sister ordered the Cubano. The Cubano came out in a reasonable amount of time. The Jardine took a little longer. Both sandwiches were amazing! The sandwiches were warm and highly satisfying. The bread was moist and crunchy. My eggplant sandwich was probably the best I've ever had. Service was good. There were no restroom available for patrons. This restaurant is definitely worthy of a repeat visit. read more

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I've been here several times and the soups & s'wiches are delicious, the ambiance awesome (solid colors on the wall, just one after the other, great!), and coffee excellent. It's a not miss, esp. the one in Streeterville. I give it only 4 stars as the service is spotty, I feel the servers just sort of "phone it in" and check a box. The food portions are small, lack any accompanying sides, and the prices higher than their restaurant counterparts. The soups are listed at 16 oz but I feel there was no way the portion I was served was anywhere near that amount. But, it is a unique restaurant that belies any "slotting" or pigeon-holing and therefore warrants a visit. Will I be back? Yes, absolutely. Just not as enthusiastically as I would like to be. Pics to follow. Thank you to the kitchen team as the food is truly tasty and served hot! Sincerely, Patrick Shaughnessy read more

Cafecito - This is the white bean soup. Tasty and hot! - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I was super excited to eat here, but we ended up walking across the street to be served with good food in a timely manner with service members that didn't make you feel like you needed to go crawl in a hole. When we walked in we came to the counter- there is no clear way to know how to wait for a table. The cashier told us there'd be an hour wait so we decided to order "to go." She told us to give her a minute and decided for ten minutes to do receipts for all the in dining customers instead of even attempting to take an order in between. She was catching up on work as the other worker just leaned against the counter with arms crossed in back of her- not able to work because myself and my date and the four new people in line couldn't order. After 10 minutes we decided to bust because she refused to look up or give any sign of moving forward and the wait didn't seem worth it. The menu looks fun- but like I said- we walked across the street and found an awesome lunch at 519 read more

My go-to spot for delicious, affordable Cuban food in Chicago. I like this location better than the south loop one because it has a little bit nicer setup for seating. This past Saturday during peak lunch hours I was still able to grab a table in the front despite it being pretty busy. I started with a cortadito, which was on point, and also ordered the guava-Q chicken sandwich. SO GOOD. And even though I ordered at the counter, they were still great with service - gave me a glass of water without asking, brought my food out to the table, and cleared everything for me when I finished. The manager/owner (?) seems to know a lot of people who come in, which just contributes to the friendly, neighborhood vibe. It's definitely a comfortable, casual spot I'll keep coming back to. read more

Cafecito - Guava-Q chicken sandwich level 100 - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Horrible service and food is okay. Way overpriced for what we received. We ordered a huge order to go and it took about 20 minutes to get to us. I should have checked at the restaurant to make sure our order was correct but once we got to the hotel I noticed an order was missing. At that point I didn't even bother to call or go back and let them know. Probably wouldn't go back if I'm ever in Chicago again. read more

Cafecito - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Highly recommend the Chivito. All the ingredients blend very well together, and the flavors are delectable.

I LOVE CAFECITO! Best place to grab a quick bite in the area. Especially during a busy day of shopping Michigan Ave. When you walk in there is counter and coffee service on the left, and the right will take you to a seat yourself dining room. This weekend was like many before and we stopped in for an late breakfast/early lunch! I usually go for one of their pressed sandwiches. I've tried many but my favorites are the chiveto and the el toro. The chiveto is stacked high with loads of steak, ham, AND bacon. With a fried egg and a mayo-based sauce, it's delicious! The el toro comes with their homemade chimichurri on it, which I love. The bread is also sooooo goooood and toasted to perfection. You really can't go wrong with any of their sandwiches. I always get an order of the yuca fritas for the table. Similar to fries, they're lightly fried and come with a chipotle mayo. They are a must! My partner usually orders one of their plates, which is great because I love their plantains and black beans! The plantains are thick cut, caramelized on the outside and soft and tender in the inside. The staff is also very nice, and the service is always good. They have a few locations around the city, but this one if my favorite. It can get busy a peak times, but we've never had a problem getting a table, although sometimes there may be a short wait. Seriously can't say enough good things about the food here! Highly recommend. read more

Cafecito - Chivito Pressed Sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I will definitely be returning to this spot! Chivito is so delicious and the cafe con leche is perfect, I regretted getting a small. There is a lot of seating in the back. Unsuspecting spot but definitely a game changer in this part of streeterville! read more

Man I really wanted to like this place. The food is great if you can actually get what you ordered. Tried the place three time and every single time something was forgotten, messed up or wrong. When you explain that's not what you ordered... the register worker just stated yes that's what you ordered...in a rude way. Had to explain several times that is not what I I ordered until I got my food. The only reasons this place is 2 stars is because the food is so good. Service is horrible and so are the workers. Also, the lady making the coffee did not place the cups underneath properly to catch the coffee. Most of it spilled out and didn't make it into the drink...and instead of redoing it just served it up like nothing was wrong. Yet, half of the actual coffee didn't make it. This place is lame and I'm going to look for a better place. Very long wait times in food and drinks to top that. read more

Liked the ambiance and the fact that it was walking distance from the magnificent mile as well as the water tower. What was not to like? Loved the Cuban coffee!! read more

I'm originally from Chicago, but I went to school in Miami. I fell in love with Cuban food while I was there and I've been searching for a solid Cuban place in Chicago ever since I moved back to the city. I think Cafecito is the place I've been looking for. Cafecito's interior is a more modern/midwestern style compared to what you'd see at Cuban restaurant on Calle Ocho, but I think the menu and food comes pretty close to what you'd see in Miami. They've got the classic cubans sandwich; platters ranging from steak, chicken, and rope vieja that are served with rice, beans, and plantains; and cuban coffee (cafecito, cortadito, cafe con leche, etc.). A huge plus is that the prices are relatively cheap, some things are actually cheaper than what they'd cost in Miami! The food was really tasty for the most part. The only thing that was 'meh' was the guava and cheese pastry (basically a pastelito). Also the service was unfortunately not that great the last time I went. Our server seemed reluctant to come to our table and seemed like she wanted to interact with us a little as possible. Despite that, I still loved my experience here and plan to come back again and again. read more

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The Lost Art of Giving Great Service The food at this cafe was decent. My grandmother is a native of Havana, Cuba so I thought I'd get a taste of my childhood. Not really! The service was terrible all around. They mixed up me and my wife's coffee and also brought the wrong order for my son. As a long-time vacationer to Chicago, this is one of my worst dining experiences. Definitely not the beauty and love my grandma would have put into preparing and serving our family authentic Cuban food. The worst thing was as my family was ordering food, we left our bags in the foyer of our Airbnb. A guy with a Cafecito, (the cafe's name) walked up to me and asked me what I was doing. I told him I was waiting on our food from his restaurant and was checking on my bags. I also shared that I was a guest in the adjacent apartments and we were preparing to leave. He responded by saying "oh yeah you're in the Airbnb on the 16th floor." Wait, what? I've never seen this guy in my life nor have I provided details about my stay. How the heck did he have any idea I was in an Airbnb and what floor! Long story short...visit Cafecito at your own risk!! read more

Cafecito - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went there for breakfast, loved the cafe con leche! A great way go start the day. The service wasn't the best, but the food made up for it in my opinion. read more

Cafecito - Cafe con Leche - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So pleasantly surprised by this quaint cafe! We were looking for a place near Water Tower Place to grab a quick dinner, and this was the perfect spot for that. They have a cafe out front if you want to order a drink, but further in, there are plenty of booths and tables for dining in. We ordered the tostones and yuca frita to start. I wasn't a huge fan of the tostones, but the yuca frita was so so good! They are pretty similar to French fries when they're fried, and the sauce that they come with is delicious! I ordered the provoletta sandwich, which is decently priced for the quality. Apart from being a little heavy on the cheese, I really enjoyed it. There were a couple of other vegetarian sandwich options on the menu, as well as a whole section of vegan platters, which is exciting - I'll have to come back to give th read more

Cafecito - Yuca Frita - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I waited here for over an hour for my food. I ordered a steak sandwich and a side of bacon. When my bacon arrived, it was cold and hard as a brick. Even worse, I had to remind the waitress over four times to bring me a coffee. Overall, a very poor experience. Do not recommend. read more

Perfect 5 stars! Such a neat little restaurant in a great location. We had the LaCosta and Jamon sandwiches. The bread was so soft and not greasy at all. The size was perfect and everything tasted so fresh. Service was fast and food was delivered to our table very quickly. The prices were also great for the location. Read all the yelp reviews, this place is great. Can't wait to go back and try the coffee!!! read more

Cafecito - Bar area in back. - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Cute little spot for breakfast! Cuban food is sooo good and they have a variety of dishes that are cuban based. Service was very quick and friendly. The place was mostly clean and brightly colored. Overall: would go back. read more

Cafecito - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Have only gotten takeout a few times but the food has exceeded expectations every time. The Vaca Frita was delicious and I'll be coming back for the cafe con leche - ordered mine half-sugar and it was perfect. Definitely worth seeking out in lieu of some of the more touristy/chain places along the Mag Mile. read more

Hidden gem! Found this place on accident. The service was great! The food was delicious. I had the tilapia platter with white rice, black beans and refried platano. Highly recommend. Parking may be a little difficult. read more

First off, this place has best Maduros I've had since visiting Puerto Rico. Their Yuca Fritas are great. The black bean soup brings back such great memories. It's wonderful. And not to be outdone user their Margaritas. Lunch is very busy. Visit in evening and you won't regret it. read more

Cafecito offers two dining options: casual/pickup at the counter or dine in with a server. Service is slow, but not terrible. There are lots of great choices for sandwiches and plates/platillos. One of my favorites is the ropa vieja. I've had the sandwich version, but I prefer the plate because the flavors of the dish stand out more. The meat itself is flavorful and very tender. The plantains are cooked well, and add a touch of sweetness to the savory plate. The beans and rice also add depth to the dish and make it even more filling. read more

Cafecito - Ropa Vieja Platter to-go - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had the cubano sandwich and the cafe con leche. The cubano sandwich is a bit on the smaller side, but it is tasty. I would order a side with it, if I was super hungry. The cafe con leche is devine. I wish I could drink this everyday. Order online and pick up is easy and quick! The staff here is nice. I can't wait to try other things from this place. read more

Delicious Cuban arroz con frijoles con tons of flavor! The service was good, our server hooked it up with an amazing Havana Club, Cuba Libre. The Cafecito is definitely a hidden gem. Try it! read more

Cafecito - Havana Club, Cuba Libre - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

absolutely amazing cafe!!! my friend and I were so surprised by how amazing this little neighborhood Cuban cafe was. I had the most AMAZING coffee of my life and in Chicago in this little cafe!! Try the double cafecito for a wonderful pick me up!! read more

Cafecito - Lechon Omelette - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

cafecito is fireeee!!! the sandwiches are so good and the mojitos are amazing!! would come here again and again!!

I really enjoyed the La Costa pressed sandwich I got, but the service was not the best when I went with some friends tonight. Our server was not the most friendly and we had to find him after waiting for 30 minutes after we finished eating just to pay for our meal. Would probably eat here again since our server was probably just having an off day and we all enjoyed our food. read more

Cafecito - La Costa pressed sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is one of Chicago's hidden treasures. Best Cuban food in Chicago hands-down and honestly may be the best in the country. Everything on the menu is delicious. It's a great place for dinner, lunch, brunch, or just to grab some drinks after work. In terms of sandwiches, you can't go wrong with The Cubano. It's been consistently rated among the best Cuban Sandwiches in the country. The bread is soft on the inside yet has a slight crunch on the outside. The ratio of meat/mustard/cheese is utter perfection. If you want a change from a standard Cuban sandwich, the Chivito is phenomenal (definitely my favorite sandwich on the menu). It's the kind of sandwich you take a bite into and say "wow." Steak, ham, bacon, fried egg, mozzarella. Honestly just thinking about it is making me hungry. I've also tried the Proveletta and Boracho, both of which are also really delicious. Sandwiches aren't the only highlight of this place. The salads are delicious, the ceviche is well balanced and the platters explode with flavor. Try the GuavaQ Pork. For brunch (or dessert) they also have amazing pancakes and some of the best coffee drinks I've had too. They also just added an entirely vegan menu which I am super excited to try. Last but not least, it's worth mentioning that the owner of this place is good hearted, very personable, and really cares about his customers. Cafecito is THE PLACE! read more

Good prices, quick, easy, and tasteful. Cortadito Single Espresso is so delicious and I have craved it a few times since. The have dine in table service, walk up counter, and a bar. Vegetarian friendly. The Cubano Sandwich is $6.50 and made with mojo. Very good and recommend. Not the best Cuban, but very good. Not too many side options. Caldo Gallego soup is great! Service was a little slow, but it was New Years Day so I gave them the benefit of the doubt. read more

Cafecito - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Went there for lunch today & ordered the Cubano sandwich. I've had others that were very tasty, this one was not. Tasteless, meat on it was very thin, don't know if it came with pickles, I just didn't see them. Very dry & even with extra mustard it didn't so the trick. Not going back! read more

My good friend just moved to the neighborhood & invited me out for a bite. Delicious food! We had the ropa vieja & pollo Al chimichurri. Both were satisfying and flavorful. We took advantage of the Monday 20.00 bottle of wine special. It was a Good time & great food! read more

Cafecito - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I loved Cafecito when I used to eat meat and was sad I couldn't eat there anymore but now they have vegetarian and vegan options!!! This place is jam packed and super busy all the time for a reason. The food is fresh and delicious and they have something for everyone! My one comment is that service can be slow if you walk in to order during lunch hour. Make sure to order ahead! read more

Cafecito - La Playa (vegan) - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My wife and I stopped in for a quick bite before an event at the MCA, a little after six on a Friday. Since there was only the two of us, our wait was not long. The food - a Cubano and a Chicken pannini - were delicious and reasonably priced. There was a primarily a young crowd of Northwestern Law and Medical students, but there were a few "oldsters" like us. The ambience was pretty lively and the noise level high. The service was efficient and friendly. Looking forward to stopping in again earlier in the day so we can sample the coffee! read more

Yummy mimosas (I liked the mango, my hubby liked the guava) and a cubano SO GOOD that I literally went back for more within 24 hours. No regrets. read more

Cafecito - Cubano Pressed Sandwich- delicious! - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ok Let me start off by saying I've eaten here before and their food is great. But when I ordered the lechon platter it wasn't what I expected. If your Latin than you know what Lechon is and what it looks like and this was definitely not it. It was some sort of ham but not Lechon. Not to say they don't have good food but I would not eat the platter again. Big disappointment for me. This is what happens when you try to Americanize the food and these folks can't tell the difference and thinks its great and authentic. read more

Cafecito - This Is Not Lechon. - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This restaurant represents what I imagine it would be like to visit Cuba and eat in an authentic Cuban restaurant . Our server Julian helped us choose two great pressed Cuban sandwiches. My husband ordered a pork sandwich with tomato, carmelized onions, and a delicious marinated pork on a delicious roll. He also tried a cup of the very yummy black bean soup. I had the pork with a guava bbq sauce made by the restaurant. Oh my goodness! It was so good! We shared toast and crispy yucca fries. The menu was varied and also had salads and entrees with a variety of dishes. We both were very impressed! read more

Service was horrible. Was told to wait in the front to be seated and waited 15 minutes so just decided to get it to go. I got the incorrect pop I ordered and the girl didn't apologize and just took them away. Then she called my name and set 2 bags on the counter. When I went to go look at one of the bags looking for my name, she didn't give me a chance and said... That's why we write names on them and took the bag out of my hands rudely. Sandwich was ok but service was horrible and the waitress looked mad that she had so many tables. I got the Cuban sandwich and it was nothing to write home about. At least it was close to the hospital but it was 18 dollars for a sandwich and 2 sodas. Ambiance was very busy and not personal at all. read more

Good place to grab lunch or snack while walking the Magnificent Mile. Get outdoor seating when weather permits.

This is our go-to breakfast spot when we're in Chicago. The Rojo Y Blanco Pancakes (white chocolate and guava) are so delicious and fluffy. We order them every time! read more

Cafecito - Rojo Y Blanco Pancakes and Cafe Con Leche Small - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food tastes good. However their service is very slow, servers don't even care if you need something and they throw things to the table and move on to the next one. Our server was extremely casual and careless, and he was not interested in taking care of us at all. Only showed kindness when it was time to get our money. Will not come back just because they're not interested in customer service, just selling and move on to the next person, it's a shame because the food was good, but is sad not to come back because their slow and completely neglectful service. Our server was MAXIMO. read more

I wanted to like Cafecito-- actually, wanted to LOVE it. My family has omnivores and vegans, so the Chestnut menu looked amazing for all of us. One of our favorite places is Irazu, and there were some similar options (like the salad!). Unfortunately, out of three meals and salads, none of us finished the food, and no one wanted to keep the leftovers. It was just incredibly bland, which is not at all what we expected. The dressing was mainly oil. The dishes we got were super one note (a chicken and a couple of vegan dishes). The portions were HUGE, but I ended up eating something else later instead. Maybe it was an off night? As I said, the menu looked so impressive, so maybe we would try again in the future, but tonight was really not good for any of us. read more