Tastiness: I had the Exotic Salad and Black Bean Soup and both were excellent. If these two dishes are a guide for others, this place is tasty. Presentation: Lunch spot, with a few tables, and casual fare, so don't expect elevated presentation of your food. Ambiance: Great place for quick and casual lunch, and the ambiance matches it. Go in with the right expectation and you'll enjoy it. Cleanliness/COVID prevention: (July 2021) Some staff were wearing masks and others were not, in accordance with local guidance on vaccination. The place is decently clean. Price: $10 salad with shrimp and $3.95 for a hefty cup of soup. I think it's low for the area and tastiness of the food. Delivery/pick-up turnaround/packaging: This is the reason why I'll give this place 4/5*. I placed the order via Yelp, and I received a message that it was ready for pick-up, however it was not ready when I got to the restaurant 10 minutes later. Not sure if it was a mix-up in the kitchen or via the platform. Overall: Excellent lunch spot for pick-up or eat-in. read more

I never write reviews, but this place is so darn good. I was in the neighborhood for a wedding and wandered into Cafecito, but was I led there by chance or was it fate? I ordered the Cafe Con Leche (for the first time ever) and a Pavo. Both were orgasmic. I want to come back to Chicago just for this place. read more

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

I was downtown going to lunch with work colleagues expecting that this Cuban spot wouldn't have any food for me to eat. Cafecito surprised me with an extensive vegan menu! I had to spend several minutes debating what I wanted to try. I ended up getting the La Playa sandwich (pictured) which had Beyond sausage, chimichurri, mojo, cheese, and tons of veggies! It was truly so delicious and one of those vegan sandwiches that question whether I was *actually* given a vegan version. I want to come back and try the rest of the menu since I work nearby. Definitely such a diverse range of options so everyone can get something they'd love! read more

Cafecito - La Playa Sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Checked out this place and it was good. Small place but good was different than most places and yummy. We went on Wednesday night so it was $5 mojitos. Tried the nachos and loved the use if plantain chips! Sandwiches were good but preferred the chivito over the Cubano. Friendly staff. Will be back read more

Cafecito - Mojito - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came on a Saturday morning for brunch. You seat yourself and wait for the host. The front is only for to-go orders. There seemed to be just one host working at the time of my visit so service was a bit slow but understandable. Food was good and service was okay. read more

Cafecito - Guajiro Platillo and Cubano Sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We waited a total of 37 minutes before anyone introduced themselves, took our order or even offered us waters. When we were finally acknowledged we were met with a waitress that had an attitude. As if we were an inconvenience. While I can understand that restaurants do get busy and I don't mind waiting but it was us waiting with no exchange from anyone from the staff. As more tables were sat around us and their food orders were taken. I'm glad that we weren't on a time crunch because we've been here for an hour now and the only thing that we've gotten so far was waters. We ordered an item that was no longer being served because of the time (breakfast which is understandable) however we were in and seated before the cut off for breakfast. The lighting is pretty bad depending on where you are seated. Update: Food came and it was cold. A shorter girl with tattoos was our server and I hope she has a better day than the one she was having. Côme hère if you have time to just wait around read more

Fantastic little shop to get some food at! I was looking for something quick and casual to eat after I visited the Museum of Contemporary Art and this place was only a block away so I stopped by and am glad I did. There's some nice outdoor seating, and some tall booths and tables that stretch pretty deep inside. The employee at the counter was super helpful when I asked for recommendations, explaining I hadn't had a ton of Cuban food before. He recommended the cubano and the cafe con leche, both of which I ordered. The food came out pretty quickly, although I went at around 3 in the afternoon. The cubano was great! I'm usually not a huge mustard fan but the combination of the pork, ham, pickles, cheese, and mustard perfectly brought the sandwich together. Bonus points since it was perfectly sturdy, and nothing fell out as I was eating it. It was nicely toasted on both sides also, and didn't taste dry like a lot of sandwiches do. The cafe con leche was great as well, although a tad too sweet for my liking. I would definitely ask for less sugar if you don't love sweet coffee. I do wish my iced version didn't come in a disposable plastic cup though. Overall I had a great experience! I especially liked that the sandwiches weren't a ton of food, because I wasn't super hungry, and the prices were super reasonable also. Next time I would love to try a platter or something less meat-centric. read more

Cafecito - Cafe con leche...too bad it came in a disposable plastic cup - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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If you want to try good Cuban food for an incredibly low price, this is your place to go! Everything on the menu looks really good, but today I tried the Chivito sandwich, which has steak, ham, bacon, a fried egg, cheese, veggies, and a mayo sauce. This sandwich is a little on the dry side, I wish they would put more of the sauce but maybe you can ask when you give them your order. Other than that I really don't have anything else to say besides that it's for sure a cute place to grab a bite to eat. read more

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

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We loved the food and the ambiance. We took platillos with fish. So delicious!! Service was ok. Will definitely come there again!

This spot is gem! Roll thru Yelp fam. First off I did not realize there was such a place in downtown steps away from magnificent mile you could eat plenty and drink for cheap. We had a friend visiting in town and were looking for somewhere that wouldn't break the bank and was casual enough. Cafecito? Check & check! Price point we're talking $6 cuban sandwiches or $10 platters served with rice, beans, plantains and your choice of meat. The restaurant has two sides to it. A quick togo side to order out or a sit down side to order and dine in with a bar as well. For food, I ended up trying their Lechon (roast pork) platter. Roast pork was tender and sliced thin rather than the pulled pork sort of serving. Although not the best lechon I've ever had, but at the same time the price and serving size was quite the value. For alcohol, only beer and wine were available, but man was it affordable. Cans & bottles of beer going from $3-$5. Wine by the glass was a tad more and even options to grab an entire bottle. Top it off with the excellent service. I can't find any reasons to hate on this spot. Anyways, what a gem! Will definitely be back. 'Til next time, cheers! 55/365 read more

Cafecito - Lechon platter & staying true to the hipster roots with a $3 PBR. Whoop whoop! - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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OMG LOVED this place. This was a great accidental find when we were staying at The Drake Hotel and wanted to meet friends for late breakfast. The menu was amazing and the coffee was great. We all enjoyed our food! One thing - it's small. As we waited for a table, we watched at least four parties come in, see the line, and leave. There's a separate coffee shop area if you want just that. But if you're lucky enough to get a table and willing to wait, it's worth it! Bookmarked for our bi-monthly trips to downtown Chicago. read more

I have been to a Cafecito before at another location, but we really enjoyed this location. I am Cuban so I cook Cuban food all the time, but I can never get a good sandwich, Cafecito did not disappoint me, we ordered Cuban sandwiches and they were great. The bread was like being in Miami and the pork was marinated perfectly. I ordered my espresso with no sugar, and it was very good, my son had a Cafe con Leche and he was not disappointed. Service was great and we enjoyed the atmosphere. read more

Food is dry, ordered the lechón and cubano. dear almighty you need two cups of sauce that was paired with the yucca fritas to balance out the dry sandwiches. Service drags and takes way to long for the bill. Tho ambiance is nice read more

Cubano sandwich was tasty but a bit dry. Customer service was sub par. Waited 30 mins for a sandwich. When asked about how long it would take, servers went to check but did not follow up with me read more

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

I love Cafecito, they have wonderful sandwiches. It is about the same price point as Potbelly's but is full service and very fresh. Many affordable places for lunch have disappeared in the area since the Pandemic, this place is great. I love the mar y tierra sandwich, read more

Cafecito!!! Fresh....Fresh....Fresh Foods!!!! Mixed with new build out, reasonable prices, clean, inviting atmosphere & staff = Best Chicago Cafe This mornings Power starter: Palmacate Salad - light, fresh bites of mint, arugula, cucumber, tomato, artichoke hearts - tossed in a very light olive oil/vinegar spritz & Cuban Black Bean Soup - Hearty, bold black beans with red & green peppers, white onions & a secret spice I wish I knew!! Delicate yet Bold - Power Starter!! Packed with Health, Protein & Fiber - tastes incredibly delicious Thank You Cafecito!! P.S. Snuck back in with a couple friends for lunch...oh so good! read more

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Cute neighborhood coffee shop and Cuban restaurant. We enjoyed the chimichuri plate, with black beans rice and plaintaines. Also a Cuban sandwich. The sandwich was ok, a little on the dry side but the flavors were good. We also had an excellent service. This is a smaller restaurant, so not great for big groups. read more

Food was delicious for the price! I had the huevos breakfast sandwich which was moist and crispy. It was a bit greasy but not to the extent of not being able to taste all the ingredients and seasoning. The shrimp ceviche was fresh, well seasoned and they didn't hold back on the shrimp. read more

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Okay! For a quick bite. Nothing special about this place. Waiter did not know much about the menu... I had a torta cubana and tostones. Good combination. read more

I've been to Cafecito multiple times for lunch - it's always delicious and a special treat. Walk in, seat yourself, usually very speedy service and food comes out pretty quick - they definitely keep up with the lunch rush, without ever making you feel rushed out. The food is AMAZING - favorites are ropa vieja plate and the shrimp plate - just soooo good. Plates are served w rice, beans and plantains. Don't miss the plantains, they're AMAZING! Added bonus is that prices are reasonable, definitely not pricey for all of the food that you get. Only thing I wish is that they expanded their non-alcoholic drink menu: every time I'm there the ambiance (think fun Cuban decor, lots of plants and colors) makes me want to order a berry fizz or some fun mango drink. There's really nothing in the way of fruity non alcoholic drinks and I think it would be a great addition to the menu! read more

Cafecito - Shrimp plate - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Stopped in for breakfast before leaving town but I couldn't help myself and had to get their Cuban. Loved it. The menu has tons of options and if I lived close I would be there every week. Stop in and grab an espresso and sandwich. read more

Good food. Perfect breakfast sandwiches to charge up your walk. The tostones come with a great sauce. The cafecito was delicious too!

I LOVE CAFECITO. Been going here for years. Their sandwiches are on point. The bread has a great crunch/outer shell but the inside is soft and delicious. You can also get a side of just their bread if you want They are very generous with their ingredients and meat as well. They don't always have the smoothies in, but definitely ask! The mango and mame ones are my favorite. Their coffee (especially cafe con leche) are excellent (and authentic, according to my Cuban friend). Don't forget to get a stamp card for their coffee! Did I mention how affordable they are, especially for the area?? If you're a Northwestern student, you get a 10% discount if you show them your wildcard. Super easy to cater with as well. Michael (the manager) is the best! Tl;dr this is one of the best places in Streeterville for good food that won't break the bank. read more

Cafecito - Borracho (left) - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very delicious! I appreciated that this place was vegan friendly.The food was served quickly and wait staff was friendly and helpful. read more

Cafecito - Vegan Option - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

SO GOOD! I got a vegan sandwich and it was delicious. Service was great! So cute Breakfast read more

Cafecito - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Checked out the hype of Cafecito and was expecting it to be great but was disappointed twice. First time I went and ordered cafe con leche to go which took forever, second time for dine in I ordered an egg and cheese breakfast sandwich, guava and cheese pastry and cafe con leche. The gauge and cheese pastry and cafe con leche were good. It took a long time to get salt and pepper and ketchup/hot sauce for the sandwich. The worst part is I'm vegetarian and I found a piece of meat in my egg and when I asked the waitress about it she just brushed it off letting me know that there's cross contamination in the back and they use the same pan. She didn't even apologize to take it off the bill or get me something else to make up for it. I wouldn't come back again for this. They pride about vegan specialities but what's the point if it's going to be cooked on the same pan and not looked at. read more

Hidden breakfast gem! Food- They have a good amount of options. With it being my first time I went with a simply but excellent steak, egg, onions and cheese breakfast sandwich. What really made it great was the bread which was soft and warm. Also I have never like too much spice but I tried Valentinas(hot Sauce) and loved it, the flavor is great. Service- Good and food came out in timely manner. Overall if your in the area and want a twist on breakfast give this place a shot. read more

Cafecito - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

in what seemed to be many moons ago I lived in Central America in Costa Rica to be exact. I would go to a place in one of the neighborhoods of Downtown San Jose to this croffee shop where the proprietors spoke english and taught me about coffee central american style. Before that time all I knew about coffee is that you drink it and you are supposed to stay awake :) I have been here 3 times in the past 2 weeks. I feel very welcomed . Do yourself a favor and order the cafecito con leche. It is like part regular coffee and part latte. I also have had the latte. It taste so good and sweet. Cheaper than a quick vacation, you will feel like you have made he journey to the right place. The latin music is just at the right decibel level. I found that this coffee ship is pretty unique. read more

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We got takeout here last month (before the current travel restrictions). The sandwiches are yummy, but I was definitely a bit let down by some of the more Cuban dishes. I really enjoyed my steak, grilled onion, egg and cheese pressed sandwich and my husband said good things about his sandwich too, but the Cuban sides we had (maduros and tostones) were very disappointing. The tostones especially were really dry and hard and tasted like they were frozen and reheated. I've spent a fair amount of time in south Florida, so I'm definitely something of a snob about Cuban food, but it was a pretty big letdown to me given the 4.5 star rating. When I went in to order and pick up our food (they don't have any curbside), I was disappointed to some of the staff with masks around their chins and one person specifically pulled their mask down to talk to me (um...kind of defeats the point). Admittedly, I haven't been in many restaurants since the pandemic started, even for takeout, but this is the first time I've seen staff being so careless about masks. Even if the food had wowed me, I would not return for that reason alone until the Covid situation is much better than it is now. read more

Love this place! I wish I could remember the actual names of these two dishes but everything on the menu look absolutely delicious, and these two were delicious well. If you're coming during lunch time, there may be a wait. They seem to be a bit understaffed but still worth the wait. Let's continue to try and be patient during covid times. read more

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Came here for breakfast while on a trip to Chicago. Place was conveniently located a few blocks from the hotel we stayed at so it was like a 4 min walk to get here. Came in on a Saturday morning and were promptly seated at a booth. I ordered the La Costa pressed sandwich and it was delicious. I am not normally a fan of arugula but I really enjoyed it in this sandwich. The service is definitely the one that left us a little disappointed. Our waitress never came by to check up on us after taking our orders. We sat there waiting for a good while before a different server came up to ask if we wanted the check. Overall still a solid spot. read more

Cafecito - La Costa Pressed Sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Always wanted to try this place, and I finally did as my first meal of the new year! It did not disappointI heard the cuban sandwich itself is very popular, which I didn't try because, don't hate me, I don't like pickles or mustard haha. But the steak chimichurri sandwich and chivito was yum! The platillos were great too according to my family with nice big portions! And trust me, get the maduros (sweet plaintains), if i wasn't so full I would've eaten the whole side myself. Definitely recommend going if you're right by water tower too, It's a short walk from there. read more

Cafecito - Top: Chivito Sandwich Bottom: Chimichurri Sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Excellent cheap eats in a fun atmosphere!! Waitress was kind and knowledgeable. Menu had lots to choose from including an excellent vegan menu. It does get loud with low ceilings and smaller space and the A/C wasn't keeping up but it was 100 degrees that day and everything else was DELICIOUS so no complaints here read more

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I was visiting Chicago with my girlfriend when we found ourselves stuck looking for lunch north of most of the popular places. We saw this place had good reviews and went here as a last resort. This was our first time having Cuban food, and we loved it. read more

Cafecito - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This location was so good. They greet you as soon as you enter and ensure wherever you sit is socially distanced from others. We had the palomilla sandwich and ropa vieja sandwich and both i highly recommend. If you have it with the black bean soup makes for a perfect brunch/ lunch meal. read more

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

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Loved the tres leches cake! It is so yummy!!! This delicious cake melts in your mouth. Will be back for more!

Their service is so bad. I wish it was better because the food is excellent. But every time we eat in here, it takes forever to get seated, they come by continuously saying "we'll be right with you" then it takes 15-20 mins for them to come back. Then they take orders and help people that were there well after us. It's really frustrating and disappointing. They need a better system. Definitely don't come here if you're tight for time. read more

Can't deny it's a hyper popular place with some tasty food, but I just got out of a 50 min wait for my order, the El Fuego platillo. The type of wait where everyone who ordered after you gets their food first and you're left sitting around waiting like a chump until you finally ask, then wait another 10 min to finally get it without any acknowledgement or apologies, getting you into a certain mood. I know things are still challenging, but let's have some standards. Does this look like something that should take 50 min? Also the pork lacked jerk flavoring or any type of heat or "fuego". read more

Cafecito - The $16 all-in El Fuego platillo, which lacks any real jerk flavor or hint of "fuego" - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Perhaps it was ordering at 445 pm and the staff were not ready, perhaps it was a recommendation and the reviews....I must report blah. Yes take out, yes a 2 block walk, by our arrival, our Cafe Tre leche was just being poured. With excitement we were back to our room unpacking....first, the coffee - yeah was delicious! Like omg delicious...as in, can we go back for breakfast delicious. We continued to unpack, Cuban Sandwich...now cool to the touch...9 min from pick up. Ok fine, ham looks like it shrunk or was not supposed to cover the sandwich, pork ok amount. A bit chewy and tough...but ok meh. Yucca frittata is just cut up yucca with a mayo-chup dip on side - meh. Guava pork bbq it's a plate of bbq pork and three plantains....not quite convert the width of the styrofoam container... Bbq was truly tasty. Side of black beans and rice was petty good as these things go. Severe disappointment came for dessert. Guava coconut pound cake made me feel like that "gotcha" moment .... Diet conscious folks may enjoy the portion size for 3$ but I stupidly got me hopes up waayyy to high. The cakes in their counter display were visions of excitement...what we got was this bundle of well, you get the picture. Expiration date was 5/8 so either these were created pre-COVID or....or.... Just a bundle of tasteless door-stop crap. Or I am not happy with anything and my wife was ok with everything (shhh, but since there is considerable amount of food left uneaten, maybe 'everything is beautiful' plays in her head). Would I go back, Yes but ONLY dine-in! Steee-rike One! read more

Cafecito - Pound Cake? Maybe not even 8oz cake.... Sad, dry and overall a greater disappointment than not winning 1$ on the million dollar lottery... - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Small place, looks they tried to serve the best way. My food was cold and not flavor at all. When we told the waitress about the food they give you an attitude. I guess they care more about the money than food service. read more