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The coffee was really good. El Cubano sandwich was ok. Little dry and lacked flavor. Service was good, the girl at the counter was nice and the food and drinks came out quick. The decor was nice but I'm not a fan of sticky floors and tables. I'd recommend a better job at cleaning.
One of the best prices for good coffee in the city! The tater tots are always perfect and the portions are MASSIVE. Really great place to grab breakfast
This location in the loop is a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of the city conveniently located near Grant Park. If you're in the mood for Cuban, don't skip Cafecito. The pressed sandwiches are clutch for any kind of weather, and there's a wide variety to choose from. I went with the Chivito which has steak, ham, bacon, fried egg, mozzarella, lettuce, tomato, onion, citrus aioli, and shoestring potatoes. If I didn't get that, I'd go for the Cubano or Jamon. They offer salads, plates (with rice, black beans, and plantains), and vegan specialties. Pair your meal with a café con leche or other coffee drink, and it's a happy day.
We had recently been to the Streeterville location of Cafecito and loved it. And we happened to see this location across Ida B. Wells from the C33 gallery! Of course we stopped in! The entrance is to the right in a shared lobby. The line grew long and the seating for about 30 filled quickly at 11:30am on a Wed (Feb 2026). This Cuban restaurant is brightly decorated with art, and a wall full of awards and reviews. The food menu is the same as their other locations, while this one leans into the café feel. We got the classic hot-pressed Cubano sandwich: Thin-sliced tender roasted pork and ham with swiss, and a few pickles, on crisped Cuban bread. Rich and tasty. And we had the hot-pressed Pollo Chipotle sandwich: tender thick-sliced chicken, a handful of fresh basil, thin-sliced fresh tomato, a little mozzarella and a light chipotle aioli. Bright, lightly spicy, and moist. They have at least four locations around Chicagoland. We'll gladly stop in whenever we are nearby any of them :-)
I have a soft spot for Cafecito, and I've gotten takeout from this location multiple times. It's a little bit odd and hard to find, tucked away next to a hostel, but that's the vibe - very casual, kind of eclectic. I love their guava-q pork platter, their Cubano sandwich is usually pretty good, and surprisingly their baked goods are too. As far as their coffee drinks, I've tried their cafecito and cortadito, which were just ok. I keep coming back for the food!
Consider this my love letter to a small Cuban cafe chain that gave us all the home vibes we needed to get through the cold Chicago. We originally stopped in for a hot colada and warm tostada. A delicious little pick me up treat to get us by as we braved the Windy City block by block. After having a taste and thinking back to line busting through their doors, we decided we had to try their meals for dinner. Thankful that we were able to locate their locations on all the delivery apps, we opted to dine in our hotel room and have the food come to us even if it impacted the flavor a bit. I'm happy to say, it did not. The food was as flavorful and delicious as if my abuela had just laid it on the table in front of me (although my grandma does burn the maduros for that extra sweet crisp IYKYK). The star of the show was the Ropa Vieja sandwich. Probably one of the best I've had. Even counting back home, in Miami. If you're a local or just in town visiting, this cafe is definitely worth a visit.
I ordered a Ropa Vieja, an Iced Cafecito, and Tres Leches. All three were 10/10. Yum! The staff were quick and friendly. Ropa Vieja: A pressed sandwich of slow roasted skirt steak, sweet plantains, black beans, and tomato creole sauce *chef's kiss*
Went towards the end of the day. Got the ropa vieja sandwich- the bread is perfectly toasted and thin. The meat is flavorful and the plantain inside is perfectly sweet. Service could be better - seems like they were trying to make sure they closed on time so when I asked for the restroom key, they said they thought someone was using the bathroom .... No one came out for the 30 min we were there. Go for the food because it's good but take it to go.
Friendly staff and good pressed sandwich! I had the ropa vieja sandwich and a large café con leche (light sugar...still very sweet). Coffee wasn't hot, exactly, and I think the sandwich would have been better if eaten in the cafe instead of to go. Something to go with the sandwich would have been appropriate given the price...even a handful of plantain chips, better optics and all.
A great hearty brunch option for brisk windy days. We ordered: - the Maduro omelet with tomato, peppers, and plantain: the tomato sauce was rich and flavorful, an interesting contrast to the sweetness of plantains. Served with both tater tots and toasted bread - an abundance! - the Cafe con leche pancakes, two large pancakes with simple sugar glaze and a pourable amount of coffee glaze (not straight espresso, don't try to drink it ): delicious but very sweet by the end - cafecito: espresso, sugar, and a little milk. I wanted to try something new but was worried because I don't like straight espresso but this was the perfect sugar ratio to keep it bitter and sweet, similar to Vietnamese coffee Logistics: - indoor seating only - order at counter and then food is brought out - limited street parking nearby but close to the loop transit - gluten free options (barring cross contamination) if you ask for no bread with the omelet
Got takeout and wow, this is a good place to get a sandwich in a pinch. They definitely did not skimp on the ingredients, flavor, and the bread was still crispy. The sandwich itself was very filling and good for leftovers as well. Would love to go to the location to check out the inside and try out their cafe menu!
Very shady place! My wallet got stolen while I was dining in at this cafe. According to the staff, peoples' laptops, phones and wallets got stolen at this place before!! The cafe doesn't even have a sign to warn people. just avoid this place at cost. It's so ridiculous! UPDATE: the management said the surveillance camera couldn't catch what happened because it wasn't pointed in the angle I was sitting. Yeah what a joke! The staff was right. the management is definitely part of it.
Found this little Cuban cafe while we were looking for breakfast in the area. Yelp led us to here. It's a pretty small cafe but it packs a good flavor and its authentic Cuban pressed sandwiches are really good. I ordered the Chivito and it had a little bit of everything inside. It was warm and delicious. It was really filling and I enjoyed it. Staff were super nice and welcoming. This place gave a warm comfort feeling. read more
I got the Bistec Chimichurri sandwich. Honestly, I didn't think it was very good. The steak was tough, and this wasn't my favorite chimichurri sauce either. Bread was fine. Interior was nice, staff is polite. No problems there, but given the amount of good food in Chicago, this seems like a miss. read more
2 days ago
The coffee was really good. El Cubano sandwich was ok. Little dry and lacked flavor. Service was good, the girl at the counter was nice and the food and drinks came out quick. The decor was nice but I'm not a fan of sticky floors and tables. I'd recommend a better job at cleaning. read more
2 months ago
One of the best prices for good coffee in the city! The tater tots are always perfect and the portions are MASSIVE. Really great place to grab breakfast read more
This location in the loop is a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of the city conveniently located near Grant Park. If you're in the mood for Cuban, don't skip Cafecito. The pressed sandwiches are clutch for any kind of weather, and there's a wide variety to choose from. I went with the Chivito which has steak, ham, bacon, fried egg, mozzarella, lettuce, tomato, onion, citrus aioli, and shoestring potatoes. If I didn't get that, I'd go for the Cubano or Jamon. They offer salads, plates (with rice, black beans, and plantains), and vegan specialties. Pair your meal with a café con leche or other coffee drink, and it's a happy day. read more
We had recently been to the Streeterville location of Cafecito and loved it. And we happened to see this location across Ida B. Wells from the C33 gallery! Of course we stopped in! The entrance is to the right in a shared lobby. The line grew long and the seating for about 30 filled quickly at 11:30am on a Wed (Feb 2026). This Cuban restaurant is brightly decorated with art, and a wall full of awards and reviews. The food menu is the same as their other locations, while this one leans into the café feel. We got the classic hot-pressed Cubano sandwich: Thin-sliced tender roasted pork and ham with swiss, and a few pickles, on crisped Cuban bread. Rich and tasty. And we had the hot-pressed Pollo Chipotle sandwich: tender thick-sliced chicken, a handful of fresh basil, thin-sliced fresh tomato, a little mozzarella and a light chipotle aioli. Bright, lightly spicy, and moist. They have at least four locations around Chicagoland. We'll gladly stop in whenever we are nearby any of them :-) read more
I have a soft spot for Cafecito, and I've gotten takeout from this location multiple times. It's a little bit odd and hard to find, tucked away next to a hostel, but that's the vibe - very casual, kind of eclectic. I love their guava-q pork platter, their Cubano sandwich is usually pretty good, and surprisingly their baked goods are too. As far as their coffee drinks, I've tried their cafecito and cortadito, which were just ok. I keep coming back for the food! read more
6 months ago
Consider this my love letter to a small Cuban cafe chain that gave us all the home vibes we needed to get through the cold Chicago. We originally stopped in for a hot colada and warm tostada. A delicious little pick me up treat to get us by as we braved the Windy City block by block. After having a taste and thinking back to line busting through their doors, we decided we had to try their meals for dinner. Thankful that we were able to locate their locations on all the delivery apps, we opted to dine in our hotel room and have the food come to us even if it impacted the flavor a bit. I'm happy to say, it did not. The food was as flavorful and delicious as if my abuela had just laid it on the table in front of me (although my grandma does burn the maduros for that extra sweet crisp IYKYK). The star of the show was the Ropa Vieja sandwich. Probably one of the best I've had. Even counting back home, in Miami. If you're a local or just in town visiting, this cafe is definitely worth a visit. read more
1 month ago
8 months ago
I ordered a Ropa Vieja, an Iced Cafecito, and Tres Leches. All three were 10/10. Yum! The staff were quick and friendly. Ropa Vieja: A pressed sandwich of slow roasted skirt steak, sweet plantains, black beans, and tomato creole sauce *chef's kiss* read more
1 year ago
Went towards the end of the day. Got the ropa vieja sandwich- the bread is perfectly toasted and thin. The meat is flavorful and the plantain inside is perfectly sweet. Service could be better - seems like they were trying to make sure they closed on time so when I asked for the restroom key, they said they thought someone was using the bathroom .... No one came out for the 30 min we were there. Go for the food because it's good but take it to go. read more
10 months ago
Friendly staff and good pressed sandwich! I had the ropa vieja sandwich and a large café con leche (light sugar...still very sweet). Coffee wasn't hot, exactly, and I think the sandwich would have been better if eaten in the cafe instead of to go. Something to go with the sandwich would have been appropriate given the price...even a handful of plantain chips, better optics and all. read more
1 year ago
A great hearty brunch option for brisk windy days. We ordered: - the Maduro omelet with tomato, peppers, and plantain: the tomato sauce was rich and flavorful, an interesting contrast to the sweetness of plantains. Served with both tater tots and toasted bread - an abundance! - the Cafe con leche pancakes, two large pancakes with simple sugar glaze and a pourable amount of coffee glaze (not straight espresso, don't try to drink it ): delicious but very sweet by the end - cafecito: espresso, sugar, and a little milk. I wanted to try something new but was worried because I don't like straight espresso but this was the perfect sugar ratio to keep it bitter and sweet, similar to Vietnamese coffee Logistics: - indoor seating only - order at counter and then food is brought out - limited street parking nearby but close to the loop transit - gluten free options (barring cross contamination) if you ask for no bread with the omelet read more
6 months ago
Got takeout and wow, this is a good place to get a sandwich in a pinch. They definitely did not skimp on the ingredients, flavor, and the bread was still crispy. The sandwich itself was very filling and good for leftovers as well. Would love to go to the location to check out the inside and try out their cafe menu! read more
5 months ago
Very shady place! My wallet got stolen while I was dining in at this cafe. According to the staff, peoples' laptops, phones and wallets got stolen at this place before!! The cafe doesn't even have a sign to warn people. just avoid this place at cost. It's so ridiculous! UPDATE: the management said the surveillance camera couldn't catch what happened because it wasn't pointed in the angle I was sitting. Yeah what a joke! The staff was right. the management is definitely part of it. read more
23 days ago
The steak chimichurri sandwich was pretty good. The meat was definitely the star, and it definitely had to be since there isn't much more to the sandwich besides the sauce and tomato. It was a little on the salty side, but the bread to meat ratio balanced it out. I'd like to try out the chicken and definitely some of the other sandwiches. It was a cute and calm interior giving cafe vibes while still having a full fledged menu. Great spot to stop in if you're needing a break while walking around Chicago or need a quick bite to go. read more
8 months ago
5 months ago
Great lunch spot! I was surprised how busy cafecito was on a Saturday in the loop. I like their wide variety menu and affordable prices here. The Cuban sandwich was a tad dry, but still had great flavor and was a very large portion. I'd like to come back and try more things! read more
5 months ago
10 months ago
I've had a LOT of lattes, but the cafe con leche was EXTREMELY impressive. It was no more than what it was, but it was damn near perfect. It was smooth and flavorful to a degree you just don't see with unflavored lattes. Get a cup of their Caldo Gallego soup, too, and warm up in the afternoon. Very, very impressive. read more
I found this place by mistake and it was a great mistake! I love the menu its vast with delicious options and healthy options too! I got the tilapia sandwich and it was delicious. I'll definitely be going back to try other items. The service was great too, the lady taking my order was nice and answered my questions. read more
1 year ago
Visiting from California as a NYC native, I miss eating good Cuban food. I was super excited to have found a place near my hotel. The cafe has enough space for more than a handful of guests with seating for coffee drinkers to hang out as well. Customer service was quick, not overly friendly, just straight to the point. I'm comfortable with that being from NYC. The food was delicious and tasted homemade. We had the ropa vieja, the palomilla and the lechon plate. Everything tasted delicious. Only complaint was WAY too much onions thrown on top of the food. Other than that, the rice, black beans, plantains were all perfect accompaniments. They had vegan options too which was really cool and Latin sodas. read more
11 months ago
I never turn down a cafecito, which made this a must try spot in The Loop. The pobrecito breakfast hit the spot, with an interesting and tasty take on frijoles, salsa to spice things up just a bit, and sweet plátanos to round out the flavors. Good service and a fun atmosphere. I'll be back. read more
1 year ago
Cool little cafe. I liked the vibe. The oils in which my maduros and eggs were fried tasted a bit nasty (maybe it was margarine, not sure), but the garlic sauce helped. My eggs were crunchy with egg shells. Noone will care to get that fixed for you. read more
Popular Cuban coffee and sandwich place Cafecito has a location down in the South Loop that is a great place to grab a coffee and some quick eats. We normally go to the streeterville location but we were downtown. A plate of maduros is always good if you need a quick snack. Surprisingly busy for a Saturday afternoon but still service was pretty quick! Right near Roosevelt University and auditorium theatre which might account for the foot traffic . Seating was not easy to find like other locations #cuban #coffee #chicago read more
Was craving a savory breakfast and landed on Cafecito. Would never have given this place a second thought walking by but glad it came up on my breakfast searches. Staff was friendly and helpful with my questions in trying to decide what to order (everything sounded so good). Decided on the Probecito Which was fried eggs, rice. Beans, and plantains. Food was absolutely perfect. The flavor was amazing and a great portion size as well. Food and coffee was under $20 including tip which was shocking to me for what I got. They have a few locations downtown so highly recommend when in the area. read more
2 years ago
We stopped in for breakfast on Sunday morning around 11am. There is counter service, and there were plenty of seats available. It was a little disconcerting that they have several signs up that say not to leave belongings unattended, but we didn't have a problem. Sadly, it's located in a not so populated nor clean area of the city. We ordered jamon con huevos with cheddar cheese and mangonut pancakes. The jamon con huevos was pretty underwhelming, especially considering I've had a great Cuban at their other Loop location. It's more of an omelet on bread than anything else, and the contents didn't reach the edges of the sandwich. The mangonut pancakes were the standout! They were a very generous portion and had toasted coconut and mango in every bite. All in all, we had a great experience and would come back again. read more
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26 E Congress Pkwy
Chicago, IL 60605
The Loop
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(312) 922-2233
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https://iheartcafecito.com
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