A really good meal , good salad, great cafe con leche this am. Right next to hostel we stayed at so easy to get there

In the mood for a good Cuban sandwich and Cuban coffee and this hit the spot. I lived in Tampa and this reminded of some of the food I would get there. read more

Cafecito - Cubano and Cafiecto - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great little casual place serving Cuban sandwiches. I had been out exploring the city all day and was quite hungry and wanted something easy and quick to eat. I found this place and ordered the La Costa. It was ready within a few min and was everything I needed at the moment to satisfy my hunger. I haven't seen these on the East Coast but it seems they're some sort of chain out around Chicago at least. A quick and convenient place with good sandwiches and would come back again. read more

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

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The Cafecito was delicious but the grilled tilapia pressed sandwich was an top 10 all-timer sandwich.

I got the food to go so it is a little hard to rate experience of dining in, but the service was excellent with a very friendly staff. I had gotten the El Fuego and It was excellent. I will definitely go back if I get the chance when I am in Chicago read more

Pretty straightforward little spot. Coffee is very good. On the sweeter side butt hard how I like it. Would recommend for that mid afternoon caffeine fix. read more

Love Cafecito. I 'm not a big coffee drinker, but I love my Latin Food. I've had many things here, Cuban sandwiches, Meals like Ropa Vieja with white rice and beans, Maduros, etc.. Everything is good and well priced. It's a great option if you are in the Grant Park area and feel like having something casual and Latin. It's located at the street level of a hostel, so if you need to go to the restroom, you will be using the hostel's restroom...Talk about synergies...LOL.. read more

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Super yummy I got chorizo sandwich they were really nice and food was good. It's right next to the hostel which is nice

It's in the entryway of a hostel so it's fairly no frills, but the food is really good and the service is friendly. You enter and order the counter and they make it to order. I'm a Cubano lover so grabbed that sandwich which can be had alone or with chips/drink or with soup or salad and drink. The latter two options are a reasonable up charge. The food is delivered to one of the dozen or so tables and there's also a couple of soft seating areas as well. My sandwich was excellent and filling (didn't eat it all) and came out quickly. I had a fountain soda and chips also. Prices are reasonable and I'll definitely be back! read more

Cafecito - Cubano - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We were looking for an interesting to-go breakfast on our morning out of Chicago and discovered this great little spot that has tons of vegan sandwiches and other items. We split the Le Playa Sandwich ($12 plus tax), a decadent breakfast sandwich with Beyond Sausage, vegan cheese (not daiya), chimichurri, roasted red peppers, spinach, and vegan chipotle mayo. We also got some espresso to go. The place was quite busy but it still only took about 10 minutes for the sandwich to be ready. And man what a sandwich it was -- maybe the best breakfast sandwich I've ever had, and I don't say that lightly. The flavours were intense and yet complementary, with lots of spinach, roasted red peppers, and chimichurri coating the bread, sausage, and cheese. A very messy, but decadent and delicious sandwich. Highly recommended. read more

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

The food was mediocre at best. The rice was overcooked and mushy. The ropa vieja had too much garlic and didn't taste great. It wasn't terrible and I finished it, but it just wasn't that good. The only redeeming qualities were the service. They were speedy and friendly. I don't think I would recommend anyone to go out of their way to visit this place, but if you're nearby and want so quick food that isn't a burger or fast food, this could be a decent option. read more

Greta place to pick up a quick bite. I walked here from my hotel on 8th street and it was a quick 15 min walk. It is located in a hostel so the area has a lot of traffic but. It a big deal. I ordered from the app and it took about 15 mins for my order to be done. The inside of a little small and cramped. The line forms near the doors and the pick up table is on the other side of the restaurant. My boyfriend and I got the cubano and Ropa Vieja. Both sandwiches were super good and tasty. The bread was grilled to a crisp and stayed crispy even with my 15 min walk back and 10 min wait for a coffee order. The cubano was not too salty and had perfect amount of meat. The ropa vieja was delicious. My boyfriend and I agreed that we loved that one slightly a bit more than the other. The meat was so good and the plantains balanced out the sandwich making it a perfect sweet and savory sandwich. read more

While my pancakes with plantains were pretty good, the coffee stole the show. They make such a smooth cup of coffee!

I had a sandwich from Cafecito through an online order with some colleagues and was pleasantly surprised at my sandwich! I ordered a sandwich with chicken, guava BBQ sauce, pickled slaw (or onions?), and pineapple. (The specific name of the sandwich escapes me.) This was such a tasty bite! I enjoyed the sweet and savory balance of the sandwich, and the proportion of protein to other fixings was great. If I'm back in the area for work in the future, I would definitely consider ordering from here again. read more

Cafecito has reminded consistent over the years. The last time I visited was in 2016 and it was just as great when I visited again this year. Nothing has really changed since my last visit. They have a fair amount of inside sitting that is nicely spaced out. When I visited there was a party that consisted of at least 6/8 people and they still had a few more tables available. The list is surprisingly log with the selection of sandwiches they offer. I went with the classic Cubano and my husband went with the El Fuego sandwich. The price of the sandwich aligned with what you would find Downtown. It wasn't ridiculously expensive but more pricer than what you would find on the West/Southside. The sandwich didn't take too long to come out if you take into account how many people were before me due to the large party. The size was decent as you can see in the attached images. I was able to get two meals out of my order when I paired it with my bag of chips. The Cubano was delicious when paired with the habanero dipping sauce. I highly recommend using the habanero dipping sauce because it adds a kick. Truthfully without the dipping sauce the sandwich would've been slightly dry and not as flavorful. The El Fuego was tasty and didn't need the dipping sauce. My favorite thing about the restaurant is that it isn't too far from public transportation because it is between Michigan Ave and State St. Highly recommend visiting! read more

Cafecito - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Small, intimate setting with just a few dozen places to sit. The Cuban coffee is fantastic. The cafecito was a perfect blend of smooth espresso coffee and sugar. I bought their whole beans and look forward to brewing it at home. Truly a must go place when in the Windy City! read more

I've visited the Streeterville location and love it. I'm so glad they have one in south loop area. This cafe has legit Cuban food. Love the sandwiches and of course the cafe con leche. Whatever you order make sure grab tha hot guava sauce it's so good ..you can drink it lol. But seriously a great and affordable cafe with lots of flavors. Skip the Starbucks and check this place out. read more

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Conveniently located for a quick bite on the way to key destinations in the City. And if you're a traveler, you can stay at the hostel next door. It's within walking distance of Grant Park and other nearby Chicago attractions. Also love how many vegan and vegetarian options they have here. ..... LA PLAYA: 4/5 extremely oily and very hard to eat cleanly, but otherwise a decent sandwich. read more

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

Who doesn't want mango pancakes for breakfast? Or a cuban sandwich. We stumbled on this small place while leaving our first choice- the wait was too long. It was a win, win!! Get the cuban coffee!! read more

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Amazing Cuban sandwiches and iced Cuban coffee! I wish I could come back for some more. Service was great, everyone was so nice! Definitely come by and try anything on the menu, sooo good! read more

Cafecito - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I went around lunchtime on a weekday and the place was less than moderately busy. I tried the Chivito sandwich and it was amazing (I was hangry so I couldn't truly describe how good it was. I just scarfed it down ). I also had a single cafecito which was a great pair to the crunchy, salty sandwich. It does come with a spoonful of sugar- I don't consume that much sugar day -to-day so it was a little too sweet for me. But yes, the food is amazing, I recommend trying this place out! I came to do homework, but one thing to note is that there is only one outlet that I saw by the couches. So come fully charged to be able to sit where you like! I also loved the artwork all around the store, it was inspiring to look at while I ate, drank espresso, and doing some work :D read more

Cafecito - The Chivito Sandwich with everything on it. The single cafecito is in the background - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Café con Leche was decent and affordable ($3.49)! Not sure if it's as amazing as everyone else says

went for dinner around 6pm and it was decently packed, but it was a short wait to order and get the food. i ordered the jardin sandwich with eggplant, mozzarella and other veggies-- it was good, but didn't quite hit as expected. there might've been a little too much balsamic as it was a bit too sour and veggies were on the blander side. it was overall solid though and consuming the sandwich was an enjoyable experience. i would go again to try some of their other sandwiches and dishes! read more

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

I love their flavor profiles and sandwich combinations. Their house made guava (i think) hot sauce is the bomb. I would say lately some of their sandwiches are a bit low on ingredients-like you get to the bottom of the sandwich and there's an inch or two of just bread. But, totally recommend this place. read more

This place is always crowded so the workers don't have time to clean the tables, but the food and coffee is super worth it. It's also not so crowded that there's a long wait. The coffee leans sweet so just be prepared for that. read more

Cafecito - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been coming here for years and the chinito sandwich is to die for as well as the cafe con leche. It's perfect. I recently developed an egg allergy so I love that they have vegan options and I don't have to stop eating at my favorite spot. 10/10 service is always quick and you're in and out fast. read more

Cafecito is an unassuming casual dining in the Loop. I had seen good reviews on Yelp, so my friend and I stopped in. We were all amazed by our sandwiches! Definitely going to be back when I'm around the area. read more

The lattes are warm not hot which kind of ruined it as it was cold in under 5 minutes, Cubans sandwich was dry and bland, plantains were good though read more

Seriously, yum! The restaurant is located inside of a hostel and is on the smaller side but the food is GREAT. I went for breakfast in the morning since it was close to my hotel. I ordered the huevos habaneros. SO tasty! Be sure to ask for the hot sauce. Very cost efficient and a great way to start the morning read more

Cafecito - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love this place for lunch. I typically get the Cuban sandwich with a café con leche. I order it without sugar because it's pretty sweet if you order it how it comes and I just add sugar to taste. There is not a lot of seating space but you can get it to go and hang out at the fountain. Service is always super nice. read more

Cafecito - Caf Con Leche Large and Cubano - Cuban Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Really good and fresh. Big menu and a nice presentation of food. Courteous service. Heuvos queso is a good pick.

Absolutely horrible service. I called in an order for pickup. Upon arrival, I simply had to pay for the order, and they insisted I waited in a 30 person line to do so! It took over 40 minutes to get to the counter. Once, I actually paid, It took all of 20 seconds to tap my credit card, and they insisted on me waiting in line. Just complete nonsense. By the time I finally got my food, it was cold. When I asked to speak to a manager, I was shrugged off and told "nope, sorry, not today". The absolute worst service I've ever experienced. It's too bad, cause I always loved cafecito, but to pay $30 for 2 sandwiches, and to be cold, and have the experience I did, I will definitely not be returning. read more

The hubs and I shared the Cubano and guava-q as we were leaving Chicago. Prices here weren't bad at all with a pretty sizable sandwich. This location was right next door to the Hostelling International Chicago hostel which I feel makes it even more popular. And right on it was. The guava-q with roasted pork was different as it had a sweetness to it. I suppose the guava bbq sauce added to that sweetness and wetness. The jicama slaw most def added to the sandwich's sogginess. If you're aiming for something different, this is the sandwich. The Cubano was okay. We both thought it was just average. We've def had better, but it wasn't bad by any means. The only off thing to me was the mustard. They def like mustard as it was slabbed on there quite a bit. They also had a good coffee selection to choose from. So until next time Cafecito. read more

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Great local sandwich shop, very authentic feel, great location downtown, nice staff, awesome sandwiches, the list goes on and on... Go get some cuban sandwiches here asap. read more

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We went in around 11 for late breakfast/early lunch. The burrito I ordered was both filling and tasty. My husband reported that his tacos were also flavorful. The ac was cold and the service was quick. Our food came up super quick. read more

Ordered the classic Cubano Sandwich with a Cuban Black Bean Soup on the side. This was an amazing Cubano Sandwich, even better than sandwiches in Miami, FL. I also highly recommend the Cuban black bean soup. make sure to add the guava habanero hot sauce to it for some spicy sweetness. For less than $15 for the whole meal it was very good and tasty on a cold day. Parking is available on the street with a meter or in self-pay parking lots nearby. There is ample parking, but don't expect to find any free parking anywhere unless you belong to an Xsport Fitness gym for 2hrs free parking with validation. read more

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This is probably not a café that you just stumble upon. You have to intentionally be looking for Cafecito. But once you find it you will be glad that you did. This small café makes great Cuban inspired sandwiches, salads, coffees, desserts, and more. We stopped in on a Saturday afternoon and there were a good number of people there, but we were still able to find a seat. We had the Cubano (roasted pork, ham, swiss, pickles, mustard) and Lechon (roasted pork, tomato, arugula, grilled onions) pressed sandwiches, along with the Cafecito (espresso). The Cafecito was very bold and intense in flavor but without the bitterness that I have experienced elsewhere. The sandwiches were similar to a panini in that they were pressed and grilled. But unlike a traditional panini the bread was more of a roll than two pieces of bread. The bread had a soft pillowy texture on the inside while being crisp on the outside. Very unique and tasty. I was shocked by the prices. The Cafecito was only $2.29 for a 10 ounce drink while the sandwiches were both $8.99 each. While there, two Chicago police officers came in and ordered. If the police eat there, you know if has to be good. This has to be one of the best deals in town. For a taste of Cuba in Chicago for a great price, I highly recommend Cafecito. read more

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Great little spot for coffee and food. We stopped in on a family trip and everyone enjoyed it.

We picked sandwiches during the week and the kids and hubby throughly enjoyed. I had the plantain fritters with the sauce which was extremely salty. read more

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I've been coming here since 2014 and it's still as delicious and amazing. My top 3 sandwiches are: Jerk, Chimicurri, and the Mozzarella (Veggie). I always get a sandwich and an iced/hot cafe con leche. The staff is amazing, the vibes are perfect and the food is one of a kind. read more

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

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