I've been putting off going to Cafecito. I've seen it on Yelp so many times, but it's always been passed for a closer lunch restaurant. Boy, oh boy am I glad I finally made it out! These sandwiches are potbelly-priced. Aka $5-6! For the quality ingredients, this just can't be beat! I ordered the Guava-Q with pork and it did not disappoint. Hearty, but not overly heavy. I can't wait to go back and try everything else on the menu! read more

Cafecito - Half of my pork guava-q - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Honestly had I ordered a bit better this would have been a shoe-in for at least four stars, but even though my Cubano wasn't quite up to par with what I've had elsewhere, Cafecito's is worth a stop to satisfy a Cuban or Coffee Craving. Star 1: How was the service and atmosphere? Cafecito is doubled up with a local Chicago hostel, and thus the atmosphere is welcoming and trendy, with a mixed crowd of those doing work and others planning their excursion into a city unknown. Service is fast and friendly, and the location really is hard to top. Star Granted. Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost? $5.50 isn't bad for a sandwich, and while my Cubano was a bit on the small and basic side, I'll never bat an eyelash for virtually anything lunch-worthy for under $6. Have a look - http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=Fvv6JvT8jxSxcJpElv9Evg&userid=OKX-V5j_qfuOebeHeWGrHg Star Granted. Stars 3 and 4: How was the food? My Cubano was good, although a bit of a halfway cut made for a messy encounter. The meats were well cooked and the cheese brought it all together, but it lacked the kick of mustard that can really bring a Cubano together. Additionally, I was perpetually distracted by my buddies BBQ something or another that was not only much bigger than my sandwich, but much better. To top it off, the coffee was excellent. Single Star Granted. Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could? I've had better Cubanos, but Cafecito is a great stop whether you're a local or visitor. No Star Granted. read more

Cafecito - Cubano: $5.49 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Inexpensive Cuban food well worth the price. The service staff is kind, attentive, and quick at their job. I thought the food was excellent! I would recommend the "Cafecito Coffee" if you like dark coffee. For any breakfast place this is very comfortable and you won't be disappointed. read more

Called 30 minutes early to order for a pickup--as did my office mate at the same time. My friend Oscar's order was ready in 10--mine took 37, and only after I paid, and demanded they make my sandwich, three times. A (small) ham and cheese sandwich (overpriced at six bucks) took them 37 minutes. Last time for our office. read more

4 stars for the food. The sandwich was delicious, but not 100% authentic...Roasted pork needed a bit more flavor! Plantains were cooked perfectly. Why the low star rating? Service. They don't give a receipt. They don't really give you a number or anything and you have to pay attention to when your food comes out. They didn't confirm our order so by the time we got our food, we were one sandwich short. Which led to another 10 minutes of them digging through THEIR receipts to confirm our order. WTH. I don't want to wait 15 minutes for my food only to have it be incomplete... wait another 10 minutes for them to try to figure out what we ordered and then wait another 10 minutes for the missing sandwich. read more

One word........Cortadito! If you have not tried this delicious cuban espresso get off your butt and get here! Freaking delicious, I always order a double and get a cafecito Cuban coffee for the walk back to my desk to stay caffeinated for the rest of the day! Service is nice and extremely fast! We waited in a line to order at least 10 deep and gave our order and received it within 10 minutes! Prices are decent, the sandwich selection is pretty good. I just wished the sandwiches were as good as the coffee. If the sandwiches were better this place would be a coveted 5 star! read more

I've been to this location multiple times for lunch and have eaten most of their sandwiches. My favorite is the traditional cubano, roasted pork, ham, swiss, pickles and mustard. They offer larger plates of food and side dishes, although I haven't tried these options. Inside is quite small and can get crowded during lunch hour. I usually order a sandwich to go. For quick, tasty hot pressed sandwiches give them a try. read more

Delicious amazing and sweet. Those are the words that come to mind. The cafecito is deliciously sweetened with their special process. This drink will really get you going. If you have not tried this yet, well what are you waiting for? read more

Cubano and Jerk sandwiches were good! Asked for a Guava BBQ side and a Mojo side, both great sauces. The iced Cafe con Leche was highly recommended by my friends!! Really crowded during lunch time so expect a long line. read more

Cafecito - Jerk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Value: 4 Food:3 For the Chivito sandwich. Got it for takeout. It was alright, the bacon and eggs seemed rather stale. It was good at the first bite with the picante salsa, and I wanted to like it, but as the bite count increased it was definitely a step below the platters I had a few months ago. read more

Cafecito - Chivito- like a breakfast sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food, I'm a fan of, however, the line...not so much. The staff had a good process of taking orders of people in line so the food doesn't too long when you get to the register. Our office caters in the ropa vieja, lechon, rice/beans, plantains from here so I have been a fan for a while. I decided to go in and try a sandwich. I got the Jerk which had nice thick slices of grilled chicken breast...the bread was toasted just right. It was enjoyably chewy too :P. I also got the mango batido (milk shake). It was tad sweet for me but very yummy. read more

Cafecito - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I stopped in on my last visit to Chicago for a quick bite with my friend before catching a train out of the city. The line was long, but it was totally worth it! I had the Guava BBQ sandwich with chicken, which was hot, messy, and delish! We waited about 10 minutes in line to order, then about another 10 for our sandwiches to be ready. I have to say that I was pretty impressed with how quickly they were able to move so many people in and out of such a jammin' lunch spot. I want to say my tab was right about $8 after tax. TIP: This place is under the Washington/Wells El Stop just a couple of doors down from the Arby's, if you aren't paying attention it's easy to miss when you're walking. There's street parking nearby assuming you can get a spot, other wise there are garages nearby. It's easiest to find on foot. read more

Was staying at the nearby Hotel Blake, and walked over for a casual dinner. Arugula salad was perfect mix of crisp, baby leaves, thin-sliced red onion, tangy tomatoes and creamy fresh mozz cubes with just the right amount of vinaigrette. Cuban sandwich was one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. Pork was perfectly roasted with smoky, crispy edges and very thinly sliced. Ham was great quality. Bread was perfect texture, and the pickles, cheese and mustard blended harmoniously into everything. Had their crazy-good chocolate covered caramel-filled chocolate cookies and a cortadito for dessert. Funky, casual and very comfortable vibe and friendly staff and patrons. Definitely will be back! read more

Cafecito - Perfect arugula salad and Cubano @ Cafecito! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Overall: Good sized delicious cubanos. Just be ready to wait! The good: Good tasting sandwiches. Not the best I've had by a long shot, but for the price the sizes and tastes are good. They have plenty of other options, salads, etc., but let's be real here... The bad: The wait was looonngg at prime time (noon). Waited probably 20 minutes as the line went out the door. Not much room to wait once you order. If you do decide to eat there, there's like 2 tables, and you wouldn't want to with all the people waiting. Atmosphere: 7/10 Service: 8/10 Food: 8/10 read more

This place is unique and delicious! It's usually hard to find decent food at a reasonable price in the Loop. I got the Ropa Vieja. I love the salty flavors mixed in with the sweet. It's surprising how well the plantains go with steak. The order came out pretty quickly too. There is limited seating here, so I'd recommend taking it to go! read more

If only the people in power would eat a Cubano sandwich from Cafecito they would quickly establish diplomatic relations with Castro and Company just to have access to the original. The pork, ham, cheese, pickle, mustard plus bread equals perfectísimo. I also had the red potato salad which was delicious. I just loved my whole meal. My only issue was that I was too full from the sandwich to try anything else and they even offered me a free sweet because my sandwich was later than my companions. Now that I know where it is, I will be back. Hasta luego, Cafecito. read more

Cafecito - Easy to miss but it does have a sign! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Sandwiches were were really good. I got the guava bbq chicken which was amazing. the bbq sauce was sweet. My bf got the cafe regular and it was good too. The prices here are cheap. YOU MUST GET THE DULCE DE LECHE CHEESECAKE. It was one of the best cheesecakes I've ever tasted. =] Service was only average, B. Food was A. Price to food ratio was B+. Location was B+. read more

Cafecito - Seriously one of the best cheesecake ive had. Dulce de leche cheesecake :) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

CAFECITO is my only go to place when I'm craving a good Cuban sandwich. All the sandwiches here are excellent and good. But nothing like having a good pressed Cuban samich. Pressed to perfection, han, pork, cheese and mustard are married perfectly. Bite after bite a satisfaction like no other. So good I got one to go, so that I can eat it at the hotel after work. And even with no microwave, straight out the fridge it was satisfying. I almost forgot. Got me a cafe con leche and it took me back to how real coffee and milk is supposed to taste like. Sweet, creamy and satisfying. Nothing like good food. Cafecito hits the spot each and every time. Staff is always wonderful. read more

Tasty food from a cheap but nice cafe next to a youth hostel. I loved my Cubano sandwich - crispy pressed bread, pickles, mustard, cheese, ham, and pork perfectly balanced, with the pork being the predominate taste as it should be. For $5 it was a steal, but its not that big - if I was really hungry I could eat 2 sandwiches. Black bean soup was also good, but could use some more flavor. Atmosphere was somewhere between a clean plastic fast food feel and a comforting cafe feel. read more

Cafecito - Cubano Sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Dear yelpers, Thank you for always providing sound advice. I've been meaning to check this place out, and I finally got a chance to come in today! CHIVITO. must. order. it. Everyone on yelp had raved about this sandwich so I made sure to order this. Thank you yelpers, as you never seem to steer me wrong!!!!! The chivtio + orange jarritos... best combo evaaaaa..... I'm def coming back to this place for lunch! :) (one downside, be prepared to battle, if you came assuming you'd get a seat...) read more

Cafecito - Chivito amazingness - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I normally write a long a winded review, but I think that i will keep it short this time. Ok so first off I would like to say that this spot has THE BEST Cubano that I have tried so far! Plus given the fact that it is a stones throw away from the art institute, Union Station, and millennium park this becomes the food spot to visit first! I also tried the tasty empanadas and their coffee is legit. And if you are in visiting Chicago there is a hostel right next door. Keep it up Cafecito! I'll stop by every time I'm downtown -GRRB read more

Cafecito - Desserts - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Excellent, excellent lunch spot. I came here twice during a five-day conference because it was so spectacular. I'd never expect a place labelled as Cuban to be so vegetarian-friendly, but this place is just stellar. The sandwiches are stupendous (the bread especially is out of this world), the place is adorable and cozy, the location is great, and the prices are spot on. The first time, I had the Jardin sandwich, which was so great-- all the right flavors and textures. Totally amazing. The second time, I had the Aton (tuna) sandwich, which was also great... although the vegetables might take the cake on this one. Who knows. I'll just have to go back and try them both again to be sure. If I have one/two complaints, it's the seating area and the lack of bathroom. I'm not sure how this could be solved, but for such a busy area, it's pretty inconvenient to not have these things in the cafe. Seriously, this food is craveable. Go there... just don't get in my way. read more

A friend of mine told me I could get good cuban fare here since he knew I was moving nearby. I often walk by here on the way to work now so I finally stopped in and grabbed some cuban expresso (the cafecito). I'm not a coffee drinker but this is something I really like from all of my trips to south Florida every year. I also enjoy the breakfast sandwiches here! The Huevos Completo is awesome as it is steak, ham, eggs & grilled onions...a very good sandwich in the am and I suggest you try as it is full of flavor! I come here after work sometimes to get the Cubano which is the best cuban sandwich I have had outside of Miami. Nothing like the ham, roasted pork, swiss cheese and pickles marinated in homemade mojo going down my throat! They also have cuban and columbian pops to wash your sandwich down...very good! They have milkshakes here as well that I hear is pretty good. The place is near Columbia College, Art Institute and Roosevelt University so you will see lots of students here working on stuff. Definitely one of my new favorite places in the new hood! read more

I've been here now a total of three times and it's become my go-to for a cheap bite in downtown. I don't like giving out 5 stars to restaurants, but I guess it's warranted here. The ambiance: It's right next to Robert Morris University and adjacent to the Hostel International Center. The atmosphere is a weird mix of lounge, art exhibit, and/or break room (you know, like the ones at work). Whatever it is, it's bright and clean. I've only been here for studying, and it's a great environment if you need to work aloud with someone. The food: I've had the Ropa Vieja plate, sandwich, and a Cubano sandwich on my three visits. All three are good. I actually don't think the plates are worth the price given the sandwiches are pretty comparable in size and a better value. The ropa vieja is full of burnt caramelized flavor that it's ridiculous (my mouth is watering as I type this, actually). The ropa vieja sandwich has some pan-fried plantains inside it, which goes beautifully with the savory pulled beef. At less than $6, it's an amazing value. If you have Google Offers, you can continue printing out unlimited (as of 4/15/2012) coupons for a free soft drink/house coffee with the purchase of a sandwich. It's a nice way to save almost $2 on your lunch. The service: They aren't the quickest at cleaning and wiping down tables, but the guy at the register (he's been there all three times I've eaten at Cafecito) will sprint to bus the table if you let him know. TL;DR. Amazing food and amazing value. Order the Ropa Vieja sandwich. Free drink with Google Offers. read more

Cafecito - El Cuabno Sandwich. Mighty mighty fine at around $5. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The food taste was good, but the rice was under cooked and the maduros were room temp. Other than that I have 4 stars bc the place is promising, great atmosphere but let's get the food portion right. I'm thinking it was a hiccup? 6/23 UPDATE! I came back and tried the same plate and it was amazing! Rice was well cooked, well everything was. Coffee was right on! There was even a misunderstanding on my order, thinking I had ordered the sandwich vs the plate and they fixed it right away no questions! Great customer service and great food will make me come back to this great Cuban Jewel! read more

Awesome breakfast sandwiches! The huevos con chorizo was top notch. Will have to come back here for lunch sometime!

Delicious Cuban sandwiches that will not disappoint. Chimichurri (with Steak or Chicken) is fantastic. The bread is not too thick, not too thin, and perfectly crunchy. The meat is juicy. The Chimichurri sauce (olive oil, parsley, and garlic I suspect) goes great with the sandwich. Also good is the Cubano. I tried it at their other location and it was great. read more

Loved this place! You can't beat a place with great food, friendly service, reasonable prices and a nice casual atmosphere. Tried the chimichurri chicken pressed sandwich and it was so good! Very filling, so you should be hungry before u come here! Husband tried the jerk chicken and loved it as well.. We had coffee and a wedding cookie which was so yummy. Wasn't the best cappuccino ever but it was alright. The place itself is really chill and the Cuban music playing in the background is so upbeat. There are interesting light fixtures and unique drawings on the walls. read more

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Hands down the best Cuban food I've ever had. We stopped by for breakfast and ordered the famous huevas chimichurri sandwich and pan the havana platillo with cafe con leche. They were all amazing. So tasty and flavorful. Cafecito was one of the highlights of our trip to Chicago. The only let down was the service. It took them so long to bring us our order. We had a flight to catch and were anxiously waiting for the food. The first bite though made me forget all about the wait. read more

Delicious and affordable! If it's late and you're hungry and are too lazy to cook, you can choose from a great selection of sammies that are filling and yummy and only cost $6-7!! The cubano is classic. read more

I was in Chicago for a work event and while looking for coffee and breakfast places in the area noticed a number of Cafecitos. As a Miami expat who constantly jones for good Cuban food, I had to go. The location I arrived at was close to both the hotel and the office, a tiny little spot that did evoke some Miami memories. My biggest complaint was only one location does croquettas. No bueno. Fortunately they did have pastellitos, Cuban toast, cafe con leche, and colada. I got one of each, the last for my team. I really enjoyed the cafe con leche, it warmed me and my heart with nostalgia, and the guava y queso pastellito. The Cuban toast wasn't on a baquette but was still enjoyable. The Colada I got for my team was a let down. Real Colada is supposed to hit you in the face with caffeine but this was just okay. If in Chicago and needing Cuban, I would definitely come here. I also heard the sammiches are good. But if looking for the authentic thing in the states, you'll have to settle with Miami. read more

Me gusta! The two times I've been here, I've only had the cubano sammich. I'm going to say it's the best one I've had, and it was only $5 and some change! Next time, I want to try the chivito though, the sammie with a fried egg, steak, bacon and other salivating toppings featured in the Tribune this month. Check out the case. They have some killer looking desserts like guava cake, flan, and dulce de leche. read more

Any time I want good Cuban sandwiches or the absolute best cafe con leche in Chicago, I make time to trek down to Cafecito. Being a regular helps, as I always feel like I am going to a friend's home. Ropa vieja, sandwich and platter. Tilapia sandwich. Jerk chicken sandwich. Pastry with cheese and guava. Everything on the menu. Since my first visit to Cafecito, I have not had one experience that I did not enjoy thoroughly. read more

My favorite part of this place is that it gives you an exotic bite without having you sit down and pay a bunch to accommodate an otherwise busy, mainstream lifestyle of most Chicagoans. It's off the main noisy streets and is filled instead with the vibrant Latin music and clamor of energetic conversation. The sandwiches have a gourmet feel in your mouth with fast-food portability, speed, and pricing. The coffee is a bit too sweet but has a great, full flavor. It really complements the food. The space is small and full of people, so the ambiance has a transient feeling to it, so I don't really feel that it's a good place to sit for a long conversation. Overall, a must try. read more

Cafecito - Lechon sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

YUM! This place is just delicious! Not a fan of the really really really long wait, but the food is very tasty. We came here at 2 pm on a weekday, expecting it to be pretty calm. It was not. The place was packed, all the seats were taken and there was a line out the door. We decided to wait anyway because of all the positive reviews. I ordered the Ropa Veija sandwich and my boyfriend ordered the Cubano sandwich. We waited another 10-15 minutes to get our food. It was worth it though! My boyfriend's Cubano sandwich was good, but my Ropa Veija sandwich was incredible!! It had skirt steak, black beans, plantains and tomato creole sauce. The sauce was very tasty and paired well with the skirt steak. The plantains were a nice surprise, a suble sweetness to a savory sandwich. Overall, I recommend visiting this place at least to try it out. The food is delicious if you can withstand the wait. read more

Cafecito - Ropa Veija sandwich. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great food, no restroom. Coffee hit the spot and I had nowhere to go. You've been warned.

Man, I really am glad that I moved to Chicago. Because you get to stumble across gems such as Cafecito. Upon walking in, I was so awestruck with how quaint the space was. Probably sits less than 60 people. When I entered I was greeted by heavenly aromas of Cuban goodness. I also loved the authentic playlist that was playing. These factors paired with the decor almost made me feel like I was IN Cuba. I ordered the Jerk sandwich and one of their cream cheese and strawberry compote pastries. The jerk sandwich was SPECTACULAR! It was cheap also. It was the perfect amount of spice and tanginess thanks to the habanero sauce. The BREAD of the sandwich had to have been prepared from scratch. It was perfectly flaky and crispy on the outside but warm and yeasty on the the inside. They also weren't stingy with the chicken portion which is also very nice. It was also prepared fairly quickly! The pastry was great! Also made fresh, very moist and flaky dough, and the strawberry filling was so sweet yet bitter with the combination of the fresh cream cheese. 4 star because of the price, the taste, and the speed. read more

Cafecito - Interior. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I haven't written a review for Cafecito yet? BLASPHEMY. This wins my vote for most unexpected favorite spot in Chicago. Its location aside a hostel and across the street from a university draws a unique demographic of travelers and students. I love being able to sit on their comfy couches, sipping on a cafe con leche, taking bites of my Cuban sandwich (usually a jardin/veggie, Elveez/plaintains, PB, and guava, or a timba/ guava with swiss cheese. Hint, those were all the vegetarian sandwiches haha). Their artichoke salad and Chocolate chipotle cookies (yup) are also worth a try. They even have smoothies! I had their Guanabana smoothie and it was delicious---one might think that means guava + banana---not that I thought that or anything.....but it's actually a Cuban fruit that tastes like strawberry, pineapple, citrus, and coconut all rolled into one. Overall, this is a wonderful spot---cozy, warm, and unpretentious, and perfect for people-watching, studying, or having a heart to heart. I love sitting here just listening to all the different languages...it really takes you to different worlds in a matter of 30 minutes. =] ********OH and P.S. FREE COFFEE or soft drink with sandwich purchase if you show this: http://cafecitochicago.com/menu. The coupon has a little glitch but since they're so sweet they've never refused me my freebie. =) read more

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Experiences dining in, taking out, ordering catering were amazing. The sandwiches are top notch ( I dont even like sandwiches and these are just mind blowing). My roommate is a believer of their cafe con leche- wouldnt stop advertising it to our entire school. The catering service is fantastic and always on time. I can't even decide on a favorite sandwich - probably tried them all and loved them all. The shrimp and arugula one was a bit bitter but that was to be expected of arugula. read more

Amazing price for the food! I had the Guava Q sandwich and loved the sauces and flavors incorporated. 5 stars for the value of the meal alone. I normally love Cuban style food and this place did not disappoint! read more

Cafecito - GuavaQ Chicken Sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois