Cafeteria Marianao

BLUF: Delicious food. A must for flavor…read more Food (5/5): The totones took me back to my vacation in Puerto Rico. They were absolutely delicious and a must. The burger was flavorful and a great price for how filling it was. The chicken was phenomenal. Packed with flavors and you can taste each spice used. Spectacular food. Service (5/5): Service was great. Our server was nice and filled up waters when needed. He would come by when we were in a convo lull, just watching the COCOs drive around, park, wait, then drive off again. It was very entertaining. Ambiance (5/5): It had a clean vibe. Lots of plants to add to the vibe. It was very welcoming. We were seated at the window bar stools, though all the other tables in there were empty. The bathrooms were also very clean. It's in a very safe neighborhood, as someone left their baby stroller outside for an hour and no one messed with it. There is parking, but very limited since... city.

This place is amazing. I felt like I was back in south florida! Our waiter recommended the arroz…read morecon pollo - AGREE. it was sooo good. We were there on a busy Saturday afternoon but didn't have to wait long to sit or get our food. Bar was a little behind but - again- it was a busy Saturday afternoon. My family ordered Cuban sandwiches and the wrap and said they were delicious. Will definitely be back.

2.8 mi•West Town, Humboldt Park

Interior

Churrasco

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Spicy mango mojito

1492 Cuban Fusion

4.4(336 reviews)

We visited 1492 this week while visiting from out-of-town, and found it to be in the top 3 of Cuban…read moreplaces we've tried anywhere! We tried the empanada trio with pork, chicken, and ham-n-cheese, and all were tasty; the lechon [pork] was especially great. For mains, my spouse ordered the masitas de cerdo (fried pork) and I got the pollo a la plancha (grilled chicken). We both opted for congri and maduros for sides. The flavor of everything was delicious! The meat was slightly on the dry side, and the maduros were SO sweet that we wondered if they were bananas rather than plantains, but overall we thoroughly enjoyed our meal. The portions were plentiful. If we weren't staying in a hotel with a fridge but no microwave, we definitely would've had enough to take home for a whole other meal each. We would definitely be regular patrons if we didn't live hours away!

We ordered a variety of dishes to try 1492 as a first time customer. Empanadas, steak salad and a…read morecouple of the entrees to try different proteins and dishes. We also got the cuban sandwich. The Cuban sandwich was good but lacked any real flavor. Not sure if it's because it was delivered (so not as hot off the grill). But it was good, just not great. Next time I'd reheat it first. The empanadas were very good. We enjoyed a variety. My favorite was the pork. The steak and chicken entree's (both grilled) were ok and were both closer to 3 stars at best, maybe 2. The meat was tender but was a little bland, and as a to-go dish, the presentation is just unappetizing. I wouldn't order those again. The sandwiches are good to try in the future.

6.6 mi•Streeterville, Near North Side

Interior

Tostones / Fried Green Plantains Yuca Frita / Fried Cassava

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Garlic sauce

Cafecito

4.2(1k reviews)

Food was amazing! I'm still thinking about that soup…read more Service was excellent. Our server helped us through the menu and suggested some good items for us to try. Ambiance is dimly lit on the dine in side, but they do have windows on the cafe side and a cute patio !

What a wonderful place! Charming location and even more charming staff. Visiting Chicago for the…read morefirst time and with an hour to my appointment in the Hancock Tower's 360 feature, I had plenty of time to get a quick bite before the Chicago 360. So searching in Yelp I see a Cuban restaurant, and that's my fav, so I went in and I had a great early dinner. Cafecito would be at home in a pre-revolutionary Cuban building, when Art Deco architecture permeated much of Havana and the other major cities in Cuba. Plenty of outdoor seating, but I chose to eat in the cafe area due to time constraints. I had the Vaca Frita which I haven't had in over 60 years and wow, it was amazing. It came with the proverbial white rice, black beans with plenty of condiment, and maduros. Oh yummy. My Cuban grandma would have been pleased... The waiter was indeed, a Cuban American who had come over during the early Cuban diaspora. We chatted a bunch about the old country and had a pleasant conversation about being from the same province in the island. Great reminiscing, great food, great service. Yum.

6.2 mi•River North, Near North Side

Yucca fries and Guava - Q Pork Sandwich

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Mango tajin cocktail

Havana Grill

3.9(1.1k reviews)

Havana absolutely lives up to its reputation! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with…read morewarm smiles and amazing service. We came for the mojito flight, and it did not disappoint--it was so good! We also ordered the steak plate and the Torta Cubana, and everything was delicious. I honestly cannot rave enough about this place. The food, drinks, atmosphere, and service were all excellent. A special thank you to Ixchel, who was absolutely amazing and made our experience even better. I love this place and definitely recommend it!

Umm no thanks…read more There was a smashed cockroach on my glass. It was huge. One of the people who worked there saw me holding up the glass to look at it and quickly took it away. Margarita was pretty gross. How do they not have guacamole. This was a big mistake.

Interior

Half Guacamole

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Sitting curbside, super cute scenery.

Mima's Taste of Cuba

4.2(527 reviews)

3.5 mi•Irving Park

I have drive past this colorful place and finally go to try it. Sat outside on their dog friendly…read morepatio. Clean and spacious outside. Food is amazing. The empanadas were the best. The chicken one was great. The best one was the seasonal shrimp. Amazing and so much shrimp and the sauce was bomb. Service was good. Server came many times to fill water and all staff were nice.

Great Cuban inspired restaurant. The food is amazing! The restaurant is welcoming and the staff…read moreis very friendly

Empanadas

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Water

Cafecito

4.2(2.1k reviews)

6.3 mi•The Loop

Cafecito is one of those spots you just....have to go. I love the food, I have been here often,…read morethis is not even the first time! Naturally, the place does tend to get busy. Really, really busy at lunch hour. I don't think it's as much a place for sitdown as it is a place to order ahead and pick up - but don't let that pull you away from the magic that is Cafecito. Food is great, you have a dedicated vegan menu, what's not to like? This will forever be on my list of places to go and suggest to others, and has continued to show why they deserve it.

I wish I could give them zero stars. I came into the restaurant after the lunch rush and was one of…read moreonly a few customers. I ordered a palomilla sandwich and was served the skimpiest sandwich I've ever seen. Literally one half of the sandwich didn't have any topping besides a few shoestring potato's. When I worked in the area years ago I would come a few times a week but never again. What a waste of money, while I understand food costs are high if you are charging $16 for a sandwich at least give a decent portion. The sandwich preparer should be ashamed of themselves

4.8 mi•Ravenswood, Lakeview

Seating area

Still on point.....steak, eggs annnnnd coffee

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Bayan Ko Diner

4.3(144 reviews)

I was so happy to discover Bayan Ko Diner, a vibrant fusion of two rich culinary cultures -…read moreFilipino and Cuban - within walking distance of our ceramics class. My daughter and I came here for the first time last month on the last day of our summer session, and we returned a few days ago on the first day of our fall session. I love the beautiful, trendy décor, with Filipino and Cuban wall art displayed on opposite walls. The restaurant is clean, comfortable, and inviting. Our first visit was a solid four stars. The service was good, although not particularly memorable. The food was good overall, but not everything was a hit. We ordered: - Lumpia Shanghai ($7 for 1/2 order, 2 pieces) - Filipino spring rolls with pork, scallion, and Mom's garlic sauce. The skin was crunchy and the filling was flavorful, although the rolls were quite small. - Adobo Wings ($16 for 1/2 order) - crispy fried chicken wings with adobo glaze, served with rice. The wings were delicious, but we received 5 drumettes and only 1 flat. We would have preferred more flats, or at least an equal number of flats and drumettes. - Bistek ($20 for 1/2 order) - Korean beef short rib with Spanish onions, served with rice. The meat was full of flavor, but unfortunately quite tough. My daughter wasn't a fan, so I ended up finishing the whole thing. I was actually glad this was a small portion. I had a Virgin Pandan Mojito ($10) and my daughter had a beer ($8). My mocktail was okay, but nothing particularly memorable. Then they completely redeemed themselves on our second visit! We had the entire restaurant to ourselves at first, before two other tables arrived, so I had more time to appreciate the space and really enjoyed the atmosphere. A special shout-out to our server, Christopher, who was warm, welcoming, extremely friendly, and professional. My daughter ordered their signature cocktail, Lola's Drunk Again ($15), but then realized she might be allergic to one of the ingredients. Fortunately, she hadn't taken a sip. Christopher and another lady, who isn't always there, graciously took the cocktail away without charging us. My daughter then ordered a different cocktail, El Toro ($14), which she enjoyed. I just had an orange juice ($4). We ordered the following, and enjoyed everything: - Croquetas ($6 for 1/2 order, 2 pieces) - smoked jamón with Jufran aioli. The exterior was crunchy, while the filling was delicious, creamy, and not too salty. I would definitely order these again. - Ropa Empanada ($8 for 1/2 order, 2 pieces) - beef brisket, sofrito, and mojo crema. The crust was a little thick, but crunchy and easy to eat. The beef inside was tender and flavorful. - Ropa Vieja ($17 for 1/2 order) - beef brisket in sofrito, served with rice, black beans, and sweet plantains, which we requested to be served on the side. Even the half portion was quite generous. This was perfect comfort food - flavorful, filling, and satisfying. There was an abundance of shredded beef, and it was tender, tasty, and easy to cut apart. - Ube Ice Cream ($5 per scoop) - Since we were already full, we shared a scoop. We didn't order the banana split, but Christopher gave us a really generous scoop, which was much appreciated. The ube flavor was excellent, and the ice cream was creamy with a nice texture. I would definitely order this again. Overall, all the dishes we tried on our visits had bold, distinct flavors, and the ingredients tasted fresh. We already can't wait to come back and try a whole bunch of other dishes! Bayan Ko Diner will definitely become our go-to spot after ceramics class!

I really wanted to love this place. We went she s cubs game hoping for a delish meal. However, we…read moreboth thought the waitress was a bit cold and when we first arrived, there were only two tables with customers We ordered two teas. The hibiscus tea I had was pretty delicious. Then we ordered the lechon whole portion but we had such a good day that we did not want to sour the day and send it back it was supposed to be crispy pork but instead it was a plate of pork fat pieces - maybe 10% meat. We took the leftovers to our dog as he will eat anything. The wings were really good I'll say. The croqueras were okay Id say; not the freshest or maybe the oil was dirty. Cute place however.

Interior

Sisig shishito hash and drinks

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Ropa vieja, black beans, maduros, garlic rice

El Cubanito

4.5(430 reviews)

1.3 mi•Logan Square

The place is in a sketchy area by which I mean active violence so just mind your business in doing…read moreso when you arrive you will notice the doors will be locked but for good reason just allow the staff to let you in upon entering it's nice and friendly check the menu all sandwiches are phenomenal fresh made buns and protein of your choice and smell of cofecito enjoy to dine in or take out bon-a-ppetite

We got the Cuban sandwich and Cubanito steak sandwich. Tasty and good value! The Cubanito steak…read moresandwich is a bit messy to eat though because it's ground beef. Unfortunately there wasn't a sit down option when we went, only window pick up. The employee was nice and had good energy though.

Front counter

Cubanito Steak Sandwich

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I loved this poster.

Marina's Bistro and Rum Bar

4.5(136 reviews)

5.5 mi•Uptown

I know they are soon moving locations and expanding, which is well deserved. Whether or not this…read morereview travels to that new location, I guess time will tell, but what I can tell you right now is that the move is well-deserved. A beautiful little place, tucked away in a cozy corner of a small shopping center, you'd never expect such flavors and such an escape. With a larger place, walk ins would probably be handled fine. When I went, we felt lucky showing up when we did, as it soon filled up inside, such that a couple had to be turned away at the door. Plantain soup. It was a special, and special it was. The drinks were equally phenomenal. And the service was delightful. Itching to go back before they make their move.

Marina's Bistro & Rum Bar in Chicago was such a fun night out. The Puerto Rican menu is very…read moreauthentic and made with care, and the rum cocktails were delicious. The vibe is lively and colorful without being over the top, service was warm and attentive, and were happy they had Medalla beer. I do have some feedback on the lighting- it's a tad too bright for a dinner setting. Removing one of the chandeliers or switching the bulbs to warmer, dimmable bulbs might elevate the vibe.

Dining room, small bar

Lechon Asada with majado (mashed taro)

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Booth area

Omarcitos Latin Cafe

4.8(133 reviews)

1.4 mi•Logan Square

If you aren't coming to Omarcitos, you are missing out. My boyfriend loves all the Jibaritos but…read morethe Lechón Plate may be the best dish I've had anywhere in the city (and I have been to Michelin star and Top 50 Bars rated spots around Chicago). We split the Tacos Dorados De Pollo En Consomé as an app for the first time today and it was simply perfect. The lemonade is made super fresh. I have a feeling I may have to try everything on the menu. The energy is immaculate - maximalist mix of colorful tables and chairs, plants, original paintings, and a signed poster of Guy Fieri. The people who work here are so kind and helpful. The music is not so loud that you can't talk. There's an open-air indoor area and an outdoor section. If you get here before it gets too crowded, it's not a bad place to sit and read a book either.

Yasss Omarcitos is exactly it!! I can not count how many times I have been. The food is…read moreconsistently amazing. Always hits 100/100. The place is getting popular, very popular. So if coming during peak times expect a small line and enjoy Omar is amazing standing at the window making sure everything runs smooth. He is yelling out hello papis left and right. He knows and loves everyone. The menu is full of everything is fire. Enjoy it this is one of the best on this country

Best Coconut café con leche

Steak Sandwich or Steak Jibarito

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Eye catching local art

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Omar M.

28

2

0

8 years ago

I love this place, steak sandwich is my favorite and off course the coffee and it's not to expensive. I recommend this place and the people who work over there they are really friendly. read more

Juan D.

23

10

13 years ago

Best Cafe Con Leche i had in my entire life! the steak sandwich are the best i hardly recommended.

Geo D.

1

13

10 years ago

I've been going there since I was a kid, everything is good lol. Except the wait lol

Margiecely D.

0

3

0

5 years ago

Best steak sandwiches and coffee love this place

Jesus F.

Elite 16

101

142

82

12 years ago

Get the Cubano...

Cafeteria Marianao - cuban - Updated September 2026

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Salsa, sandwiches, and soul!…read more Whether you're craving a classic Cuban sandwich, a refreshing Mamey shake, or a serious caffeine kick from a traditional Cuban coffee, this spot delivers. Here's what I ate here: Croquetas (must order) Cuban Sandwich Mamey Pro-tip: Look for the painting of the founder in the corner--a beautiful tribute to a local favorite. On the corner of Lowell and Addison

We found a true taste of Cuba right here on the North Side…read more It's cozy, authentic, and the staff treats you like family. The owner (3rd generation) Marcus Santiago, is very friendly and welcoming. These were my favorites: Empanadas Beef and Chicken Double Steak Sandwich Mango Milkshake Pro-tip: Look for the painting of the founder in the corner--a beautiful tribute to a local favorite.

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4.3

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I've had cafe con leche from here a couple of times now. Both times we received exceptional…read moreservice. They'll offer you some samples of their drinks while you wait in line. I've only tried their cafe con leche and it's delicious. Pretty authentic tasting, similar to something you'll get at a Cuban Cafe in Miami. I'll definitely be returning, especially to try some of their food next time around.

The coffee is spot on, didn't get any this visit but I've gotten it a few times before. Prices are…read morecrazy low and the food is great. I got the steak sandwich and spinach empanada. Honestly the sandwich was really good, I wouldn't mind some mayo on it but it was really good regardless. Empanada went down smooth and was really soft. The edges were harder but still soft which is impressive to say the least. The staff had exceptional service. Highly recommend this place. There's another location about 2.5 miles east of this one.

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4.5

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The place is in a sketchy area by which I mean active violence so just mind your business in doing…read moreso when you arrive you will notice the doors will be locked but for good reason just allow the staff to let you in upon entering it's nice and friendly check the menu all sandwiches are phenomenal fresh made buns and protein of your choice and smell of cofecito enjoy to dine in or take out bon-a-ppetite

We got the Cuban sandwich and Cubanito steak sandwich. Tasty and good value! The Cubanito steak…read moresandwich is a bit messy to eat though because it's ground beef. Unfortunately there wasn't a sit down option when we went, only window pick up. The employee was nice and had good energy though.

Senor Pan Cafe - Fullerton

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It was such a cute spot. I had a mocha iced latte and it was perfectly balanced. To eat I had the…read morecubano and it was exactly what I had envisioned. It was tasty, crunchy and made with love. The service was pleasant. Our waitress answered all our questions with a smile. The music playing was merengue and fit the vibes.

Food is awesome and service is quick. Really great Puerto Rican food…read more Clean and simple place to eat. I recommend this restaurant

Cozy Corner

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(280 reviews)

Every thing, I love it The food is amazing the service is…read moreHumbling. The ambience is just the right vibe.

The wait it ok. Sometimes 20-30 minutes on a Sunday brunch. All the servers are great. Food is…read moretypically good and so filling. There's always leftovers which I hate throwing away but I'm not going home so I can't take it with me. One of us typically gets the Texas Skillet with chicken on the side ( for my son ) and toast but you can choose pancakes which are really great! The French toast slam is off the hook. We get two sandwiches plus hash browns. Very delicious. Milk shakes are super rich!

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I've passed by Sandwichón Café countless times driving up and down Harlem, so we finally decided to…read morestop in for lunch--and I'm glad we did. At first, I was a little unsure how it worked since there's a service counter, but staff quickly greeted us and showed us to a table. Table service was a pleasant surprise. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable, walking us through an impressively extensive menu. I ordered the Double Medianoche--pulled pork, ham, mustard, Swiss cheese, and sweet pickles, all pressed panini‑style. My friend went with the Pan con Croqueta, a ham and cheese sandwich topped with a ham croquette. For anyone unfamiliar (myself included), croquetas are minced pork that's breaded and deep‑fried. Both sandwiches were solid, but the Medianoche was the clear winner for me--warm, flavorful, and perfectly pressed. With so many options on the menu, there's plenty more I want to try. Friendly staff, good food, and a comfortable dine‑in experience. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area. There at least two signs advising they will charge 18% gratuity to tables of three or more and will not split checks for three or more.

Kicking myself for waiting to try this place. Ordered eggs with breakfast sausage. Those sausage…read morepatties are amazing. Had to try the alcapuria, it was amazing. The cheese and jam empanada arrived hot and gooey. The breakfast potatoes just perfectly seasoned. It's great to have a place this good nearby.

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Our team walked in for breakfast thinking it was sit down, but it's all carry out. So we switched…read moregears and enjoyed a great breakfast when we got back to eat it. My favorite part was the pancakes (huge and tasty) and the corned beef hash!

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This place has been opened for a long time and it's literally by Fina estampa which is the best…read morepollo a la brasa restaurant in Chicago so they're doing something right to stay in business. I'd say their chicken is good, but nothing out of this world. It lacks a bit more flavor but it is definitely better than an average rotisserie chicken. This is supposed to be pollo a la brasa though which is supposed to be better than rotiseri chicken, Their sides are packed and they have amazing tostones. All of the prices have gone up and honestly unless you get the whole chicken, everything else is pretty pricey now. They also have a new credit card extra percentage charge which makes this place a lot more pricier. Overall, good food but I'd you want the best pollo a la brasa just walk 20 steps next door to Fina estampa.

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Walking in is kinda off-putting. Looks like a banquet hall masquerading as a diner. I had to ask if…read morethey were open. After some time, they put some music on, it was so quiet at first. Was initially served cold coffee, had to ask for new cup. I ordered the Very Berry pancakes, got the French toast version with just strawberries I love French toast too, so I wasn't mad, but I was really craving pancakes. The French toast were ok, I wouldn't get them again. I think they're made from frozen, tbh. I also got the Denver omlett, that was very good, and the potatoes were cooked perfectly.

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