So good. Empanadas and cheese balls. All gluten free. YES THANK YOU. My guts thank you too. read more

Such a cute spot! Right down the street from Wrigley Field the empanadas are really delicious... Jorge, the owner is from Ecuador and is extremely friendly and courteous. If you are in town and want to spend some Bitcoin they will be happy to serve you. They also have a bitcoin ATM that is super easy and simple to use! read more

Cassava - Delicious smoothie! - Caterers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you are a fan of Pão de Queijo (warm cheesy buns) they serve in famous Brazilian steakhouses, you will enjoy these baked Cassava Empanadas. They have a unique chewy texture that is indescribably delicious. I had the Spinach, Feta & Mushroom as well as the Beef & Cheddar. Both flavors are excellent especially with the wide array of hot sauces you can choose from. Also, the warm mini chocolate bun is a must try! P.S. These empanadas are gluten free! read more

Cassava - Spinach, Feta & Mushroom and Beef & Cheddar Empanadas - Caterers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had their chicken and beef & cheddar empanadas and they just blew my mind. First of all, their dough is gluten-free so the texture is different, it's more like a "mochi" texture. But the most amazing thing is, it's truly gluten-free. We all know why certain people want gluten-free food because our stomach can't tolerate bad gluten! I had been on a diet for a while and my stomach just can't tolerate anything, a lot of time I just feel horrible after I ate out (which hurts my social life.) But their empanadas went very well with my stomach, I actually feel comfortable after I ate. (I now judge a restaurant by how good their food made me feel after I ate.) Kudo for the good job they did and hope they keep it up with the good ingredients. P.S. I saw some people complained about the price. From what I remember it was about $3.50+ a piece, my boyfriend and I had 3 pieces together and we were full. IMO $12 to feed some comfortable food to 2 stomaches, I think it's pretty awesome. read more

Empanadas are delicious. Staff is friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable about their menu. Guy working Friday 1/23/15 is super nice. I was in a fussy mood and his cheerful attitude was just the thing I needed to jump out of the funk ... And those yummy empanadas! Thank you! read more

I like that you're gluten free, but it's annoying that you over charge for a GF product. Just like everybody else. You're basically charging nearly $4 for a chewy hot pocket. (They're always chewy) you use good ingredients yes. But maybe diversify your menu a bit. And 75 cent for a smaller than silver dollar sized roll. WOW make them bigger (you probably can't because it would be a blob of chewy dough) , give 2 or charge less. Anyone who actually leads a GF lifestyle would be excited to see this place. But then would quickly become resentful because of price. Also if you're going to charge more for a fresh cooked product...how about make sure it's not gross and chewy/doughy. You should probably reformulate your flour mix for this chewy problem. I've been GF for almost 10 years and it's nice to see more celiac friendly places but gf doesn't mean more special and doesn't have to be so pricey. read more

I heard about this spot on Tasting Table, and tucked it into the back of my head. Today, I was enjoying the beautiful weather and walking down Clark in a not so pretty spot of Wrigleyville, looked up, and there it was. Of course, I had to go in. The inside was pretty and airy--if I lived nearer by, I would definitely consider coming here to work, especially since they have free wi-fi and Intelligentsia coffee. I wanted to try a few flavors of the Cassava bread and went with the Jalepeno Cheddar and Feta Olive. The sweet owner tucked in a Sundried Tomato for free--really nice touch. They were hot out of the oven and delicious. Cassava has a chewy, nice texture if fresh--his 30 minute baking cycle means that the buns are hot and the texture is perfect. They were all good, but the Jalapeno Cheddar really stood out. I've had cassava buns in Brazil before--the owner is from Equador and his recipe is delish. I'll definitely be back for a mid-morning snack or to pick up a batch to take home for a dinner party! read more

I recently went gluten free due to health concerns and have found myself craving anything made with flour. Empanadas were something my boyfriend and I would tend to go out and get Sunday mornings and I have not had one in around 6 months. I recently moved from Chicago and when I went back to visit this past weekend, we decided to get some empanadas from Cassava to bring back the tradition. While they do not compare to the real deal, they were pretty tasty! We ordered the beef and cheddar, bacon/egg/cheese and pulled pork empanadas with a mango smoothie on the side. All of these were good but I think our favorite was the beef and cheddar. If you are gluten free and craving an empanada, I would recommend this place, especially if you like cheese (pretty sure the crust is made with cheese baked in, yum!). read more

The Empanadas are so tasty! And the staff is so friendly, annnnnddd they accept BITCOIN! Jorge was so nice and helpful, very excited for this business to grow. They use the Coinbase merchant app, and have a bitcoin ATM inside if you'd like to purchase your own bitcoins and are new to crypto-currency. Try the cassava rolls and a smoothie! read more

Cassava - Mmm - Caterers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love this place! Cassava is a doughy bready stuff that is made from Cassava root. I love the empanadas, smoothies and muffins. AND they are GLUTEN FREE. And have organic ingredients to boot. It is right next door to where I work, so I eat here a lot. I'm also Gluten Free...which is really hard to be in this section of Lakeview. Should I have the Tuna wrapped in a lettuce leaf at the sandwich place next door again or....deep sigh... water. lol. I totally recommend the chicken empanada! or egg, bacon, cheese empanadas or the Almond Banana Smoothie(this has milk in it-I get it with Almond milk-they are always great about modifications) or the Mixed Berry blend! I've heard the beef empanadas are the best, but, I don't eat red meat. Heads up, sometimes you have to wait for them to be made, but, it is worth it, sometimes it is ready to be eaten right away. Just depends. I usually put my order in, pay, go to work, then pop back over to pick up my food. The owner and staff are super nice and accommodating to my always-in-a-hurry-ness! ;) I do wish they had a Green Smoothie! :) read more

I can't tell if it's a good thing or a bad thing that I do not live closer to Cassava. If I did, I would seriously eat every meal there. Soooo good. Every single thing in the restaurant is gluten free (according to the counter dude)!!! The cassava rolls are amazing, especially the chocolate roll. The baked empanadas are equally divine. Even if you are not gluten free, dining here is a MUST!! read more

Holy hot chocolate! People that know me know that I love me some chocolate in any way that I can get it. So, of course, I had to try the hot chocolate and I'm SO glad I did. It was hot chocolate in its purest form and the little rolls weren't bad either. The jalapeño cheddar rolls were probably my favorite but the sun-dried tomato & basil was equally as good. I definitely want to head back to try the smoothies. read more

It's very easy to miss if you are just driving by or even walking by... I actually found this place online as I was searching for a half way point to meet with a friend for a late lunch/snack and drinks. I think this place is very unique and offers something that isn't norm and giving people the opportunity to try something out of the ordinary when it comes to cassava root based products. The white cheddar&Jalapenos roll was nice to start with as a bite size appetizer. Bacon, Egg & Cheese baked empanada was also a good savory option. The chewy insides reminded me of asian rice cakes, which I love! I was super hungry and even though the sizes were pretty small, I think it settled well in my tummy. As for the drinks, the hot cocoa definitely caught my eye and just had to try it. They basically hand chop the chocolate bar and make their very rich hot cocoa from scratch. It is very rich and thick so it would be a really good dessert drink. (pretty much instead of an actual dessert) I wouldn't go out of my way to come here since I do live up north but if i ever had to meet someone in the area, I will definitely be back to Cassava and keep them open as a optional meeting place! Another plus was the very nice and friendly employees! read more

mmmmm, doughy gluten free bread filled with chocolate! Don't mind if I do! Or how about some hot chocolate as well....soooo good! I highly recommend giving Cassava a chance. Unfortunately, I only had the chocolate filled balls and hot chocolate but it left me wanting more. I can only imagine the empanadas would do the same. Not to mention, the staff is super friendly! read more

My wife and I LOVE the empanadas and rolls. The hot chocolate is off the charts too. Whether your gluten free or not, this place is worth trying. And they will be in Chicagoland Whole Foods soon! read more

Cassava - Chicken empanada and chocolate roll...mmmm - Caterers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What an amazing place! I visited for the first time a few days ago and got a variety of their frozen rolls and empanadas to take home. They are all phenomenal- I tried the feta and roasted veggie empanadas as well as the plain, sun-dried tomato, jalapeno and chocolate rolls. YUM. And totally gluten-free. The staff are super friendly and helpful as well. I'll definitely be a regular here! read more

For those of us who follow a gluten free diet, finding treats like gluten free empanadas can be challenging. Cassava does a nice job in addition to using healthful and responsibly sourced meats and veggies. Their service can be a bit lacking (I waited 15 minutes for one empanada and three rolls) and you will pay a pretty penny for one empanada that is a little smaller than my palm. That said, the original cassava rolls fulfilled all of my cheesy bread cravings since I went gluten free seven years ago and I would definitely return for those. read more

Cassava - Pulled pork empanada. Savory and delicious but small for the price - Caterers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I really loved this little place. And this is why: 1. They have the richest, thickest hot chocolate I've ever had. Like a chocolate bar in a cup! And....they had almond milk!! 2. Their cassava empanadas tasted like they were made with love, seriously....homemade. And the quality and care that these people put into everything they do is just great. I had the beef & cheddar empanada, and my friend ordered a smoothie. We were so happy with the quality of everything that was put into our food. They take quality ingredients, pride, and care into what they do. And I have total respect for that. 3. The staff was lovely...they answered our questions. Educated us....and were very pleasant. 4. Their place is casual and comfortable; they invest into the ingredients of their food people!!! They care about the food they are serving. So, if you have to wait 8 minutes for your empanadas to be ready......relax, and pretend you are in Europe....where even McDonald's makes the sandwiches fresh. They are a small company and care about what you eat. I have mad respect for them. Anyone that writes a review talking about "the atmosphere, blah blah blah" is missing the point of this place entirely, and doesn't deserve to write a negative review. We came in here by accident, and so glad we did. read more

I have tried pretty much everything here. I don't even like chocolate but I was drawn to the place because the hot chocolate was made by melting chocolate. I tried both, the dark chocolate and the spicy chocolate. They were both awesome. The little bread rolls are tasty. I tried each flavor and would probably say the jalapeno cheddar was my favorite. The store front is brand new and they could probably benefit by grinding coffee throughout the day to eliminate the new construction/ fresh paint smell that you get the second you walk in the door, Overall, great place and I wish them the very best of luck and they will continue to have my support. read more

Did you know cassava is grown worldwide and is considered eco-friendly? It is also gluten-free. My wife and I love pao de queijo, the brazilian cheese bread so when we drove by we decided to try Cassava. So far the experience has been great. I wish they would have more already made up, or do they think it only taste good served warm. I have eaten plenty of pao de queijo at room temperature - nothing wrong with that. read more

I'm almost hesitant to write a review on this Wrigleyville gem, because I love how it's still a relatively low-traffic hole-in-the-wall on Clark. Time-Out Chicago and many other reviewers have beat me to raving about their spicy hot chocolate, but I'll say it again: I would leave my apartment in the blizzard cold, trudge through 3 feet of snow soaking through my jeans just to get to this stuff. I'll come here after yoga to get a smoothie (my favorite is the Three Berry Medley) with no added sugar and whole fruit. It tastes amazing and actually feels healthy to drink. My only reason for withholding the last star is that they still seem to be figuring themselves out as a business. I've overheard many conversations in which Cassava has had to explain what they are not, turning away confused potential customers looking for a cafe drink (no espresso machine) or lunch (their 'meal' selection is limited to 2 soups and the small cassava rolls). They make up for it by serving quality over quantity, with a conscious eye on health that many cafes lack. Their chili is 100% grass-fed beef and chock-full of veggies. It's topped with greek yogurt and cheese, with a decadence and combination of flavors that taste like something you would order at a nice restaurant. Jorge, the owner, was able to explain to me all the vitamin and environmental benefits that come along with serving grass-fed, showing just how much personal investment he has in this food, and how much thought goes into what they serve. Their original cheese cassava rolls spark cravings long after I leave the store. The interior feels a bit stark, though with the brand new addition of a couch area and a small rug, they seem to be heading in the right direction! The last thing I have to rave about is the music selection. If you've ever been sitting in Starbucks and wanted to chuck your latte at the speaker blaring tin-can jazz, you'll appreciate the relevant, mellow playlist featuring Death Cab, The Shins, Yael Naim, and Radiohead. Overall, definitely worth a trip if you are looking for a quiet place to study (free-wifi), meet up with friends in the Lakeview/Wrigley area, or just get some of the best hot chocolate/chili in the city. They offer catering with their cassava rolls, which would be a unique (and pretty delicious) idea for a party dish. read more

What a lucky find. We were in a bit of a rush to get from Edgewater to Logan Square. But we KNEW we needed to eat. And after having one too many gluten free raw bars, & packets of almond butter, I was good & ready for an actual MEAL. So out came the smart phone Yelp searching while on the train. Just at the right moment, after searching "gluten free" Chicago, I found Cassava. And sure enough it was on the next red line stop. Off we went to find this spot that allegedly had gluten free empanadas. This was like a dream to me because I had not had an empanada in over a year. I could barely contain myself as we walked in. I knew there was a chance we might not score in the food department because the place was about to close. But Cassava did not disappoint. The gentlemen working told us "no hurry". He explained that the breads & empanadas were ALL gluten free. EVERYTHING there basically was gluten free, including the chili. Now I did have to make an exception & have some dairy because apparently the recipe they use to make the breads involves a small amount of cheese. But this was a risk I was willing to take to finally enjoy an empanada. We ordered one of every kind except the vegetarian. We had a beef & cheddar, an egg, and a chicken & veggie empanada. I devoured them all. They were delicious. Texture, flavor, everything. And as an added bonus - this place had a specialty "hot chocolate" which was very timely considering that it had dipped in temperature since our arrival to Chicago, & we had only packed summer attire. I had been freezing the entire trip. I did not want to over-do the dairy so my original plan was to just have my partner order the hot chocolate & live vicariously (maybe take a tiny sip) . But the guy working (since I had asked about dairy previously in regards to the food) --- informed me that they could make the hot chocolate with ALMOND MILK. I was then floored (it seems nearly impossible to find places that even have soy milk -which I try not to even drink anymore-- but ALMOND MILK). This hot chocolate was made with some super special, absolutely unbelievable DARK chocolate from Colombia. I could NOT stop thinking about this drink for the rest of the trip. In fact, I am obviously still thinking about it right now. It had to be the best hot chocolate I have ever had. And it was dark chocolate with almond milk -- SO yummy. The restaurant is a walk up to the counter & order type place. The food is very affordable. The establishment is clean, with ample seating. And the service was great. We look forward to returning the next time we are in town. In fact -- there is a CHOCOLATE empanada on the menu calling my name. ........ read more

I walk here from my house all the time. I've pretty much tried the majority of the items on the menu and I am SO glad they are gluten free. The prices are cheap, and they make for a great, quick, and light lunch. I usually get the empanadas-- I actually like the chicken ones over the beef. i'm not celiac, but I do enjoy things that are gluten-free. The smoothies aren't too sweet, and you're allowed to replace the juice in them with water, I think-- so that they're even less sweet. My favorite thing to drink here is the hot chocolate though. Yummmm. They'll even do iced hot chocolate for you! :) Perfect for hot summer days. Do the iced raspberry hot chocolate, you won't regret it. read more

Got one of each roll. I love the very texture of the cassava. It's like a giant boba/tapioca pearl, which it technically is. Also reminiscent of mochi. Also got two empanadas. I prefer the rolls. Oftentimes, gluten free is a poor imitation of the original. At Cassava, however, I can easily say these surpass the original. read more

Gluten free facility, yay!! The empanadas are tasty, chicken empanada is good. Their jalapeño rolls are definitely to try. I am definitely going again. read more

Cassava - Assorted rolls - Caterers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love that you can grab these frozen to take home and bake. *These are a Gluten Free must have in the freezer at all times go to item. Also love the soups the broccoli cheddar is comfort in a bowl and they serve amazing coffee. Yum! :o) read more

A friend suggested we meet at Cassava for lunch. I had no idea what to expect. I try my hardest to avoid grains and when I saw the pics online from Cassava, I thought, "I'm screwed." Alas, no. Cassava features two primary items: empanadas and cassava. Both are made with a gluten-free dough. I drilled the staff about the ingredients. Made of a root starch flour, I guess. Ever heard of Cassava flour? Me neither! It's a root veggie, they said. I bought two items: a beef (grass-fed...yay!) empanada and a bacon cheese cassava (nitrate-free). I also ordered a cranberry, peach, ginger smoothie. They make their smoothies with non-fat Greek yogurt. That's not too common. Most places are fruits and veggies only or some unhealthy frozen yogurt /some sugary mix thing added. This was a pleasant surprise. Cassava, is a good spot for lunch, or post-yoga at Moksha next door. Not really a dinner spot. They only have the one location but there are rumors that you may be able to purchase their items in frozen fashion else where in town in the not-too-distance future. My only suggestion, is that they serve their yummy eats atop field greens. Their commitment to serving heathy eats is commendable, and a bit more veggies will help them fulfill that goal. I'm looking forward to trying their beef-fed chili in the winter or doing takeout to impress a date. read more

I came in around 11 on a Saturday. It was empty. They heat up the empanadas when you order, so it takes about 10 minutes. With the Yelp check-in it's a good deal. The crust smells almost sweet potato-y, but doesn't taste like it, just normal crust. But gluten free! Beef and cheddar: packed with meat. Yum. Spinach and mushroom: garlicky-er than I expected. Kind of killed the taste of the feta, which is my favorite. Bacon, egg, and cheese: mostly egg. Like a breakfast sandwich in an empanada. Overall, these would be tasty anytime. However, they're a fantastic non-guilty hangover food. Yes! 4 stars for gluten-free goodness. read more

Loved this place. The empanadas were really good and the fact that they were gluten-free is amazing. I didn't even taste the difference. They use natural ingredients so it's worth the price you pay. Beef tasted the best along with the mixed veggie and the breakfast one! So awesome that I'll definitely be back. read more

Terrific empanadas. Perfect ratio of filling to doe. Staff is super friendly. I watched them making empanadas in front of me. They are in Whole Foods stores now. If my empanada was frozen it could not have been frozen for that long. I am sure they do a high volume of empanadas. This means they are not around long enough to get stale or freezer burn. I high recommend Cassava for gluten free people or people who love a great empanada. Also they are only $3.25 each and not too small. Great value. read more

So I haven't actually dined in here but this review is based on my uber eats experience(btw, if you haven't already, try uber eats!) My order came with 3 empanadas. In the order of my favorite: Chicken, potatoes Spinach, mushroom, feta Beef, cheese All three were savory and delicious. They arrived warm. I nuked them for a few more seconds to get them hot. Overall, I was very pleased with the quality of these empanadas. The bread is kind of chewy like, and they don't skimp on the filling. They are a nice size, too. I barely finished all 3 and was pretty full/satisfied by the end. I would definitely try the restaurant based off of this experience! read more

Decided to stop at this little place for a gluten-free snack on my way from one side of the city to the other...an oasis on the long commute home! EVERYTHING is gluten free. Automatic 5 stars. The little cassava rolls are tiny but a very, very rich 3 little bites. I was a little bit sad that they were out of the rolls I wanted but I ordered what he had left and took a seat - which seemed to surprise him. I ordered: 2 sundried tomato basil 1 original 1 jalapeno & cheddar and they had three soup choices (broccoli cheddar, beef stew, and...), so I ordered a bowl of bacon lentil (foregoing the dominant bacon rolls they had). Sadly, I did not order a smoothie, though they looked fantastic. It was a cold a and snowy day and I needed warmth! So, the food. This place lost one half star for the fact that there were NO vegan options - and on behalf of celiacs everywhere, I know there are many of us who cannot tolerate dairy. It appeared that there was only one cheese-free choice, and, honestly, I doubt it was vegan, though I do not know. It was the sundried tomato roll, which I, personally, did not like. It had too many sundried tomatoes and I'm pretty sure the basil was dried basil as opposed to fresh. The taste was too potent and not subtle enough. If you can tolerate sticking about 4 sundried tomatoes into your mouth at once, you may like this. The jalapeno cheddar was okay. It's not a flavor that I'm a big fan of, and these days, I try to stay as far away from jalapenos as I can. The "original" which is apparently filled with the very unglamorous "white cheese" rocked my world. It was like eating a ball of gooey hot cheese surrounded by a light crust. Devilishly good. The other half star I took, was for the fact that everything was UBER salty. The rolls and the soup, especially. Though, the soup was really good - perfect lentil consistency - both sweet and salty - lots of bacon. But wow! I needed a glass of water after 2 bites. I think this place could benefit from offering to bake the rolls while customers wait if they'd like, and by providing a few vegan meal options - a vegan roll and some vegan soup. Additionally, a cooler of free water could be awesome. With that being said, I am really really happy this place is here. The concept kicks ass and I can see this place growing and thriving. It's very new. Go there. Give them your money. Have a seat and talk to the owner. He is very nice. The rolls are adorable. AND we have too few gluten-free options in this city. read more

I signed up for yelp just to give this place a 5 star review. What a find!!! One of the best cups of Hot Chocolate I have ever had. Fun snack food, that is tasty and healthy. Also the owner is super nice. I will be coming back many times. CHEERS!! read more

You can trudge through my other reviews to see that I've been searching for pan de queso (I'm used to the Colombian style) in Chicago for a while now, and have thus far been bitterly disappointed. Well, Cassava may identify theirs as being based on Brazilian pao de quejio, but this is the real deal. The original ones? They are pan de queso, and they are perfect. On top of that, the owner plays the fusion card (always a winner in my games) and offers bacon, sundried tomato, and chocolate flavors, all of which are excellent. I so far favor the bacon, but I want to note that the chocolate ones greatly exceeded my expectations-- it's the same salty dough with a gooey, rich chocolate filling, sort of in the vicinity of a chocolate croissant. As others have mentioned, the owner is super nice. Today he mentioned that he's thinking about adding empanadas to the menu-- given what a good job he's done with anything else, I'd like to see that happen. read more

This place continues to improve on an already great product. The addition of the empanadas was spot on. My favorite is the beef & cheddar. They take grass fed beef sautéed with onions and peppers and tuck it into a pocket of that great cassava dough. Add a little cheese and its perfect. Of course the trademark cassava is still spot on. A crunchy exterior encompasses a doughy interior in a ratio that is perfect. I only wish that they bring back the kalamata & feta cassava. It was great. read more

Yum! Great start to our healthy food tour! Really cool spot to check out if you are trying to stay gluten free. Cassava Empanadas & rolls! read more

Grass-fed beef chili was amazing! Lots of veggies in there too. They have about 5 tables and a small couch area. I love the vibe here and the staff could not be more pleasant. I like it when you feel like you are talking to a real person and not a service robot. I will definitely be back. read more

SO GLAD I found this place on my food allergy app! I've picked up in person and used delivery. Superior customer service every time. Tried most items on the menu at this point, impressed with everything. My partner and I both have multiple food allergies so we appreciate the transparency of ingredients on their website. Always delicious and never had a reaction. Will be placing regular orders for sure. THANK YOU!! read more

Cassava, you are a dream come true! I'm excited about your flour mix without corn starch! Hot DARK CHOCOLATE, probiotic yougurt, nitrate-free bacon and grass-fed beef make your menu amazing. You definitely have me hooked. Only suggestion would be having RAW cheese options in your bread rolls and empanadas. Thank you so much for not imitating other gluten-free places that in reality add so many unhealthy ingredients in their flour mix. Keep it real, guys! EXCELLENT service, by the way. You deserve double the stars! read more

I was pretty curious to try this place since I'm celiac and always appreciate a place that is completely gluten free. Overall I was pretty happy with my experience. I met a friend here and we dined in. We were the only ones who ate there, which is fine. It's a very casual place and seems to do most of its business on take-away orders. I got two empanadas and decided to try the chocolate cassava roll for dessert. I really loved the roasted veggie and spinach/mushroom empanadas. The filling for both were outstanding. Extremely flavorful and the ingredients worked well together. The dough is not amazing, but it doesn't detract from the filling in my opinion. I really enjoyed the chocolate cassava roll as well. It is really small, but I liked that it was small because I just wanted a hint of sweet to finish out the meal. I would love to see this place offer both empanadas and say buckwheat crepes using the same fillings from the empanadas. They could keep with the gluten-free theme and not need to do anything new except perfect the basic buckwheat crepe. Think about it...South America Meets Europe...that's catchy. read more