My friends and I went for an early happy hour the drinks were unqiue, photo worthy, and tasted…read moregreat. I did not try the food. Will definitely be back

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.

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!

A really cute family friendly place, great to come with friends or in smaller groups. They have a…read morewide menu to suit the taste of all and the service is really fast. The food itself is so yummy. Would definitely come back and try more!

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.

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.

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.

Wow! I have not had a jibarito steak in a long time and this place definitely hit the spot! Steak…read morewas tender and not chewy. I love how garlicky it tasted. I could of ate two of these. Service was professional and quick. Ambiance is great- we love how we are able to eat outside.

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

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.

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.

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.

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