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Junebug Cafe

4.5 (59 reviews)

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JUNEBUG CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Dogs allowed
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Junebug Cafe

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Specials board with some on-brand drinks
Whitney P.

I'm a Louisiana native and grew up on Creole food. I just moved to Wicker Park and when I saw a Creole style cafe, I knew I had to pop in for breakfast! I thought the concept was such a cool and unique idea. While I've seen many soul food breakfast places, I've only ever seen Creole food at lunch and dinner restaurants. Service: When I walked in, I was immediately greeted with a smile. The girl helping me was kind and quick. I feel like everyone is in such a rush these days that good service is sacrificed. It was refreshing to be treated with care, for her to make me feel like she was happy to help me and that she actually enjoyed her job. Ambiance: Adorable decor as you can see by the photos, but not overly busy. The music was the perfect volume, AC was great, comfortable seating, and I loved the vintage feel with the brick and hardwood floors. Food: Let me start by saying - the food was great, I'm just a harsh critic! I got a 16oz plain iced latte with oat milk which was well-balanced and smooth. I also got the biscuit and added egg and cheese. The biscuit was a little dense for my taste and a little over cooked on the edges, but definitely redeemed itself with the the buttery flavor! Also, the egg inside was a little over cooked on the edges. It came out hot and fresh which I can appreciate. The sandwich + latte was $15 and some change, which I think is fairly appropriate for the size of the sandwich. Overall I think this spot is worth a try. I will definitely be back to try other things on the menu, the beignets are calling my name!

Chicken & sausage gumbo
Erica N.

Absolutely delicious. I originally phoned about ordering a King Cake. Unfortunately, they were unable to complete under the short notice which is completely understandable. But what I appreciated was the personal call from the owner following up to inform me and let me know possible other options. A few days later I found myself in the area and decided to try Junebug for lunch. I was not disappointed. The gumbo was so flavorful. Hmm hmm good. I was transported to Nola for a little that afternoon. The lemonade was the perfect drink to wash it all down. I highly recommend for a nice lunch or even date night. Ambiance: (3 out of 4) Small/Intimate so probably not the best for larger groups unless you make reservations or call ahead. Cost: $-$$ Parking: Metered street parking

Menu
Jisha J.

I'm so excited I finally got to try this place! I've attempted to go before but it was closed by the time I could make it out there. I tried the chicory coffee, beignets, meat hand pie, and gumbo (this was all to go and eaten throughout the day). The beignet order is huge with two giant beignets. They were warm, fluffy, and excellent with the coffee. The gumbo and hand pie were both exceptional. The sauce that comes with the hand pie was so good. The gumbo has just the right kick to it and the ball of rice inside was perfect with it. I will most definitely be back soon!

Maria W.

Wow! I stopped in here for lunch and ordered a matcha latte, meat pie and beignet. The sauce with the meat pie was delicious, but the beignets here are truly delicious. It'd be a mistake if you passed these up.

Spoonful of gumbo - yum!
Shanel S.

I'm shocked to find out I haven't reviewed Junebug sooner! Super cute little cafe. We found it randomly after a stroll back home from the park. The lavender lemonade sign is what pulled me in originally and now the beignets are what keeps us coming back! We've visited this spot maybe three times now? I think I finally have it figured out to where I'll enjoy my visits the most. The trick is to just get the small version of everything - gumbo & drinks and double the beignet order, duh. I really like their gumbo. At times a little oily and not enough rice, but definitely flavorful and hearty. The perfect amount of peppers, celery, sausage, and chicken. I'm not sure if there's okra, but if so, I wish there was more ;p The small gumbo is $6 with the large being $9. When I order takeout, I can never tell a difference between the sizes to be honest so I have to remember to just order a small no matter what my eyes tell me. The lavender lemonade is absolutely delicious. Perfectly tart and slightly sweet. It's $5 for a 20oz and $10 for a 32oz growler (growler size isn't advertised on their sign but marked on the bottle). I was disappointed to see they charge double for 8oz less of lemonade. We've also tried their meat pies. I believe it's the same every time? After the one try, it was enough. We found them to be a little dry and the sauce was a little too mayo based for our liking. And I'm a mayo lover. I guess I just compared them to my moms meat pies so I have pretty high standards. Now, the beignets steal the show every time. 2 for $4 or 4 for $8. And yes, that's how they list it on their menu. They're gooey warm and perfectly powdered. We love them every single time and crave them. If we ate them as often as we wanted them, we'd need to fit A LOT more walks into our day haha. Definitely swing by in the summer when they have a cute little patio setup outside. They were kind enough to even let me come inside and order, even though I was with my pup. Their staff has always been nice and helpful. Worth the visit for sure, but just remember my size tips! Cheers.

Meat Pie
Madeleine B.

Very cute little New Orleans-style cafe in Noble Square. I got a cup of gumbo, a meat pie, and beignets. Everything was delicious! This is definitely some of the better gumbo I've had. The meat pie was tender. The beignets were a bit overpowdered with sugar, but still fresh and delicious. If you come for one thing here, it should be the beignets!!! 4.5 stars.

Stephanie L.

What a great little addition to the hood. Hubby and I popped in on our Sunday walk...I mean, how can you not with how cute this place looks?! The staff was very nice, bubbly and helpful...almost like how the space looks. It's a small place with a small menu. We decided to continue with our quarantine theme of eating real healthy (cough). The beignets were on display and looked heavenly. How could we resist?! If I remember correctly, it's 3 beignets for $5. The best part...made fresh to order. YUM! While we were waiting, we took in the vibe of the place. If you are a fan of Malort, adventurous, or have a guest in town, I saw these cute little malort coffees in their fridge. The beignets were slightly crispy on the outside, doughy on the inside and piled high with the powdered sugar. Reminded me of the time we were in NOLA getting Cafe Du Monde. The worst part...my black coat, jeans, and face were covered in powdered sugar. It looked like someone peppered me with a white paint ball but it was worth it. A little tip for future guests...don't try to walk and eat these bad boys on a windy Chicago day.

Gumbo, Dark Matter Cold Brew
Jason C.

Super cute place on the edge of wicker park/west town. The gumbo was fantastic and they filled the cup up to the brim, which was appreciated. Had some of their beignets, which were delish and nice and dense. Only been in here twice and the staff has been super nice both times. Definitely a fan.

Rhonda F.

OK - Junebug Cafe is the best thing to happen to me in a very long time!!! I heard a new spot opened up and I want to give local small businesses love so I told my son to meet me for a quick coffee. Well not only was the chicory coffee fantastic, but the made to order, piping hot beignets were life changing!!! Oh the powdered sugar of it all... The French Creole history runs deep here. A true inspiration from Grandma June (Junebug), business's namesake. They also offer Dark Matter coffee, meat or red beans & rice pies and creole gumbo. I think you will love everything you try. Take a mini staycation to New Orleans without leaving town. Everything about this place says HELLO. First of all the vintage building's exterior is fuchsia. Can't miss that! As you walk in it is the opposite. It's dark, warm and cozy. There's a lofted area, a stone wall, a black wall and a sweet unassuming hutch that you might see at Grandma's house. I felt like I had walked into the adorable owner/couple's home. The sweet story about how they met and ended up opening their business in the building where one of them grew up just added to it's overall charm. The staff was incredibly polite and gracious. The girl working that morning was so helpful and personable. It was a perfect fit for this adorable new business. What a great addition to the West Town/Ukrainian Village neighborhoods. I can't stop thinking about the made from scratch deliciousness they offer and have invited anyone I can find to go with me to Junebug Cafe. You should go too!

Beignets (2 Pieces)
Leang E.

Unfortunately their phone was off the hook and I wasn't able to call and order in advance but the wait wasn't too long. I got a cup of the gumbo, meat pie and beignets. Everything was so good! The sauce for the meat pie was the right amount of spicy and flavorful. The beignets were like wow...like warm soft crispyness. I think they are better than the ones at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans. So happy that they have this location here!

Beignets (2 Pieces)
stephanie b.

Very quaint space. Lovely southern decor makes for a cozy experience. Their beignets were outstanding ! Made fresh to order, the perfect size & dough. The only issue is they need to update their hours on here bc they are only open until 4pm not 6pm . Despite that I definitely recommend getting some yummy beignets here .

Meat Pie, Gunbo, Dark Matter Drip Coffee
Mayo M.

We absolutely LOVED this cute little New Orleans inspired cafe! The menu is limited to coffee, beignets, a meat and a veggie pie, as well as gumbo. We ordered a coffee, meat pie, and a cup of gumbo. In a word... WOWZA!! Coffee - Dark Matter roast in two flavors... we like our coffee black and loved these!! Gumbo - One of the best we've had... Meat Pie - Grandma's recipe (June Bug)... delicious.. comes with a spicy remoulade that provided a perfect complement... We'll be back again soon!!

Beignets
Stephanie P.

Super cute spot! My boyfriend took me to this place, claiming the beignets to be one of the best he has ever tried. First off, the beignets are melt in your mouth heaven. They are served fresh, hot and the dough is light and fluffy yet has a bit of chew to retain its shape. The powdered sugar sprinkled generously over the beignets made this treat extra indulgent. We want to go back and try their gumbo next time. Junebug Cafe is hard to miss - it's bright purple exterior catches one's attention. The interior is cute and quirky. They also serve Dark Matter Coffee - always a plus in my book!

Store front

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Photo of Dean B.
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3 years ago

Popped in for for some beignets last weekend. They did not disappoint! Perfectly cooked and smothered in powdered sugar. Highly recommend.

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5 years ago

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3 years ago

So so cute in here! Their biscuits are amazing and the service was quick and great! I love this place! Can't wait to try the beignets

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

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5 years ago

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4 years ago

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5 years ago

SO GOOD - I grew up on the Louisiana border and their beignets are 110% legit and delicious. So excited to have this place in West Town!

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5 years ago

Grabbed two cups of gumbo for lunch and LOVED it! It was quick and easy to order with a phone call. Will definitely be back!

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4 years ago

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5 years ago

loved the beignet here! fresh out of the oven! so tasty, and not too sweet. the meat pie was alright

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5 years ago

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4 years ago

Arguably the best gumbo I have ever had. Just the right amount of spice, great flavor, and a must try

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5 years ago

Excellent Gumbo, Very good Meat Pie. I hope they expand the menu and space, because I want more reasons to come!

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Ask the Community - Junebug Cafe

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