If you haven't been to Pticek & Son Bakery, I'm going to assume you've been spending your life…read moremaking questionable decisions. This place is one of the last true old-school bakeries still standing -- the kind where you walk in and immediately feel like you just time-traveled to a better era. The smells alone should be bottled and sold as a life improvement product. But let's get to the main event... THE HOTDOGS IN THE BUN. Calling these "hotdogs" feels disrespectful. These are legendary, mythical, blink-and-they're-gone bakery treasures. Soft, pillowy, slightly sweet bread wrapped around a perfectly baked hotdog like it's being tucked in for the greatest nap of its life. And here's the thing -- you don't just casually show up and grab these. NO. You need a plan. You need strategy. You need to order ahead like you're securing concert tickets. Because if you stroll in thinking, "Yeah I'll just grab a couple..." -- congratulations, you played yourself. They will be gone. Vanished. Spoken about only in whispers by the lucky few who got there in time. Now here's what really makes this place special -- the grandkids working there keeping the family tradition alive. And I'm convinced these kids aren't just employees... they're being trained like it's some kind of secret bakery academy. I watched one of them wrap a hotdog bun with the precision of a brain surgeon. Another was moving boxes like they were in the finals of a competitive baking Olympics. Meanwhile I'm just standing there thinking, "These kids have more skill before noon than I've had my entire life." You can tell this isn't just a job to them -- this is family legacy in motion. Somewhere in the back, I'm pretty sure there's an invisible scoreboard keeping track of who made the most perfect buns of the day. Every bite is pure nostalgia -- like your childhood got an upgrade and decided to show off a little. You don't eat these... you respect them. Between the old-school charm, the unreal baked goods, and a new generation absolutely crushing it, this isn't just a bakery -- it's a Garfield Ridge institution. Pro tip: Order the hotdogs in advance, guard them with your life, and if you see the grandkids working... just know you're witnessing the future of greatness.

Their banana bread (was a special of the day), was phenomenal!! Moist and very tasteful with pecans…read moreon top. Def recommend it. Their hot dog buns & bacon onion buns are also a must. This place never disappoints very economical.

Food is great, service is on point and the ambiance is just family oriented…read more La Central Bakery has been my go-to spot for the freshest Mexican baked goods for the last few years, and they never miss. They bake everything right in the back, constantly replenishing the shelves every few hours. In a world where prices everywhere keep climbing, they somehow remain incredibly affordable. I once mentioned this to the young lady at the counter, and she told me the family insists on keeping prices within reach so the community can still enjoy authentic pan dulce. That alone tells you everything about this place. The conchas? Super fluffy, fresh, and honestly some of the best around. And the variety--amazing. I'll gladly go out of my way to come here because freshness and quality matter, and they deliver every single time. They also open early, so you'll usually catch hardworking folks starting their day with a cafecito and a concha... or you'll catch me picking up a mixed box for my coworkers. One thing to note: cash only. Don't make my mistake of loading up a tray just to realize you didn't bring cash. Luckily, they've held my pastries more than once while I ran out to grab some. This truly is a mom-and-pop gem--warm, consistent, and worth every visit. Highly recommend!

Horrible customer service!, they have their eyes on you like hawks makes you feel uncomfortable,…read morealso its cash only.

Great Lithuanian / Polish deli. Ordered an apricot Napoleon torte for my mother's birthday and…read moreeveryone loved it . Also picked up kolackys which were tasty as well. Their bacon buns and the Lithuanian rye are also really good. Service was great. Large variety of items to pick from in the deli and bakery sides.

Stopped in the middle of the afternoon, Prices were great !…read more Service was great! Chocolate Longjohn was so so , bacon bun was excellent, Kolackys tasted like they had been in the cabinets for several days. That was disappointing . But it was muddle of the afternoon, maybe that's why? Still, I would stop there again. It's an old-time bakery, I don't have anything like that next-door to me and they're worth a look.

Attentive server and nice atmosphere with an ample breakfast with good choices. Above average.read more

I love chilaquiles and I have to say this poblano chilaquiles are some of the best I've ever had!…read moreThe service is great and super friendly. The space is clean and nicely decorated. I would definitely recommend this place!

The bread here is GIANT and incredibly affordable. You can't come here and not try the bolillos…read more They're the best ones I've ever had. Soft, with a nice crunch on the outside, and always freshly baked. They stay busy, but not so much where you have to wait too long. The hipsters haven't discovered it yet :) Note: they only take cash, but there's an ATM down the street. There is paid street parking in front, but if you try a few blocks down, you can find free parking.

Que decepcionada que compre una Rosca grande y ni un muñequito. Los trabajadores me dijeron que…read moreavian 5 muñequitos. Que decepcionados estaban los niños. Que esperiensa horrible. Hable y les dije lo Que Paso y me dijeron que fuera al siguiente dia para otra rosca. Pues ya para Que, era la experiensa para la familia. Que feo servicio.

I've been a long-time customer (25 years). The family is super nice, and I always found their…read moreteleras to be second to none. However, I quality is deteriorating. The last two purchases of fresh teleras did not make it fresh to my house. I mentioned it to the owner, and she claimed it was attributed to warm teleras' exposure to cold weather. That is incorrect. It is attributed to not using enough "levadura." I know businesses are impacted by inflation the same way consumers are. Except the added cost to businesses is passed down to the consumer. I just can't buy an inferior product period, much less for more money.

This is only a review for the ordering process. I live in Iowa but wanted to surprise my cousin…read morewith a cake for her birthday. I called at least 3 bakeries in her neighborhood, even ones in grocery stores and none would take a cake order over the phone and allow me to pay with a credit card. I was about to give up but I did one more search on here for bakeries in her zip code that accepted credit cards and found a gem! I called aroung 9am and explained what I wanted. They were friendly and easy to work with. They explained my options for cake flavors and decor and colors. I chose what I thought she would like and placed the order. They even took a photo of the receipt and sent me the photo via text message. Easy breezy! Based on other reviews I read about this place, I think my cousin will enjoy her tres leches cake and if I ever want to do this again, I will make sure to call this place.

After years of visiting the 24-hour location on Cicero in Oak Lawn, my dad and I finally landed…read moreearly enough to try the Pulaski location. It may be the original location, or that honor may go to the yet unvisited-by-me third location closer to the Loop, but in any case, this Huck Finn definitely feels different from the one I'm used to. The lighting fixtures, booths, and art all have the same tacky early-2000s feel as the other location, but that's where the similarities end. This one is much smaller, although its dessert-case area has its own tables, and the outside of the building advertises ice cream. This Huck Finn feels like a coffee shop, which is probably why my dad says he likes it more than the "original"--original to us, at least. It has a counter, and while the building looks large from outside, it has about half the seating of Oak Lawn. There's a funky mirror near the bathrooms that makes it look like there's a back dining room--or possibly a Den of Iniquities like the original--but it's all an optical illusion. Service is quick and efficient, as it is at Oak Lawn. Our server, though, was a familiar no-nonsense throwback to an earlier time. Oak Lawn has some of those, but most of its servers are younger women with the thickest Chicago/Great Lakes accents you'll ever hear. (Seriously, although they're all under thirty-five, they sound like they're about to start collecting Social Security.) She was short on small talk, but she made up for it with sass and a whole lot of hard work. The food is good, although the menu is more limited than Oak Lawn's. One thing I don't like is that the menus are flimsy printouts. Oak Lawn at least has laminated pages, although I miss the old multi-page booklet-style menus. Oh well. They have Texas and Alaska donuts here, so it's a legit Huck Finn. It's physically possible to make a left turn onto Pulaski from their parking lot, but I think it's illegal, as you'd have to cross a quadruple yellow line. I spotted two cop cars near here, one when we were arriving, and one when we left, so be careful out there.

I went on a busy Saturday morning and was able to get a table. The server was nice and the coffee…read morewas great. I ordered their chorizo skillet but wanted something other than potatoes. The waitress recommended some potato spirals because they didn't have diced potatoes. Let me say, it was the best decision ever. The place is very affordable and even though it started getting more packed as we were eating, our server was very attentive. She brought coffee as soon as we were low. I would definitely recommend this place.

Many years ago, I lived in this location's neighborhood. Of course, it was a very humble…read moreneighborhood, and people were always looking for a Mexican panaderia that would take the edge out of driving to get pastries. Mexican pastries that is, and although they are plentiful in some neighborhoods, this area at the time, lacked. I am happy to say that now it's been here for many years since I have left, and the pastries and panes (breads) are super tasty. I feel as if I traveled to another time when pastries were done by hand and not machine. But alas, I did ask the cashier, and she did state that they are no longer made all by human hands, but some are. I like that. I couldn't tell which ones were made by hand as they tasted very close to the breads of mu younger years so that puts a smile on my face. When you walk in, you can actually smell the breads, and it is a good feeling. I did order quite a few pastries, and the bill was very decent in price. I've gone to others in the vicinity, and I can say that their prices are not even close and higher. So, if you want a Mexican pastry that is not only good, but very inexpensive, you have to try their shop. I also did purchase a banana and pineapple cake for a co-worker's birthday. Now although it was good, I didn't like the way the worker decorated it. She assumed because it was for a female, that pink would be good, and that sprinkle's also were to be added. Alas, when I did get to work, I was surprised that it was more for a child. I should have checked it first, but I didn't, my mistake. But it was good regardless. I would definitely go back for more, as I hope more people will. Always try to help the local businesses before the big stores I say.

The bread is amazing, and the customer service is great…read more Definitely recommend it!!!!!