Innovative menu and friendly staff. I came in at 9 AM on a Thursday, and, while there wasn't a wait, a line of people were ready and eager to enter. Highly recommend I got the royale, which was a bit too bready. The filling didn't completely fill out the burger, so I left some of the bun out. The pickles were delicious, and I'm not usually a fan of pickles. They're not that sharp for those that really chase acid. read more

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Review by :Avila.Eats on TikTok, insta, YouTube Service: staff is friendly and attentive. All that worked there were so kind and made sure all questions had answers. Made for a pleasant breakfast. Ambiance/Atmosphere: inside is a nice cafe diner mix but very loud. Tables aren't overly cramped and would be a great spot for family or friends breakfast. Food: Turkey sandwich was alright. Not enough turkey but the avacado was fresh and mixed well with the mayo. The bread was nicely toasted but could have been taken off the griddle a little sooner. Fresh ingredients but a little bland. I wouldn't recommend doing out of your way for it. Breakfast burrito was delicious. Cheesey and perfectly cooked eggs wrapped in A nicely toasted tortilla. The potatoes inside didn't really add anything to the burrito. The house made verde sauce was phenomenal. Perfectly flavored and balanced. The house made hot sauce was really good being sweet with a very subtle kick. I'd highly recommend. Breakfast potatoes were amazing. Phenomenal seasoning coated their crispy exterior and their interior was soft like a mash potato. These were amazing and if they put these directly into the burrito could see it being one of the best around. I'd insist on ordering a side. Buttermilk pancakes were good. Nice flavor, fluffy, buttery. Better than your average pancake but nothing out of this world. I'd recommend if you enjoy butter milk pancakes. Carrot cake was incredible. This is truly the best I've ever had to date. Perfectly seasoned crumb with an amazing frosting. The raspberry jam element was genius. I'd come back to Chicago for this anytime. I'd insist on trying this. read more

We had a pretty amazing anniversary dinner at Lula a few nights ago. The food, phenomenal. The presentation, the atmosphere, unbelievable. We started with a few appetizers. The very first one that came out was delivered by an individual that was dressed more appropriately for noodling than serving food. We weren't 100% sure where the strong onion smell was coming from, either the dish that was being served or the opened armpits from the very baggy cut-off T-shirt that was presenting us our food. The entrees were once again delicious. The cod, phenomenal. The atmosphere, the music. Unfortunately, the staff are allowed to wear whatever they want, and this individual decided to go with possibly moccasins, cut-off shorts, and a very open sleeveless shirt. Only downside to the meal was the staff. Not our waitress. She was amazing. read more

My friend hosted her birthday and Lula Cafe and it was a cute spot! Plenty of seating indoors and outdoors. The staff were great with checking on us but they refilled our water A LOT - Which I'm thankful for but it would sort of interrupt our conversation and it was every 5 or so minutes. We were comped a strawberry snack when our entree orders were delayed. The food otherwise came out quickly and everything was tasty and plated nicely. We all had wine but there seemed to be some cool cocktails listed. Good spot for a date or dinner with a small group. Volume was just fine inside the cafe. read more

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The food was really good and they have a cute little outdoor area. However, the server I had wasn't nice or friendly. I said hi with a smile when she approached the table and she didn't say anything and poured water and walked away. She came back a minute later and asked if i was ready to order with zero friendliness, hospitality, or even a crack of a smile. Honestly, not to pull this card but i work in the service industry too and i could never imagine being so monotone and robotic to guests. I was happy they have the auto grat on but i don't think it's fair for guests to possibly have the experience that server was providing and be forced to pay that. with that said, i do plan on returning because there were other staff members that were very nice and friendly to me during my visit. I didn't say anything or act disappointed while i was there because i know that the service industry can be taxing at times and maybe she was having a bad day but that also isn't fair to me as a guest. The person that closed my tab out for me was so incredibly nice and honestly one of the reasons i will be coming back to try other things on their menu. read more

Lula Cafe - Royale & seasonal latte - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Finally got to try Lula Cafe, and it has so many options, especially great for vegetarians. I loved how much variety there was and how distinct the flavors were from one dish to the next. The savory options were just as good as the sweet ones, and the portion sizes were pretty generous too. Definitely a spot worth visiting again. read more

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The vibe was warm and friendly, wait staff was attentive and easy going. The overall vibe was nice for a quick bite. While the food isn't exactly my cup of tea--the flavors are there. My girl ordered the pasta dish the beat dish and the cabbage soup. read more

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Simply superb. Everything we ate was fresh and very intentionally crafted, like a symphony of flavors in each bite. The star of the show was the Berry French toast - no exaggeration, it's the best french toast my friend and I have ever had! The seasonal stone fruit windmill danish was also divine and paired well with the rich coffee. We also ordered the smothered cajun biscuits, which was delicious but I've had better biscuits combos elsewhere. The place was bustling during summer weekday brunch, but we were seated immediately. Super friendly service as well. Overall, Lula is a treat! Definitely in my rotation of favorite places in the city for brunch read more

Fantastic meal, 10/10 would return. Stopped in for a birthday dinner and the birthday girl got a special menu printed with some fun stamps, which was a nice fun touch. Service was great and the vibes were fun both indoor and outdoor. I really liked the chickpea frites and Cesar salad, both were amazing to start with. Of the spaghetti and pasta yiayia i preferred the yiayia but friends preferred the spaghetti. The yiayia is slightly sweet and has cinnamon so it is a bit "odd" but i really liked it. The spaghetti was just a bit salty for me. But the half portions were perfect to be able to try both. The chicken was so well cooked. The dessert was also unique. Overall the food is amazing and I'd definitely return. I'd continue to take advantage of the half portions to try as many things as possible. read more

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I would say that the breakfast burrito is probably one of, if not the best in the city. It's just a well-made burrito with the perfect portions and amounts of everything you would want in one. The next best thing I tried were the buttermilk pancakes. Most of these recipes are available in their cookbook. It's been a while since I've had their lunch/dinner service, but breakfast/brunch is their standout I'm told. Get ready to pay big city prices though. This place is not cheap. Pro-tip: to avoid hour long waits, come on a weekday. It gets crazy on the weekends and that is not an understatement. read more

Lula Cafe - Buttermilk Pancakes - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The food was spectacular and amazing!! Everyone was so sweet and welcoming! Petra the host is incredibly nice too, and our server Luke was incredible as well! We are from Boston and next time we come to Chicago we will DEFINITELY come back! -Visiting from Boston read more

Have been wanting to try Lula forever now and finally made it out for a Saturday morning breakfast. Every item was SO good! We got the potato tart, lemon poppyseed French toast, and the asparagus orchiette. The tart and French toast were perfect, flavors were well balanced between tart and sweet. The orecchiette was also great, but lacked a bit of spice for me to balance out the creaminess. It was definitely busy but we were able to be seated right away at opening. Overall fantastic and would be back! Food: 4.5/5 Service: 4.5/5 Ambience: 4/5 Price: 4.5/5 read more

Lula Cafe - Potato Nduja Tart - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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What a cute neighborhood cafe! My friend and I could not decide what to order as everything looked delicious. We ended up sharing the following and enjoyed all of them: * Rhubarb cornmeal scone with bay leaf tarragon honey butter * Potato 'nduja tart with Cheddar, caramelized onion, and honey * Smoked trout scramble with arugula, dill, cream cheese, house potatoes, and toast * Charred scallion biscuits with nettle gravy * Hibiscus labneh frozen yogurt Even though our stomaches were full, we were still eyeing other customers' dishes. One of these days, we will return and try the entire menu! read more

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We were finally in the area and decided to see if we could snag a table without a reservation. Fortunately there was one available outside, but it was a cold and windy day - which took away a bit of the experience, but the food was still good. We tried the: - Cardamom Bun - Charred Scallion Biscuits - Pasta Yiayia - Classic Lula Breakfast Burrito Everything was excellent, big fan of the bun. Honestly the best I've tried in the city. The Pasta Yiayia was great as well, but would only recommend if you really wanted a pasta. If it's cold out maybe wait to get a reservation inside as the food will get cold pretty quick. read more

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Had the best breakfast burrito of my life. Saw this place on tiktok but safe to say this spot is worth the hype! Would recommend coming a little early since it's pretty popular around brunch time. I ordered the breakfast burrito, definitely recommend this 100%. My friends ordered various sandwiches but they also had a grand time. All of us had a very crispy bread situation in our dishes, very wonderful. Ambiance is very homey and aesthetic. Definitely want to come back when I'm in the area. read more

Lula Cafe - Classic Lula Breakfast Burrito - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I recently visited Lula Cafe for brunch with a friend, and overall it was a pleasant experience. To start, Lula operates on a no reservation policy so you need to arrive early to snag a spot. We showed up at 10:00 a.m. and were told there'd be a 40 minute wait. To pass the time we wandered over to Chiquelatte Chicago - a lovely coffee shop nearby. Unfortunately, we were yapping too much and missed the text notification that our table was ready. Fortunately, when we arrived 30min late, the friendly staff was accommodating and managed to seat promptly. The atmosphere at the Lula is delightful, filled with a lively buzz that enhances the brunch experience. Our waiter was incredibly attentive ensuring that we had a drinks and answering any questions. I ordered the "Royale" Breakfast Sandwich. While the components of the dish complemented each other well, I found the overall flavor to be a bit Bland and the baked egg itself didn't quite appeal to my taste. If there's a next time I'll definitely explore other menu options. read more

Lula Cafe - The "Royale" Lula Breakfast Sandwich - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We came here for a birthday dinner and they had printed out a custom menu for my friend with her name on it! The night time ambiance is dark and romantic inside the restaurant. The food was fresh and carefully made. I ordered the sun gold tomato rigatoni pasta, which was a pretty standard and classic pasta dish. I liked the pasta yiayia dish which had a hint of sweetness but was unique in flavor. The menu had a lot of interesting choices but nothing that surprised or inspired me. read more

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Food was pretty good. They must've ran out of the buns because the breakfast sandwich was on a sesame burger bun. It was super dry but overall the food was super good! read more

Lula Cafe - Biscuits and Gravy - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Others may like the cooking at this well regarded restaurant but the taste of food and presentation are on the bland side for me. Noice level indoor can be high because it is a popular place. Fortunately there is plenty of outdoor seating available. read more

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The yia yia pasta made with feta and cinnamon was unlike anything I've had before and was so incredibly delicious, unique and savory but the hints of cinnamon brought a complexity to the dish I'd never expected. The house kombucha was excellent too. Our party went on a Thursday afternoon and didn't have to wait for a table. It was great! Love the space, food came quickly, and the staff was super nice. read more

Lula Cafe - Pasta Yiayia - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Only needed a 10 minute wait for a Friday brunch. The ambiance is very lively and great for a friend group - though the music is too loud in my opinion. I was in a smaller table and it was frankly not very comfortable for a full meal.. The potato tart was a highlight! I also had the trout omelette and found it amazing, maybe just a little too salty. I would come back to try other pastries and the French toast if it's still there. read more

Lula Cafe - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Vegan and Non-Vegan Diners! You must go to Lula Cafe and order the Chickpea and Fennel Tagine! It will blow you away with its earthiness, aroma and depth of flavor. I can't wait to try it again! Scrumptious!!!!! !! read more

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We absolutely LOVED having Lula cater our wedding! We had a family style dinner and everyone was raving about it. So many of our guests said it was the best food they have ever had at a wedding, and we (although biased) agree! The tasting was fabulous and the food turned out even better than we remembered. The staff was kind, helpful, even brought out more short rib for the tables that gobbled it up fast, and our guests with dietary restrictions were able to eat as well. We're so excited to come to Lula again as a married couple, and reminisce about our big day. read more

Great breakfast with vegan-friendly options! Sadly, I didn't find the food to live up to the hype (especially for the price), but overall, I still had a great time. Just make sure you go early on Sunday. Our hour-long queue had us shaking with hunger by the time we got food. To top it all off, the restaurant was crowded with people waiting for a seat while we were trying to eat. - AD read more

Lula Cafe - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Brunch at Lula Cafe was stellar. Be warned: the place is popular (and rightfully so), so there's likely going to be a wait. They opened at 9, and when we arrived at 9:20 there was already a half hour wait. Luckily, we could grab seats at the bar (note: there is an expected process to getting bar seats-- check with the people who have been waiting before you, don't just pounce. I heard locals and regulars complaining about new patrons who didn't follow this etiquette and were making the experience harder for everyone!). The brunch menu consists of some excellent staples and innovative specials: we went for their french omelet, their white corn polenta with melted leeks (amazing), and their special French toast with anise-buckwheat streusel, grapefruit, whipped mascarpone. All of it was so good, so flavorful, so original, and served with friendliness and expertise. It was a perfect winter morning sipping lattes and eating comforting food (definitely worth the wait!). I look forward to going back for dinner service. read more

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This place was fantastic! Everything including service was Great! We stoped in by chance but I'm glad we did.

Swung by Lula on my way out of town. Dinner for one at the bar was such a great choice. I sampled the happy hour menu, which is smaller portions of some of the popular dishes and it was a great way to try all the hits. The vibe was nice but still easy and laid back, service was friendly and the food was truly delicious. Creative menu with fresh options, next time I'm in Chicago it'll be a go to. Highly recommended! read more

I've being coming here for the past 10 years for American brunch, and it never disappoints! Even classic staples that have stayed on the menu for years never get old, including the breakfast burrito, any French toast, the special pasties, pancakes. You can't miss with this place! And exceptional service read more

Lula Cafe - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I used to frequent Lula Cafe when I lived in the area over 10 years ago, I'm glad they have survived and expanded. However, I did not care for the service on a brunch visit on March 16, 2026. Our server was indifferent and cold. So was the support staff. We asked a few questions about the food and what pastries to order and received snarky responses. The food itself was very good. I can't help but question if the decline in service is because the tip is included in the price? I recall wait staff being much more attentive and not so obviously uninterested in serving tables prior to the change in billing. It is unfortunately something to consider. I support paying a fair wage. I don't support inferior service with an attitude read more

This place is good. It has a James Beard Award for hospitality, totally makes sense. When you walk in you are greeted by a warm smile and lots of people smiling. It was weird but nice. We got a reservation for brunch on a Saturday morning. It wasn't hard to get one. I got the breakfast burrito which was good. Although it was less burrito more wrap. It definitely needed more burrito flare like a pico or bean to egg ratio. It was good. I also got a latte which was tasty. We also got a bunch of pastries - highly recommend. This place is good. It isn't as hard to get into as people say (even for night reservations. It is kid friendly, and there were a lot of kids there. read more

Lula Cafe - Latte - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I ordered takeout from Lula Cafe an hour earlier and picked it up on time. I touched my burrito, and it already felt lukewarm so I think they prepared it way ahead of time and just let it sit for a while until I picked it up. I had to continue heading to the airport though so it was another hour or so until I finally ate my food. Classic Lula breakfast burrito: 3.75/5. I really liked the soft scrambled eggs with the cheese (apparently there are 17 eggs???). Since my burrito was trapped in aluminum foil for so long, it was really soggy sadly (not their fault). With the avocado, tomato, potato, cheddar, and soft scrambled eggs, everything eventually felt too heavy/filling with a pure creamy texture that got sickening. You definitely will need some hot sauce and salsa to change up the flavor. I wish the hot sauce was more spicy, but this one felt more sour/vinegary. Splitting this into 2 meals was perfect for me! For a whopping $19, I am not sure if I would order this again. read more

Excellence at every point is our experience. Superb food, pairing, and table service. A wonderful bistro vibe under the backdrop of an ever changing selection of art. Highly recommended. read more

I love going here. The food quality is amazing and the service is exceptional. Support a local restaurant like this one!

I just wrote a long glowing review in Trip Advisor. This is the place to take people from out-of-town. We have! Sophisticated dining that is low-key hipster. Fresh, local ingredients. Delightful. Shout out to Casper our meal guide for this evening. read more

Phenomenal. The food is quite good. The staff are kind. The vibe inside is cute. You must go for brunch, though the wait is brutal and they don't take reservations. The burrito is perfect. Crispy but soft and melts inside. Everything I've tried there is good, but the scallion biscuits with egg were actually perfect. The textures and flavors are thoughtful and very intuitive. It's so yummy and I'm impressed. read more

"THEY ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE!" I went to Lula with some work friends and I almost wish I hadn't so I wouldn't have had to split all this food 5 ways Every single thing I tasted was phenomenal so here are the must-have's: - Kabocha Squash Soup (best soup I've ever tasted) - Baked French Feta - Chicken Liver Mousse - Pasta 'Yiayia' - Pecorino Cake (trust me it works lol) We had at least 3 more things and they were all tasty, so you're in good hands when you dine here. It was a great atmosphere and the service was great! read more

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Worth the hype and the wait! We went there on a Monday for brunch, and still had to wait for about an 1 hour and 10 minutes. Incredible food and even better drinks! Everything we ordered was flavorful, fresh, and cooked perfectly. The cocktails were delicious and so well crafted. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Came here on a weekday with my mom and some friends and we were seated promptly. We ordered the farro verde, French omelet, buttermilk pancakes and tofu and vegetable scramble. I loved the French omelet plate - the eggs were perfectly made and the stracciatella enhanced the silky and creaminess of the dish. The petite green salad was a nice side component to the plate. The buttermilk pancakes were shared by all four of us and were perfect texture-wise with a touch of sweetness. Our waitress highly recommended the farro verde dish and exclaimed how it was her current favorite item on the menu - two individuals in my party decided to go for it and unfortunately, the person who cooked this entree was too heavy-handed with the salt because both my mom and friend (who also ordered the same dish) exclaimed how overly salty it was. I tried a bite and while the dish was flavorful, also agreed that the saltiness of the dish overpowered the other flavors that set this dish apart from other options on the menu. Overall, good service and ambiance and aside from the farro verde entree, we highly enjoyed everything else. read more

Lula Cafe - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We finally got to check this place out for brunch after being on our list for so long. We put our name down for our group and were told it would be over a 1.5 hour wait. Waiting for 1.5 hours just to eat sets up high expectations, but I'm glad to say that Lula met them. We were quickly seated in the back once we were notified our party was ready to be seated and we promptly were able attended to and looked over the menu. Although small, the menu had a lot of vegetarian-friendly options which is always a plus in my book. Plus the beverages and dessert options were also nice to have. Our party ordered the breakfast burritos, tofu & veggie scramble, tineka sandwich, peanut noodles, and the pasta yiayia. Safe to say everyone enjoyed their meal and their respective lattes and pastries. Our service was great and the lively atmosphere made for a great experience. Now we need to come back and check out the dinner here. read more

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Lovely spot worth the hype. Theres lots of stuff to explore nearby if u have to wait. I adored my french omelette and the toast is incredible. read more

Lula Cafe - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois