If you haven't been to Pticek & Son Bakery, I'm going to assume you've been spending your life making 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. read more

Got some doughnuts here and they were super fresh and amazing. The coconut frosting on one of them was a buttercream and was epic. Wish they were closer to my house so I could then weigh 300lbs. read more

Quite possibly the best kolache - cheese, all berries, pineapple, cherry , poppy, all the best!! Great holiday design cakes. Buche de Noel great. Bread also great! read more

Great bakery. We stopped by after a local race in the area. Friendly staff and reasonable priced. Purchased Almond Cookies with slight powder sugar and coffee cake/strudel cake like with vanilla and apple fillings. Cookies were great. Unlike any other cookie. The flour was unlike any other cookie I've had. Very light and tasty. The strudel was delicious. Fresh apples and the overall taste was not overly sweet. Very fresh. Definitely recommend. read more

Pticek's & Son Bakery - Strudel: vanilla filing and apples. - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The service is great and very accommodating and the overall bakery products are DELICIOUS

First time visiting Pticek's was today and it was absolutely delicious!! As a Bohemian, I thoroughly enjoyed the poppyseed danish I had! I grew up on delicious Czech pastries, and this bakery delivers on tasty treats! Will be back when I'm back in Chicago! read more

The BEST coffee cakes around! Always fresh and such friendly service. It is right next to John's Furniture (which brought us to that area initially- another GREAT establishment with very friendly service, lots of furniture options, and fair prices!!), and parking was easy. It can get crowded on the weekends, but worth the wait!! read more

One of my all-time favorite bakeries to frequent! The staff is incredibly friendly and old school in their customer service approach. I have yet to try anything there I disliked. My favorites are the rainbow cake, pecan candies, strawberry bismarks and these weird, sticky/crispy fried wheels with nuts. read more

Pticeks makes the best pound cake! All of their cakes, pies and cookies are delicious. The staff is always super friendly and welcoming when you come through the door. All of my Easter cakes and breads were fantastic! read more

Best bakery in the area. My go to place. Old school and still backing like when I was a kid.

Best. Kolacky. Around. You won't be sorry. Puts the others to shame. Our Babi loved them

This is a charming little storefront bakery filled with Polish sweets. We've had some of their doughnuts in the past and they are delish. They also specialize in birthday cakes and the like, customized to your needs. Good kolachke too. During Fat Tuesday celebrations they have Paczki, but once past Tuesday you must order ahead. Either they don't sell enough or they just don't have the room but order ahead to not be disappointed. We haven't tried their Paczki yet, but will order ahead and revisit. Small store, not as big a selection as some, old fashioned bakery that can make anything you order ahead. Since they open at 4:30 am, go early because they will run out of some offerings. Closed Sunday and Monday. Give this place a try. read more

Everything I have tried there is delicious. Their cakes are so light and amazing. Always treated pleasantly and very accommodating. This place is extremely clean and cheerful. Can't say enough good things about it read more

I just ordered a cake, a layer of chocolate and a layer of yellow with fresh strawberries and whipped cream and it was excellent. Great job. Hall recommend their whip cream cakes. read more

They are the best Bakery in the neighborhood! They are so Amazing the lady that took care of us even remembered my daughter when we came to pick up her cake , made her so happy ! They are the best ! Great cakes and pocket cheesecakes! You have to get there early though to get the goodies because they will be gone read more

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I walked in that place yesterday and I was so happy glad to see the ladies faces everything back on track

Awesome bakery! Wish I lived closer. Always get extra when I'm am there. The rye bread is awesome.

This is my favorite bakery in Chicago! My dad had gone there for years and we fell in love with all their pastries but specifically their cheese pockets and chocolate chip coffee. They are the best! The entire staff is wonderful. I have since moved to CA and I always have to bring back my favorite pastries. Can't say enough good things about this bakery and it's staff. read more

Pticek's & Son Bakery - Chocolate Chip coffee cake. - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Best cakes I've ever had and the kolaches are delicious there also. You can't go wrong there with anything you buy. I have been going there since I was in high school. read more

Was in Chicago, from New Buffalo, MI seeing a client who offered a slice of Pticek cherry coffee cake (my fave) and a slice of the cheese coffee cake. With one bite of their cheese my knees buckled! NEVER tasted anything like it! I'll be back in Chicago next week and head to Pticek's! read more

I was told by Weber's Bakery repeatedly, because I called several times, if you come in Tuesday you will have your cake by Saturday. I didn't go on the weekend because it was Father's Day weekend and extremely crowded. When I called Tuesday they said all their spots were filled and they couldn't accommodate me. I went down the street to Pticeks and they made the most beautiful cake for my grandson. Thank you so much for saving the day! read more

Pticek's & Son Bakery - a hand holding a birthday cake - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I grew up with Eastern European people. They specialize in this in some of their bakery .The best kolacky in the city , a coffee cake called a potica made with walnuts and honey is great with a cup of coffee .Their bacon/onion buns are also the best in the city .The banana cream pie - you can't stop at one slice . You won't be disappointed. read more

The best party cakes ever! I love the pink white and green cake with real whipped cream!! They can make any cake in any shape and dimension, Just bring a picture. A year ago we had an Elvis birthday party. They made a cake in three dimensions of a Pink Cadillac that had an open drivers seat for an Elvis doll. They also did a great ducky cake for us one year. I am a huge fan, but be advised that because of the nature of the specialty cakes, you may want to have another person with you or extra boxes so that you can transport the cake safely. read more

Picked up a cheese pocket for a friend who loves this bakery. Only problem was the girl told me they didn't make just plain cheese ones any more only fruit. But friendly service &yummy baked goods read more

August 2021, Im sorry but I had the worst experience with my daughters cake this time around. It was the Big 15 and we placed an order for 2 cakes and 24 cupcakes that where suppose to be purple and gold, Well they where pink and yellow. the cupcakes ended up in the garbage because they tasted bad. I spent a good past 6 years ordering my cakes from here, but this last time, i mean the last time, Was the horror of orders. I cannot upload the pictures of the cakes or cupcakes on here, otherwise i would. read more

Ruined my daughters 21st birthday, I went to several bakeries but my daughter was dead set on their rainbow cake, we went in this past Wednesday 02/08/2023 showed them pictures of the cake we wanted, heart shaped, teal and pink, piping along the side, strawberry filling, they said they could do it BUT if we got the strawberry filling it would compromise the the structure of the cake, so we agreed to no fruit filling just to make sure the cake would be a perfect heart shape, they said they could do it no problem GREAT! Right.... As requested we emailed images of the pictures of the cake with colors and piping inspiration..... I show up today 02/11/2023 to pick up the cake and was handed a cake that looks like a lopsided something, not a heart shape but something, after explaining that this is what they were able to achieve I could either take it or leave it, I explained that I ordered a cake from them with the expectation that they could deliver on the product I requested just like they said, well I had to walk out with this blob of a cake because it's Saturday and I can't just place an order anywhere else at last minute and all they could say was sorry take it or leave it, I asked if there was any way for them to please just refrost it at least or try to reshape it and they said no, all the bakers were long gone, I walked out in tears and my daughter was so upset and crying she refused to show up to her birthday dinner which by the way required me to book our reservations for 13 people with A CREDIT CARD.... I had to beg another bakery to plse try to salvage the cake, the cake decorator that worked on the cake from another bakery said that under all the frosting they covered the blob with was nothing that resembled a heart.... Don't waste your time going here, clearly they can't deliver on the things they promise, here is the before and after for reference read more

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Awesome little bakery. Reminds me of the bakeries my polish grandma would take me to. Everything in here is great, especially the cheesecakes. Workers are super sweet and always kind. I love that they keep the old tradition with the cute uniforms they wear. Definitely brings back memories from the bakeries in the older days. read more

Great Czech old world baked goods just like my grandmother used to bake by hand when I was a child. Always fresh and delectable.

They have the best cake texture & flavor around, as well as fantastic butter cookies! If the frosting decorating were improved on they would be king with 5 stars! They have awesome pastries! read more

Very good Bakery with a varied assortment of cakes, cookies, bread. Had a special order made for me. Was traveling to Las Vegas and ordered an Apple Strudel. Staff wrapped it perfectly so that we could put it in our suitcase. Arrived with it in perfect condition and it was delicious. Thank you so much Pticek's read more

Best cakes , cupcakes , cookies etc...... deliciousness!! I get all my families birthday cakes here . Baby shower cakes everything... more then 10 cakes a year. read more

Wonderful service employees are so nice and the quality of the food is really good but the prices are really good for the quality

We have been fans of Atomic cake for over 30 years. So of course we ordered one for my mom's 70th birthday. We usually go to Busy Bee because it's closer. Due to illness they were closed. Pticek's came up in a search. Reviews were great. Our cake wasn't. I spent $52 on a 1/4 sheet cake where 2/3 of it went to the trash. Both the yellow and chocolate cake were dry and crumbly. The cake didn't seem fresh. The banana layer was delicious. It's unfortunate because I drove an hour and a half from St Charles to purchase the cake. I will say that my first experience with Pticek's Bakery will be my only. Request fresh cake if you order a cake from them. The staff was great. read more

Pticek's makes the best real whip cream cakes ever!! All those garbage cakes you see on t.v. are made out of rice crispy treats and fondant. Pticek's makes delicious cakes that are 100% cake. My family has had many specialty cakes made and they never disappoint on taste or creativity. If your looking to have a cake made you can flip through their picture book for some ideas or bring in a picture of what you want. **they do accept credit cards now. read more

Pticek's & Son Bakery - Best real whip cream cakes ever!!! - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Honest review: used to always come here for paczki, but they dont taste the same anymore if anyone knows where good paczki is let me know. The other pastries are ok nothing that separates it from any other bakery. The cheese paczki was the best one ordered one of everything was the only one i liked read more

Pticek's & Son Bakery - Front - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Delicious pastries and such sweet people working inside. Love the cakes, kolaczki, and paczkis!

Hooked on their rainbow dough! Absolutely in love with this bakery! My Mother-in-Law uses them for most of our special occasions, and from the first spoonful of rainbow cake with whipped cream frosting I have been in love.. They're getting really creative with shapes and types of cakes you can get - for my bridal shower, they made a teapot that not only looked amazing but had the entire party raving about how delicious it was! read more

Pticek's & Son Bakery - Our cake for our Tea Party Bridal Shower - absolutely delicious and adorable! - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I ordered a cake from this bakery for my son's christening. As they are closed on Sunday I picked up the cake Saturday morning at 10 am. Upon picking up the cake my son became seriously ill and we ended up in the emergency room for four days. I called every venue that I had booked for the christening to express what was going on and apologize for any inconvenience caused including the bakery. Upon getting home and organized again I brought the unopened cake that was sitting in my fridge back to the bakery and explain further what had happened. Maybe what I asked was unfair but in my eyes an act of force majeure is always forgivable, and after spending 50 dollars on a cake that will not be used it was my greatest hope they would be willing to make the cake on another day. I had expressed I was willing to take a plain sheet cake minimally decorated to no avail. They wanted me to spend an additional 30 dollars to order the cake again... So a 1/4 cake would end up costing me close to 100 dollars.... To say I am disappointed is an understatement. Had I waited and not picked the cake it would have been donated to the church. After speaking to the ladies there they basically told me I had paid and that was good enough for them.... force majeure read more

Old school sweets And the cheese cake :) birthday cakes Coffee cakes Everything I have had is #outstanding Walnut cake is #extraordinaire I stop 3 or 4 times a week. When I'm in the #oldneighborhood . But closed sun and monday Get your sweet tooth fix read more

Pticek's & Son Bakery - Pineapple cheese Snak for later - Bakeries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been a loyal Weber's Bakery customer for some time. I always place orders at Webers for holidays and my son's birthday. This year I decided to order at Pticek's and I'm so glad that I did. Price wise it's about the same as Webers but the cakes are yummier. The whipped cream is out of this world delish. My sons love their butter cream cupcakes. They did and amazing Jon with my sons birthday cakes. They put a lot of love into their bakery. I love their atomic cake. Usually when I get cakes with fruit fillings from other bakeries it's a little hard to cut without having the fresh fruit filling fall out. At pticek I don't know how they do it but when I slice their atomic cake all the fruits stay beautifully in the cake. However I had a not so pleasant experience last week. I placed an order ahead for Thanksgiving. An atomic cake some cupcakes and a cheesecake and some Kolaky cookies. Everything was delicious but what left in a sour taste in my mouth was the poor costumer service. The women that work their are such sweethearts I've never had a complaint until now. I was attended by an older Latina with a black and grey shirt hair and glasses. She was very rude she yelled bottom line she gave poor costumer service. There is another Latina with black ponytail and glasses she's a sweetheart she always takes great care of costumes unlike her older coworker with the bad attitude. read more

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