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    Sawada Coffee

    4.5 (1.2k reviews)
    ModerateCoffee & Tea
    Closed 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Order Sawada Coffee Takeout or Delivery

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    SAWADA COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Sawada Coffee

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    Araceli C.

    Im back for more coffee i order the black camo and military latte sooo good Great atmosphere Plenty of space to sit and enjoy the lattes See you soon again

    Diana H.

    A solid 4 star experience. Came to Chicago and wanted to try this coffee place. I tried the iced military coffee. Coffee was good, not too sweet. Service was good and the shop inside was connected to another restaurant.

    Hot latte

    Hot latte with almond milk, no sweeteners added but the latte foam had the slightest sweetness which was yummy Plenty of seating, long picnic tables shared with green city smoked meats Friendly service

    Inside
    Alexandra A.

    EXCELLENT quality matcha from here. The authentic kind that isn't drowning in sugar. Sawada Coffee is in the same building as green street meats and high five ramen, so the open seating is shared. They do have a few seats along the window but there is plenty of seating if those are full. Service was quick and I was surprised to see that it was fairly busy for a very cold Monday AM. My husband and I shared the military latte (decaf) and it was delicious. Everything a latte should be. I enjoyed how this latte is unique to most coffee shops. It was bold, creamy, and very good. Pricing is fair when compared to other small business cafes.

    Menu inside
    Leslye O.

    Friendly service, the vibes inside are great, lots of seating. As expected there was a line but worth the wait. I had a latte and one of their cookies and both were amazing. Can't wait to try more!

    Angelina I.

    There's always a line on weekends but it moves at a good pace and drink orders don't take long. The space is shared with green st smoked meats, a full bar, and a ramen shop downstairs. There is a good amount of seating inside and benches with tables outside in the alley shared with Trivoli Tavern.

    Military Latte
    Jenny C.

    Sawada is so well-known and highly reviewed so I was very excited to come try for myself! I do think Sawada is beautifully decorated and has such a great vibe. There is lots of seating and plenty of space for studying/wfh. Unfortunately, I was not as impressed with the drinks we got. I got the infamous military latte and hot latte Tokyo style. The military latte was good, but the combination of the matcha and espresso was just ok to me. The usually strong espresso/cocoa flavor gets lost and the matcha tastes watery? I can see why some people are fans, but it was not for me even though I usually love both espresso and matcha. The hot latte was ok, but regular sweetness was way too sweet. I wish I got 50% or less-- just a tip for those who aren't into super sweet coffee. Great crema and body though. I think Sawada is good for the "tourist" experience, but there is better coffee in the city.

    Milo
    Tray

    The Military latte was my first time trying hot matcha and honestly, it wasn't for me. The Black Camo was better and tasted more like a milk tea. Overall, it was kind of a letdown considering how hyped this spot is for coffee and matcha. The vibes are cool though, and I might come back to try other drinks.

    Daniel L.

    Awesome coffee shop that is in the same spot as a barbecue shop that I have been to that sell Mom barbecue. Got the military latte here and this is a flavor bomb. It is coffee, Matcha, vanilla, and cocoa all mixed into one. The matcha part of the drink is nice and earthy and overall the drink is not sweet at all. Drinks are on the price side. Recommend a spot and will come back.

    Matcha Latte
    Mai D.

    Sawada has some quality, potent matcha and its shared restaurant, Green Street Smoked Meats, has equally as delicious, well-seasoned elote! It's honestly ideal for when you want to put yourself in a food coma then jolt yourself awake to eat some more. There was a 15-minute wait to order and get your drinks on a Saturday afternoon, but the baristas are doing the best they can while maintaining quality. The vibes are friendly and communal. The long tables are great for big groups, but you might have some trouble finding seats on weekends. Just don't come here to study like I did - there are cafes across the street for that!

    Jemyra I.

    I love coffee and I am always trying to check out new coffee shops. I cannot believe I have probably passed Sawada Coffee a million times without realizing it was there, especially since it is connected to a BBQ spot I have been to a few times. Once I was finally introduced to it, I have already been back twice. Everything I have had has been so good, super flavorful and well balanced. On my last visit I tried one of their specialty coffees and it was phenomenal. Definitely a new favorite and a must try if you are a coffee lover. Service is cool! It's small but it's a shared space so plenty of spots to sit.

    Drinks
    Megan K.

    When it's 5 degrees outside and there is a line leading outside...you KNOW it is a good coffee spot. I met up here the other day with one of my coworkers and it was amazing. Very clean inside, lots of seating, but also totally packed because they have delish coffee and blueberry muffins. I snagged us some seats and then we did mobile order pickup because it just seemed like that would be smarter instead of standing in the line, and it was a pretty good idea. I got an iced white mocha peppermint latte and it was delish. Def will be back to try more of their coffee and food!

    Military Matcha Latte
    Generous Y.

    Saw Sawada on Yelp's top matcha list some time ago and made sure I visited before work. A mix of user skill issues (ordering the military matcha latte) alongside my expectations being high made me disappointed. Typically when a shop has coffee in the name, it's probably expected their matcha isn't a highlight but purely based on perception, I think their other matchas would be tasty and authentic. Military Matcha Latte - after reading through the hype, I was pretty disappointed. The drink's camo appearance looked promising but in reality it was just an espresso with a skin (like that of a game, a bit pay to win). There weren't any earthy undertones present and the matcha may as well not have been there.

    Vibe

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    Sawada Coffee Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Sawada Coffee

    Is there outdoor seating?

    Yes, it’s on the side of the building. Appears to be shared with the other businesses there.

    Do they take Apple Pay?

    Yep.

    Can't tell on website, do they sell their roasted beans here?

    Does Swada offer free wifi to customers? Also is there indoor seating available?

    Yes they offer free wifi. Seating is very limited.

    Is there a place to eat inside sawada? The space I see pictured is what I know to be green street meats. Is that the space the coffee shop uses when it's not GSM open hours?

    Yes you can sit at the benches inside to eat/drink items from sawada. The space is shared between sawada and green street meats. You can also sit at the benches in the alleyway.

    Is Sawada really open in this time ? I went the other say and it was closed.

    Sawada is currently open.

    How is the noise level? Is it easy to carry a conversation in a group? Am I likely to find space for 6 people at 1pm on a Sunday?

    It's a large space, so unless the place is packed you should have no trouble holding conversation or seating for a group.

    Do they have non-dairy milks available for the lattes?

    Of course! Almond milk, macadamia milk, and soy.

    Where is it? There is a lot of construction and I couldn't find the shop.

    Look for the tiny door with all the grafitti

    View All 10 Questions

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    Caffe Umbria was exactly what I needed that morning. It was cold, wet and I wanted something hot,…read moresimple as that. Small and cozy spot. The kind of place where you slow down without trying. The staff was genuinely nice too. Asked how my day was and even recommended couple of pastries. I ordered a hot chocolate with an almond blueberry financier. The hot chocolate was honestly perfect. Rich but not heavy. You get that dark chocolate hit first, then it smooths out. Creamy. Warm in the right way. The financier was great. Nutty from the almonds, little bursts of blueberry, soft but not mushy. I dipped it into the hot chocolate (had to), and yeah... even better. No regrets there. It's a small place, but if you get there early, you might grab a seat with a really nice city view. Worth it. I'll definitely be back. Especially now that I know there's a solid hot chocolate spot right nearby.

    Sawada Coffee - coffee - Updated May 2026

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