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Grabbed an iced strawberry matcha with macadamia milk from Side Practice and it was strawberry forward and subtly sweet. The strawberry pandan creme paired perfectly with the matcha and the drink was overall lovely.
My salted ube cold brew was so yummy! A lil savory a lil sweet, great combo. Would definitely return to try their other drinkie options. Good vibes, cute coffeeshop. Cute place to work or vibe.
Came here spontaneously while visiting another restaurant in the area and I only came in to use the bathroom but as soon as I walked in, the vibe was so chill ans inviting! Not like other cafes when you walk in and feel so unwelcome by the clientele. The energy in here was so chill and inviting! I wish it could have stayed a bit longer. I walked up and ordered their Ube Latte Hot with Oat Milk. It was so pretty when they gave it to me and had a very nice but not overpowering ube taste. I asked for a lid and they kindly directed me to where the lids were, however I left my latte at the counter to use the bathroom and they put a lid on for me! That was ao sweet of them! Overall such a cool place! If I wish i could have stayed! It was such an inviting place and I cant wait to come back and just chill. I would recommend this place!
I love the unique coffee options that Side Practice offers. I've tried a few of their specialty lattes. I happened to be their during one of their breakfast pop-ups, so I was able to enjoy a sandwich on my first visit. I purposefully went there the second time to try them again when Morning Jay's was doing a breakfast pop-up, but this was a bit of a bumpy experience. They were having issues with the power, and the line got pretty backed up. The power issues/delay caused our food to come out cool. Their coffee drinks can get pretty pricey. I hadn't realized the price until I saw the charge later. $12 for the Island Latte! The Coco Mocho was lower-priced, but it came out lukewarm.
What a fun coffee shop! Love the decor, ambiance, and Filipino flavors! Ordering was a little confusing as I ordered something on the menu but they said the menu wasn't correct. I ended up getting an iced ube matcha latte. Ube was delicious, couldn't taste much of the matcha but I'm still glad I tried it! Has a couple of tables inside, convenient that there is a bus stop right outside, located in a very quaint neighborhood.
Cute coffee shop with great vibes - probably better for socializing than working. Tried the seasonal maple butter latte (with ginger butter?) and it was delicious, super buttery and velvet-y. Also tried the purple haze (cold brew with ube cold foam) which was just okay, as the cold foam wasn't flavorful enough and just diluted the drink. Would come back to try other fun drinks
Cold Manila matcha is the move! The only time I would make my way out here would be a detour before my hair appt. And my hair appt is in north park so it ain't really on the way from Logan square but I'm possessed to stop by. Free parking right in front of A town (my high school). Weekends are the worst just because it's so busy so the last time I was nearby for Kanin, I couldn't even get indoor of side practice because the line was outside and my 2 yr old patience is nonexistent. Pro tip: Go on weekdays
ASH & JESSE CHICAGO COFFEE CRAWL '25 Ranked #4 out of 15 Recommend to us by our friends at Our Mutual City coffee shop in Irving Park. We talked about this place for days before we tried it-- just super excited especially because one of our friends who joined us on the trip was Filipina. This day was full of places we were rushing to try and visit before our trip was over: Layla & Ringos, Blue Bottle, Kanin, Mr. Beef, Lincoln Zoo & Fullerton Beach. We made the decision to visit Mr.Beef before-- not knowing the line was going to be an hour wait but we made it to Side Practice just in time before they closed. An action we usually try to not do but we just had to try them out before we left Chicago. Regardless, the cashier and other staff were amazing with a smile on their face and very kind. We got their specials for the season & some other specials: Turon Matcha Latte, Turon Latte, Pandan Paradise, & Purple Haze. They blew it out the park. Some of the most unique lattes I have tried in awhile. Just amazing. Plus the inside is super cute. Can't wait to come back!
We had a quick visit but definitely excited to go back! We ordered an Ube latte with oat and a purple haze (cold brew with Ube and milk foam). They were both really good! My wife drank the Ube latte and it had great flavor. The purple haze has a stronger coffee flavor because of the cold brew and I love strong coffee so my wife wasn't as big of a fan but that's fine, more for me! The decor is really friendly and really calming. I wish we had time to stay! Also they have a great space to the right of the entrance for pop ups for smaller businesses too so that's so cool! Lastly, the service of the staff is really cool, everyone was helpful and chill. We'll be back!
Ambiance sold on this one. The interior is SO cool. Decor is so unique and cozy. A bit of a small shop but has a few tables for sitting in. Service is quick for stopping by and grabbing a drink to go. We got the Manila Matcha and the Pandan Paradise. Both drinks were on the pricier side with the Manila Matcha coming out to almost $10... A lot of drinks have a default option of macadamia nut milk, which I hadn't had before this, but the taste of the milk is a bit strong and almost overpowered the drinks. Both matchas were still yummy, and I would want to come back to try the rest of the menu.
Side Practice is a northside gem that is an ode to the bustling Chicago Filipino food and drink culture. Drinks are made to perfection with vibes that'll make you want to spend your entire winter afternoon posted up enjoying one of their signature lattes. They often have pop-ups in store featuring some of the most up and coming pastry and Filipino food vendors in the city. The success of Side Practice is no fluke as I believe the team behind this is also responsible for other Filipino establishments such as Novel Pizza in Pilsen and Kanin just next door.
I ordered a hot Manila Matcha latte from here. The service was great. Very friendly and it didn't take long for my order. They also gave me an Ube cookie. The place is small but was surprised to see it very packed. As for the coffee, I've given these matcha and ube drinks a try a few times and they're just not for me. They tasted ok but nothing special. I'll definitely be returning in the summer to try their iced version.
This is my favorite coffee shop. It's small, but they do it right. My favorite drink is the Ube Latte and I get it with macadamia nut milk. I've never had a latte made with macadamia nut milk anywhere else or knew it was even an option until I came here. It really makes such a difference. It's creamy and a bit thicker and pairs so well with the Ube. Service is always friendly and quick. Love the light filled space with plants with a side of edge. This is a must stop whenever I'm in Chicago.
Their seasonal specials are basically a lineup of everything I love, and they did such a great job putting these flavors together. Matcha + red bean - such a classic combo, yet somehow still not very common in cafés for some reason. Then black sesame + espresso? Nutty, rich, and surprisingly good. And the ube cream top foam over cold brew was honestly such a fun and delicious combination. Everything felt creative without being overdone. Definitely a seasonal menu made for people who love Asian-inspired flavors in coffee drinks. read more
The vibes here were so nice. I loved all the plants and the music they were playing, and there were plenty of people working inside. They also have free water, which is always a plus for a work-friendly cafe. Service was kind and they didn't rush us to order (8/10). The Manila Matcha (7/10) had a watery matcha flavor, but I loved the macadamia milk. The ube flavor was also really good and wasn't overly sweet. The Pandan Vanilla Latte (6.5/10) was surprisingly addictive. I wasn't a fan of the slight bitterness, but otherwise I liked the pandan and vanilla flavors. The Cardamom Bun (4/10) was basically like a cinnamon roll without the sticky filling. The bread was soft, but it just wasn't what I was craving. read more
6 months ago
1 year ago
Came here spontaneously while visiting another restaurant in the area and I only came in to use the bathroom but as soon as I walked in, the vibe was so chill ans inviting! Not like other cafes when you walk in and feel so unwelcome by the clientele. The energy in here was so chill and inviting! I wish it could have stayed a bit longer. I walked up and ordered their Ube Latte Hot with Oat Milk. It was so pretty when they gave it to me and had a very nice but not overpowering ube taste. I asked for a lid and they kindly directed me to where the lids were, however I left my latte at the counter to use the bathroom and they put a lid on for me! That was ao sweet of them! Overall such a cool place! If I wish i could have stayed! It was such an inviting place and I cant wait to come back and just chill. I would recommend this place! read more
1 year ago
I love the unique coffee options that Side Practice offers. I've tried a few of their specialty lattes. I happened to be their during one of their breakfast pop-ups, so I was able to enjoy a sandwich on my first visit. I purposefully went there the second time to try them again when Morning Jay's was doing a breakfast pop-up, but this was a bit of a bumpy experience. They were having issues with the power, and the line got pretty backed up. The power issues/delay caused our food to come out cool. Their coffee drinks can get pretty pricey. I hadn't realized the price until I saw the charge later. $12 for the Island Latte! The Coco Mocho was lower-priced, but it came out lukewarm. read more
What a fun coffee shop! Love the decor, ambiance, and Filipino flavors! Ordering was a little confusing as I ordered something on the menu but they said the menu wasn't correct. I ended up getting an iced ube matcha latte. Ube was delicious, couldn't taste much of the matcha but I'm still glad I tried it! Has a couple of tables inside, convenient that there is a bus stop right outside, located in a very quaint neighborhood. read more
Cute coffee shop with great vibes - probably better for socializing than working. Tried the seasonal maple butter latte (with ginger butter?) and it was delicious, super buttery and velvet-y. Also tried the purple haze (cold brew with ube cold foam) which was just okay, as the cold foam wasn't flavorful enough and just diluted the drink. Would come back to try other fun drinks read more
4 months ago
Cold Manila matcha is the move! The only time I would make my way out here would be a detour before my hair appt. And my hair appt is in north park so it ain't really on the way from Logan square but I'm possessed to stop by. Free parking right in front of A town (my high school). Weekends are the worst just because it's so busy so the last time I was nearby for Kanin, I couldn't even get indoor of side practice because the line was outside and my 2 yr old patience is nonexistent. Pro tip: Go on weekdays read more
1 year ago
ASH & JESSE CHICAGO COFFEE CRAWL '25 Ranked #4 out of 15 Recommend to us by our friends at Our Mutual City coffee shop in Irving Park. We talked about this place for days before we tried it-- just super excited especially because one of our friends who joined us on the trip was Filipina. This day was full of places we were rushing to try and visit before our trip was over: Layla & Ringos, Blue Bottle, Kanin, Mr. Beef, Lincoln Zoo & Fullerton Beach. We made the decision to visit Mr.Beef before-- not knowing the line was going to be an hour wait but we made it to Side Practice just in time before they closed. An action we usually try to not do but we just had to try them out before we left Chicago. Regardless, the cashier and other staff were amazing with a smile on their face and very kind. We got their specials for the season & some other specials: Turon Matcha Latte, Turon Latte, Pandan Paradise, & Purple Haze. They blew it out the park. Some of the most unique lattes I have tried in awhile. Just amazing. Plus the inside is super cute. Can't wait to come back! read more
1 year ago
We had a quick visit but definitely excited to go back! We ordered an Ube latte with oat and a purple haze (cold brew with Ube and milk foam). They were both really good! My wife drank the Ube latte and it had great flavor. The purple haze has a stronger coffee flavor because of the cold brew and I love strong coffee so my wife wasn't as big of a fan but that's fine, more for me! The decor is really friendly and really calming. I wish we had time to stay! Also they have a great space to the right of the entrance for pop ups for smaller businesses too so that's so cool! Lastly, the service of the staff is really cool, everyone was helpful and chill. We'll be back! read more
9 months ago
Ambiance sold on this one. The interior is SO cool. Decor is so unique and cozy. A bit of a small shop but has a few tables for sitting in. Service is quick for stopping by and grabbing a drink to go. We got the Manila Matcha and the Pandan Paradise. Both drinks were on the pricier side with the Manila Matcha coming out to almost $10... A lot of drinks have a default option of macadamia nut milk, which I hadn't had before this, but the taste of the milk is a bit strong and almost overpowered the drinks. Both matchas were still yummy, and I would want to come back to try the rest of the menu. read more
11 months ago
Side Practice is a northside gem that is an ode to the bustling Chicago Filipino food and drink culture. Drinks are made to perfection with vibes that'll make you want to spend your entire winter afternoon posted up enjoying one of their signature lattes. They often have pop-ups in store featuring some of the most up and coming pastry and Filipino food vendors in the city. The success of Side Practice is no fluke as I believe the team behind this is also responsible for other Filipino establishments such as Novel Pizza in Pilsen and Kanin just next door. read more
I ordered a hot Manila Matcha latte from here. The service was great. Very friendly and it didn't take long for my order. They also gave me an Ube cookie. The place is small but was surprised to see it very packed. As for the coffee, I've given these matcha and ube drinks a try a few times and they're just not for me. They tasted ok but nothing special. I'll definitely be returning in the summer to try their iced version. read more
1 year ago
This is my favorite coffee shop. It's small, but they do it right. My favorite drink is the Ube Latte and I get it with macadamia nut milk. I've never had a latte made with macadamia nut milk anywhere else or knew it was even an option until I came here. It really makes such a difference. It's creamy and a bit thicker and pairs so well with the Ube. Service is always friendly and quick. Love the light filled space with plants with a side of edge. This is a must stop whenever I'm in Chicago. read more
2 years ago
it was my first time trying side practice and I loved it! I didn't realize it was a Filipino owned business that served Filipino inspired flavors so that was a pleasant surprise! We ordered two drinks and a croissant: the Manila matcha and the ube spiced latte. We came at a busy time, but given the volume they were pretty fast with the orders. The Manila matcha was pretty good, I do think ube is a strong flavor (with the macadamia milk), it did overpower the matcha a bit, but overall a good drink. I loved the ube spiced latte it was a perfect balance and smooth. read more
7 months ago
Got the red bean matcha with whole milk, the red bean flavor comes from a syrup and compliments the matcha well. Loved the options on the menu and would come again to try their sesame and pandan flavored drinks read more
Didn't enjoy my drink at all. Felt watered down and everyone in my group tried it and agreed it was pretty bad. I had the cold brew purple haze? I think it was one of their signatures. From this drink alone, I would not go back. Although I did try my friends drink which was a matcha ube drink and it was pretty good. Service was good. Located in the corner. read more
Very busy coffee shop good amount of seating with people working on their laptops. Decorated with fun art as well as a projector playing random studio ghibli movie clips on the wall. Coffee was great--got the Taho Latte. It was perfect amount of sweetness. The cream danish was pretty tasty but would want to try something else next time. read more
2 years ago
I'm a sucker for any thing with Asian influence so I was so excited to try Side Practice Coffee. It's pretty busy in the morning and there isn't much room so I suggest coming early. I got a pandan latte and 2 pastries. I wish there were signs or descriptions of each of them because I had no idea what I was getting. I liked the sweet one over the savory. The pastry and flavors were delicious. The pandan latte was also made well too. I heard good things about their Ube matcha so I gotta come back for that! read more
My go to for coffee locally! I absolutely adore this place and have been going since I moved here. Filipino owned Side Practice gives your usual caffeine boost but with a twist where you get great adds like ube to sweeten your drink! While they don't make food they partner with local eateries to provide tasty treats on the side ! Love the vibe they have to create a space for local entrepreneurs and businesses. Very friendly and cool staff! They added a coffee punchcard now so even better reason to stop by! #coffee #breakfast #lincolnsquare #chicago #filipino read more
1 year ago
Love this place, especially for early morning working. SPC one of the few independent coffee places that are open at 8am (aka, great to go to after dropping the kid off for school.) Filipino owned, and featuring unique Filipino flavored features on the menu. The coffee is great, the baristas are lovely, the owners really make the coffee shop a community space that features local artists, events, and small business owners. But y'all- THE PASTRIES. On Wednesday - Saturday, pastries are provided by Justin, also the pastry chef at Big Jones. And they are incredible. Flaky, buttery, with the creamiest filling. read more
12/30/23 @ 12:30pm. Popped in here as I was in the area and always like supporting local coffee shops over corporate places. The place was pretty busy which I found to be a good sign, but the first thing my partner and I noticed was there was this weird smell inside that didn't smell at all like something you'd smell in a coffee shop. Secondly, the individual working behind the counter was so unfriendly. She (I assume?) had this facial expression of death and as I was paying/tapping my card she was on her phone in front of me. Overall, she seemed very disinterested in my presence or working there. The place itself is cute, and it seems like a great spot to catch up with a friend or read a book which I saw multiple people doing, but I really hope they can work on hiring more friendly people otherwise that can easily deter clientele from returning. read more
3 months ago
I absolutely loved this cafe! There was a variety of seating options for being such a small space. The baristas are friendly and the coffee was good and strong! Shoutout to the guy who recommended the Ube Latte with Macademia milk. It was delightful and not too sweet. read more
8 months ago
I've been curious about this coffee shop for some time; it may be the closest one to my home. Today on my way home I decided to finally stop. It's not a very large place but it was pretty full for its size, with half a dozen or so customers. Part of the deal with Side Practice is that they support creators and small businesses, so they have pop-ups all the time. That's a super cool idea for a partnership. You can sign up for a residency to rent out a portion of the shop to sell your goods during their business hours. It's a really clever premise for a coffee shop and I wanted to see what they were about. Im glad I visited so I could try it, but I don't think I will return. The drink menu is small; they have the very basic drinks you'd expect to find in a coffeehouse. They have no specials--really? Especially in fall? If they do, they're on the secret menu and I don't know the password. The little pastry case was empty (truly empty, nothing left) by about 9:50 am. I got my usual chai, but it was almost flavorless. It tasted so weak that if not for this cinnamon liberally sprinkled on top, I may have tasted barely any flavor. Perhaps most disappointing was that the guy was too busy texting to tend to my order. By that I mean I paid for my order and moved over to where I would pick the drinks up, and he texted for a full minute or longer before he even got the milk out of the fridge. Use the stopwatch on your phone to time out a minute--that's a long time! So on top of everything else that just makes this place I'm unlikely to patronize. read more
Ube lattes!! Need i say more? I stopped by on a Saturday around 10:30 am and walked in to a full pastry case. I also saw a menu on the counter with seasonal drinks including an ube spice latte, similar to a PSL but with ube! I love that they support local businesses and have different pop ups all the time. I actually stopped in intentionally to see their pop up on this particular Saturday. It was a free tarot reading and it was amazing!! I knocked off a couple stars because the staff behind the counter couldn't have been less friendly and welcoming. Also the latte was $9 for a 12 oz which I was pretty shocked about. Overall I'd consider swinging by here if I was in the area, to see another cool pop up or get some work done. I don't think I'd go out of my way to come here. I hope the workers caffeinate and smile more :) read more
1 year ago
Love the community impact that this shop/brand has brought to Chicago . It's a great place to study/work and is a cute neighborhood gem where families, friends, and neighbors can meet up. The staff is friendly, and eclectic . The menu is unique with standout ube flavored options. read more
2 years ago
Love that there's a Filipino coffee shop that brings in a twist to some of my favorite desserts and flavors! It's a quaint coffee shop with minimal seating, so be prepared if you plan to come in during the busier hours. My friend and I were excited to try a variety of things! We opted for the ube spiced lattes, Turon danish, and a longanisa croissant. The longanisa was super interesting! I liked the texture of the sweet croissant but it was paired with the savory longanisa. The longanisa was on the smaller side but still very tasty. I also loved my ube spiced latte, it was delicious. Prices can be a little pricier, but well worth the trip! read more
Overall, really like SPC and super glad there's a spot like this on the north side of Chicago! Their coffee is always solid and they also always have speciality drinks like their ube latte. The speciality drinks can be hit or miss. The aforementioned ube latte is sweet and yummy, but sometimes lacks any really ube flavor the few times I've had it. They also have a great selection of baked goods which I'd recommend coming in earlier for since they do sell out quick. I think they have a rotating set of people they get their pastries from. My personal favorite is definitely the pastry chef from Big Jones (Justin, @jtlerias). My most recent visit got a really delicious turon danish and the calamansi + chamomile bun. Both were also just so beautifully decorated/garnished. I'm a really big fan whenever Asian flavors/ingredients get incorporated in cafe drinks and pastries so it's definitely a hit. But I'm sure whoever they get their baked goods supplied from will always be solid! Only major gripe is the past few times I've come by side practice to try one of their specials, they ALWAYS seem to be out which can be a bit frustrating. For example, recently really wanted to try a new ube speciality latte that had a lot of coconut components that sounded awesome, but when I got there on a Wednesday morning 2 out of the 3 speciality drinks were just crossed out. Definitely a bit disappointing. Other things is it can definitely be on the pricier side (most of the speciality items/drinks are $8 or so so it can definitely add up). Service is friendly, but can also be a bit slow if things pick up since there's usually only 1-2 people working at a time. There are a good amount of seats to work from and the WiFi is solid, but not a huge amount of outlets and it can get a bit loud during busy hours so wouldn't plan on taking too many meetings or anything if you were going to be working out of here. Still, SPC is a cool vibe that I'd definitely recommend checking out when you're in the mood for some good coffee, interesting lattes, and/or delicious treats! read more
Certainly one of the best coffees in the neighborhood. The espresso shots were pulled well and they use quality bean. The ube shortbread that came with the espresso was awesome (we came here multiple times and the shortbread wasn't always provided but you can always buy one for $.75. Great vibe for the place. Would def keep coming. read more
What a lovely Fil-Am owned business! My sister had me try their iced ube and iced pandan vanilla lattes and I loved both! Only comment is that for those who LOVE the ube and pandan flavor, the amount of flavor they put (in my opinion) is subtle, so definitely extra for extra ube or pandan flavoring to really give that lovely nutty flavor! Baristas were kind and very quick to making my order. I'll definitely come here for a coffee date or to study! read more
3 years ago
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More info about Side Practice Coffee
5139 N Damen Ave
North Chicago, IL 60625
Lincoln Square
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http://sidepracticecoffee.com
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Ask the Community - Side Practice Coffee
Are they still open? I don't see a phone number or way to contact them on their website.
Yes, they're open. I went today and you can place your order through their site beforehand if you want.
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2 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
1 year ago
1 year ago
