Cafecito

This is a Friday thing to do. Its packed. The lines are long but it moves fast and its worth it. I’ve only had the Chirvito because i cant dream of eating anything else. In fact, i wish i had not tried that first because now if i try to eat something else, i feel I’m betraying my secret love. If I were to have a son i may name him Chirvito

.god! Do yourself a favor and go here. Just had the steak chimichurri pressed sandwich for lunch and let me tell you… I probably will try to sneak out of work early to make it in there before closing to get another one! Usually steak sandwiches/​tacos/​burritos/​etc are hit or miss especially downtown. You may end up with the rubbery, dry, tough stuff. Or once in awhile you come across flavorful steak heaven! Go. Just go now. Also… the tres leches cake is bomb!
FYI it gets really packed, really fast so get in there early! So worth the wait. I see why their line is out the door!

Great sandwiches, went with a group of 8 co-​workers, we all got different sandwiches, and everyone went home happy (and full!)
Definitely prepare for bit of a line at meal times, but we must all pay a price for greatness (and the line moves pretty quickly)

First time customer — and I can say one thing… YUM!!!
Had the black bean soup which was perfectly spiced — along with the Jardin sandwich — beyond delicious and flavorful!
It was crowded but moved quickly — everything made fresh.
Next time trying the coffee — they have superb Italian coffee machines — ensuring a «true» espresso or other espresso drink (I know my coffee machines and la spaziale is one of the best in Italy!!)
Will definitely be back — super find– super reasonable!!!

All I can say is WOW. Out of all the places I ate during my 5 day Chicago trip, this place was by far my favorite. We originally came just for the Cuban coffee, but I’m glad i ordered a sandwich. It’s a tiny mom & pop shop with less than 4 tables for people to sit. It’s better suited for those who are trying to take their food to go. I ordered their Chivito sandwich which has steak, ham, bacon, fried egg, mozzarella, lettuce, tomato, onion, and citrus mayo. This sandwich is one of the best I’ve ever tasted. It’s incredibly savory and has the perfect amount of cheese/​mayo so you don’t feel like you’re clogging up your arteries. My friend ordered the Cubano (roasted pork, ham, swiss, pickles, mustard) which was good, but I thought the Chivito was better… maybe I’m partially convinced because of the egg. I did try their coffee which was okay, but got a little two sweet once I got to the bottom. 5 stars and would definitely come back again if I’m ever in town.

This place is out of control good. I’ve tried at least 10 different items in the menu and they’re all incredible. I would highly recommend the Ropa Vieja platter and the jerk chicken sandwich. Full of flavor and the service will keep you coming back every time. I enjoy this place as a Friday lunch spot, but truly a treat any day of the week.
One downfall is their breakfast which in my opinion is lacking. Average meal but top it off with a expresso shot and you’ll be bouncing off the walls.

Cafecito is your one-​stop-​shop for the lunchtime fiesta, portioned perfectly to stave off that afternoon siesta. Open wide and chomp away at a delicious sandwich from Cafecito. Perfectly combining elements from the culinary diversity offered by myriad Latin American kitchens, Cafecito offers the hungry adventurer, a chance to dive headfirst into that delicious street food you ate during your semester in Buenos Aires, clandestine voyage to Cuba, or Peace Corps service in Guatemala. Choripan to pork belly, Cafecito does it all, and does it all well. Get a cup of the black bean soup with your sandwich. You won’t be disappointed.
Cafecito takes what that nice old lady served you on the side of the road to a whole new level– without the risk of Giardia! Stepping up the street food game, Cafecito maintains an intimate atmosphere of stools and small tables while you’re nestled shoulder-​to-​shoulder with your fellow lunchtime traveler. Just leave the Backcountry pack at home! Buen provecho!

I’m usually not a big fan of sandwiches but their sandwich is small, simple, and delicious! Don’t be scared off by their long line, they move really fast with their orders and the sandwich comes out in no time! I got the cubano (their #1 sandwich) and palomilla (steak sandwich) and both were beyond my expectation! If you are a sandwich lover, you would die for this place. And if you’re not a sandwich lover, this is still a must try as it will change your mind towards normal basic sandwiches!

GREAT place to stop by in the morning for some Café Con Leche
Don’t get me wrong all the sandwiches are great too, I would order ahead of time so you don’t have to wait in line!

We frequent this spot for lunch often, typically aiming to arrive around 10:45 AM so that you don’t have to wait TOO long. However, you’re going to wait regardless, especially when you order 7 sandwiches at a time :/
Always super fresh, always delicious. This place brings the happiest response when people see that we get Cafecito for lunch again. I was sad today because they forgot to add my requested cheese to my steak chimichurri sandwich. Total bummer, but the food was still tasty. The grilled bread and soft inside soaked with sandwich juices… incredible.

Awesome, affordable sandwiches in the loop. My go to is the chicken sand or the Cubano. So tasty! They give you a huge thing of hummus for so cheap too. The breakfast sandwiches are just as great too! I’ve heard their black bean soup is good, but haven’t tried it yet.
Just have it be known though, this place is TINY. So if you go during prime lunch hours there will for sure be a line out the door. But holy moly it is SO worth it! And if coffee is your thing, the café con leche is also great!

Excellent lunch option in the loop.
I’ve tried the cubano, and chimichurri steak sandwiches. Both EXCELLENT taste and portion for lunch.
The place is not that big, so be prepared for long lines during lunch hour 12pm-​1pm. There are a few chairs and long table to sit at, but you may prefer to take it back to the office or eat outside if it is a nice day.

Good sandwiches, at good prices. These guys are a popular spot on the Loop and it’s easy to see why. Large variety of authentic sandwiches that come out crispy and warm. Have tried out their Jerk, Guava-​Q, and Chivito, and they’ve all been consistently good. The key is their toasting of the sandwich, which gives the bread it’s signature crunch. Extra points if you grab a groupon, which turns their very affordable sandwiches ($ 5 – 7) each, into incredibly affordable sandwiches (basically 40%) off. They also often have coupons for free coffee with a sandwich, so it really is the perfect work day combo
Pro-​tip: Aim to go for dinner or just during off hours (aka not lunch rush) to avoid the long line.

The food, I’m a fan of, however, the line… not so much. The staff had a good process of taking orders of people in line so the food doesn’t too long when you get to the register.
Our office caters in the ropa vieja, lechon, rice/​beans, plantains from here so I have been a fan for a while. I decided to go in and try a sandwich. I got the Jerk which had nice thick slices of grilled chicken breast… the bread was toasted just right. It was enjoyably chewy too: P. I also got the mango batido (milk shake). It was tad sweet for me but very yummy.

This place was pretty good. To be honest I only went for the café con leche. I love miami and the one thing that I loved was the café con leche. Here it was good. Taste the same and silky smooth. It’s close but not the same.
I also happened to get lunch for the girlfriend and myself. This like took 15 – 20 minutes to get to the register and about 5 – 10 minutes to wait for the food. If you’re in a rush this isn’t the place for you. The atmosphere is loud and there is no place to really sit down. I ordered a Chivito for myself and an exotica salad with chicken for the girlfriend.
Chivito was good. It was warm with steak, ham, onions and cheese as described. There was also an egg in it! Pretty wild sandwich and it was very tasty.
The exotica salad was good. They forgot to put the chicken on it so I had to go back and as for it (why it is missing the 5^th star) but it was also good.
I got the caprese salad on the side. It was fresh and very rich. I wasn’t a fan of the basil but I’m sure other people would enjoy it.
I would recommend to a person who wants to try cuban food. But with the long wait time and not a lot of seating, I’d try to go either before 11:30 or after 1PM.

Food is 5 stars. The set up/​line is terrible and deserves negative 2 stars. But because it’s more about the food for me, incredibly easy to place an order/​fairly quick, and the fact that I will definitely return, I present Cafecito with five shiny stars.
Tip #1: Don’t eat yellow snow.
Tip #2: Call ahead to place an order to skip the line. It’ll save you so much time, I promise. By the time I placed my order and got my stuff together and walked from my office to the shop, it was ready.
Tip #3: When you do call ahead and place an order, go inside. I know it might sound obvious, but the line literally blocks any incoming and outgoing traffic and there’s absolutely no room inside making you second guess yourself. But rub yourself down with oil and squeeze in and make your way to the register and wait for them to call your name and then get the hell out.
Tip #4: Unwrap your sandwich and enjoy the best (insert food item, in my case, the Cubano) and wish you ordered two.
Bonus Tip #5: Never make eye contact with someone while eating a banana.

Looking for a decent lunch place and I found this awesome Cuban spot.
They offer primarily sandwiches.
I had the tilapia sandwich with pesto sauce and some veggies. The sandwich tasted very flavorful and not fishy. Price for most sandwiches is under $ 10, quite reasonable.
Customer sandwich was fantastic. I got back to the office and found they gave me the wrong sandwich. When I went back, the lady remembered exactly what I ordered and immediately gave me the right one. Be mindful that I don’t order what is on the menu, usually it’s this minus this and that because I’m a picky person. The lady apologized too.
Decent lunch spot and I would go back knowing they will make sure I am happy and get what I want.

There aren’t too many awesome, hidden gem restaurants in the heart of downtown, but my goodness, this is definitely one of them. Thank you for being close to my work and apartment.
The steak chimichurri pressed sandwich is mouth-​watering and highly recommended. I’ve ordered it three times now, and it never disappoints. The plantains are great too (just expensive at $ 2.50/small container).
The restaurant is small, and it gets reallllly crowded during lunch hour on weekdays. There aren’t many tables at all, so it’s best to just do carry-​out if you’re going during that time. There is a small station in the corner at the back of the restaurant for hot sauces. The containers suck though because it’s a little difficult to put the lids on them. Three types of hot sauces are available. They are all good, but they are all VERY hot (at least for my taste buds). My eyes were tearing from the spiciness. So, dip and pour with caution!
***NOTE: Go to their website to print out a coupon for a completely free house coffee***

Cafecito! 5 stars for food, –1 star due to location.
So let’s sum up how cafecito worked for me. Let’s say this is your first time going there. There’s a line (literally) out the door, you’re right under the L, the L is going by constantly. They ask to take your order…
wait, what? Where’s the menu? Where’s the, you know, options? Excuse me while I try to decide on food that I can’t even see what’s listed.
In addition to that generally being a pain in the ass, it’s simply too loud to enjoy the food here.
Is the food awesome? Yes. My sandwich was great/​awesome, inexpensive, and I can see why this place is popular. Was the soup awesome? Yes, delicious black bean soup is delicious.
I had to actually walk away from cafecito to have an actual conversation because it was so fn loud. I guess I’m not used to that part of downtown busy life yet. If I come back here, it’ll be orders to go only. I’m sure I will actually come back, because the food itself is definitely top notch. The food choices for vegetarians are a bit limited, however.

Delicious food! As other reviewers have said, be prepared to wait. I got there around 11:30. There was a line, but it doubled by the time I got my food! I had the salad/​sandwich combo — cubano and pasta salad. Both were really great! This was my first time, so next time I know that a sandwich would probably be plenty of food.
Despite the line, service was steady. The people behind the counter were bickering a bit, but they kept the line under control.

Un pedacito de los sabores de casa lejos de casa. El lugar es mínimo, así que estén listos para llevárselo o comer rodeado de ansiosos clientes esperando sus ordenes. De los mejores sándwiches del Loop