Nini’s Deli

I stopped by Nini’s for the first time this past week, needless to say it’s only been three days and I’m ready to go back for more!
I’m already a huge fan of theirs just from social media, so as a first timer I went with the Media Noche and the delish iced coffee.
Oh. My. God. SO GOOD! The sandwich comes with turkey, pickle, mustard, Swiss and plantains; I added avocado to my order, seriously sandwich perfection. Not to mention that they tempt their customers to photograph the hell out of their food with the most amazing colored walls (I gave in).
In addition to great food and drinks the man taking my order was so friendly. Seriously just being around such a positive attitude and the neighborhood feels is worth the trip!
I’ll definitely be back Nini’s! Your amazing food is calling my name!

Ninis is by far one of my favorite spots to eat! For starters the service is hands down the best! And the food is amazing! The location is vibrant nicely decorated great for good pics on insta (; I always get El Cubanito with avocado, a chicken empanada and a hibiscus lemonade. Let me tell you those chicken empanadas are another level!!! I have also tried all their desserts and they are all awesome! Plus everything is super affordable and that’s always nice. Ninis is a MUST if you are in Chicago!

You can mill through the tall grass of bland restaurant strewn throughout this city. You can pay for mediocre service from an inflated dictionary of culinary terms embodied by most employees of Chicago’s highly praised restaurants. Or, if I may propose to you, you can end the ludicrous, toilsome journey of a food critics sojourn. Find your Eden. Reach your El Dorado.
Nini’s Deli is a family run spot hidden in the neighborhood streets of Noble Square. Even with a small menu, the choice of what to choose is rigorous due to the quality in every item. Personally, the spinach empanadas call my name every time and the hibiscus lemonade is better than Beyoncé’s lemonade. I heard their Cuban sandwiches could make Bird Man humble. Their food can easily become your new daily addiction.
What really sets Nini’s apart though is their front of house. Nini’s is ran by hospitality and love incarnate: Juan. You will never step into a more welcoming restaurant again. He makes sure You leave more human then you came. Your interaction with him will alone make you want to go back. With all that being said, go to Nini’s, you won’t be disappointed.

Thought the place was really great. Small little place a bit off the beatin path but it did not take away from the experience! Fairly priced for what you get out, and super friendly people working.

I loved this place.
I found this establishment while looking for halal food and knew we must try it! We walked in and the guy behind the register gave us the most popular items. Hibiscus lemonade was good. He threw in two complimentary lemonades since we came all the way from NY.
We had chicken empanadas, cubanito, and another turkey sandwich (can’t remember the nAme). Also had churro’s and this fried pastry dough with sugar n it was very good.
I would definitely come back!

Ninis Deli is a truly amazing place. It’s a bit out of the way for me but has become one of my favorite places to eat. First of all, 5 stars alone go to Juanny aka the nicest dude in Chicago. He treats everyone like a best friend and creates a wonderful atmosphere the moment you walk in. About the food: empanadas better than your grandma made, churros that are the perfect mix of crispy and fluffy, and sandwiches that are come se dice FIRE. La medianoche w/​avocado made me a believer but apparently they brought back steak sandwiches that I must try soon. As for the drinks, the hibiscus lemonade is visually stunning and tastes perfect on a warm Chicago day. If your in the neighborhood it’s a must try place. If you aren’t in the neighborhood GET TO NOBLE SQUARE immediately

El cubanito was very delicious! I added avocado to it and it was perfect! The plantain was a nice touch and added that hint of sweetness that I really like in savory foods. The service was great; the guy at the counter was so friendly and helpful. My only negative comment is that I didn’t like the cheese on my sandwich, I think it was American. I wish I had asked for a different cheese or no cheese at all.

Great hospitality from the staff here. Immediately when my friends and I arrived at Nini’s, the guy at the cashier welcomed us and gave a brief overview of the resturant’s history and how the menu works. The guy is very friendly and seems to know a lot of the customers that came in while I was eating here.
I got the Media Noche with an egg (extra $ 2) and got to try my friend’s hibiscus lemonade and café con leche. The sandwich was pretty good, nothing striking for me in the flavor department. I enjoyed the café con leche and the hibiscus lemonade was decent. However, the empanadas that my friend got was pretty good. I really like the sauce they provide for the empanadas, it was a mix of sweet and has a kick to it.
The restaurant gifted us each an order of churros to welcome us since we said we were from California and that was greatly appreciated! The churros were so good and great ending to my meal. I would recommend eating the churros with the café con leche, great combo!
Overall, great place for a quick bite, great staff, yummy food, but it is a tad expensive. Free neighborhood parking!

1. Super adorable family-​owned business with amazing, friendly service.
2. The food is super delicious! The menu may appear minimal but they have great vegetarian options and you can check out their instagram for some secret meal options. I highly recommend the Chef Bebo wrap and the advertised veggie empanada — my very favorites.
3. Sidewalk seating in the nice weather months.
4. Lovely, festive music and décor.

Ninis deli is amazing!
The interior, in my opinion, is so chic in a very earth friendly type of way! It makes for a great instagram picture ;). (Plus good music).
I’m a big fan of the el cubanito w/​avocado. They also offers it in a wrap for us bread intake conscious people! Of course, you cannot leave without trying their signature hibiscus lemonade.
Not only is the food great but the service really makes you feel like you’ve been knowing the family for a long time. Juany and Mel, who are there literally everyday, always greet people with a smile and a heart warming «hi, hello! Welcome to Ninis! Whats going on?»
If you’re an avid coffee drinker stop by the shop at 8am for you cup of café con leche. You’ll get a great tasting coffee and a compliment from Juan– it’s practically impossible to have a bad day after a visit to Ninis!
Update!!!
Another reason why I love this place! Juan takes the time to describe the menu to people who are new to Ninis!

Juan is the man. His family and the whole staff is also so nice. It’s like an atmospheric vibe of pure joy.
The food is awesome. I can’t recommend one thing honestly because everything is good. Food and drink wise. Get an iced coffee or a hibiscus lemonade – doesn’t matter, both go so hard. Get a Cuban sandwich or a Kitchen Sink… it doesn’t matter both are so flame. My favorite may be the media noche with egg though. Goes crazy.
Nini’s is more than just food. It’s a vibe. An experience. It’s all encompassing. It’s welcoming. On a nice summer day you cannot beat it, in terms of lunch in Chicago.
Juan if you see this, young weaves says what’s good. And keep killing it.
I promise this review isn’t biased. I could be un-​versed on the food, culture, and people of this magical place and still give it 5 stars. It doesn’t matter. There’s a reason it has 300 reviews and is 5 stars. Because who doesn’t love Nini’s Deli.

First off excellent customer service. There was a long line and the guy at the register still took the time to tell me a little bit about the place and how it is family owned. Love that! The line was really long and we had to wait a little while. I wanted to try everything, so I’m glad I was using my $ 10.00 off Giftie.
My friend and I both ordered the Cubanito and it was delicious! I loved the plantain in the middle of the sandwich. We also got the chicken empanadas and it has got to be one of the biggest empanadas I have ever seen. Very flavorful and well worth the price.
Other must get items is the lemonade and the churros! Very yummy meal and great service. Side note: the place is tiny, but seating seems to free up by the time your done ordering.

Absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in the entire city of Chicago. They blend culture, food, and urban flare together perfectly, providing a trendy, yet originally authentic taste and experience.
The customer service is beyond fantastic, as it is family owned, and instantly, you feel adopted into the family.
My favorite item (s) on the menu are their signature Hibiscus Lemonade, the Chicken Empanadas and their salsa verde, and lastly the Media Noche. I also love their monthly Steak Sandwich specials.
I would 100% recommend this to anyone interested in exploring their city and getting an authentic taste of this melting pot of cultures.

Sorry Nini’s Deli — I’m officially obsessed with you. You’re never getting rid of me.
This is the kind of place where you order something, take a bite, and say to yourself «holy $#%& this is good.» As if the amazing service and passion from behind the counter didn’t sell me on this place, their food has me hooked for life.
WHAT I GOT: Media Noche add avocado — totally out of this world. Bread was nice and fresh, the meat was juicy and it was just the perfect combo of ingredients. Also tried the Café Con Leche and the Churros. The jelly that comes with the churros is SO GOOD. Almost licked the plate but that wouldn’t have been ladylike. Or socially acceptable.
BONUS POINTS: Gluten Free Bread! For those who have a gluten allergy or have convinced themselves they need gluten free products — this place is for you! We are all equal in the bread world while dining at Nini’s.
SERVICE: It’s pretty repetitive at this point from all the other reviews but this service is just world class. These people are so happy, fun, friendly and welcoming. Never in my life have I felt like I was just havin’ a meal in someones home until I came to Nini’s. Even if I hated the food I would come just to see these guys. They’re the best!

Ever since I watched the movie Chef, I’ve been obsessed with cubanos. I stopped by for lunch on a cold rainy day and scored free parking right in front of the shop. I had the media noche and hibiscus lemonade. The media noche was huge. They aren’t skimpy with the ingredients, either! It’s definitely large enough to save half for later or to share. For some weird reason, however, I decided to eat the whole thing. I’m not sure how I did it, but it happened. There’s something about these sandwiches and all the different flavors that come perfectly together. The hibiscus lemonade was very refreshing. I was surprised that it was not overly sweet, like most drinks.
The décor is cute and the family running the place is super sweet and welcoming.

I recently tried this restaurant and I literally fell in love and will be back in the near future. Nini’s deli has a wonderful atmosphere it’s kid friendly and a perfect place for a lunch date or lunch break from work. The employees are very kind and hospitable, and the food is wonderful.
The food here is like a congenial and fantabulous urbanized type of Cuban/​Caribbean food and I highly recommend everything on the menu!
In no particular order I love just about everything on the menu from the hibiscus lemonade: tastes like a ½ & ½ lemonade/​Tea
To the Chicken stuffed Empanadas: similar to Jamaican Beef patties except they’re stuffed with tasty pulled chicken inside (and ask for the green sauce on the side to dip your empanadas in)
To the Cuban sandwiches: I highly recommend the Media Noche it comes with grilled turkey, pickles, mustard, swiss cheese and fried plantains
and for a great desert try the Churros: they’re tossed in cinnamon and powered sugar and made just right. They’re not too hard and not too soft but just right!
Nini’s gets two thumbs up from me

Even if the food sucked (which it definitely didn’t) or was overpriced (which it wasn’t), I’d still come back here as much as possible simply because the owner’s son, who helped my husband and I decide what to order, is so PASSIONATE about their business. I love when someone loves their job. Not just FAKE loving their job like how I used to when I worked in retail… truly love their job. Like this guy. he was proud of what his family has created in the menu and he is very pleasant all around.
But on to the food. OH MY GOODNESS, it was every cliché you could think of that describes the best meal you may encounter. Someday, I’ll make it to their occasional steak sandwiches (seriously. if you have instagram, look up their pictures of it. you’ll understand), but being the suburban food girl, it’s hard for me to make it out to the city during the work week.
We shared a Media Noche and 2 chicken empanadas. The meats for both orders were cooked well, and the bread for the Cuban was warm and crispy.
I’ll update again when I try more of their menu, hopefully soon. I love these guys! =) Go support them!

Looking for amazing Cuban food in Chicago, well look no farther. Some may say it is your typical family owned neighborhood café but I say, it will quickly become your go to destination for empanadas! However, the food is not the only component of this place that is great. The customer service is phenomenal! (Thanks, Juan). From the time you step into the café, they treat you like a member of their family. I went in about 30 mins before they closed and they were slammed. None the less, they were happy, helpful, and patient enough to allow me to take my time.
Now back to the empanadas. They were ahhhhh-​mazzzzing! The empanadas are not small (like some other places, ahem) and are definitely Seasoned very well. I tried the veggie (spinach & cheese) and the chicken (pulled chicken seasoned well). I also tried the rice and beans & the hibiscus tea. Mind you this is a café, so they keep their menu concise and filled with their take on Cuban staples. Next time, I’m going for the Media Noche!
I just wish they stayed open later than 6pm! If they did, this would be my dinner once a week. LOL oh and I stumbled upon this gem, thanks to my #Giftie app!

It took way too long for me to pay a visit to Nini’s & I’m mad at myself for not having it sooner. Take my advice:
Put the phone down, stop what you’re doing, and make your way to Nini’s!
I was immediately greeted by their enthusiastic owner, Juan. The establishment is hip, cozy, and vibrant.
Their food… Geez. Their food was outstanding! I had their shredded chicken and cheese empanada with a sweet and spicy sauce on the side (they could sell that sauce by the gallon and I’d be first in line). I had their hibiscus lemonade that was perfectly sweet and tart. To follow, I had their «cubanito» sandwich with grilled turkey. I basically inhaled that. For a sweet treat, I had their hot chocolate. It was perfect on such a cold day.
I can’t wait to go back and try the rest of the menu. This place is a true hidden gem!

The best food experience in Chicago! Eating at Nini’s Deli is like coming home.
The minute you walk in Juan greets you like an old friend. It is a family-​run place, and his parents started it — you can feel the warmth in the air and taste the love in the food.
I have wanted to try Cuban sandwiches ever since watching ‘Chef’ and I am so glad I finally could because of Nini’s gluten-​free plantain bread (the only place I have seen this in America) — it tastes soft, chewy and delicious! The El Cubanito comes with egg, beans, sweet plantains and I added avocado. Best life decision ever. I nearly cried from happiness. If you are vegan/​gluten free/​dairy free or have any dietary requirements — Juan and the good people in the kitchen will look after you like family!
I seized the opportunity to devour Cuban sandwiches and saved room for something sweet! MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT LEAVE WITHOUT TRYING THE CUBAN PB&J — peanut butter, homemade guava jelly and sweet plantains. This is the holy grail of a creative yet simple dessert in Chicago.
For drinks: the iced coffee was perfect, I didn’t even need to add honey like I normally do. For an Instagram-​worthy beverage, try the hibiscus-​lemonade that comes in a jar. The hot coffee comes in a beautiful navy blue mug which you can buy and take home to always have a piece of Nini’s Deli with you.
I could seriously stay here all day (I was there for four hours!) chatting to people, ordering several meals and getting some reading and writing done. I was travelling through Chicago and found Nini’s Deli to be the most authentic, nourishing and mind-​blowingly amazing meal on my trip.
I woke up the day after dreaming of the Cuban Pb&J. Until next time, the minute I return to Chicago I am going straight to Nini’s Deli!