Cafecito (restaurant)

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Cafecito
Chicago, Illinois, U.S. (2023) - 010.jpg
Interior of a Cafecito restaurant in 2023
Cafecito (restaurant)
Restaurant information
City Chicago
State Illinois
CountryUnited States

Cafecito is a restaurant chain based in Chicago, in the U.S. state of Illinois. There are three locations, as of 2023. Owned by Philip Ghantous, Cafecito serves Latin American cuisine and has garnered a positive reception, especially for its Cuban sandwich.

Contents

Description

Cafecito is a chain of counter service [1] coffee and sandwich shops in Chicago. [2] [3] The Latin American menu has included Cuban, [4] egg, and other breakfast sandwiches, as well as soups, salads, batidos (milkshakes), [5] and coffee, including Cuban espresso. [6] [7] The ropa vieja sandwich has skirt steak, plantains, black beans, and tomato creole sauce, and the chivito has steak, ham, bacon, fried egg, and mozzarella. [8] The restaurant has vegan options as well. [9] Sides have included roasted eggplant, cannellini bean salad, and artichokes. [10]

History

The business is owned by Philip Ghantous. [11] There are three locations, as of 2023. [12]

Reception

Restaurant interior, 2023 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. (2023) - 011.jpg
Restaurant interior, 2023

Moon Chicago says Cafecito's Cuban sandwich is the best in Chicago. [7] The author of the book What's with Chicago? says the restaurant has some of the best Cuban cuisine in the Midwestern U.S. [13] Scott Davis included Cafecito in Business Insider's 2014 list of Chicago's best "cheap eats". [14]

Ashok Selvam and Aimee Levitt included Cafecito in Eater Chicago's 2021 list of 13 "great" restaurants in Chicago's Theater District "for dinner and a show". [15] Selvam and Naomi Waxman included Cafecito in the website's list of recommended eateries in the South Loop. [16] The website's Samantha Nelson included the business in an overview of recommended Chicago eateries for dining solo. [17]

Elanor Bock and Meredith Heil included the business in Thrillist's 2022 list of the city's 17 best sandwich shops. [18] John Ringor and Vega Kilaru highlighted Cafecito in The Infatuation 's 2023 overview of Chicago's best meals for $10. [1] Ringor and Adrian Kane also included the business in an overview of the best eateries in the Loop. [19]

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