Cafe Tola - Best Mexican Breakfast & Brunch in Chicago

I love love love Cafe Tola, especially when I want to treat myself. The empanadas are divine, combined with a hot horchata latte, and I'm in heaven. I also love the flavor selection of these empanadas, they've expanded over the last few years and now serve well over a dozen of varieties. My teenagers say that their steak tacos are some of the best in the city. And the staff is always friendly. I truly recommend this place!!

Back again! Cafe Tola is one of our absolute favorite spots, specifically this location. There's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. The music here is always awesome and you can hear everyone humming or singing along. My husband loves the pork belly torta and gets it every time. This time I wasn't too hungry so I ordered the birria taco, birria empanada, and the seasonal pumpkin horchata latte. The drink is DELICIOUS! Thats worth going back the next day. I just love it here!

I just loveeee Cafe Tola. It's such a guilty pleasure. Because let's be honest. Does anyone really NEED to spend $6+ on one single little empanada? No, probably not. However, these are just too good to not indulge. Perfect for a day you just want a little treat. I also love the variety of flavors. They offer your traditional meat/cheese/potato/bean type empanadas, but they also have egg ones for breakfast, and I've even had a nutella banana one! On top of that, their coffee drinks are YUMMMMmmmmy! I love the coconut iced latte in particular, though I want to go back and try more. This one also plays fun music and has a variety of seating inside, plus a nice little patio outside. If you haven't been, it's deff worth checking out Cafe Tola!

I always saw this place but never went in. OMG, it was amazing. They specialize in empanadas, so many varieties and made fresh throughout the day. I had one of chicken mole and I had a taco of Birria. The food was so good. The Birria was amazing. I was greeted as soon as I walked in and was introduced to all the varieties of empanadas, they were very friendly. I loved the ambiance which included the music. I cannot wait to go back. I will be a lifelong customer. An amazing photo caught my eye, John and Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Absolutely loved it.

Nicely located in an area that isn't too crowded with street parking. The art is fun and retro/80s with superheroes and video games, outdoor seating on nice days. Great service, nice people! A big selection of empanadas and several types of core ingrediants for any taco or burrito combination. They have some Mexican varieties of coffee and chocolate too. The chicken mole burrito was amazing.

When I tell you this is my favorite place in Chicago, I MEAN IT! 10/10 every time- I live 45 minutes away and drive here often to get empanadas. The Rajas and chicken tinga are my faves. Their coffee is also great.

Previously eaten an empandas from Cafe Tola from another establishment. This morning after a dance class, I drove right by so I had to stop in for some empandas for my husband. On this occasion, I grabbed a Horchata Latte which was fantastic. Additionally I got guava & cheese empandas. The guava & cheese was good but overwhelming with cheese. I would of like more guava. For empandas I ordered Chicken Tinga, Birria & Queso and Beef Sirloin empanda. My husband really enjoyed Birria & Queso. He liked the Chicken Tinga but thought the Birria had better flavor. The cafe is very colorful and bright. I thought the staff were very friendly. I would come back but really thinking about learning how to make these at home. Empandas were $6 a piece which is a little hefty for a small item.

I swear... no one makes a better empanada in the city than Cafe Tola!! Fresh, lots of variety, unbelievable combinations and super consistent day after day! Pro tip, don't forget the salsa when you buy them. Been coming to their locations for a decade now and have NEVER BEEN DISAPPOINTED!! Always get served with a smile and friendly attitude... an absolute gem!

This is such a cool place - the location in Lakeview is great, the artwork is bright and beautiful, and the folks working there are delightful (with nice smiles!). I oddly had this introduced to me by a 9 year old, and if a 9 year old can get behind fun plays on the empanada, so can you. He loved the ham, egg, and cheese and I went for the Tika Chicken. Perfectly made, fried, and flavored. I'll definitely be back when I'm in town again. I just wish there were somewhere to sit inside - but even that is part of the charm. In one door, quickly order, smile, out the other.