Bittersweet Pilsen
Bakery · Pilsen
2019 S Laflin St, Chicago, IL 60608
Highlights
Ube croissant, carnitas quiche, pastries, and coffee.
Ube croissant, carnitas quiche, pastries, and coffee.
"The longtime Lakeview bakery expanded to Pilsen with a second location featuring a special menu in collaboration with Top Chef alum Katsuji Tanabe (offering conchas and palmiers) and a carnitas quiche by Marcos Carbajal, marking a major growth for owner Esther Griego." - Ashok Selvam
"We recently checked out Bittersweet. Read our review here. Lakeview’s Bittersweet is bringing its cake, cookies, and cups of hot chocolate to Pilsen. Besides the tried-and-true favorites, this pastry shop and cafe’s second location also has new dishes like conchas and quiche made with carnitas from Carnitas Uruapan." - john ringor, veda kilaru
"Lakeview’s Bittersweet brought its cake, cookies, and cups of hot chocolate to Pilsen. Besides tried-and-true favorites, this bakery and cafe’s second location also has new dishes like conchas and quiche made with carnitas from Carnitas Uruapan. And while the pastries are hit-or-miss in terms of flavor and texture, the ample outdoor seating and bright interior make Bittersweet a great place to enjoy a tranquil cup of coffee." - Veda Kilaru
"Targeted during a debate over gentrification in Pilsen, I saw that Bittersweet Pastry Shop & Cafe had its windows vandalized with graffiti reading “get out of Pilsen” and “gentrifier,” an incident caught on security footage around 2 a.m. on March 1. Owners Esther Griego and Katsuji Tanabe, who are of Mexican descent, opened the Pilsen location in January at 2019 S. Laflin Street after the family brand began in Lakeview 30 years ago, and they emphasize being part of the community by connecting with local schools, hosting writers’ clubs, and staging Dia de los Muertos pop-ups. The shop sells upscale French pastries while also foregrounding its Latin roots—heart-shaped conchas sold out quickly and, after an introduction to Marcos Carbajal, Bittersweet now serves a classic French quiche draped with carnitas—and staff resilience (including head baker Karen Trejo, a Mexico City native) has been notable amid worries about employee safety. The owners filed a police report for the record, cleaned the graffiti, have footage of the vandalism, and say they “will not be intimidated — we as Mexicans,” hoping the episode can be a teachable moment while continuing their daily work." - Ashok Selvam
"Planned to open in September at 2019 S. Laflin Street in Pilsen, the new location features garage doors and a huge patio and is being designed to be a welcoming community space with a big mural and lots of mid-century modern furnishings for a super laid-back vibe. It will offer the same menu of pastries and drinks (served with Metropolis Coffee) and serve as another pickup spot for custom cake orders; the team is still awaiting a decision on a liquor license and is also considering serving coffee slushies." - Sam Nelson
