Cafe Tola #4

It’s a cute little spot in the busy side of Logan that deserves all the love! So many empanada flavors it was hard to choose but I decided to settle my sweet and savory cravings and got a salsa verde chicken empanada and a banana Nutella empanada. The chicken was so juicy and flavorful it was so good. The banana Nutella really helped get that sweet craving. So good! Only thing is I’m sad the lavender lemonade was mostly ice and didn’t really have a lot of flavor, I wish it had both more lemon and more lavender! Overall great food for solid prices. Yum! 😋

Ordered a couple tacos and an empanada. Chicken verde was decent and a large portion with lots of onions. My “seasonal veggie” taco wasn’t so much a taco as (I strongly suspect) a bag of mixed frozen vegetables that were steamed, then served on top of a tortilla. Just call it a side of vegetables 😂 there are plenty of ways to make a good veggie taco but this was not it The empanada was good and if I came back here I’d stick to those.

Eating some tacos by the light of neon is a vibe. I got the skirt steak and al pastor. It hit the spot. The portions were generous and delicious. Cool little spot if there’s open seating. I’m hoping to cross paths with the other locations soon.

This Cafe Tola # 4 is more crowded and disorganized than other locations. I ordered the same as always: Cafe con Leche y la Empanadas De Guava con Queso. The coffee was identical, but the empanada crust had a different consistency; it was not smooth or warm and had less guava. The service was attentive, and the prices were the same. I will return and try the other empanadas; Cafe Tola offers at least ten different empanadas to discover. I spent $9.66 for a medium coffee and one empanada, similar to Starbucks prices but less corporate, with better food and a more pleasant atmosphere. I am grateful we have more choices for morning coffee for Hispanic preferences. I lower the rating because the bathroom is used as storage, which could be acceptable if things were neat and organized. But it gives a wrong impression when you come in.

Small place- primarily pick up only. They do have some bar stools and a small table inside or tables on the sidewalk if it’s nice. I work nearby so it’s my go to for coffee and an empanada/breakfast taco. Staff is nice/friendly- accommodating when I ask my tacos to be made with corn tortillas. I recommend the lechon and green spicy pork empanadas- can’t go wrong! Also don’t skip on their salsa, it’s homemade and delicious!

You can sit outside and enjoy these with your dog. There is a large variety of empanadas to try. The skin is really thin and crispy like a wonton wrapper so it’s mostly delicious filling.

First time here and it was nice little place to enjoy some empanadas. We came in Saturday around 7pm. We ordered empanadas de birria and guava con queso. The guava was delicious the birria was ok because the cheese was nice and hot but the birria was super cold. Will definitely be back to try more.

On a brutally hot 95 degree day, Cafe Tola managed to save me with delicious food. Food: I ended up stopping here after a long walk in the heat with some friends. I got the chicken salsa verde burrito with was exceptional and washed it down with a water and glass bottle Coke. Couldn't ask for anything more. Service: I only dealt with the cashier, but she was super nice and patient with me. Aesthetic: Wasn't a fan of the drink stock being in the middle of the floor, but it is a small place so it is understandable. I did like the vibe and it was a nice "quick-eats" spot.

Cafe Tola is great. It doesn't really have seating space at this location but that's fine. Their burritos and tacos are excellent. Their chicken verde burrito is juicy and flavorful and huge. It's $12 (after tax). I'd say that's a good value. I have no idea why anyone eat at a chipotle over Cafe Tola. There is no comparison. Chipotle is absolute garbage in comparison. 4.5 stars for Cafe Tola.

I saw their food truck at the Millennium park art festival over the weekend and thought I'd give it a shot. The empanadas were around $10 each which is pretty pricy in my opinion. They were really good though! My favorite of the two is the spinach one. The Lechon/pork empanada was pretty good with some fatty bits inside. The salsa pairs really well with the empanadas. The service was really quick. The ambiance for the food truck was near the festival so it was a tad busy and loud.

Horchata Latte is king! So damn good it's been my daily need and pit stop after daycare drop off when the husband goes on a work trip. Guilty t for being her for at least 5x a month which is such an addiction First time trying it hot versus cold this month and still same amazing taste. My go to empanada is always the birra & cheese. If it's not there I don't get anything else it's just my favorite. Parking sucks! Now there's only one side to park on Milwaukee which kind of slow down my stop here because the only side to park is on the same side of the shop where as I'm driving from the opposite but if i really really want to treat myself I park around the corner and walk which is mission in the cold but sometimes it's worth the cold for a pick me up. Treat yourself often.

We came here to try out their coffee and also ended up taking an empanada home. The staff was great and they didn't take long to make our coffee. My wife ordered their dulce de leche and I ordered their horchata latte. My wife really loved hers and my horchata latte tasted great as well. We took a chorizo & egg empanada home. It was definitely good, but pricey for an empanada. They do have a huge variety of empanadas I'm just not sure they're worth the price. Will definitely be back for their coffee though.

Thank god i looked this up on yelp bc now i know theres one in ny!!! I loved this place and the guava cheese empanada was so gd scrumptious. Horchata latte also v sweet and yum

Definitely only get these from a brick and mortar not delivery, they did not taste the same and also did not come with salsa. Overall they are still delicious and well known for their breakfast tacos! Great cold brew too!

Gotta love this Logan gem. It's the best pick me up empanada. It's tasty and consistent and they sometimes have new flavors you can try. Very easy grab and go shop that might have lines but they go fast. I love to take their table outside whenever it's free.

I know tons of people love this location and the reviews are generally great. So, it's safe for me to say that I was not the biggest fan of this location. The lines are long and it's just empanadas from what I understand. There's another larger location about two blocks away and I believe that one serves burritos and tacos. I'm more excited about that location. My wife loves Cafe Tola and I trust her judgment. Unfortunately, by the time I get to taste any of the goodies, it's in the evening after work and not fresh out of the fryer. From what I see, the ambiance is cozy and divey. Regular customers know the routine. Line up outside the door, order, and eat outside at the few tables and chairs. Or there's a long shelf where you can stand and eat as well. I hear the horchata latte is yummy. I'm excited about that too:)

I really love Cafe Tola- the biggie smalls tacos, quesadilla options and of course empanadas are amazing! However, the last three times I've gone to the Milwaukee Ave store in Logan, I've been given the wrong quesadillas- I always order the Al pastor quesadillas, and 2 times I've gotten home to find steak quesadillas instead- and once I discovered that I had received a pork based one (not sure which, but definitely not al pastor). While I realize not checking each quesedilla before leaving the store is on me, it's frustrating when the correct order is repeated back both when I order as well as when I receive the food- only for them to be continuously wrong. This never used to be an issue at this location, but now it's happened three times in a row, over the course of a month or so. Cafe Tola- I want to keep supporting you and your amazing food, but it's starting to feel like you don't really care!

I have a weird obsession with Cafe Tola. Their empanadas are definitely the best & I love the little red salsa. The coconut curry vegan, cheese & potato poblano, and chicken tika are my top three. They reheat ah-mazing in the air fryer if you have one.

I'm back again a month later and still pleased! They were out of birria tho which was a bummer. This time, I tried the biggie smalls taco because I love the name. It has steak, egg, and cheese. The steak is so good, and they cover it all with a ton of melty, gooey cheese! The spicy pork empanada has pinto beans and potato inside. It wasn't my favorite, but it was still pretty good. The sauce that comes with the empanadas is very good. I also tried the dulce de leche latte, and I was pleased that it wasn't too sweet despite the name. I love Cafe Tola!

I've been to 3 of the Cafe Tolas and this one is weird. Like the empanadas taste noticeably different from the Cafe Tola on Southport and the Cafe Tola on California. I get the Mexican Egg and the Gauva and Queso one regularly and the Mexican Egg was missing all the flavor here. And both empanadas had a slightly different pastry crust. This is weird. Why is this one location different?

Flavorful empanadas! Yes!! The sweetest staff, the yummiest latin cuisine, and such a cute aesthetic inside and out. Great outdoor seating.

Their impanadas and pozole are worth the trip. Amazing. And horchata latte, oh my! I would like to thank my amazing daughter for find this spot! 10/10 would recommend!

On a brutally hot 95 degree day, Cafe Tola managed to save me with delicious food. Food: I ended up stopping here after a long walk in the heat with some friends. I got the chicken salsa verde burrito with was exceptional and washed it down with a water and glass bottle Coke. Couldn't ask for anything more. Service: I only dealt with the cashier, but she was super nice and patient with me. Aesthetic: Wasn't a fan of the drink stock being in the middle of the floor, but it is a small place so it is understandable. I did like the vibe and it was a nice "quick-eats" spot.

If I could give 20 stars I would! I very rarely go somewhere and eat something, and from first bite, feel as if I can no longer live without said food item... but here, I don't know what I will do without these empanadas! I was just in town visiting my sister for the weekend, so now anytime I go visit her, I know where my first stop will be! ***FOOD*** Let's start with the food because 100/10. I have just never tasted something so delicious in my life. The sweet lady at the register recommended the poblano pepper potato empanada (idk the exact name of it) but she said it was a popular vegetarian one, so I said sure! I love peppers. This was sooo incredible, it was like jalapeño cheese popper meets pierogi meets hot pocket (but ofc way better than a hot pocket) it was just so good! It says best empanadas in Chicago but I think they're the best in the world. ***STAFF*** So kind and helpful! :) ***INSIDE*** A small bar against the wall for seating and a little table out front so you can sit to enjoy your food but it's really mainly for to-go. ***CONCLUSION*** I will be counting down the days until I visit my sister again so I can come try more flavors!

This was the best al pastor taco that I've had that didn't require me to go to Pilsen. The staff was hospitable and made me a fresh coconut curry empanada right before they were about to close their doors. It is the most tasty vegetarian empanada that I've ever had! And the al pastor taco -- chef kisses! If I lived around the corner, I would be a common regular. I am certainly looking forward to returning!

Really excellent lunch spot. Great food, sauces and service. Highly recommend! Chill atmosphere

Cafe Tola's food can be a bit hit-or-miss. I ordered three empanadas, which came to around $24 with tip (yikes). My first empanada was black bean/plantain/goat cheese, which was fantastic-- earthy, sweet, and crispy. I also got vegan sirloin, which was decent but would've been bland had I not added hot sauce. The last empanada I got was egg and pico de gallo. The pico de gallo had almost no presence in the dish, so the main flavor/texture came from the eggs, which were unseasoned and dry/crumbly from the deep-frying. I found this one to be pretty nasty. The atmosphere was fun, and the food would've been worth 4 stars had the price not been outrageously high. I am open to coming back, but I probably wouldn't go for the empanadas.

Absolutely love this place. Their huge selection of empanadas always hit the spot, but I'm always a sucker for the Biggie Smalls tacos (carne asada breakfast taco). It seems pricey, but you get a lot of food packed into those empanadas, tacos, and especially those breakfast burritos. I love the salsa it comes with. There's extremely limited dine-in seating, but most people come here for take-out anyways. Never disappoints.

Great steak & egg burrito. Super tasty green pork empanadas. Friendly and prompt service. Great variety for a regular place.

Why are ALL of the lights on AND the OPEN SIGN on if the place isn't OPEN.....? No hours posted on the door... Every OTHER Cafe Tola location is OPEN @7am....

Really great food if you're looking for authentic Mexican street food. It's a small little establishment next to a Target off of Logan Square. I had the beef skirt tacos and a couple of my family members had the birria tacos. My daughter had the beef (ground) meat empanada and everything was great. The skirt steak had no bristle or fat and were generously portioned.

Homie at the counter, hooked me up with the Pork Belly Tacos, I mean damn. These Tacos was A1, try with it the sauce as well, very nice establishment. The service is A1, it's a little tough to get to the bathroom but the the bathroom is spotless in case you need to take care of business

This place is super close and I've been wanting to try it so I finally did. I love that place is locally owned. The atmosphere was great and the staff was so friendly. The menu is reasonably priced. I got a breakfast taco that had chorizo, eggs, and potatoes. It was delicious! I also got a white chocolate mocha and it tasted so good and warmed me up from being outside in the cold. I'm so excited to come back and try their empanadas because I know that's what they're known for. I'd also like to try their other coffee options as well. So glad this gem of a place is close to me!

Stopped in here off of recommendations from Yelp, wanted to show love to a local small business. Very disappointed my friend had a Verde chicken burrito was also disappointed in the flavor of the food. The beans tasted like they came out of a can. Steak taco meat was burnt to a crisp, literally! They don't have a bathroom and parking near here is a big problem. I wanted to love it ended up hating it spent $30 wasted

First, I want to say that I LOVE Tola. I frequently go to any one of the locations but today unfortunately I heard the staff at the register tell a cyclist to f'off when they complained about the business illegally parking out front. The man had frustration in his voice but did not shout or use profanity. The woman at the register was out of line and inappropriate, completely unprofessional. The cyclist was in the right explaining he has been hit by a car because of their illegal parking in the bike lane. I do not want to cause harm to one of my favorite local establishments, but the owners need to address this issue of parking to make it safe for everyone and with the staff about their unprofessional attitude. Hope this is helpful for improvement and I do hope to return for a better experience in the future. I'm a loyal customer with genuine concerns and with all the respect to the establishment.

Needed a little treat for lunch, so I walked around the area and saw that they were open. Really glad I went in! They have a huge selection of empanadas with a few different vegetarian/vegan options. I especially loved their Vegan Sirloin empanada. Wonderfully flavorful, their hot sauce makes it even better. Very little seating but this wasn't a problem for me as I was the only person seated at the time I was there. The person at the register was super friendly. Great experience, exactly what I needed, and I look forward to coming back!

Loooooooove cafe tola. We tried multiple things 1. The pork belly, eggs and beans taco which consisted of what I would call a chicharon with egg and beans. The taco was very big and the beans were really good. 2. Try the lavender lemonade it was delicious, it made me buy lavender syrup. 3. The coffee wasn't my favorite. Good flavor but not strong for my liking. 3. The best part are the empanadas. I love that they are flavorful not bland. Our favorite were the red and green spicy pork. The place is small, enough for maybe one couple to eat inside. Place your order to go.

I'm not quite sure what to say about cafe Tola, one word comes to mind- yes. Yes, try it Yes, it's a bit pricey Yes, try as all the different empanadas (my favorites are lechon and green spicy pork) Yes, the coffee is good Yes, it's not like other empanadas Yes, they have tacos and burritos Yes, their salsa is so good, I wish they sold it. (Hint hint nudge nudge) Just. Yes.

Empanadas are off the chain. Don't get addicted. I went back 3 days in a row. I've finally taken control back over my life.

Seriously delicious empanadas. I've been wanting to try these and finally glad I did! They were so flavorful and tasty. We tried the lechón, queso con chile poblano, ropa vieja & mole con pollo. They did not disappoint. Can't wait to try some of the other ones next time.

Amazinggg tacos here. We only got a small selection but it's quality and a good price for what you get!

This place can never disappoint, i always go to them for good empanadas which ever you choose you will never regret it best flavor great service and just overall amazing place.

I personally find the location on California better than the one on Milwaukee. My only advice for the location on Milwaukee would be to drain the empanadas better after removing them from the fryer.

There empanada are huge and delicious! The sauce is also delicious! The customer service is great! This a to go experience. I was hoping to sit and and enjoy empanadas and a latte. However the space does not accommodate the experience.

This place is 10/10 It's very tiny with cozy ambiance, they have the best empanadas!! The empanadas are big and so many flavors you'll have a hard time deciding which one to get, soooo delicious. The ladies are super nice and they make the best coffee as well, highly recommend this place for a quick bites in the morning with your coffee.

Amazing empanadas!! Had the guava and cheese, chicken tinga, green chicken, vegan, & steak bean potato. Great quality and large portion. Soooo worth it!

Authentic Latin mom and pop feel. Great food with an amazing horchata latte. Staff are very helpful explaining everything on the menus

Went there and the empanadas was greasy and the staff was rude. Won't be going back. There other locations are this bad.

Empanadas. Come to eat them. My faves are the pintos/cheese and the poblano/potato. Also get a coffee (horchata latte anyone? Iced or hot, it is a lovely treat.)

Straightforward, honest, fast and delicious! These empanadas cured my hangover. The service was quick and kind! I will be back every time I visit Chicago!

I love this restaurant, my boyfriend and I pick up empanadas and tacos here 3-4 times a week but your female employee with the blue eyes makes the experience awful every time. Today was the third time She refused to fry empanadas when there weren't any in the case but were available in the kitchen. I only ever have this issue with her. The other employees actually volunteer to make more without you even asking. Your employee is lazy, not personable and does not even do simple things to help out customers that spend a lot of money with your establishment. Very disappointed. We will stop coming here if her behavior isn't corrected. Ps we were given TWO of the wrong empanada today and tried to call back but no one answered.

If you want good empanadas this is the place! Also the pork belly breakfast taco is amazing.

Café Tola opening up a new location around the corner from me is the best news I've had all year. Everything is delicious but I have a soft spot for their chicken molé. Their empanadas are great too. Everything is made with love. Hope the staff isn't tired of me yet!

I just moved in around here and have eaten here 3 times already. The people are so nice and the food is always fresh and great. A lot of veggie options! Great. Value.

Have eaten several times at this place on Southport - not sure if same owners. Was never impressed with flavors - now that their in my neighborhood walked by and they needed another shot. Ordered 4 empanadas - all dry, no flavor, ricotta & spinach no flavor too much spinach, chicken and mole - no mole, pinto and cheese one clump of cheese on top a dry ball of beans & one steak and potato - no potatoes weird texture steak. Took forever to get guac and chips while made in house definitely over cooked chip not for either - Millennials in LS who think this is Hispanic food might sustain it but I won't be back. Bland bland bland. And the girl the at counter super unfriendly.

The empanadas are good but do not come here for the coffee. It's weak, tastes like dirty water. I think they count on customers adding liberal amounts of milk and sugar to mask the fact that they aren't using enough coffee. It could be a money saving ploy or simply lack of technique.

I love Café Tola! I've been going to the one on California for a while and love to introduce friends to it. It's dangerous that this new location is only 2 blocks from my house. Their empanadas and tacos are so delicious. I live for the pancita con huevos breakfast taco. I also love their coconut iced coffee and the horchata latte. I got hungry just writing this; I think I'll walk over there now.