Cafe Yaya
Restaurant · Wrightwood Neighbors
2431 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
"Lincoln Park’s Cafe Yaya opened with lots of expectations—it’s not easy being the sibling of Galit, one of the best restaurants in Chicago. But this all-day cafe stands out with excellent baked goods that have Middle Eastern flavors. The pastry counter is full of hits: shakshuka buns with tomato sauce and eggs, date cake punched up with rose, pistachio apricot scones, and walnut baklava. And while it’s great to swing by for an on-the-way-to-work galette, the warmly lit dining room has plenty of space to sit with your pastries, coffee, and emails near the open kitchen’s hearth. We haven’t tried dinner yet, but we’re already playing calendar Tetris to plan an evening visit." - adrian kane, john ringor, nick allen, adrian kane, nick allen, nick allen, john ringor, john ringor, nick allen, john ringor, nick allen, nick allen, nick allen, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, adrian kane, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor
"Cafe Yaya opened with lots of expectations—it’s not easy being the sibling of Galit, one of the 25 Best Restaurants In Chicago. But this all-day cafe carves its own path with excellent baked goods with Middle Eastern flavors. The pastry counter is full of hits: shakshuka buns with tomato sauce and eggs, date cake punched up with rose, pistachio apricot scones, and walnut baklava. And while it’s great to swing by for an on-the-way-to-work galette, the warmly lit dining room has plenty of space to sit with your pastries, coffee, and emails near the open kitchen’s hearth." - sam faye, adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru
"Lincoln Park’s Cafe Yaya opened with lots of expectations—it’s not easy being the sibling of Galit, one of the best restaurants in Chicago. But this all-day cafe carves its own path with excellent baked goods with Middle Eastern flavors. The pastry counter is full of hits: shakshuka buns with tomato sauce and eggs, date cake punched up with rose, pistachio apricot scones, and walnut baklava. And while it’s great to swing by for an on-the-way-to-work galette, the warmly lit dining room has plenty of space to sit with your pastries, coffee, and emails near the open kitchen’s hearth." - veda kilaru, john ringor
"The more casual sibling to neighboring Michelin-starred Galit and from the same team, Café Yaya offers Middle Eastern-leaning pastries during the day and European bistro-style dishes at night. That dual personality lends itself to happy hour as well. Available from 2-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, Yaya’s “golden hours” includes $10 cocktails, specially priced glasses of wine, 50 percent off pastries, and a small selection of snacks. Then from 5-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, a more traditional happy hour experience takes place at the bar with $5 beer, wine, and $10 drinks like a medjool date old fashioned and an amaro shakerato." - Lisa Shames
"The team behind Michelin-starred Galit — a finalist for the 2025 James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant — has opened an all-day cafe with fun pastries like mini-croissants, baklava, and more. Cafe Yaya freshens up for dinner with an a la carte menu that allows the Galit crew to showcase other international influences, departing from the Middle Eastern diaspora at the original restaurant. Grab a seat at the bar during the day and enjoy a great cup of coffee and nosh on baked goods." - Ashok Selvam
