Cafe Yaya
Restaurant · Wrightwood Neighbors ·
Middle Eastern pastries & European-influenced lunches, great coffee
Middle Eastern pastries & European-influenced lunches, great coffee
"Familiar but adventurous, this Lincoln Park cafe has quickly become a weekend staple, with lines out the door for executive pastry chef Mary Eder-McClure’s baked goods that carry the warmth of her Lebanese and Jewish roots with a Midwestern sensibility—“top-notch pastries with a personal touch,” as head chef Zach Engel says. It feels like the kind of rom-com cafe where you meet a best friend to scheme, share a secret, or people-watch between bites, a space that invites reflection and connection. When I visited, the person sitting next to me even sent over a dessert after thanking me for being kind about their baby’s crying, a small act that perfectly reflected the environment Yaya set out to create. Opened in March as a follow-up to the group’s Michelin-starred Galit, it aims for the universal comfort Engel describes: “We want our guests to feel like they’re visiting an old friend who’s geared up to take care of them,” while offering different experiences at different times of day." - Tajah Ware
"The team behind two great Middle Eastern spots is bringing them together for a few exclusive dishes. Harissa glaze and green garlic labneh ranch (two wings per order) Armenian-spiced pastrami, topped with urfa caesar and radicchio Eggplant, charred scallions, and pita chips Halvah chocolate chunk cookie and vanilla ice cream" - team infatuation
"The team behind two great Middle Eastern spots is bringing them together. Galit serves incredible brisket hummus and falafel, and is one of the 25 best restaurants in Chicago. Cafe Yaya’s baklava solidified it as one of our favorite bakeries. Come see what EEEEEATSCON exclusives the sibling restaurants come up with." - Team Infatuation
"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
