Hendrickx Belgian Bread Crafter

We discovered this on our trip to Chicago. We loved the prosciutto breakfast croissant and the mini quiche. We had breakfast there 3 days in a row. Kudos to the gentleman at the register every morning. He was pleasant and informative. I definitely recommend this place!!!

Can’t remember the last time I’ve had a croissant this good— perhaps Paris? So flaky and light, like biting into a cloud. The pistachio chocolate flavor has me a bit puzzled— it was beautifully made and well balanced, but did I like it? I’m still not sure. One of those flavors that has you questioning with every bite. That said it truly tastes of pistachios, reminiscent of the filling texture and composition of an excellent almond croissant, but pistachio. The chocolate surprised me a bit as it seemed almost syrupy in texture— not bad, just not what I’m used to in a croissant. (The picture is after I’ve bitten into it so you can see the green of the filling) If this review hasn’t convinced you to give Hendrickx a try, not sure what’s stopping you! You won’t regret it!

My First Visit – Great Pastries, But Something Felt Off This was my first time visiting Hendrickx Belgian Bread Crafter. I was really excited to try it because I’ve heard great things — and honestly, the pastries did not disappoint. The quality is truly top-notch, and I can see why people rave about it. But while the food was lovely, the customer experience left me feeling personally hurt. As a person of color, I couldn’t help but notice how differently I was treated compared to others in the shop. Several customers who weren’t people of color were greeted and helped with warmth and friendliness. When it was my turn, the tone shifted — not outright rude, but noticeably cold and unwelcoming. It made me feel like I didn’t belong there. I came in looking forward to a great bakery experience. Instead, I walked out with amazing pastries and a heavy feeling I wish I didn’t have to carry. I hope the team reflects on this, because great food should come with a welcoming atmosphere for every customer — no matter their race or background.

I was excited to try Hendrickx which came highly recommended by a friend. I arrived around 9:30am on a Sunday and there was already a line of around 10 people. I got a chocolate croissant and a gruyere croissant -- two items I can never resist. They were $4.50 each which felt pretty reasonable by Boston standards. I thought the croissants were pretty good, though different than what I'm used to. Instead of being flaky, crisp, and rich, they were more soft and chewy. Perhaps this is just the style. I thought the chocolate croissant could have used more chocolate. For the gruyere croissant, it seemed like all of the cheese had seeped out, leaving very little inside of the croissant, so it made it hard to balance the flavors. I personally prefer layered crispy croissants but these were pretty good. I can imagine that these croissants would make pretty great sandwiches. The lemonade was very pure lemonade -- it seems like it was just lemon and water. They gave me a lot of simple syrup to go with it, but even after adding all of it, it wasn't particularly sweet. I also got two of the truffles to go, and I should've known to eat them immediately -- by the time I took them out of my bag, they were completely melted. I put them in the freezer and ate them in their new, flat shape. Even in this form, the truffles were very tasty and I would get them again (and eat them right away) Overall I did enjoy my experience at this bakery. It was quaint and they have a wide variety of croissants. My platonic ideal of a croissant is the frozen chocolate croissant from Trader Joe's so maybe I shouldn't be judging croissants..

Bought country bread and almond croissant. The taste of both was great. Croissant had good amount of marzipan stuffing which was great. Country bread was so fluffy on inside and hard shell outside. Would pair perfectly warmed up and some butter on top of it. Space was a little small at the reception area but overall a nice experience. Service was great.

I had an iced Americano and a canalé. Both were excellent. The canalé had such a good caramelization on the outside and a chewy center. I wish it was warm instead of cold. It would have been significantly better, but you can tell that it was exquisite when it was fresh. There’s hardly anywhere to stand in that tiny space and it’s hot as hell inside, so not very welcoming. There’s very limited seating outside, also. Which is fine, they’re limited by the space that’s available to them, but it’s not the kind of place where you can stick around. I’d love to go back and have a sandwich, though.

Absolutely fantastic pastries and super friendly service here! Their “corona proofing” is very effective and feels quite safe. They encourage walk-ins, but limit the number of people allowed inside to three at a time. They have a wealth of options to choose from, I think more than ten different types of croissant! We tried four and loved them all, we’ll be back for the others ;)

Delicious selection of croissants and baked goods. You can dine-in in a cozy room behind the main room. Loved the Pistachio Chocolate and the Hazelnut Croissants. The macaroons taste good as well. Would visit again.

Whatever you heard about this place....it's true lol The croissants here are very very very good. My girlfriend and I ended up walking out with BAGS of croissants, and we don't regret it one bit lol. We got almond, gryuere, pistachio chocolate, almond chocolate, and hazelnut. We tried as many as we could. They were amazing. The only one I struggled with was the pistachio chocolate. I have a low tolerance for sugar, so it was a bit overwhelming for me. Other than that, the service was great, and they have a cute little dining area that you can sit at and dine. Seating is limited, so be aware.

The croissants here are unbelievably delicious! I highly recommend the pistachio chocolate croissant. The almond one was also great! The cafe storefront is really tiny and they have a little seating area right around the corner when you order your food. The breads all smell amazing. I was tempted to buy a variety of things. The oat milk latte was good, too. This is just the cutest little breakfast spot. I recommend stopping in to get a little treat.

Stopped by her on a Saturday mid-morning for some coffee and croissants that I have read so much about! This cute little shop was small on the inside but was filled with so many delectable looking pastries and desserts. I wanted to try a couple so I got a chocolate croissant, hazelnut croissant, and the caprese croissant (sandwich). Each croissant was outstanding! So fresh, flakey, and delicious!! I do think they forgot the basil on my caprese croissant and it needed some balsamic, but it was very good. I ordered a medium vanilla latte, too, and it was ok. It was very sweet and i couldn't really taste the espresso. Overall, this little belgian bakeshop gem is absolutely worth the visit for some of the most incredible croissants & desserts you can find in Chicago!

Came here for their selection of croissants and they are AMAZING. The staff was so nice and informative on the selection of breads. The croissants are not the biggest but they are delicious. They have limited seating indoors for maybe up to 10 people total but they have some outdoor seating for the warmer weathers.

So good we came here two days in a row! All their croissants are really delicious! Small seating area located through the kitchen, but very nice to get out of the cold and enjoy your food. Staff is friendly!

We stopped by to pick up some breakfast this morning and found this place a hidden gem. It has a large selection of croissants. We got the chocolate pistachio one and liked it a lot. We also liked the apple tart and javanais. Service was great as they took great care of packing everything properly. The hazelnut coffee cake mignon is a bit too sweet for me. Definitely a great place for breakfast or dessert.

AMAZING CROISSANTS!!!! We tried a cheese one, chocolate almond & plain. I know it sounds boring compared to other options they have, but the plain was my favorite -- definitely a classic & a must have. It was so buttery, flaky, soft & fresh. The cheese one was very good as well. The chocolate almond was good too, but I don't think I would get it again. Inside is very small, so it's better to take everything to go, but they do have seating some seating outside too. If you can, I would go sooner rather than later. This place is busy & you want to go before all the best options are sold out. Overall, I highly recommend!!!!

Not the best photos because it was a little dark in here, but the taste makes up for it. I had a caramel latte with oat milk which was one of the best I've had in the city so far. The workers are very friendly and have good recommendations as well. I overheard one of them saying a lot of people get the croissant, but they were out when I went :(. This place is a little hard to find as well since there's not much signage and it's a little

The food? Incredible. The service? TOP NOTCH. Even the prices are great! This will quickly become a new staple for my visits to Chicago in the future.

Amazing authentic Belgian/French Bakery. Don't even second guess yourself. Everything here is well made. Just try it and thank me later. I recommend everything on the menu. EVERYTHING IS GOOD!

I didn't know this place existed for the longest time but it's SO good. Fresh bread and delicious sandwiches are perfect for lunch. My friend ordered a sandwich on GF bread and received what looked like 2 sandwiches. Despite being on full slices of bread... each "sandwich"was only half! They're super friendly in there, but it is a little small so you might not find a place to sit.

Got a rye bread there. It is located on a small street near the Magnificent mile. The bread was different from the ones I had before. Indeed, it looked and tasted more like a toast, instead of "artisan rustic bread". It was soft and fluffy, which was quite interesting and new to me. Still, there is flavor of multigrain. What I do not like very much is that the bread is way too salty. The bakery does not accept my card strangely. So to play safe you may bring some cash with you. This is also the main reason for 3 stars. For me, I was lucky enough to have someone paid for me. Extremely thankful to him!

I recommend a cappuccino and the gluten free almond muffin for a brief city break. The muffin has a secret almond filling that surprised me with its deliciousness. There are nice places to sit inside and outside.

Wow, the blueberry croissant, pistachio croissant, and cappuccinos were all great and 10/10! The owners are very friendly and welcoming. My only suggestion would be to add more seating, the indoor seating room was closed as they were using it to package bakery orders- definitely a busy and popular place! Sitting outside is nice if you can snag a table!

Its not hype but fact that this is as close to Paris croissants you can get in chicago besides St Roger Abbey's Wilmette outpost. Arrived at 8:15 am to a deep line of informed regulars and let me tell you the triple chocolate one is a revelation! Posted some pics of their wares and assured by regulars everything is good!

This establishment has the best croissants with many different flavors. I've been here several times and it never disappoints! Friendly staff. Some seating inside and outside.

OK, here's the thing about this place - it's not that the food (mostly in-house baked European-inspired pastries) and the drink (mostly of the brewed variety), are not good. It's just that all of it comes with a large side of "snob." I am an aficionado of snob. Don't get me wrong. I embrace my inner Frasier all the time. But this place just does so in a way that is not justified by its level of offerings. Yes, the in-house made desserts are of good quality, and appear to use good ingredients. But they are not perfect. Nor nearly so. The sandwich that my dining companion ordered (a chicken or tuna salad, I believe, with a ton of yellow saffron on it, or turmeric) appeared just "overwrought" for lack of a better word. It did not look very appetizing to me. The croissant I ordered was a bit dry and lacked the delightful "weightlessness" that makes this French pastry so sought after. I think we also ordered some chocolates and other breads, and though they *looked* impressive, it was more "good enough for Government work" than exquisite, at least where typical French patisseries are concerned. At least on the day that I came. It's also rather expensive (if that's a concern of yours). As for ambience, the shop was also lacking in some finesse. I was a new customer, but it had a Seinfeldian-soup-"Nazi" experience of ordering. I asked questions about some of the items, only to have partial, and perfunctory half-explanations tossed back. (Again, that's fine if the food is AMAZING, but considerably less charming if the food is just good, or middle-of-the-road). It's a tiny little shop, no place to sit or even stand around and partake. But there is a little outdoor area with a couple of brightly-colored, European bistro style tables and chairs, which I appreciated. My companion and I stayed for a little after they closed, which was nice for them to allow. Though, eventually, we got barked at to leave. I didn't mind being ushered away. I just wish it could have been done with a more genteel European politeness, rather than Chicagoan. Would I go back? Sure, why not, if I were in the area. But this bakery, despite its tantalizing promise, will not become a destination spot for me.

Best croissants and baked goods! Great customer service, this place is a must if you're in the area! Loved the almond croissant the most!

First of all, the staff was extremely pleasant and quick! Also, I was unaware that they had indoor seating but thank goodness they did because I wanted to enjoy my blueberry croissant without it being diluted by snow. Everything in there looked and smelled fantastically delicious! I was sad that they're out of hot chocolate and their coffee isn't that great but it's OK because it's not a coffee shop!

Absolutely amazing this was our first time here and everyone was super welcoming, the food was amazing, and the indoor and outdoor seating is comfortable and quiet. It's a beautiful place to stop in for breakfast!

Just slightly off the beaten path (Mag Mile) there's this small bakery that fits about five customers at a time when a line trails out the door. Inside you'll find nice people, and behind them, an assortment of croissants, muffins, cookies, and other freshly baked goods. I've enjoyed picking up almond croissants and blueberry danishes on crisp, quiet mornings before the crowd has yet to form. No indoor seating, but there is a patio area that fits about a dozen people in tables for two.

breakfast lunch. from start to finish. Delicious it feels like you are in Europe. They bake everything fresh every day on site! a true throwback. just wonderful.

Stopped this morning to get some breakfast. I was with my Pug and Dachshund. I noticed that they had a sign for " Only service animals", so I respectfully left. As I am walking out a gentleman came out and I explained that I was leaving because of the aforementioned sign. He said, no worries and that we can work something out. I was SUPER glad for such a nice gesture from the owner. The shop was super cute. Especially since you are greeted with a Vermeer painting (Girl with a pearl earring). Very nice touch. I ordered a chocolate and almond croissants. I have to say that they were delicious. At first I didn't think much about the almond croissant, but when I got to the center... wow. It reminded me of this Spanish almond cookies. Delicious. If you came to Chicago to eat on a local shop that is not a food chain, this place is a must visit.

First, I live across the street from the bakery and have been coming here for years and years. I have endured the quirky (understatement of the year) staff changes over the years, the baffling long waits in line etc, because I love their croissants. But I was in during the Air and Water show weekend with my service dog when I was fussed out by one of the owners. As I was walking in, another smaller, non service animal sitting beside the door began yapping, My dog didn't do a thing. I went to go stand in line and the owner waved me out. I went home to drop off my dog. I went back to pick up croissants and explain : my dog IS A SERVICE DOG. She is Good Citizen, Advanced Good Citizen and Service Dog CERTIFIED, we have been in the establishment many times and you CANNOT discriminate against people protected by the ADA. Go ahead and fuss away, but it is ILLEGAL to discriminate against me with my service dog. My dog didn't do a thing. Please take a beat before you fly off the handle. I was met with an unpleasant, curt response, completely lacking in any level of customer service. Instead I was told "It was Air and Water show weekend blah blah blah." The thing is, it wasn't that crowded. There weren't a ton of people behind me and in no way did the situation call for such unpleasantness. Please have the maturity and business acumen to admit when you've made a mistake. They simply mismanaged the situation and lost a dedicated customer. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!

Blueberry Croissant - 5/5. Great texture on the outside, tart curd and blueberries, successful combination. Chocolate Mousse - 5/5. Exceptional, one of my wife's best ever. Light and full. Kept great in the fridge and had some fun eating it with raspberries. Pistachio Chocolate Croissant - 3.5/5. The bites where the pistachio filling and chocolate filling were separated were quite good, but the blending competed ineffectively. Almond Croissant - 3/5. Good texture with wonderful crisp almonds on top but way too much and overly dense filling made the almond extract overwhelming.

Some of the freshest croissants I've ever had. Every single time they're flaking and baked to perfection. My favorite are the chocolate croissant and the Gruyère croissants. Aside from their perfect croissants, hendrickxs also offers an array of baked pastries, breads, and coffees/lattes. Be sure to get their early! There's always a line out the door right after they open at 9 am

Everything remains excellent! This place remains very important to those of us who are local neighborhood residents. The quality of the food and friendliness and welcoming demeanor of the owners as well as all those who work there are a great comfort. It is our great fortune. Try anything they create, you will enjoy everything!

Catered lunch for a small meeting from here today, got 7 sandwiches cut in half and I must say it was like getting 14 fulls sandwiches. Obviously the bread is great quality and what they do best, all were fantastic. Highly recommend and will be back for the desserts I took many photos of to send to family because they look Devine!

Excellent breads Excellent Pastries Fast & efficient Service. Very good coffee ! Try the Egg Salad on Croissant! Fantastic little spot !

First reaction: It's big. Pick it up: It's heavy. It's a family bakery with a lot of ingredients Taste: crisp outside soft inside, not super buttery The skin crunches and is golden in color. But the inner structure is not clear, more to the soft and chewy side Appearance: The external pastry is evenly layered and colored, but the overall shape is slender, not delicate There is no honeycomb structure inside It's very big! It's 1.5 times the size of a normal croissant Summary: The outer crust is very burnt after re-baking, not much slag, the overall butter aroma and wheat aroma is weak, the taste has a light salty taste. It's not fluffy. It's very s inside. Delicious!

I don't understand how this place has so many good reviews. I ordered quite a bit and wasn't happy with any of it. Everything tasted as though it had been in a refrigerator for too long. The croissants were dry/stale, the macarons were very sweet. The St. Honore that I paid $70+ for was terrible. It was made with some sort of orange pastry cream that looked as though it was slapped onto choux pastry. I had to place the order three days in advance and the whole thing was not only sloppy but everything tasted old. I won't ever come back to this place again.

The staff is so friendly and helpful! They have a small hidden seating area behind the kitchen. Everything was yummy! Definitely coming back for more

This is a very unassuming place that we happened to stumbled upon! We were greeted immediately, and they described all of the desserts to us. I was very impressed with their gluten-free selection and couldn't decide what to get. The man (possibly owner?) recommended both the javonais and the Icelandic chocolate lava cake, and I went with the javonais. It was a beautiful cake with layers of espresso-soaked almond flour cake, chocolate ganache, and a coffee cream. It was absolutely delicious. It tasted very much like tiramisu but richer, so don't expect to eat the whole thing! Sometimes these layered cakes lack flavor, but every single layer was bursting with flavor! My sister got the chocolate croissant and said it was delicious too. The javonais was about $9, but the price is worth it. The croissant was $4, I believe. They have indoor seating, and you can even peek inside the kitchen to see them bake! I will definitely be back next time I'm in Chicago to try their Icelandic chocolate lava cake.

Best croissants in town! Loooove this place. I try to get there early because parking is a nightmare around there but is sooo worth the drive, parking and wait

Absolute perfection! This place has stuff that is as good as any cafe in Europe. The breads, the small cakes, the soups, the sandwiches, it's all great. The Belgian iced coffee is very good, though a little sweet. The place is small but has a small place to sit, and tables outside for when it is nice. Really fabulous place!

Wow what amazing croissants! Small place where you order at the counter. Limited outside and counter seating. I would absolutely go there when next in Chicago.

Last Sunday I purchased 2 Croissant and 1 Almond Croissant. Please, they are NO BELGIUM CROISSANT. The quality does not match a Belgium Croissants.

Purchased two croissants and a petit quiche and was very happy with both. I recently returned from a trip to Amsterdam and Paris and these were that good! Would stop there again!

Full disclosure that I am Belgian and many of these treats like eclair and pain au chocolat I grew up with and remember selecting in the bakery with my god mother on Sunday. We came here to check it out one Sunday. The place was packed. Door was swinging constantly with more hungry customers stumbling in for some tasty treats. The kitchen was large and visible in the back. The couple of tables am outside were all Full though it wasn't even lunch yet. My daughter loves croissant. We were bummed to find they had sold out by 11. We got a quarter load of bread which was huge and a squash soap which was delicious and warm and nourishing while Just a tiny bit sweet. I had gotten the pear salad and frankly was a little disappointed with the balance of other veggies to greens. Nonetheless the food was good and it is authentic. Now I just want my pistolet et gateau de Verviers

Despite its hidden location, staff were lovely and provided great service. I ordered some croissants and sandwiches. The croissants were buttery and flaky and not overly sweet. I can see why they are well-known for them. On the other hand, their sandwiches were dull in comparison. The prosciutto and croissant sandwich was not properly dressed and could have benefitted from being toasted. The chicken curry sandwich had practically no flavor and needed some greens to brighten it up - the bread also needed to be toasted or buttered. I would only recommend their pastries alone.

Tiny place but mighty menu! They have a variety of goodies available from bread to coffee drinks to fancy desserts. Staff are also friendly and will explain any French words you don't know :) Next time, I would head there first thing in the morning for the best pick! Unfortunately they ran out of croissants when we went. Will totally try to grab one next time. The Belgian hot chocolate was the speciality of the day, which was quite rich yet super delicious. I enjoyed the eclair, which tasted super fresh and decadent. Coffee drinks were decent, nothing over the top. I asked for an extra espresso shot but still found some flavor lacking. I just wish they had indoor seating because it gets quite cold in Chicago! Will definitely give this place another shot.

One of my favorite croissant places in the city! My husband and I have stopped by twice over the last month - both times we have gotten the Belgian Croissant and could not be happier. The staff is friendly, efficient, and everyone is required to wear masks and adhere to the 6 feet+ rule. The croissant is on the doughier side, and I recommend putting it in the toaster oven to get that crispy factor! So happy to have delicious croissants only a short walk away from us!

It took a bit of human gps to locate Hendrickx Belgian Bread Crafter (2/19/20), but once found it is a pleasant bake shop. I had a fairly large bacon and gruyere croissant. Missed out on having a more substantial breakfast at the hotel, so this was a much welcomed treat. Tiny front retail area, but I could see a good sized production kitchen around the corner. There was a variety of baked goods, including inventive ones for specific target clientele. There was definite passersby traffic for takeout pastries. I'd give this more of a 3.5 stars, especially since the proprietor allowed me to have a glossy magazine on Chicago restaurants.

The bread, macarons and eclair were delicious. You have to remember that this isn't a french bakery so the macarons are going to taste different. They were still tasty - my favorite one is the hazelnut! The bread was really good! Since the bread is fresh, I cut a few slices to freeze so I could enjoy it another time. The bread is really good toasted with butter. The eclair had a lot of filling in it and it was delicious too. I can't wait to try other items.

We came to Hendrickx to get some croissants and coffee. The place is small with not much room to sit down and enjoy your coffee and croissant. The service was great. The young lady that took our order was very nice and welcoming. The prices were also reasonable. I ordered a cafe au lait and I didn't like it. I thought it would taste similar to a Cafe con leche or a latte, but didn't. Tasted to light and not the kick that I needed for the morning. We ordered their Belgian croissant and an almond chocolate croissant. The Belgian croissant was good but the not best I've ever had. It wasn't flaky or buttery, like I prefer. The almond chocolate was a disappointment. I thought I would enjoy a croissant with a lot of chocolate inside, but what I got was a tiny bit of chocolate with almond paste. Not exactly the taste I was looking for. I'm not sure I'd return here anytime soon. They do have other pastries that I wouldn't mind tasting, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here.

Baked goods and breads are wonderful! Very European ambience! Casual atmosphere! Would recommend!

Wonderful authentic bakery from the motherland. Tried it on a whim and it was worth it.

The space is hidden space but worth the walk! Croissants and red hand delicious. The bread was so good! And the service was kind and welcoming. It's a tight space but definitely worth it!

OMG! Love this teeny tiny spot that explodes with decadent yummies! If your weren't looking for it you'd almost miss it! I could contain myself Apple turnover was stuffed and fluffy Quiche de jour was buttery abs flavorful Almond Croissant ... look delicious and saving for lata And they have this Travel Loaf that just fir kicks since I'm traveling I had to have And made a very tasty cappuccino for me to take to go! On my Chitown fav list!! Do treat yourself

Having lived in Belgium previously, I was excited to see a Belgian bakery near my hotel. However, once my excitement subsided, I was reminded that Belgium isn't really famous for its bread or pastries. I spent way too much money here over the course of a weekend, really trying hard to love it. I got two of the mignon (mini) cakes. The pistachio one was a hit, a bit dry, but with good flavor. The dark chocolate one was fine, but we were full and didn't feel the need to finish or save the half we didn't eat. I also got some of the Belgian country bread and the Bruegel. The country loaf was decent. While I usually enjoy a dark, hearty bread, the Bruegel was not enjoyable to me or my family, but it isn't bad if you put enough stuff on it to mask the strong flavor. The madeleines were probably the best thing I tried there, and I feel like they were a very solid 3/5, a bit overcooked but with good flavor. On the plus side, this is certainly better than the other options in the neighborhood, and the owners are very nice. I'd come back if I were in the area to try a few other things and support local business, but I probably wouldn't get any of the same things again.