Junebug Cafe Portage Park

Amazing. Beignets were the bomb dot com. Service awesome too. Very chill vibes, you can bring a laptop and work. Sweet tea was great too, they have a peach option as well. Will definitely be back!

Great spot to post up on a work from home day. Spacious tables, tasteful music, plenty of outlets. Tuesdays in January are quiet if you need to make some phone calls. Great atmosphere, diverse menu of both food and drinks, tasteful decoration. Definitely worth future visits - 10/10 recommend.

Wow!! The sauce is literally perfection! We got mas bbq biscuit and chicken po boy, a 20oz latte and come cookies! I’ve come here a few times and let me tell you, consistency is a huge part of being my favorite place to eat at! Every time I come and eat here or grab a coffee, it’s tastes exactly like I remember it! DELICIOUS! I also noticed the cookies are homemade and not store bought. WOW, incredible! Weren’t too crunchy and weren’t too soft and perfect amount of chocolate chips. So far I don’t have anything bad to say about this place. The staff here are very kind and welcoming! Definitely plan on trying everything on the menu at one point lol

JuneBug is hands down one of the best Louisiana-style restaurants I’ve ever had the pleasure of dining at. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with the warm, laid-back Southern hospitality that instantly makes you feel at home. Jacqulin is the best! The food is simply outstanding. I had the gumbo and beignet and every bite was packed with rich, authentic flavors. The seafood was fresh, and the seasoning was on point – just the right amount of spice without overpowering the dish. It’s clear that the chefs here know what they’re doing when it comes to true Louisiana cooking. The atmosphere perfectly complements the food – casual yet vibrant, with a touch of New Orleans charm. The service was top-notch as well, with friendly staff who were happy to answer any questions and offer great recommendations.

Stopped in because they were open on thanksgiving and who couldn’t use beneigts and coffee? Ended up eating a full meal cuz the food was so good. An absolute delight of a dining experience. The food was a taste of Louisiana casual and the staff were all friendly and welcoming. We WILL be back.

I got the Biscuit Brisket BBQ sandwich which is great, you can get it with gravy instead of bbq. My gf got the rice and beans bowl. It's amazing with sausage and a a remoulade sauce. It's 2 meals!

Junebug is a special place! In addition to truly pleasing bites (breakfast hand pie is 100) the service experience is so customer-forward. My sister-in-law ordered for delivery for my birthday and they included handwritten birthday wishes on the sleeve of my latte AND a surprise birthday cookie! It was such a warm touch, making me appreciate being a part of their community that much more. Thank you, Junebug! Never change 💘

Loved their New Orleans style Gumbo. It was the perfect meal for a cold winter day. The service was spectacular as well.

Kind and attentive service Cajun fries and breakfast pie were great Muffuletta was solid maybe could use a vinaigrette Drinks were solid Small but cute space Decent price Would come here again

Wow how did I almost miss reviewing Junebug Cafe? I'd heard of Junebug for a few years because I'm not sure there's a lot of places in Chicago where you can get beignets. For whatever reason I didn't make it here until a couple months ago which was unfortunate for me since I could have been beignet-ing for a while. The beignets are delicious, as you might expect. They're also huge which makes me happy since I don't eat them often, and covered in powdered sugar which they should be. They also have the best deal in town, with beignets half off from 8-11 Monday through Friday... so you know when I'll be there. I've also had a breakfast hand pie, which was okay but maybe not my favorite, and a biscuit for the little one. The biscuit was good but the grill the inside of it so if you'd rather they didn't, you should make sure to mention it. The beverages I've had--peach iced tea and strawberry lemonade--were really good and this is a place that makes a delicious iced tea. I haven't even tried their chai yet--particularly their seasonal one--and chai is my go-to drink so I need to head back soon! I am looking forward to trying a po boy or muffuletta here; I don't think I've ever had a muffuletta so that will be a treat. The parking is street only, but I've been lucky when I stopped in. They have some seating indoors--maybe about a dozen tables (it's a small establishment), plus a few window seats. In the warm winter months they've had some outdoor tables as well.

Went here on a whim and had the beignets, gumbo and the meat pie. All of it was delicious and would definitely recommend trying. I am planning on coming back to try the rest of the items!

What an amazing time! The Breakfast Pie (Louisiana Hand Pie) was absolutely delicious, and their Matcha was the perfect accompaniment. The service was incredibly friendly and welcoming - I felt right at home! The decor, with its New Orleans vibes and charming masks, creates such a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Loved every moment of my visit!

We only came for their beignets but will definitely be returning to try their Po boys, gumbo and Muffeletta. The girl the took our order was very inviting and very quiet. A nice smile and a good morning is really all that's necessary, but received neither. The inside is small, and the decor is simple with a few Mardi Gras type decorations. In my opinion, if you're going to go for New Orleans route, you have to go all out party type theme, too get that authentic Mardi Gras feel. It's honestly not that big of a deal but just something I noticed. We arrived early on a Sunday with no one dining in. I wonder if it's gets just after lunch time. The beignets are fairly prices at 2 for $5, and were pretty tasty. You get these perfect rectangular and dense beignets. I prefer mine if a little bit more airy but these were still pretty delicious. I will definitely be trying soon to get some more.

After coming back from a recent trip to New Orleans, we were craving beignets and decided to give Junebug Cafe a try. We wanted to love this place, but unfortunately the beignets fell short for us. Thankfully, the rest of the food was good and worth the trip out to Portage Park. The person who took our order was very kind and patient. The service was above and beyond, and it's obvious that they take pride in their food. Inside the restaurant, there are also multiple tables available to eat in, the decor is very nice and matches the vibe of the space. Like I said, the beignets were probably our least favorite thing we ate. They were large and covered in powdered sugar, but the actual beignet resembled more like bread. It even tasted a bit like sourdough and was just a bit too dense for us. While we wouldn't get this again, we'd definitely get the other items we ordered again. The meat pie was really good. The exterior was fried and crunchy, while the inside was meaty and flavorful. It was also very moist. The sauce compliments the flavors of the meat pie, and I also recommend trying it with the Louisiana Crystal that they have on the tables. The two drinks we got, lavender lemonade and iced cafe au lait, were really good. The lemonade was tart, sweet, and had a clear lavender flavor. The cafe au lait was strong, sweet, and creamy. We loved the drinks. I'd definitely come back to Junebug Cafe for the drinks and to try their other menu items. In the future, I'm looking forward to trying the biscuits, poboys, and gumbo.

Neighborhood gem!!! I love junebug, although they moved a few more blocks from me, but I'll take the extra steps lol New space is very nice! Cozy and intimate but a lot of space for privacy. Service is quick and friendly! Meat pies are tasty, gumbo is super comforting, beignets are a fluffy sweet pillows for your sweet tooth. I need to go back and try the new items like the debris poboy. I loved the debris back in NOLA! Fav seasonal latte was the tiramisu!

I tried the new "Junebug" on Milwaukee Ave. Everything was top-notch, the food, ambiance, and staff. I wanted to order the "Biscuits & Gravy" but they were out so I went with the Meat Pir and a cup of Gumbo and good coffee. The Meat Pie was cooked perfectly nice and crispy with a delicious filling with just the right spices and heat. The Gumbo was good with just the right amount of spices. The people are very nice and helpful with the menu items, T will go back and try something new. They close at 3 PM except on Saturday.

What a wonderful little place! Arrived in desperation for caffeine and stayed longer than I expected. I tried the tiramisu latte (it's a special) which was really good. I was recommended to try the shrimp po'boy and a choice of a side (I chose the fries--a great choice!) and that was pretty good. Of course I had to try the beignets as well which were thick and filling with lots of powdered sugar mmm! The service was really one of the best parts of the experience. I love a New Orleans vibe. Along with the WiFi of course. I'd go back for sure.

Love this place! The gumbo was fire. The owner was there and was so sweet and attentive. You can tell she really cares about your experience and is passionate about her food. Definitely have some beignets too, they're delicious. Definitely gonna grab some gumbo to bring home in the winter for dinner.

I had seen this place come across my Yelp and social media suggestions. Hearing it was a southern-style cafe, I was really excited! Reviews have been really positive, so I hate to be a downer, but to me it was only OK. Solid, but a solid OK. The food was good. Service was fine. Coffee was fine. The theme of the place felt a bit all over the place for me, but coffee and food are much more important than theme. There's a ton of coffee shops in the area I'm still exploring. I'm not dying to go back, but I also wouldn't mind ending up there again.

The Gumbo is amazing! Consistently excellent, tons of meat and prefect spice. As always the staff is super friendly.

Small space with tons of character, as soon as you walk in your immediately taken into old world charm with a splash of NOLA. At night it could easily double as a vampire hangout. Had the banana foster latte it tasted like cappuccino. The beignets are excellent. The handmade traditional meat pie(empanada) was fine the remoulade sauces makes a difference. But really the food is secondary this place is cool AF!!! Worth a visit.

Absolutely delicious. I originally phoned about ordering a King Cake. Unfortunately, they were unable to complete under the short notice which is completely understandable. But what I appreciated was the personal call from the owner following up to inform me and let me know possible other options. A few days later I found myself in the area and decided to try Junebug for lunch. I was not disappointed. The gumbo was so flavorful. Hmm hmm good. I was transported to Nola for a little that afternoon. The lemonade was the perfect drink to wash it all down. I highly recommend for a nice lunch or even date night. Ambiance: (3 out of 4) Small/Intimate so probably not the best for larger groups unless you make reservations or call ahead. Cost: $-$$ Parking: Metered street parking

Another cool little coffee shop with a Bourbon Street kind of theme about it. If you like local coffee, find a few to get including Dark Matter. Junebug is one of those unassumingly good places. Has coffee of course. There's also pastries like beignets and some other treats. Came in for a coffee. It's about $2.75 for a Cafe Au Lait. This is made with local coffee by Love Supreme. It's made with any type of steamed milk. Oat milk is available, and I got that. Also continuing the Bourbon Street theme, they have Zapp's Kettle Chips. I got some of the spicy ones. Also they make beignets. There's some other fresh pastries. Good place for coffee. If you don't want any, there's other drinks. They also make fresh pastries and other snacks.

The food at Junebug is amazing. My personal go to is the poutine which has incredible well-rounded flavor. It's also a very filling meal. Service is great, everyone is kind and helpful. Ambiance is very hole in the wall cafe, so not going to be something you feel the need to put on social media but who actually cares when the food is that incredible.

We stopped in before my friend was heading down to NOLA for Mardi Gras. The small interior is comfortable and clean. My red beans and rice lacked the usual gravy but the rémoulade that came with it was fine. My friend's shrimp po' boy was not great and gumbo was tasty but from other reviews I guess the thing to get here are the meat pies aka empanadas. Did not try the beignets, since I live in the neighborhood I'll come back for those. I'm glad to have it in the area with all the commercial development going on in PP.

Very good muffaletta sandwich, super fresh potato salad and really warm service. Thanks.

Came in to get some breakfast for my guys and pleasantly surprised with the quality of food and amazing customer service! The biscuits were freshly homemade and the guys could not stop raving about them! I personally loved that they didn't skimp out on the bacon or cheese! All around great little cafe that I'll definitely be back to and highly recommend if you looking for something new in the neighborhood.

I'm a Louisiana native and grew up on Creole food. I just moved to Wicker Park and when I saw a Creole style cafe, I knew I had to pop in for breakfast! I thought the concept was such a cool and unique idea. While I've seen many soul food breakfast places, I've only ever seen Creole food at lunch and dinner restaurants. Service: When I walked in, I was immediately greeted with a smile. The girl helping me was kind and quick. I feel like everyone is in such a rush these days that good service is sacrificed. It was refreshing to be treated with care, for her to make me feel like she was happy to help me and that she actually enjoyed her job. Ambiance: Adorable decor as you can see by the photos, but not overly busy. The music was the perfect volume, AC was great, comfortable seating, and I loved the vintage feel with the brick and hardwood floors. Food: Let me start by saying - the food was great, I'm just a harsh critic! I got a 16oz plain iced latte with oat milk which was well-balanced and smooth. I also got the biscuit and added egg and cheese. The biscuit was a little dense for my taste and a little over cooked on the edges, but definitely redeemed itself with the the buttery flavor! Also, the egg inside was a little over cooked on the edges. It came out hot and fresh which I can appreciate. The sandwich + latte was $15 and some change, which I think is fairly appropriate for the size of the sandwich. Overall I think this spot is worth a try. I will definitely be back to try other things on the menu, the beignets are calling my name!

Cute little cafe with New Orleans inspired menu and decor. It's the type of place you order at the counter. Food was tasty.

Yes that's all you need to know if your thinking about stopping by, the food was amazing the staff was amazing I wish I could have taken the whole place home with me lbs

Stopped in for an early lunch and really enjoyed it. I had the Chicago PoBoy which was cooked perfectly, great quality sausage and fresh D'Amatos roll. Mustard and creole remoulade really helped. Easy, friendly service.

I'm so excited I finally got to try this place! I've attempted to go before but it was closed by the time I could make it out there. I tried the chicory coffee, beignets, meat hand pie, and gumbo (this was all to go and eaten throughout the day). The beignet order is huge with two giant beignets. They were warm, fluffy, and excellent with the coffee. The gumbo and hand pie were both exceptional. The sauce that comes with the hand pie was so good. The gumbo has just the right kick to it and the ball of rice inside was perfect with it. I will most definitely be back soon!

Wow! I stopped in here for lunch and ordered a matcha latte, meat pie and beignet. The sauce with the meat pie was delicious, but the beignets here are truly delicious. It'd be a mistake if you passed these up.

I was very excited to see Junebug in the new location on Milwaukee. The food is pretty good, although we ordered the biscuit and was a bit overcooked. The gumbo is still very tasty. The bignets are excellent but I noticed a bit smaller than what they were used to be at the previous location.

We absolutely LOVED this cute little New Orleans inspired cafe! The menu is limited to coffee, beignets, a meat and a veggie pie, as well as gumbo. We ordered a coffee, meat pie, and a cup of gumbo. In a word... WOWZA!! Coffee - Dark Matter roast in two flavors... we like our coffee black and loved these!! Gumbo - One of the best we've had... Meat Pie - Grandma's recipe (June Bug)... delicious.. comes with a spicy remoulade that provided a perfect complement... We'll be back again soon!!

The new location for Junebug Cafe! This is their second after their first in Portage Park, although this family also owns the New Orleans themed place downtown in Oak Park Poor Phils. They make their own Beignets! I ordered and they came out piping hot and with enough powdered sugar to make me cough--so pro tip: don't try to take a big wiff. And chicory in coffee... sold. This is dark matter coffee and Chris told me they're brewing with organic root chicory. Covid: wearing masks and they are allowing spaced-out indoor seating. This place isn't big - about 5 tables, but has a tiny half-upper level which is a nice perch and provides a bit of separation.

The gumbo is on point, I get mine with the rice in the side - delicious! Every time the ladies are friendly and welcoming super helpful and happy. I really enjoy come by the cafe and grabbing my food to-go or hanging out. I haven't been to the new spot but the Irving park location was amazing!

Best fresh beignets in the City. This newer location also has great ambience. Worth a trip.

I'm shocked to find out I haven't reviewed Junebug sooner! Super cute little cafe. We found it randomly after a stroll back home from the park. The lavender lemonade sign is what pulled me in originally and now the beignets are what keeps us coming back! We've visited this spot maybe three times now? I think I finally have it figured out to where I'll enjoy my visits the most. The trick is to just get the small version of everything - gumbo & drinks and double the beignet order, duh. I really like their gumbo. At times a little oily and not enough rice, but definitely flavorful and hearty. The perfect amount of peppers, celery, sausage, and chicken. I'm not sure if there's okra, but if so, I wish there was more ;p The small gumbo is $6 with the large being $9. When I order takeout, I can never tell a difference between the sizes to be honest so I have to remember to just order a small no matter what my eyes tell me. The lavender lemonade is absolutely delicious. Perfectly tart and slightly sweet. It's $5 for a 20oz and $10 for a 32oz growler (growler size isn't advertised on their sign but marked on the bottle). I was disappointed to see they charge double for 8oz less of lemonade. We've also tried their meat pies. I believe it's the same every time? After the one try, it was enough. We found them to be a little dry and the sauce was a little too mayo based for our liking. And I'm a mayo lover. I guess I just compared them to my moms meat pies so I have pretty high standards. Now, the beignets steal the show every time. 2 for $4 or 4 for $8. And yes, that's how they list it on their menu. They're gooey warm and perfectly powdered. We love them every single time and crave them. If we ate them as often as we wanted them, we'd need to fit A LOT more walks into our day haha. Definitely swing by in the summer when they have a cute little patio setup outside. They were kind enough to even let me come inside and order, even though I was with my pup. Their staff has always been nice and helpful. Worth the visit for sure, but just remember my size tips! Cheers.

Very quaint space. Lovely southern decor makes for a cozy experience. Their beignets were outstanding ! Made fresh to order, the perfect size & dough. The only issue is they need to update their hours on here bc they are only open until 4pm not 6pm . Despite that I definitely recommend getting some yummy beignets here .

Great food. Really like their soup and sandwich combos. The beignets were delicious. Sucks it's closed.

Super cute place on the edge of wicker park/west town. The gumbo was fantastic and they filled the cup up to the brim, which was appreciated. Had some of their beignets, which were delish and nice and dense. Only been in here twice and the staff has been super nice both times. Definitely a fan.

Very cute little New Orleans-style cafe in Noble Square. I got a cup of gumbo, a meat pie, and beignets. Everything was delicious! This is definitely some of the better gumbo I've had. The meat pie was tender. The beignets were a bit overpowdered with sugar, but still fresh and delicious. If you come for one thing here, it should be the beignets!!! 4.5 stars.

Super cute spot! My boyfriend took me to this place, claiming the beignets to be one of the best he has ever tried. First off, the beignets are melt in your mouth heaven. They are served fresh, hot and the dough is light and fluffy yet has a bit of chew to retain its shape. The powdered sugar sprinkled generously over the beignets made this treat extra indulgent. We want to go back and try their gumbo next time. Junebug Cafe is hard to miss - it's bright purple exterior catches one's attention. The interior is cute and quirky. They also serve Dark Matter Coffee - always a plus in my book!

There isn't much on their menu so we had one of everything. Meat pie is solid, vegetarian pie is not bad but I prefer the meat, gumbo was good though I don't have anything to compare it to really, and the beignets are awesome but i wish there was more of a crisp to them. They also have a full coffee bar so I got a lavender latte--solid coffee. There's some seating both inside and outside, which was nice to have since I had dogs with me.

Best beignets in city I have found! Great coffee, easy working environment, cute decor, and very nice staff. They also have incredible meat pies! First found them in old Irving location but grateful they opened this location closer to home!

Unfortunately their phone was off the hook and I wasn't able to call and order in advance but the wait wasn't too long. I got a cup of the gumbo, meat pie and beignets. Everything was so good! The sauce for the meat pie was the right amount of spicy and flavorful. The beignets were like wow...like warm soft crispyness. I think they are better than the ones at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans. So happy that they have this location here!

Food is good but they never abide by the hours they post. Drove there from far several times with my daughters who wanted beignets. Went at 4:30 on a Friday where their hours show 6pm. Doors were locked. Had two unhappy children. Do better Junebug!

I am from New Orleans so when I miss home and feel in the mood for some gumbo, I go here. It's the closet place to me that sells gumbo. The gumbo is ok. I haven't found that place in Chicago that the gumbo taste exactly like home. I was hesitant on trying their beignets, because I knew I would be disappointed if it didn't taste like home, but the person behind the counter swears that the beignets taste like beignets from New Orleans . Not sure what beignets they've tried, but these do not taste like New Orleans beignets at all, they were ok but not for me to go back and order them, I will just get them when I go home. . But if you aren't from New Orleans you won't have those years of taste of the food there so it's will be good. The place is a cute little place. I give it to them for trying though to replicate the goodness of New Orleans.

The beignets from this cafe are just like the ones in New Orleans! They're warm and delicious and not too sweet despite all the powdered sugar on top. Goes perfectly paired with the cold brew. But if you prefer something hot in this cold weather, they have some good coffee and tea options too. Definitely recommend stopping by for a warm treat!

What a great little addition to the hood. Hubby and I popped in on our Sunday walk...I mean, how can you not with how cute this place looks?! The staff was very nice, bubbly and helpful...almost like how the space looks. It's a small place with a small menu. We decided to continue with our quarantine theme of eating real healthy (cough). The beignets were on display and looked heavenly. How could we resist?! If I remember correctly, it's 3 beignets for $5. The best part...made fresh to order. YUM! While we were waiting, we took in the vibe of the place. If you are a fan of Malort, adventurous, or have a guest in town, I saw these cute little malort coffees in their fridge. The beignets were slightly crispy on the outside, doughy on the inside and piled high with the powdered sugar. Reminded me of the time we were in NOLA getting Cafe Du Monde. The worst part...my black coat, jeans, and face were covered in powdered sugar. It looked like someone peppered me with a white paint ball but it was worth it. A little tip for future guests...don't try to walk and eat these bad boys on a windy Chicago day.

OK - Junebug Cafe is the best thing to happen to me in a very long time!!! I heard a new spot opened up and I want to give local small businesses love so I told my son to meet me for a quick coffee. Well not only was the chicory coffee fantastic, but the made to order, piping hot beignets were life changing!!! Oh the powdered sugar of it all... The French Creole history runs deep here. A true inspiration from Grandma June (Junebug), business's namesake. They also offer Dark Matter coffee, meat or red beans & rice pies and creole gumbo. I think you will love everything you try. Take a mini staycation to New Orleans without leaving town. Everything about this place says HELLO. First of all the vintage building's exterior is fuchsia. Can't miss that! As you walk in it is the opposite. It's dark, warm and cozy. There's a lofted area, a stone wall, a black wall and a sweet unassuming hutch that you might see at Grandma's house. I felt like I had walked into the adorable owner/couple's home. The sweet story about how they met and ended up opening their business in the building where one of them grew up just added to it's overall charm. The staff was incredibly polite and gracious. The girl working that morning was so helpful and personable. It was a perfect fit for this adorable new business. What a great addition to the West Town/Ukrainian Village neighborhoods. I can't stop thinking about the made from scratch deliciousness they offer and have invited anyone I can find to go with me to Junebug Cafe. You should go too!

A few cute spot with great beignets! June is the owners grandmother and it's a cute cozy spot. They also have a full coffee/fancy coffee selection and sandwiches!

Super good. Loved the beignets and the breakfast pie was yummy too. Would definitely recommend.

10/10 meat pie and traditional gumbo. the service is kind, and the ambiance is casual. would be a great spot to get some work done as well.

I had a really bad experience here- it had been on my list for some time when I finally got there I was greeted by a zombie like hostess who basically stared at me and told me they were out of meat pies- and just kept staring at me - long story short I was told where to take a seat I waited for 30 minutes for service with the hostess and staff Passing me by! I finally asked can I please get a menu and was told there are no servers and I would have to order at the front- this is fine but why didn't anyone tell me this? I needed up leaving and was so aggravated! I wrote a private message to the owner w no response- I wrote again and got a weird message back they'll check the video cameras. Then blocked me- really weird customer service for a business that definitely needs businesses!

Best beignets, better than cafe du monde! Bean pie/meat pies are great but the remoulade is what makes it.