Little Branch Cafe

Little Branch in Chicago is a delicious & quaint cafe to hit up if you are in the mood for tasty coffee, fresh smoothies, and scrumptious brunch items. I started off with a black coffee and a freshly-blended smoothie. For my entree, I enjoyed perfectly seased ham, crispy potatoes, fresh fruit, and two over easy eggs. The service was spectacular! Little branch is a great spot to have a quick breakfast with friends and family, as well as a nice spot to work remote a couple of hours.

I'm in love with this cafe!! They have so many options, including gluten free, dairy free, and vegetarian ones. Their prices are reasonable, and the ingredients appear to be quality. We got a panini to split, and a smoothie each. Seriously, all of it was incredible! The staff was relaxed and welcoming. The space itself is cozy and bright with their big windows. They have a few outdoor spots for sitting. Absolutely would return!

Good food for an okay price considering the area. We enjoyed the BLT and Lalo's breakfast burrito. It was out to the table quickly and was fresh. Good quality ingredients. Service wasn't great.

The orange juice is freshly squeezed and the cappuccinos are creamy. The pancakes are very fluffy. It’s reasonably priced and service is quick and friendly. Although there’s not much of an atmosphere, if your priority is the deliciousness of the food I would say don’t judge a book by its cover. The kitchen is somewhat loud if your sitting towards the back. I wish I could have breakfast here everyday.

So glad we chose this place. It was on a game day and we got in just before the big lines. I was worried it would take awhile to get the food. I did not need to worry. The food came out in less than 5 minutes! The service was fantastic. The coffee was huge! And so yummy. My partner almost licked his plate clean of the chilaquiles. The steak on it was so flavorful. My omelet could have used a bit more seasoning. But considering the crowds I was okay with it.

what a lovely place with good atmosphere , friendly fast service! great outdoor seating area but also a cozy tables inside. kitchen was super quick even on a Sunday morning ! Food is delicious, especially the alaskan omelette, greek salad 🥗 and the avocado 🥑 toast! Lattes were good, suggest taking triple espresso as for my taste . overall great experience and definitely suggest visiting if you are in the area

Cute retro lunch cafe style place literally across the street from the Field Museum in Chicago. It's on a little cul de sac street so after you leave you kinda have to walk all the way around to get to the Field Museum but I'm glad I came here . They serve very tasty and unpretentious sandwiches or breakfast stuff. I had the Vegetarian Panini which was cooked mushrooms with avocado and crudite veggies on marbeled bread that was put in Panini press with chips and pickle . Very tasty . My friend had the blackened chicken on a bun and said it was a step above a regular chicken sandwich. I don't eat chicken so I didn't try it but he liked it. Serious cup of chamomile tea too which they gave me a to-go container for what I didn't finish. Staff are extremely nice . This place is laid back. It's on ground floor of big residential building. Recommended.

Fun place to eat. The staff was very friendly and helpful. As some of the other reviewers have said, the food was a little bit bland, but what I think they mean is that the food wasn’t pre salted. I really enjoyed the natural flavors and being able to add a little bit of salt or a lot of I wanted. Without the overpowering salt I was able to taste the flavors of all the ingredients in the salsa and on the avocado toast. The location is a little bit out of the way. Even then it was full at lunch time, but no wait.

Little Branch Cafe in the South Loop is one of my favorite spots for a quick bite and a great cup of coffee. It's tucked away at the bottom of a condo building, so you might walk right past it--but don't! The family owners who now run it, , who are the third group to take over the cafe, are by far the best. They bring a warmth and friendliness that really makes a difference. They have also added chilaquiles to the menu so that's a hit. I usually go for their brunch options, which are always solid and/or coffee and tea. Their omelets are delicious and I also love that they have gelato (is there anything better than affogato?). along with a refreshing smoothie or a perfectly brewed coffee. You can park for 30 minutes by South Loop Market if you don't have time to walk over. There is also zoned street parking on Indiana and meters on Michigan. A nice walk and worth the steps!

I came from Houston to visit Chicago and I discovered this place on maps. We were just looking for a place to have brunch closer to the Shedd Aquarium. I cannot describe with words how amazing the food is, it just feels very homemade and fresh. I think this spot is very underestimated, the food is great, the service is good, the ambiance take me back to my childhood growing up in Mexico. Also, the coffee and the smoothies are DELICIOUS! Something really hard to find here in the States. This Little Branch Cafe will take me back to this beautiful city for sure.

Little Branch Cafe in Chicago is a delicious & quaint cafe to hit up if you are in the mood for tasty coffee, fresh smoothies, and scrumptious brunch items. I started off with a black coffee and a freshly-blended smoothie. For my entree, I enjoyed perfectly seased ham, crispy potatoes, fresh fruit, and two over easy eggs. The service was spectacular! Little branch is a great spot to have a quick breakfast with friends and family, as well as a nice spot to work remote a couple of hours.

We loved our food. Service was a little spotty but that happens during a busy Sunday brunch. It's a cute place and convenient to museum campus. Plan ahead for parking or walk.

The setting of this place is nice. The service was pretty average like the typical nice! The food was definitely not worth that much money though. The food tasted pretty bland. It doesn't taste as good as it looks.

Came back and feel like this is a solid 4 star option. Huevos Verde - 4/5. Strong combination of poached eggs, red onion, tortilla chips, verde sauce. My wife gets the Little Brand Bagel and likes it. A single pancake was a good kid option, light and fluffy with salty butter.

I've been to this coffee shop several times for coffee only. Based on the customer service experience and lack of cleanliness, I wouldn't recommend eating here, as the staff cut corners with hand cleaning, surface cleaning, and utility cleaning. The service is fair on slow days, but on busy days, you'll feel overlooked and notice the staff neglecting basic cleaning. They don't seem to understand the importance of customer service. I only wish for the friendly service that other patrons have noted in their reviews. If you click on the one and two-star reviews, you'll notice similar complaints. I tried sharing feedback during my visit, but again, I was dismissed, so we left. Basically, avoid busy days and don't expect the staff to resolve basic issues or offer a friendly gesture.

Delicious hot fresh Little Branch bagel (egg, hash browns, cheese, bacon), fresh cut fruit, potatoes w latte perfect start to a Sunday morning . Service always professional, friendly, prompt, attentive & owner is classy & enjoys greeting her customers with a big smile. Press repeat for sure

I ordered the lox platter with my lox cooked to perfection. The food was undeniably delicious, although I found it a bit pricey. Nevertheless, given that this is a local restaurant, I still felt it was worth the cost. I was pleasantly surprised by the short wait for my food, and overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. I appreciated how they accommodated my request to cook the lox to my preference, as not all restaurants offer this flexibility. This positive experience has definitely convinced me to visit again in the future. It was my first time having breakfast there, and I believe it was worth it. they offer Wi-Fi to customers and have seating at tables as well as a little bar to also they have a lot of different pastry items makes smoothies and do juices as well so this menu is very broad and offers a lot of variety from sandwiches. Breakfast is to also lunch items too. The grapefruit juice was also delicious as well.

Amazing service AND food! Very crowded when arrived but we were made to feel as if we were the only customers in the cafe. Great coffee drinks!

Cute retro lunch cafe style place literally across the street from the Field Museum in Chicago. It's on a little cul de sac street so after you leave you kinda have to walk all the way around to get to the Field Museum but I'm glad I came here . They serve very tasty and unpretentious sandwiches or breakfast stuff. I had the Vegetarian Panini which was cooked mushrooms with avocado and crudite veggies on marbeled bread that was put in Panini press with chips and pickle . Very tasty . My friend had the blackened chicken on a bun and said it was a step above a regular chicken sandwich. I don't eat chicken so I didn't try it but he liked it. Serious cup of chamomile tea too which they gave me a to-go container for what I didn't finish. Staff are extremely nice . This place is laid back. It's on ground floor of big residential building. Recommended.

Happy to stumble upon a local family business for Sunday brunch in Chicago this weekend. Expected a wait but they told us there was seating at the bar, so we jumped in. Service was very friendly and we enjoyed the homey diner feel of the whole place. Our food took a while, but we were expecting that with a busy Sunday around noon. Food was pretty bland all around but the potatoes were great and had quality flavor. Bagel sandwich was nothing to write home, neither was the Marscapone French toast. Nice if you're not looking to break the back on a quick fuel up for a day of being a tourist, and nice to support a local business instead of a chain.

To me, what makes a place is the people working in it. Food can only be so good, but service and the energy filling an atmosphere is what truly seals the deal for me. It was a random decision to come to Little Branch, but a great one for sure! Every single person working here was a sweetheart who always smiled back. My omelet and coffee were yummy but I just truly enjoyed the comfortable and welcoming energy provided. A quaint little cafe and perfect place to reflect.Hope they continue to thrive :)

Really good chorizo and egg breakfast. Waffles were soft. Chilaquuiles was good. It was not the same as listed on the menu. Lavender latte coffee was really good and you get a lot in a big cup. Service was quick. Cute like cafe inside residential area. Wish there was outdoor seating.

Nice staff. The food is good but I wouldn't say it's amazing. I'm also surprised how early they close.

Came here for an early morning bite in South Loop and was pleasantly surprised! It had a cozy atmosphere, friendly staff, and lots of sunshine coming through the big windows. Wide variety of food to choose from on the menu from classics to delicacies to sweet treats to something simple. I went with the Quiche of the Day and a Strawberry Arugula Salad paired with the Blueberry Marscapone Stuffed French Toast. Everything was marvelous. There was a coffee menu full of selections and customizations, as well as smoothies and even gelato. A truly delightful way to begin my day. The staff was eager to answer any questions and provide me with an array of hot sauces upon request. This is a great spot for brunch with a few close friends or a simple breakfast by yourself.

Little Branch does not miss! The coffee, the smoothies, and the food are all amazing. The staff is friendly and attentive, the food comes out of the kitchen quick and always tastes fresh. It's a neighborhood gem, so it can get crowded, but the wait isn't too long and it is well worth it. It's a cozy, family owned spot with nice neighborhood views, creative decor, clean & welcoming. I can't say enough about how great this place is.

Stopped in for breakfast before going to the Field Museum. The food was good and the place was a solid option for breakfast.

Cute place tucked away, but worth the walk! Started with a delicious latte, smoothie, and Italian flavored soda. Mascarpone French toast, frittata sandwich, and burger were amazing! Met the owner, who was wonderful and welcoming! Perfect before going to museums!

I was a regular customer (for a limited number of items), so I was surprised when Little Branch informed me that they didn't appreciate my feedback on the inconsistencies in my orders. Little Branch has never been overly friendly, but they did their jobs and most of the time the food was decent such as the veggie wrap which was good. However, I only ordered a limited number of items because most items were lacking such as the burrito--bean spread and no beans??? Skimping on the avocado in general). As with smaller cafes, consistency wasn't a standard and some times little things would be missed--no mayo on a sandwich, cheese forgotten on an order, too many shells in the crabcake poboy, chips instead of the salad you paid extra for--for the most part they would fix things with no fuss. This is the only reason I overlooked the flavorless fish taco dinner which I stopped ordering (initially they were good but declined in quality/flavor over the years), and worst I got sick from the fish tacos one night. The rosemary potatos are good when they have enough rosemary and the side salad was generally fresh--other than than that most of the food is marginal. My one star is for lack of customer appreciation and marginal food overall.

Great service every time and great coffee bar. Have a large selection of non dairy milks too!

This small place is a gem! Nice people good breakfast and lunch- nothing fancy but yum!

what a lovely place with good atmosphere , friendly fast service! great outdoor seating area but also a cozy tables inside. kitchen was super quick even on a Sunday morning ! Food is delicious, especially the alaskan omelette, greek salad and the avocado toast! Lattes were good, suggest taking triple espresso as for my taste . overall great experience and definitely suggest visiting if you are in the area

TL:DR - Sub-par/Average food, decent drinks, but a quiet spacious study spot with a large drink food menu and free-wifi. Outlets are non-existent. Really a 3.5*, but I'll round up today. Came here looking for a good study spot, this place is tucked away amongst several high-rise residential places. It seems more of a sit-down cafe than a coffee study place, but it's quiet and I don't think we were preventing any one from sitting who wanted to. Food wise, they had a pastry case, but it was relatively sparse and looked like no one had touched it in a while and that it was brought in from somewhere else rather than baked in house. I stayed throughout the day, so we got a couple of drinks. My wife said the cappuccino was fairly adequate. Nothing amazing, but not bad either. We also got a French soda (an Italian soda with cream), which is a huge plus, cause that stuff is hard to find and delicious. For the soda, we had to add our own cream, but that's fine, it allows us to adjust for our tastes. We also got a panini before leaving. We got the fig and prosciutto panini with fruit. The prosciutto was the thicker version, like hearty cuts of ham. The fruit selection was also surprisingly nice, like beyond the typical melon/cantaloupe/grape mix. Ours had watermelon, blueberries, pineapple, and strawberries! As a study spot, it is a 4* spot. It was quiet both in terms of ambient noise and the number of customers, when we first got in, but then about 30 min in, the music got turned on and it was a bit loud for my liking. But it was a legit mix of pop with a heavy dose of Bruno Mars. So it could have been worse. The only gripe is I could not find a single outlet. So be ok going on one full computer charge, or if you are going with a book, I would recommend the place.

I sorta dig this little uncrowded breakfast cafe on a weekday morning. It's "neighborhood" vibe--which is a little funny to say a block from Grant Park (and does South Loop even have a "neighborhood" scene besides--people who moved from LA and wanted to live "downtown"). But it really is true: this place sits under a stack of high-end condos, but for the most part is unpretentious and relaxed and no tourists in sight. This is one of those breakfast cafes that straddles the line between coffee shop (good wifi available and there are people sitting here on laptops), brunch place (full breakfast menu with eggs, potatoes & fruit--more full on the weekends), and diner (easy going, but food is less greasy). There's not table service (you order at the counter), but they have a full printed menu and if they're not busy, they'll come by and refill your coffee. Spanish sandwich with jalapeño is good. I agree with some reviewers that some of the food needs a little more butter (eggs!) or spice: can be a bit bland. Coffee is quality (roasted from Metropolis, which is local on the north side) but this isn't the place you'd travel to to sample a floral cappuccino. But it's good enough for me to want to return! Floor to ceiling glass windows allow some bright sun in the winter, and there is a limited outdoor patio area that's nice in the summer.

Wonderful gem tucked in the Museum Park area of the South Loop! Venue: small space with indoor and outdoor seating in a quiet area. Entrance is shared with a dry cleaners, but you are in the right spot. You can grab a table and then order at the counter when ready. They provide you a number and bring over your meal when ready. Food: we order the Traditional French Toast, Mascarpone French Toast, and Bananas & Nutella Pancakes. Everyone loved their meal: pancakes were huge, 3 full pancakes with a generous amount of bananas and Nutella. The French toast comes with berries (we ordered on the side) and the boys really liked it. The Mascarpone was a great mix of flavors- didn't feel too heavy and the blueberry compote was great. Service: very warm and welcoming. And QUICK. We had a family member (who shall remain nameless) accidentally knock over an entire glass of water and the staff appeared with rags and mops like they were a pit crew. They quickly fixed us up and were so kind.

It's tucked away at the bottom of a residential condo building, but this is a real gem for simple good food made with care. I believe it's run by a family and they're always friendly. The menu is deceptively big with breakfast foods (eggs, pancakes, waffles, breakfast burritos or sandwiches and more!) as well as lunch staples like deluxe sandwiches / paninis and salads. I also noticed they have fresh smoothies, espresso drinks and even gelato and pastries! We came in for Sunday morning breakfast and it was nice and busy. You order at the counter and they bring you your food. Water is self serve, but they have "spa" water with fresh fruit infusions that change each day. The patio is also open and I saw a dog out there if you bring your 4-legged friend. Our food was really good - especially the breakfast potatoes - and I'd say in line with other places in the area ($10-$12 for our breakfast entrees). The ingredients are high quality and they didn't skimp on things like the bacon in my sandwich or the fillings in our Denver omelet. Service was so friendly. I saw them clearing tables quickly and we were asked a couple times if we needed anything. These are the kinds of places neighborhoods need and should support. We'll definitely be regulars! PS I was surprised by some of the negative reviews and then I recalled that management changed in the last year or so and it's clearly much better now

Great potatoes! Chorizo breakfast was delicious. Breakfast bagel was good but could use sharper cheese. Get your own water refills, they don't come to you!

Terrific service, AMAZING food and delicious coffee! Wish I lived here, this would be a regular go to!

The Canary Smoothie (banana, granola + milk and honey) is the best smoothie in the City of Chicago. Hands down. Go right now and support them!

We were headed to the Shedd Aquarium early so decided to check out Little Branch. It is a coffee shop that doubles as a restaurant but still has the check coffee shop vibe. We enjoyed that we could done in and our server was awesome! They have a surprisingly wide variety of food choices on the menu! I ordered the bagel sandwich and my better half ordered the traditional breakfast. We were pleasantly surprised with the presentation! The potatoes were well seasoned with a hint of rosemary. The thinly sliced fruit accompanying was fresh and delicious. I enjoy sausage usually as my breakfast meat but unfortunately pork was not an option. They only had turkey sausage on the menu. I should have gotten bacon. But it was a solidly good breakfast and if in town, I would done there again! I was a bit thirsty so ordered the iced coffee, which was good and strong. The cappuccino was calling my name... Maybe next time. :)

CALL THE HEALTH INSPECTOR I visited Little Branch for the first time the last Sunday of August. I decided to give it a try (and give myself a morning off from cooking) bad idea. DO NOT EAT THE FOOD FROM THE KITCHEN. I got violently ill late that afternoon and visited my Dr, who confirmed I did get food poisoning. Also, there is cold lettuce??! in the breakfast burrito, which was not listed in the menu description (I would have ordered it without had it been listed, also that is the item that made me sick) my husband and I shared a smoothie and he had a extra dry burnt pastry they passed off as a croissant and he did not get ill. Maybe the coffee and smoothies are safe, but eat at your own risk!

Very nice little cafe tucked away in South Loop. Solid breakfast options and the coffee is good. They also have great smoothies which I appreciate. The entire staff is attentive and nice as well. Their lunch options are good as well. Highly recommend.

We were scouting for somewhere to sit down and have some breakfast before our tour of the Prairie Ave historic district. On the way, we passed over another place that might have had a little better food and a more diverse menu because there was a 25min wait but we were disappointed by this place. And there was no line. We each had egg breakfasts. Bacon and eggs for me with potatoes and pancakes and a western style omelet for my wife with fruit. They made the requested substitution of bacon for chicken on the omelet and her split shot latte was good.

Nice little find carved out in a corner of town. Walking distance to the museum and aquarium. Great breakfast food and good smoothies. Deceptively roomy and service was good. The end.

Read reviews about this "hidden gem" as described by many and I was definitely not disappointed. I am not a French toast person but I had to taste "Chicago's best French toast" and it was the best. The portion sizes are just perfect. Not too much and not too little. My daughter had the Orange velvet waffle which I got to taste and absolutely delicious. Menu doesn't have pictures so pictures posted on the reviews were super helpful.

Love this hidden gem cafe! I've had the blackened chicken sandwich and the breakfast burrito - both were very good! The coffee is also fresh and delicious. The service is always friendly. They have a nice outdoor seating area. They get quite busy on Saturday mornings and for good reason! Five stars.

Great shakes. I like some of their soups- but really wish folks checking you out would first confirm they have items before charging you. Couple of times now where I pay for a soup- only to find minutes later they ran out of it. And then I feel forced to buy a soup that I wouldn't have otherwise:(( I'll just stick to shakes moving forward

Great food, friendly staff, nice atmosphere!! Definitely worth stopping by if you're in Chicago and in the mood for a nice brunch.

This restaurant was such a hit! The family owned business vibes were so there and I just absolutely loved my meal!

Meh. We were looking for a breakfast spot near the museums during our trip to Chicago last September, and I found this spot on Yelp. We were disappointed overall with our breakfast here, which is sad because the people who work here are nice. I ordered the mascarpone French toast, which sounded so good on the menu but could have been executed better. It was basically a brioche sandwich with a little bit of mascarpone and blueberry spread inside. The brioche was cut very thin--not at all the thick, fluffy brioche slices I was hoping for. The mascarpone was still cold in the center, and I needed more of it. The blueberries tasted frozen and were quite sour. The entire dish needed more sweetness. For $11, this was a lot to spend on something I could have made better myself at home. My husband got the chorizo breakfast special. He didn't realize it at the time, but there were actually two different specials labeled "chorizo breakfast" on the menu, and instead of a chorizo and egg sandwich, he got scrambled eggs with chorizo. I actually enjoyed his dish, which was a nice rendition of a Mexican classic, but he was disappointed, as he doesn't like scrambled eggs. The restaurant itself was empty on a weekday morning and needed a little cleaning. They have such solid reviews that maybe the rest of their food is good, or maybe there are so few other dining options in the area that people really appreciate this place. For us, we wouldn't go back.

Excelent breakfast , great service It looks it is a family owned and operated so the service is even better

After a members-only early morning yoga event at Shedd, my dear friend and I decided that brunch was in order. Normally I would've used Yelp, but she's even more bossy than me, so she pulled up Google Maps and searched "brunch". This little place was first on the list! After a ten minute or so walk from Museum Campus we found ourselves right here! Located on the ground floor of a large highrise, and shared an entrance with a dry cleaner, this place really was the cutest! A super clean, seemingly healthy, cafe that offers substantial breakfast and lunch options. Everything from French Toast to Burgers to fruit smoothies to espresso. I enjoyed the Western Omelet, my friend had the breakfast burrito. Both were delicious! Service was so nice, too! Great for people watching and there seemed to be a large space for patio seating. Obviously, this is April in Chicago, so we sat inside. Would not hesitate to return!

Love Little Branch Except for when they skimp on fruit in the delicious smoothies that cost $8to$10 I also WISH WISH WISH they were open thru 7pm for dinner. There would rarely be a reason for grocery shopping or cooking. The FOOD is so good. The split pea soup got me running over there like a sps junkie. The tuna is award worthy .the food is just good!!

My best friend and I found this little brunch place just by googling brunch places in south loop. The place was pretty cute and quiet--also pretty well lit. The food items came in generous portions and was on average $10 an entree. I ordered the salmon panini and honey (earl grey) tea latte and they were both delicious. The only complaint I had about this place was how slow the WiFi was. We came here to eat brunch but also finish up some trip planning for our upcoming girls trip, and the pages took forever to load. I would recommend this place for a good hearty brunch but not to study!

Best breakfast we had while visiting Chicago. Near the museums and parks. Fast, friendly service. A great start to a day of museums.

This place is awesome. Presumably family-owned, and it shows. It's kind of hidden in an area (very nice area, but just off any major roads) where you normally wouldn't walk by unless you lived in one of the surrounding buildings, but it's definitely worth finding it. The Greek Chicken salad is my go-to. The chicken and pita they give you with it is piping hot which shows that this isn't food that is just sitting around waiting to be served. The tuna melt is also very good. Really good flavor. They have coffee/breakfast/juices as well. They have healthy food if you're feeling healthy. They have heavier food if you are fighting a hangover. I highly recommend this place.

Excellent service, super friendly and helpful staff. I had the bagel sandwich and it was exactly as described. No extra frills not in the description, so no surprises. My husband had the yogurt parfait and was very pleased. It had layers of fruit mixed with the yogurt and granola. We're both extremely happy!

Walked in and got a table within a few seconds. Ordered the breakfast burrito and the 2 egg and meat something. Nice waiters. Close to the aquarium, just a few minute walk.