Ovo Frito Cafe

To be fair the place was packed and busy with the Saturday morning crowd. However we were seated quickly and attended to immediately, the place is quaint and there is outdoor dining. Menu is great with plenty of options and food was delivered quickly. Great little find and will definitely go back (probably during the week to really enjoy it).

I tried this place for breakfast and it was absolutely amazing! The staff was very kind and laid back. The service and restaurant was very clean!! I’m glad I had a chance to stop in and get some good food!!

Ovo Frito is my go-to for breakfast and lunch in Evanston. The food is delicious; I've never had a dish here that I didn't love. It's also always made both fast and fresh. The service is unparalleled- you always feel like you're part of the family! I often get lunch here with friends and I've had several business meetings here that have been highly successful. Ovo Frito is a hidden gem that I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Tables are a little too close for my personal space comfort but, the food (chicken and waffles was 🔥😋 and service do their best to make up for the lack of space.

Every time my wife and I go to a new (for us) restauran. I will be expecting that the food is truly Mexican. Unfortunately this place is not it. Yes, for Americans the food is good or great. Not for me. I look for food that is authentic. The Chilaquiles are made with egg that is smothered into the chips and they are crunchy not the way they make it, also, never white riceI in the same plate. am not sure that we will be back.

My favorite breakfast in the greater Chicagoland area. I get the same thing every time because it's just so good. The breakfast potatoes here cannot be missed: perfectly seasoned, perfectly cooked, simply divine. Eggs are fresh and flavorful, sweets are delicious but not too heavy, and the staff are the loveliest people. Not to mention the hilarious egg-themed decor all around. Thank you Ovo Frito!

Its a very cute place with a bunch of egg themed art on the bright yellow walls and the service is good but when it comes to the actual food I was disappointed. I got the egg and chorizo taco and presentation looked great but the flavor just wasn’t there. It wasn’t seasoned much at all, very bland which I was not expecting. I tried a bite of my friend’s food and it was also underwhelming, a bit better than mine but still not something I’d want to take another bite of. The only thing I enjoyed was the hibiscus iced tea which I kept getting refills and basically filled up on bc I didn’t care much for the food so I it’s the only thing I can recommend.

We were visiting family and are from out of town. I looked in the area and saw that Ovo Frito had really good ratings. So we gave it a chance. So glad we did. The food was outstanding!! And everyone here was super friendly and great at their job. When we come back to the area we for sure will head back here. Great experience!!

Food: Everything was AMAZING, so much flavor bursting! The home fries were BOMB. We devoured everything. I finished those 3 vegetarian tacos easily! Service: Food was so fast, the waiters waitresses were also super friendly! Ambiance: I love it indoors. So bright and colorful inside, with outdoor and indoor seating. So glad I came for brunch here :)

Tried this spot due to the positive reviews... Friendly staff and service. Food is average, wouldn't go out of my way to come here simply put. Ambiance is where I will deduct a star. It's very small inside and unfortunately you're literally elbow to elbow with the table next to you. Very distracting to carry on a conversation when the people next to you are fairly vocal. Lastly I deducted a star for not disclosing the "surcharge fee". I feel as if this is one of those things carried over during the COVID period.

Great brunch spot in Evanston. It's busy on Saturday mornings but you'll be seated within 10-15 minutes. They're a bit slow at getting your drink and food order, we were sitting there for a bit before they came to our table. The hibiscus tea was floral and very refreshing. The inside of the restaurant had a lot of tables for 2 people. There's also seating for larger groups. All the staff were friendly and accommodating. Food was delicious. I loved the flavors of the Derrick's Egg dish. I devoured my over easy eggs and the perfectly crispy potatoes. Everything went really well together in the French toast as well. The caramel sauce really made the fruit pop with flavor. Once they give you your check, they're efficient about giving you a to-go box and cleaning the table. I'll definitely be back to try their extensive brunch menu!

Here's what you need to know: outstanding ambiance and service by the team 5 stars for both. Julius Meinl Coffee was 5 stars. Food was enjoyable (pancakes, waffle with fried chicken, and chilaquiles) but not memorable. 4 stars for that. Overall, i will return.

Food was really good, service was good. The restaurant was really clean!! I look forward to coming back to try more menu options!

We love this place. It has been our go-to breakfast destination since 2020. My husband always orders the French toast platter. I like their omlettes and specialty dishes like the Divorciados. The service is always excellent.

Ovo Frito Cafe is one of the more popular places in Evanston to get your brunch on, while also offering a breakfast and a lunch menu. I had a lunch date here to play catchup, and we ordered: +a Fall Harvest Salad - red and green leaf lettuce topped with radish, tomatoes, fried tortilla strips, red onions, goat cheese, and avocado with a side of lime vinaigrette dressing; you also have a choice to add grilled chicken for protein +Zinnia's Spicy Chilaquiles - 2 eggs of your choice, tortilla chips, pepper jack cheese, cotija cheese, sour cream, rice, and beans, with a choice of salsa verde or roja; you can also add extra protein, such as chicken or chorizo at an upcharge +a Veggie Burger - a housemade veggie patty topped with lettuce, tomatoes, and red onions; we opted for the potato salad as the side +the Black Hawk Burger - a 1/2 lb beef patty with grilled onions, marinated portobellos, adobo sauce, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions; we requested the smoked bacon on the side; for this, we opted for the fries Note that the burgers and sandwiches come with a choice of potato salad, potato chips, fries, or fruit. Unfortunately, we weren't fans of the food, as each item was either super bland, basic, or not flavorful. Some of the ingredients made the dishes taste off, such as the salsas, the marinade on the portobellos, and the adobo sauce. Burgers were not cooked per requested temperature, and some of the potatoes were not cooked thoroughly in the potato salad. Service was friendly and efficient, and there's plenty of parking in the area. I'm glad I was able to try this place out, but could not recommend. +unflavorful food +friendly service +plenty of parking available

I rarely eat breakfast but my wife and I got a late start on our weekend grocery shopping so we decided to have brunch at Ovo Frito. I have ridden my bike dozens of times past the place over the past 7 years or so -- today was the day we tried it. I had the Hay Carumba Torta: Eggs scrambled with chorizo, green onions, chipotle sauce, refried beans, guacamole, and Chihuahua cheese on a telera roll with crispy potatoes -- scrumptious, and enough to bring home to eat the other half tomorrow. My wife had the fluffy Wild Berry Pancakes -- she's typically not a big eater but ate the whole thing! And I love a place that goes to the trouble to serve rich Julius Mienl coffee. Crowded at 9:30 am on a Saturday yet we were seated quickly and got our food in relative short order. We'll be back for sure.

It's a great place to have breakfast/brunch, especially when the weather is beautiful! The patio is great. Good service and delicious food for reasonable prices.

Superb dishes, but the super tight seating and din of other diners makes us hesitate about going here on weekends more often.

The food was terrific, the service friendly and prompt. But as a tea drinker, I was amazed to get a large, well-brewed cast iron pot of good loose leaf tea! Just wow! Thank you - you made my day

all the mexican inspired/fusion items are very good. amazing service, nice staff. cute vibes overall.

All great! Burritos were the best in town. Will be going back often. Recommend the potatoes also!

Def one of my fav brunch spots! I've never ordered any food item that I didn't like! I always introduce friends and family here and they also loved what they ordered. Can't go wrong with their Viva La France French Toast, Huevos Divorciados and Acorn Squash and Tofu! If you want something savory, also a big fan of their Mexican influenced omelettes and egg Benedict creations! There's something for everyone! Service is always quick, efficient and the refills keep on coming. The location is small and quaint but during the summer, they also have tables outside. Even when it's busy, you can still have a good conversation with your friends while eating delicious food!

Awesome food and great service! Cute atmosphere with egg shaped lights! My breakfast was amazing!

This is my favorite breakfast place in Evanston. The omelets are large and yummy. The coffee is especially good and the servers are attentive. It gets very busy on weekend mornings as it's a small place.

I wish I could give this place higher than three stars but I didn't enjoy the food. I only ate half of my French toast and thought it was dry but soggy at the same time. I went here and it was super packed and busy but the inside is almost too cramped. I've been to places where there isn't much space to walk but it was at the point where I didn't wanna have my chair too out or it would interfere with another table. Our server was nice and attentive but for how busy it was I didn't think the food was worth the wait.

The staff here was very kind and attentive. When we arrived there was no wait which was great. I really enjoyed my dish. I had the chicken and waffles with a bacon compote. This was a very new dish for me but I was pleasantly surprised! Will be returning.

I had high hopes for Sunday brunch at this place given the reviews and the lines out the door. Service was friendly and we were seated after a 10 minute wait, as promised. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to expectations. The menus is Mexican-themed so maybe I shouldn't have had something as plain as French toast, but it was basically two thick slices of bread, thinly battered on the outside and dry on the inside. Couldn't finish it. The scrambled eggs and bacon were good though. Also, no alcohol so no bloody marys with brunch. Not sure I'd come back.

We've been to Ovo three times and each experience has been similar so I felt it warranted sharing. First off, the food is average to above average classic weekend brunch style with a above average price. $100 for a table of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids). However, the service each time has been awful. Within a minute of sitting down the server hovers over the table asking to take the order. I actually timed it this time out of curiosity, and within 1 minute he came asking the first time and then asked 3 additional times within 5 minutes of sitting down. I totally get wanting to turn tables but it's offensive. Needless to say, the combo of service and price point of the food vs. the quality is just not worth it.

The food is so good, fresh, and very well seasoned that we came back a second day! I enjoyed the entire breakfast: breakfast tea, wild berry pancakes, (the picture is of cinnamon pancakes), and the omelette that I customized with red and green sauce. The service was excellent and Zinnia was the best ever! My husband was grateful for the Belizean connection! Every time we travel back to Evanston we will come here. Sorry Cupital, you have been replaced!

A lot of people have raved about Ovo as a good brunch spot in Evanston. They have a wide selection of standard brunch items and Mexican-inspired ones. Opted for the veggie bowl since I wanted something lighter and healthy-ish with poached eggs. Eggs were perfectly poached with runny yolks which I appreciated. Decent. Nothing too special and probably something I can whip up at home but that's most brunch food. Will be back to try the other stuff, especially the insane-looking waffle and sweet brunch items. Otherwise a good brunch spot in Evanston with more different options compared to most. They have a lot of good vegetarian options too!

Sitting outside on a beautiful Saturday, it was easy to get a seat. Located not far from Northwestern dorms...we arrived just in time to beat the outside rush (inside was at capacity already) Service is fast and friendly. Coffee and water with attentive refills... Ordering was easy and fast. Omelets and potatoes were fresh and delicious. Reasonably priced. We loved this place and will be back.

This review is 2 visits past due. Today was the 3rd time I've come here for b fast and was the 3rd time the food was great, service was amazing and everyone is friendly. Today I did the Toluqueno Omlet and again it was amazing and made so quickly! I love how they also offer Julis Meinl coffee. So good, so strong and the staff always offer refills! There's about 15-20 tables so I can imagine the weekend gets jammed. Parking is limited but you should be able to find but you'll need to look around. Well done Ovo Frito such a gem in Evanston!

Decided to check out Ovo Frito on a Saturday. We had a short wait as they were quite busy. Appreciated that all the paintings were "egg" based which was cute. We had multiple servers approach us asking for our order which I found kind of disorganized. I ordered the omelette and my boyfriend got the burrito. I found the cheese in the omelette having a weird after taste so decided to take off all the cheese while eating. The omelette was average I kind of expected more salsa and flavor. The side of potatoes made up for it. I also found the burrito had less salsa and i didn't like the corn in it. Not sure what I ate here but I broke out into hives after. It might be from the Equal sugar I added in my coffee. Overall it was a very average breakfast and not upto my liking but fast service.

Food was flavorful & made it easy to brunch with people with dietary restrictions! As a vegan, you will not be disappointed - OVO Vegan Burrito was 9.5/10. Only recommendation is a slightly larger portion size.

Wow. We are visiting Evanston to tour Northwestern and searched for a close breakfast spot to our airbnb. This was the first place that popped up in our search. We were blown away and it exceeded expectations, which are high. The food reminded me of our abuelas. Exactly the kinds of meals I would have had in her kitchen. The torre de chorizo was full of flavor. Personal preference: I would have wanted it spicier but I'm guessing they cater to local tolerance and palate. Perfect amount of salsas on the plate to compliment the eggs, chorizo and tortillas. The French toast was light, fluffy, and crispy, and not overly eggy. Sizable portions and we brought home half of our meals to eat later. The staff was friendly, attentive and quick with coffee and water refills. What a great find. ¡Buen provecho!

Our return visit was as good as the first. Ordered a bottle of mimosas this time. Wife had the Denver omelette which was humongous. Gluten free pancakes and potatoes. I had the huevos band... a huge amount of scrambled eggs and refried black beans and rice and 3 tortillas. So much food. It was good but it needed a meat. Next time I'll try the breakfast burrito instead. The service was outstanding. Sitting outside was perfect.

An Evanston brunch gem with Mexican inspired dishes! 4 facts for you: 1) Cramped! Both the tables inside and out are smooshed together, so don't expect social distancing much here. 2) No kiddo menu available, so you'll have to split adult sized meals or order some sides. 3) Food is aesthetically pleasing and fresh! Cheeseburger hit the spot for me on our last visit, as it was meaty, well seasoned, and matched well with a pretzel bun. Corn flake crusted French toast with blueberries, peaches, and whipped cream was tasty and a brunch novelty. Plain waffle and croissant sandwich were inhaled by my husband in seconds, so he was happy with his choices. 4) Find street parking on the block.

This has got to be the best brrakfast spot in Evanston for multiple reasons. Have been coming to Ovo Frito for years now and continue to be amazed by their food and service. Recently have been coming more often as I've adopted this spot to bring the family so decided it was time I actually reviewed. For either sweet or savory, you will definitely find something to enjoy. Some of my favorites are Derek's eggs and Viva La France French Toast. Love the different takes on eggs benedict. I recently told the chef about the best eggs benedict I have ever had which he made a few years ago and he was so awesome looking through his recipe book for that one recipe so he could make it again. Talk about service! Your water and coffee are always full. Freddy does a great job making you feel at home and so do the rest of the staff. It's like you're family. My parents love this spot now not only for the food but also for the service. Armando has made a point to catch up with my dad on the latest soccer games. My 10 year old nephew says: food is pretty good and they're funny. Location is conveniently located west of NU's campus and north of downtown Evanston, a couple minutes walk from Foster Purple line. Parking is typically good to find in the area.

Came by here for a quick brunch on Sunday morning - they were packed! We ordered: - spicy chilaquiles with egg whites - 8/10 - wild berry pancakes - 8/10 Both the items were super filling for two people, though I would have definitely added a bit more spice for the chilaquiles. Overall, great find and we'll be back for more!

Wow. Amazing food and stellar service. We joked that the menu was too big and they said that's so we come back every day. And honestly next time we go back to Evanston we will come here again.

I love their Mexican brunch dish. Staff are friendly and a good vibe indoor and outdoor.

Based on our experience today, I'm at a loss for how this place can have 4.7 stars on Yelp! There are quite a few deficiencies, and not enough positives to warrant giving it a second chance. We sat inside instead of waiting for a patio table. Be forewarned that it is very loud inside - together with the tables being very close together, it detracted from the experience from the beginning. Service is nice enough but inattentive and not very effective. We ordered hot tea, and it never came. We also didn't finish either of our dishes, but our plates were just cleared without asking if we wanted a box for leftovers. The food was just okay. I was particularly disappointed in the chicken and waffles. Although the individual components were tasty (waffle, chicken pieces, and bacon jam), I received a pitifully small number of chicken pieces, especially given the price of the dish. Overall, we didn't have the nearly-five-star experience suggested by the ratings of others. It was below average for sure and not worth a return trip given the wealth of better options for brunch, where you can get both delicious food and great service. Definitely a disappointment.

Excellent service on a very busy Father's Day and Race Against Hate morning! They kept it moving, got us our food & coffee refills quickly, and the food was delicious! Huevos Divorciados were fantastic.

Great food, excellent service, busy place but yet my husband and I were well taken care of every time we come here!

Great selection of delicious Mexican influenced breakfast and brunch options, also lovely outdoor summer seating!

This small café in Evanston is a great spot for a weekend brunch! This place specializes in eggs, but their sweet brunch was quite tasty as well! The bright interior gave a joyful vibe, and I enjoyed the food presentation as well.

I'll admit I'm not a huge fan of eggs, but the goat cheese and spinach omelette made with egg whites was delicious! Service was friendly. The space is small and crowded - it's so popular!

Came for breakfast with a friend. Loved the hibiscus ice tea with lemonade. Ordered breakfast tacos because they bring me joy. They come with Chorizo, eggs, pico de Gallo. They load them up! It would have benefitted from doubling the tortillas. Also salsa on the plate!! Everything on the menu seemed super yummy took me a while to order.

Carlos was amazing! Everything was delish and the service here is superb! Carlos made a food recommendation that I didn't try today but I will definitely return and try his recommendation. Thank you Carlos, Ovo Frito and staff!

It was our first time and won't be our last. Our party of seven waited for 15 minutes to be seated because they don't take our reservation. As soon as we sat down, the staff were so attentive and friendly. They recommended us what to get and often checked up on us. The food was simply delicious. We all loved what we ordered. Their chicken and waffle was amazing. My mouth is salivating as I am writing this review. If you have never been here, you definitely need to give it a try.

I believe Ovo Frito is the best brunch spot in Evanston. Amazing pancakes, insanely good Mexican inspired breakfast (especially the scrambles and chilaquiles). Such attentive service and always a great meal.

Ovo's done it once again! This time we got 4 trays of burritos to feed our crew on a student film set, and it turns out the food is just as good to go as it is in house (although you don't get to enjoy the amazing decorations )! Seriously, I'm not vegan or anything but I think I had two of every burrito we got. Ovo Frito just can't be beat!

I saw pictures of meals others had taken on Yelp at this restaurant. So it all looked good to me and received good ratings. So I looked for the restaurant on a food delivery app and they were there. So we ordered for breakfast and were not disappointed. The portions seemed small but I was almost stuffed after finishing breakfast. We paid a little over $30 for two meals. We ordered the applewood bacon and pancakes sprinkled with powdered sugar. The bacon was delicious. My child had the pancakes and we shared the bacon. We ordered scrambled eggs with spinach and salmon with whole wheat toast and fruit. All tasted fresh and was made just right. The fruit was fresh berries and a few cherries and a slice of Orange and slice of honeydew and cantaloupe and pineapple. I recommend breakfast food from this restaurant.

Food is amazing. Ingredients are fresh and delicious. Friendly staff always very accommodating. I love that they have outdoor seating and i appreciated that they gave me a heads up that there's a lot of bees, little things like that was very nice. Food comes out fast too. Highly recommend Derek's favorite- I'm not much of a potatoe person but these were soooo good and the chorizo is delicious!!

Came here with a friend who loves this place. I ordered the Zarzamora French Toast for $13.50. This was a brioche french toast filled with pastry cream, fresh blackberries, zarzamora coulis, dusted with chocolate and powdered sugar sided with whipped cream. There were a lot of blackberries which I appreciated - they did not skimp on the fruit. They used two pieces of bread, so it was the perfect amount. Staff was friendly and attentive. Would order again!

We stopped by because we were in the area, and we will definitely be back! Whether you're looking for breakfast, brunch, or lunch; sweet, salty, or savory; American, or Latin-American, this restaurant has something tasty for you. Outside of the food, it has a friendly ambiance that makes you feel immediately comfortable and at home. It is definitely family friendly, as we came with our 3-year-old and 8-month-old. Our server Carlos was friendly, attentive, fast, and even helped entertain our children! 5 stars!

I always say to myself, "you can make eggs at home, why go out and buy breakfast?". But somehow I keep ending up here. The staff are so friendly, the food is good, it's hard to say no to the nice restaurant vibes. And the vibes are nice, it doesn't feel like an old crusty diner at all, a great place to meet up with friends!