Panes Bread Cafe

Panes is the best sandwich shop in Chicago. Hands down. Their bread is fresh and every sandwich is made to order. Love stopping by here for a lunch bite whenever I can. Their menu is extensive, so there should be a suitable food option for everyone. You can also buy their bread by itself. It is very affordable.

This place is a time machine back to a cozier, cheaper time -- shelves full of knickknacks, calm atmosphere and affordable, filling food. The bread is great. We got chilaquiles verdes and one of their egg sandwiches with turkey and caramelized onions. It felt homemade and comforting. There's no wifi here. Come sit, chat, read a book and feel like it's 2008 again.

Local bread shop with an affordable & stacked menu. Hid here for a bit to escape the summer heat, got the Oaxacan pork sandwich + pizza bread and both were delicious.

Stopped to grab a quick, late lunch after a long day out. Food ended up taking a lot longer than expected though. I had “The Popular” which immediately called my name. I’ve never heard of tomato bread, but basically it’s an Italian bread with some tomatoes on top. I liked it, and the bread was very fresh and light. Juicy grilled chicken breast throughout with gooey provolone cheese on top. The caramelized onions and bell peppers provided some sweetness as well. While I enjoyed the sandwich, the chips were cold and not salty. With tons of options, I’ll for sure be back and will also try their monster cookie.

Great local place to grab a sandwich or soup or salad when you just want something local and quick. I like their pizza edition we got it the other day and really enjoyed it. I wish they had some more standard favorites like Italian sub or simple sub sometimes their stuff gets very inventive and I just don’t feel like it. But otherwise it’s a really great place to go and stop.

Every neighborhood deserves a bakery and sandwich shop like Panes. The sandwiches are great, my fav is the pollo diablo. Grab a soup too. I’ve been coming here since the early 2000’s and they’ve never disappointed. The staff is always friendly. Everything is made to order and it’s so fresh. I wish I lived closer!!

Panes Bread Cafe is a cute brunch spot and bakery located off Sheffield. The food is all really reasonably priced and extremely delicious. The portion sizes are wonderful too. For some reason, the decor is part Iowa Hawkeyes fan part Hispanic culture, but it really works. Highly recommend anyone stop by.

Hit up Panes Bread Cafe on Sheffield—cash only, FYI. Grabbed the Oaxacan Pork on tomato‑focaccia and a monster cookie, plus a Coke—ended up about $15 before tip. Bread was legit fresh‑baked, sandwich had that perfect sweet‑spicy bite. Staff was chill, vibe cozy. Took a bit to get our order, but worth the wait. I’ll def be back next time.

What a neighborhood treasure! Fresh, homemade bread and delicious sandwiches, soups, and entrees. Their desserts melt in my mouth. Easy takeout, or eat in their pleasant cafe atmosphere. Highly recommend their Cubano sandwich and peanut butter & chocolate Buckeyes.

Excellent sandwich (Pollo Diablo). The kind of sandwich that makes you stop and say how good of a sandwich it is. You have to talk about it with whomever. An exclamatory sandwich. Perfect bread. Service is a little dry, but not odd. Worth the stop or consistent visit.

Stopped to grab a quick, late lunch after a long day out. Food ended up taking a lot longer than expected though. I had "The Popular" which immediately called my name. I've never heard of tomato bread, but basically it's an Italian bread with some tomatoes on top. I liked it, and the bread was very fresh and light. Juicy grilled chicken breast throughout with gooey provolone cheese on top. The caramelized onions and bell peppers provided some sweetness as well. While I enjoyed the sandwich, the chips were cold and not salty. With tons of options, I'll for sure be back and will also try their monster cookie.

Mmmmmmmmm yes please. Got this chicken club and oh boy it made me wanna go to one! And the tomato bread my bestie has. Oooooompf. Made me feel some kinda way. Was treated so well from the girl at the counter she was BRAT! And the vibes in there are to die for. Great slow atmosphere. Yasss queen

I only came here for a small bite, but the place is so cute and cozy. It's quiet and calm, which made me feel comfortable. The bread is DELICIOUS I'm definitely coming again to try the rest of Panes menu!

My friend and I were craving a cozy cafe with soup, and we stumbled upon this little gem of a place! It was quite empty on a snowy Sunday night, but they did have a lot of take-out orders. We had our choice of tables and settled in. Service was quick. The soup and bread were dreamy. Prices were extremely reasonable too! I'd come back!

Try your sandwich on the Sweet French Bread. It's absolutely a game changer, so good!

Panes is my favorite sandwich place in Chicago! Their sandwiches are delicious and reasonably priced, and they bake their own bread fresh that is also available for purchase. Their soup is quite good, and they have a variety of dessert options. I recommend calling about 20 minutes ahead to save time on pickup orders, although I also enjoy walking in to eat there, with natural light and fun art on the walls. I usually order the Super Panes, although the Todo Italiano is also a favorite!

Panes Bread Cafe is a cute brunch spot and bakery located off Sheffield. The food is all really reasonably priced and extremely delicious. The portion sizes are wonderful too. For some reason, the decor is part Iowa Hawkeyes fan part Hispanic culture, but it really works. Highly recommend anyone stop by.

Hasn't changed in ages! An amazing neighborhood gem. Used to live in the apartments above decades ago, so we frequented often. My fave: super panes sandwich. Their bread is homemade, sweet treats are good: monster cookie is a must! Brought kids and now they love it.

Okay listen to me, it's not like this is the best pasta you'll ever have, it's not like a Michelin starred Italian restaurant, like come on. It's a cute cafe that has a case of pies and cakes and has sandwiches and bread and pasta and you know what it's so necessary and sufficient!!! This is the pasta I make for myself when I'm hungry and it's 11pm. This is the sandwich I would crave at 3pm on a Thursday. It's a big fat bowl of comfort pasta that is cheap and filling and I would cry into it about my boy problems. It's small and has a tired soul but so do I, it was nice to sit there and commiserate with her

Ohhhh I'm so happy to have FINALLY tried Panes! I've driven so many times, and I've been to just about every neighboring restaurant. So needless to say, my visit to Panes was long overdue. Panes is a picturesque bread cafe. There are a few chairs outside to enjoy your food when the weathers nice, and surprisingly a decent amount of seats inside as well! We grabbed a menu to scope out sandwich options and waited in line to order. The sandwiches are decently priced, especially knowing that it's going to be on freshly baked bread. There is something sooo special about fresh bread, and it's worth the higher price tag for me. I ordered the turkey turkey, which is smoked turkey, avocado, roasted red pepper, and spicy mayo on tomato bread. This sandwich is seriously PERFECT. Its stacked with turkey and the bread lived up to my expectations. I also was able to to stretch it for two days because it's a decent size sammy! The biggest downsize was that it was served with lays chips which are kind of meh. Homemade chips or another brand of kettle chips that are a little more substantial would be ideal, but at the end of the day I'm there for the sandwich, not the chips. Definitely want to try other sandwich combos and offerings at Panes. They had banana bread and ciabatta that looks absolutely delicious.

Visiting our daughter, we wanted some lunch around 1PM. It wasn't busy at all in the dining room but they appeared to be doing a brisk take-out business. Easy enough to place our order at the counter. Sat down and waited. I felt it took a little too much time for our order to come out of the kitchen. The bread on my Veggie Cabra was some of the best sandwich bread I've had in a long time. The correct balance of crisp crust and chewy bread without overwhelming the flavors of the sandwich. I loved the goat cheese paired with the vegetables. The bathrooms are down a steep set of stairs - we did not visit them. There was some seating outside, but very tiny. The AC was a little high for my liking and even my husband mentioned it. The front door was wide open and it was in the low 70's outside. I'm sure it was toasty in the kitchen though.

delicious!!! Such a cute place and such yummy food. Family owned atmosphere and awesome prices. Can't wait to come back

I have had the turkey sandwich, BLT and banana bread and they have all been fantastic!

Tried the Roast Beef sandwich this time and it was really good! Panes never disappoints. I think the Oaxacan pork is still better, but definitely a good contender.

Great spot for a tasty sandwich. The four of us all had different orders and were not disappointed. I loved the Sunny California that was loaded with lots of veggies. They also have some dessert options. We tried the buckeyes and Oaxacan Anchor truffles. They were delicious. The employees working were so kind and helpful. The atmosphere to stay and eat was cute and cozy. Check this spot out!

PSA: Amazing food but prices shown on Yelp are inaccurate. Actual prices are almost twice of what this app reports

Wonderful little cafe, really enjoyed the sandwiches. We didn't try any of the baked goods or desserts, but they all looked delicious. Their homemade bread on the sandwiches was super tasty.

Cute little bread cafe, but nothing out of this world! We stopped in panes for a snack between trains. My friend ordered a chicken sandwich and found it to be pretty flavorless- she had to add a ton of salt. I ordered a tea and they just handed me a basket of teabags to choose from- just your classic diner teas. My friend also had a coffee, they only offer drip. It was a really cute space and the server was so friendly! It's a good place to have a little toast or some tea, but definitely not super memorable.

Sandwich was amazing, ordered ahead and it was ready in 20 minutes. Longer than I expected but they are always crowded and I understand why!

Some of their recipes need improving. The ciabatta loaf was just plain, crumbly white bread. Not really good for anything except breadcrumbs because it disintegrates.

This place is great. It's in the midst of a bunch of pricier places so I do appreciate that they have great food and at a great price. Their menu is pretty diverse so it's nice to not be tied to a particular cuisine. Cooks and staff obviously take pride in their space and their food. Check them out.

Panes Bread Cafe has been around for a long time and is a neighborhood staple. They serve up delicious affordable sandwiches made with high quality ingredients. I had the chicken club today, which was great and had grilled chicken, bacon, cheese, avocado, and tomatoes inside. I also ordered a monster cookie for dessert, which was a giant cookie that tasted like a combo of an oatmeal raisin cookie, chocolate chip and M&M cookie.

Honestly not sure how anyone could give less than 5 stars for Panes. I'd give them more if I could. I've been coming here for years and they never fail to deliver. Specials are always amazing, but there's no beating the Pompazo in my opinion. The fresh baked bread is truly delicious. The desserts are to die for as well, especially the monster cookie! A+ food; A+ service, A+ price

Fresh bread and great quality. The chicken club on ciabatta with spicy mayo is great!

New to the area and so glad this spot is nearby!! I stopped by for a quick lunch and they checked all the boxes. On a Saturday for lunch it was busy, but there were enough tables for customers. The person in front of us had a large order of 8 sandwiches so we waited about 15 minutes which I felt was pretty reasonable all things considered. The menu has lots of options, and I loved what I ordered! The Super Panes was great! I loved the fresh baked bread, although it is on the sweeter side. The bacon and honey mustard also played super well together. The portion was large enough that splitting it worked for a light lunch! I added a monster cookie for dessert, and I highly recommend for a fun treat!! It had crisp edges but the chocolate was gooey which is perfect to me. I plan to be back to try more!!

It's delicious and consistent. Yum! I've tried numerous sandwiches and have not been disappointed!

Really tasty, high quality and high quantity reasonably priced food. I had the Veggie Cabra sandwich, which was a really good veggie sandwich with goat cheese. The ratio of all the vegetables and cheese and bread was spot on, and the bread itself was really fresh. The chicken feta salad was a big portion with fresh ingredients and a yummy vinaigrette. The pizza bread was so good--Panes bread with tomato sauce and cheese, with six pieces for a very low price! The staff was friendly both on the phone and when I picked up my order. There is 15 min parking outside for pickups!

Great place for sandwiches. I've tried a few different sandwiches and I've never been disappointed. And the staff are all friendly.

Called in our order and walked over to pick it up in about 20 minutes. For COVID the restaurant was cleared of the tables and chairs, so there was a good amount of space inside to socially distance. When we arrived, there were 2 other people standing off to the side waiting for orders. We didn't see cookies on the online menu, but they have them if you ask. Overall, this place is good value -- yummy sandwiches at a decent price! The bread has a really good texture, crunch on the outside but soft on the inside. The bread is nice and thin too, so the filling to bread ratio is excellent. Oaxacan Pork - Marinated pork loin with good depth of flavor. This sandwich comes with caramelized onions, spicy mayo and roasted red peppers. Just the right amount of spicy due to the spicy mayo. Comes with a bag of simple potato chips. Tuna Blanca - almost like a tuna coleslaw. The menu says the tuna is made with albacore white tuna mixed with red onions, celery, mayo, lettuce and tomato...but I'm pretty sure there's also carrot in there. The carrots added a refreshing sweetness that I've never had before in tuna salad. Comes with a bag of simple potato chips. Cookies - got the chocolate chip and monster cookies. Both are thick cookies and depends on your cookie preference. I thought they were both just ok, but I'd be open to trying their other baked items next time.

Panes is your one-stop bakery for a perfect brunch or a quick, delicious sandwich. Don't miss their affordable, freshly-baked ciabatta - a bread lover's dream come true

Awesome sandwich spot with out-of-this-world bread. I have gotten many of their sandwiches but by far my favorite is the popular chicken on their tomato cheesy bread. I'm typically the type of sandwich person who cares more about the actual contents and meats of a sandwich but it's the bread at Pane's that really stands out. They also have awesome breakfast sandwiches that come with awesome home fries. You honestly can't go wrong with any of their sandwiches and you can get breakfast anytime of day which is yet another plus. Price is reasonable compared to a lot of other places in the city, especially since they give you chips on the side with your sandwich. The place is always crowded so definitely call ahead if you're planning on taking out. It's nice to eat their if you plan on doing that but just know that there aren't a lot of tables and it can be difficult to find a seat during peak lunch hours.

SO good. You cannot go wrong with homemade bread. I grabbed lunch here my first weekend after moving to the neighborhood and I will definitely be back. I got a turkey sandwich and it was SO delicious. It was big enough that I saved half for the next day, and the bread was honestly amazing. I also got the garlic potato salad - oh my gosh, to die for. Cannot wait to come back!

Hands down my favorite restaurant in all of Chicago, and I've been to tons. The cozy atmosphere, the homey foods, everything about Panes is perfect. From the amazing sandwiches (I recommend the panes sandwich or the ham and cheese), to the rotating soups, desserts, and iconic garlic potato salad, this place has something for everyone!

Delicious!!! Only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is because of how long I waited in the store to get 2 sandwiches! It took about 40 minutes and the places wasn't even that busy. Besides this, great spot!

I thought it was pretty bad. The wait service was very long and the bread was too dry/crumbly. The mac and cheese was bland and so was the chicken that came with it. Maybe the sandwich is the thing to try but I'm not gonna be back

I came here back in April 2023 for quick sandwiches to take on my way to the hair salon. I picked up one for myself and one for my stylist. I got the turkey and cheese on tomatoe bread with avocado and two sodas. I called about 20 minutes before I was supposed to pick them up. The lady at the counter was very sweet. We loved the sandwiches, very fresh. I would go back.

Kicking myself for not having tried Panes sooner! Some of the best bread I've ever tasted and such good portions (I had the veggie cabra sandwich). May need to go back for a loaf!

Panes was A-ok! The sandwich I got was turkey on a sun fried tomato bread. We didn't wait long which was nice! But to be honest it was a little soggy. I'll come back but think it was just a bad batch!

Such a cute place. I love their sandwiches... very fresh, filling, affordable. Nice local spot that is great with no frills.

My favorite sandwich spot. The Turkey Turkey is a can't miss! Can't beat Panes prices and everything is baked fresh in house.

Panes has delicious sandwiches! Their bread is so great, which explains why it is always a busy shop when you walk in to order. I definitely recommend the Tomate y Queso if you're vegetarian. It's perfectly dressed, and the mozzarella they use is so good. Expect a 10-15 minute wait for these handcrafted sandwiches. Well worth it!

I love their sandwiches they very special taste, unique and delicious food. I highly recommend this place and also the prices are very convenient.

I used to get my lunch here multiple times a week when I nannied next door. Super dangerous. I lived in Lakeview at the time and would still get this for lunch on weekends. Once I started moving out west and south I tried coming in every so often because it's that good!! Any time I get my order messed up when I order out elsewhere I think of this spot where you canorder anything and not be upset by your choice. Oh and def try their baked breads!

Such a good spot for sandwiches!!! Big menu with lots of options and super tasty. I will say that you should definitely order ahead here because the wait was pretty long!

Stopped by for a quick lunch. I ordered at the counter, and my food came out quickly. It smelled DELICIOUS, but I was a bit disappointed with the actual taste, which I felt was a bit bland. It came with a "spicy mayo" that I could hardly even taste. It could definitely use some more seasoning or spice. The bread it was served on was good though, very fluffy and the tomatoes were a nice touch. The inside was nice and cozy, and is a nice place to relax and read or work.

I had high hopes for this place considering the great reviews and the photos looking promising. I ordered the turkey turkey and was so disappointed. Fillings were skimpy and the tomato bread was incredibly dry. The only thing saving it was the avocado. Flavor was also bland. I ordered the last banana bread on the shelf and that was also so bad. It was so dense and dry I had to force myself to taste the banana flavor. The only moderately decent item was the monster cookie. So much for being a "bread cafe". Additionally, there were only 2 parties inside the store (me and another group of 4) and it took almost half an hour just to get my sandwich. Maybe it was an off day for them but I will definitely not be returning.

Great cafe with a variety of delicious menu items. I had the Pollo Diablo sandwich which was fantastic. The bread and all the other ingredients were fresh and the portions are generous. My only complaint is that I live 705 miles away but I always make it a point to stop with every visit to Chicago.