Cafe Tola
Cafe Tola
a hand holding a pastry
Empanadas
a colorful building with a sign that says cafe tola
Counter
Interior
a hand holding a half eaten pastry
Spinach and ricotta
yoda and yoda love you
a cup of coffee and a skeleton
PAC man mural
Wall art
Horchata Latte (MOST POPULAR)
interior
outside
outside
Empanadas ready for purchase
interior
interior
Menu
Seating area
Brandon B.
Sep 3, 2024
Nicely located in an area that isn't too crowded with street parking. The art is fun and retro/80s with superheroes and video games, outdoor seating on nice days. Great service, nice people! A big selection of empanadas and several types of core ingrediants for any taco or burrito combination. They have some Mexican varieties of coffee and chocolate too. The chicken mole burrito was amazing.
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Nazia C.
Jul 6, 2024
Cafe Tola might be my new favorite cafe for a quick snack and/or coffee. This location has free parking outside, there's indoor and outdoor seating, and they have awesome decor and music. This time, I tried the steak, bean, and potato empanada as well as the goat birria empanada. I tried a bite of my husband's torta, too, and it was SO GOOD.
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Joneice B.
Feb 10, 2024
Previously eaten an empandas from Cafe Tola from another establishment. This morning after a dance class, I drove right by so I had to stop in for some empandas for my husband. On this occasion, I grabbed a Horchata Latte which was fantastic. Additionally I got guava & cheese empandas. The guava & cheese was good but overwhelming with cheese. I would of like more guava. For empandas I ordered Chicken Tinga, Birria & Queso and Beef Sirloin empanda. My husband really enjoyed Birria & Queso. He liked the Chicken Tinga but thought the Birria had better flavor. The cafe is very colorful and bright. I thought the staff were very friendly. I would come back but really thinking about learning how to make these at home. Empandas were $6 a piece which is a little hefty for a small item.
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Shahrooz E.
Jan 26, 2024
I swear... no one makes a better empanada in the city than Cafe Tola!! Fresh, lots of variety, unbelievable combinations and super consistent day after day! Pro tip, don't forget the salsa when you buy them. Been coming to their locations for a decade now and have NEVER BEEN DISAPPOINTED!!Always get served with a smile and friendly attitude... an absolute gem!
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Lara W.
Mar 18, 2024
First timers here. Would have been SO much better if these were fried fresh. We went at 7pm and we were only able to choose what they had sitting in the glass case which they only had maybe 5 flavors to choose from. This was my ground beef empanada...had so much oil soaked into it, nothing was crispy, it wasn't fresh. So disappointing. Not sure why they aren't fried when ordered instead of only being able to choose from what's been sitting there for who knows how long
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Lupe G.
Jul 18, 2024
Top notch catering service! Their empanadas are so yummy, as are their guava/cream cheese pastries! They have cafe de Hola and horchata iced coffee that I'm hooked on!
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Katelyn R.
May 27, 2024
When I tell you this is my favorite place in Chicago, I MEAN IT! 10/10 every time- I live 45 minutes away and drive here often to get empanadas. The Rajas and chicken tinga are my faves. Their coffee is also great.
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Sema T.
Dec 10, 2023
This is such a cool place - the location in Lakeview is great, the artwork is bright and beautiful, and the folks working there are delightful (with nice smiles!). I oddly had this introduced to me by a 9 year old, and if a 9 year old can get behind fun plays on the empanada, so can you. He loved the ham, egg, and cheese and I went for the Tika Chicken. Perfectly made, fried, and flavored. I'll definitely be back when I'm in town again. I just wish there were somewhere to sit inside - but even that is part of the charm. In one door, quickly order, smile, out the other.
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Araceli C.
Sep 12, 2023
Cafe tola in California I stop by for lunch I order machaca con huevo tacos was out, then I ordered 2 tacos al pastor mexican coke and Nutella empanadaTacos was bland and got asked for salt, same no flavor at all....Empanada was too much Nutella with bananas..... I ordered to go horchata latte took like is too popular too dam sweet........... not recommend for diabetics
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John W.
Feb 7, 2024
I love cafe tola. It's a bit pricey, but really good. I just wish there was one close to me.I haven't really had a bad empanada yet.
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