Café Tola

I'm back again a month later and still pleased! They were out of birria tho which was a bummer. This time, I tried the biggie smalls taco because I love the name. It has steak, egg, and cheese. The steak is so good, and they cover it all with a ton of melty, gooey cheese! The spicy pork empanada has pinto beans and potato inside. It wasn't my favorite, but it was still pretty good. The sauce that comes with the empanadas is very good. I also tried the dulce de leche latte, and I was pleased that it wasn't too sweet despite the name. I love Cafe Tola!

I've been to 3 of the Cafe Tolas and this one is weird. Like the empanadas taste noticeably different from the Cafe Tola on Southport and the Cafe Tola on California. I get the Mexican Egg and the Gauva and Queso one regularly and the Mexican Egg was missing all the flavor here. And both empanadas had a slightly different pastry crust.This is weird. Why is this one location different?

I know tons of people love this location and the reviews are generally great. So, it's safe for me to say that I was not the biggest fan of this location. The lines are long and it's just empanadas from what I understand. There's another larger location about two blocks away and I believe that one serves burritos and tacos. I'm more excited about that location.My wife loves Cafe Tola and I trust her judgment. Unfortunately, by the time I get to taste any of the goodies, it's in the evening after work and not fresh out of the fryer. From what I see, the ambiance is cozy and divey. Regular customers know the routine. Line up outside the door, order, and eat outside at the few tables and chairs. Or there's a long shelf where you can stand and eat as well. I hear the horchata latte is yummy. I'm excited about that too:)

Cafe Tola's food can be a bit hit-or-miss. I ordered three empanadas, which came to around $24 with tip (yikes). My first empanada was black bean/plantain/goat cheese, which was fantastic-- earthy, sweet, and crispy. I also got vegan sirloin, which was decent but would've been bland had I not added hot sauce. The last empanada I got was egg and pico de gallo. The pico de gallo had almost no presence in the dish, so the main flavor/texture came from the eggs, which were unseasoned and dry/crumbly from the deep-frying. I found this one to be pretty nasty. The atmosphere was fun, and the food would've been worth 4 stars had the price not been outrageously high. I am open to coming back, but I probably wouldn't go for the empanadas.

Gotta love this Logan gem. It's the best pick me up empanada. It's tasty and consistent and they sometimes have new flavors you can try. Very easy grab and go shop that might have lines but they go fast. I love to take their table outside whenever it's free.

If I could give 20 stars I would! I very rarely go somewhere and eat something, and from first bite, feel as if I can no longer live without said food item... but here, I don't know what I will do without these empanadas! I was just in town visiting my sister for the weekend, so now anytime I go visit her, I know where my first stop will be! ***FOOD***Let's start with the food because 100/10. I have just never tasted something so delicious in my life. The sweet lady at the register recommended the poblano pepper potato empanada (idk the exact name of it) but she said it was a popular vegetarian one, so I said sure! I love peppers. This was sooo incredible, it was like jalapeño cheese popper meets pierogi meets hot pocket (but ofc way better than a hot pocket) it was just so good! It says best empanadas in Chicago but I think they're the best in the world. ***STAFF***So kind and helpful! :) ***INSIDE***A small bar against the wall for seating and a little table out front so you can sit to enjoy your food but it's really mainly for to-go. ***CONCLUSION***I will be counting down the days until I visit my sister again so I can come try more flavors!

On a brutally hot 95 degree day, Cafe Tola managed to save me with delicious food.Food: I ended up stopping here after a long walk in the heat with some friends. I got the chicken salsa verde burrito with was exceptional and washed it down with a water and glass bottle Coke. Couldn't ask for anything more.Service: I only dealt with the cashier, but she was super nice and patient with me.Aesthetic: Wasn't a fan of the drink stock being in the middle of the floor, but it is a small place so it is understandable. I did like the vibe and it was a nice "quick-eats" spot.

Great steak & egg burrito. Super tasty green pork empanadas. Friendly and prompt service. Great variety for a regular place.

Really great food if you're looking for authentic Mexican street food. It's a small little establishment next to a Target off of Logan Square. I had the beef skirt tacos and a couple of my family members had the birria tacos. My daughter had the beef (ground) meat empanada and everything was great. The skirt steak had no bristle or fat and were generously portioned.

Needed a little treat for lunch, so I walked around the area and saw that they were open. Really glad I went in! They have a huge selection of empanadas with a few different vegetarian/vegan options. I especially loved their Vegan Sirloin empanada. Wonderfully flavorful, their hot sauce makes it even better. Very little seating but this wasn't a problem for me as I was the only person seated at the time I was there. The person at the register was super friendly. Great experience, exactly what I needed, and I look forward to coming back!