Cafe Tola

One of the coolest little places I’ve come across in the city of Chicago. What’s more, is their empanada’s are to die for. Flavors vary from day to day, but can include chicken, steak, cheese and poblano pepper, among many more. Everything is made from scratch and fried to perfection in their tiny little free standing building that is only big enough for about 5 skinny patrons at once. Aside from empanadas, they also have homemade donuts and pastries, all of which look delicious, but I haven’t personally tried out — too caught up in empanada love. I’m sad I don’t live in the neighborhood anymore for many reasons, Café Tola being one.

This is a review of their empanadas. I got the Steak & Potatoes as well as the Lechon empanada. The steak and potato was failry tasty, but the Lechon could use a lot more flavor. The biggest thing keeping me from coming back is the price — $ 9.93 for the two empanadas. I’d much rather go to Empanadas 5411 or even Cassava which have empanadas that taste just as good, if not better and are much cheaper.

Love the empanadas, café con leches, and décor.
Frida and empanadas, could there be more in life?

A quick, delicious spot to stop for breakfast. I had the sirloin & vegetable empanada and I was very satisfied! They have a great coffee & empanada deal for $ 5 from 7−9am.

Awesome place to take a breakfast to go.
They have some Mexican products and also empanadas.
Must try the Ham, cheese and egg empanada.
Friendly staff.

I have fallen head over heels for this place! The artwork, inside and out, is amazing. The coffee is also to die for and don’t even get me started on the empanadas!!!

On a tranquil, overcast late Monday morning, Rosa J. and Daddy J. enjoyed their people-​watching activities at Café Tola. Café Tola doesn’t have a place to sit indoor, so it’s more of a carryout coffee shop that specializes delicious empanadas.
The cool, funky young lady barista/​empanadas drying specialist greeted us as soon as we walked in. You can’t pass those awesome-​looking, filling empanadas when ordering your cup of joe! I picked out the «dichotomy» duo: a cup of 12 oz. white mocha and one (1) red spicy pork empanada… a little bit of sweetness mingling with a little bit of saltiness.
Daddy J. always sticks with his large-​sized Americano. Café Tola serves «Metropolis» coffee.
In between Café Tola and the «doggy» neighboring store, it was where Rosa J. and Daddy J. were chilling for next thirty (30) minutes and looking for « Unilocaling» inspirations. To be able to so and have quality coffee and yummy empanadas, that’s five (5) stars in my book.

We love Café Tola! Best empanadas and coffee anywhere!!! Victoria and Gerado do it right!!!

Honestly, this is overdue! Lived in the neighborhood for 2 years, this place is incredible. The food, empanadas are so unique. All kinds of flavors. Buffalo Chicken, Green/​Red Spicy Pork — everything with their goat cheese is awesome. Vegetarian options exist, black bean and goat cheese. Or breakfast egg options and probably like 50 I’m forgetting off the top of my head.
Last year they had a ‘Thanksgiving’ empanada that should have got its own review. Turkey, stuffing and cranberry to make a really creative tasting empanada.
They have a lot of coffee options, though I’m addicted to my stuff at home. All in all, a really friendly place, the staff is AMAZING. Support this place! Its a small seemingly hole in the wall place, yet the inside is this beautifully decorated and makes me realize we overlook small places all the time.
If you’re off Southport/​Addison, or if you can read this and like empanadas in Chicago — make this a place to stop because I know you won’t regret it.

Stopped by today for the first time with my mom and we absolutely loved the green spicy pork and the birria empanadas. The owner is super nice and friendly. He gave us two empanadas on him, which were great choices as well the ropa vieja and Mexican egg. We are def planning to go back soon!

Oh my goodness. I cannot believe I have not heard of this place until now. It’s flipping delicious.
We just happen to drive by it one day around lunch time and decided to park it right here for lunch.
We both ordered two empanadas. I got lechon (get this) and beef sirloin. I can’t remember what my husband got. I think bbq chicken and something else. Anyways, It. Was. All. Good! I don’t think you can make a wrong choice here. A little pricey. But the empanadas are pretty big and meaty.
There was a medium sized line when we got there. We probably waited 10 minutes. Not bad. They go pretty quickly. The whole time we were there the line was pretty solid.
I wish we ordered a coffee, as I hear that it’s delish. Next time!
Place is well decorated. Quirky. I like it. There are only a few little tables in the front and a little bar for standing on the side. Street parking or (illegal) jewel Isco parking lot nearby.

I love empanadas! Café Tola for a home sick Miami-​Boy is a blessing for me as their empanadas are some of the BEST I’ve ever had. I was thrown off by some of their flavor combinations like BBQ Goat but I have to admit their scrumptious!
As if that’s not enough their coffee is great too as I love their cortaditto (shot of espresso and shot of streamed milk).
I highly recommend you give this hidden gem a try if your in the area.

Empanadas were great– We tried one of everything. the Chicken was my favorite. Also had an iced café con leche and an espresso, both were equally delicious and refreshing. There are a lot of «pretenders» when it comes to empanadas but this place is the real deal. Glad I stopped in; will definitely come back with friends.

Well, my empanadas were okay. I ordered chicken verde green salsa and a Black bean w/​goat cheese. I received a chicken verde and a rajas– poblano peppers & potatoes. I only know that it was a rajas after looking at some of the other reviews. Whatever. I also got a spicy mango lemonade. The lemonade was okay. It definitely had more kick than I was expecting but it was cool. I was really looking forward to trying the black bean empanada because I really love black beans. The ones I got were okay. The size is probably just a bit smaller than my hand. So not too small and not too big. This is just a spot for ordering your food as takeout. There is no seating. Nice décor. They also have Metropolis coffee which is awesome. I paid just shy of $ 11 for everything. I may take a chance and return to try the black bean. Hopefully it will be black bean.

This is hands down my favorite empanada spot in this city.
I’ve eaten here about 15 times over the past two years and have never been disappointed. Yes the empanadas are a slight bit pricey but they are worth every penny. Made fresh and by hand they are pure bits of joy. My favorite is the spicy red pork which I can proudly say I successfully ate two of in 20 seconds during a bet with my girlfriend.
There is no place to sit inside but they do have a small patio when the weather is nice on the sidewalk. Added benefit; they have stumptown coffee.
This little shop is very different from the rest of the basic stuff that the southport strip is full of. It’s just super awesome.

I was initially drawn to Café Tola’s bright colors, including the the mural of Frida Kahlo on the side of the building. The inside of the café is equally enchanting, with authentic décor, soda pop from India, and bright artwork.
I ordered a latte and was thoroughly pleased. I sat with my girlfriend on the sidewalk patio, which was a perfect spot to park your bike up against your table, or your dog for that matter.

Get here early if you have your heart set on a specific flavor. My pal Courtney C. and I were doing some shopping and day-​drinking in the neighborhood, and we decided it was probably best if we got something in our stomachs first.
Café Tola is a teeny tiny, adorable shack on Southport. There are no tables, but there is a bar mounted to the wall outside.
I had the Green Spicy Pork empanada and a Dolce De Leche coffee. Both were amazing. My empanada was spicy enough, but that didn’t stop me from experimenting with the sauces on the bar outside. The coffee was perfect for the chilly day ahead of us, but sweet enough to have done well as a dessert as well.
There were about nine flavors advertised in the bakery case, including several with chicken, pork, and breakfast varieties; and a variety of coffee and tea drinks. When we got here around 1:00 p.m., on a week day no less, some of the flavors were already sold out. The customer in front of us snatched up a handful in the blink of an eye. I was still happy with the selection, but get here early if you don’t want to be disappointed!

I can’t believe it took me this long to try Café Tola. I’ve been past it so many times but never gave it a try. Now it’s one of my favorite quick eats in Chicago.
Café Tola is basically a little shack right on Addison and Southport. A little shack with tons and tons of delicious empanadas. The structure is pretty cute– lots of bright colors with a beautiful Latin theme.
The empanadas are the showcase here. They have lots of different options, and lots of vegetarian options too, if that’s your thing. They are really delicious; the dough is perfect and they are not too greasy. The café also has a full espresso bar and a variety of cold beverages.
On the weekends, I’ve noticed that they have a variety of donuts and other breakfast pastries. They look delicious, but I have
never actually tried them.
The empanadas aren’t more than 2.75 if I am remembering correctly… a really great deal. Two of them makes a good and cheap meal for me. I love this place.

Short story short, Café Tola makes some kick booty empanadas. I went in on a whim with a friend and ordered some little guys up. The shop was tiny & colorful and something about it was drawing us inside. It’s a cute little café with no seating, just an order up counter with countless tchotchkes sitting around decorating the place.
Empanadas are $ 3 each and well sized.
Ham cheese potatoes empanada, Holy goodness amazing! Perfect breakfast treat.
Spinach & cheese, another solid option if you want meatless.
Chocolate donut — meh, def skip this. Not enough frosting, super thin layer unlike I’ve had before though I must say the cake donut itself was superb.
I’ll be back to try many more of their empanadas! It’s where it’s at!

If you’re in Southport and if you’re not at Jeni’s for ice cream or at The Music Box for a movie or Candyality for diabetes, then this is probably where you’re at.
Some really delicious empanadas here. Probably because they’re deep-​fried as opposed to baked. The chorizo and egg is probably my favorite, but it’s hard to decide, because the menu keeps changing!
Probably a ploy to get people to keep coming back.
That couldn’t be it.
Could it?