Restaurant Review – Cafe Tola

When I moved here from Texas, I knew I had to find a spot for breakfast tacos. And then I found Cafe Tola! Cafe Tola is a counter-serve restaurant serving up coffee, empanadas, tacos, burritos, and more. I went to their location at Addison and Ashland. The exterior is adorable, with bright purple paint and twinkle lights above the patio. After scanning the menu, I knew I had to start with a coffee of some kind. I ordered the Dulce de Leche Latte and it was fantastic. The caramel was silky and smooth, the perfect start to our Sunday meal. We decided to split an empanada and ordered the Red Spicy Pork, with pinto beans and potatoes. I love empanadas and this did not disappoint. The pastry is flaky, not greasy, and is perfectly balanced with the filling. The meat was so well-spiced, it was just packed with flavor. I also loved the addition of the pinto beans. Next, we ordered breakfast tacos. I ordered two and they were absolutely huge; I easily could have just eaten one. I got the Mexican Chorizo Taco: house chorizo, crispy potatoes, scrambled eggs, and pico de gallo; and the Birria Taco: tender, spicy BBQ goat, cilantro, and onion. The birria was magnificent. The meat was so tender and it was perfectly marinated. For me, the mark of a really good taco is if it tastes awesome without a ton of toppings. The cilantro and onion gave it a bit of texture and snap, but the real flavor came from the meat; just how I like it. The chorizo taco was delicious too! The meat was spicy and balanced well by the crispy potatoes. My boyfriend ordered the Biggie Smalls taco: steak, eggs, and cheese; and the OG Taco: skirt steak, cilantro, and onion. These were both delicious! The steak was cooked very well and we both loved the simplicity of the tacos. We will definitely be back!

Cafe Tola has five locations in the city. The Addison location is open Mondays through Fridays from 6 am to 8 pm and Saturdays/Sundays from 7 am to 8 pm. You can find other location hours and order online here.

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO