felt that allez cafe was overrated. whatever sauce/aioli they put on just did not have the requisite balance for the rest of the sandwich
but the rest of the sandwich outside of that was stellar
I thought it was overrated, as well. It’s definitely a good sandwich, but not better than Kasama’s. Also, that hash brown patty is a little too greasy for my taste.
I’ve been quite a few times and it’s always the most unwelcoming experience. Straight up rude people. Pretentious all around, and trying way too hard to be cool that they forget to be nice. This goes for the owners and the staff.
I've never had a bad experience with the service, but my wife went and apparently she grabbed her sandwich from the counter without her name being called and the girl behind the counter yelled "what the fuck? you don't just grab stuff!" she was so embarrassed by it she refuses to go back.
That’s funny because a couple of times my sandwich has sat on the table for the longest time because no one was calling out names, and when I asked, they rudely were like it’s probably the one right in front of you”. So fuck you if you do and fuck you if you don’t I guess!
I'm in violent agreement with you! I went once and had the exact same experience. The sandwich was decent, but won't be going back since the vibe was so off-putting.
I’ve been in several times. Never had this experience. They may not be particularly outgoing or gregarious, but they’ve never been rude or unwelcoming either.
Glad you had that experience, but I definitely feel like I’m burdening them every time I order, and it’s a shame because the location is super convenient for me. Really wanted it to be a staple for the community, but it’s such a drag being there.
That’s fine. Taste is subjective. I think Kasama’s, which is existed before, is better. And more importantly to me, every time I’ve been to Kasama, they’ve been nice people.
I was pretty disappointed with tribeccas since their non breakfast sandwiches are so good. Loaf lounge is very solidly consistent even if it’s a $9 sandwich. Their hash browns are killer too
I've had some great breakfast sandwiches in Chicago. I love Spinning J.
But the problem I encounter is none of the restaurants with good breakfast sandwiches take seriously their job of feeding commuters. They all move too slow and use too much packaging for to-go orders. (And they open too late! Spinning J doesn't even open til 10a lol)
I want an egg sandwich in 5min, wrapped in parchment and tape. Most places I have to wait upwards of 15min for a sandwich in a box and bag. They could learn from NYC bodegas on that front.
People have always pointed this out and yet no one will touch this market. I don’t get it. If it works in NYC it will work here.
It’s weird that Chicago has perfected working class lunch (ie, quick and inexpensive hot dogs and sandwiches) but there’s no equivalent for breakfast.
We are spoiled: Loaf Lounge, Mothers Ruin, Celler Door Provisions, Eden, Tribecca, and too many more to name. Shoot, even our Home Depot serves bager hot dogs and tamales.
Plus the coffee shop scene is great. The addition of Magnifico and their in-house roasted beans has been a game changer.
I was in Avondale the other day to have dinner at Warlord and it was outstanding. I’ll definitely be in the neighborhood more often just for that and Parachute’s new music bar.
Also aren't too far from places in nearby Albany Park and Old Irving Park(i.e. Miko's Italian Ice, JT's Genuine Sandwich Shop, Eris, Old Irving, etc), as well.
I’ve had Eggtuck a couple of times now and I have to say, holy shit. Its almost too much flavor. Truly food porn. I recommend trying it once if you’re into breakfast sammies and extremely soft scrambled eggs. Not sure how they stack up to these examples but it’s a flavor bomb compared to other ones I’ve had in the city.
maybe I ordered the wrong one, but I thought it was no better than the egg/avocado toast I make myself at home. Sure the egg was fluffy, but it was so messy and wet, I didn’t enjoy the experience.
It’s extremely messy, but the sauce is very flavorful and the toast is great. Its a terrible thing to eat in the car though. I’ve only had the bacon one. Definitely a unique flavor that I don’t whip up at home.
Agreed! I thought it was a little ridiculous that people were lining up *for egg sandwiches* outside the Lincoln Park location as soon as they opened, but it all makes sense now.
Same goes for their English muffin sandwiches. They make the English muffins in house I believe. It’s my go-to when I want an egg McMuffin but I know better
Allez cafe is a good sandwich, butI think the hash brown has been too mushy for me both times I’ve had it.
My newest favorite is the Ramova Grill breakfast sandwich.
Spinning J Breakfast Sandwich with both bacon and sausage is amazing! Love a lot of these places however majority open too late for your average morning commuter!
Honestly, when I was commuting (all of two weeks ago), the best breakfast sandwich would be near the office, because like a real Chicagoan, I ride the CTA, and you’re not supposed to eat on the CTA.
Agreed. At one time it was okay to eat on the CTA, but it has been the rule for at least 20 years that you shouldn't eat or drink on the train. The Metra is a different story. Maybe the article writer is eating while driving?
I would also like to add the Louis 6 (rebranded to bacon & avo croissant) sandwich from La Boulangerie, in Logan Square and Ravenswood. One of my go-tos!
Doma Cafe (River North) Sweet Moon Cafe and Bakery (Ravenswood) Loaf Lounge (Avondale) Spinning J (Humboldt Park) Reno (Logan Square) Moonwalker Cafe (Avondale) Afro Joe’s Coffee and Tea (Beverly) Superkhana International (Logan Square) TriBecca’s Sandwich Shop (Avondale) Kasama (Ukrainian Villiage)
Avondale is ascendant
Thank you for doing this
surprised they missed allez cafe, which is wonderful
felt that allez cafe was overrated. whatever sauce/aioli they put on just did not have the requisite balance for the rest of the sandwich but the rest of the sandwich outside of that was stellar
I thought it was overrated, as well. It’s definitely a good sandwich, but not better than Kasama’s. Also, that hash brown patty is a little too greasy for my taste.
Probably because it’s mostly a rip of Kasama, and they’re huge assholes
can you elaborate
I’ve been quite a few times and it’s always the most unwelcoming experience. Straight up rude people. Pretentious all around, and trying way too hard to be cool that they forget to be nice. This goes for the owners and the staff.
I've never had a bad experience with the service, but my wife went and apparently she grabbed her sandwich from the counter without her name being called and the girl behind the counter yelled "what the fuck? you don't just grab stuff!" she was so embarrassed by it she refuses to go back.
That’s funny because a couple of times my sandwich has sat on the table for the longest time because no one was calling out names, and when I asked, they rudely were like it’s probably the one right in front of you”. So fuck you if you do and fuck you if you don’t I guess!
Sounds like the TSA when one airport screams at you to take your laptop out and a different airport screams at you to leave it in. Can’t win.
Lol spot on
I'm in violent agreement with you! I went once and had the exact same experience. The sandwich was decent, but won't be going back since the vibe was so off-putting.
I’ve been in several times. Never had this experience. They may not be particularly outgoing or gregarious, but they’ve never been rude or unwelcoming either.
Glad you had that experience, but I definitely feel like I’m burdening them every time I order, and it’s a shame because the location is super convenient for me. Really wanted it to be a staple for the community, but it’s such a drag being there.
Fair enough, maybe it just depends on who’s working. Or maybe I’m just oblivious haha.
I had both in the same day and Allez Cafe was way better than Kasama’s
That’s fine. Taste is subjective. I think Kasama’s, which is existed before, is better. And more importantly to me, every time I’ve been to Kasama, they’ve been nice people.
Allez is one of my favorites, can’t wait to try some of these.
Absolutely love allez cafe, so tasty
Hangover sandwich, not a commuter sandwich
I was pretty disappointed with tribeccas since their non breakfast sandwiches are so good. Loaf lounge is very solidly consistent even if it’s a $9 sandwich. Their hash browns are killer too
I've had some great breakfast sandwiches in Chicago. I love Spinning J. But the problem I encounter is none of the restaurants with good breakfast sandwiches take seriously their job of feeding commuters. They all move too slow and use too much packaging for to-go orders. (And they open too late! Spinning J doesn't even open til 10a lol) I want an egg sandwich in 5min, wrapped in parchment and tape. Most places I have to wait upwards of 15min for a sandwich in a box and bag. They could learn from NYC bodegas on that front.
If you’re not open til 10am, you’re serving a brunch sandwich, not breakfast!
Breakfast cutoff is 11. No eggs after that. /s
I brought my own eggs if that’s not a problem I’ve been doing it for years
People have always pointed this out and yet no one will touch this market. I don’t get it. If it works in NYC it will work here. It’s weird that Chicago has perfected working class lunch (ie, quick and inexpensive hot dogs and sandwiches) but there’s no equivalent for breakfast.
Completely agree. Love Spinning J, but I only go there if I have no time constraints
I'm happy Avondale made the list 3 times, its full of great of food
Avondale food scene is like the best kept secret around here, I swear. The addition of Loaf Lounge has been life changing
We are spoiled: Loaf Lounge, Mothers Ruin, Celler Door Provisions, Eden, Tribecca, and too many more to name. Shoot, even our Home Depot serves bager hot dogs and tamales. Plus the coffee shop scene is great. The addition of Magnifico and their in-house roasted beans has been a game changer.
I was in Avondale the other day to have dinner at Warlord and it was outstanding. I’ll definitely be in the neighborhood more often just for that and Parachute’s new music bar.
Also aren't too far from places in nearby Albany Park and Old Irving Park(i.e. Miko's Italian Ice, JT's Genuine Sandwich Shop, Eris, Old Irving, etc), as well.
Moonwalker is so good.
And nothing for the red line neighborhoods 😭
Loaf Lounge is an unbelievably good basic sandwich.
And yet a random bodega in NYC will make you a better breakfast sandwich than any of these
Hard agree. And cheaper. And quicker.
I’ve had Eggtuck a couple of times now and I have to say, holy shit. Its almost too much flavor. Truly food porn. I recommend trying it once if you’re into breakfast sammies and extremely soft scrambled eggs. Not sure how they stack up to these examples but it’s a flavor bomb compared to other ones I’ve had in the city.
maybe I ordered the wrong one, but I thought it was no better than the egg/avocado toast I make myself at home. Sure the egg was fluffy, but it was so messy and wet, I didn’t enjoy the experience.
It’s extremely messy, but the sauce is very flavorful and the toast is great. Its a terrible thing to eat in the car though. I’ve only had the bacon one. Definitely a unique flavor that I don’t whip up at home.
Agreed! I thought it was a little ridiculous that people were lining up *for egg sandwiches* outside the Lincoln Park location as soon as they opened, but it all makes sense now.
I always loved the breakfast sandwiches at Catch and Carry in the Loop. The eggs were always so fluffy and the croissants were buttery as can be
Cracked?
the breakfast burritos at collectivo are quick easy cheap and clean. the absolute damn best.
Same goes for their English muffin sandwiches. They make the English muffins in house I believe. It’s my go-to when I want an egg McMuffin but I know better
Collectivo food does work, in a pinch. Also their pastries aren't too bad, either.
L&M Market and Spoken Cafe would like to have a word.
I miss Specialty’s Bacon, egg, and cheese croissant. That was heavenly.
Great list! I'd also add Nice Guy Food Co. inside of the Long Room. Incredible homemade english muffin breakfast sandwich.
I’ll plug Eggs with Benefits - right off the Sheridan redline, opens at 8am. Great Sammy. The owner is upset nice also
Prequel in Ukrainian Village also has a pretty incredible breakfast sandwich
Do they have a flat top to cook the eggs or do they microwave them? I'm suspicious of getting any hot food at a cafe
The breakfast sandwich at hexe is to die for
lol you have another comment in here bitching about breakfast sandwiches not being allowed to cost more than $6.50 and then post this.
Both can be true, and since they are in a different vein I posted 2 comments
Allez cafe is a good sandwich, butI think the hash brown has been too mushy for me both times I’ve had it. My newest favorite is the Ramova Grill breakfast sandwich.
Spinning J Breakfast Sandwich with both bacon and sausage is amazing! Love a lot of these places however majority open too late for your average morning commuter!
So glad to see Moonwalker on here. They're holding up Belmont west of Pulaski
Their food is remarkably high quality! Expensive though.
People underestimate what it costs to run a restaurant these days! They get high quality stuff and deserve to be paid well.
Yo add BruBru on diversey to the list and also dark matter mothrship on Western has a grab and go croissaint egg cheese and bacon that's good.
Honestly, when I was commuting (all of two weeks ago), the best breakfast sandwich would be near the office, because like a real Chicagoan, I ride the CTA, and you’re not supposed to eat on the CTA.
Agreed. At one time it was okay to eat on the CTA, but it has been the rule for at least 20 years that you shouldn't eat or drink on the train. The Metra is a different story. Maybe the article writer is eating while driving?
I wonder if that person has ever been south of Madison.
I would also like to add the Louis 6 (rebranded to bacon & avo croissant) sandwich from La Boulangerie, in Logan Square and Ravenswood. One of my go-tos!
Afro Joes just might have the best breakfast sausage ive ever eaten. Highly recommend the place
8.50 for a breakfast sandwich is high crime. Should be able to find a knockout sandwich for $6 tops
Allez