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Categories: Cuban, Sandwiches, Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: Logan SquareCalifornia (Blue O'Hare)
"Tea shmee! That's what I used to say about tea. If drinking coffee was a religion, however, I'd be High Priestess or something. But, I…" read more »
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YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH! ALL RIGHT ALL RIGHT ALL RIGHT! OK NOW! KA POW KA POW!
This place has it all: excellent cheap sandwiches, a rude staff, and an old curmudgeon who stands around HATE-HATE-HATING every fucking thing in the universe-- his customers, the weather, the city, his wife, his daughter and her cowardly husband, this godforsaken country, the cursed lies one must swallow and reissue in order to exist-- all day, every day! All without saying a WORD. One can surmise an entire history of bilious, unceasing fury from watching him stare out the window. Clutching the mail, tightly working his jaw, a mean, distant fire in his coal-pebble eyes.
Lunch time, baby!
Good sandwiches and very good Cafe con Leche. Nothing life changing though. A solid 3 stars.
Ok, so I literally grew up on their coffee (no really, my grandma used to take me when i was 5 when they were nothing more then a counter in a corner store on kimball and armitage!) anywhooo, ever since they became popular about a year ago their sandwich quality has gone down. HOWEVER still a pretty good sandwich for the price!! And the cafe con leche has yet to be topped in my book (and trust me I've looked!).
As far as the quality of people and lines, yes, very annoying, I've had to threaten physical violence more then once -=/ and once to the cashier -=O she no longer works there btw! Anywhooo times 2, I absolutely HATE having to deal with the people here so I will give all my fellow yelpers a heads up, call your order in!! They'll have it ready by the time you're ready to pick up, helps if you speak spanish, prepare for some very angry stares when you walk in and out, practice your best smirk and shrug!! The wandering customers off the street don't think that far ahead!
Good luck!!
p.s heads up #2 the ATM in that place NEVER works!!
This is the place to be anytime of the day, to get you some bangin steak sandwiches. Get it with cheese and "everything" . You cant go wrong. I can't speak on the coffee, but this is must have to determine any other Cuban joint.
Man I miss this place. If you like hidden ethnic dives, this place is a dream come true. If you're a young caucasian like me, you certainly get stared at when you walk in, but it is TOTALLY worth it. Push your way into line and catch the eye of one of the guys at the counter. Your food will come hot off the grill.
I always grabbed Saturday breakfast here. Their cafe con leche is amazing. Their breakfast sandwhiches are great, and their cubanos are ok. Don't forget to stop at the trucks across the street selling homemade Mexican tamales (for a dollar), aquas, and other amazingness. They are family run and everyone is super friendly.
The combination of the trucks and mariano always made Saturdays in Chicago GREAT.
Went here with the boy on a Saturday morning and it was PACKED. We each got a Cuban sandwich and a cafe con leche, and both were very tasty. This place is old school. My companion said that the three guys behind the counter were the same 3 guys behind the counter for the last several years. We even saw the old man loading up the van in the back. It's also totally a shack - needs some extensive repair work done, and while I saw 3 sandwich presses fully loaded, it seemed like only one of them was working.
I got a LOT of curious stares - I didn't see another white person in there the whole time we were there, lol - but hey, I was there for the food. The sandwiches took a LONG time, but the steady flow of people into this tiny haunt reassured me that it would be worth the wait. For the aforementioned 2 sandwiches, we probably waited 20-25 minutes, which was kinda long, IMO, but okay. More time to nurse my piping-hot cafe con leche and enjoy the neighborhood vibe.
Things to know:
- They only take cash (I think - there's also an ATM inside)
- It's MUCH easier if you speak/understand Spanish
- Takes awhile
- HAFTA get the cafe con leche
Quite happy to return with sweet Spanish-speaking boy in tow.
Pretty solid cuban food.
cheap cost, pretty tasty, pretty big sandwich!
that's all I like this joint!
Delicious sandwiches and well below $5, unless you get a "double". However don't expect a sit-down place -- Marianao is strictly carry-outs (while they have a small lunch counter at the back window you'll never get a seat there). Think Diner Grill (on Irving Park) as opposed to Latin Sandwich Cafe, Irazu or Borinquen.
The crowd can be pushy and the line can be undefined and slow. But if you're willing to spend 15 to 20 minutes getting a carry-out order, it's a thrill to watch the cooks while you wait.
i've lived within walking distance from cafe marianao, pass it all the time. and i wonder, "that place has to be good. people happily crammed in, all kinds of people-puerto ricans, african americans, mexicans, cubans, with a dusting of white folk."
a week prior, my husband, who is a laborer, got a steak sandwich that a fellow employee had brought. the man always drove all the way from the other side of town to get the sandwiches and coffee (they also have an impressive assortment of churros) - this sitting in my neighborhood, and i wait 12 years to try it.
we went around 3pm on a friday, so there weren't many customers. and we got the cuban sandwich-the double-a mere $4 stuffed with roast pork, ham, cheese & pickles on a perfect french roll. the cuban coffee was only 75 cents.
the sandwich was great. the pork was perfectly tender and surprising light-very roasty without being dry.
this place is a real gem. there aren't many places around like this anymore (do you all remember bishops chili?)
Marianao is one great big hot mess. I have 4 issues with this place.
1) I had been a customer for years until I noticed their VERY unsanitary, and VERY regular practice of touching money, then raw meat, and then your finished sandwich without washing their hands. I observed this unacceptable behavior on numerous occasions (which lead me to only be a coffee customer). The last time (2 months ago), right after I observed a cook/cashier guy do it, I asked why and pointed out what they had done in Spanish. His response: "We wash our hands." Yes, maybe he does, after his shift ends. WOW. After you are caught red-handed, simply deny. No thanks; I don't want salmonella, influenza, or e. coli with my bistec con queso.
2) The place itself is filthy. There is no attempt made to even wipe down the side counter where you can eat.
3) Very poor, insultingly so, customer service. There is no order to ordering, and persons who arrive later are often attended to first on an employee's whim. Be prepared to fight to order.
4) The patrons are mostly very "street" and very rude. You will see hair curlers and scuz. Blend in! Wear old joggers and dirty flip-flops.
Would give 'em zero stars if I could, but I suppose their coffee is decent.
***update*** i went back and saw the man using some type of paper to grab the meat and he still washed hands after! Needless to say I've come back many time since and have gotten my cafe con leche here and the toasted bread with butter,mmm**
i really hate to be the downer. i just had a steak sandwich here the other day, it taste the same way i make them at home(i'm not an iron chef-but the ingredients we use are the same). i should have tried the cuban. the cafe con leche was good though. i'll go back for that.
the reason for the low stars is because the cook, was just grabbing slices of bistek and throwing it in the pot. doesn't wash his hands- handles his drink-handles cash-puts more meat in because someone just ordered 4 more steak sandwiches-picks up the phone while one hand rubs against the wall near the phone-goes back to handling his drink-grabs my bread and lettuce etc and makes my sandwich. I pay and leave.
i leave feeling ashamed because i know i'm still going to eat the sandwich and enjoy it and i hope i don't get the runs.
just start washing your hands man! someones going to get sick. maybe he's the only one that doesn't? I don't know, I keep making excuses....
Best cuban sandwiches hands down. Cafe con leche is a treat here too.
Bargain buy. Crowded counter.
There is no set line to placing your order. Just make your way to the front of the pack. Speaking Spanish or being a woman helps speed service but is not necessary.
Very good steak sandwiches and cafe con leche.
This tiny hole in the wall joint lacks anything resembling service, but you can't beat a huge steak sandwich and a delicious cafe con leche for less than $5.
It seems that this is a Chicago Foodie Hangout and I live not 2 blocks away, but I would think twice about going back unless I had a lot of time to wait.
Oooh I love this place. Hung over Logan Square residents, there is a cure...in the form of cafe con leche. It is the best I've had in Chicago. So good.
The food is good, too. Counter ordering is a bit competitive, so be somewhat aggressive, know what you want to order, then get out of the way. Note -- if you just want coffee, you can order it directly to the coffee guy instead of waiting with the other people trying to get food.
This place may have the best value in town. The steak sandwich is absolutely amazing. I always opt for the double steak with cheese. Basically, you have steak, cheese, onions, and tomatoes in between some bread. I've also gotten the ham and egg sandwich which is very good. If you feel adventurous, you could ask for a ham and egg sandwich with steak. It isn't on the menu, but they'll make it and it is also very good. This is absolutely the best Cuban sandwich place in Chicago in my opinion. The only reason I have to go to other places is their working hours. I'm not exactly sure what time they close, but it is early...like 5 pm or so. With work, I only have a realistic shot of enjoying these on weekends. Also, I should warn you guys that this place is small and easy to miss if you aren't careful. There isn't a lot of eating room. There is just a counter against the wall (maybe around 8 stools?). I've never seen it where there was no seating available there, but just giving a fair warning.
Also, the coffee is extremely popular for those coffee lovers out there.
(Almost) guaranteed hangover cure: a steak and cheese sandwich and large cafe con leche from Cafe Marianao. If you can convince one of your drinking compadres to come with you, then split the steak and cheese and a cubano (pork loin, ham, swiss, pickles, mustard). As with many sandwiches, the key is the bread, and Cafe Marianao uses the right stuff.
Three warnings: (1) cash only; (2) you have to be aggresive in stepping up to the counter to order, especially on busy days like Saturdays; and (3) a sandwich takes a bit of time to make, but have patience!
I had a cuban from here and it was good and affordable, but honestly, I've yet to meet a sandwich that reaches the level of Cafe Salamera, RIP.
:(
Come back, Norky!
I want to get it 3.5 but the ham and cheese is SOO GOOD! I've been hearing good things about this place, but when I finally got to try it, I FELL IN LOVE. This is a shack! The decor looks like but doesn't taste like your school's cafeteria! Not much to it, but I swear the best ham and cheese. I don't even like ham! The bread is so crispy and warm, the inside is soft and chewy and the ham and cheese is melted together and forms this perfect sandwich! Only $2.50 for a ham and cheese and $3.00 for a steak sandwich.
BEWARE: The service takes FOREVER, don't bother going on a sat or Sunday morning, they probably won't even get to your order and it'll take so long you might pass out from starvation. Whether there is 2 people or 12 people in there the service is sadly VERY VERY slow. I hope they get a better system going, because if they do, I'll be there at least twice a week! ENJOY!
Unseasonably warm Sunday after a late night of drinking. What food stuffs comes to mind but a Cuban sanguiche? It has it all: meats (two kinds of pig!), cheese, pickles, and mustard; then grilled on the most wonderful bread. All the salt you could ever want when mildly hungover.
Sadly, the place I wanted to indulge my desires in was closed that day. Driving down Milwaukee we spot Marianao; having heard good things about it we stop. The place looks like a shack but hey, some of the tastiest treats come from rundown looking establishments. However, it seems like from the moment we enter, it is nothing but problems for me and my companions. I swear the woman behind the counter purposely will not look at us as we decide what we want. And contrary to other reviews, it was not busy when we arrived.
Very sparse menu; definitely sandwich shop-like. Cuban, double Cuban, steak sandwich, medianoche, caf con leche, pan mantequilla, chips, and drinks in the cooler; from what I recall. Where are the tostones?!? We get our food: three Cubans, three drinks, and one bag of plantain 'chips'; not a bad take for $14. However, once we sit down we find out that two of the three do not have pickles and none have mustard. I politely try to ask for pickles and find out that I still cannot get her to look at me. Then I find that speaking Spanish to the cook gets a bit more of a response.
Well, the addition of the pickles and some hot sauce liven up the sandwich a bit, but still only so-so. Some might say not bad considering it was $2.75. But seeing that I live up in Albany Park you can bet I will not be making any pilgrimages for that sandwich anytime soon. I might not even journey across the street for it. Especially since I really do not appreciate places that treat me one way when they think I am a 'gringa' and another when they realize I am not.
So, ditch the 'tude, as well as the dead fly that was sharing my counter space, and figure out what goes in the sandwich (and not that dried out pork). Then you might get some new folks that learn what tasty treats Cuban sandwiches are.
Not sure if anyone remembers the Cuban grocery store on Clark Street in Edgewater called Panamericano (they closed several years ago). Anyhow, they had the BEST Cuban sandwiches. Cafe Marianao is very close and comes in 2nd place for me. I would usually consider a steak sandwich lunch or dinner but this is something my husband and I have for breakfast on the weekends once in a while, and it goes great with regular coffee (Cuban is too strong for me). The "pastiletos de carne" are very good too a little dry but still yummy. Be warned it's a small place, it's always packed, the line is long but well worth the wait.
Tasty cuban sandwiches and the best cafe con leche (cofee with milk )in the city .They also serve really delicious breakfast sandwhiches with ham egg and cheese .This place is always jam packed so wait can be long and frustrating at times especially when they have no real ordering system and people will just walk in cut in front of you and yell out their order while you were patiently waiting your turn in line (minus the one star for that )
I must truly thank my coworker for introducing me to cuban sandwiches. This is a hole in the wall joint. You walk in and it's basically a counter with people making the sandwiches while you watch. Their steak sandwiches are oh so yummy. They come with cheese, onions, tomatoes and either a single or double layer or steak. Great bargain for such a yummy godly creation. The only downside is that this place is so far from me :/ *sigh*
You might have driven past this place a thousand times and never realized that it was open. More importantly you might have never realized that IT'S REALLY GOOD! Sure the circus' might not be up to James Wards tastes but the sandwiches make up for it. Stop by on a Saturday afternoon and it tends to be very crowded. Surprise Surprise they take cash only and the line can be a little chaotic sometimes, but worth the wait. Do try the cafe con leche.
An excellent and under-the-radar cafe that offers very good cafe con leche and cubanos at an incredibly reasonable price. Walking into this restaurant you get the very unique feeling of entering a time warp into a 1950s-era Cuban diner on the side of the road, a few miles out from Havana and all right off Milwaukee Avenue.
Too bad there are no Cubans making the food...The sandwiches are ok.....Not great for Cuban sandwiches...But the regulars are great! Chat them up (in Spanish) and you'll get some great stories!
not much in the way of decor, and only a few stools to sit at, but this loncheria is the spot to get some delicious cuban sandwiches on grilled fresh bread for cheap cheap cheap. the menu only has a few offerings, but they've perfected them. you've got your choice between steak or the traditional ham/pork/pickle concoction with tomatoes & onions & with or without cheese, or a ham & egg breakfast variety, or pan con mantequilla, and espresso drinks. you can walk out of here with sandwich & coffee for under $4. my only complaint is that they close up at 5pm, or else i'd be eating dinner here at least twice a week. it's almost always crowded (or about to get that way), and kind of chaotic...just squeeze up to the counter and flag somebody down to order!
I go out of my way to get their steak sandwiches, and they're less than $4! They are so delicious and I could eat them all day. I miss them terribly since I no longer live close to them. They close pretty early and this only makes me crave them more on the weekends, when I can actually make it in. This place is heaven.. it looks pretty bad in there, it's a shack.. but let the food speak for itself. I've taken so many people here and I have yet to hear a complaint. You walk in, make your way to the front of the counter and get someone's attention. It can get crazy in there but it's worth the wait. If you want to avoid the drama, call when you're 15 minutes away and your order will be waiting for you at the counter. I do this all the time!!! It may take them a while to pick up the phone but it's the right number.. just keep waiting! There's no tables, only a small counter on the opposite wall.. but that sandwich will make your day, no matter where you eat it. And it's one of the rare food items that still taste good after being refrigerated and microwaved.
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