Gloria’s Cafe

This place is closed, it’s about time it shut down this place was nasty all the way around.

This place was great. I’m a first generation Colombian American and grew up eating everything in here. The food here is just as good as my mom’s cooking. I had the country plate. Everything was so flavorful. The carne asada, rice, beans, pork, arepa, seriously, everything was delicious! The portion sizes were HUGE and barely made a dent in my pocket. Oh, and this place is BYOB with no corking fee and the waitress was super attentive and nice. I will definitely be back.

Gloria’s is just a few blocks away from our house, and we always love coming here (my 6-​year old in particular!). The empanadas and arepas are delicious, the steak and chicken are great, and the prices are super reasonable. And the best part, perhaps — BYOB.

so tasty and so affordable. Empanadas, rotisserie chicken, rice and beans, all are delicious and wonderful and will make you a better person. If you don’t like this place then you don’t like life. And I’m sorry for whatever life has done to you.

What a sweetheart the guy is who works here taking orders for Gloria in the back. My friend and I were starving by 2PM one day so we dropped in for lunch. The food was simple but quick and delicious. The empanadas and chimi churri were pretty good. Not the best I’ve had, but perfect when you’re starving! The rice was nice and perfectly cooked to go along with the fried plantains, which were of course the best part of lunch. It’s great for a quick meal if you’re in the area!

their food is exceptional. I miss this little neighborhood joint. everything has that home cooked meal feel to it. it is def not a fancy restaurant but rather a small, cozy lunch/​dinner place with a lot of soul! Delicious!

I went there on my birthday as a last minute choice because the restaurant I was intending to go to didn’t open until later on. So, my boyfriend and I thought «Well, you can’t go wrong, it’s Latin food.» See, we both have been to another Colombian restaurant in the past and it’s become one of ours gems and we thought this would be the same.
We ordered the carne asada which the menu said came with yuca, rice and beans, fried plantains and a small salad. I was shocked when our food came out within 10 minutes or so… did you really cook the carne asada that fast? Sure enough I was disappointed. The meat had no flavor and it wasn’t grilled, it was done on a flat top grill which obviously gives very very veryyyy different results. The steak tasted as though it was just seasoned with Adobo Goya. I continued through my meal thinking, well at least I have the sweet plantains at the end. Nope, they had no sweetness to them at all. We didn’t get any lime or dressing with our salad so we had to ask the waitress for limes. She only brings us half of a lime… not enough for both of our salads. I also wanted a salsa to go along with my meat. I’m hispanic so I’m used to always having a salsa when I’m eating meat. She brought out a horrible salsa that didn’t even look appetizing. It was cilantro and onion swimming in water with a tad of jalapeño. The beans were really good though but I never got the yuca the menu said I would get.
The mango smoothie made with milk was ok. At least it got me full because that food left me hangin’.
The place is unbearably quiet too. No music playing in the background so it’s awkward when you’re the only table there and the waitress is just sitting there side glancing at you.
I am never going back there again. My birthday outing was ruined. If I want to go to a Colombian restaurant I’ll go to the one by Montrose and Troy.
My review is based on the carne asada platter and overall experience at the restaurant. I haven’t tried any other dish, maybe the others are good because of the reviews on here but I do not intend to go back. It was such a disappointment which sucked because I really wanted to like this restaurant.

simple, inexpensive, unpretentious, comfortable, good. We just had appetizers: I ordered mushroom and spinach empanadas; they were so good I had to go for another round! the corn cakes were delicious as well. Will absolutely come back and support this cozy small business.

I love this little restaurant and want so much for other people to try them out. It’s not a glitzy spot but they’re (much more importantly in my opinion) full of good authentic food and the character that makes Chicago dining such a wonderful experience. It feels more like I’m joining Gloria’s family for dinner in their home, which is wonderful.
They make my favorite jibaritos in the city… ooh, and their arroz con pollo is amazing! It’s good for their business that I’m currently pregnant and almost constantly craving their food! Very highly recommended.

Every time I eat here I always wonder why this place isn’t more crowded.
There is usually just one waitress for the entire place (but to be fair, there’s maybe only a handful of tables anyways). She is very attentive and offers great suggestions based on what you like.
I have come here several times before I even became a Unilocaler, and have always been impressed by the timeliness of the food brought to me along with the presentation and taste.
The taste of Colombian food is unique. It’s a mix of South American with Caribbean flair. The food here at Gloria’s is nothing short of tasteful. If you go before 3 PM you can take advantage of some decently priced lunch specials. I like the carne asada as well as the sobre barriga.
Try a Colombian soft drink along with your meal, or BYOB. This place is BYOB and the staff is very accommodating to its guests.
I love this place and am lucky that it’s so close to my house! Give this place a shot, it’s not just a café, it’s much more!

The rotisserie chicken was bland– no seasonings. The rice and beans were average flavor. The sweet plantains were barely sweet. The waitstaff not very attentive or professional. By the time I paid for my families meal, I knew I would never visit this place again. I swear I was overcharged somehow, but who wants to argue with someone who’ll give you attitude?
(the waitstaff was eating food from another place and that is usually never a good sign… at least eat in the back where customers can’t see you)

I’ve been to Gloria’s about 5 times now. I love the food, the licuados, and the service. But be prepared to wait a bit to enjoy their excellent cuisine.
Pro’s: Excellent food. Decent and attentive wait staff.
Con’s: Slow kitchen. Expect to wait 15 minutes to ½ hour for your meal. If theres lots of people it may take longer.

Ordered the country plate… a lot of food and very delicious! Authentic food, good service! A great dive so glad we happened upon it. This is the kind of place you don’t find very often but every City has.

I checked out Gloria’s Friday afternoon for lunch. I had the Arroz con Pollo (chicken and rice). It was more colorful than flavorful. The overfried chicken tasted old. You know that flavor where the grease has really set into something? All over that chicken. The rice and veggies in there were flavorful, but that chicken really ruined it for me. I barely ate half of it, and I’m a clean-​plate kinda guy.
My girl got the BBQ salmon, which was a lot better. Service was fast and friendly, leaving nothing to be desired there. Prices were alright.
I may go back, just so long as I can get that chicken out of my memory.

I always like a place that lets you in right before they are closing, but doesn’t rush you to get out. Gloria’s is one of those spots. We started with the Empandas which were awesome. Even better was the Arepa, which we couldn’t get enough of and would probably order two next time. For my entrée I had the flank steak which was served with yucca, fried plantains and rice. The steak was ok, however I really enjoyed the sauce and the combination of the yucca, rice and plantains the best. The menu is quite extensive so I’d definitely be back to try some more items I’ve never had before…

I went with a group of friends for dinner on a weeknight and had a great experience overall. It is BYOB and no corking charge, so that makes it more economical if you’re in the mood for drinks with dinner. It is not too far from the Logan Square stop on the Blue Line and there was ample metered street parking available right out front.
We ordered some empanadas — beef, chicken & spinach/​potato — to share, which were all really good and only $ 2.50 per order. I had the carne asada, which came with sweet plantains, rice and beans. It listed on the menu that fried yuca was also included, but when I asked the waitress about it, she said no so I ordered some on the side instead. All of the food was authentic as far as I could tell and was prepared very well.
It was a bit more pricey than I originally expected, but was still reasonable for the amount of food. I could have easily only eaten half of my meal and been satisfied, but it was so good that I wanted all of it just then!
The restaurant itself is pretty small and was empty when we arrived, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Our waitress was very friendly and nice. She was just attentive enough without being overbearing. It wasn’t the type of place that I’d rave about to everyone I know, but I’d definitely go back when I’m in the mood for a good fix of Colombian food.

This review is more of a 3.5.
Logan Square is full of neat little places to eat and have a decent meal for cheap. Gloria’s Café is one of those little places that are fun to try when you come across them. The food is Columbian, which is not as exotic as I hoped, but you get a lot of food for very little. It isn’t the best meal you’ll ever eat, but again for as little as you pay your not getting ripped off. I tend to feel like I get the better end of the bargain here.
Basically, for under $ 20, you can feed 4 people comfortably. I spent about $ 17 and got a whole roasted chicken, which was not amazing, but not terrible. The meal also included rice, beans, potatoes and plantains. Again, with the exception of the plantains, it was good, but not amazing. I think of it as more of a take-​out restaurant with seats. It is BYOB, and that is always a plus. Gloria’s however has one major flaw. The service is very slow. The remedy we found is to bring an extra bottle of wine to kill the time. I have done carry-​out as well, but be sure to call ahead and order. That way you take the frustration out of waiting.
I think the reviews are a little hard on the restaurant. It is very cheap and that helps when you want to eat out, but are worried about the budget. Also, with BYOB you can get a good buzz without ringing up a huge bill.
I do think people should try this place once if you frequent the area. Most probably won’ t like it, and I wouldn’t make a special trip. Just set your expectations down a little and don’t be in rush. If are able to do that, then I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Price is nice
Wait was audaciously long, and there was only one other table in there. We all ordered the same thing so it should never have taken that long.
But maybe the fact of how overdone our steak sandwiches where had unfortunately added to the time. I like beef jerky and all but i don’t remember ordering it.
To get drinks refills and check we needed to go up the counter where they stood around.
I was hoping for better, and wishing we had found an out of the way gem. But I can’t say this place was anything but a dud.

My suggestion to Gloria & Co: Just be a counter service joint.
Seriously, the food was nothing short of fantastic. I had a chicken jibarito, my two dining companions the steak jibarito. Jibarito lovin’ all around. They said their steak was a bit tough, but my chicken was perfectly done. All were accompanied with a HUGE side of white rice, and smallish cup of steaming beans. SO good.
The only downfalls of this place; Service. Painfully slow. I think we waited 10 minutes for Cokes, and 25 minutes more for sandwiches. Granted, we were starving… but still, some sort of «it’s coming,» or «they are just finishing up» would’ve been appreciated. As it was, I went up to the counter for drink refills, and to pay the check (before it was issued).
The ambience is a little lacking, albeit charming. A good «take out» place, and it certainly filled the 3 of us for $ 35 including tip. YUM.

At the suggestion of a very friendly and engaging waitress at Frances’ deli, we had a birthday celebration at Gloria’s early on a Sunday evening. There were eight of us and in spite of the «no reservations» indication on here, they took our information and had a table all set for us. There were few other people there at that time.
It had to have been the best deal in awhile. $ 110.00 gratuity included, for eight of us. It was BYOB, so we brought a bunch of vino. Took the opportunity to pick up some South American choices from Binny’s. We had empanadas for all, which were OK, a round of Arepas which were better. They provided plenty of salsa verde as accompaniment for both. We shared a regular salad with vinaigrette, a Caesar, and a really unique and delicious shrimp and rice salad which came with Saltines. Then came the roasted chicken which was plentiful and perfectly juicy. The rice and beans were some of the best I’ve had.
I would skip the carne asada, as it was dry, thin and shoe leather-​ish. I actually don’t get the whole Columbian steak thing because I have never had a good steak at a Columbian spot. Argentinian, yes. For example, Tango Sur. But never would I look for a decent steak at a Columbian restaurant.
The service was fine and friendly. They accommodated our oenophile chilling needs and did not even charge a corkage fee. So I would definitely do a group thing here again in a minute. No-​one in our group had ever been here, and everyone had a great time.