Lula Cafe

"Chef and owner Jason Hammel continues to keep community at the forefront of operations at Lula Cafe, which has, since 1999, endeared itself to many in Logan Square as a welcoming space for new American cuisine. This is an all-day cafe with fresh-baked pastries and a stellar breakfast burrito. At night, the deep wine list accompanies dishes like roast chicken, beet bruschetta, and summer squash with Santa Rosa plums, Tropea onions, and basil. Find a seat at the bar and enjoy oysters and snacks like chicken liver mousse. Pick up a copy of Hammel’s new cookbook on your way out. Lula won a 2024 James Beard Award for Outstanding Hospitality." - Ashok Selvam

"As quintessentially Logan Square as The Logan Theatre or a stroll through the farmers’ market, Lula Cafe is best known for its friendly-not-intrusive service, brunch, and fantastic farm-to-table food since before that was a marketing tactic. And after 25 years, Lula remains a works-for-all-occasions neighborhood spot that consistently turns seasonal produce into plates that incite head turns and sunglasses getting pushed down for optimal ogling. photo credit: Kim Kovacik Lula Cafe is the type of reliable restaurant that any neighborhood would be lucky to have. Its controlled sprawl spans a patio, a worn-in bar perfect for after-work catch-ups with a glass of wine, and a cozy dining room that packs in a ton of tables among walls decked out with a serious art program and dim lighting that fill the space with a warm glow. That is to say, Lula can house (and please) everyone. photo credit: Christina Slaton photo credit: Kyle Kissel photo credit: Kyle Kissel The menu at Lula pretty much feels like the restaurant incarnation of a farmers’ market. Besides a handful of staples—like the pasta yiayia or chickpea fries that look like churros—there’s usually a variety of pasta, meat, and seafood, plus a strong selection of vegetable-based dishes. But that also means much of the date-stamped menu rotates regularly, so don’t get too attached to that grilled baby corn. Sometimes flavors fall flat, but nothing is ever over-dressed, the produce clearly shines, and flaws are never extreme to the point that we get that mad. Besides, it’s like getting mad at an old friend, which is hard to seriously do. Seasonal produce aside, if you haven’t dined at Lula Cafe in a while, your next meal here probably won’t be that different from the last. But it’s that consistency and homey feeling that fills us with Midwestern pride and makes this spot a Chicago classic. Food Rundown The menu at Lula Cafe changes regularly, but here are a few examples of dishes you might find. Beet Bruschetta Remember those head turns we mentioned? This well-done classic combo of lightly dressed kale mixed with beets, goat cheese, and pecans atop crusty bread will definitely invite some craning necks. Baked French Feta A baked piece of feta cheese with jalapeno-basil oil, marinated olives, and cucumber is going to be good ten times out of ten. The grilled bread it comes with is hearty and fantastic. Make sure to spread a healthy portion of cheese on that bread. photo credit: Veda Kilaru Plums and Prosciutto A seasonal dish involving prosciutto topped with thin slices of plum and lightly candied chopped black walnuts. There’s a nice crunch from the nuts which works well with prosciutto, but the plums don’t do much besides competing in a beauty pageant against the bright pops of color from the sprinkling of marigold. photo credit: Veda Kilaru Pork Chop A nice piece of meat that’s juicy and tender. The skin could be crispier and the peach-shishito flavor doesn’t totally come through, but this is a perfectly pleasant dish. photo credit: Veda Kilaru Chickpea And Fennel Tagine This is a staple on the menu, and for good reason. We love that the chickpeas retain a nice bite and aren’t relegated to mush, and the mild, lightly spiced curry-esque sauce is practically made for sopping up with the side of grilled bread. photo credit: Kim Kovacik Pasta ‘Yiayia’ Another staple, and arguably the most famous dish at Lula. When it’s delivered to the table, you might be mistaken and think it’s dessert, thanks to the sweet and overpowering smell of brown butter and cinnamon. The bucatini noodles are great, but we’ll be the first to admit that the creamy feta-crispy garlic slices-brown butter-cinnamon combo can be polarizing. photo credit: Kyle Kissel Brunch We have always enjoyed brunch at Lula, and we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention it. You can get everything from omelets and breakfast burritos to smoked trout scrambles and sweet dishes like coconut tres leches french toast—it’s all good." - Veda Kilaru

"Any neighborhood—in any city—would be lucky to have a spot like Lula Cafe. The farm-to-table dishes are always reliable, whether it's the perfectly roasted chicken or delicious circa-1999 classics like the pasta yiayia. And even when it's busy (which is all of the time), the excellent service always fills us with Midwestern pride. Like with many slices of Chicago, the food scene around Lula has changed for good and bad over the years, but this place is as vital to Logan Square as memories of the infamous Aloha billboard. " - john ringor, veda kilaru, nick allen

"Lula has been doing “farm to table” in Logan Square since before that was a thing, and it pretty much feels like the restaurant incarnation of a farmers’ market. This means the menu changes often, so if you have a dish you love, don’t get too attached. There are, however, some reliable staples: a smoked trout omelette, a breakfast burrito, and a tofu and vegetable scramble. It’s all good—this place is a neighborhood classic for a reason." - sam faye, adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru

"Lula Cafe won a James Beard Award in 2024 after 25 years serving as an anchor for Logan Square’s dining scene and Chicago’s farm-to-table movement. Brunch is the restaurant’s most popular meal, but those who don’t want to wait in a long line to try executive chef Jason Hammel’s food can come for dinner and be rewarded with inventive cocktails and beautiful dishes showing off the seasonal bounty. Book a table on Resy." - Samantha Nelson