Wake ‘n Bacon

I stopped by Wake ’n Bacon for brunch and it’s definitely more than just a breakfast spot — it’s a whole vibe. The interior is colorful and playful, with bold decor that makes the space feel upbeat and Instagram-ready without being overwhelming. The food leans indulgent in the best way. I tried a brunch plate with eggs and pancakes, and everything was flavorful and generously portioned. The bacon was crispy, the pancakes were fluffy, and the presentation made it feel a little extra — perfect for a weekend treat. Service was friendly and energetic, matching the lively atmosphere. Overall, Wake ’n Bacon is a fun, feel-good brunch destination in Chicago — great for catching up with friends and starting the day on a bright, slightly indulgent note.

So this place was cool we came in and sat down and ordered our food from a QR code you also paid from a QR code. Overall the food was Good but not Great. Nothing to run home and talk about, but it was good. We had the bacon appetizer as well as the chicken and waffles and The pancakes, bacon, and eggs. The coffee was really good, as well as the turmeric ginger tea. I also bought the oatmeal butterscotch, chocolate cookies, which was advertised as homemade so they sounded worth trying. However upon making it back to the hotel, I decided to eat a piece of one of the cookies and it was hard as a rock and must have been made three to four days ago at least. I wouldn't recommend the cookies unless you feel them first and they feel soft. The vibe was ok, however nothing spectacula. Not the place if your looking for good music and mimosa. Service was cool, if you press the button under the table then somebody will come and service you as soon as possible pretty cool concept, I would return! Parking is always stressful because you're in Chicago however there is a there is a parking garage across the street. It cost $30 for up to two hours!

Super cute place! Love the atmosphere and the staff was really polite. Food was great and it was nice to try new things and not the same menu as every place around. Thickest bacon I’ve ever had! Definitely coming back to try more!

Influencers vs reality. I’ve seen this space advertised numerous times and made a plan to go. The floral design that’s frequently advertised all over is as I have it pictures, cute and small, but not really a “wow” factor. Service is basically walk right up to the counter right away and then do not dare do it again. There is a sign to walk up to the counter. The hostess immediately tried to seat me with a larger group, I advised I was here by myself and was met with an “oh.” After we just stared at each other for a second, I said, “I would like to dine in” and then I was told to sit at one of the two tops. The group that came in after me was then seated. They were brought menus and given instruction, same person whom I interacted with. I was not given nor advised of anything for several minutes. Finally, they came over to me and brought me a menu and then told me about the digital order for yourself system (I could have done all of this without the awkward interaction and wasting time waiting). I ordered the purple haze coffee, it was fine. The chicken and waffles was great! The food is the reason this place bumped to 3 stars if the food had been bad too, then this would have been a 1 star. I did thoroughly enjoy the food. However, I needed more syrup at a point since they only give you one small thing of syrup. No one came back over despite multiple eye contacts made and there was no option on the system for extra syrup. So I got up and asked for it back at the counter. They said yes and seemed very weird about me having walked back up to the counter. I thought I was over thinking it until a group of three came in right after me and were seated, given menus, instructed, and told that there is a help button at the end of the table if you need anything else, then this person turned around and looked dead at me— which is another thing I was never told of. Maybe they’re just not used to solo diners, but the service factor was abysmal. Even typing this I’m mad that I still deigned to tip 20%.

I visited Wake n’ Bacon 🥓 recently, and honestly, I left disappointed. Atmosphere & Vibe: The space itself is beautiful. I loved the ceiling décor and the droopy flowers—it made for some cute little photo ops. The vibe was calm, quiet, and family-friendly, which is a plus. Food & Drinks: I ordered the fried chicken and waffles. The waffle was tasty, and the breading on the chicken was nice, but the chicken itself was bland and under-seasoned. I had to borrow some sweet-spicy sauce from my girlfriend’s bowl just to give it flavor. The thick-cut bacon, though—amazing! I’d definitely order that again. The eggs were solid too. I also tried a coconut coffee drink that looked nice but tasted underwhelming. I expected lavender notes (my mistake, I guess), but the drink didn’t have much wow factor, and it came in a plain glass instead of the branded cup I saw online. My girlfriend enjoyed her bowl, which had potatoes, eggs, bacon, and sauces. That dish seemed more successful than mine. The Real Deal-Breaker: The food alone wouldn’t have stopped me from coming back—I actually wanted to try a few other menu items. But the payment system ruined the experience. You have to order and pay through a scan-to-order app. I paid my $51 total with Apple Pay and assumed I was done. Hours later, I got a notification that I’d been charged $75. When I called, I was told that if you don’t “close out” properly, it automatically adds a tip (18–20%). Nowhere in the app did it warn me about this, and no staff member mentioned it either. I was promised a callback and possible refund, but days later, I’ve heard nothing. Bottom Line: The atmosphere is cute, the bacon is bomb, but the chicken was bland, the coffee underwhelming, and the surprise charge with no follow-up from management was unacceptable. I don’t like financial surprises, and poor communication like that makes me wonder how many other customers it’s happening to. Unfortunately, I won’t be returning.