Sarima Cafe
1924 W North Ave, Chicago, IL
Crema's Take
“Sarima Cafe is a warmly run neighborhood spot where a passionate baker in the back crafts both exceptional pastries and creative specialty drinks, making it equally worth visiting for their signature items like the thicc sando breakfast sandwich, ube-forward treats, and unexpected flavor combinations like cardamom caramel and calamansi cream. The staff genuinely makes you feel welcomed, and the fusion pastries—think ensaymada donuts and Indian filo creations—show real playfulness alongside solid fundamentals in coffee and chai lattes. It's the kind of place where you'll want to linger over brunch or meet friends, knowing you're supporting a baker who clearly cares about both their craft and their customers.”
What to expect
Google Reviews
Super nice cafe. There’s a very sweet baker in the back who also makes drinks. Best customer service and great baked goods! Try the sando breakfast sandwich or the ube cheesecake cookie.
I love the Indian Filo fusion! The staff were friendly and the pastries were great. The ensaymada donut is a cool twist and definitely reminded me of an ensaymada. I tried the chai latte and I’m not sure if this is how it’s supposed to taste like but it was very milky. I thought it would taste more tea.
Tried this spot for brunch with my wife and had a great experience. We ordered the breakfast sando, choco milk latte, cardamom caramel latte, calamansi cream sandwich, and chai pudding. There was no wait, and the food came out pretty quickly. After ordering, you can grab a table, and they call out your order number when everything’s ready. The cardamom caramel latte was excellent—really flavorful and well balanced. The choco latte, on the other hand, was mild and tasted similar to a regular latte, so it didn’t stand out as much. The breakfast sando was very well done, and they offer a hot sauce you can grab near the utensils, which was a nice touch. The chai pudding was simple, delicious, and definitely something I’d recommend trying. The calamansi croissant sandwich had a subtle flavor but was nicely made and worth ordering, especially if you’re interested in their unique Indian–Filipino fusion dishes. Service was quick and ambience was pleasant.
They have the best staff as a whole customer service top-tier. The thicc Sando breakfast sandwich has entered towards the top of my list. I am pleasantly surprised, but the sweet potato latte get it iced for the cold foam layer on top…very very crowded. The line move fast and workers working like a well oil machine. They were restocking the donuts while I was waiting. That’s what I love to see .This is my first time coming here, but it will not be my last..
If it serves anything Ube - I’m there! That’s what landed me at Sarima Cafe on a sunny Saturday with my girlfriends. I ordered the Lilac Latte, a Food of the Gods bar, an Ube Cookie and a Pandan Cookie. Frankly speaking, other than the “Food of the Gods” bar, which is a soft, chewy bar featuring mostly banana, that is simply delicious and melt in your mouth. The other two cookies were massive but unremarkable. The HIGHLIGHT, however, was that Ube Latte. I got it at 50% sweetness which was perfect for me!!! I enjoyed this drink SO SO SO MUCH, I actually dream about it! Cant wait to go back and get some!
Crema Reviews
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