Hot Chocolate
Contemporary American, American · Chicago
About Hot Chocolate
Hot Chocolate is a Contemporary American and American restaurant in Chicago. Rated 4.4/5 based on 851 reviews on OpenTable. Casual Dining.
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Hot Chocolate Chicago Reviews
It was extremely packed when we went, we waited in line for about 20 minutes, but it was totally worth it. We tried the Bolognese pastry and the brisket pastry, and both were out of this world. We loved them! The only downside was the beverages, they just didn’t compare to the pastries. We ordered a berry lemonade and a banana bread latte, and neither really stood out.
Food: I was invited to come here to try their famous hot chocolate and Mindy's did not disappoint! The hot chocolate wasn't watery, had a slight thick density but not in an overbearing way. Even the sweetness isn't overdone on it either. I finished it in one sitting with no stomache after either. A perfect treat on a snowy Chicago morning. Service: Nothing too fancy for service, you simply hop into the line to order at the counter. The menu is so small that it moves along quite quickly. After ordering the hot chocolate, the cashier asked how I wanted the hit chocolate presented, I said in the most pleasing way to look at- he placed the marshmallow fluff on a pick outside the cup. Sweet gesture for photos. Atmosphere: This place is cozy and SMALL. I love the small cozy bakery feel but I wish there was more seating available. I got lucky enough to snag a window stool while I was there but the 8 stools fill up quickly and don't become available readily either. There's not a lot of space to stand around either. My only complaint really. I want to be inside the cozy bakery sipping hot chocolate, not outside in the Chicago chill.
Amazing! The loaded chocolate chip cookie was unreal and I absolutely loved the tomato & cheese tart—one of the best pastries I’ve ever had.
Hot chocolate here is absolutely amazing. Very rich. You can probably share a cup of with a friend or two. I had the hash for breakfast and it’s everything you’d expect and then some from a pot roast and potato hash, down to the perfectly cooked egg. Loved the entire experience here. Just visiting for the weekend but will definitely come back next time I’m in town.
As a fellow small business owner, I greatly appreciate the quality of products you make. The shop was very clean and organized , service was quick and efficient. Bagels and pastries were beautifully made and tasted so good; drip coffee was excellent as well. Thank you Mindy and team! Will be back when we visit Chicago again!
KIND BUSINESS ALERT Mindy's has great bakery items, but their staff is what's even greater. They are all so nice. You can go wrong.
Can't say enough great things... everything was great and so many more to try! Bagels are still great 2 days later. The line will definitely get long but it absolutely worth it...even in the rain or whatever
Our new favorite bakery - love this spot. Lines out the door so be prepared to wait. Wait is worth it. The pastries are divine. Homemade good ingredients. Pastries a little sweet for me to have daily but once in a while definitely worth it.
My wallet is so thankful I don’t live in within walking distance of Mindy’s because I would be here EVERY DAY. The pastries and bagels are amazing. I’ve never had a bad thing from here! Make sure you show up early to get in line for all the best treats! Also tip your team, they earned it ;)
Fast service, unique and rotating offerings, and some of the highest quality pastries and bagels you'll find in Chicago. The interior is laid out very efficiently and staff is very quick, if you see aline outside waiting, don't worry - it goes quickly. There is no seating so be prepared to heat or toast items at home. This is absolutely a must visit if you're in the area.
Once upon a time where I had the greatest hot chocolate ever. This is another gem of the city. If you are wanting a cool vibe with sweets, brunch, and superb hot chocolate this place is a must. Hot chocolate is unexplainable. Don't compare this to your local coffee shop. You have to taste to experience the richness of the drink and the desserts are fantastic. Please go check this out and get an old fashioned
I absolutely love coming to Mindy’s Bakery! Their pastries are always delicious, and I can’t get enough of their drinks. I stopped by on a Thursday morning, and it was pleasantly quiet, perfect for taking my time deciding which pastry to try, since weekends are usually packed with long lines. I went with the Dubai Chocolate Croissant, and it was fantastic! I didn’t really taste the pistachio, but it was still incredibly good. I also tried their seasonal Grand Au Lait, which was malted banana, and it was SO good. I got it iced, and the banana flavor was perfect. I’ll definitely be coming back soon to get it again.
Great pastries and a super friendly staff My favorites are the donuts (hot fudge + salted caramel) Love the bagels there with the chive/ pesto cream cheese Also a big fan of the raspberry rugelach Can’t forget to mention the breakfast sandwich with the egg in the middle, or the ham and cheese croissant which is my favorite savory item. During the colder months the hot chocolate is amazing and they also serve chicken pot pies on occasion which are a real game changed.
My go-to for years. I remember Mindy when she owned Hot Chocolate and had her space in the food hall. Was so happy to see a space of her own to show case baked goods. Wish I still lived in Chicago because this place would be a weekly event. Bagels, danishes, bialys, cakes, cookies. Literally can NOT go wrong. Her bagels are perfection. Everything is seasoned and well balanced. Place is small but the staff gets through the line efficiently with great service. My favorite thing she has ever made is her dream bars. I wish I could get my hands on them more than once a year now. It’s seriously the best thing I put into my mouth.
Let's just start by saying I'm so thankful to have had the chance to try Mindy's!! There was so much chatter and usually they don't meet the expectations, but Mindy's?! Nothing you could say would prepare you for the experience. Everything here was delicious, and the service is phenomenal. I felt welcomed and helped along the way. I didn't feel like a burden or inconvenience to the business. It's like the appreciated my business. The treats!!! When you walk in it's a beautiful space. Little ledge by the front window to stand at but mostly just a beautiful display and the line. The cookie was chewy and perfectly flavored. I actually went 3 times to get more cookies. The almond croissant was generously filled while not being overly baked. Nice chewy inside and flaky outside. The morning bun and "cheddar bomb" were both perfectly executed and worth a try. But the real show stopper ( while all dreamy) was the banana bread. OMG!!! It's moist, it's sturdy, it's banana-y, it's velvety, it has banana chunks and like a cheese cake cream, it's literally probably the best pastry I've ever had. Top 3 for sure. Everything about it was perfect then some. This is a bakery I would catch a flight from Atlanta to visit and fly back home. I would literally take a day trip just to go eat all their pastries and come back home. The love, the passion, and the dedication to the product that they put out is obvious. Mindy and her team do impeccable work! The only feedback that I can give is that they open a location closer to me, or offer shipping! With all the highly rated Michelin star raved about businesses in Chicago Mindy is definitely a stand out Bakery and absolutely worth the hype, the line you waited, and everything that comes along with it. Absolutely memorable experience.
always busy but usually worth it. unfortunately their uber-popular breakfast sandwich is definitely worth the easy rise to get it. it was wonderful. they have some interesting pastries - I really liked their s’mores cake (super moist and the marshmallow was unique). their bolognese flaky pastry was good too, but just a little too sweet for me. we also had the little hot fudge scone thing? it had a really fun breakable texture. however, i got the raspberry one a few weeks later, and it was wayyy too sweet. their cold brew was super unique though! no expresso, but the cold brew came with a foam on top that gave the drink overall the perfect amount of acidity
I drove from Dayton to Chicago to visit family. I learned that Mindys was within long walking distance from their apartment. It was definitely worth the trek. There was a good gluten free selection for my aunt. She eat the chocolate muffin and couldn't tell it was gluten free. Same for the strawberry danish and gf bagel . My wife likes croissants. She was amazed how beautiful her croissant was. The taste was also great buttery flavor. I rounded out with 2 bialy. A good onion smell and a great taste. 5 of us shared a great breakfast this morning. C.M. recommended this place for me.
Definitely will visit again! It was a quick in and out once you knew what you wanted, the staff are just so sweet and patient. I went for the AM course and I just love everything I took! Berry cheesecake muffin (10/10) Cinnamon donut (10/10) Peach danish (9/10) Raspberry crème brûlée bun (10/10)
I’ve had baguettes in Paris, bagels in New York, alfajors in Buenos Aires, and churros in Spain. I’ve even had danishes in Denmark (AND Vienna, where viennoiserie is actually from). Mindy’s goes pound for pound with any bakery anywhere. They have RANGE. They can do salty, and they can do sweet. They have creative offerings you won’t see anywhere else — coffee, bread, pastries, you name it! The only reason I would tell you not to go here, is so that the line will be shorter when I arrive.
I got a hot fudge croissant, a baklava croissant, and a vodka pesto sauce bialy. Pastries were full of flavor! Really enjoyed the bialy. Looking forward to returning and trying their bagels.
The richest hot chocolate I’ve ever had! It is very pricey ($12 for a cup) but good as a one-off. Cookies were delicious. No seating space in the wicker park location.
After months of trying, I finally managed to wake up early on the weekend, and it was truly worth the effort! Grabbing that cinnamon roll paired with the banana bread latte made for a perfect Saturday morning. I also tried the crème brûlée Danish and of course the black Russian is what always keeps me coming back! Mindy's is a real gem with great staff, fantastic bagels, and unbeatable sweet treats. Don't forget to grab the chive cream cheese!
So much hype for a solid bakery. Line is 20 min long even 10 minutes before the place opens on the weekend. Get there early. Great selection can’t go wrong. Personally preferred the ham mustard and salami breakfast pastries over the Mindy’s breakfast sandwich. Decadent way to treat yourself for breakfast once in a while
I didn’t catch her name but whoever is greeting everyone at the counter makes you want to come in Everyday for a positive start to the day! The hot chocolate au lait with a homemade marshmallow was just what I needed! Oh and that triple chocolate cake was amazing! I needed 2 slices!
Been wanting to come here for a min. Line is always out the door. They sell out of food/drink items so keep that in mind. I had the funfetti snickerdoodle and a chocolate au lait and they were both delicious.
This bakery is incredible. The passion Mindy and her people put into the baked goods and hot chocolate is unmatched. Support local.
Tried the almond croissant, plain, croissant, and everything bagel. The bagel was proper, with flakes of dried onion on the outside. Croissant was succulent and peeled apart smoothly. Almond croissant was perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. A kind gentleman bought coffee for those in line. Great house blend. Kind staff. Highly recommend.
Waited about 30 minutes in line after arriving at 8:15 am on a Sunday. Got the breakfast sandwich, sesame seed bagel, twice baked cookie croissant, and banana bread au lait. The banana bread drink was way too sweet. I heard others in line recommending their cold brew with cinnamon foam on top. The breakfast sandwich was very good with runny egg, but not a top 5 sandwich in the city for me. The sesame bagel was excellent and I toasted it the next morning for breakfast. The cookie croissant was huge and very good. I’ll be back to try more items.
My experience was pleasant. The staff helped me choose everything, just don't look at pictures of stuff in the reviews and think it'll be there when you go. Go in with an open mind because people clear out a lot of their stuff quick. The banana bread drink was phenomenal, I'm not a coffee person and I enjoyed it. The pastries I got were unique, nothing mind blowing but definitely yummy.
I visited Mindy's Bakery on a Sunday. I got in line at 7:55 am and there were about 13 people ahead of me in line. We walked out with our baked goods at 8:20 am so the line wasn't too bad. There were so many options. I wish we could have gotten more to try. Sesame Bagel - we had this with salmon smear and it was good. I didn't think there was anything extra special about it though. Vodka Sauce, Fresh Mozzarella, & Basil Pesto Bialy - not my favorite but I'm not a huge fan of savory pastries Blueberry, Lemon Curd Cheesecake, & Brown Butter Streusel Danish - I was expecting a more flakey danish but I thought this was delicious anyways. The blueberry and lemon were well balanced and the blueberry jam tasted very fresh and well made. I would recommend getting this! Twice Baked Cookie Croissants - this was our absolute favorite item! It is especially delicious warmed up. The croissant is still buttery and the chocolate chip cookie makes it so decadent. I would recommend getting this! Chunky Monkey Scone - this was my least favorite item. It tasted bitter. Hot Chocolate Grand Au Lait - this is Mindy's version of a mocha and it's super good. Very chocolatey. I would recommend it! If you like pastries, a trip out to Mindsy's is worth it!
Mindy's is an excellent example that word of mouth advertising works. I mentioned that although it was over three years ago I was there because of CM Punk mentioning them during the infamous All Out press scrum. The cashier replied "Yeah, we still get a couple of those a day." The best part is that Mindy's didn't disappoint.
We had no idea there would be a line when we pulled up to Mindy’s Bakery but the moment we caught a whiff of buttery pastries from outside, we understood why. And let me say: it was absolutely worth the wait. The scent of fresh-baked goods wraps around you the moment you step inside, warm, comforting, and almost nostalgic. It’s the kind of aroma that stops you in your tracks and pulls you toward the pastry case before you even know what you’re looking for. And that pastry case… wow. It’s overflowing with golden, flaky croissants, sugar-dusted danishes, rich chocolate-filled treats, and cinnamon rolls that seem to glow under the lights. There’s truly something for everyone, and honestly, choosing just one was the hardest part of the visit. I usually go for a classic croissant or something with chocolate, but this time I wanted to step out of my usual routine. I picked the cinnamon roll and I’m so glad I did. It was massive, with a thick swirl of cinnamon and brown sugar that oozed slightly from the sides. The outer layers had a slight crunch, giving way to a soft, gooey center that was rich, warm, and buttery. It had just the right amount of sweetness and spice, without being overpowering. Every bite was pure comfort like a hug in pastry form. Mindy’s Bakery feels like a hidden treasure you’ll want to tell everyone about, but also secretly keep to yourself. My advice: come early, be patient with the line, and try something outside your usual go-to, you might discover a new favorite like I did.
The smoked salt bagel I had was a little chewy due to the time in spent in the case, but I should’ve had it warmed up if that’s an option there. I paired it with their salmon lox cream cheese, very solid cream cheese and spot on in flavor. We also had a garlic challah bagel that was very good and soft that I for some reason didn’t film, but it was better in terms of texture and the taste to my liking. The breakfast sandwich is only available on the weekends, and consists of pistachio mortadella, parmesan, and American cheese. This was a very savory, buttery, sandwich and simple flavors executed wonderfully. Last but not least, we tried their Vanilla Bean Cinnamon Roll. Dense with heavy flavor of cinnamon and warm sour cream vanilla bean frosting on top made this cinnamon roll unforgettable for me.
Delicious. The staff answered all of my questions and helped me. Nowhere for me to sit and eat. I wanted to try to hot chocolate but it's a winter thing, understandable.
A great specialty bakery by a legendary force in the area. Go in the morning and you'll have the shortest line. You walk in for bagels and you find three other things to buy
The line was out the door and there is a good reason for it. There is no a very limited space to stand indoor and max out at about 8 people to eat by the window. There was so much good bakes in front of us that it was hard to control ourselves. Everything was so fresh and the smell of beautiful warm feeling of butter runs through the air even at a distance from the shop. As their menu states they are "always baking something new". We got 3 baked goods: onion parmesan bialy, peach lemon curd brioche, and sage honey herb quiche. All were so good, flakey, and flavorful. It honestly hit every spot and brought a symphony of notes to my senses. Worth the wait. I love it.
Having been a repeat victim of overpriced and underwhelming pastries, I have finally found a bakery worth my loyalty. Is the ham and gruyere croissant almost 8 dollars? Yes. Is it also usually the culinary highlight of my week? Also yes. Like any devout follower, you'll find me here every Sunday morning. I wouldn't drag myself out of bed for anything less than fresh, buttery, flaky perfection, which Mindy's always delivers. (Shout out to Sadie for always being such a sweetheart)
Easily my favorite bakery in Chicago. I'm pretty picky about baked goods but we found this place when another bagel spot nearby was closed and it was the best find of our lives We had a laminated brioche that blew our minds! We've been hooked ever since. The chocolate chip cookies are unreal. I love it when she tries new things but those breakfast sandwiches are a staple that I need every day I can get my hands on them Also, the folks behind the counter are so warm and wonderful and welcoming. They're as sweet as the baked goods and keep us coming back for more
I'm in N. Florida, and with this cold January weather (cold for us, anyway), we decided to order Mindy's hot chocolate. We ordered all three flavors. OMG, that classic flavor was by far the best hot chocolate we've ever had. Can't wait to try the dark and spicy flavors in the next few days. They smell sensational.
I came here for the first time and had the dream bar and it was nothing short of a dream. It was like biting into a delicious cloud, pillowy but with the right in amount of texture and sweetness. Although the bar was perfection, the service just felt standoffish. Counter person didn’t smile and say hello and did not feel welcomed at all. Anyhow I decided to sit in one of the 2 stools inside to enjoy the bar and I believe Mindy asked me how it was from behind the counter. She was definitely a lot friendlier and more enthusiastic so that felt like the appropriate vibe for the goods! Anyway, I came back a couple days later cuz it was so good I had to get it for my daughter too.
Mindy’s is great overall with some inconsistency between items - highlights include their cakes and donuts, less impressive are their laminated pastry and cinnamon roll. Their triple chocolate cake is one of the best textured chocolate cakes in the city, and the flavor is perfectly chocolate-y without being too sweet. The Shirley’s “yum yum” cake is also well-executed - a bit too much going on, between the halva cheesecake, banana coffee cake, and streusel, but tasty. The powdered sugar donut hearts are great, and the cinnamon sugar donut was good, though the texture felt more bready than donut-y Their laminated pastries (hot fudge babka, chamomile kouign amann) are unfortunately too dry and overly sweet. Their weekends-only cinnamon roll is perhaps the biggest disappointment: dry, stodgy, dense, and cloyingly sweet, this likely would’ve fared better if heated up, but would still underwhelm compared to other items Service here is warm and friendly, with an efficient moving line - and the hot chocolate is some of the richest cocoa you’ll have
One of the earliest alternatives for an early bite in Chicago is Mindy's, which opens at 8 AM. It's difficult to locate a bakery that opens before 9 AM. Because the service is one-on-one and personalized, be ready for lineups. Every pastry I had was superb, and the chocolate-covered café au lait is incredibly delightful. The ham and cheese croissant with mustard was particularly noteworthy to me; it was a distinctive and tasty touch. I thought the bagels were merely mediocre. I came to Mindy's for the bagels at first, but the croissant and café au lait were what really drew me in. This is a great bakery that is well worth the trip. Even without a car, it's easily accessible from downtown because to its handy location near to the train station.
The bakery is beautiful, and the people working there are extremely friendly! The interior is cute and practically laid out for a good flow of customers. (Parking is great, too!) We bought several items, and our favorites were Danish with Salami, Pimento Cheese, Egg, Cheddar, & Parmesan, and a lemon custard cake with merengue… (I don't recall the name) I just hoped that the Croissants are a bit more buttery or they carry Croissants au beurre 🧈(and it can be a bit smaller)
There’s lots of options to choose from (more on the sweeter side). Heads up, this is a grab and go bakery, therefore, there is no indoor seating (only a bar to stand at outside). They will also not heat up the pastries :/ The hot fudge babka $6⭐️4/5 It did not really taste like it had chocolate… it was still delicious, but it tasted more like an apples strudel and banana bread mix—yummy but not chocolate babka lol The smoked ham brown grainy mustard + Gruyère croissant ($7.50) ⭐️2/5 This didn’t hit it for me :/ If you know you love gruyère cheese, then I say give it a go, if you’re unsure, probably try something else? Update: Hot fudge croissant ⭐️3.5/5 A bit on the drier side and I felt that they skimped on the chocolate a bit. But it was a delicious pastry Blackberry cheesecake danish ⭐️3/5 This was yummy and an easy to-go eat. I wish there was a bit more cheese tho Banana bread cold brew ⭐️4/5 Idk how they do it, but this legit tastes like banana bread in a drink. Perfect for the fall season.
Most of the time, there's going to be a line out the door here but don't be intimidated. It moves pretty fast! Banana bread latte with the breakfast sandwich was a great start to my day. The runny egg yolk in the middle of the bun was, albeit quite messy, a pleasant surprise. Pastries were pretty decent with good textures though some items were too sweet. From everything that I got, the standout was poached blueberry + lemon cheesecake danish. The low was definitely the dry and forgettable peanut butter cookie.
I was very excited about trying the famous award winning Hot Chocolate , Drinking Chocolate.... .Very Rich with a smooth finish . A little to rich for my liking i will have to do modification to it. Over all it is delicious.
Food and Breakfast sandwich were good/average. Banana au lait is good. The woman who helps you order when you first come in is very nice. Unfortunately the lady at the front with glasses and curly hair was a bit rude when I didn't hear her, but nicer to other customers. Wouldn't come back again because felt a bit unwelcomed, but the food and drink are nice if you happen to be in the area or are a regular. Spent $50 for me and my husband and we got a drink, croissant, breakfast sandwich, and Danish cinnamon roll. Not really worth the price due to customer service.
I visited Mindy’s Bakery for the first time because I’d heard great things about the hot chocolate — and it truly was delicious. However, my experience at the register left a negative impression. While one staff member was kindly assisting me with questions, another spoke to me abruptly and walked away when I redirected my attention back to the person helping me. It took away from what could have been a great first visit. I hope the customer service becomes more welcoming, because the products themselves are wonderful.
I went to Mindy’s on a Saturday morning. There was a line outside but it moved quickly. The shop is quite small, and there is a mini European ledge (maybe 4”) for you to rest your drink and food. I was grateful the line moved quickly. We were inside in maybe 8 minutes. We ordered the breakfast sandwich, ham and cheese croissant, and pesto acorn squash quiche. We got the hot chocolate, drip coffee and the seasonal banana bread latte. To be completely honest, I thought everything I had was average. First of all we paid $60 to try all of these items. The breakfast sandwhich was slightly warm but not warmed up. The flavor was good but kind of underwhelming. The ham and cheese croissant was decent except the croissant to ham ratio was huge and I can’t taste the grainy mustard on the ham. Ok the quiche- there was literally the smallest amount of egg and cream mixture I have ever seen. I mean I basically for a bowl of acorn squash. The quiche was ice cold and I didn’t even try the crust. Nothing we ordered was warmed up which I find honestly alarming. It was loud, hot, and cramped in there. The coffee was average. The hot chocolate was wayyy too milky and needs more dark chocolate. Also don’t get the marshmallow on top, it deletes all chocolate flavor. On the website they claim to have frozen dough of croissants but when we asked in person the employees didn’t even know what we were talking about. I don’t get the hype of this place.
There is very limited space for customers to line up, which makes the experience feel cramped and disorganized. The bakery selection is quite small, and the items are not warmed before serving, so everything tastes stale and cold. I tried the za’atar bagel and was very disappointed — it was hard and difficult to chew. I also ordered a hot chocolate, which was extremely sweet — overwhelmingly so. I’ve definitely had much better elsewhere. Paying $20 for a bagel and hot chocolate felt overpriced, especially considering the lack of taste and quality. There are far better cafés out there offering better food and value for money.
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1747 N Damen
Chicago, IL 60647
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