new Bombon cafe...

I'm slacking because it's just across the street from me, but has anyone tried the new Bombon Cafe on Ashland and Monroe?

Closed on Sundays but I expect to snag a torta tomorrow...

So, since I had the day off, I popped in for a quick takeout lunch, after dropping off clothes at the cleaners and picking up some flowers at the wholesaler on Randolph.

The storefront had been vacant for the four years that I have lived here, so it's nice to see a new business in my neighborhood. Considering the last thing that opened up was a Subway's, it's even nicer to have a place I will frequent...

On such a dreary gray day, the warm and inviting yellow walls were welcoming, as was the soft Latin music and friendly staff.

Anyway, I grabbed a soup of the day (tomato and pasta with chicken) and a chicken tamale. $5.36 with tax, both had a nice bite to them and took the chill off the damp walk.





In addition to the pastries and breads, they also offer, salads, quesadillas, tortas, taquitos, sopechos and tlacoyos.

Bombon Cafe
38 South Ashland
Chicago, IL
312.733.8717

So have you since tried the tortas? Just curious - we're catering from the cafe for an office party.

I've been a fan of the original Bombon in Pilsen for a couple of years now, but I didn't know they'd expanded to a full service cafe until a friend took me there for brunch.

As a vegetarian, it was a little tough to pick through all the meat offerings, but there were four or five entrees I could eat. I had the tlacoyos, buttery baked pastries filled with black beans and topped with a salsa-esque salad of lettuce, cilantro, onion, tomato, vinegar and farmers cheese. Overall it was very good; I also had a truly fabulous latte (about an inch of thick foam on the top) and a honeydew melon agua (they change the agua offerings daily).

Several people I was with had sandwiches (one person complained that the chorizo in hers was more like a plain hot dog) and they also made omelettes for us, even though they were not on the menu. The service was good and they still offer all the great pastries from the 18th street bakery.

Sorry to respond late....
I've had the pork special and the 4 cheese. Both were quite tasty. To be honest, I've just been buying bread from them and making my own.

I'm not a sweet eater, but my other half is; I get him snacks from Bonbom and he really enjoys them...

Hi,

I have long been an admirer of Laura Cid Perea and her pastry shop Bombon. So I was thrilled to learn of Bombon Cafe which I finally found an opportunity to visit today.

Since tamales have been on the front burner this holiday season, I was interested to try the chicken and the pork:



Pork


The masa was not heavy, perhaps even a bit cake-like light. The chicken and pork fillings were well seasoned. When the tamales were presented, they came as-is without any tomatillo or tomato-chili sauce. I'm not sure if sauce is required, I'm just used to getting 1-2 squeeze bottles of sauce. In the absence of any suggested sauce, I asked for some crema which I prefer anyway.

Bombon Cafe makes their bread on the premises. I sample their bread via a carnitas torta, whose bun was sprinkled with poppy seeds.



This torta was assembled with a professional chef's precision one never encounters at taquerias. Sliced not grated Mexican cheese, pickled onions, a tomato slice, avocado, carnitas and leaf lettuce rather than iceberg. This sandwich was not overwhelming large, yet fitted comfortably in my grasp without the contents sliding out as I experience in other tortas. This was an uncommonly delicious torta.

I was there on a Saturday before a major holiday. It was very quiet. Parking was a breeze especially compared to their 18th street location in Pilsen. An array of pastries and cakes from the other shop are available there. I saw a special order cake was waiting for pick up. Arranging your cake to be picked up at this location might be something to consider.

I don't know what this location is like on a weekday, though I hope it is much busier than what I witnessed.

Laura and her husband who own and run Bombon together are both veterans of Rick Bayless kitchen. Laura was his pastry chef who trained in Paris. This background largely explains the intelligence and precision demonstrated in their business.

What a nice way to end the year!

Regards,

I just passed by the corner of Clark and Oak on my way home from work yesterday, where there had been a now defunct coffee shop. The windows have been covered with paper for the better part of this year, but yesterday I noticed a new awning with the name Bombon Cafe, in the same font type as the original and Ashland cafes.

If indeed this is the newest opening by the Bombon folks, I'm very excited - i won't have to travel far at all to enjoy their offerings!

leesh

From Chicago Magazine's Dish email:

Dish wrote:BomBon Americano (1000 N. Clark St.;?312-787-7717), an American bakery from the owners of BomBon (1508 W. 18th St.; 312-733-7788), opens on July 28th

I live in Pilsen and have been to the bakery a couple of times. Overall I wasn't terrible impressed, but it may have just been what I tried. I made a trip up to the Cafe a couple weeks ago and fell in love. I love good bread on a good sandwich...and this was both. The soup I had was just okay, but I'm definetely getting a full size torta next time.

You'll probably want to give the bakery another shot. What was unimpressive?