Chicago｜Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba & Boqueria 🇪🇸✨

Summer always calls for small bites, and Spanish tapas are perfect — small portions to share and try a bit of everything with friends! 😊 📍 Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba 📍 Boqueria 🌱 Vibe: Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba feels lively, almost like a night market — a bit noisy but fun and bustling. Boqueria is quieter and cozier, ideal for catching up over a relaxed meal. The owner at Boqueria was super welcoming — she even sent us extra tapas thinking our order was slow (we didn’t think so, but thanks!). 🌱 Paella: Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba’s seafood paella was tastier. Boqueria’s version was a bit too salty and had a slight fishy note. Note: neither had socarrat (crispy bottom) 😢. 🌱 Bacon-Wrapped Dates – A must-order at both! Salty, crispy bacon wrapped around sweet, soft dates — so good. 🌱 Boqueria highlights: Lamb skewers & meatballs were standout! The grilled bread with lamb and seasoning was delicious, and the meatballs had a unique twist compared to Italian versions. ✨ Reservation difficulty: Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba > Boqueria ✨ Parking: Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba > Boqueria (easier around Boqueria’s neighborhood) #ChicagoEats #SpanishTapas #TapasLovers #ChicagoFoodFinds #SummerDining