Svea Restaurant Reviews

I have had the Viking breakfast and it is great but what I really like are the Swedish pancakes which are really good --much better than chain pancake houses. Ok the coffee is old diner but the service is friendly and on weekdays most if the customers are regulars. I do miss the Svea of old when it served Swedish meals too--potato sausage , rotmos, lutfisk at Christmas.

I always visit this Swedish restaurant for brunch when in Andersonville - the food is always well presented and the service excellent. Relaxing and informal,

Svea is a fantastic little diner in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago. They are a real diner in the sense that they open quite early (7 am) and close early as well (2 pm). I went there for breakfast with two dear friends and it was a delight. The inside is definitely not fancy, but it has a charming, quaint feel. The folks working there were all friendly, the coffee is great, and the food was delicious. I highly recommend the Swedish pancakes- they come with lingonberry jam! I'm sure the lunch is great too, but we all had breakfast. I can't wait to go back!

We eat here often when visiting our daughter in the area, usually for breakfast. We've tried almost all of the breakfast combos, and none have disappointed us, whether it's pancakes or eggs or potatoes or breakfast meats. Service is reasonably prompt, friendly, and efficient. It's got a nice, quiet atmosphere and the prices are reasonable for this part of town.

Get around Chicago and visit Andersonville. The bars, restaurants and people-watching is fun. I had a great Swedish pancake breakfast with eggs and they substituted wonderful Swedish potatoes for me. It is obvious why Svea is a top choice for my friends who live in the area.

Svea is a great place to have a breakfast of eggs, Swedish pancakes, korv, and some limpa toast. I've been coming here for the past 15+ years. I've always had a wonderful experience. Its one of the last vestiges of the old Swedish neighborhood. New ownership came on board over the last year or so and are continuing to do a great job. I come here for a lot of nostalgia purposes. Being here reminds me of my Swedish grandmother's house, especially around Christmas time.

Located in Andersonville on clark and foster where you can still have a Swedish breakfast like it used to be. Small restaurant with limited seating but the food is great and the service fast and friendly. I ordered the 'Swedish Tease' one Swedish pancake, 2 bacon, and 2 eggs very nice. Try this place when you are in the area. Breakfast and lunch only is served. Parking is paid street only on clark.

Love the Swedish pancakes and lingonberries. The omelettes are good too. Wait staff is always friendly and speedy. I've been going here for years and often crave their breakfasts on Sundays.

We've eaten at this Andersonville Swedish restaurant countless times over several decades, and only now discovered we haven't rated it. The fact that we keep returning explains the attraction of the paper-thin Swedish pancakes topped with lingon berries with a side order of salt pork. No matter what happens for the rest of the day, it starts off great with that breakfast. Other items on the limited menu are standard fare and standard quality: eggs in various manifestations, herring, toast, coffee, etc. Avoid the temptation to try other Swedish items, such as the Swedish meatballs and such. It's the pancakes and salt pork -- plus the welcoming, friendly service and inexpensive prices -- that will keep us coming returning time and again.

I read reviews before going to this place but honestly it needs some re-modeling it's old and dingy. The food was average noting fancy. The coffee is nothing great;( Hey but if you want a quick meal for a cheap price stop here. They used to only take cash as payment but I think they may have started accepting plastic...You might want to call and double check...

Stopped in to this small family run restaurant for breakfast. Everything was good and our waitress was fantastic. I will go back the next time in am in Chicago. Seva Resturant “home of the Viking breakfast” [--]

The service here was good, but the breakfast just wasn't up to par. The coffee was poor and the food was rather bland. There seemed to be better options in the area.

This is in Andersonville, a Swedish settlement area of northeast Chicago. I go to Svea whenever I visit Chicago and I am in the neighborhood. It is small and homey, service is great, and they have many "regulars" eating there. The best items are the Swedish pancakes & sauce, Swedish bread, meatballs, sausages, etc., though they also have regular breakfast items. Very inexpensive. Fun shops to visit when done.

Cosy with nice ambiance for a breakfast joint. A little cramped. Might be a line on Saturday or Sunday. Food is great. Pancakes with lingonberries, eggs, potatoes, Swedish toast/sausages. Viking breakfast contains a lot of food. Great choice for a hearty appetite or hung-over late-morning types.

My husband is from Sweden and we were excited to try some of the dishes that would remind him of home. We had pea soup, Gotenburg Sausages on Limpa and Falukorv. All were delicious and a perfect reminder of Sweden. Simple diner with Swedish decorations, affordable and delicious dishes and a singing owner will keep up coming back for future visits.

Their pancakes are very similar to French crepes (same taste, just slightly larger in size), I liked them very much. Everything else was just regular American breakfast (bacon, eggs). Pretty cheap but portion are rather small too. Waitress was nice and attentive. Place can get very busy after 9:30 am. They only take cash!

My husband and I both had omelets and they were very yummy. Not too big but enough to fill you up. The service was good.

Enjoyed the omelet with salmon. It was delicious. I was not able to finish it because of the huge serving of yummy home fries served along side. DH and DD raved about the Swedish sausage. DH had pancake and poached eggs. He says they were the best poached eggs ever and he wonders how they do that, lol. The coffee had an interesting taste, not what we are accustomed to, but it tasted fine with the food. The cook kept looking out the port hole window of the kitchen door. We think it was because a Chicago Food Inspector was sitting at a back table (wearing an official looking t-shirt) typing away on a laptop. We were not worried; the place appeared very clean. Service was quick and water/coffee refills were frequent. We enjoyed breakfast four mornings in Andersonville. All were good, but SVEA is the one place I know we would return.

The place is small and the food is ok for brunch. It was fine until the bill came. We were a party of 4 and we wanted to split it in two with 2 credit cards and the waiter said that they can only accept 1 card per table. In addition they charge 3% extra for using the credit card. This is 2024, splitting the bill is easy, but they just transfer the burden to the guests. The cherry on top is that 5 min after paying (I’m not exaggerating) they told us to leave the table because people were waiting. There are so many options in Andersonville, that next time we will choose a place where they don’t push you to leave as soon as you pay. It’s the first time that something like this happened to me in the US. Way to go guys.

Restaurants like Svea are a thing of the past and hard to find. Note that Swedish (Scandanavian) food in general is not spicy; it's rather plain, but I like it. The menu here has lots to offer and all is homemade and fresh. The mashed potatoes on the entree menu are REAL mashed potatoes, not instant. All the food is low in salt generally. There's nothing on the menu over $11.00; my BLT cost $6.00 with a cucumber salad on the side for an extra $2.50. They serve limpa bread and pickled herring along with traditional Swedish sausages. The breakfast menu looks very good, but we had lunch. Service is very good; friendly and personal. Overall, cozy and clean. They open the front windows in good weather and seating there is very pleasant. They DO NOT TAKE CREDIT CARDS; CASH ONLY.

I love Svea!! Their swedish pancakes with the lingonberry sauce are to die for. I was a regular here for a long time, but have not been here in the past few months. The space is small and can get crowded, but I have never felt the lack of space. Must be the wonderful crowd that comes here to eat. I always get the pancakes and a side of the sausage or split the Viking breakfast with my husband. The coffee here is good too. Writing this review is making me want to go back...and soon! It is such a quaint little place, with so much character and yummy food. A must try!

How can you beat Swedish pancakes with lignon berries?! very old school breakfast diner feel to it, service is great, food is awesome- don't be afraid to try the Swedish sausages with your breakfast!

Make sure to get there early. The restaurant is very small but I sort of like it that way, It has a very quaint and homey feel. Delicious food and great service. I will be returning. It is very affordable as well.

Stopped in for breakfast early on a Saturday morning. Locals know to get here early as it gets packed after 9am on the weekends. Small place, only seats about 20-30. Service is ultra friendly, makes you feel a bit like you're at grandma's for breakfast. Food is simple and tasty and very reasonably priced. Would definitely go back if we're in the area.

I never had a Swedish breakfast before. It is a very enjoyable experience. The place is small and homey. It is a cash only place. I had the Viking Breakfast. I was surprised that there was no herring. The Swedish sausages, pancakes and light rye were a pleasant experience. The eggs and potatoes were as the same in an American breakfast place. The folks were pleasant and the other customers were all having a good rime also.

Had lunch of Potato Pancakes and Swedish Pancakes with sides of meatballs and salt pork. Very mediocre. Not enough potato in the pancakes and very skimpy on the applesauce and sour cream. The Swedish Pancakes tasted like the same as the potato pancakes with a bit of sugar added. Salt pork tasted okay but very small portion - three half slices for $3. Meatballs were kind of mealy but taste was okay. We waited about 20 minutes to be seated in a small cramped dining room. Service was good.

The decor here is super Swedish, as is the menu. Swedish pancakes are light and big, and the limpa bread is fresh. It's a bit worn around the edges and there can often be a wait, but it's a nice bit of local color with a solid breakfast menu, reasonably priced. Service is fast and friendly and I've seen the waitstaff be fair and make sure you get seated in the order you arrive---even if they have to rearrange the tables for your party.

This is the cutest, coziest place ever made.

We went here for a Saturday brunch on a recommendation. The place was busy with a nice atmosphere. The friendly waitress greeted and seated us straight away. There was a good selection on the menu - I had an omelet and my partner was easily accommodated only wanting one pancake rather than the two that were standard. The coffee was hot and you got free refills though it was not as good as the expensive coffee shop down the block. Our food came quickly and was nise. One point to note is that they only accepted cash.

We stopped for brunch after going to the Swedish Museum. The prices are very reasonable. The food was great. It was clearly marked cash only so that would likely be the only “downfall” of the quaint establishment.

Svea is a cozy restaurant with a Swedish bent in the middle of the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago. It was our final meal -- breakfast -- before leaving after a great visit. The restaurant has a view of bustling Clark Street -- a summer festival was in progress -- but we were more interested in just chatting. Svea provided the perfect background for that. Our server was friendly and efficient, the food was prepared as we wanted it and it tasted great. The Swedish French toast, the thick slabs of bacon and an omelet all hit the spot. If you find yourself in that neighborhood, Svea is worth the time.

Svea offers a very tasty and inexpensive breakfast menu if you are visiting Andersonville. Friendly staff, ample selections and simply great food make this a perfect stop for breakfast in this northside haven

We stopped here for a late breakfast on a Sunday. It is very small place, and locals love it, so it is busy. Very reasonably priced and I got to have my favorite Swedish bread!

I've been coming here for over 25 years and it's still fantastic, authentic Swedish food! I stop here for breakfast every time I'm in Chicago, don't miss it!

These were sooo good, and they were very reasonably priced. Yes, you have to pay cash, so bring cash and eat at this lovely neighborhood gem.

A great local restaurant to enjoy authentic Swedish Breakfast. Try the Viking Breakfast: Swedish Pancakes w/ Lingonberries, Gothenberg Sausages, and Limpa

Dropped by for a brunch at Svea Restaurant. It was good, friendly and responsive staff, quick service, quant and cash only. We had the omelet, scrabbled eggs, bacon, sausage and the pancakes. We each took one bit of the pancakes and realized we DID NOT like the Swedish Pancakes - they should be called crepes, they were not what you are use to as pancakes!

While looking at the most recent reviews, I would concur with just about everything positive that was written. We stopped in for a late breakfast on a Sunday. The food was tasty, the service was prompt and friendly, and the prices were very reasonable. It is a smaller place and remember to bring cash.

I had just returned from Sweden about two weeks prior to visiting Svea. I was missing Sweden and the yummy breakfasts that I was getting used to in Gothenburg. So, I decided to take my chance at a little place in Andersonville that I have seen several times but never dined at. My son and I took a seat at the counter. We were greeted and provided with menus by the hostess/server. She was very busy working by herself. However, her hospitality and service was not compromised by the busy diner. She was very attentive and nice. We decided to eat the Viking breakfast and place another order of pancakes. The breakfast was wonderful and the pancakes were exactly like those that I had been eating in Sweden two weeks before. The prices are inexpensive and two people can eat very heartily under $25.00. I noticed a comment about the place being old and dingy. The place is old and reminded me of being in an old Swedish diner. However, it is very clean. I will definitely return.

Andersonville has changed considerably over the past 20 years, but Svea Restaurant has been a beacon in the neighborhood for years. Small, quaint, with Scandinavian decor, Svea Restaurant serves a breakfast worth waiting for. I crave Swedish pancakes with lingonberries, so that is a must if you want you want some authentic flavor to your meal. I recommend their omelets. They are served perfectly with limpa bread if you desire. They are also served hot and flavorful. If you come for lunch, the Swedish meatballs are a good bet. Service was very good, with our coffee being topped off when needed, and our food came fast. Prices were decent, and breakfast with some extras for two people cost us around $24.00. Parking is hard to find during the day in Andersonville, so I recommend you go early. We parked right in front, but you will have difficulty finding close parking later in the day. When you finish your meal, you can spend the rest of the day going in and out of unique shops in Andersonville. I am glad some things do not change and glad to have Svea Restaurant still going strong in the ever changing neighborhood.

Had the opportunity to visit Svea in December. Located in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago, this is a traditional . Only open from 7 am to 2 pm. The food is delicious and the setting is very quaint. My family of 5 ate breakfast there and were delighted with the swedish sausages and the pancakes. (with a side of lingonberry of course.) One thing to remember, it is cash only.

This restaurant left me rather disappointed... there wasn't much of the swedish food I was hoping to find. Aside from the Köttbullar med Mos.. nothing really made me feel like home... Sure I noticed the scandinavian influences.. but mostly Danish and Norwegian... we rarely have Lingonberries on pannkakor... we put it on the mash and meatballs... Or we make juice with it. And sometimes put it in desserts but mainly in winter. Instead of taking pictures I left with a Fika not even close to the swedish traditional Fika. Not even a good sign of Swedish Fikabröd was there... As a born and raised Halläning (Falkenberg, Sweden) I was very disappointed.. Instead I'll leave you with what a swedish breakfast, a swedish fika, (also known as Kafferep) and a traditional swedish Smörgås really is.

Svea is located in the Andersonville neighborhood. It's a tiny, but quaint little place surrounded by various small local businesses. I stopped in on a Tuesday around noon and had breakfast. It was almost a full house w/2 free tables and counter seating available. The food came out quickly, my bacon was crispy as I asked, and my coffee cup was kept full, just how I like it. If you like Swedish food or just want to try it, this is a good place.

The breakfast potatoes and Swedish pancakes were a hit. We ate breakfast here 3 out of 4 days. Nice staff and quick service.

You can't beat a Viking Breakfast! Svea is a great little place with awesome food. The whole neighborhood is great but Svea is a taste of Sweden. Service was great. Friendly feel with awesome food.

I'm not sure where I got the idea to eat here, but it's a solid choice. Had the Swedish Tease which is eggs, meat, and lignonberry pancakes. Enjoyed every last bit. Not sure why I was the only customer at 8AM, but perhaps lunch or weekends are busier. A bit of Swedish kitsch adds to the atmosphere. No credit cards, but a beautiful old cash register makes you forget it's 2016. Worth the effort.

Great breakfast spot in Andersonville. Get the Swedish tease... And don't expect anything kinky. Just great food and service! 😀

Wholsome scandinavian food in a pleasant atmosphere. Good food and good service. Menye is small but diverse with something for everyone.

I am from Sweden and I must say that the pancakes are perfect. It's like I've made them my self. The coffea is not like home but ok. The limpa tasted like in the old age, super!

We live in the neighborhood and come here for a no frills breakfast. We love the fact you can order just eggs, great potatoes, bacon (which is like country style slab bacon) and toast. It's cozy and has delicious Swedish roots!

We stopped in for breakfast,. The restaurant seems like it once was more of a go-to place than today. Breakfast is inexpensive. Where else an omelet for $7.50? The omelet came with a huge helping of potatoes. The Limpa toast was just ok. Not very flavorful as Limpa should be. Coffee is even cheap. Prepare for a laid back atmosphere with one server acting as cashier and waitress. We’ll be back.

Pretty basic breakfast. Small portions. Not sure how Swedish the "Swedish" sausage was as it seemed like a slightly seasoned hot dog and the "Swedish" rye bread could have been Wonder Bread. Still it's a nice little local spot with friendly service. I'm thinking I need to try the pancakes the next time around. Probably should lose the sign about not seating incomplete parties. I get their point but it's not about them and often people meet for breakfast and don't show up at the same time. Just my pet peeve about places posting unwelcoming signs.

This is our favorite neighborhood breakfast spot. Everyone loves the Swedish pancakes and the potatoes are very flavorful. Good burgers if you're in a lunch mood. Small, authentic feel in a historic Swedish neighborhood. You see lots of regular customers who keep coming back for the good food and service. Quaint counter and old cash register add to the charm. Usually not a long wait for breakfast/brunch.

This place reminds me of having breakfast at my grandparents home in North Dakota when I was a kid. Wholesome, scratch made food that will stick to your ribs. What a great family atmosphere...Seating is a little cramped, and sometimes the neighborhood folks are a little snobby when a large party comes in to sit, but the owner Tom Martin singing to the patrons makes it so much better! After you are done, ramble down to Simon's Tavern and have a Glogg or two is the season is right!

My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed our brunch at Svea: delicious pancakes and French toast. Unfortunately my husband did not enjoy the meatballs at all, but he tasted the other stuff we ordered and agreed it was delicious. Nice laid back atmosphere, and good service. A very characterful Swedish experience.

A small restaurant, with not too many tables, but great food and service! The menu has some great Swedish dishes!

Our son who lives in this area took my wife and I to Svea which is a nice change from typical lunch restaurants in this area. We shared a side order of herring and we both had the meatballs on limpa (Swedish rye) bread. Our son had one of the many breakfast items. Portions were quite large, prices reasonable and the food tasty without being spectacular. Service was excellent.

This cafe serves a great brunch to fill hungry tummies. Friendly service in a Swedish themed cafe (yellow and blue furniture) and lots of artifacts and picture on the theme. Located nearly opposite the Swedish American Museum in Andersonville, Chicago (also worth a visit to find out more about the Swedish quarter)

At least once a year this wonderful little gem is the start of our trolling through all things Swedish. Erickson's deli and the Swedish Bakery are always part of the trip but it all starts well because of a good hearty breakfast at this long-standing Andersonville establishment. I like the "Viking" combination but you can also have just plain eggs. Someone always gets the Swedish pancakes but year over year there is some debate about their authenticity. An intimate, often crowded but rewarding choice for breakfast in the neighborhood.

The restaurant bills itself as a Swedish restaurant. As a Sweden having lived in the U.S. for 44 years, I was excited! I ordered pickled herring and pannbiff med lök. The pickled herring was loose in consistency, and seemed to me to be the ubiquitous American herring in wine sauce. They had added some red onion, so it was edible, but disappointing. The 'pannbiff' was a joke. Pannbiff is made with a mix of ground pork and ground beef, and a mixture of cream and breadcrumbs, and spices. It is thick and juicy. Not so at this restaurant. What was served appeared to be a previously frozen thin beef hamburger patty. It was very, very far from a pannbiff. The onion with the panbiff was alright, though not properly caramelized. The sauce and the mashed potatoes were edible. Limpa was served with the meal, and it was ...lol... TOASTED!! I could only shake my head. The limpa itself was ok, though a bit heavy on anise/fennel. But really - TOASTED. Lol. I was famished, so I finished it. I won't be back, though. Jeepers, what a travesty of Swedish food.