West Town Bakery

S'mores Doughssant

Kristoffer's Cafe

Tres Leches Galore!

Caramel Tres Leches Cake ($4.95)

Cupcakes, bite-sized pastries and anything with Nutella are recent trending treats in Chicago. But located on the lower west side of the Windy City in Pilsen is Kristoffer's Cafe (www.kristofferscafe.com), a hidden gem bakery with traditional Hispanic sweets. Legendary Mexican Cuisine Chef Rick Bayless--owner of several successful restaurants in Chicago including Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, XOCO, Frontera Fresco and Tortas Frontera--named Kristoffer's tres leches cake the best he'd ever eaten. Besides the traditional vanilla, four uncommon flavored tres leches cakes based on a family recipe reveal a surprisingly light and creamy texture and a burst of freshness and flavor that transport you back to authentic Mexico.

Breakfast House

Vanilla Waffle ($7.50)

Tucked away on the quiet corner of Grand Avenue and Wood Street in West Town is a little-known brunch place called Breakfast House. With the aroma of maple syrup and sizzling bacon in the air, night owls and regulars emerge at sunrise to eat something off the well-priced menu (breakfast from $6.50). Guests may bypass Breakfast House upon arrival since the establishment is located in a tiny building. But looks are deceiving. With two indoor dining areas and a charming outdoor patio, immediate seating is readily available—even for Sunday brunch. Oh, and there’s free street parking in front of the restaurant. It doesn't get much better than that.