Restaurant

Little Madrid Tapas-Café

Name: Little Madrid Tapas-Café
Address: 5661 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60660, US
Price range: $$

Tapas•Chicago•$$

Little Madrid Tapas-Café is one of the best tapas restaurants in Chicago for date night, especially if you want a strong option in Chicago.

Editorial review updated•Jul 28, 2026

Little Madrid Tapas-Café opened in Andersonville in 2020 — weeks before the pandemic locked everything down — and the fact that it not only survived but drew recognition from the City of Madrid and the Spanish Consulate tells you something about what Chef and Founder Francisco de Bolaños built. De Bolaños has lived across more than twenty countries, moving between New York, Europe, and Latin America, and that biography shapes a menu that reads as genuinely Spanish rather than Spanish-American fusion dressed up in ibérico branding. At price level two, on a North Clark Street corridor that skews casual and neighborhood-focused, Little Madrid occupies an interesting position: a place serious enough to earn institutional recognition from Spain, casual enough that you're not bankrupting yourself on a Tuesday. The room backs that up — mosaic brick walls, wooden fixtures, intimate lighting — and once-monthly flamenco performances make clear this isn't a restaurant that treats culture as wallpaper. The menu centers on classic tapas done with real conviction. The croquetas are the anchor dish — diners consistently single them out as the measure of the kitchen's Spanish bona fides, the kind of creamy, molten-centered bites that require both patience and technique to execute correctly. The bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with brie, almonds, and bacon have become a signature precisely because they do the sweet-savory work that crowds a Spanish bar menu so easily, but with enough textural contrast — the brie, the almond, the bacon wrap — to justify the repetition. The traditional paella rounds out the verified headliners; de Bolaños's wide international background makes it worth asking which regional style is being poured into the pan on a given night. The practical move: flamenco nights book up, so check the calendar before you go and reserve accordingly — a crowded performance night is a different experience from a quieter weeknight. The wine program is described as carefully curated rather than voluminous, so lean on the staff for pairings rather than defaulting to what you already know. If you're ordering for the table, start with the croquetas and dates before the paella arrives — the kitchen's rhythm is built around the tapa-first progression, and the pacing holds up better that way. Book ahead on weekends; walk-ins at 5661 N Clark St are a gamble you'll lose on Fridays.

Carlos Mendez, Food & Drink Editor

Methodology•Chicago guides•Editorial team•Report outdated information

cocktail date night

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Taste Score 7.9/10

Rating (Google) 9.2

756 reviews

Chicago

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

7.9/10

Taste Score

Google 9.2 from 756 reviews

Best for

date night and cocktail

Price and pace

Moderate spend

Neighborhood

Chicago | 5661 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60660, USA

Price

Moderate spend

Taste Score

7.9/10

Address

Chicago | 5661 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60660, USA

Inside the restaurant

Photos of Little Madrid Tapas-Café

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Menu and ordering

Little Madrid Tapas-Café menu: what to order

Start with the dishes below, drawn from the restaurant details and TastyPals notes available on this page. Little Madrid Tapas-Café is listed in the Moderate spend price range. Menus, availability, and prices can change, so confirm current details before visiting.

Croquetas

Bacon-Wrapped Dates stuffed with brie and almonds

Paella

Why go

What makes Little Madrid Tapas-Café worth the move

Little Madrid Tapas-Café works for date night because the room and the food both help the evening land. Croquetas and Bacon-Wrapped Dates stuffed with brie and almonds also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 756 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.2 from 756 Google reviews

Best for

date night and cocktail

Style

Tapas in Chicago

Spend

Moderate spend

Best for

cocktail date night

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.2 from 756 reviews

Price point: $$

Popular dishes: Croquetas, Bacon-Wrapped Dates stuffed with brie and almonds, Paella

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TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Carlos Mendez for Little Madrid Tapas-Café

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Google snapshot

9.2 from 756 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Carlos Mendez

No diner notes for Little Madrid Tapas-Café yet.

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Plan the visit

Quick details

Visit Website Directions

Address: 5661 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60660, USA
Price: $$
TastyPals score: 7.9/10
Google rating: 9.2 (756 reviews)
Cuisine: Tapas
Neighborhood: Chicago

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Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Little Madrid Tapas-Café serve?

Little Madrid Tapas-Café is a Tapas restaurant located in Chicago, Chicago. Little Madrid Tapas-Café opened in Andersonville in 2020 — weeks before the pandemic locked everything down — and the fact that it not only survived but drew recognition from the City of Madrid and the Spanish Consulate tells you something about what Chef and Founder Francisco de Bolaños built.

What is Little Madrid Tapas-Café best for?

Little Madrid Tapas-Café is best for cocktail, date night. Little Madrid Tapas-Café works for date night because the room and the food both help the evening land. Croquetas and Bacon-Wrapped Dates stuffed with brie and almonds also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 756 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Little Madrid Tapas-Café?

Little Madrid Tapas-Café is in the Moderate spend price range ($$). Google rating: 9.2 from 756 reviews

What should I order at Little Madrid Tapas-Café?

Start with Croquetas, Bacon-Wrapped Dates stuffed with brie and almonds and Paella. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is Little Madrid Tapas-Café worth visiting?

Little Madrid Tapas-Café holds a 9.2 Google rating from 756 reviews. Little Madrid Tapas-Café works for date night because the room and the food both help the evening land. Croquetas and Bacon-Wrapped Dates stuffed with brie and almonds also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 756 Google reviews.

Where is Little Madrid Tapas-Café located?

Little Madrid Tapas-Café is located at 5661 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60660, USA. Directions are available via Google Maps.

Is Little Madrid Tapas-Café good for a date night?

Yes — Little Madrid Tapas-Café is tagged for date night dining. Little Madrid Tapas-Café works for date night because the room and the food both help the evening land. Croquetas and Bacon-Wrapped Dates stuffed with brie and almonds also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 756 Google reviews.

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