Esencia Urban Kitchen: Brunch with a Mexican Twist
Well hello there! Are you pumped for the weekend because it's almost here. Recently, my cousin and I went to a new place for brunch after moving the majority of my things out. Our go-to brunch place has been kind of deflating as of late so we decided on a whim to try Esencia. We walked passed it and everything looked amazing so, why not. Before I get to the food, I want to talk about their coffee. It was delicious. We realized immediately that there was a spice to it and it turns out they put a little dash of cinnamon in their grounds before they brew it. Ah-mazing! They also have a ton of pastries that look really great. I'll have to get a photo of those next time.
Guacamole & Chips
(A blend of avocado, tomato, red onions, cilantro and jalapenos)
This was potentially the best chips and guac I've ever had. The guacamole was so fresh and so were the chips. The chips were also dusted with what I think was paprika. They were delicious and tasty and I want more.
Breakfast Tacos
(Three corn tortillas filled with scrambled eggs, spinach, tomatoes and chorizo topped with queso fresco)
This was my cousin's choice of meal. I didn't get to try them because we were so into our own stuff but I did manage to grab a photo of his last taco before he downed it. I can't speak for him but I almost had to be rolled out of this place.
Huevos Con Chorizo Torta
(Scrambled eggs with chorizo, beans, avocado, tomatoes, red onions, Chihuahua cheese and chipotle aioli on bolillo bread)
This was my breakfast, hence my comment above about being rolled out of the restaurant. I've only had a torta once before and it was ordered by my best friend who is Mexican and she ordered it in Spanish. Needless to say, I don't know what I ate that day. This however called my name when I saw it on the menu. I love chorizo and I wanted eggs. I only ate half the sandwich because it was so filling but it was the best breakfast sandwich I've ever had. The chipotle aioli was sweet with a tiny kick and the avocado kept it fresh and summery. The potatoes included on the side were also great. They were very simply seasoned so that it wasn't overpowering in comparison to the torta which I really enjoyed. By the way, this was breakfast Monday morning too...
If you happen to be in Chicago's East Lakeview neighborhood at any time, you should definitely consider Esencia for breakfast, lunch or brunch. We are going to be back to try one of the other amazing things on their menu...and I will get my hands on one of their pastries.
33f1 North Broadway (between Roscoe and Buckingham)