Fab Review: Currency Exchange Cafe

The history of Currency Exchange Cafe is in its name. The cafe’s space is repurposed from an actual currency exchange and retains many of the original hand-painted signs and remnants of its former life. Located in Washington Park by the Garfield Green Line station, the cafe strives to reflect the local culinary character of its neighborhood, serving a variety of Southern Soul and Mexican food. Currency Exchange Cafe is part of the Washington Park Arts Block, a collaboration with the University of Chicago aimed to engage local residents in art, entertainment, and education. The Arts Block also includes BING Art Books, the Arts Incubator, and the proposed Green Line Arts Center.

With the exception of Hyde Park, most South Side Chicago neighborhoods are often seen as culturally devoid by their Downtown or North Side neighbors, and are virtually ignored as a result. The opening of Currency Exchange Cafe (as well as Green Line Coffee) is an exciting event because venues like these encourage foot traffic, promote economic vitality, and provide a welcoming space for the community to gather. The best thing about Currency Exchange Cafe is that their food is just as awesome as their goal to create a better neighborhood.

{Ambiance}
As I previously mentioned, many of the Cafe’s decorations are repurposed from the currency exchange, giving the space a rustic and vintage look. The paint on the walls and signs has faded and chipped, and the exposed pipe on the ceiling adds a touch of the popular industrial chic style. Stretching almost the length of the cafe is one long counter where the barista works and where customers can place their orders. Behind the counter is a board advertising their different coffee and tea drinks.

There’s one long table for bigger parties in the center of the cafe, but all other tables are smaller ceramic ones with beautiful white tile and blue floral designs.

Near the back of the cafe sits a large shelf filled with a collection of books that customers are welcome to browse. The shelf is interspersed with more signs from the old exchange advertising long-gone services.

The crowd tends to be a mix of locals and University of Chicago students and staff. The music is an eclectic mix of rock and poo. Overall, the atmosphere is cozy but vibrant.

{Food}
Green Goddess
I absolutely loved the Green Goddess green tea latte – just a touch minty and sweet, a perfect coffee shop drink.

Rum Punch
For a boozier option, the Rum Punch is equal parts pineapple juice, orange juice, and white wine, with a dash of lime and coconut. This would make for a fantastic summer drink to lounge by the pool with.

French Toast
The French Toast has a delightful cinnamon aroma that can be detected from across the room. Some people might find it too strong, but I love the scent, and the actual cinnamon flavor is not as overwhelming as one might expect. The toast itself is very fluffy and at just the right level of sweetness. I wish there was more fresh fruit to cut the heaviness of the toast, but regardless, I couldn’t put my fork down.

Chilaquiles
Chilaquiles are generally a sight to behold, and this one is no exception. The mound of chips is topped with surprisingly tender shredded chicken, as well as scrambled eggs, cilantro, and onions. The cheesiness is balanced out well with a tangy salsa, albeit a little salty. Overall, a beautiful plate of comfort food.

Taco Plate
There’s something to be said about Currency Exchange Cafe’s ability to make chicken taste better than it usually does. The edges of the chicken on the Taco Plate are just slightly crisped, while the rest of the meat is still tender, providing a great contrast of texture. The addition of the onion, cilantro, and sour cream, make these some great tacos. The collard greens are an interesting yet magical choice to pair with tacos – slightly sweet and tangy, with no trace of bitterness at all. The ability to make collard greens not bitter is a skill beyond my comprehension.

Catfish Poboy
The crunchiness of the fried catfish in the Catfish Poboy paired well with the creaminess of the mayo. There was light heat throughout this entire dish, all the way to the fries. The fries were well seasoned and beautifully crisped – just look at that color!

Soul Bowl
The Soul Bowl is a delicious jambalaya with sausage, collard greens, mixed vegetables, and rice. The collard greens, as I mentioned earlier, and the sausage were both fantastic. The fried egg, if you can believe, was even more fantastic and tasted very soft and buttery.

FAB TIP: You can get a breakfast Soul Bowl with bacon and potatoes instead of jambalaya and rice.

{Experience}
I was very excited to visit Currency Exchange Cafe, and it lived up to all my expectations. The space was beautiful and welcoming, and, most importantly, the food was delicious and comforting. I would highly recommend the Green Goddess latte, the French Toast, and any dish with collard greens. The baristas were also very friendly and seemed to know several of the locals, as everyone was avidly chatting away. This would be a great place to pick up a coffee, to spend a day reading or working, or to grab lunch with some friends. I’d recommend anyone from any neighborhood to step out from their silos a bit and to pay a visit to Currency Exchange Cafe.

{Location}
Currency Exchange Cafe
Washington Park || 305 E Garfield Blvd, Chicago, IL || P: (773) 855-9163

{Price Range}
$ (Under $10)

{Fab Rating: 4 Fabs}

What other neighborhood gems have you visited and would recommend?

Live, laugh, eat,
Senxi

Note: This meal was not complimentary. The views and opinions are those of the writer.