About

TrueNorth Cafe is an independent cafe that serves top-notch coffee & tea, proper eats, and blended drinks in the Hyde Park Neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side.

Our smoothies and shakes are made with natural, nutrient-dense ingredients that provide many vitamins, minerals, and oils. What you see is what you get; there are no added syrups or concentrates. Smoothies are better than multi-vitamins, since they’re delivered in one proven, delicious dosage. Our overnight oats, which are steel cut oats soaked in almond milk and chia seeds overnight with various toppings, are an excellent source of protein, soluble and insoluble fiber, and select vitamins and minerals.

Our name

The name TrueNorth represents the menu, interior design, and location of the café. True north is different from magnetic north in that it never wanders or varies from place to place. True north, unlike magnetic north, is non-negotiable, which in some ways makes it more “real.” Our dishes are filled with “real” food. They are simple and nutritious, and more importantly delicious. TrueNorth also speaks to the interior design. Maps, globes, and outdoors décor are incorporated into the café frequently.

Community + Values

TrueNorth strives to be a welcoming and inclusive space for all people to hang out and thrive. We are not afraid to stand up for our community through political engagement. Two of our three owners became friends discussing politics in their college dormitory at the University of Chicago. The third owner came to the US in the 1990s after fleeing violence and persecution in Iraq and is now a Medical Doctor. In Andersonville, the cafe has hosted gubernatorial candidates meet and greets featuring Daniel Biss, Chris Kennedy, and JB Pritzker and famously served a “Trumpkin Spice Latte: Huge, Orange, and Tax Free” before the 2016 election. TrueNorth values Social Justice, and has recently held fundraisers for EMILY’s List, the ACLU, and hosted phone banks for Democratic candidates.