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    Chicago Empanada Mama

    4.6 (46 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    Order Chicago Empanada Mama Takeout or Delivery

    Services - Chicago Empanada Mama

    Allergy-friendly catering

    Catering

    Gluten-free catering

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    CHICAGO EMPANADA MAMA ATMOSPHERE

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    Josh P.

    Inez was amazing! We learned about the history of empanadas! The coconut margarita was delicious. I recommend the macho man and the lechón. Great experience! Highly recommend.

    The group
    Ivy S.

    My friend Jeff made a stop to your establishment to pick up empanadas for all our Xmas tree workers at Ivy's Christmas Trees...my guys demolished them and the amazing tasty rice in no time..we'll be mentioning this place ANYTIME we have the opportunity

    Ropa Vieja
    Shambavi K.

    Beautiful space is what attracted us inside. We had already had dinner but wanted to continue having a drink near by and stumbled upon this place. Has a very attractive interior. We ordered the mojito flight in many flavors - all yummy. And a ropa vieja empanada. These are big stuffed empanadas so the prices on the menu are for 1. It was tasty and the crust was addictive too. Only qualm was that it was a bit salty. Service was friendly. Wouldn't mind to come back to try other things.

    Michelle R.

    The food is nothing short of amazing and the owner Ines is awesome! The staff is very kind and helpful. Tori is very warm and professional as well! We are visiting from Brooklyn and my favorite is the tostones relleno de ropa vieja! This little gem is a must try.

    Kaitlin K.

    Stopped by on my way home for some empanadas when I saw the sign and glad I did! The menu had a lot of creative options but I picked three that were already made so I didn't have to wait. Had the macho man beef, cheese and plantain and a vegetarian. All were really good. I loved the pastry it was fluffy and delicious. My favorite ended up being the plantain because the sweet savory combination was just incredible. Everything was so fresh and amazing! We'll be back to try the rest of the menu for sure.

    Sharon J.

    Empanada Mama has a beautiful interior and varied food/drink menu perfect for indecisive diners. I came in for lunch on a weekday and the bartender there was so welcoming. He chatted with us and helped us pick the carne asada and sweet plantain empanadas to try. He also set up the drinks station just for us and made a delicious house version of a margarita. The empanadas were stunning, they came out hot and fresh from the fryer, the carne asada once just full to the brim with big steak chunks and soft potato that went perfectly with the green sauce on the side. I was surprised at how delicious the sweet plantain and cheese empanada was also delicious as it's not a flavor I would usually pick. I cannot stress enough how much this place is a very neighborly spot, definitely a perfect addition to the West Town neighborhood and I'll be back soon!

    Lyndsey M.

    What a great owner and spot!!! The owner has wonderful service from the moment you walk in to when the food hits the table. She's such a joy and this establishment is a wonderful local spot for Chicago. Such a great ambience, the decor is So cute! The food is also so good and great portions! A hidden gem for Chicagoans!

    Decor
    Joanne D.

    Visiting Chicago and we were told this was the place to come if we wanted good food. Took a chance and so glad we did. Food was delicious. Ambiance right up my alley and our server was really nice and patient answering all of our questions in regard to the different empanadas on the menu. Aside from all of that at the end of our meal I asked for the music to be a little louder so that I could dance with my mom. Not only did they put the music up, they also cleared out tables for us. Highly recommend! Two thumbs up!

    Yucca en mojo
    Nazia C.

    When you walk in, you'll see a lot of beautiful and floral decor. It's clear they are really into peacocks! There was a nice woman there who took our order. I went with my husband for a snack because we weren't too hungry just yet. He ordered the Ay-Bonito empanada (pork and rice) while I ordered the Pick One special with a Macho Man empanada (beef and cheese) along with a yucca al mojo and papi's potato salad to share. My husband really enjoyed his empanada. My Macho man empanada was just okay. In my opinion, the cheese was overpowering. I was hoping it would be more like a picadillo filling with some cheese, but it was more like a cheeseburger filling. I asked for hot sauce, and I was a little disappointed that they had tapatio and cholulo but no Puerto Rican hot sauces. The papi's potato salad was tasty, but it was heavy on the apples. The yucca al mojo was the best thing I ordered. I could eat that every day. Honestly, I think I just ordered the wrong item with the empanada, and I should've tried a different one for a more authentic Puerto Rican flavor. This is why I think I need to go back. I noticed they had games and colored pencils for kids. They also had a changing table, disposable changing table liners, and baby wipes, which, as a mom of 2, was really nice to see. My husband enjoyed his food, and he said he would go back.

    Cranberry and Jalapeno dip

    What a find! Food was great and the amount is generous. We ordered three empanadas (special menu order two empanadas with one side and soup/salad), got rice and salad. Empanadas were pretty big, I think two would have been enough for us. We had La Flaka, Lechon, and Braised Lamb with White rice (there's actually a side of rice coming with the empanadas!). Personal preference is La Flaka, I think it had a lot more flavour than the others. Servers and chef were very welcoming. They were very generous with our group as well, giving us appetizers (cranberry and Jalapeño dip) and drinks. Restaurant had good ambiance. Lastly I want to mention that price is cost friendly. I'd definitely come back here again next time we come to downtown! We ate the empanadas pretty quick so didn't get to take some pictures of it!

    Pina colada
    Kim S.

    Stopped here tonight for a quick bite. Super friendly and attentive staff, great ambiance. Really enjoyed the beef and cheese empanada, chimichurri was so delicious! They were sold out of the steak and cheese, will be back to try it out. Thank you for the great service and delicious food!

    Upscale Casual Puerto Rican cuisine

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    Inez M.

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    1 year ago

    incredible food, drink and lovely owner/chef!! beautiful space as well :) I felt so welcome and cared for, highly recommend!

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    3 years ago

    Great empanadas with many different flavors! Wish they were a little cheaper per piece but still worth it.

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    3 years ago

    Went this evening for dinner, empanadas were great (ropa vieja was our favorite) as were the cocktails.

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    Had two types of empanadas and they were both great. The vibe is so cute! Very friendly staff as well.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Chicago Empanada Mama

    Review Highlights - Chicago Empanada Mama

    We ordered three empanadas (special menu order two empanadas with one side and soup/salad), got rice and salad.

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Carnivale Chicago

    Carnivale Chicago

    (2.7k reviews)

    $$$

    West Loop, Near West Side

    I went here for with my best friend and my hubby to celebrate my birthday with a great birthday…read moredinner. We were in the Chi already visiting Atlas Stationary as a self-proclaimed station and fountain pen freak so we figured why not?!? I had heard great things about Carnivale prior to so please note that prior reservations were already made but regardless, it was all our first times there and we were stoked to finally try this place out. When we first got there, the outside was very unassuming. Some awesome graffiti on the wall (yes, angel wings included) and lots of color which made me so happy! As we entered, we were greeted by lots of colored flora on the walls and the floor. It led to a beautiful lounge where we checked in. The hostess was quite kind and they escorted us to another room that had multiple floors, two I believe. We were sitting in the main dining area where dining tables were set up and the ceiling lights and decorations were super-duper colorful. It was brightly lit and festive. Seriously, the colors alone could make anyone happy and do a serious dopamine overload which was fine with me. We sat down, was introduced to our server, Oscar and then given menu's. I genuinely thought that this place was pretty small initially because it looked small from the outside but boy was I wrong! This place was MASSIVE. But! I digress, now that we had our menu's-- Let the party begin!! We started with the ceviche tasting which included four types of ceviche; shrimp, Yucatan style hamachi, salmon and tuna. All were really good with their own really distinct flavors but our top favorites were the salmon and the tuna. The salmon had a kick while the tuna had a great balance of heat and sweetness. Great way to start of this dinner! My bestie ordered coconut shrimp and smoked mushroom croquettes for her main meal. My hubs ordered the carne asado while I ordered the lechon asada. I also want to add that we ordered Mexican street corn on the side alongside mashed potatoes and Peruvian Jalea. Ah and before I forget, we also ordered our drinks which consisted of a: sangria, margarita, Cotton Candy Cosmo and Salva Honduran Pilsner. All were spectacular and made the night that more enjoyable as well! When we received our food. We were all really enjoyed it as we all shared our bites amongst one another. The coconut shrimp was well breaded and you tasted the coconut as well. The shrimps were large and juicy. The smoked mushroom croquettes were good with a smokey flavor and good breading, however, the breading may have a been a little thick because you couldn't really taste the mushroom,m unfortunately. The carne asado was the star of the show. Well seasoned steak, cooked medium rare which was juicy and succulent. The lechon asado was good. Although I'm not used to eating lechon asado that is covered in sauce, the sauce was super tasty so I didn't mind the tender, juicy pork that was covered in it. I really enjoyed it. I think the only thing that I wish was different with regards to my lechon asado is that I wish it were hotter because it was luke warm when I received it. Other than that, it was....*chef's kiss*. The Mexican street corn was alright, it honestly just tasted like regular corn with mayonaise in it with some cheese. Didn't add anything significant to the meal. The mashed potatoes were soft but not too soft and buttery. They were really good and then the Purvian Jalea was another favorite, super good! The calamari, fish and shrimp with the Purvian Jalea were absolutely delicious; fresh, tasty and well breaded. It was absolutely yummalicious. To top the night off, they gave me a little birthday treat of cotton candy and carmel popcorn. We also had some tres leches which was so yummy because the fruit was fresh and you could taste the milk in the tender cake and then we had the chocolate cigar. The chocolate cigar was also really good, everything except the label was edible, It was smokey, chocolately and delectable. It's presentation was also so creative. We all loved it. Overall, this restaurant is SUPER PRICY but SUPER WORTH IT. I am so glad that I was able to go there to celebrate a special occasion because it would not be a place that I could go to on a regular basis but as much as I wish I was, ya girl ain't rich like that. The service was superb, the employees were kind, the food was fire and drinks were scrumptious. If you're looking for a fun, Latin cuisine inspired, creative, yummy way to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or other special occasion with a fun Latin twist--look no further, that is it! Check it out and you won't be disappointed. Now, I'm sorry for my novel and you may now go back to your normal programming schedule. If you do end up coming here and loving it -- i told ya so ;)

    I'm not sure how long it was when I first visited Cranivale but it was definitely before yelp…read morereviews and it definitely wasn't this big so fast forward to maybe 20 years it's definitely more beautiful. Very nice and what a great entrance it has. The rooms and the different feeling each one gives is pretty awesome. The upstairs is where we were invited to attend the party bc of the invite and it was very lounging and nice. There's a Latin room where we wanted to go but next time we will. Then there a bigger room with lots of dinner tables and another upstairs.

    The Jibarito Stop - Steak jibarito and yellow rice!  mmmmm

    The Jibarito Stop

    (473 reviews)

    $$

    Pilsen

    Let me tell you. THIS WAS THE BEST THING I ATE when I was in Chicago…read more I knew I had to visit Pilsen while visiting Chicago for the first time. Coming from the West Coast, we mainly have Mexican, Guatemalan, or El Salvadorean food. Muy rico, tried and true. But Puerto Rican is more rare. So when I saw those bright and beautiful PR flags out by the front entrance, and an almost full-house at 2pm in the afternoon, I knew I had to check Jibarito Shop out. I knew I had to get a jibarito because of the namesake. I love that there's a half and a full sandwich option. I was here solo, so I happily ordered the half option...but could've easily given into eating a full order. A jibarito is scrumptious, fried plantains as the "buns" or "bread" with the meat of your choice, and side of flavorful yellow rice and beans. I went with bistec. You're handed a number and wait for your food to be delivered to your table. The first bite blew my friggin' mind. Flavor, fat, and WOW. As someone who loves all fries, having that crunch and oil from the crispy plantains was gluttonous. Rice was so good, I was licking the paper bowl. Atmosphere feels homey and open, and there's lots of table options but they fill up quick because of how popular they are. Good for families but smaller groups. Restrooms are clean and single-stall. Service is so friendly and efficient. Shoutout to the magic hands who blessed us with delicious meals. I am still dreaming of what I ate at Jibarito Shop. Please come to California!

    Ever heard of a jibarito, much less had one? I had never heard of them and was unfamiliar with…read morePuerto Rican food until the Chicago Redditors suggested tourists try it out. Boy, did the hype not disappoint at The Jibarito Stop. LOGISTICS As a tourist staying downtown near Millennium Park, this was easy to get to via the Pink Loop CTA line. The shop is super close to the stop and they have a good amount of seating indoors, though larger groups may struggle with getting seats together. You order at the front, but they will bring your food to the table. Drinking water is available for free. FOOD True to its name... they have Jibaritos here, which are Puerto Rican sandwiches where fried plantain are used instead of bread with a protein choice. The name also seems specific to Chicago as they are not part of typical Puerto Rican cuisine, but nonetheless they are DELICIOUS. All Jibarito options come with the choice of rice (red beans and rice or yellow rice). They also come in a "full" and "half size"... if I'm being honest the "full size" is really just two separate "half size" sandwiches. A half sandwich is plenty with a lot of protein. If you can share with someone else and order a "full" jibarito, it should still come as 2 separate sandwiches and then you have room to try another time in the menu. Steak Jibarito (Full Portion) w/ Yellow Rice: This was my favorite thing I ate during my Chicago visit, it was a good balance of sweet and savory. The steak is thinly sliced, not too chewy, and goes well with the creamy garlic sauce they put on it. The greens also made it refreshing. The plantains are also thin with a little crisp and chew and add a little bit of sweetness. However you need to really grab onto the sandwich with both hands to ensure it doesn't fall apart. Yellow rice was also really good with some beans in it for extra protein. I think it's cooked with a broth since it was flavorful on its own. Fritter Sampler: This was a great mix of fried goodies to taste. First the dough on the empanadas was light and crisp in texture. Fillings were generous on all of them - very flavorful with a variety of spices. My favorite was the shrimp one that had a bit of kick, and I think it was filled with either pumpkin/squash or a potato? Although it came with one of each, every fritter was really big and easily shareable between 2 people. I struggled to finish my half, especially with that large potato ball filled ground beef. Fritters also came with 2 sauces... an orange-ish spicy sauce and cilanto cirtus salsa that was delicious. Be sure to pour them onto the fritters as you eat them! OVERALL Great food for the price and portions! My partner and I were stuffed between the fritter sampler and full size portion of Jibarito. I am really happy I ventured out of the main downtown area to check this place out. As a tourist and first timer when it came to Puerto Rican food... this place was amazing! Jibaritos have become my new food obsession and I will be planning on coming back for more next time I'm in Chicago. Skip the hot dogs and pizzas, do not sleep on Puerto Rican food and The Jibarito Stop delivers on flavor!

    Tanta - Tres Leches Lucuma

    Tanta

    (1.8k reviews)

    $$$

    River North, Near North Side

    We were late for our reservation, but they were able to accommodate us anyways at the bar. We came…read morefor happy hour appetizers and drinks. All of the appetizers we had were absolute dynamite. Both of the cebiches were fresh, well balanced, and offered different experiences than each other. The bao was straight up delicious, sometimes baos can be a miss and this is something I'd definitely order again and recommend. The pork belly wasn't all fat either which was my favorite!! Anticucho de Pollo was also very yummy. Cocktail I had a Chicha Punch which wasn't exactly my favorite but it's because it's a red wine and tequila mix, the red wine didn't do it for me. I tried my husbands pisco cocktail though and that had something to offer! The bathroom is down some stairs, so keep that in mind. The ambience is very cool, you could do upscale or casual here for sure.

    Came in here, a few weeks back for dinner with some friends. Unfortunately, the weather did not…read morecooperate, so we could not take advantage of their really cool looking balcony. From the beginning, our server was very attentive and walked us through the menu. She gave us several suggestions on dishes to order that would complement each other. Also strongly recommend or during the chips; everyone's food will come out as it is made, so it's nice to have something for everyone to share to begin with. Interior was really neat, and the music was not too loud or too quiet either which I always appreciate. We had several appetizer dishes, as well as the arroz Mariscos. The only thing I did not like about this place was that the food all came out a different times. The other couple that we were with had several of their dishes before we had anything. We did order chips to split at the table, so it's not like we had nothing to eat, but I feel like when restaurants bring things out as they are made, it lends to a weird dynamic between two different couples if you were ordering together. That being said, our food came out not too terribly long after the other couple's. Overall, great time here, and delicious food. Would happily come back!

    Chicago Empanada Mama - puertorican - Updated May 2026

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