These empanadas are delicious! I make this a frequent stop on my walks and will grab 2-3 empanadas. I highly recommend the spinach and cheese empanada, the breakfast empanada, and whatever the seasonal empanada is! They do add new flavors regularly and I have enjoyed being able to taste these. I have also enjoyed a breakfast sandwich here and it was a large portion, great bread, and lots of fillings. I cant speak to the coffee since I dont drink it, but I know my sister and mom both love to grab coffee here when we are stopping in for empanadas! The staff are primarily young and a little clueless at times, which leads to it taking a little bit to get your food/drinks. read more

Cute little spot in Oak Park to stop in for some light bites or a full meal. I ordered 3 empanadas: 2 chicken and 1 guava & cheese along with an iced chai latte. I spent about $22 with each empanada being $5.25. Service was very kind and quick as well. I can't say that I'd go out of my way to return because they are pretty costly, but I really enjoyed the chicken empanadas and i wish they offered a dipping sauce as well! read more

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Went to Mulatas for a late lunch after a day of sightseeing and thrifting. Mom got two empanadas, mushroom and spinach. I got the turkey melt and chicken empanada. We both got strawberry lemonades. The empanadas were tasty but cold/ room temp and the sandwich was okay but I did ask for no bacon or avocado, which probably made a huge difference. Decent service and would return to try another lemonade, more empanadas, and enjoy cute cafe vibes. read more

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My husband I tried this place today for the first time and fell in love the empanadas are delicious customer service is superb!!! Must try place in downtown Oak Park read more

I ordered two empanadas to go, the guava and cheese and the spinach . They were delicious. I had them for breakfast the next day and it even reheated well in my convection oven. Service was great, the ladies at the front counter were very attentive, the little café was clean and quiet. read more

Mulata Kitchen - I would recommend this café. I will go back and try other foods. - Brazilian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

the service was eh. Person who took my order and the pretty lady that made my smoothie were great but the 2 or 3 older Brazilian (I assume) women were rather... if you know you know. The vibe inside felt "away from home" in a good way. The smoothie was OK, I feel like they didn't use fresh mangos and used some kind of frozen mix but last of all the empanadas had my stomach sounding like boots in a dryer. never again read more

.Awesome Place! I Love Their Empanadas, And Lattes. When You Walk In You're Greeted By Friendly Staff Members. The Owner Cristiane Mades Everyone Feel Like You're Part Of The Family.. Folks, There A Group Connected Of People In Oak Park Who Are Filled With Hatred And Only Concerned About Their Own political Views, And To Try And Destroy This Thriving Business. IGNORE THEM PLEASE! read more

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Small coffee shop vibe.. cashier was very nice! Coffee was good not to strong just right. My kids didn't like the guava empanada surprisingly because I liked it. The spinach was good beef was a little dry like it needed a dip or something chicken one was pretty good. I'll be back. Liked the vibe. read more

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Brazilian food maybe is one of the lesser known cuisines. It's best known for açaí berries and those Brazilian steakhouses but there's more to it. Mulata is a good place to explore this cuisine if you're in Oak Park. Come in for breakfast or come later. The cuisine has its share of meaty options but there's plenty for vegetarians. After getting off at the Green Line station, it wasn't a long walk to get here. It's in the middle of downtown near lots of other places to eat, but this was open already so we chose it. There's a mix of breakfast and lunch options. Got coffee and food. It's about $4 for a latte. Gotta get coffee with Brazilian coffee beans. The food was impressive too. A few vegetarian choices on the menu. There's the familiar like the Avocado Toast. It's $12, which seems like a lot, but on the plate was a lot. The toast was loaded with avocado slices as well as greens, olives, onions, and tomatoes. Also the Vegan Lentil Soup is a light yet hearty accompaniment. It's about $4 for a bowl. The rest of the menu has empanadas and other Latin cuisine favorites among these. Good drinks and good food. It's not a big place and gets crowded a lot especially on Saturdays it seems. This place is open for breakfast or lunch so go for whichever. read more

Mulata Kitchen - Vegan Lentil Soup - Brazilian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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A small coffee shop/ kitchen that highlights the flavors of Brazil. You order at the counter and they will call your name when your food is ready. They offer a creative menu of soups,sandwiches,salads and empanadas. If you just want coffee they offer customized blends highlighting the different regions of Brazil. Our food came out quickly and we were not disappointed. We had a beef empanada that was delicious and the beef filling was amazing.In Brazil they call these baked pies Pastel Assado. We also had a cup of lentil soup served with a garlic herb crostini and a basket of Pao de Queijo which is homemade Brazilian cheese bread . 6 biscuits per order gluten free. Prices are very reasonable. I will definitely go back to try one of their sandwiches and coffees! read more

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On Tuesday, August 19, between 5-6 pm, I swung by Mulata to pick up dinner I ordered online. When I got home, I realized I'd forgotten to request a substitution for my strict dietary restrictions. No big deal, I thought. I'd just call. Big mistake! The woman who answered (not one of the younger ladies), after confirming I was the customer who came into the restaurant earlier to pick up my food, immediately and inexplicably went into full "DMV clerk on their worst Monday" mode. Shocking, because I've spoken to her by phone before once and she was very nice on the phone. After reading other reviews, I am wondering if this was the owner herself because that kind of rudeness felt too deliberate. She claimed I had called multiple times before about the same thing. For the record: twice! Once due to their mistake, once due to mine. To be clear, when she initially declined to redo my order, I said, "ok, I understand," knowing the restaurant had discretion on whether to extend a courtesy. But instead of ending it there, she gratuitously launched into a bizarre, condescending 10-minute TED Talk on economics, produce prices, wastefulness. She then asked why I couldn't "just pick out the part I couldn't eat and eat the rest." Because we all know that's an obvious fix for every dietary restriction. How did I not think of that? Clearly, she's more passionate about economics than customer service. Maybe she should open a school instead of a restaurant. I sat in stunned silence while she ranted. When she finally finished, dumbfounded, I managed to only squeak out, "thank you!" So yes, Mulata saved $20 that day. And me? I saved myself from ever experiencing this woman's brand of "customer service" again. Truly, both of us won. read more

Came here on a Thursday even around rush hour time. Perfect if you want to go in and eat or catch your breath because most folk are commuting home. We were greeted nicely but our sever definitely gave off "figure it out yourself vibes". We went there before I was craving soup and discovered they sold empanadas. Please note they do sell other food items. The menu is on a print out paper taped to the glass of the empanada container. This was a con for me because it's not easily accessible. Also if there's a line out the door, it kinda rushes you to hurry up and order without taking a good look at the menu. Nonetheless we settled on the canja soup and three empanadas: chicken, mushroom and spinach & tomato. I paid basically $15 for three empanadas and let me just spoil some of y'all minds, it's over priced. Definitely oak park prices. Because authentic empanadas wouldn't cost you more than $2 - buttttt I digress. They were a little large in size for the price and the flavor were alright. I'd get one again if I were in the neighborhood but I'd honestly recommend going there for their coffee which is known to be from Brazil. read more

Mulata Kitchen - Mushroom, spinach and cheese and chicken (left to right) empanadas. - Brazilian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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When I return to the Chicago area, I have to stop here for the empanadas because they are the best! The owner is so nice! When I have someone from the area coming to visit me, I can place my order ahead of time and she will give frozen ones with instructions so they can be delivered to me and I can have them at my home. read more

The chicken soup was very good - a healthy portion of chicken with rice. The chicken salad was just ok. There definitely was not enough dressing in the scoop of chicken that they said was the dressing. I like some liquid to my dressing, not just mayonnaise to spread around the lettuce. I went back inside to ask for a side of something to moisten the rest of the lettuce because no one came outside to serve or check in on us. It's more suited for a quick pastry and a coffee for the outdoor seating area rather than full alfresco dining experience. read more

Mulata Kitchen - Chicken soup - Brazilian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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I went here yesterday with a friend. We had a wonderful experience!! The worker who helped us was lovely - receipt says her name is Ingrid! She had great recommendations and was super friendly. The shop is super cute and felt welcoming. The prices are a little steep, but you've gotta consider the location! I'd definitely go back. What I ordered was good, but what my friend ordered - the guava and cheese empanada - was even better! Oh my goodness was it delicious! Definitely go there and try that! read more

Mulata Kitchen - Lavender Matcha Latte and a Brigadeirao Cupcake - Brazilian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

I absolutely adore this gem. When I first started coming to oak park more regularly, I would walk past this gem. It was such a cute place from the outside looking in. The decor is so cute and everything is welcoming. Service When you walk in, you're greeted by friendly staff members, working the counter and filling orders. Decor/ interior It's a perfect spot for a quick bite to eat or study session. You can grab a seat by the window or you can sit at one of the many tables around the restaurant. Everything is always super clean and well taken care of. Food You can smell it from outside the building. It is a heavenly smell of spices and flavors. I've had a variety of things from here. I've tasted a variety of their empanadas chicken, beef, mushroom, guava and cheese. Yum! I've also had their Feijoada, delicious and very filling. The carne louca sandwich was delicious. My boyfriend especially enjoyed this one. Drinks I've had the chai latte with oat milk, it was so delicious. I've also had the mango smoothie. My boyfriend had the cold brew, that was good as well. I really loved them both. Super tasty and rich with flavors! Dessert The desserts from here are so delicious. I've had the cake and the flan. So delicious!! I personally would consider the guava and cheese empanada sweet enough as a dessert. I'm half Puerto Rican and we make a similar item in my culture, these are so delicious! It's really interesting to have the Brazilian version. My only regret was not taking any pictures. Every single time I order anything from here I smell it or see how delicious it looks and immediately have to eat or drink it. It never disappoints. Definitely try this gem soon! You will not be disappointed. read more

We have to visit Mulata every time we are in town! We love the chicken noodle and lentil soups and the empanadas. The mushroom empanadas are my favorite (and I usually prefer meat). We even stop before we go to the airport, and the empanadas are delicious next day as well. read more

Mulata is a great spot to check out in oak park. Both the beef and guava and cheese empanadas are delicious. Highly recommend grabbing a coffee from The Coffee Shop nearby and an empanada from here and walking around the neighborhood to see some of the beautiful Frank Lloyd architecture. I've tried their mango smoothie as well, and that was delicious too! read more

Mulata Kitchen - Beef empanada - Brazilian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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The empanadas are delicious and reasonably priced like six dollars. Also, I got some amazing coconut dessert that I can't wait to try with my ginger tea. People are chill and it's a nice place to watch and sit outside. read more

Mulata Kitchen - Coconut dessert with ginger tea - Brazilian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

Wonderful moqueca (Bahian tilapia fish stew with bell peppers, cilantro, rice and a coconut milk sauce featuring the very important dende oil); a nice big pao de queijo bun that tasted much better and more homemade than the little ones we got at hotels in Brazil; a really good hot sauce that's made on the premises (we bought a bottle to take home), a really yummy brigadeiro chocolate ball as good as one we had in Rio, and a chai latte that wasn't overly sweet. The ambience at the cafe is colorful, modern, clean and artsy. Very friendly staff too. There was a little mixup with our food, but the owner was there and did everything to get it right, letting us get a free empanada while we waited for our moqueca (we tried the one with heart of palm and cream cheese, which was great). Very, very happy. This satisfied our Brazilian nostalgia (we were there in April), and we'll be back! read more

Mulata Kitchen - Brazilian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

SO GOOD! Came here with a coworker to work and eat, left with a full belly! The beef empanada has so much flavor and is QUITE filling! We worked here for a few hours and it's a nice place to work, as long as you don't have meetings or need a quiet place to work. It's quite small and can get loud if there's a lot of people in there (plus there is music playing). They also have outdoor seating which is nice!! I really like this place and always make an excuse to pop in and grab another empanada!! The beef ones are the best in my opinion. read more

Mulata Kitchen - Beef empanada - Brazilian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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BEST. GUAVA. AND. CHEESE. EMPANADAS. EVER. This is my go-to place whenever I'm down. They are amazing, the staff is so attentive! I totally recommend their empanadas, sandwiches and coffees! You won't regret it! read more

Mulata Kitchen - Brazilian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

I received a local gift for two empanadas, a cup of drip coffee or Brazilian lemonade. Mulata is a cute and colorful kitchen that brings culture and flavors of Brazil to Oak Park. I ordered the chicken and beef empanadas and the Brazilian lemonade. The beef empanadas were delicious. Both empanadas were both crispy and filled with delicious flavors. You can seat outside on the patio to enjoy the weather. Cool vibe and nice atmosphere. The beautiful colorful decor and mural on the wall will make you feel right at home. There are meter parking along the streets within walking distance. This place is welcoming with a unique vibe with a exotic blend of cultures, nations and ethnicities. The menu consists of daily soups, hand toss salads, empanadas, gourmet sandwiches, entrees and sweet treats. Brazilian lemonade, expresso, coffee and other list of drinks to quench your thirst. Friendly customer service. Prices are reasonable as well. read more

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It was lunchtime when we reached Oak Park and snow squalls were blowing through so we ducked in this cozy Brazilian cafe. So glad we did. A hot cup of lentil soup and a basket of fresh out of the oven Brazilian cheese bread (naturally gluten free) was just the right thing to warm me up. My husband ordered the Beef Empanada which was generously stuffed. Service was friendly and efficient. I saw many interesting items that I would come back in for when in the area. Prices are reasonable. Parking is a bit challenging in this busy area. read more

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On a caffeine run....saw this spot advertising brazilian coffee.........the young lady behind the counter recommended a wonderful cup called Cafe Miel. Latte with some interesting flavors and watch cinnamon that bites the back of your tongue at the end nice surprise.. was awesome...this cup was unique...... Servers was awesome! Thanks ladies!!!! read more

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When I heard yesterday about how the name of her restaurant was, as I see it, misunderstood by some, I rushed right over with my boyfriend to buy 2 slices of that awesome cake and a cup of coffee. The Owner is entitled to have any political stance she desires. And those criticizing the name of her restaurant- where have you been all along. Do you know that this is her second location? She used to be in south Oak Park and I think, lost her lease and worked for a few years to once again, choose to open her business in Oak Park. We are lucky to have her- she could have given- up of gone somewhere else but chose Oak Park. She has my full support! read more

Our family LOVES this place! The food is top notch, absolutely delicious and clearly made with love. (All the empanadas are incredibly tasty, but we really enjoy the chicken, beef, ham & cheese, and spinach. The bobo de camarao is out of this world! The veggie salpicao salad is absolutely delightful! There's so much more on the menu to try but we always order the same things because they're so consistently amazing.) The other reason we love this place so much is the service. I recently placed an order to bring home to the fam after a late appointment with my daughter. They called to say that some items would take a while, and that they closed before those items were finished. I said it was ok to cancel the order, No problem. They then called me back to say that they would still like to accommodate my order as they figured it was a family dinner plan or something like that. It was, and it meant a lot at that moment. I felt so much gratitude for the way they went out of their way to make it happen. We can't say enough positive things about Mulata Kitchen! read more

What a cute coffee shop. If you can find parking this is the best place for a coffee and a treat. I usually get an empanada but this time I splurged and got the passion fruit mousse and a cafe miele. Delicious nice and sweet but not TOO sweet. The inside is small but beautiful. This place is one of the quicker places to get coffee. Honestly one of the most interesting menus you'll see in a coffee house. read more

Mulata Kitchen - Passion fruit mousse - Brazilian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

If you're looking for delicious Brazilian food then this is the place for you to go! I'll start by saying that this is an extremely beautiful restaurant on the corner of downtown Oak Park, so it's a perfect place to grab a bite to eat to either start your day, break for lunch with friends or enjoy dinner. The service is fast and everyone is extremely pleasant and friendly. Now everyone who goes here loves to get their empanadas, and I will say the empanadas are delicious however one of my favorite things to get is the Brazilian cheese bread. I've never had anything quite like it before and it's really hard to describe what it taste like. Imagine a nice fluffy bread ball that literally taste like cheese but doesn't feel like it has cheese in it, that's probably a terrible explanation lol but I will say if you don't do anything else you need to order it so you can experience it for yourself. The garlic chicken Portabella sandwich was bursting with flavor it was a great portion size, I found that the arugula was a perfect addition because it added a nice crunch and a fresh taste. The Feijoada is probably my go to meal! The pork stew is so tender and flavorful and I've never had collard greens prepared in a salad style preparation but they were so refreshing with the meal and had a nice delicate flavor. The meal came with Farofa which I can best describe as Brazilian breadcrumbs. Imagine someone took really well seasoned bread crumbs, bacon and herbs and put them in a food processor and blended it until they almost became a powder, that's the consistency of the Farofa. I mixed it in with my pork stew and really enjoyed the combination, it almost acted as a thickener - if you've ever eaten beans and cornbread before it's a similar thing. The menu has a host of other traditional Brazilian dishes and desserts as well as menu items for children and a lot of drink options. The restaurant is on the smaller side, there's seating for maybe 25-35 people, but they do have outdoor seating. During rush times the line is out the door, I've personally found that Saturdays are the busiest days that I've seen but the lines go fast. This place is also perfect for kids! I see so many of them come in and wander around saying hey to guest and then they find their seats and enjoy their little meals. It's also a nice place to break out your laptop and work for a few hours or come and enjoy a book with a nice cup of coffee! read more

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My favorite in the area. The food is so good, everything made with love and care, fantastic vibes, friendly staff. I've tried most everything on the menu and have enjoyed it all, many quick and easy empanada dinners as well for the kids on the go read more

Mulata is a cozy neighborhood Brazilian cafe offering a variety of drinks, empanadas, sandwiches, and other dishes too. The Garlic Chicken Portabello sandwich came with shredded chicken mixed with a creamy garlic dressing, served hot along with portabello mushroom slices and arugula on a soft ciabatta roll. The Veggie Salpicao was a salad built on a bed of romaine topped with a mixture of chopped bell peppers, apples, carrots, sun-dried tomatoes, corn, and peas, served with a creamy mayo-mustard dressing. But the most iconic Brazilian baked good was the Pao de Queijo, a gooey, chewy roll made with tapioca and cheese, which gave the bread a savory, unctuous flavor. Overall, the nice atmosphere and simple, fresh dishes made this a pleasant cafe for a tasty bite of food. read more

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Was in the area early on a Saturday morning. Ordered a variety of their empanadas. 3 breakfast, 1 cheese, 1 spinach, and one mushroom. By the time I was halfway home, 3 were G.O.N.E.!! Delicious! Also purchased a bag of their coffee beans for the house. Great staff! Also delicious! I'll be back!! read more

Cute little counter service spot. I had the spinach and the mushroom empanadas- both were solid, good flavor and more or less well priced in my opinion. Not much space in there so I probably won't dine in again, but it's a good corner spot if you need something in a pinch. Lots of vegetarian options which was great! read more

We went to Mulatas Kitchen & Coffe in Oak Park expecting to have some authentic delicious Brazilian food. Instead what we got was really good empanadas and just okay sandwiches. We tried a beef empanada first and it was warm, delicious and about 3 inches long. Wish we had eaten a few more of these and only these. The Carne Louca sandwich (with braised beef caramelized onions sweet bell peppers and mozzarella) was okay, but lacked some additional spices in order to make it memorable. The Turkey Meltdown (smoked Turkey, chihuahua cheese, bacon, avocado and chimichurri) was bland with almost no flavor to it at all. I would not go out of my way to come here again, but if I ever do, I will just get a few empanadas. read more

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Stop drop and go buy the empanadas. These are the best empanadas I've ever had! In order of favorite: 1. Guava and cheese. Omg delicious dessert empanada 2. Beef-stuffed full of delicious beef 3. Three cheese-great if you love a little salty and cheesy treat 4. Spinach-delicious! This places is a once a week visit and we can't get enough of them. read more

I am a regular and finally have to give this spot the recognition it deserves; after sampling half the menu I have been so impressed and delighted with every single item I have purchased. Food is always ready quickly (under 5 minutes) and you will not find flavors like this at other cafes. Try the empanadas! Try the sandwiches! read more

This small Cuban restaurant in downtown Oak Park, Chicago is the ideal place to stop on your way to the airport! I grabbed some empanadas, both sweet and savory, and feasted on my way back to the west coast. People there were enjoying breakfast and Cuban coffee when I stopped in. Everything I tried was delicious, including a piece of chocolate coconut cake which I dream about. read more

I love empanadas, period. But the empanadas here are really amazing! I appreciate the different vegetarian options-- I had one of the mushroom ones and one of the cheese ones. Both were great! The cheese empanada was unbelievably rich and creamy, and the mushroom empanada was super well-seasoned, had tons of umami flavor. I also got a cup of the lentil soup, which made it a very filling lunch! The empanadas are heartier than they look! I saved about half of the soup for the next day and it reheated nicely. Oak Park is lucky to have this spot! read more

So quick story......a friend of mine went here and raved about the empanadas. I happen to love empanadas so I was ready to try them. She went one day and brought me an empanada. Called to tell me she left it on my door handle. Well I go happily skipping my hungry a$$ to the door and what do I find???? A bag with a hole in it, no freaking empNada!!!!!!!!what???!! I was ready to kill my friend until I looked over and saw a squirrel chewing down on what seemed to be a guava and cheese empanada. Squirrel 1. Me nada. I made it my mission to get me an empanada. I bought a beef and a ham AND a guava and cheese (screw your Mr Squirrel). All were buttery and delicious. Will be going back. They are do good. I took off one star because I felt like 4.00 was a little high but I'm trying to support local. read more

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The food, especially the empanadas, are excellent. The way they triage service is insanely incompetent. Basically their beef empanadas (possibly others but this is the one that comes up for my family) are very popular. When they run out, it can be as long as 20min to get the next batch from the oven. If you say you'll wait, even after they come out of the oven, they'll spend another 5-10min (yes 10!!) continuing to service people in line who entered the restaurant within the last few minutes before turning around and prioritizing people who have been waiting for their orders. Online orders are even more insane. The approximate ready times have no basis in reality. Instead of setting aside the food for people who order in advance, they again continue to service people who enter the shop and only fill the advance order minutes before the pick-up line. So let's say you place an order for 3 beef empanadas at 10:30, and the app says it's supposed to be ready at 11. At 10:50, they'll continue to give people in line the beef empanadas. You get in line to pick up at 11, reach the front of the line at 11:10, and they say they have on 1/3 available, so it'll be another 15min. At 11:25, the next batch is ready, but there are another 3 people in line, so they continue to serve them, and THEN fill your order - taking almost an hour to fulfill the order. I would love to see this place do well, but until they prioritize customers who have paid versus people who are about to pay, it's not getting more than 3 stars. read more