When you enter the restaurant, you're greeted by the staff over the counter as they're preparing someone's order. The place is beautiful and so well lit. Not quite as spacious as the courageous bakery across the street, but when you manage a seat, you'll have a view of the details of the design. The small Brazilian bread is a must order; such a great item to have when you don't have the will to eat at a Brazilian steakhouse. The sandwiches are good as well, because they're all made to order and fresh. I really appreciate the open kitchen and you can see the diligent staff creating your food. I had a friendly experience with the owner as she took my order and I wish the restaurant all the best. The Hemingway district is very fortunate! read more

Good coffee, great empanadas. Right by the library, so a great spot to study or grab lunch.

I just love this spot! I ordered feijoada, and it was certainly as wonderful as any you would find in Brasil. It is easily two servings. The pão de queijo was wonderful and light. I am looking forward to my beijinho dessert later on. Not only is the food fantastic, the ambiance is lovely and the service was beyond friendly. Such a nice treat on a gloomy Saturday. read more

I've been here twice. It's owned by a Brazilian woman so as a Black Puerto Rican, supporting her business is a plus for me. I've had the mushroom, heart of palm and Guava and cheese empanadas. All were amazing! The crust itself is to die for. Not crispy and thin like Puerto Rican empanadas, but more like a soft buttery bread consistency. I loved them. The mushrooms and heart of palm are seasoned REALLY well. I've also had the cafe miel (coffee with honey) and the vanilla latte (iced) - both of which are delicious. They have oat milk! Which is also a plus. I've also had the special of the day. Can't remember what it was called but it was rice, collard greens and beans. It was fantastic! You can tell the food is cooked with love and intent. But the best thing about this place is the owner. We talked for about 30 mins about race, what it means to be mulatta, people's perception of Black women in the US and Brazil and much more. I cant remember the last time a business owner stepped aside and had a real conversation with me. She even gave me a hug. I LOVE HUGS! She's a true beauty inside and out with such a loving spirit. I live on the far north side of Chicago but I'd have no problem trekking to Oak Park to come here regularly and support this business. Oak Park is tremendously lucky to have Mulatta. read more

The best ever empanadas ever. Coffee is great.i went back with a friend to introduce her to Mulata Kitchen. We enjoyed beef and guava empanadas. read more

Four stars for food, two stars for price, so I took the average. The food is tasty. The empanadas were well-stuffed with rich and satisfying fillings. The soups are better than your dad's. But, how much would you pay for three empanadas, two bowls of soup, a juice box, and a can of soda? I paid $31.50 this time, but I certainly won't do that again. Lastly -- I wish restaurant owners would sit in all the chairs in their establishments to find all the ways those seats are uncomfortable. read more

Food is always hearty and great. I have no complaints about that. Took away one star because the management needs to hire more people! Every time I went there around lunch time, there are only two people behind the counter, cashiering, making beverages and food all at the same time, with no time to catch a breath, look at you or greet you (not their fault; just too much work for two people). There's always a long line of people crammed into the small entrance area. I would also appreciate if the management would consider having a separate area for pickups. People who placed their orders 30 minutes prior shouldn't have to wait in line with walk ins. It's really awesome business is booming, but please consider having more people to help out. read more

Good food, good sandwich's and the empanadas are very good. Not impressed with the staff or the service, they seemed unfazed by the fact they don't have any highchairs for children and really not into helping people with there order as to recommend items or help bring food to your table. I think they should be more accommodating to there costumers then just being behind the cash register. Overall the place has potential. read more

Ambience plus food a 100% recommend. The staff was super nice and friendly. I love how beautiful even the menus look tbh I'll definitely be coming back to try their coffees and other items on the menu! Great Addition to Oak Pak read more

Wonderful place! The service was so friendly and inviting. The empanadas were delicious and so was the sandwich we tried. The coffee not only tastes wonderful, but is a work of art. The cafe miele is just wonderful. It has honey and cinnamon. We will definitely return next time we are in Chicago to try the feijoada and the desserts! read more

Mulata Kitchen - Guava and cheese empanada and cafe miele - Brazilian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

Had dinner there last night and we loved it. The space is bring and clean, the service was friendly and quick, and the food delicious. They seem to know what they do well, and they do it. Highly recommend. read more

As soon as I placed my order and headed to my seat, I was greeted by one of the owners who shared a sample of her cornbread. At first it tasted like Mom's and was warm and moist. Very homemade. As she shared what was in it, the taste evolved into something very pleasant with coconut and fennel which, she says, is very common in Brazil. Unlike the two restaurants that preceded this spot, I think Mulata is here to stay. read more

The guava & cheese and chicken empanadas are amazing. Strawberry smoothie super yummy. The Brazilian lemonade isn't sweet enough but with some added sugar it was good. read more

This Brazilian coffee and sandwich shop is amazing! It's independent, original, friendly and adorable! The food and coffee are awesome! I will definitely be back. read more

Oh my word! We tripped upon this place when needing a late lunch and what an amazing surprise! Though it appears to be a coffee shop, it also happens to have exquisite Brazilian lunch items. The flavors were so authentic, the staff delightful and the portions worthy! This place is a destination merely for the Brazilian background music to go with the smells, amazing Brazilian lemonade and the empanadas! Do not miss this newer place in Oak Park! read more

Mulata Kitchen - Brazilian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

Such a great cafe addition to the neighborhood! The empanadas are sooooo good! You take a bite and your mouth automatically does a little dance. The sandwiches are delicious too, basically the food doesn't disappoint, it's a bit pricier than your average sandwich at around $9 but still very tasty. The beverages are served in beautiful..what looks like ceramic cups. Love the flavors, aesthetic, and service! read more

Great new corner spot in Oak Park Hemingway District. Delicious assortment of Brazilian sandwiches, snacks, ,and drinks. Reccommend it for sure! Also they have free WiFi read more

A new favorite of mine. The bread used for the sandwiches is so good, perfectly crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. The first time we went we got the turkey and veggie sandwiches and they were both amazing! We washed it down with some Brazilian pop, Guaraná, which was really good! I liked it so much that I went back a few days later and tried some other sandwiches and some empanadas (the mushroom, and the guava with cheese) which were excellent! I'll be back! read more

Pao de queijo was nice size and very yummy, had coffee pingado and 2 of the pastels. Heart of palm pastel was my fave.

Fabulous guava and cheese empanadas--perfect combination of sweet and savory! I also enjoyed the beef empanadas and the braised beef sandwich. I definitely want to go back. read more

The empanadas are crazy CRAZY good! Getting a bag of them as takeout for dinner is always a treat! Chicken and beef are our favorites :)

The sandwiches and empanadas are top notch! My personal favorites were the turkey sandwich (delicious unique flavors), the heart of palm empanada, and the mushroom empanada. My husband is obsessed with the beef empanadas (adding just a little hot sauce). They are perfect. read more

The staff seem like nice people, however, I felt very rushed through my order. I ordered an iced mocha. Decent price, under $5. Was not impressed with the taste at all. When my order came up, I was not alerted and the lady had to speak loudly to get my attention. ( I had sat down at a table in front of the counter area). The place was pretty hopping near close time, so it was pretty loud in there. So, price wise, they're okay there. read more

I get one thing and one thing only from here - iced vanilla. Can honestly say it's the best iced vanilla latte in OP after I gave most of the coffee shops in OP one or two tries. Thank you Mulata. read more

Awesome service!! Loved the eggplant sandwich!!! The bread was worth every carb. I will be back for sure.

NOT YOUR PAPA's COFFEE HOUSE!!! Locally WOMAN-- Owned and passionately operated. Everything you buy here is BETTER and DIFFERENT than anything you get in any other coffee shop anywhere in Chicagoland. Owner Cristiane Pereira is not your typical barista. She puts her special Brazilian touch to all dishes. Today's example: REFRESHING BRAZILIAN Lemonade made to order with fresh squeeze limes plus a secret ingredient to make it creamy delicious. Truly not your Grandma's lemonade. Even better TODAYs NEW EMPANADA FAVORITE: 4-Cheese including CREAM CHEESE! Very different from any 4-cheese ANYTHING I've ever tasted. PERSONAL FAVORITE DRINK: Best Cafe Mocha in town. Hot, creamy, with their own chocolate recipe. MORNING RUSH HOUR SPECIAL. Just one block from Green Line stop at Oak Park Ave -- take a couple of Empanadas for breakfast and lunch on your way downtown. TAKE HOME: Buy some extra Empanadas to take home. They store easily in fridge and reheat brilliantly in microwave or toaster oven. I know this sounds like a phony review as it's so long and over the top. And I am obviously their biggest fan but in my 30 YEARS in Oak Park, I've never seen such a wonderful coffee shop. I have only written a couple of reviews in all that time. But when I met Cristiane Pereira, tasted her unique spin on food, and saw her unbridled PASSION for her shop, I was SOLD. Besides this prominent corner of Lake Street & Oak Park Ave has seen many shops come and go. Mulata should stay forever! Cristiane Is almost always at the shop -- ask for her to say "Hello" for me. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face! Bill Metcalf Oak Park Native & Raving Fan of Oak Park's most Unique Coffee Shop: MULATA read more

Great service and amazing empanadas. Highly recommend the heart of palm but they are all really good.

It's a cute little coffee shop with some nice decor and tasty sandwiches. The staff was very kind. Little bit pricy for just two sandwiches.

Stopped in to Mulata for the first time...it was awesome. The people behind the counter were incredibly friendly and genuine, and they loved talking about how South America influences their menu. Seriously...it's like walking into your best friend's home and being greeted by their family. It's a very happy place and you feel loved and appreciated just walking in the door. I am a fan of Starbucks and buy coffee there a lot...I have nothing bad to say about Starbucks. I will say so, though, that Mulata served the best coffee I have ever tasted. Loved it and will most definitely be back. They had a healthy and lively lunch crowd -- looking forward to checking out the food soon. read more

One of my favorite places to go to in the area. The drinks are almost always great, and the food is also really good. I love that I can get a small bite or a full lunch/dinner here. I also love that the vibe is inclusive to those working on their laptops alone and those meeting up with friends. read more

Awesome awesome place. The Brazilian empanadas were amazing, and the desserts were delicious. Great selection of wonderful coffees too. Can't wait for a couple of the other dinners to begin being served. And did I mention the Brazilian empanadas were awesome? read more

The line was long but it moved quickly and the food was well worth it. I was greeted with a smile and the menu items were explained to me with patience. The empanadas were fresh, hot, flakey, and delicious. Highly recommend if you don't mind crowds. read more

coffee: 5, empanadas: 5‼‼ employees: 5. definitely a place to go for breakfast or lunch.

this place was super cute!! highly recommend the smoothies, and the empanadas looked great too. check it out when you're in oak park next :)

Just love this place. The food was fresh and delicious. The pingado to finish the evening hit the spot. Christiane the owner just beautiful in and out. We spent a good time just talking and enjoying our company. Thank you a wonderful evening. We will be back. read more

Enjoyed the Turkey Meltdown & an iced mocha. It took a little bit of time for my food to be ready - but that can be expected of any place on their first day open. I will definitely be frequenting on my way to work in the morning this summer! 10/10 would recommend :) read more

Mulata Kitchen - Turkey Meltdown & Iced Mocha - Brazilian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

I would have taken a photo but I was on the road and it was a quick bite. As I drove and was about two miles away, I realize that I made a mistake in not buying more Empanadas. I had the Palmito and and Spinach one. I kinda like that they are baked. It's a lil healthier, right? lol I hadn't had a Beijinho de Coco and Mousse de Maracujá in a while. The flavors were PERFECT compared to a few other places in Chicago where I've had them. The flavors just seemed to pop out in your mouth more. I also had a Cupuaçú smoothie that was really good. I will make this my drive by spot anytime I visit Oak Park. read more

I absolutely love the coffee here, the food I had (tuna sandwich) was very good & the employees are so nice. I'd highly recommend coming here - especially for a latte! read more

Amazing empanadas! Service is good. Coffee is great too. There is always a line for their empanadas!

I came on a Saturday and it was super packed with a line so I was already prepared to be waiting a bit. This wasn't really a problem for me. I hoped I could get a larger Americano than 12oz but I asked the girl and she seemed unsure, plus like I said they were really busy so it wasn't a big deal. I'm just kind of disappointed because I was really looking forward to trying their espresso. My exact order was an Americano with soy milk and I feel like the barista may have skipped the water or the cashier may have put it in wrong because it just mostly tasted like milk to me. And I'm not sure if they do double shots, I think most places generally do but I just feel like I didn't really taste the espresso in my drink at all. I didn't want to give the drink back because they were super busy. But the drink did cost me nearly 5$ so I hoped they would get it right. I did really like the fact that the manager or the owner was kind of all over the place. She was smiling in the midst of all the craziness. I was super impressed by that, seems like she really cares about customer service and was helping everybody out. Also I couldn't eat on this day but I was super tempted to try the beef empanada and all the food that was coming out looked amazing so I'll probably come back on a weekday and give this spot another chance. read more