A favorite local place of ours (Taste of Brasil was a favorite when they were on South Oak Park). We've eaten here a number of times. Great sandwiches made to order, delicious empanadas, good coffee as well. Recently I was recovering from an illness and made a few meals of the sautéed greens and rice. Delicious and generous portions for the price. read more

Mulata Kitchen - Rice, sautéed greens, veggie empanada - Brazilian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

I always love to support the underdog and go against the grain. Not that Mulatta is an underdog but I know they have taken some heat because of the name. Being a mestiza myself I say live and let live. So with that said they have the most unbelievable creamy flan i have ever tasted. The morning sandwich is finger licking good. I highly recommend this cafe. read more

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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

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

Friendly and prompt service combined with delicious beverages and food items. I've had a regular hot coffee and a cold latte from Mulata and both were excellent. The bacon, egg and cheese sandwich on a thick bread gives you a generous portion for a meal. You cannot go wrong with the empanadas! I had a taste of the spinach empanada and it was fresh and hearty. read more

I had a craving for brazilian food yesterday and googled it work to find it near by and they deliver. Cheese empanada: delicious, fresh Pao de queijo: reminds me of the storefronts on Roosevelt Ave in Queens Feijoada: reminds me of Theo's Corner in North End, Boston Comfort food in my book. read more

Brazilian spot in Oak Park that did NOT disappoint. The staff was super helpful when we had questions when we first arrived. It wasn't too busy while we were there so it was easy for us to find seating. I had 2 empanadas (guava & cheese and a beef empanada) both were SO good, would have either one again. My cousin had been raving about the passion fruit mousse so we each had one of those too. It was incredible! So light, so much flavor, I would go back just for the mousse and a coffee all the time!!! If you're in Oak Park, you have to check out Mulata! read more

Mulata Kitchen - Brazilian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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

I will happily wake up earlier to make the walk here before work. Coffee and the morning empanada are the perfect combo for me since I typically like something hearty in my stomach before a strong coffee. The ingredients taste very fresh. I love the crust so much - I could probably eat a bunch of empty empanadas and not get tired of them. read more

Mulata Kitchen - Empanada with bacon, egg, and cheese I believe - Brazilian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

Went there for a late lunch. Good vibe, gets busy during the "rush" hours,it seems. Had the lentil soup - was good - the chicken empanada was ok- felt like there was more empanada than stuffing... Not very filling but good appetizer/snack. First time there - overall, it was a fine place to meet an old friend who I hadn't seen in decades. We were able to stay for almost 2 hours catching-up. Never felt like we overstayed. That was very nice. read more

We called to place our order for pickup and we were told it would be ready in 15 minutes. Headed that way and our entire order was ready and waiting when we arrived. It was a quick process and I'd say that the food traveled well. My only complaint was that my cold salad was bagged with all the hot food and that's never ideal. The food itself tasted great. The portions were a good size and with a little self control, we could have had leftovers. I had the veggie salpicao and really enjoyed it. The dressing was flavorful and the salad was fresh. It was a light dinner choice with a good blend of flavors. Hubby had the carne louca sandwich. This was excellent! Flavorful and moist - it wasn't my sandwich, but the couple of bites I had, told me I couldn't think of anything to improve it. Feijoada was another dish I was able to taste - thanks to my son ordering it. I wouldn't hesitate to order this dish for myself! I would consider it a comfort food type of entree. Turkey meltdown and sweet guava & cheese empanada were the last two items I was able to sample. The sandwich was good and I think it would certainly be ordered again. The empanada was large enough that we were able to cut it into 4 pieces and everyone had a bite for dessert. This was our first time here, but considering that our son's family just moved to the community, I am sure we will return! read more

Really excellent food, especially the empanadas. I cannot make clear enough how awesome they are--fast, portable, and delicious. A gem in Oak Park. Service is a little slow; mostly staffed at the front by (seemingly young) teens and possibly comprised of a small kitchen area, be prepared to wait if you order anything but empanadas (or if they tell you a batch is coming out of the oven). It can take a long time for even a blended Brazilian lemonade. The space is small and the line can easily get unwieldy and out the door. But again, the food is so awesome it gets a great review. read more

Their empanadas are so damn good! And not just a specific one, but ALL of them! Whether its the Heart of palm , guava and cheese, beef, or ham and cheese, you be enjoying your meal here. I dont drink coffee but according to my partner, their coffee is really good. read more

As someone who loves Brazilian culture and was expecting a more inviting ambience from this local cafe, I found dining in here to be a bit of a letdown. Besides one friendly female worker who actually spoke to me, no one else behind the counter so much as greeted me with a "hello" or made eye contact with me, even as I politely gave them my order. I really and truly don't mean this in an ageist way, but the workers here all looked to be very, VERY young, and they certainly gave off a bit of a rude and immature vibe that didn't make me feel welcome as a guest. If you can loudly joke around with your coworkers while loudly playing dull American pop music, you can at least try to provide some semi-decent customer service. The food and coffee was pretty tasty. My flavorful and filling lentil soup arrived quickly, and the coffee beans and empadinha that I purchased for friends was positively received. However, the spoon my soup was served in felt and looked like it had barely been washed. Gross. This, combined with the atmosphere (or lack thereof) that made me feel like I was in a high school cafeteria, really soured my first-time experience here. I hate to give a Brazilian business a low rating, but sorry. I won't be coming back. 5 stars for the food and drink; 1 star for everything else. read more

I have never had a bad experience here. Cute little spot and the food is good portions. I love the empanadas!

Such a yummy place. Everything I've tasted has been good. Coffee is great and fresh, and I mean, cheesy bread ???? What more could you ask for !! read more

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.Good sandwiches and empanadas.  We went around 2pm and they were out of the brazillian cheese bread and carne louca which is the items we were most looking forward to. We ended up getting the Mulata Bella and the Turkey meltdown which were were pretty good. Basically a cheesey mushroom sandwich and turkey club with pesto-ish sauce. We got the mushroom and the guava cheese empanadas. They may be different empanadas than you are used to, the outside is less crispy and more bready but the filling in the guava cheese was delicious. Afterwards we noticed the passion fruit mouse staring us so we decided to get that before we left. Delicious fancy pudding. Would definitely go back but would try before noon so hopefully they still have most of their items left. read more

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Stopped in honestly because Starbucks was closed and I needed caffeine. Great thing I did because the iced vanilla latte here was fabulous. It came with coffee ice cubes to prevent a watered-down drink which I love. The two ladies at the counter were sweet and helpful with the menu and weren't at all annoyed that I took some time deciding- I didn't feel rushed and I also didn't feel ignored. The art inside was beautiful and I loved that they have indoor or outdoor seating. I def will be coming back here more often and will try other menu items whether it's coffee or the lemonades (that looked amazing, I will try next time). read more

So good, and so consistent every single time. Love the Mulata Bella, coffee, salads, soups, cheese bread, etc. lovely staff. Have been coming here now for years and am so thankful this place is in our town read more

Can't beat their empanadas. So good! Always fresh and an easy/ quick snack when downtown.

Great food! Authentic Brazilian foods and desserts. Quality ingredients. And service always great. Outdoor seating in beautiful downtown lake st in oak park. read more

Updated June 2023: Look, the name sucks but the food slaps. Clearly, they don't care about US Blacks' feelings or history but that's the USA in general ‍ read more

When I read about the owner of an old, lost favorite, Taste of Brazil, planning to open a new establishment in downtown Oak Park, I was so excited. I lived across the street from Taste of Brazil since they opened their doors to it's untimely end, and I always held regret over not supporting them more often. I would pine over the fresh rissoles and coxinhas that left a small deep fried hole in my heart. Now Mulata Kitchen, they seem to be shifting the focus from a Brazilian experience to a more familiar coffee shop vibe. They serve espresso and a variety of lattes, with an interesting selection of sandwiches, salads, daily soup, and Brazilian hand snacks to choose from should you find yourself hungry. The space is open and bright, if not a bit cluttered by the amount of chairs close to the door. I noticed that while eating a small line formed, making it a bit difficult to navigate our way from our table to the trashcan amidst the group of bodies. Most of the customers were only popping in for coffees so it wasn't much of a problem. There was even a napkin holder with the old ToB logo, a cute nod to their roots. I came for the empanadas. As we arrived we noticed that there were only 3 left in the heated display box, so obviously, we bought them out. We ended up with chicken, beef, and hearts of palm fillings, along with an order of a chai latte to combat the coming afternoon heat. The empanadas had a crusty brown exterior and were warm to the touch. They split in half very easily with a minimal flakes. I think if fresh from the fryer they would retain some crispiness, but the texture didn't detract from the empanada itself. I would prefer a soft, moist crust to a dry and crunchy one. While I'm sad that they didn't decide to include some of their past items to the new menu, I was pleased to find that the filling to the chicken empanada was near identical to the one I used to purchase from ToB! The chicken was moist and tender; a pleasant throwback. Honestly, the heart of palm filling was delicious. I'm biased as a huge hearts of palm fan and in thinking that it's an under utilized ingredient. But it was tasty enough to convert my dad, who doesn't usually care for their flavor. It was creamy, tangy, and a lovely addition to the soft and milky breading of the empanada. The only thing that would elevate it in my mind would be a little kick of spice. They also serve a tuna and heart of palm sandwich which caught my eye, I'll probably return to give it a try when I'm in the area. I was most underwhelmed by the beef empanada and chai latte. The beef filling was ground and had a mild flavor, nothing special on it's own but not unpleasant to eat. The latte tasted more like iced milk. I didn't pick up any chai flavor, or even any coffee for that matter. Chai lattes are generally a hit or miss, but for $4.25 it was disappointing. All in all, I'm so glad to see a new incarnation of the owner's vision come to life, and I hope that they stick around for a long time! I'll make sure to come back and try more of what they have to offer, but for now, I'm just happy to be able to support this business again. read more

Mulata Kitchen - Chicken, beef, and heart of palm empanadas. Forgot to take a picture before digging in but the crusts were beautifully laminated! - Brazilian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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Non-pretentious and approachable, a small menu of big hits made with lots of love! Stopped by after the Starbucks line down the block was way too long, I knew if I just walked a few minutes in the other direction I would find some coffee! Boy, was I lucky to find this place! Got a vanilla latte with almond milk and it was amazing, with house made vanilla syrup to boot! I came back with family when I had more time to eat and was pleased to learn the food is just as good! I got the Turkey which was simple and delicious. I had to make a small mod because of an allergy but it was handled with knowledge and ease! The family all got different sandwiches and empanadas and everyone enjoyed their food! There seriously isn't a bad thing on the menu! The owner, Christiana, remembered me each time I've been and greeted me warmly! Which is always nice! This is the new lunch/coffee spot for me! read more

Mulata Kitchen - Turkey Meltdown & Carne Louca - Brazilian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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Wow!! Wow again!! Bright. Elegant. Simple. Excellent! Adjectives to explain not only the experience, but the food and ambience! What a great menu from the brilliant minds of Christiana and Andre; doing their thing in Oak Park once again. For those that don't know they were in South Oak Park as Taste of Brasil, which was great. And now - they're back again... Simple fare with international flair, they do not disappoint with this offering. I stopped in on an early Friday afternoon and the line was out the door! From espresso to brewed coffees to cold brews and iced coffees + food, you won't go wrong. I went out on a limb and tried an iced muchata - excellent. So if you find yourself at the Southeast corner of Oak Park Avenue and Lake in downtown Oak Park - go in and experience it for yourself! read more

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This is my Go To coffee spot! The best Daily Brew coffee that I purchase 3-4 times a week. I'm addicted *Beef & Chicken empanadas delicious! *Chicken Soup with carrots and celery is warm and tasty on a chilly day. *Wake Me Up Sandwich is my fav for breakfast Most of the staff is pleasant however 1 young lady described the entire menu to a couple while a line was spilling out onto Oak Park Ave.....not very wise. How about directing them to the website on their phone while you attend real customers and tell them you'll answer any questions after they review the options. I noticed that a few of staff have a sense of urgency depending on the customer - typical. read more

Food was ok. Service was ok. The restaurant itself is cute. I would probably give it another chance.

When you enter Mulata Kitchen, happy employees will greet you in a small and colorful room. I went straight for the empanadas. I got mushroom and chicken. They were so good I traveled to Brazil and came back! I also ordered soy latte which was served in authentic mugs. My friend loved the drinks and the mugs! It is a bit snug and you might not be able to sit (if that happens order to go and walk to a near by park/library or walk alone the little stores). They had very good looking sweets which I will go back and try after I eat all the empanadas. Enjoy it my fellow Yelpzonians! P.S. There is a payed street parking. read more

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Mulata is the perfect study spot with great coffee at affordable prices! Located in a beautiful part of Oak Park, this quaint coffee shop offers delicious coffee and snacks. I ordered a latte "for here" and was surprised to see how beautiful the ceramic mug was. The coffee itself was fantastic - perfectly nutty and aromatic. The shop has a handful of outlets and free wifi, so I would highly recommend anyone who is studying in the area! read more

Mulata Kitchen - Latte - Brazilian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

The young lady who took my order made my drink wrong and tried to argue with me. Then asked if I wanted to add ice to my hot beverage which would be a warm watery mess. She proceeded to loudly tell her coworker after deciding to make it the correct way. It was awkward and rude to say the least. Will not be returning. read more

Let me say that the staff at Mulata is one of the most welcoming I've ever encountered. I've been a semi-regular since it's opening. It's a nice, quaint space with a relatively unique food menu DEFINITELY worth trying. I'm not sure where else you'll find a Brazilian cafe but I can tell you that this is one of quality. The empanadas have consistently flaky crusts and filled as much as possible with a variety of meats, vegetables, and/or cheese. I'd also recommend getting the Prestigio cake. Price felt a bit steep first time I got it for a single (large) slice but I've also gotten it 80% of the time I walk in so I can't complain. Drink-wise, I wouldn't say it's superior in any case but it gets the job done (Whether that job is a caffeine kick or just enjoying some pretty good coffee at a pretty good price). I will say that despite knowing how sugary their signature drink, Cafe Miel is, I still love to order it. I love me some good cinnamon in coffee. Overall, it's a great place even just for a conversation. read more

This is a great little place for drinks and food. The Brazillian flavors and focus elevate Mulata over other coffeehouses. Their feijoada is pretty amazing and the meatloaf bacon sandwich made me think I was in an upscale burger place in the Fulton Market area. I would definitely recommend the Cafe Miel. The service here to date has always been excellent. read more

Lovely Brazilian Cuisine .. food was delicious, I had the rice and beans entree and the 4 cheese empanadas. I will definitely be back read more

Mulata Kitchen - Rice and Beans Entree - Brazilian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

My husband & I stopped for lunch & we each had their salad topped with an empanada (me- mushroom empanada & hubby- spinach & cheese). Both were yummy and filling! I was tempted to get another empanada because my first one was so good but I was full. read more

I was walking around and happened upon this place in the early morning hours. I'm glad I found it because I thought their chai latte and guava and cheese empanada were great! I love that they source their coffee from Brazil and I thought the customer service was great. As a Cuban, I absolutely love the guava and cheese combination. I'm never able to find places near me that have those type of pastries so I'm happy I finally found somewhere that does it well! read more

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This place is so unique, and great. The empanadas are so good. Crispy outside and packed inside. Honestly, just eat the Pao de Queijo. They're so good. Like mini cheese balls that are a perfect blend of cheese and bread. My wife had the Feijoada and the beans are from another planet. So much flavor packed into them and the broth. read more

We ended our Frank Lloyd Wright tour, and stopped here on our way back to the train. The Carne Louca was exceptional - savory, satisfying, and the bread was light and crisp. The brigadeiro (which is nigh impossible to find) was perfectly soft, sweet, and chocolatey, just the way I like it. Our drinks were served hot in stone cups, which was a welcome experience on this cold day. We will definitely be coming back on future trips! read more

Mulata Kitchen - Carne Louca - Brazilian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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I had an issue with the app and spoke with the manager. She was very professional, not only did she remember the details of my order, she addressed the issue quickly, politely and provided excellent customer service. Thumbs up for the service read more

Delicious homemade food and the newt empanadas around. Friendly service great decor! read more

Love this place! Great people, service and food! Must try the cheese bread and baked pastels. Out of this world! read more