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    Chicago Empanada Mama

    4.6 (46 reviews)
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Chicago Empanada Mama Takeout or Delivery

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    Allergy-friendly catering

    Gluten-free catering

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    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.

    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

    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.

    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.

    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!

    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.

    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!

    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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    Papa's Cache Sabroso

    Papa's Cache Sabroso

    4.2(681 reviews)
    1.1 miWest Town, Humboldt Park
    $$

    My wife and l stop in for an afternoon dinner and it was amazing the food was off the chart and the…read moreservice was amazing . This is the stop if you're looking for a Lunch or dinner l would recommend it . Stop in and enjoy!!

    I'll start by saying this was a spur of the moment meal well after the 2026 Puerto Rican parade on…read moreSaturday June 13th had ended. A friend and I decided to hit the Humboldt Park area (Western/Division) and take in some Borinqueña atmosphere and sights. After walking up and down Division Street awhile we stumbled upon Papa's Cache Sabroso. The place was jumping! The weather was amazingly gorgeous and outdoor seating was packed. There was a line for seating and takeout. The friendly host was doing an amazing job of keeping it all organized. We chose takeout and ordered a steak Jibarito con arroz y gandules and a side order of plátano maduro all totaling $22.27. As another reviewer noted it is a tad pricey but not overly so. It took about 20+ minutes to get the food...but like their sign states, something on the order of, "this is not a fast food place and good food takes time, please be patient". The Jibarito tasted good overall like other Jibaritos I've had in the past, however my friend commented that although the steak was flavorful, it was a tad chewy and I would slightly agree. The mayo, tomato and garlic kind of brings it all together for me, but I would've liked way more garlic...and there was even a small container of garlic "sauce", but it was very light on the mashed garlic paste. Whenever I dipped my plátano maduro, I couldn't get any pieces of garlic on until most of the olive oil was gone. The rice was standard and flavorful and I really did enjoy the plátano maduro. I would probably return to try the garlic chicken.

    Photos
    Papa's Cache Sabroso
    Papa's Cache Sabroso - The outdoor patio is nice and small.

    The outdoor patio is nice and small.

    Papa's Cache Sabroso

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    Carnivale Chicago

    Carnivale Chicago

    3.9(2.7k reviews)
    1.4 miWest Loop, Near West Side
    $$$

    Yesterday was my wife and I 21 anniversary and the chefs table didn't let us down, the food was…read moreamazing service was outstanding he made a custom menu just for us because my wife don't eat red meat and it was still amazing. I just want to thank the chef for an Amazing experience Thankyou.

    I went here with my best friend and my hubby to celebrate my birthday with a great birthday dinner…read more 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 ;)

    Photos
    Carnivale Chicago - Rumba Bar

    Rumba Bar

    Carnivale Chicago
    Carnivale Chicago - Ropa vieja - a must!

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    Ropa vieja - a must!

    The Jibarito Stop - Fried Pork Chops Plate

    The Jibarito Stop

    4.3(492 reviews)
    2.4 miThe Loop
    $$

    First time ever trying a jibarito. Wasn't sure what to expect but it sounded delicious! Walked in…read moreand you order on the kiosk. A sandwich made with plantain as the buns! I fell in love! It was soft but had a thick outer layer. Slightly crispy but chewy. The filling itself was great the garlic sauce inside really shined. Put everything together and it was delicious and magnificent! The plate came with rice mixture. The sandwich was really filling. Inside there was a few tables to sit, you grab a number when you order and staff brings it out to you. 100% recommend coming here to try it out. Wish there was more Puerto Rican food around me.

    Usually people traveling to Chicago are told to try a Chicago dog, Chicago deep dish pizza, and…read moreItalian beef, but for some reason nobody says to try a jibarito. I was told that jibaritos are Puerto Rican inspired but originated in Chicago, though I could be wrong. That being said, I wanted to try a jibarito while in town. This location is decently sized with ordering done on a kiosk by the entrance or at the register and food is brought to the table. The ambiance reminds me of a casual fast food restaurant. I ordered a full jibarito sandwich with chicken (no American cheese). The jibarito is said to include plantains, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, and garlic oil. My order was brought in about ten minutes. The full sandwich looked like two mini sandwiches and I probably should've just ordered a half since I just wanted to try it out; it was very filling. The plantains were like a bread replacement for the sandwich; the plantains appeared to be smashed into a dense, flat and slightly crunchy "bread" if that makes sense. It also came with yellow rice with peas which made the plate look like a complete entree. I enjoyed the sandwich as a whole and especially liked trying the plantain portion; the chicken was flavorful and moist as well. However, as I continued eating it and after I left I had a lingering taste in my mouth from the mayonnaise and I had to eat something else to get the taste out. I'm glad I didn't include American cheese since it probably would've enhanced the aftertaste. For the most part, I was pleasantly surprised with my first jibarito from The Jibarito Stop, although I would remove the mayonnaise the next time I have a jibarito. I do wish I was able to try the other items on the menu since they looked very good while others were eating them.

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    The Jibarito Stop - Jibarito Shop

    Jibarito Shop

    The Jibarito Stop - White Rice and Beans (sm)

    White Rice and Beans (sm)

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    Chicago Empanada Mama - puertorican - Updated July 2026

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