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Litos Empanadas
Category: Restaurants Latin American Latin American [Edit]
2566 N Clark St(between Deming Pl & Wrightwood Ave)
Chicago, IL 60614
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
(773) 857-1337
- Hours:
Mon 10 am - 8 pm
Tue-Sat 10 am - 9 pm
Sun 12 pm - 8 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
287 reviews for Litos Empanadas
Review Highlights
"The choco-banana was delicious and loaded with bananas."
(in 44 reviews)
"Beef and Spinach and cheese are my two favorites."
(in 43 reviews)
"My favorites include the Hawaiian and the BBQ chicken."
(in 50 reviews)
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287 reviews in English
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Review from Scott C.
12/20/2011
The empanadas here at Litos are outstanding! The shell of the empanada is light but provides enough flavor to compliment the filling. We had the beef, chicken, Hawaiian and the chorizo (on special that day I believe) empanadas and all were delicious. Their sauce compliments the flavors of the beef and chicken empanadas well and we'll certainly return to eat here again (or order out since they deliver).
The online ordering and web menu are helpful. It's a cheap and delicious meal you can't afford to miss! -
Review from Cheryl B.
Chicago, IL
12/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
I basically write a review if I believe the place is worthy. This place is definitely worthy. Their empanadas are fantastic. I've had the beef and rice, BBQ chicken and the Hawaiian empanadas. These three are my favorite and I recently catered empanadas to family event and they were such a hit. Everybody wanted to know where these were from. I wish I could take the credit and say I made them, but I'm definitely not talented enough. This by far are the best empanadas I've had yet.
Tips: Take it to go, no room to sit. -
Review from Liz G.
12/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Oh Litos, you may be my new grab and go cheap lunch spot. You are savory as well as sweet wrapped in a fried shell. I spent way to many months just walking by and not stopping to enjoy your deliciousness. Now I know better.
Pros for Litos:
-cheap average $2.25/piece
-lots of varieties
-easy online ordering
-fast and friendly
Mix it up with savory and sweet (the Choco-Banana really is as good as it sounds) but most importantly try this place out. It may be small, but it's mighty! -
Review from Caitlin C.
Forest Park, IL
2/8/2012
Wow, the best empanadas i have had in Chicago! I went with a friend and we got 3 each, and wound up going back and ordering more to go. Our favorite was the champion empanada, seriously amazing! My second favorite was the spinach, and his was the BBQ. I literally cant wait to come back, I have recommended them to all of my friends!
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Review from Christine L.
Chicago, IL
1/19/2012
This is a cozy little place that has amazing empanadas at a reasonable price! My favorite ones are: BBQ chicken and beef and rice. Then of course I finish off my meal with some dessert: choco-banana :)
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Review from Rebecca G.
Gurnee, IL
2/1/2012
The empanadas were hot and crunchy! They were pretty big compared to other empanadas I've had. The filling was delicious. I recommend the hawaiian empanada!
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Review from Farha K.
Chicago, IL
11/27/2011
Great food, great service, cheap eats... you have it all here. The only thing I would complain about it is that it closes too early at night cuz these empanadas would be great when you have the late night munchies!
I've tried almost all their empanadas (except the ones with pork in them) and love every single one.. my family won't even let me visit them for the weekend unless I'm armed with a dozen of them.
Always ask for the special house green sauce.. it's magical! And ofcourse their nutella empanadas are amazing! -
Review from Diana M.
Chicago, IL
12/11/2011
Found this place purely on accident. I was on my way to get a kalbi taco next door and decided to pick up some Empanadas to take home. I had the beef and rice, the chori cheese and the choco-banana. Wow! My only regret is not bringing home more of them!
After talking with the woman behind the counter (really friendly), I learned they will be opening up another location in "little Italy". Good news for some people, even further away for me! -
Review from Kent L.
11/14/2011
4.5 stars rounded down to 4 because this place is small (seating available for only 5-6).
I'd never had an empanada before coming here, but I'm glad I finally gave this place a shot (it's right across the street from my buddy's place in Lincoln Park). I'd describe empanadas as similar to hot pockets, but larger and made with better ingredients (at least at Litos).
I had the BBQ Chicken empanada and the Beef and Rice empanada. Both were good, but I liked the BBQ Chicken better. At just over $2/ea, it's not going to break the bank to try a few. 2 will likely tie you over for lunch; get 3 if you love to stuff yourself like I do. -
Review from Michael S.
Chicago, IL
11/4/2011
It's funny for the people you meet when you're a foodie. I actually met a food blogger visiting Chicago when I went out to support Rich Levy on his first Haute Sausage run... seems so long ago now!
5411 Empanadas was nearby and my fellow foodie ate food from there (still think they're eh for 5411). He saw me take a picture of my sausages and type up stuff on my phone and introduced himself...
Anyways, we talked and he said Litos is absolutely the best in Chicago for empanadas... and he was right. When gf and I went (funnily after a Bikram yoga class) we loved the chorizo/cheese, champinon chicken, and beef empanadas we had.
Very delicious stuff and hopefully we can come back eventually. -
Review from Eric S.
Chicago, IL
12/8/2011
I can't walk by without getting an empanada. They go great with a Korean taco from next door. Street food vendors cluster like car dealerships. This place is ruining my life.
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Review from Ramya P.
10/11/2011
Hot empanadas - a good reason to be excited about cold weather.
Tiny little place that serves this latin delicacy. The veggie, spinach and nutella are my favorites. Nominal rate and delicious empanadas, ok Chicago winter, I'm ready for you. -
Review from Rick C.
10/7/2011
I'll come clean. We had a full dinner at Del Seoul next door prior to placing an order here. We went from, hey let's try one, to hey, let's get four.
The chori-queso sounded too awesome to pass up. Chorizo, queso, potatoes? Good, a bit too much queso there towards the end.
Champinon chicken was recommended and it was pretty good. Plain, a tad dry, but enjoyable.
Beef and Rice. See above.
Beef was mixed with raisins and a few other things. Very homey tasting.
Actually, alll of them were very homey tasting. Who doesn't like empanadas? I'd come back again. Most likely without having had two tacos and an order of dumplings beforehand. -
Review from Frank A.
Schaumburg, IL
10/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wow.
Ok. I came looking for Del Seoul. I left almost more impressed with this place. A really small joint right next door, they have some really good empanadas here. I figured, well, we might as well drop in since it's next door.
I ordered one with Chorizo, some desert empanadas that had a nutella / banana filling. I also had a chicken / cheese one and one other one I can't remember because I was too busy downing these bad boys.
Man the banana / nutella was soo good, I didn't even notice the nutella oozing out and onto my shirt. Haha. I didn't care though and proceeded to finish it up and on to the next one! -
Review from Kristy K.
9/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
I am an empanada connoisseur. Back in the day before moving to Chicago, in a land of Amish people and cows, the idea of an empanada was unfathomable. To satisfy my cravings, I would have to make my own. They were pretty darn good, but it can be a time consuming process making these puppies from scratch. Luckily, Chicago has an accessible selection of empanadas that I can get my hands on regularly. I don't have to slave away in the kitchen making my own dough and fillings for hours anymore. Now, I can just skip down the block to Lito's and grab some of their warm, fresh, delicious empanadas to go. It is that easy.
The chori-cheese is sensational! The chorizo is flavorful and perfect with the gooey cheese that is plentiful in each bite. I also love the beef that is filled with beef , olives, raisins, potato, tomato, and onion. Perfect combination of flavors. The chicken tends to be a little bland, unfortunately. I have yet to try any other flavors, since the chori-cheese and beef are my staples. I could eat the chori-cheese every single day of my life.
Solid empanadas. I highly recommend Lito's to satisfy your empanada cravings. -
Review from Jason P.
10/3/2011
I went in really wanting to like this place, but left disappointed. The food is about 3 star worthy, but at the end of the day you are paying about 3 times as much as that tiny empanada should cost. If you are impatient like I am, you will leave with a burnt mouth.
The service was pretty terrible. We got our food about 30 minutes before the place closed, but they immediately and rudely asked us to leave as we went to sit, claiming they were closed. You can keep your empanadas, Lito -
Review from Mike P.
Chicago, IL
12/22/2011
Great empanadas. I usually order three chorizo and douse them in the pink sauce. It's the best snack you can get for the money. Highly recommend this place.
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Review from Angel S.
Bronx, NY
12/22/2011
Empanadas so good, I almost slapped my friend in a yummy frenzy.
The place is a bit small, so you cant really go with a group, but if takeout is your thing, then I highly reccommend this place! -
Review from Cheryl C.
Chicago, IL
9/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Lito's does flavorful, affordable work, at decent speeds. It's a shame that it gets a bit overshadowed by the (admittedly stellar) Del Seoul next door.
There's a lovely assortment of flavors, notably the divine champinon (chicken, mushrooms and all kinds of deliciousness) and the apple. The Chori-Cheese, which is chorizo and potatoes and cheese, sounds like it should be amazing, but it actually turns out to lack flavor and to be way too heavy on the potatoes. There's also Nutella-banana, which also sounds amazing. In practice, it's so melty that it's hard to really enjoy -- and I'm the world's biggest fan of Nutella-banana.
Get the 25-cent sauce. I hate sauces, but that s**t is GOOD.
They have about four stools. You'd think that would mean you could never sit down. In practice, though, it means people don't plan to sit and eat there, so when I do want to sit, I always can.
So close to greatness, Lito's is. If they were just a skosh more flavorful, faster or cheaper, they'd be near the top of my list. Also, what's with opening at noon, when an empanada is so clearly breakfast perfection? -
Review from Alexandra S.
Chicago, IL
12/8/2011
Wow. Those are some tasty empanadas. Stopped in on a lark because I love empanadas and am always game to try a place that features them. Was not disappointed. Service was quick and friendly but the main star was the empanadas. I tried the spinach and mozzarella which gooey, tasty, crispy yummy. The beef was also great. Make sure to order the hot sauce that goes with. It is a great side with tons of flavor. Overall cannot wait to try more!
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Review from Lexie K.
Chicago, IL
12/10/2011
Big fan of this little take out place. The owner is there alot, and he's a nice guy.
The chicken and mushroom empanada is my favorite,and the Nutella is awesome, but is like a snack size dessert..Very good. The food is a 5 star, but there is no where to sit,and I would go there more often but I don't since there is only like 4 barstools next to the door(pretty cold on a day like today)..think they deliver.
Good value, good food, and local place that you should support. -
Review from Angela M.
Chicago, IL
9/30/2011
GREAT!!! our favorite is Beef and rice, I've tried other flavors and, yes I like them but beef and rice is the winner. Spinach and cheese is really good if you wanna go vegan.
Kids love them... better, crazy about them. -
Review from Johnny T.
Updated - 5/17/2011 2 Check-ins Here
You know the score. Three empanadas. One champ chicken. One cheezy chorizo. One... what's this? Apple cinnamon? Not banana nutella? Nope. Not today. Apple cinnamon. Need to keep the doctor away and what not.
Chicken was a little plainer than last time. It was shredded expertly, but I didn't notice much beyond the meat and pastry. The chorizo was, again, the belle of the ball. How it's so good is a mystery to me. Seriously, with every bite I was, like, "how is this so good?" Rather than spend precious moments trying to figure it out, I spooned more hot sauce on every bite and kept it moving. The apple cinnamon was like warm applesauce in a pastry puff. Actually, it *was* warm applesauce in a pastry puff. This isn't a derisive comment. It was tasty and a nice end to the meal. But, next time, I would go for the banana nutella.
Next time might be a little while, though. Between placing my order and giving it to me, the owner mashed the front trash can's contents with his bare hands, moved chairs with his bare hands, went into the fridge to grab a container of hot sauce with his bare hands. Took out two paper bags (one for savory, one for sweet) with his bare hands. Opened them by placing his bare hands inside them. Saw me side-eying him. Washed his hands. Took the empanadas out of the fryer. Placed them into the bags with tongs. Gave them to me. I thought about telling him I wanted new bags, but was too hungry/tired to get into it. I ate the food (drank liquor to kill any cooties) and I feel fine for now. I rationalized that worse stuff happens to my food outside of my line of view everyday. But, I didn't appreciate the experience. In fact, it sort of bummed me out.Listed in: Ethnic Eats/Activities, Sabor Latino, Lincoln Park!, Carmen Miranda Ain't Got…, I Get My Kicks On Bus #36
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/28/2011
I've totally been sleeping on Lito's!! Argh. When I think of how long I could have been noshing on… Read more »
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Review from Patrick B.
Chicago, IL
6/28/2011
Lito's is a cute little Lincoln Park shop cooking up nothing but delicious, crispy empanadas. What is an empanada, you might ask? It's a Latin pastry filled with meats, veggies, cheeses and fruits that is then deep fried.
I recommend ordering three (plus or minus one depending on your appetite). I decided upon the Champinon Chicken (shredded chicken, mushrooms, cheese), the Chori-Cheese (chorizo, potatos, cheese), and a sweet empanada to round out the meal, the highly recommended Choco-Banana (nutella chocolate and banana).
All three were excellent, but the two savory empanadas were by far better. I must admit, I'm not a big fan of sweets, so I prefer meets and cheese over fruit and chocolate. Of the three, the Campinon Chicken was my favorite. Get the salsa on the side, it has a nice flavor and adds a little kick to the meal.
I highly recommend stopping by here, even if for one empanada. They only take about 5 minutes to prepare if there is no line. I will be returning, and I look forward to trying all of their flavors. -
Review from Phillip C.
Schaumburg, IL
6/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Fatty Empanadas. That's what this place should be called, since their hot crispy empanadas are packed full of tasty filling. A couple of these will for sure satisfy your hunger.
The choices range from sweet to savory, so I tried one of each kind. I went with the Chori-Cheese, which was packed with cheesy chorizoness and a good amount of potatoes. That really filled me up, especially since I had a couple tacos next door). But the Choco-Banana I like the best, which was oozing with nutella and bananas.
With fast friendly service and t about $2 an empanada, I like this place. -
Review from Meredith B.
Pittsburgh, PA
5/23/2011
Wow. Litos Empanadas - why did I fail to visit you when I lived in Lincoln Park? I only discovered them on a return visit after moving to Pittsburgh....and that is a cryin' shame.
My boyfriend stopped in here for a quick bite on the first day of our trip. When I met up with him later, he told me how delicious they were, and I had to try some for myself. The next day he went back and came back to our hotel with a bagful of deliciousness. My parents ate some, and we ate some, and we were all incredibly happy. We ordered the empanadas online - I think they took a tiny bit longer than the website said, maybe by 5 minutes? But they were made fresh, crispy, and hot so that is worth waiting for.
I tried the chorizo and cheese empanada, which was unbelievable. Cheesy, flaky, gooey, hot, wonderful. My boyfriend loved the Champinon Chicken, which contained chicken, cheese, and mushrooms. I don't even LIKE mushrooms, and I still thought it was delicious. We doused them with the green hot sauce, which will put you back an extra 25 cents, but I'd say it's worth it.
Finished up with the Nutella banana empanada - how can that not be amazing? Hot and delicious, I had Nutella on my face and my fingers and I was in heaven. Also - they are SUPER cheap, maybe about $2.50 each with tax? Two of them makes a meal, and one is a great snack. The price, the flavor, and the freshness - all perfect. We will absolutely stop in here again next time we are in Chicago! I don't know anywhere else you can get something so good for so little money! -
Review from Jonald R.
Chicago, IL
6/5/2011 1 photo
ONE SENTENCE QUICKIE: Two fantastic empanadas in the bag provide a satisfying hit of savory meats contained in a lightly wrapped and evenly fried Latin turnover.
Well aligned a row of hole-in-the-wall shops and restaurants, Lito's makes a great contribution to the diversity of cuisines. If you've never had an empanada before, it's basically like a giant dumpling/pierogi/turnover with your choice of filling, deep fried to give a nice crispy exterior.
Lito's restaurant provides bar like seating but on nice days, empanadas are great hand-held sandwiches to walk & chomp with (...just don't eat with your mouth full, right Mom?).
The menu is filled with a great variety from meat chunky to veggie to sweet goodness. My faves thus far are the Champion Chicken and Spinach. The Champ Chix stays well moist and that mix of 'shrooms & tomato always do chicken right. The Spinach I would say is more cheese friendly, which I'm totally friendly back to! It's sort of like a meatless spinach calzone without the marinara on the side.
The "hot sauce" is really like a salsa and yes, does add the right amount of kick without it being too hot to handle.
There's a bit of a wait cause they prepare it right on the spot, but patience should pay off. However, a line can form on nice weather weekends. So keep that in mind if you're in a hurry....
For the price of about $2 / empanada - getting two is a good fill and that's a great $5 hit before you walk it off to another awesome hidden restaurant in Lincoln Park. -
Review from kevin c.
Chicago, IL
11/25/2011
This place has great empanadas! That is all they make. I have been a couple of times. My favorite are the beef. They are very good. They have a wide variety and all that I have tried were good. The chicken are great as well as the champion chicken, Hawaiian and the choco-banana. A place that serves one thing,but does a great job with them!
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Review from Pablo B.
Midland, MI
12/11/2011
coming from the east coast where empanadas shops abound. this place was pretty good. i was really hoping to eat the colombian empanadas with a corn crust...which they didnt have. nonetheless it was still good!
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Review from Sarah S.
5/2/2011 4 photos
I just ate two of their empanadas for dinner plus I tried a bite of my friend's empanadas as well and I was pleased. Empanada prices aren't bad at $2.09-$2.49.
Service was very friendly although there was a slight multi-tasking fail. We ordered a diet coke and were given a regular coke but couldn't even correct the error because she was on the phone the phone the whole time taking an order. Oh well. Not a big deal.
The BBQ Chicken Empanada was good but could have used a bit more BBQ, that flavor got a bit lost in this. The Hawaiian Empanada was amazing! Cheese and juices gooshing everywhere from this little guy. The pineapple was sweet and tasty (probably from a can, but hey it makes me feel healthy) and the cheese & ham were very tasty. Absolutely loved it and would recommend it the most of the four I tried!
I wouldn't make a special trip here for the treats but if you're in the neighborhood it's a good option to pick up & go. -
Review from Michael L.
Warrenville, IL
11/3/2011
Never had an empanada before. These things were awesome. Hope this place sticks around.
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Review from Alana T.
Chicago, IL
3/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Litos empanadas....what can I say about thee?
Taking my thoughts back to the moment last night where I bit into a championes chicken empanada. Immediately *face palm*. That Empanada was what little tiny babies are made of if you're a cannibal. It's what warm vaseline is made of if you're a chapped bottom lip. It's what arrows are made of, if you're Cupid.
A few days ago, I read a review of a fellow yelpper. He was pretty enthusiastic about this spot, and when I found out that there was a restuarant that sold NOTHING.BUT.EMPANADAS I had to try it. So, I didn't wait at all, and headed over to Litos' after quitting the workday. We ordered about 7 Empanadas for 2 people (because we were hungry. #dontjudgeme).
-Beef and Rice
-BBQ Chicken
-Spinach and cheese
-Championes Chicken
-Choco Banana (to split. See, I'm not all bad)
I have to say, my favorites were the Championes Chicken and the Spinach and cheese. 7 empanadas and 2 vitamin waters for 20 bucks?!?! You better sit down somewhere and tell me it ain't so! Litos is solid....solid as a rock. And last night, I definitely said, "I'm going to eat good from now on". Yeahhhhhh... I think I'm headed back today to get one of those spinach and championes chicken. *Big Sigh* good food is going to be the obesity of me. -
Review from Elizabeth C.
Chicago, IL
10/17/2011
Lito's is great. Authentic empanadas that never disappoint. They have quite a few options but the classic beef and rice is my favorite. The desert options are delicious as well and the prices are great.
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Review from Thomas K.
Chicago, IL
10/16/2011
Barely edible. horrid place. go get an empanada from tarascas across the street. just bad.
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Review from Heather R.
Chicago, IL
5/29/2011
If you're not careful, you can easily miss this hidden treasure nestled in Lincoln Park.
Lito's is a delicious little nook of a restaurant that is serving up the tastiest Empanadas on the planet. It's a simple little place with pretty much nowhere to sit (except a small ledge along the front of the window while you wait on your food or to devour quickly if you're eating on the run), but don't let that fool you!!!
They have meat, veggies, fruit, and dessert Empanadas that will rock your world. I've actually tried them all, but my favorites include: the spinach & mozzarella, the Hawaiian, and the banana nutella dessert Empanadas. YUMMMMMMMMMY!!!
I usually get their Empanadas to go when I need a quick dinner option on my walk home from work, or they're great for a picnic since the park is just a few blocks away.
They have weird hours in the winter, but reasonable and the price is on par with any other taco stand/ empanada-like stand you'd find in the city. -
Review from Alan C.
Chicago, IL
9/29/2011
Great! I had 2 empanadas and each were extremely tasty (the champignon-mushroom and chorizo! They were hand made, not frozen. I really liked how there are so many different types of empanadas available to try!
Highly recommended! -
Review from Tiff W.
3/9/2011
Most people probably walk by Lito's unsuspectingly multiple times before realizing that inside, they make the most delicious empanadas ever.
This place is TINY TINY TINY...with seating around the window for about six people, but by the time you order and receive your delicious fried goodness, seats should open up. I mean, how long does it take a person to eat 2-3 empanadas? They're hot, fresh, and are perfectly accompanied by the "SPECIAL SAUCE" (yum) and salsa.
I had the chicken & mushroom and spinach & cheese, but I'm definitely gonna go down the list and try all of them (thank you Groupon!). Next time you are walking on Clark, definitely be on the lookout for Lito's for a delicious snack or cheap meal! -
Review from Laura C.
3/4/2011
When my empanada joint (Tio Luis) stopped making my favorite Mexican specialty, I almost had a heart attack. Luckily, I found Lito's, which is a totally different style (Columbian) vs Tio (Mexican), but tasty nonetheless. The best empanada is the Beef which gets a sweet kick from the raisins and some heft from the potatoes. It's a flaky crust that goes well with the hot salsas - rojo or verde. Champinon Chicken wasn't bad, with mushrooms and cheese as the main characters. Prices are $2.09-$2.49 per 'nada, so mix and match 'em as much as your wallet can do.
Storefront only has a few bar stools, so good place to grab and go. They're pretty quick and service is friendly. Lito's also does mini empanadas for parties...although I would have to recommend hiring my culinary skills for that ;) -
Review from Bada Bing L.
New York, NY
2/3/2011
My favorite place!
Come here if you like warm, filling, fresh, and tasty food. Is that you?? I thought so!
Guide to ordering:
Gotta order one spinach. Then I would choose between bbq chicken or chamanion chicken.
To Lito: Upgrade the beef one, jeez. -
Review from Ted W.
Chicago, IL
4/8/2011
Glad to see this place is getting good reviews on Yelp. I found this place mentioned somewhere else wanted to try it. My adventures in South America introduced me to the empanada and I was never able to find somewhere in Chicago that satisfied my cravings. This is just what I was looking for. I would recommend going with a friend and trying 4-5 of them (including a dessert one) for a lunch or stopping to get one by yourself for a snack. I'm a big meat-eater, but my favorite one was the spinach one. I can't wait to go back. I think they were a little over $2 each so really affordable (especially in that area).
One thing to note is that there is VERY limited seating so I would plan on taking it to go.
