Food
Empanadas at La Chilenita
Chilean empanadas: food of the carb-gods. With three locations now, La Chilenita, one of the city's most renowned empanada-dealers, offers up a gorgeous and wide variety of these little stuffed pleasure-pockets.
For a very reasonable price ($2.50 each, $13/half dozen), you have yourself a great snack to eat on-the-go, or bring them home as a meal in itself. Fillings vary from the traditional beef, olives and egg to tofu, zucchini and mushrooms to spinach and ricotta cheese. The ingredients are consistently fresh-tasting, and the dough is thick and perfectly baked. With every empanada order comes little cups of a slightly spicy red sauce, made with tomatoes, onions and cilantro. Great for dipping, it adds nice moisture to the dry edges of the empanadas.
La Chilenta's most popular choice is La Chilena, the typical empanada made with beef, olives, egg and onions. For vegetarians, the consensus seems to be with La Napolitana, with artichokes, green olives, tomatoes and two kinds of cheese (goat and mozzarella).
I enjoyed the best of both worlds, and La Chilena is indeed delicious; a subtle sweetness contrasted with the bite of black olives. However, I preferred the Végé-Champignons for the vegetarian option. The menu board claims a filling of mushrooms, zucchini and carrots, but to my surprise, corn had also found its way in! L'Italiana is also fun, with slices of hot chorizo and cheese.
Burritos, sandwiches and enchiladas are also all for sale, but I suggest sticking to the empanadas. The one on Marie-Anne is take-out only, while the Napoléon location has a few tables and chairs if you want to take a quick break while eating. The restaurant on St-Laurent lets you linger a while longer. Whatever the location choice, just make sure you sample all the empanadas!
La Chilenita
152 Napoléon
514.286.6075
64 Marie-Anne Ouest
514.982.9212
5439 St-Laurent
514.277.3030
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For the record, La Chilena also contains hard-boiled egg, which I've always found was one of its most distinctive features.
And the store on Marie-Anne is NOT take-out only... in fact, as far as I can remember they have more seating than the one on Napoleon (although I've only been to the Napoleon location 3 or 4 times).
Don't microwave them, but pop them in your toaster oven or oven for a bit - they become flaky and crisp and 100% better than they are cold.
Its been a long time since I left (in 2003) and I still think of this place, and so was very happy to find your comprehensive review of it. I remembered correctly that there were artichokes and olives in one, but I had forgotten those lovely little tubs of sauce! And their beautifully designed sign. So enticing!
Kim, they are nice heated up, and they will do this for you in store, if you are eating them right away.
Everyone must eat here!