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
Comments
La Chilenita is yummy yummy, my favourite take-out in town for years now.
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).
Posted by: Fairfax at June 3, 2007 10:56 AM
Upon snacking on these heavenly pockets last night, I realized I didn't mention how much better empanadas are heated up!
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.
Posted by: kim at September 18, 2007 12:50 PM
j arrive de cet extraordinaire endroit sur la rue de napoléon.je suis rentrer un mardi midi et des lors j ai senti la bonne odeur de pate etj ai commender aussitot mon premier chelinita , et commander deux au poulet plus sauce piquante pour apporter.........un délice, vraiment super délicieux.......je recommande l endroit fortement
Posted by: mathamore at November 20, 2007 3:58 PM
Thanks so much for this wonderful blogpost and photos. I lived just round the corner from the Napolean branch of this fantastic empanadas shop for 3 years and grew incredibly fond of my local's namesake La Napolitana.
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!
Posted by: Emily at August 16, 2008 9:31 AM
La Chilenita c est un bon endroit ou acheter une vrai Empanada, ailleurs tu peut voir des imitations faite par d autres personnes qui ne sont pas necesairement des sudamericains puis puis le gout texture etc c est pas le meme. par contre je n ai jamais compris pourquoi ils font affaire avec la bouffe mexicaine aussi. je vous conseils un bon completo XD
Posted by: Mauro at June 17, 2009 8:26 AM
You CAN eat at the restaurant on Marie-Anne, I've spent ages there enjoying a variety of choices. I would also suggest DEFINITELY trying more than just the empanadas. The burritos, casadias, etc are all fantastic - the home made spicy sauce is great too. Don't limit yourself to just empanadas, as fantastic as they are.
Posted by: Sophia at August 31, 2009 4:48 PM
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La chilenita is simply the best!. I wasn't aware of the new locations though. THanks!
Posted by: Deya Bautista at May 31, 2007 9:59 PM