5411 Empanadas

Hey All -

Surprised this hasn't been written about before.

Had a great lunch yesterday at 5411 Empanadas. I cannot claim to be an expert on empanadas but I do know I have eaten at both their Wicker Park location and the one over in Lakeviewish and have always thought it to be an awesome value.

Their Wicker Park spot is new and worth a stop. Smaller in size with attention to the look. Aesthetically nice and clean. Small bar with a couple tables give it some charm that I think a lot of Chicago restaurants forego when building a new location opting for maximizing seating.

Empanadas are all over the board but I had a Malbec Beef and a Caramelized Onion and parmesan. With a little chimichurri both were very very satisfying. At $2.50 a piece I left feeling pretty good about my lunch. I believe all of their empanadas are baked as well.

Now that it is closer to me it will be a staple in my lineup thanks to the variety and cost.

5411 Empanadas
2045 W. North
http://www.5411empanadas.com/

There are a bunch of posts about their truck. In any case, I'm a big fan of 5411. We've used them to cater parties and also as carry out for a regular meal. The empanadas freeze well too, so we tend to buy extras.

North Avenue? I thought they were on Clark St...

AaronSinger wrote:North Avenue? I thought they were on Clark St...

Their website mentions 2 locations:

2850 N. Clark St.
2045 W. North Ave.

=R=

The first location is on Clark. The location on North Ave in Wicker Park just opened a couple weeks ago as mentioned in OP.

5411 Empanadas
2850 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 755-5411
www.5411empanadas.com
http://www.facebook.com/5411empanadas
http://twitter.com/5411empanadas

lodasi wrote:The first location is on Clark. The location on North Ave in Wicker Park just opened a couple weeks ago as mentioned in OP.

5411 Empanadas
2850 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 755-5411
http://www.5411empanadas.com
http://www.facebook.com/5411empanadas
http://twitter.com/5411empanadas

I missed that they opened a 2nd location--thanks!

5411 Empanadas opened at 2045 W. North Ave. last July and plans to debut at 1659 W. Division St., less than one mile south, in February, said Nicolas Ibarzabel, one of the eatery's three owners.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150128 ... t-corridor

5411 Empanadas, which got its start as a food truck circling The Loop, is parking for good Downtown. The Chicago-based mini-chain will open a new Downtown store Wednesday at 175 N. Franklin St.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150707 ... -wednesday

Dave148 wrote:

5411 Empanadas, which got its start as a food truck circling The Loop, is parking for good Downtown. The Chicago-based mini-chain will open a new Downtown store Wednesday at 175 N. Franklin St.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150707 ... -wednesday

Best news I've had all day.

spinynorman99 wrote:

Dave148 wrote:

5411 Empanadas, which got its start as a food truck circling The Loop, is parking for good Downtown. The Chicago-based mini-chain will open a new Downtown store Wednesday at 175 N. Franklin St.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150707 ... -wednesday

Best news I've had all day.

I live a block from their division location, still have yet to check them out.

I walked by the new Franklin location at lunch today for the opening. Line a block long to get in the door. My lucky co-workers that did get in said the assortment and quality was great.

5411 Empanadas opened @ 175 N Franklin last week.

Tried a few today and....meh. Not bad, but for all the hype they get, I was expecting more - and if they tout that they taste better with their chimi sauce, maybe they should offer some (even if it is 50 cents extra).

stoutisgoodfood wrote:5411 Empanadas opened @ 175 N Franklin last week.

Tried a few today and....meh. Not bad, but for all the hype they get, I was expecting more - and if they tout that they taste better with their chimi sauce, maybe they should offer some (even if it is 50 cents extra).

It's their 4th location, so they're obviously appealing to lots of customers (myself included).

Stopped by for a quick snack yesterday:

Mushroom & Blue Cheese Empanada/Chimichurri


I was told to wait for 15 minutes after I ordered because the empanadas are “freshly baked.” Even at 10 quarters apiece, it had to be one of my most regrettable purchases in a long time*. Wrapping had the texture of reheated frozen dumplings, and fillings were watery and flavorless. The friendly cashier-server insisted on the Chimichurri, which I’m grateful for since it was not palatable otherwise.

*Curiously, another recent regrettable purchase was an unopenable jar of pickled mushrooms.

yeah, I'm probably one and done after my first visit. Had the classic beef...bland pastry with a dry filling.

I had the chorizo/black bean (and yes, there was A black bean in the mix), the BBQ chicken and the bacon/date/goat cheese.

The chorizo was fairly bland, although stuffed pretty full. I wish they had offered the chimi, it certainly would have helped. The bbq was tasty, but fairly typical bottled sauce taste. The bacon was very good, but the bottom of it was burned to a crisp, leaving a somewhat undesireable aftertaste. I went in early (@11) and they took all of 45 seconds to walk in the back and come out with them.

I've eaten my share of empanadas and these were far from the worst I've had - but, again, I don't see the rave reviews....but then, I have still only been to Chipotle once.

bernard wrote:Stopped by for a quick snack yesterday:

Mushroom & Blue Cheese Empanada/Chimichurri


I was told to wait for 15 minutes after I ordered because the empanadas are “freshly baked.” Even at 10 quarters apiece, it had to be one of my most regrettable purchases in a long time*. Wrapping had the texture of reheated frozen dumplings, and fillings were watery and flavorless. The friendly cashier-server insisted on the Chimichurri, which I’m grateful for since it was not palatable otherwise.

*Curiously, another recent regrettable purchase was an unopenable jar of pickled mushrooms.

my one visit to 5411 was terrible; i tried 3 different empanadas, none of which was worth eating. i don't feel like giving them another chance....

I thought I was insane, because I've always been underwhelmed by 5411. I don't think they're terrible, just not especially memorable, and I'm a little surprised at their following. Are they just the sole entrant in an underserved market?

On the other hand, I was rather happy with the ones at Cafe Tola (Addison & Southport). It was a 1 hour wait at Tango Sur, so I shared a small pre-dinner there just before they closed. We got a couple empanadas that had likely been sitting out for some time... and they were delicious. The beef & potato was nicely spiced and balanced, and the birria was extremely flavorful and moist without being either too tough or too mushy. If they expanded downtown, I'd be all over it.

5411 Empanadas, a Chicago-based Argentinian restaurant, opened at 809 Davis Street in downtown Evanston on May 7

https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ ... story.html