Chile Lindo Empanadas

If you are Chilean or want to try a empanada that taste just like being in Chile this is the place. As soon as you open the door you can feel like you are in a Fonda and it’s 18 de septiembre. The owner is so nice and she makes your experience even more close to Chile 🇨🇱. ¡Viva Chile!

The best hole in the wall spot in San Francisco. It's a small restaurant serving empanadas with unusual ingredients (if you're not Chilean), such as hard boiled egg, raisins, and olive. Anyone who lives in the Bay Area should come here at least once.

I have been looking for Chilean style empanadas since 1980 when I was there. These are the real deal! They have the classic pino which is the traditional style I knew when it as there as a kid, they also have other variations (which I haven't tried yet). They also have the torta de mil hojas dessert/cake that is so unique to chile (though I confess that their version looks very different from my memories of that terrific dessert). I'm now working on finding a way to have them shipped to me since I live out of the area.

Love this place. Not from the area, was visiting SF, while walking the street Tuesday night, I heard jazz music ..so walked in, a band was playing live. Lovely crowd, authentic homemade food, music, beer and wine.

Empanadas are the best! All of them! We tried them all, except for the vegan one because my daughter ate it on the way home.. " what?!!! It was too good to share! "

The BEST and ONLY true Chilean empanadas in San Francisco! Having a Chile Lindo empanada is like being transported to Chile! ❤️🇨🇱

This was a disappointing meal. For $7.50 I got an artisanal Chilean chicken empanada. Cool. However, the portion size was far too small and, except for the hardboiled egg inside (a very nice touch), it had the exact same taste as a Banquet chicken pot pie. Two stars for the egg and because Banquet chicken pot pies are tasty af

Chile Lindo is still here!!! We found it across the street from its old spot. So glad this grand Mission establishment is still here. Incredible Chilean empanadas and tasty treats!

The BEST and ONLY true Chilean empanadas in San Francisco! Having a Chile Lindo empanada is like being transported to Chile!

I love chile lindo,yummy food! Try the empanada the pino for a Quintaessential chilean empanada, also the owner is awesome !

We were in the area to pickup some baked goods and saw the sign for Chilean empanadas so we stopped in. We've both enjoyed a variety of other empanadas, but never Chilean specifically so yes.. of course! We had the most delightful chat with the friendly owner and her lovely assistant and we took home three empanadas to try, as well as a couple alfajores. We warmed up the Gol Al Merkan, Jamon y Queso and Classic Pino empanadas in the oven for about 10 min and they were all terrific. Excellent flavors and plenty of filling. Hard to pick a favorite cause we liked them all. The alfajores were slightly different than what we have had before, with more of a thin wafer cookie than the usual, but plenty of delicious filling plus chewy coconut flakes rolled on the outside. The crispness of the cookie was a nice contrast to the sweet, creamy filling. Definitely stop in if you have the opportunity. Tasty treats here and really nice folks working.

They've recently opened a new location right across the street at 2943 (I THINK!) 16th. The new space is beautiful and has plenty of seating. It feels comfortable and very "Paula". We stopped in for empanadas on my brother's birthday because we are long time devotees and she did not disappoint. The guys got the vegetarian empanadas and I got a pino clasico. Delicious. While we were there Paula pulled a gorgeous Chilean meringue dessert from the fridge so of course we needed to buy a slice to celebrate the birthday boy. Don't be fooled by the still in process exterior - the new Chile Lindo location is lovely and has the same personal, homecooked food they have been known for for years.

Stopped here for an empanada on a whim. Was very pleasantly surprised by the great food and a nice discussion with the owner/chef. My one thought was that it could have used some salt, but overall very good.

As a Chileno, damn do these take me back an I truly enjoyed these empanadas. It's a pleasure to eat these, because many places are making fooffy version of empanadas. These definitely feel homemade! Now what you need to understand, is I grew up with these empanadas and the rest of my countries delicious cuisine. Stick with the beef empanadas. Don't get me wrong, the chicken was good, but the beef is where it's at. If I could change one thing... Please, please, please add a little more Pino inside the empanada and make them just a little bigger. With that said, I'm sure it's probably doesn't make economic sense. I'll be back to try their other empanadas, minus the vegan ones (stop it already!). I tried calling my order in twice in the past and no one ever answered. Get your ass out of the car and walk up to the entrance and get you some goodness. They currently have outside dining.

Stumbled upon unexpectedly, and I will most certainly be coming back On a Saturday afternoon I caught the echos of Latin jazz down the street and had to go check it out. There was a live band playing and it was absolutely wonderful. I decided to grab a coffee and hang out. I hadn't intended to stay for as long as I did, but between the music was hard to leave. I bought an empanada to take home. I've had a lot of bad empanadas, but was pleasantly surprised again to find that the bag hadn't gotten all greasy over the 20 minute drive home. I opened it up, took a bite, and fully enjoyed. They serve beer and wine as well. Next time I'll be back with the intention of staying to enjoy my meal. Hopefully the music will be back - if not the same, just as good.

I was looking forward trying these empanadas and unfortunately they were disappointing.. Not quite fresh and skimping on the filling (huge air pockets!) Quality: 2 starts. Price 2 starts Location 2 starts. 4 stars for the yummy milhojas cake overall 3 stars rating

The best empanadas in California apart from my grandma's. The owner offers excellent service and I'm so happy the only Chilean eatery in the area is surviving the pandemic. I got my mom a pino empanada, that was fat, after a quick greet.

Grabbed one of the beef empanadas for breakfast recently and it was good, but a bit too doughy. The stuffing is well flavored, but there were too many vacant spaces inside leading to just sort of empty bites. But it's a cute shop and I'd def try their other stuff.

I discovered this place walking by. I used to living life in chile so I was happy to try a fresh empanada. I was surprised to see a "gourmet empanada" at $7.5 so after ordering I casually asked what it is called "gourmet". The store manager got upset and started lecturing me on the freshness of her empanadas... a few minutes ago, a customer asked for water and she apparently got upset as well. The empanada I had was almost only doe, nothing inside and yes it was dry. Never again.

Ordered one CHILEAN CLASSIC PINO empanadas to go for $7.50 The empanadas itself is very small. The inside of it was very tasty and seemed authentic. I'm dinging a star because the dough around it tasted almost stale and day old. It was not flakey. Very dry. Thin. Yuck I might come back to try their dessert as it is so convenient to 16th bart

I can't speak to the authenticness but I lived a couple blocks away for years and I love these empanadas. I got the vegan one the first time I went because the beef was sold out and honestly - couldn't tell the difference. Sometimes I get an extra one for later & stick it in the oven to warm up. imo the classic beef is the best (even if I have to eat around the olive), the salsa that comes with is also very good. (for everyone complaining about the price, have you seen the size of the ones other places sell? like half the size for more than half the cost)

This place is a little shop tucked away, with seats along the outside window of the shop. It's very quiet and I'm surprised that this place has such high overall ratings in Yelp! My friend and I decided to try a beef empanada - when we ordered, like other reviewers mentioned, there weren't prices anywhere! After ordering, the owner told us it would be $7.50... for one empanada!!! Now, taste wise, the empanada was good! The outside wasn't too dense and had the crispy outer edge. There was also a hard boiled egg and olive within the center. However, for $7.50, definitely not worth it..

The area is a little sketch but man the empanada was something. My mother is Chilean and my aunts, godmother, grandmother made empanadas on the regular so I was curious. I was pleasantly surprised and we will definitely come back. Fun added attraction, a small band started playing but more seating and shade is needed. We'll stop by in October to check it out. Viva Chile mierda.

I have fond memories of Chile when I traveled south to Patagonia a decade ago. I was alone with a backpack and a worn Frommer's Guide trying to get used to the midnight sun. I was in the main town down there, Punta Arenas, getting used to eating dinner at 11PM. That's the last time I had Chilean-style empanadas. I remember very well the more complicated folding technique they applied that made them look like crowns rather than turnovers. I'm not sure why it's taken me this long to try chef/owner Paula Tejeda's empanadas at Chile Lindo, but Jamie W. and I finally had an excuse because we were waiting to get into the Victoria Theater to be extras in a documentary. We were early but not incredibly hungry yet. I actually didn't realize it was just a kitchen with a few stools on the sidewalk (photo: http://bit.ly/1t5AVl5). Perfect. There were five empanadas to choose from, all $7.50, which struck us as a bit high, something that is explained in painstaking detail in a laminated flyer entitled Chile Price Adjustment (photo: http://bit.ly/YbTRUT). Jamie ordered the Jamón y Queso with Jalapeño, which did look more like a Hostess fruit pie from the outside (photo: http://bit.ly/1vQ2Fi4), but it was quite tasty with the melted cheddar and mozzarella mixed together. Regardless, I preferred their signature creation, the Classic Pino with Niman Ranch Beef (of course), onions, paprika, cumin, raisins, black olives, and a slice of hard-boiled egg. Now there's my crown (photo: http://bit.ly/YbTBFi). The savory and sweet blend worked very well with the egg a nice touch. El Porteño's empanadas are cheaper but smaller and not as fresh tasting. I read her explanation while I chewed. OK I get it. FOOD - 4 stars...handmade empanadas, authentic and pricey but not necessarily overpriced AMBIANCE - 3 stars...really just a food stand SERVICE - 3 stars...attentive enough TOTAL - 4 stars...worthy of a try and then some...if you don't mind the premium price

$10 salad in the FiDi or empanada in the Mission? Hmmm. Tough choice. See: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4427412174_578d1f3de5_b.jpg I've been wanting to go here for quite some time and finally made it over. Conveniently located near the 16th and Mission BART this store is TINY. Luckily, the empanadas make up for it in size as they are 2x as big as any empanada I have had anywhere else. For $5 you get a large empanada that could easily serve as a light meal. I got the carne de res (beef) empanad which I REALLY enjoyed. Yes, empanadas are usually $2-$3 but usually smaller, so live with it. I am definitely going to be a regular here.

The empanadas' smell brings me back to my Chilean mom cooking empanadas in the kitchen growing up. The pevre is delicious! The torta de mil hojas made with real manjar is good too. A bit pricey but worth it being the only Chilean kitchen in the city.

Great Chilean empanadas in the mission district. This empanadas are different from others because are bigger and the dough and fillings are different. The location is convenient and easy to get if you are in this area.

Went on the 18th to get empanadas to celebrate and the owner decided that day not to open until 2pm....RUINED THE CELEBRATION...THANKS....I would have put zero atars....

Really amazing little gem of a place. Just off the 16th St. BART, Paula has built this delightful little hole in the wall to serve some of the better empanadas I've ever encountered. She's been doing this a long time, and has a really nice thing going here. The empanadas are fantastic. I haven't tried the other offerings here yet, but they also look really solid. Great spot to drop by if you're ever in the neighborhood. Delightful service and excellent food.

Absolutely delicious and authentic Chilean empanadas (according to my Chilean girlfriend). They have a few different versions including "pino" (the original /classic), chicken, beef and ham & cheese, but the real kicker is their vegan empanada. It's the same as the "pino" but with vegan meat and it is absolutely delicious and tastes almost identical to the real meat version! The dough is homemade and so crispy on the edges and soft in all the right places. The spices were amazing and the raisins added the perfect sweetness at the end. For anyone complaining it was too sweet, you simply don't like Chilean empanadas as that is the traditional filling. Anyway, I digress. I found these empanadas to be absolutely delicious and I wish the owner of this small, adorable business all the best!

Vegan empanadas! A little pricey but was happy to support in the times of COVID-19. The owner is a sweetheart and I love the literal "hole in the wall" location.

Wow terrible! I'm not one to leave a bad review. But I already had my reserves about a $7.50 empanada! I mean come on. Upon a starving day I finally broke and had one. They only accept cash FYI which is boogie. Ladies are in there own world that work there barely acknowledge you and one women doesn't speak a lick of English but still tries to take orders. Long story short.....$7.50 being robbed from me I get a bland uncooked doughy empanada what and outrage will never ever ever be back!

Banana, Your $7.50 Empanada was dry, burnt and without any flavor. This $7.50 was supposed to sustain me throughout the better portion of the day, hitting a deep spot like only a good empanada can, making you feel whole and enriched in the process... I would like my $7.50 back. Sincerely, -Pollo Empanada togo +1* for longevity and for luck in the future!

Best empanadas in the Bay Area! I was thrilled to hear they are currently offering DELIVERY of empanadas by the dozen! They are so delicious. The classic piño is amazing. Totally authentic! Perfect for right now or if you need to stock up and freeze for lunches or dinners. Excellent in every way and the owner, Paula, is wonderful! Amazing customer service.

A literal hole in the wall shop with outdoor stools only. This place is more for take out or grab and go. It's also CASH ONLY! I saw a video about this place especially the Torta de Mil Hojas cake, so I dropped by to pick up a slice. The owner was on the phone, but she nonetheless served me. A slice was $6 which is pretty expensive for a slice of cake. I guess it makes sense because the slice was huge, thick, and homemade. The cake is basically a layered crepe-like cake with Dulce de Leche filling between each crunchy layers. Then it's sprinkled with chopped walnuts. The cake is overly sweet, so it's perfect for people with a sweet tooth.

Cash only. They make one of the best empanadas I've ever eaten so far. They aren't your typical empanadas and it's the reason why I think it justifies the $7.50 price tag. My friend and I shared a chicken empanada for lunch and ate it outside. It was so good that I decided to get another one to go on my way back to LA. There is no seating but there is a standup counter right outside the store. I will have to come back next time I'm in the city.

As a life long empanada lover, can attest that Chile Lindo is as good as it gets, thanks to Paula's uncompromising commitment to quality and integrity of the process. Not even in their country of origin they are made with such top quality organic ingredients as they usually aim for cheap street fare range, while Paula relentlessly delivers top quality. Plus, a well made empanada is a very labor intensive process, requiring to chop beef (instead of using ground beef) and onions, and fold them manually. There are cheaper empanadas out there, but not better ones.

Friendly and charming, Chile Lindo has the feel of an old fashioned bake shop, with a counter and a row of stools outside. They're famous for their Chilean empanadas but they also bake cookies and pies. They were baking some chocolate cherry cookies while I was there. It's a snack spot, not a place to get a meal. The baked empanadas start with hand rolled dough. Choose from three kinds: beef, vegan, and cheese. I selected the cheese & jalapeno empanada ($5), a pretty baked crescent about 7 inches long. I took it home and heated it in the oven at 350 degrees for 5 minutes. I wish I had heated it longer...the cheddar cheese was big glob. The flavor reminded me of nachos. For $5, it seems expensive and I wish they had more in the middle, like beans, corn, onions. It could use something else to make it interesting. Either that or make it smaller and cheaper. I wish they had more varieties to choose from. * Cinnamon sugar cookie: crispy, air pocket inside, not your usual cookie, almost like it's made out of pie crust * Lemon cookie: heavy and dense, it looks like a buttermilk biscuit, with a sugary lemon glaze on top, it was more like a biscuit/scone, I liked it, it was very homestyle/comforting Cash only

Honey bunny and I were were walking (ok, I was limping) back to the BART station after enjoying the Carnival. We passed by a lady who was munching on some sort of turnover and she was smiling as if she had the secrets of the Universe. Honey got all excited, "Jamaican Beef Patties," I wonder where she got it? I scoped out every store as we continued walking and across the street and up a few blocks was Chile Lino Empanadas. Honey hustled across the street and picked up one Cheese and Jalapeno and one beef. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mV-p9xEBvkbkoA8wAsAteQ?select=2RX_4wtcEe7wV63R8099JQ We continued up to the station and then plunked ourselves down in the sun, watching the traffic while we ate. The beef empanada was a little bigger than my hand. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mV-p9xEBvkbkoA8wAsAteQ?select=ZDgsC2fY_8UJhw6ktevqfw It had a nice crust and was loaded with a healthy portion of beef filling with onions, raisens, olives and hard boiled egg. It was a perfect blend of sweet and savory and the egg of course added a creaminess that I've learned to love. In the beginning the egg turned me off, but over the years, I've learned to anticipate it. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mV-p9xEBvkbkoA8wAsAteQ?select=Aio_zJSPVkv_WFVh_0sczg Honey wasn't that impressed with his cheese and jalapeno empenada, but I think that he would have enjoyed the beef, since he's a meat and potato's type of fella. I think he was just disappointed because he was looking for a Jamaican Beef Patty. This was a great "quick" snack, and I'd stop again if I was in the area.

Update on store hours, starting last Monday 1/4/10: Open 8am-10pm, Mon-Fri (open weekends also, but hours to be revised soon). As reported by Adam B., a vegan empanada has been added to the menu.

I thought the Ferry Building's empanadas at El Porteno were expensive at the price of $6.52, but lo and behold, they charge you $7.50 a piece here. At least the ones at El Porteno are amazingly delicious! The ones here have more dough than filling, leave your mouth dry, and they barely heat it up for you. At El Porteno, you get a beautiful view of the water to go with your pricey empanada. Here, you get a very pricey empanada to go with the view of the 16th and Mission Bart. Never again.

Being half-Chilean, I can tell you the empanadas really did taste like authentic Chilean empanadas, however, they were extremely overpriced!!! 7.50 for ONE empanada!! That's literally robbery! I've been to several Chilean Bakeries in NYC and they charge around $4 per empanada. $7.50 is simply ridiculous! There's only ONE Chilean spot in the entire bay area - Don't they want more people to try Chilean food?! A huge disservice to the culinary diversity of the bay area, which already seriously lacks cuisine from South America. The Alfajores were good and priced more (only slightly more) reasonably.

CASH ONLY!! I went to Chile Lindo to try the Chilean empanadas. They are baked, not fried which is a good thing. Tiny shop. I went inside and one guy was making the empanadas on the Left. They have 3 items on the menu: beef empanada, cheese empanada, or Vegan - $5 ea. I got one beef & one cheese for $10.76 (that's with tax). Took a bite of the cheese one and it was pretty thick dough, cheese wasn't anything special w/ tiny bit of jalapeno. Beef one - thick dough, some beef inside w/ hard boiled egg, black olives. I thought it was just ok. I needed the Siracha hot sauce to give it a kick. 5 stools outside, no sitting inside. CASH ONLY! Sun Closed - was open special for Carnaval 5/30/10 M-F 8-10 Sat 10-6

Good empanadas but not worth the price. Actually the owner doesn't even post the prices so it's a mystery until she tells you it'll be $21 for 3 empanadas. I can get a whole pizza for $21. Unfortunately for her she just lost another customer. I won't give my business to someone who insults her customers complaining about what they do for a living and not appreciating that they are patronizing her business. Done.

I been coming to Chile lindo since I was a kid, I brought my friend for the first the other day, we ate 6 empanadas (beef and chicken are the best). Paula (owner) is amazing, she is always there when come in!!! My TOGO place for empanadas for the past 20 years!

Cute little cash only, take out shop. The empanadas look amazing. They have a variety. The woman that works (owns?) it will recommend her favorite which is chicken. They're light, not greasy and fantastic. Truth: mixing hard boiled egg, olives and raisins is never a good combo. But trust me these are delicious. I hate raisins and was surprised to see them in there (my bad for not reading what pino was) but I picked them out and ate the rest. They're bigger than Argentinian empanadas but I still think that $7.50 is a bit too high for them. One is enough but you can totally eat two.

Very sweet man running this shop, I wish I could review better, but this tasted like a cold hot pocket. :( I spent a good potion of my year in Chile and these empanadas do not compare. 5.50$ for a cold, fairly low quality food item made me really sad. If you have had awesome Empanadas in Chile, you may be let down... but if you are looking for a 'cheap bite' on your way to work, I suppose this would do- I wont be coming back, though.

Yes, the empanadas are $5, but they're worth every penny. De. Li. Cious. And available in vegan! Make your purchase through the doorway, and you can eat on the run or take a seat on one of the four bar stools outside the window (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mV-p9xEBvkbkoA8wAsAteQ/your_photos). This little shop-meets-roadside-stand is really a bright spot on the street, which only a block away offers a strong stench of urine and the opportunity to try a lot of different drugs. Lindo's is definitely not your typical roadside stand--this place offers espresso beverages. Also one of my favorite mochas I've ever had; kicks Starbucks' ass fo sho. The chocolate she uses tastes artisanal. And a strong whiff was enough to eradicate that good old city pee stink that had lodged itself in my nostrils.

Visiting here from Orange county California.. Had to stop again for some yummy empanadas. This place is pretty cool and I will definitely hit it up when I'm back in San Francisco

Had a pretty good empanada at the SF street food festival '12! Classic Pino Niman Ranch Beef Empanada ($6) - 4 stars http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/san-francisco-street-food-festival-san-francisco?select=nU3wPtIR5r6v5fAvo2Q_bg#Pmgvk3vOUMbCX3vJ1XJpLA Not normally a big empanada fan, but I like that theirs is more baked, not so much soaked in oil & deep fried. Their crust had a more hearty bread-like texture, almost like a pie crust. The beef was very crumbly & savory, though that part didn't stand out to me as much.

Ordered two beef empanda and chicken empanda. Service was slow on a Saturday daytime. No one else was there. I was surprised that they charged for the salsa, $0.25 each, but whatever. I ended up getting 4. When I got back to eat the empanadas, I had the beef first. The beef was really tasty. The salsa didn't really add much flavor though. The chicken was less tasty compared to the beef empanada. I added all the remaining salsa (2) to my empanada for taste. The empanadas are large, so they are filling. Several hours later though both my partner and I had a quizey stomach. You know what happens after that. As we both ate the same thing and I more of the salsa than he did, I have to wonder if the salsa was bad? Just putting it out there as I returned to the porcelain god several times later in the day. The beef empanada is good that I would come back again.

Grossly overpriced for a dry and flavorless empanada. When I say dry, I mean the bread sticks sucks all the moisture out of your salivating mouth. There is a hint of flavor in the 'authentic Chilean spicy sauce' (which isn't spicy at all), but a richer and more robust flavor can be found in a jar at your local Safeway. We tried the vegan and chicken ones. I would be okay if it was priced as a normal bakery but for $7.50 plus tax for the small portion, this is simply a scam. Highly not recommended and will never return. Change the price range. Definitely not 1$.

OK, so I have been on an empanada kick lately, hence my trip to Chile Lindo came enthusiatically! It was a little hard to find at first since it is a hole-and-corner location. But, once located I walked into the quant store and was greeted by the owner. She was nice enough, perfunctory with her answers, but to the point. There were only 3 empandads on the menu, one vegan, cheese/jalapeño, and beef. My bf was a little disappointed there was not chicken, but he was quite happy with the cheese which I had a bite of and it was heavenly. I ordered the vegan E and it was a savory delight, meat eaters alike would agree. I would have rather there wasn't fake meat since I am one of those vegetarians who don't want to taste meat. nevertheless, I still liked it. One thing I wish they had were sauces to go with the empanadas since I felt it was missing a little something. But I took it home and added my own. Overall, they were a good size, not as big as vengas empanadas, but big enough for an afternoon snack, or dinner if you have it with a salad or rice and beans. I will absolutely be back for more!! Oh and don't forget to grab one of the homemade muffins for 95 cents, what a deal!!

Rushed over at 7:51pm to get an empanada and what do ya know? They were still open and serving. Yes! I ordered the Chilanga (cheese and jalapeños) it was sooo good! The best empanada I've had so far in the Bay Area. The dough was delicious and it was soo cheesy. Next time I will definitely get an extra salsa because I didn't have enough to use on my whole empanada. Although this was the most expensive single empanada I've ever bought at $7.50 it was totally worth it. If they were $5 I'd be back all the time. I can't wait to try the rest of their menu when I feel like treating myself again.

It's so nice to go to a Latin American joint and not see a book of menu options that rivals diners and Chinese restaurants. She only sells Chilean empanadas and only three kinds at that! That kind of singularity lets you know what you're getting has to be the house specialty and is made with much love. The warm empanadas were so enticing I changed plans from bringing it back and instead devoured them outside near the convenient drink holding ledge. My only suggestion would be to offer real sugar Coke (Mexican import is the most widely available) because it tastes better than the $1 corn syrupy can and could easily be jacked up to $2.50-$3.00 for foodies who like to feel they're having an authentic Latin American street food experience. Pino Empanada: By far the star of the shop. The dough is fresh, buttery and flaky. The owner is insistent on warming it up so you enjoy it the way it should be enjoyed. The filling is mix of ground beef, onions, raisins, hard boiled egg, black olives, cumin, paprika, salt and pepper. The complexity of ingredients and spices beats those simple carne empanadas you get elsewhere. For $5, it is a hearty meal by itself! Cheese & Jalapeño Empanada: Same praise for the dough as with the pino. Too avoid the cheese (mozzarella and cheddar) from solidifying, eating this first should be your top priority. The jalapeños were not whole, but larger than diced... probably just the right size. Perfect for cheese lovers, but might be too heavy for the rest. Vegan Emapanda: From a carnivore's perspective this is way inferior to the pino. The dough does not have any of the great dairy products so it is not light, flaky or buttery. The fake ground meat has a good texture, but doesn't leak meat juice and fat into the mix like real beef. However, if you are a vegan or vegetarian, then it's still worth checking out. I've had WAY WAY worse vegan food. For vegan dough, it is a lot softer and chewier than other baked goods, probably because it is so fresh. All the other ingredients besides egg and beef are still in the empanada so it's like a pino-lite and offers a much more interesting meal choice than a boring boca burger or tofu dog.

Big fat empanadas nom, nom, nom. Tried both the chicken and the beef empanadas. I would have to say that I like the beef one better. Its filled with sweet and savory spices. I quite liked it. The bread was crispy on the outside, yet doughy. Good a quick bite on the run.

I had my first (delicious) authentic Chilean Chile Lindo empanada in Dolores park last month and LOVED IT! It was beef, but was surprised & delighted to find it also had hard boiled egg, olives, raisins & more, all sauteed in a delicious spice. Lastnight I had my second at her new location, next to Esperpento on 22nd & it was just as delicious as the first. Possibly even better because I was able to enjoy it with a cold Spanish beer & enjoy the cozy atmosphere of her new space! Here's the Yelp page for the new location: http://www.yelp.com/biz/chile-lindo-empanadas-and-esperpento-wine-bar-san-francisco