Don Pablo's kitchen & Bakeshop

Chicagoans and visitors are up to an international treat. This restaurant is truly a Chilean jewel in the heart of Chicago's Uptown. Excellent local restaurant serving authentic Chilean cuisine, with emphasis in the best oven empanadas ever, arguably better than some of the ones you can buy in Chile. Other empanadas in their menu are Isla Negra (seafood) and Fried Cheese empanadas (see attached pictures). Ceviche and Pastel de Choclo are available via special pre-order.

The empanadas were delicious (Clasica and Neapolitan)! The corn pie and tomato salad were absolutely delicious and so fresh and authentic. To finish up the meal, we had the Alfajores and ordered more! They were so perfectly sweet. I went with my Chilean boyfriend’s family and they all said it’s authentic and highly recommended it!

Over the weekend I visited this cozy Chilean restaurant tucked in the streets of Uptown. I was very pleased with the great recommendations the friendly owner provided. I tried 3 different types of empanadas. All very flavorful and sizes were very generous. The chimichurri was fantastic. It had a great twist to the traditional chimichurri. I’ll defer tly be returning to try the alfajores and milojas.

Scoring 4.5 but rounded up to 5 since no half star option. Small indoor footprint restaurant. Ordered at counter and brought to us. Menu is on wall. Very good empanada but wouldn't call awesome as a bit diff to my palate. However for the size and freshness they are very much worth trying several times. We had 3 diff empanadas with some chimichurri sauce. They also have outside seating. Need to come back and try other options. Unfortunately did not have any alfajores available as a treat during lunch visit. Toll street parking available on Argyle.

Good size empanadas, limited menu but DELICIOUS. Walked past the place several times, finally went in to order take out. Ordered one of each Pluma Pesto, Napolitana, Greek Tragedy and the Queso. Good sized portions. Should be eaten when they just had been cooked. Light flaky crisp dough with ample amount of filling. TASTY is all I can say. Had to have the Milhoja, crisp flaky puff past crust with a caramel filling. Perfect! Not too over bearing sweet. Small dining are inside but the have tables outside when weather permits.

A Chilean restaurant at the east end of Argyle. Cute place to eat in and they have a nice big space set up for warmer weather. BYOB. We tried the Traditional and a shrimp one. Big enough to share but you don't want to they are so good! We will be back for the corn pie!

I recently dined at Don Pablo’s, and it was an incredible experience that transported me straight back to my home country of Chile. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with the warmest smiles and a cozy atmosphere that instantly made me feel at home. The menu was a delightful journey through the flavors of Chile. Each dish was crafted with such care and authenticity that it felt like a culinary trip down memory lane. I couldn't resist ordering my favorite dish, the Classic Empanada, and it was nothing short of perfection. The flavors were spot-on, and the presentation was a work of art. It was like a hug in the form of food. I live a out an hour away from this location but I make sure I come here at least once or twice a month to experience this amazing place. If you're looking for a restaurant that serves up the flavors and warmth of Chile, Don Pablo’s is an absolute must-visit. Gracias Pablo!

Every single time I’m in Chicago, I go out of my way to eat at this small but delicious restaurant that brings a taste of Chile 🇨🇱 You just have to try the beef empanada, and the delicate Milhoja (manjar cake made with puff pastry)! You can get the empanadas to go and enjoy the Pastel de Choclo at the restaurant, it is very good. Be patient, everything is freshly cooked, and that takes a little bit of time.

I'm so glad I got to try out delicious Chilean empanadas at Don Pablo's Kitchen & Bakeshop! I went in with my friend and the owner (Pablo) guided us through the menu and was super helpful. We ended up getting the clásica (this one had sirloin steak, boiled egg, and olives) and the poeta (which had shrimp, basil, corn, and two types of cheeses) Both were so delicious and filling! We also had this with a side of chimichurri which complimented the empanadas perfectly! They offer seating outside which was perfect because the weather was nice the day we ate out. They also give you the option on whether or not you want your empanadas baked or fried which is an amazing option. (We had ours fried since it was our first time trying them and we wanted to eat the empanadas at its full glory LOL.) Overall amazing food and amazing service. Cannot wait to come back!

I have to say-while the outside seating is amazing-the inside not so much. I waited more than 30 minutes to get my food. It was wrapped in a brown bag stamped by hand - My Experience- So when a patron removed the food-it was inedible due to the bagging and the loss of the top part of the empanada wrapper- left a patron with just a soggy internal of whatever was left-I am not even convinced that the people who were/are making the food are from Chile. I have travelled to Chile 6 times-this is a poor representation of the country.

The owner was super nice and friendly. From what I saw he was running everything by himself the day I came in too. There are so many empanada options from breakfast to dessert. I had a breakfast empanada that contained spinach, egg, cheese. I will say it was a different experience for me, because I never had an empanada with such fillings, but it really worked out. They are very sizable, so keep that in mind when you are ordering. The space is small and quaint, nothing crazy, but it works for the business. I would recommend, you might even see me in there!

This place is a hidden gym, I've been here twice and each time the empanadas have been incredible. I think these are the best empanadas I've ever had. My favorite so far is the Greek tragedy but I'll have to try more. It's a cozy place that I could definitely imagine working from at some point. I rarely leave reviews but I really hope people in uptown discover this.

Excellent Chilean beef empanada & Hot dog completo. Also excellent service! & recommend to all the Chileans in Chicago!

Don Pablo is a new empanadas kitchen on Argyle. So far, they have been the rave in the area, so I gave them a try. I got there close to the end of the day, so the options were limited; make sure you go earlier. I got the classica which is a nice-sized Sirloin soup base empanada which was good. I got my mine meal to go next time; I will try to sit in the kitchen for the whole experience. I got their cookie for the desert, which was ok. I can't wait to try the apple empanada and their chicken-based one as well. I want this space to succeed, so try it for yourself. Based off first try 3 out of 5

This place was just up the street from me and had some seriously good empanadas. It was one of my go-to places. However a few days ago I put in an online order for pick up and received notification that my order would be ready in 20 minutes. When I arrived, I saw the place was completely empty. No sign out front and nothing inside. Bare. I wasn't charged for my order but I'm going to miss their empanadas. They went out of business and pulled out fast. Such a shame, this place was good.

AMAZING just a must!!! Delicious empanadas Chilean authentic!! And served by it's owner who by the way is a charming gentleman!!

A friend sent me a link to Don Pablo's Bakeshop because I studied in Chile in 2008 -- and the last time I had Chilean empanadas was before Rapa Nui on Irving/Elston closed many years ago. Despite a commute from the burbs, I've come here twice so far and introduced a number of friends to the bakeshop. The empanadas are delicious. It brings me back to making them with my host family, though we just did pino (clásica) and queso. My favorite so far is the Poeta, which I've had twice. I've also had clásica, Greek Tragedy, and pluma pesto (chicken and pesto). The ingredients seem high quality! I enjoyed all of them. I can't wait to try the rest of the empanadas and the pastel de choclo. My rec is to split a few in half with a friend! Don't leave here without getting the milhojas cake (thousand layer cake), even if you get it to go! Loved the alfajores as well. We will be back!

We have returned! My husband and I haven't been back in the shop but we have ordered delivery twice now. I've gotten the napolitana twice and he has tried the clasica as well. Both of these orders were correct. Our number one obsession is simply the pastry. It is delicious and is probably the number one reason we will continue ordering from this place. The pastry on the napolitana is different from the one on the clasica. We love the one they use on the napolitana. They do not skimp on filling here. The napolitana is very, very cheesy while clasica was very meaty and savory. By the way, if you are skeptical of the hard boiled egg + olive combo (as we were), it's good! That empanada seemed to be mostly meat with only a little egg and olive and even with that combination it was pretty tasty. So there's nothing to fear! I'd say these are good for either a rather large snack or a small meal. After eating one I'm usually comfortably full or left wanting just an extra bite of something to eat. Also highly recommend getting the chimichurri sauce with your empanadas. If you're fond of condiments, I'd recommend one sauce per person. Definitely now a part of our regular take out/order in rotation. A really great place to go if you want a simple, quick meal that won't cost you too much.

This relatively new restaurant is definitely a place to explore! Having grown up in Chile, I can tell you the flavors are authentic. The size of the empanada is larger than what you might see from other cuisines. It's somewhere between a large snack or a small meal. Having tried the clásica empanada, pastel de choclo (corn casserole), and the alfajores, I can say it was all delicious. If you've never had Chilean food and you want to dip your toes into something new, definitely give this place a try. I would recommend ordering online to make the experience even better so your food is hot and ready when you arrive!

Visited for the first time. Is a really nice option to have in Argyle. Tried to order online so I can pick up, but on Sundays the pick up options is not available. Tried Poema or poesía (shrimp) cheese and napolitana. They are all good. My only suggestion is to put less cheese in the ones that are from other ingredients besides cheese. Is just too much and kills the delicious flavors or the rest of the ingredients. I will order without cheese next time. I also suggest having a baked version because fried is way too heavy. That way I can eat them more often.

I've eaten at least half the menu in the five or six times I've been here and never had a bad bite. The high point is the crust (so light and flaky!) but it helps that the fillings are flavorful and loaded with cheesy goodness. Be sure to get an extra order of the delicious chimichurri.

Not sure what I expected but I based my assumption off of an instagram posts by the restaurant. The food isn't bad at all just not jaw dropping good. I've never had an empanada that was stellar so take that with a grain of salt. They were out of the chickens & pesto empanada so the staff offered the corn pie without beef to substitute which was the highlight of the meal. Pricing was ok at around $50 bucks for a family of 3. The mihoja which was recommended by the staff was also pretty good.

The empanadas are so fresh and flaky, and they offer just a simple, strong cup a Joe.

Great empanadas. The real thing. If you're not familiar with Chilean empanadas these are different from other kinds. They are much larger and the filling is unique. One empanada can be a meal for most people. We also tried the Pastel de Choclo which was very well made and very flavorful. We made a 1+ hour drive and we were very pleased. We will definitely be coming back.

Have you seen how big their empanadas are?! It's massive, one is more than enough for a meal for me atleast. The napolitana is my favorite, tastes like pizza inside a pastry!

Hands down the best empanadas I've ever had. The shrimp, corn and cheese hit it out of the park. The dough is rich and perfectly thin, I could eat it with nothing inside. The Apple desert empanada was fantastic and the cookies just melt in your mouth. Don't miss this place.

AMAZING . Literally everything here is good. First time here and we ordered the Clasica. Come visit you won't regret it Our new place to come in out neighborhood

This is not just a review about the excellent empanadas with their wide variety of flavors, but also a review on the solid service. Last Sunday afternoon, 8 of us, 6 of whom had never had an empanada before, showed up at Don Pablo's (my family rolls deep). We ordered two of everything. That's a lot for a small shop less than 2 hours to close. We waited at their lovely outdoor table and visited. They were apologetic about the time it took (maybe 40 min? maybe?) but the food was so good no one even noticed in the end - not even my very vocal about how hungry he is nephew. We've been here before for dinner, but the kindness they showed us - they even threw in a piece of cake - despite us likely throwing off their kitchen schedule was very much appreciated. We definitely will be bringing guests here again (but maybe with a call in order).

Very proud of my friend Pablo , i tried the Isla Negra empanada today , i felt like i was in the litoral central of chile eating an empanada , amazing !! Thanks for the flavors pablo and julie , great job guys

This place is a joke. They open at noon on Sunday. I show up at 1:45p ready to place an order to go. There are only a couple of old people sitting at the window table chatting. Let me get a clasica. No, we're out. Ok let me get a napolitana. No, we're out. Lmao ok wtf do do you have? The customer walks out after ready to drop some cash. With an extremely small menu option, how are you not ready? How do you not have anything to sell? Turning away customers is a recipe for failure. I might give them one more shot but ya'll blew it today.

Excellent empanadas! A taste of Santiago, Chile you won't find easily elsewhere in Chicago.

Taste just like it's from Chile! I'm so happy this place is here. The empanadas are amazing especially the meat ones.

Chilean owner does authentic empanadas. Nice guy, Deep fried yet flaky food. Maybe a bit heavy for eating every day but a treat once in awhile. Everyone I know has a different favorite. If you love cheese try the Napoletana. Make sure you get the chimichurri sauce. Not hot but really flavorful. Haven't tried the spicier/hotter pebre sauce but plan to next time

These empanadas are so good. Price might look high but they're huge and full of meat. Highly highly recommend.

I went with 3 friends to this restaurant recently and we had a variety of empanadas that were all delicious. No lie. My experience with empanadas was from Mexican places and, although they were tasty, a little dry. Don Pablo's were far superior. According to Mr. Pablo (who does all the cooking and baking himself), the reason is that he is originally from Chile and they make their empanadas larger and juicier. They were, indeed! To top things off we all split the Milhoja desert, which is a multi-layer dessert filled with caramel and was scrumptious. It's a small place, but that aside this is a gem of a restaurant and you won't be disappointed.

Don Pablos is to empanadas what Pizzeria Uno is to Chicago style pizza. The beef in the classica is unbelievable. And the baked dough is superb.

Delicious savory and sweet empanadas! Plus generous portions! We got the Classica, Harvest, Scramble, and Jamon y Queso! Chimichurri on the side. We also had pisco sours, which were tasty! Chilean decor was very nice. We came in on Easter Sunday for brunch and the owner was so friendly. Highly recommend Don Pablo's!

Had 2 empanadas - chicken and shrimp and they were excellent. The sauce the empanadas come with is to die for! If you live in Uptown, please support this restaurant- the team works so hard and they just need some startup love

Giant empanadas which are delicious. Wonderful, kind, friendly service. A neighborhood gem.

Been here twice now and these empanadas are big on flavor and literally BIG too! Outside is flaky, fillings are tasty, these things are incredible. And the people are so warm and friendly! Do yourself a favor and grab an empanada (or five). As for me, I can't wait to come back and try the desserts

I waited 30 minutes for 2 empanadas before the owner came out and said he was running way behind. I left. They stole 30 minutes of my time for 2 empanadas. They are not ready to be in business just yet. You can't show up at 10:55 and expect to serve customers hot empanadas at 11am. BTW, I came in at 11:15.

They serve really delicious empanadas that are uniquely different from the ones I've had in Venezuela and Colombia. They have a variety with different interesting ingredients, and the flaky layer cake for desert is super!

Did you ever eat something so good that you can't stop talking about it? That's Don Pablo's. Crazy day. Missed lunch. Empanadas sounded good for me and my Bolivian bf. I ordered from Uber Eats while I finished my last call of the day. As soon as I opened the bag I knew I made the right choice. They smelled amazing and were very heavy. Surprisingly heavy. Perfectly browned crust. Cut into it to reveal all the filling. So much meat. I enjoyed one and was pretty satisfied. My bf ate one and a half and couldn't finish the second half. I am so excited to have something so amazing and reasonably priced in the neighborhood. Lord knows I love Vietnamese food but I also appreciate something unique for some variety. I didn't order the apple empanada and I'm really regretting that decision. I guess I know where I'm going tomorrow.

The best Authentic Chilean Empanadas!! My husband drove 45 min from the suburbs to pick some up for our guests.

I had the classica and napolitana empanadas here and they were great! The staff was really nice too. I'll definitely come back again!

Very delicious empanadas! We tried The napolinana and queso empanadas and it was delicious especially with the green sauce pictured. The owner and his staff are super friendly and welcoming too!

I live nearby and I was hoping for something other than Vietnamese on Argyle. I had a steak and a cheese empanada. The steak one had so much cumin in it!! terrible. I thought the cheese one would be better but it wasn't Too much oregano. Overpriced even if good. Sorry for the negative review but I am just being honest.

We loved these empanadas-- we had the clásico, the greek tragedy, and the pluma pesto. All with excellent chimichurri sauce on the side. Great flavors, high quality of ingredients, and obviously working from amazing recipes for the dough and the fillings! The alfajores were fantastic for dessert. Give this new business some much deserved love! Excited to order from there again!

Good food and even better service. We enjoyed the empanadas. We got the clasica and the pulled chicken breast empanada. The chicken won.

Empanadas were wonderful, and the service was excellent. The outdoor seating was pleasant. I can't wait to go back.

The empanadas were so good! They're pretty big so just one empanada was filled me up for lunch. Definitely get the sauce, it's so fresh. Fast service and the owner was really friendly. I'm definitely coming back for more.

was there last week around 3 pm and the place was close, somebody open the door and inform me was no more food, never never come around again

Great food and the owner is very nice. I had the clasica and napolitana, they were very delicious. Highly recommend this place

Tasty empanadas. We especially liked the classic steak and egg empanada. The corn pie was tasty as well.