Eating empanadas is very common in certain latitudes of the world, especially down South, but it's not a regular thing over here. I was on the search for something cheap and tasty to eat on the go, for two important reasons: first of all, I had almost no money in my pockets — and I also had very little time.
Chapter one
Eat empanadas on the go!
There I was, in Chinatown, walking down Augusta Avenue, my stomach giving me that desperate sign. I work a lot as a freelance photographer, and as such my income isn't always steady throughout the year.
This was one of those moments when I was a little desperate because of the “in-between paychecks” situation freelancers know so well — you continue to work and produce, but you haven't yet been paid.
Anyway, back to the place I want to recommend. I am a traveller (hence, a freelancer) by nature, and I have been to South America a couple of times. My last trip involved some serious empanada-lovers: Chile and Argentina. They take it as a tradition and hold championships to select the best empanadas in each country.
Competition is fierce, and they fight each other constantly to be on top of the game. Some provinces keep their own particular flavours, while others boast a diverse set of ingredients.
If you have never had empanadas, they are quite a discovery. The idea is to wrap some kind of filling in a dough that's like a salty puff pastry. The result is a mini tart that's completely closed and (usually) very tasty. The combination is awesome, and it leaves room for as many flavours as the creator — the cook — wants.
Since the filling can be so diverse, eating one kind or the other really makes a difference. In most Latin American restaurants it's kind of a substitute for pizza; but in this case I discovered they can be awesome for eating on the go — taking them with you and eating while walking.
Chapter two
Recommended and cheap
The place I got my empanadas at was called Jumbo Empanadas, and it promotes them as premium Chilean food. That's the first mistake — they are Argentinian. They also offer Inka Cola to go with them which, far from being Chilean or Argentinian, is Peruvian!
To finish up this nationality salad, they also offer humita — an Argentinian/Bolivian dish made of corn and served in the chala, the corn's own husk.
The “nationality salad”, itemised
- Empanadas — sold as Chilean, actually Argentinian
- Inka Cola — neither Chilean nor Argentinian: Peruvian
- Humita — Argentinian/Bolivian corn, served in the chala
All of this made me giggle as soon as I walked in. The owner is an elderly woman who is incredibly nice and made me feel comfortable right away, so I purchased the beef empanadas after trying my Spanish on her a little. I inquired about the nationality salad she had made, and she responded by simply shrugging her shoulders.
I paid with the money I had in my pocket and left with a smile, two empanadas and an Inka Cola — for under $10.
The first one I tried was the beef, and it was nothing like the ones I'd had while travelling. Not tasteless, but definitely weak: the right ingredients were there, but it lacked those Europe-meets-South-America touches like oregano and parsley.
It was good for my hunger, but nothing to write home about. The cheese one, though, was something else — melted and delicious.
It was, of course, geographically incorrect — cheese empanadas like that are not made down in South America — but it tasted much better than the (geographically correct) beef one.
The verdict
Conclusion
Eating a full lunch for under 10 dollars is not an easy task nowadays. I was hungry, didn't have much money, and was in Chinatown, where everything costs much more. I do recommend this place, despite all the things food lovers like me flagged as “incorrect”.
It is cheap, it is good quality and it's located near my home — so I have gone back many times since that rainy Tuesday noon when I first came across it. If you can set your expectations to match the price, this is definitely the place to go.
Augusta Avenue, Chinatown — follow your stomach