We all know that the usual suspects in Chicago are deep-dish pizza and hot dogs. However, I was delighted to stumble upon this incredible empanada gem in Lakeview on a visit.
At dinnertime, there was already a decent line at 5411, but it moved quickly. The menu, written out on a chalkboard on the wall, was filled with so many good choices. It was extremely difficult for me to narrow down my order to just a few. I eventually decided to go with some savory fillings…and one for dessert.
The Argentine empanadas are handmade and baked to perfection. They arrived on a wooden platter, warm and steamy. We took a seat outside in the small patio area and immediately devoured these pockets of goodness. I went with the bacon, dates, and goat cheese, the beef (because, why not?), and the mushroom, thyme, and blue cheese. Fantastic. Seriously. They were amazingly addictive with their bold flavors wrapped in perfectly baked dough, and I wished I had room to try all of the fillings in one sitting. I did, however, rally and order one more for dessert: the banana and Nutella empanada. Wow. The perfect combination of warm Nutella and banana oozed out in every bite making it difficult to slow down.
Of course, you should try the deep-dish pizza and a Chicago-style hot dog while you’re in the city, but don’t forget there’s other food treasures in the most unexpected places. Definitely check out 5411 on N. Clark Street—you will not be disappointed.
Finding delicious 