Empanadas are abundant in Chicago; however, Don Pablo’s takes a tremendous amount of care to detail and provides an experience that isn’t quite matched in Chicago. The restaurant moves into a building that hadn’t seen a ton of commercial activity in recent years, but it is certainly a welcome addition to the neighborhood. Typically this corridor is known for Vietnamese food, but this is a nice change of pace from what is expected. The restaurant showcases a soundtrack of house tunes that evoke the city’s historic electronic music legacy. The sleek artwork on the wall establishes a strong sense of place and pride in the neighborhood and city itself.
The menu features a delightful array of options and I opted to try a Poeta. This shrimp-based empanada was filled with both gouda and mozzarella cheese. As a fan of cheese pulls, this empanada wow’d me with the melty strings of cheese that oozed out. The crust itself was so delicate. I was amazed with how filling it could be despite the lightweight feel of it. It was served alongside a chimichurri sauce that offered a nice punch of acidity. This condiment was refreshing and was even delicious to lick up after finishing the empanada. Overall, this was one of my favorite dining experiences of the year and I would recommend checking it out on your visit to Argyle.
