Chicago Mamas Kitchen offers authentic Puerto Rican catering in Chicago, serving bold island flavors that feel homemade, comforting, and unforgettable. Our food is rooted in tradition, made with care, and perfect for everything from corporate lunches and team meetings to family celebrations, birthdays, showers, and special events.

Were proud to offer a variety of gluten-free friendly favorites that guests lovewithout sacrificing flavor. Whether youre feeding a small group or planning a full-scale event, our catering menu is designed for easy serving, generous portions, and a memorable experience from the first bite to the last.

Gluten-Free Favorites & Crowd Pleasers

Some of our most popular gluten-free options include:

Stuffed Plantains (Rellenos de Maduros) sweet plantains filled with savory, satisfying goodness

Roasted Pork (Pernil) slow-roasted, tender, and seasoned Puerto Rican-style

Traditional Puerto Rican Rice classic, flavorful rice that pairs perfectly with every entre

Ceviche bright, fresh, and citrusy with a clean island-style finish

Island-inspired sides & platters great for sharing and building the perfect buffet spread

We can also customize your catering order with additional Puerto Rican staples, party trays, and event-ready packages to fit your guest count, dietary needs, and vibewhether you want a casual buffet, individually packed meals, or a full celebration spread.

Catering Services

Corporate catering & office lunches
Parties, birthdays, and family events
Special occasions & celebrations
Delivery available (setup options upon request)
Vegetarian-friendly options available

If youre looking for catering that feels authentic, flavorful, and made with loveChicago Mamas Kitchen is ready to bring Puerto Rican comfort food to your next event.

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At Chicago Mamas Kitchen, we create immersive culinary experiences, not just meals. Our hands-on empanada-making workshops and engaging mixology sessions invite guests to cook, shake, and celebrate together. We host events in our commercial kitchen or bring the experience to homes and offices. We provide fresh, made-to-order catering featuring handcrafted empanadas and Latin menus, prepared with 48 hours notice.

Reviews (17)

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Denise Bouras

Jan 08, 2026

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This empanada workshop was a really fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon with friends. We learned about the origins of empanadas, had hands-on cooking time and enjoyed the very tasty end results along with some amazing arroz con gandules prepared by Inez and her team. I highly recommend this experience, it was a 10/10 all around.

Annalisa

Jan 05, 2026

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Had an excellent time kicking off the new year making empanadas with a group of friends. Inez was so kind and all the food was amazing! Highly recommend!

Dr. Erika Montgomery

Dec 29, 2025

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This experience making empanadas was amazing!! Great food, fun and educational process, Inez was welcoming, warm, kind, and fun,
The atmosphere was lively with good music and we ate our empanadas and Puerto-Rican rice to end the activity. We left feeling full, happy, and created wonderful family memories!! Looking forward to doing it again with my bold club!! Thank You Inez and wonderful assistants!!

Kristina Stina

Nov 28, 2025

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Cozy feeling restaurant with friendly staff. The food was delicious and the staff was amazing. Definitely recommend stopping by and enjoying the food. We tried 3 different empanadas, and they didn't disappoint us.

Elizabeth Jane Rogowski

Sep 28, 2025

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We booked Chicago Mamas Kitchen for a private cocktail-making class to celebrate my friends birthday, and it was such a hit! From start to finish, everything was professional, fun, and engaging. We not only enjoyed delicious drinks but also learned a ton along the way. The vibe was relaxed, the company was great, and our host made sure everyone had a wonderful time. Highly recommend for birthdays, group outings, or anyone looking to mix a little education with a lot of fun.

Ilana Krupetski

Aug 10, 2025

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Inez is amazing! She knows how to make everyone feel happy with her food and cocktails. Superb experience! Highly recommend for private events or just an activity!

Rosario Melendez

Aug 08, 2025

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She was so much fun! I made the best drinks and ate the best empanadas! Everything about this class was just FUNNN!! She accommodated our needs at the snap of her fingers and was very diligent and patient teaching (we needed it)

Tour RayDid

Feb 27, 2025

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This was a really cool place to grab a bite to eat. I got a chance to meet the owner and let me tell you, shes one of the nicest people Ive ever met!! The food was amazing and they did everything in their power to provide me with more vegan options. The interior design was also eye catching. Chicago Empanada Mama will definitely see more business from me in the near future, THANKS!!

Joel Salgado

Feb 04, 2025

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Really good elevated Puerto Rican food! The tostones rellenos were a tasty appetizer and bigger than expected. Nice that you can get 3 different stuffings, I got ropa vieja and macho man (ground beef). The lechon, arroz con gandules, and yuca were also great.

Maria Moreno

Nov 28, 2024

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My daughter and I drove specifically to this place for their empanadas! Wow, they bursted with flavor! To start, the place is absolutely beautiful. We came when the restaurant wasnt busy but, my guess is that at certain times its packed. Jessica was our server and she was great. The food was seasoned well, theyre not afraid to use salt, garlic and all those wonderful spices that make the wonderful Puerto Rican dishes so exceptional and unique. My daughter even commented the chef cooking definitely comes from the island. Their arroz con gandules was so tasty, I had to take some to go. My only regret was not eating more! Ill be back to try more of this delicious menu. The owner, is extremely engaging and welcoming. Its absolutely apparent she takes pride in her establishment. We were proud to support any Latina woman and her small businesses!

Also! The Lechn is AMAZING you have to try it!

Lou Lou

Nov 13, 2024

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I really liked the beef and chicken empanadas! They only had one person working so it took a minute but it was so flavorful and good especially for lunch. Fair price too.

Chicago Local

Nov 11, 2024

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What a hidden gem! We had a work party here. Fabulous catering! The beautiful decor felt like a resort. Met the owner; she is an absolute delight. Kind & knowledgeable about what she has. Speaking of, my lord!! The appetizers were insanely good. Try the ceviche, elotes, & spin dip. We had all of the empanadas. Thankfully, we had enough to take some home. Perfect! Full bar here too. Boozey island inspired numbers, beer, & wine. She even made us a non-alcoholic drink since we were on a diet. Some empanadas are lightly fried & others are baked. Youll be happy with both. Enjoy this small business!!

Yasmine Smith

Aug 23, 2024

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I stopped by here recently and was greeted warmly by staff and management alike. Ordered the La Flaka (basil chicken) empanada. It was a generous in size and very tasty too! The vibe was pleasant and I realized it was during happy hour so I decided to order a cocktail. I don't recall the name but it was something similar to an espresso martini with rum. Also very tasty! I noticed they had board games in the back/lounge area of the restaurant, which I though was really cool. Seems like a warm, community-driven establishment. I enjoyed chatting with everyone that worked there and even a few other patrons. I'll definitely return soon. Can't wait to try more things on the menu!

Ricardo Lara

Jul 22, 2024

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Amazing food fresh to order took 25 minutes which I have no issue with i prefer it that way. The emprendas excellent arroz moist tasty and the top spot was the potato salad omg amazing. The place is so cozy and the decor is nice. Finally the service was fantastic as in the young ladies working there.

Mama J.

Jun 08, 2024

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We we greeted right away by Inez introduced herself, welcomed us as first-timers. Order taken fairly quickly. Nice atmosphere, low-key music, menu not overwhelming. Food comes out hot and fresh. If you want your food in 5/10 minutes, eat elsewhere. This food takes a little time, and it reflects in the taste. Great bar options as well, reasonable prices. I'm glad you're in our neighborhood.

Alexandra Koder

May 30, 2024

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I popped in here while waiting for a prescription at the Walgreens across the street. The ambiance and decor was immaculate, and I was greeted with warm and welcoming service. I ordered an iced latte (which was fantastic) and decided to order a couple empanadas while I waited. When I tell you this is some of the best food I have had in Chicago, Im not exaggerating. The pork and rice empanada with the chimichurri was one of the most delicious things Ive ever eaten. I had to order two more to go with extra chimichurri to eat later. Everyone was kind and friendly, including other guests. I cant wait to go back and try more things from the menu.

Kaimook Chirapathama

May 24, 2023

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Unbelievably friendly staff. It feels like getting home and you were greeted by your families. Awesome empanadas and they are huge! Couldnt pick the favorite one honestly. Plus we were surprised with whiskey flight on the house!!