New Empanada Place on LL

[hankhill]

Looks like a new empanada place has opened on LL, a (small) chain. Have tried one of their other locations and they were meh

Just to say - I hope you keep supporting Chacarero (which is next to EDT on LL)!

- Chacarero are already here and their empanadas are genuinely the best I’ve had (in London).

- Chacarero are local - family owned and run - they’re genuinely lovely people (link to their Instagram). They seem to work all hours of the day (and I believe have a little one in their family now!)

So yeah - I won’t be going to the new place (no disrespect to an expanding chain), but I’ll definitely be ordering more from Chacarero. If you’re also a fan of good empanadas and keeping it local - I hope you do the same!

[beansprout]

Why on  earth does anyone need two of them?

[CPR Dave]

I do like Chacarero. Lovely people as well as delicious foods (especially the chimichurri).

[Cameron Chiu]

Chacarero’s owners are quite nice as well! I’ll definitely still be going to them

[Angell34]

Love love Chacarero. Their monthly specialities are always a treat and the staff are super friendly. I agree I won’t be going anywhere else 

[bonaome]

Probably a daft question but does Chacarero not sell chacareros?

[Sue]

2 hours ago, beansprout said:

Why on  earth does anyone need two of them?

Same reason there are several pizza places and Indian restaurants?

[dan b]

17 hours ago, Sue said:

Same reason there are several pizza places and Indian restaurants?

London doesn’t have a lot of Argentinian places specialising in empanadas, which suggests demand isn’t that great. There are many neighbourhoods with none at all or even nearby.  So for a mini-chain like Chango (several branches in SW London) to open here where there’s already a well established family run place doing the same feels a bit off.  I’ll be giving Chacarero my ongoing custom. 

[the_hermit]

Yup Juan is amazing (and his partner can't remember her name!). Highly recommend the wine tastings.  Won't be going to the new chain.

[teddyboy23]

1 hour ago, the_hermit said:

Yup Juan is amazing (and his partner can't remember her name!). Highly recommend the wine tastings.  Won't be going to the new chain.

The lady is called Janet 

[KalamityKel]

Where is the new place?

[Angelina]

Let’s just boycott all chains in favour of local businesses. 
Places like Gail’s popping up everywhere has a very damaging impact on small businesses. It’s just the same as the new empanadas place but on a bigger scale.

I’ll say it a million times more, we hold the power with our choices.

Let’s use our power to look after ourselves and our environment (which includes small local family businesses).

And yes, I also love Chacarero.

Edited July 21, 2025 by Angelina

[Penguin68]

12 minutes ago, Angelina said:

Let’s just boycott all chains in favour of local businesses.

Surely only where the local businesses offer clear advantages, otherwise you are rewarding what should be failure. I want to be served by a better bakery than Gail's, not a worse but local independent one. Certainly give a local independent some time to get the offer right, but don't buy goods which are worse and or more expensive just because the outlet isn't a chain. 

[beansprout]

Totally agree regarding not supporting chains. Gail’s was fine but last time I went in Feb this year, actually walked out Fayetteville looking at menu and waiting 15 minutes to even get glass of water and not busy at all. Staff gone down hill - sooner it goes the better…

Always prefer to support non chains - so many lovely places with good food to choose from with pleasant staff who know about customer service and sadly, non English which says a lot for our culture,

pubs are also becoming abit of a hit and miss affair but maybe just unlucky. At the end of the day all about the chef.

Still abit unclear where new place is located - is it down the road from Goose Green where parade of shops are before Peckham Rye?

 

[Nigello]

Always prefer to support non chains - so many lovely places with good food to choose from with pleasant staff who know about customer service and sadly, non English which says a lot for our culture,
 

? Does your broadbrush bias extend to Welsh, Scottish and N Irish/Irish waiting staff also or is it only non-native speakers that you admire unconditionally?! Hospitality staff are a varied lot, as are their moods and attitudes at any one given time. 

[beansprout]

Totally agree - everyone is allowed their own views..

[Sue]

1 hour ago, Nigello said:

Always prefer to support non chains - so many lovely places with good food to choose from with pleasant staff who know about customer service and sadly, non English which says a lot for our culture,
 

? Does your broadbrush bias extend to Welsh, Scottish and N Irish/Irish waiting staff also or is it only non-native speakers that you admire unconditionally?! Hospitality staff are a varied lot, as are their moods and attitudes at any one given time. 

Whilst I agree with you, Nigello, your first paragraph doesn't make it clear that you are quoting Beansprout?

Edited July 21, 2025 by Sue
Typo

[CPR Dave]

There used to be a better baker than Gail's on the same site immediately before Gail's pulled their financial muscle.

[Sue]

3 hours ago, CPR Dave said:

There used to be a better baker than Gail's on the same site immediately before Gail's pulled their financial muscle.

That was a long time before Gail's moved in, wasn't it?

[tiddles]

No - the bakery had to close as rent shot up - then Gail’s stepped in … 

[Angelina]

It was The Brickhouse - we liked them and it was very sad when they had to close

[FellbriggSam]

On 19/07/2025 at 14:18, hankhill said:

Looks like a new empanada place has opened on LL, a (small) chain. Have tried one of their other locations and they were meh

Just to say - I hope you keep supporting Chacarero (which is next to EDT on LL)!

- Chacarero are already here and their empanadas are genuinely the best I’ve had (in London).

- Chacarero are local - family owned and run - they’re genuinely lovely people (link to their Instagram). They seem to work all hours of the day (and I believe have a little one in their family now!)

So yeah - I won’t be going to the new place (no disrespect to an expanding chain), but I’ll definitely be ordering more from Chacarero. If you’re also a fan of good empanadas and keeping it local - I hope you do the same!

Is this the new shop next to Dulwich Tandoori? is it actually open and if so has anyone tried them.

[CPR Dave]

The gap between brick house and Gail’s was exacerbated by COVID.

[beansprout]

So please tell me are they open and where are they located?

[CPR Dave]

I think it’s going in to the nearly finished shop refurbishment next to the tandoori. Not open yet.