Pocket World
bringing you the world in a pocket
Serving the Chicagoland Areas
For parties and events, Pocket World is the only catering company in Chicago that specializes in handmade Colombian Empanadas with a unique recipe that's been passed on through many generations.
menu
Empanadas
chicken - $3 each
Ground Chicken, Potato, Sofrito
Plantain - $3 each
Sweet plantain, Caribe Cheese, Guava
beef - $4 each
Wagyu Beef, Potato, Sofrito
Did we mention they’re gluten free?
Catering options & recommendations
*Prices may vary based on event details. We will confirm after you’ve placed your order.
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For the best experience, we recommend planning for about 3 per person.
Recommendation:
50 People - 150 - 200 Empanadas
100 People - 300 - 350 Empanadas
200 People - 600 - 650 Empanadas
300 People - 900 - 950 Empanadas
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For the best experience, we recommend planning for about 3 per person.
Recommendation:
50 People - 150 - 175 Empanadas
100 People - 300 - 325 Empanadas
200 People - 600 - 625 Empanadas
300 People - 900 - 925 Empanadas
Prefer to have us sell directly to your guests? See “Vending-Style” below for pricing.
Our service types
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After you place your order, we will follow up to confirm the amount of pockets you would like for your party.
The day of your event, we take the utmost care to make your pockets fresh and deliver them to you ready to be served.
Our signature sauces and dips are included in your order.
We recommend having a Chafer stands and heaters to make sure your empanadas are ready to devour throughout your event. Chafer stands and Heaters NOT Included!
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Give your guests the experience of receiving freshly fried Colombian Empanadas throughout your event (we use an electric fryer).
This service comes with an additional fee on top of the cost of the empanadas. This fee is determined by the amount of time you'd like us to serve at your event and the number of guests you expect in attendance.
Our signature sauces and dips as well as individual serving trays and napkins are included in your order.
After you place your order, we will follow up to confirm the details of your event and quote you for the total cost of this service.
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Curious about having us as a vendor at your event? We'd love to sell our empanadas to your guests!
Our base pricing for vending at events is $300 for 3 hours. This will increase depending on the size of the event.
This option is perfect for your event if you want your guests to experience freshly fried empanadas, made on-site, BUT you don't want to commit to a specific empanada count or front the cost yourself.
After you place your order, we will follow up to confirm the approximate number guests for your event and we'll bring our electric fryer, signature sauces & dips, individual serving trays and enough empanadas to make sure no one misses out on this delicious experience!
place your order
place your order
Please fill out the form below and we’ll give you a call within 2 business days to confirm your order.
our story
At the age of 12, Edwin Moreno, President of Pocket World, was already well-versed in how to survive on his own. His mother and father were no longer in his life, and his aunt who was his guardian barely had time to keep track of what he was up to.
His grandmother, Doña Amparo, was in Colombia at the time and couldn’t handle imagining her grandson being on his own. She went through the complex application process to get her visa to be with Edwin. Doña Amparo arrived to Chicago with a few dollars in her pocket and a heart full of love for her boy.
By her second month in Chicago with Edwin, Amparo was running low on cash, and that was the day the seed was planted.
She called for her grandson and said "I'm making empanadas, so tell your friends and their parents to see if you can sell some".
He didn’t know whether or not to take her seriously, but in an effort to leave her speechless, Edwin went and got his school office lady and a friend’s mother to commit to making a purchase. Later that day, he walked into the apartment and saw his grandmother with a wad of cash. He confusedly asked her, "How did you get that money?" She looked at him and smiled, saying "You think I was just sitting here the whole time?”
That day Edwin Moreno learned that there were more ways to earn than he thought and his life truly changed for the better.
He asked his grandmother to teach him how to make the empanadas, and he went on to make them for friends and family over the years. His grandmother had always been inspired by Edwin's ambition and vision. Amparo would often say that they would start a business together one day. She sadly passed away in 2021, and even though she is no longer physically here, she lives on through the recipe of Pocket World’s first premier Colombian Pockets.
Pocket World was officially established in 2021 to share the passion and flavors that Amparo passed on to Edwin.
Each pocket is handmade with the same care she had and has for him.