Cristian Heise loves empanadas.

The Chilean-born restauranteur started The Empanada Company in Long Branch about 16 years ago, when the most frequent question was ‘what’s an empanada.’

Heise struggled when he first opened in 2006 but his tasty treats caught on and there are now line ups outside his 122 Fortieth Street restaurant by those who can’t wait to get their fill of the baked Chilean delicacy.

He recently purchased a vacant store next to his and may expand the empanada business or establish a new venture.

Heise, who arrived in Canada at the age of four, worked at a commercial food company and decided to create his own business using his mom’s recipes.

“I settled here because it was the cheapest building you could purchase in Toronto at the time,” he explains. “I fixed it up and I have had the support of the community ever since.”

He attributes the community and take out service for keeping him alive during the tough days of COVID when most places were shut.

Today, Heise operates the largest Empanada company in South Etobicoke, with dozens of flavours, including Jamaican patty, ribs (which takes 16-hours to cook), curry coconut chicken, not forgetting chicken tamales and portobello and black bean tamales.

“We only use the best dough and the freshest products to make our empanadas,” he says. “People come from all over the city for our empanadas.”

Different empanadas are made with different-coloured doughs and are different shapes to help customers differentiate them. Assorted mini empanadas sell for about $14 a dozen. A large is $4.25.

The empanadas are delicious, not oily or overly spicy and very flavourful. An assortment of dips, including artichoke and asiago, spicy chimichurri and Mexican hot sauce are available.

The Empanada Company sells 17 different types, or fillings, of empanadas. Customers may order their empanadas baked or fried.

They sell hundreds of his tasty treats for movie shoots, film stars and to those working in the movie industry.

“I can say that Katie Holmes and Kevin Hart have had my empanadas,” Heise says proudly. “We sold another 400 for another movie that is being filmed in the area.”

You can place your orders by phoning 647-435-5003 or visit www.empanada.ca