Went there for dinner before watching a play at Broadway. The place was very busy and we didn't…read morehave a reservation but they had a table for us right away for 6 people. I would say that this was lucky cause the place was packed. Generally loud but you can still talk with people on your party. One of the first things I look for is if a restaurant serves you water when you sit and here they do and the waitress would often make sure we were topped off. That is something that is always appreciated and noticed by me. The food was generally good and service was fast. I tried various dishes and while great tasting nothing really stood out like lots of the reviews said and I tried a bit of everything that was recommended in the reviews. (Even ox tail empanadas which sounds weird but weren't bad). I think the biggest appeal here is that it's 24 hours so you know you always have a quality place to go to that is great. I would recommend it to anyone in the area but I don't know if I would go out of my way for it. I know that if I'm watching another play, it is a great stop for either before or after.

Love, love, love Empanada Mama!!! Anytime I'm in the area, I stop by for my go-to empanadas: Bombay…read more& Viagra. The restaurant is open 24 hours and is the perfect place to go for those late-night cravings. One can sit at the full bar, in the dining area, or get items to go. The restaurant is always lively and patrons get seated quickly. The most I have ever waited for a seat is 5 minutes. There are more than 40 empanadas in corn or wheat shells to order. The menu celebrates diversity through its' empanada pairings. Greek - spinach pie, Cuban - ham, pork, and cheese, Americana - cheeseburger, Bombay - Curried chicken, Brasil - traditional ground beef, Hawaiian - ham, pineapple & mozzarella cheese and many more. Besides empanadas, there is a full menu of Colombian delights to eat including arepas, salads, sandwiches, soups, tacos and tapas. They have dessert empanadas as well. Love the USA empanada, which is apples & cinnamon baked and the Nutella & banana one. You can get it topped with ice cream as well. Really looking forward to my next visit.

Beef empanada is very good, the meat filling is delicious & dough is perfectly done. Small business…read moreunderground at a subway station, small tables for dining in. Really good.

Really bummed to say I didn't love Criollas. As someone who grew up in an Argentine family eating…read morelots of empanadas and chimichurri, I was super excited to try Criollas. The Argentine empanadas was good and I would eat it again, but the "chimichurri" was so bland that I struggle to even call it chimichurri. I was excited about the spinach and cheese empanada as well, but I wasn't expecting it to be pure liquid inside that spilled out the bottom after the first bite. That was a bummer. My search for amazing Argentinean empanadas in the city continues!

Hole in the wall we love. Been to Hells Kitchen. Simple flavorful so flavorful quick and…read moreefficient. Perfect non-tourist (the tourist are so silly goong to the national chains around here..missing flavorful Mamas). They have good breakfast and lunch specials.

I ordered Empanada Mama for a weekend lunch meal and it really exceeded my expectations…read more I got the two empanadas, rice and beans combo (chose the El Jefe and Shredded Chicken Corn). Both empanadas were hot and delicious. The El Jefe was my favorite, the meat was so tender and flavorful. The chicken was a little bit dry but taste was still great! I also got a Pollo Guisado as well. The stew was a bit too salty for me but otherwise the flavor was great and paired so well with the yellow rice. All in all, will definitely be ordering from Empanada Mama again in the future for a fast and tasty lunch option.

So easy to walk across the street to grab some empanadas before getting on the L train or uptown…read morebus at 14th street which I've done a few times after a training run downtown. It's basically a grab and go location with just a few high chairs along a window counter. A few kiosks to order from. The menu here offers more than just empanadas - full meals, soups, salads, tapas, sides, desserts, and all types of drinks. Of course, the main thing here are the choices for empanadas - wheat flour fried, corn flower fried, what flor baked with a large variety of fillings to choose from. Hard to go wrong with any of them and I've tried a few, always tasty. Staff is good and service is pretty quick if you're trying to catch the next bus across the street.

The crust on these are absolutely bombastic so insanely crispy you may as well put a picture of…read morethese empanadas in the dictionary under the word crispy. The Desayuno Colombiano was super delicious, although couldve had a bit more meat I think like two of my bites had any. The Bombay had much more meat but flavor was not as on point. Red salsa was decently spicy but Green salsa was pure magic.

We found this spot snuggled around the corner in Times Square. We were immediately greeted and had…read moretime to browse as there was someone ahead. Very comfortable space and simple seating. The food was very good, my favorite was the Brisket style pulled beef. So delicious! At a very good price as well, around $5 each

Delicious options for vegetarians and vegans. The empanadas are a bit small for the price point but…read morestill worth it, and given the location really not that bad. The spinach and cheese empanada is rich enough for a small meal, while the funghi empanada is a lot lighter and better as a snack or maybe a meal if you order something else with it. A really nice find for good empanadas in this area and I'm glad Yelp brought me to it.

I just want to take a moment to give a shout-out to this restaurant and, especially, the amazing…read morestaff! Even though I had to wait a little longer than expected for my food, the experience was still really enjoyable because of how welcoming and down-to-earth everyone was. The employees were so cool, friendly, and easy to talk to. While I was waiting, I had a chance to talk with some of the staff, and one of them said something that really stood out to me: "We are one big happy family." And honestly, you could feel that energy! Everyone seemed comfortable with each other, and they made me feel comfortable too. Sometimes great customer service is about more than just how quickly your food comes out--it's about how you're treated while you're there. The wait was a little long, but the positive atmosphere, friendly staff, and genuine hospitality definitely made a difference. I appreciate businesses where the employees are down-to-earth and make you feel welcome. Keep that family energy going!

MANHATTAN | LOWER EAST SIDE…read more If you are an empanada lover, Empanada Mama is the motherland! With more than 40 varieties on the menu, every empanada arrives with that perfect golden crunch on the outside and a flavorful, generously stuffed filling on the inside. One is surprisingly filling, but good luck stopping at just one. The menu pulls inspiration from Latin, Colombian, Mexican, Greek, and other global flavors! Beyond empanadas, you will find arepas, soups, salads, Latin-inspired entrées, and plenty of gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options. And then there are the drinks. We couldn't resist trying the slushy piña colada and the frosty nutcracker, and both were the perfect complement to our meal. Our original plan was to grab takeout and continue exploring the city. Instead, the staff welcomed Brie inside, pointed us toward happy hour specials, and suddenly our quick stop turned into a relaxing meal complete with half-price drinks. No complaints here! Leashed and friendly dogs are welcome indoors when it is not too busy and between the dog friendly atmosphere, incredible food, and endless menu options, it is easy to see why this spot has such a loyal following. Pro tip: Arrive hungry!

Like a lot of food establishments on the UES, everyone is getting delivery and if you walk in and…read moretry to dine in, your food order takes longer than the stacks of pickups that are being churned out even if you're getting something super simple like a small container of rice and beans. The dine in folks are never prioritized. I have enjoyed shakes, rice and bean combos, veggie and meat empanadas here. Today's service felt off because the air-conditioning wasn't working inside and it was at least 10 degrees hotter inside than the hot sidewalk. The middle-aged cashier/attendant had a hearing issue or was slow on the pickup because they entered my order incorrectly on the cash register and made me repeat everything 1-2 times (what? what?) or speak louder than I typically would. The food itself was fine but the avocado shake I ordered was not tasty at all. I am not sure if it was added ingredients, the quality of the avocado itself, the lack of ice or cold water in the mix but it was undrinkable. I asked for a refund because it tasted SO horrible I did not want another sip and the cashier gave me a look like that wouldn't be possible so I asked for ice but there was no saving the terrible shake. I returned to ask for a refund and you would think that I asked for something never heard before. The cashier said that I can step away because this is going to take awhile. They texted and called a manager and after awhile returned to tell me they couldn't reach that person. I don't understand why they can't issue refunds at point of sale. You have my credit card and the transaction number. After a longer wait, I finally insisted on some method of resolution and they gave me cash back. I generally like their food and would like to support this place but today was an off putting experience.

For $12 and change for an empanada and fruit milkshake, I actually was fuller than I expected to…read morebe. The light meal wasn't as light as I thought and that's a good thing. The empanada is thin, crispy shell served piping hot and stuffed with meat and cheese while the shake was thick, refreshing and perfectly tart. Service was efficient and the place was clean and bright, perfect for looking out the window and people watching.

Casual restaurant with friendly staff, amazing empanadas, and great wine. Not only were the…read moreempanadas great but also the 2 homemade dipping sauces - I loved the one that was super spicy. Lots of bold Argentinian wines to select from that won't break the bank. Not only were the staff great but also the other customers were all Argentinian and clearly this was the "go-to."

This restaurant is in a prime location. There are bars all around this neighborhood. The staff here…read moreis incredibly friendly and super knowledgeable on recommendations. We ordered a couple empanadas, split some French fries, a steak and a salmon. All were cooked very well. The restaurant has a wide array of wine as well, so make sure to ask for their favorite. If you are in the area. Definitely come here for some food before painting the town red.

Soooo incredibly good! Our waiter was so informative and kind. Please come check out this…read moreincredible place. Your taste buds will thank me!!

Very cute little restaurant with absolutely spectacular food…read more Everything we tried was delicious. Service was great and we felt well taken care of. We celebrated coworker's birthday and it went a perfect place for the event. A must try place