We've loved every empanada we've tried here. Our favorites are the brisket, cheesesteak, Texas Twinkies, choriqueso, and chilipanzinga. I also enjoyed the Criolla, though my husband wasn't a fan. The dessert empanadas are just as impressive especially the guava and cheese, which was absolutely delicious. Service is quick and efficient, and while the space is small, it has a casual, welcoming feel. read more

While in Irving/Las Colinas for a conference, I was looking for a local, casual lunch spot and stumbled upon Empa Mundo. Y'all. These empanadas are ridiculously good. Thanks to Yelp reviews, I went with the popular brisket, jam-packed with a blend of tender meat, potato, and a hint of heat, and chased it with the classic guava cheese. Each empanada was stuffed to the gills, so I didn't even bother with dinner later that evening. So satisfying. read more

I see that I reviewed this restaurant in 2013. I have absolutely no recollection of doing that. In any event, I guess this is an update. The good news is that this tiny little place is still in business after all these years. The restaurant is small with just a few tables so I assume most of the business is take out. It is located in a nondescript strip mall somewhere in Irving. The are dollar bills from different countries that cover all the walls. You order at the counter either onscreen or filling out a reusable form, and they bring the empanadas to you. We tried about seven different empanadas: brisket, pulled pork, spicy chicken, chipotle chicken, criolla, humita, and for dessert, the wife had strawberry cheesecake. Prices vary a little but basically are about $5 per empanada. All of our selections were excellent. Very tasty and flavorful, especially the criolla, which was our favorite by far. The spicy chicken was too too spicy and we could not eat it. The fillings are generous and the empanadas are fried perfectly. They also have an assort of sodas and topo Chico. The food is easily 5 stars. I am giving it 4 stars because the hallway on the way to the bathrooms smelled like sewage; the men's room sink leaked when you turned on water so the floor got wet; and the women's room had no soap, although there was sanitizer in the main room. I definitely will remember this place and would return the next time I want some EXCELLENT empanadas. read more

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The best empanada in DFW! Always fresh, savory and Freshly made every time! Mimi, the owner is awesome! read more

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I'm so glad I was able to try this place and I'll definitely be back. I was greeted immediately when I walked in and the lady was super nice and showed me how to order. It's small, cute and festive on the inside. Now for the food! Everything was a 10/10 and that red sauce?!??!! It's like Frank's hot sauce...I want to put it on everything! I literally have nothing bad to say about anything ordered. Spicy chicken: this was my favorite out of all of them. Loved the flavor and the spice was on point! If you're a spice punk, get the regular chicken. Texas brisket: really enjoyed the flavor of the brisket in this one. The potatoes added a nice heartiness to it. Cheesesteak: This one didn't miss on being a cheesesteak in empanada form. As soon as I bit into it, the smell alone would've made me think I was eating a cheesesteak. Texas Twinkie: while I was expecting a little more spice, this was was all very flavorful. Strawberry cheesecake: while I don't typically do warm fruit, this was good. It wasn't too sweet and had just the right balance of sweetness and flavor. My eyes were definitely bigger than my stomach but these were also good reheated in the air fryer the next day. read more

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Empanadas are on the smaller side than your typical ones, but they're thick and filled up pretty good. Very tasty! Friendly older lady in the back making the orders. Wish they had more locations across DFW! read more

Lovely little shop for empanadas. They package them in individual bags with clearly marked labels. This is such a good move so you know which is which and what is your favorite! The food came out fresh and prompt. However, they were super hot, so definitely cut them open to release some of the heat so you don't burn your mouth. I tried the Cubano, Chicken Gordon Bleu, and the guava and cheese. They are hearty, fried, and very flavorful. I couldn't even finish the small three of them in one sitting! They have seasonal and special flavors along with the multiple savory and sweet options to go for. You order by marking with a pencil on the menu and then pay when you're done. The decor on the walls is made up of many, many, many dollar bills (international bills as well) with names or notes written with the same menu pencils! The walls are almost full and covered with them. read more

Empa Mundo - empanadas - Latin American Near Me - Irving, Texas

I got pulled pork, Mimi's special, and cheesesteak. Pulled pork was my favorite. I didn't like Mimi's special because all I could taste was potato. Cheese steak was good, but not as good as pulled pork. The food came out kind of slow. The empanadas tasted nice and crispy, and I liked their spicy sauce. read more

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2nd visit and I am the Yelp Duchess. Yeah baby!! Today we got 5 to split: Humita (corn and cheese) Texas Twinkie (our new favorite) Criolla (the original authentic) Ham & blue cheese Sweet potato (a perfect way to end the meal) This is my absolute favorite lunch spot in all of Dallas! read more

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MS. MIMI!!! The sweetest person and the food reflects that. I came based solely on the amazing Yelp reviews and you Yelpers did not disappoint. From the moment I walked in and was greeted by the aromas and the sweet sound of Ms. Mimi's voice, I knew I wasn't going anywhere anytime soon! We chatted for about 20 min about the menu, her love for the people of Irving, and just life. It was awesome! But the food...wow! These Empanadas are most certainly something to write home about! I couldn't pick one so I picked 4, why not. At $5, each was overstuffed with juicy meat and a variety of fillings, all inside a crispy, golden, flaky crust. When I tell you that each bite got better and better...and better! When I saw Ms. Mimi get to work and drop these beauties in the oil I just knew this review would be what it is. This is the exact kind of place that motivated me to start my Yelp Elite journey and my Instagram foodie page (@angelfooddude); Family-owned for years, serving the community fresh food at a fair value, and loving every minute of it. I salute you, Ms. Mimi. I will definitely be back to visit you soon when I get back to my Dallas office. I cannot wait to cater a lunch for everyone with your amazing Empanadas!!! read more

Updated review since my last visit to Empa Mundo was over 6 months ago. Boy, does Irving have a special gem amongst them with this tiny but might empanada spot. Looking for sweet and savory magic all sitting inside a golden, flaky crust? Head over here. Some newer flavors (for me) that stood out: breakfast empanada with bacon, egg, and cheese and the spicy chicken. Both were bursting with flavor but man that spicy chicken had the most amazing kick to it! YUM! My eyes were bigger than my stomach when I ordered a dozen lol. You really and truly only need two to fill you up. But hey, the leftovers in the air fryer over the next couple of days were *chef's kiss.* Each empanada costs roughly $4-$5 so you'll spend some money for a large order. But even if you split a few up between your family/friends, they go a long way. As always, the chimichurri salsa on the side is icing on the cake. read more

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Overall great food and customer service. Only thing that was unpleasant was the sewage smell. I'm not sure where it came from.

This has always been a must when in Irving. Thought I'd update my review due to the added items in the menu... not gon lie... you can't just have one. The Texas Twinkie is to die for. The spicy chicken is perfect ... we loved the choriqueso. We ate inside and it's such a cozy restaurant... the service was quick My favorite thing is this place is honest about there flavors. If it has peppers, expect a spicy empanada. None of that de-seeding nonsense happens here read more

Empa Mundo - Empanadas - Latin American Near Me - Irving, Texas

I heard about this popular empanada place in Irving and I knew I had to come. I had empanadas for the first time this past spring in San Antonio and it was life changing. The lady who owns this place is so sweet and you can tell she is passionate about her business. This place is unique with how it has money from all the world all over its walls. I got the brisket empanada and the guava and cheese empanada to go. Both were still warm after a 40 minute drive home. The guava and cheese was really good. The guava is a bit on the sweeter side for me but that cream cheese is amazing. The brisket empanada was also incredible. The meat is stewed perfectly, the brisket was so soft and tender. Pour some chimichurri on that sucker if you want to experience another dimension of flavor. The chinichurri is tangy, fresh, and has a little bit of spice, but it's a game changer. Do yourself a favor and give this place a try read more

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Divine empanadas. We come back regularly. Brisket is top tier. Good food. Good food. Good food.

Insanely delish empanadas!!! Texas Twinkie was delightful! Reasonably priced and good service.

This place is a must try , I was take out to lunch here a in 2020 by a former coworker and now have take at least 15 people back for the experience and delicious food!! read more

This mom and pop shop gets better every year. They continue to come up with new fusion empanadas that are creative and delicious while doing the classics perfectly. You will not find a better decadent takeout meal to pair with a bottle of Malbec and a good movie. read more

Finally got a chance to check this place out and it was definitely worth the drive. I ordered the Spicy Chicken Empanada and also the Breakfast one and they both were amazing. Like the spicy chicken is on a different level and will definitely be back for it again. Great service and a local joint. Highly recommend checking them out. read more

Empa Mundo - Spicy Chicken Empanada - Latin American Near Me - Irving, Texas

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I haven't been here in several years, but this used to be one of the best places to get empanadas. It was run by an older Argentinian man who was very proud and passionate about his business and it showed in the food. It has since been taken over by a nice Asian family who has expanded the menu and tried to keep things as close to the original as possible. It's just not quite the same as I remembered it. I ordered the new spring roll empanada which sounded interesting. Not a huge fan. It seemed to be a blend of mush resembling the filing of a spring roll with some vermicelli inside. It wasn't bad, but not a new favorite. I also tried the Criolla which I remembered being one of my favorites. It was just okay. They seemed to have changed the recipe a little--hardly any hard boiled egg or olive. Very filling and hot and fresh. It was cool to see that you can now get some of their empanadas frozen to go. I'll try them again and get the chilipanzinga again next time. I remember this one being a favorite as well, but really wanted to try the spring roll one. Small dining area and they seem to do a decent take out business as well. read more

Empanadas are outstanding and filled with stuffing. Really good stuff. Tried several of their flavors and the spicy chicken really is spicy but one of my faves. Gentleman working the counter was super helpful describing the flavors and the place has Messi and Argentina vibes all over. Highly recommend. read more

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I found this place in Yelp while traveling in the Dallas area. It was excellent! And the empanadas lived up to the hype! I got brisket & a corn/cheese & both were amazing! I ordered a small size of the chimichurri fries (holy cow if that's the small I don't want to see the large!) the empanadas were filling enough I didn't really need the fries! While the fries tasted great, they were very greasy (& a little soggy, but I chalk this up to takeout) it was nice to be able to order online & know when my order would be ready. The staff here is so nice! I walked in to pick up my order & was greeted with a smile & a hello! My order was even ready a few mins early which was a plus! This looks like a popular lunch spot with lots of room to sit! This was a great Dallas Yelp lunch find! read more

Empa Mundo - Brisket Empanada Regular Chimichurri Fries - Latin American Near Me - Irving, Texas

BEST EMPANADAS I HAVE HAD IN LIFE! So upset that this place was as good as the reviews said, now it's all I think about when I am over in Irving lol. The empanadas are packed with goodness ! I mean you can literally have any type of empanada you think of, and if you think you thought of all of them you haven't because their menu has more lol. I don't even have pictures because I ate it so fast . Go stop by and be blessed! read more

Their empanadas are deep-fried, which is not heart-healthy, and then put into plastic to-go bags and in my case the bag itself melted in two places, which is a cancer risk. The small, cramped store had no customers when I arrived. read more

First stop in Texas starving so we decided to come here. We needed something quick and I had had this place bookmarked for quite some time. I got to try their spinach & cheese, pulled pork, and shrimp empanada. They were $3.79 each and if you check-in you get their shrimp one complementary. If you want their sauce they are $.50 each which we did get a few of. I liked all of them except for the shrimp. It had raisins in it which I did not care for. Also, it seemed like mostly rice with some shrimp flavor. I like that they had a large variety of empanadas. The lady who helped us was cool but not super friendly. Oh and I think their sauce gave me a stomach ache. The inside of this place is casual and there's a few places to sit and eat. If you like empanadas it is worth checking out. I would like to come back to try their other flavors. read more

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Love, love, love this place. I will oftentimes drive from wherever I am in the metro to drop in for the wonderful crispy meaty turnovers! The place is run single-handedly by the owner, Mimi and she is the second reason I'll drop in. She's a wonderful and delightful person! The ambiance is casual and can a little crowded or warm on some days but laid back and a gem to visit over and over again. Or order large quantities and go home, take to events, etc. can't say enough good things about this gem! read more

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Do not let the exterior fool you! This hole in the wall is amazing. They're all about empanadas and they're great at it. The staff was very friendly and made several suggestions. We ordered a spicy chicken, chorizo & guava and cheese. The chicken definitely got heat, beware. The chorizo was fantastic; very crispy shell with plenty of fillings. The guava made for a perfect snack at the end,the ricotta cheese added an unique touch. I would love to go back and try the many other varieties. We definitely recommend trying! read more

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BEST EMPANADAS IN DALLAS?!?! After years of having this bookmarked on my list of places to visit, I finally made it out and ordered almost everything on the menu!! Everything I've tried so far was delicious and well worth the wait. As you can see, i have a whole box of empanadas to hopefully lay me the week who am i kidding... they'll probably be gone by tomorrow Went on a late Sunday evening and the cutest lady was in the back endlessly frying empanadas. Super impressive how she was able to keep everyone's order straight because all the fryers were going with all different flavors. GO GO GO! You won't regret it. All flavors are delicious, & you can't go wrong! And the spicy chimichurri sauce #fattypatty approved read more

Empa Mundo - Latin American Near Me - Irving, Texas

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Friendly service. Co workers loved the empanadas. Something different to bring to the party. read more

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Great empanadas, Argentina cuisine at its best. So many flavors , check out the menu. Friendly service by Mimi. Store front offers simple clean tables and chairs in a happy place with signed dollars on the walls and flags from other countries. To me it says no matter where you come from, you can enjoy the great taste Empa Mundo!! I have for over 20 years. read more

Empanadas! Super-duper yummy. This little store front in Irving made the top 20 out of top 50 cheap eats in the USA and Canada! Pat's favorite was the Texas Twinkie fully loaded with beef, cheese, and peppers. My favorite was the spicy chicken. All were delicious! Service was done by Mimi herself! read more

Empa Mundo - Empanadas! Super-duper yummy. This little store front in Irving made the top 20 out of top 50 cheap eats in the USA and Canada! - Latin American Near Me - Irving, Texas

Always delicious! We come every time we are in town. And now they've added more options

AMAZING FOOD small but will fill you up fun to look at the dollar wall overall best experience so far and the service was absolutely amazing they were all so nice. read more

I got the cheesesteak, brisket, and spicy chicken. Ate the brisket first and that was so good I had to double back and eat the cheesesteak. Finished both and they were fire. Liked them both equally. The women working was very friendly was well so service was good. read more

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delicious empanadas! definitely enjoyed the savory empanadas more- we tried: - chilipanzinga: actually really spicy. be prepared! have water ready, reminded me of a ham and cheese hot pocket. but spicy - pulled pork: yum - chicken: daily special item was also really delicious! - guava and cheese: not bad - nutella and banana: better must get their spicy chimichurri sauce, definitely adds another layer a great option to stop by on the way to the airport-- better than anything you can get at the airport tip: the owner is super nice but hard to understand over the phone... read more

Empa Mundo - empanada assortment - Latin American Near Me - Irving, Texas

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This is such a great place to get some fresh empanadas. I haven't had one since I was in Hawaii & not only did they hit the spot, but they exceeded expectations! I went ahead to order online for pickup around lunchtime, & the place was jam packed. I'm glad ordering online & picking up was easy. Not to mention, they have a variety of flavors from brisket to pizza to ham & cheese; there's something for everyone! Not to mention they have some dessert empanada, lick banana nutella & guava & cream cheese. They also have some cookies available if you're in the mood for it. Plus, the staff is nice so we're definitely going order here frequently Visit the.pikachew on Instagram & Mukbee for more awesome food pics read more

Stopped off on my way back from the airport, and I have never been so satisfied with any other decision I've made in my life. What better way to try empanadas for the first time, than to come to Empa Mundo. This is a tiny place so it may be easy to miss in the shopping center . Very festive inside , with tons of signed dollar bills on the surrounding walls. Lady running the place is very energetic and friendly. The Empanadas are so flaky and crispy wowwww. When you bite in there is so much flavor and not to mention the fresh and savory each empanada was. I had a hard time choosing because I wanted to try them all , but I picked the brisket, criolla , chicken, and chorizo. My personally favorite was the criolla taking the cake and runner up was the brisket ! I'll definitely be back soon, such a wonderful experience all around. read more

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I loved the vibes as soon as we stepped in. There was one woman working who I assume was the owner. She was great. Now let's talk about these empanadas... they were amazing. We got the Texas Brisket, Cheesesteak, Texas Twinkie, Choriqueso, and the Spinach and Cheese. They were all delicious but that Choriqueso was chefs kiss. We had it a few days ago and I've been thinking about it since. The best empanadas I've had, definitely recommend if you're thinking about it. read more

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I have driven to Empa Mundo during a full on rainstorm and I have no regrets. I was not a huge empanada fan until I've tried the fried empanadas from here. First off, the price for these are a STEAL in this economy. I usually get full off 2-3, but since I live so far away I will order maybe 6 so I can save the rest to air-fry for breakfast or lunch. They taste just as good the next day imo. I love the variety of flavors they offer and they keep adding more every time I visit! My favorites so far have been the super spicy chilipanzinga, Texas Brisket, Cheesesteak, Chicken, breakfast empanada and the guava & cheese! But I haven't had one I didn't like so far. I believe they are fried fresh so sometimes it may take a while, but you can always call ahead to place your order when you're driving over. This is a must visit for me every time I'm driving through Irving! read more

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I've been wanting to try this place for awhile but it's so far. However, if you're ever near DFW airport, it's only a 15 min drive down southeast. Finally came to get some empanadas during my trip back to Dallas! The lady we saw (I think was the owner) is so adorable. I asked her which empanada to get she said everything is good. This place just feels so authentic. The walls are decorated with money from different countries (most USD) from customers that came to try her amazing empanadas. She has so many flavors to pick from! I got the tuna, Texas brisket, and the Hawaiian. The tuna one was delicious. My sister got the chilipanzinga - and that was way too spicy for me. Would avoid that one if you can't do spice. If you get your order to go the lady will also include "heating" instructions. She also has "special" flavors of the day on top of her regular empanada list. I wish I live right next to this place so I can come every week. I want to come back and try all the flavors. Come support this amazing business!! If you have currency from a different country, come add your collection and name to the wall! read more

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