I live in a city with very little empanada options, so consider yourself to be extremely lucky if you have Empanada Kitchen in your 'hood! While on vacation right before the COVID-19 shutdown, I asked my hubby to pick-up empanadas for lunch and we got a box of assorted yummies to munch on in our hotel room. What I looooooove about these empanadas is the texture from the slightly crispy pastry to the tasty fillings which perfectly mesh together in each bite. We tried: -Sweet corn & basil -Beef -Lamb -Ham & cheese Loved them all, can't pick my favorite child! And can't wait to visit them again when in San Diego! read more

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I ran into this Argentine eatery at the La Jolla open Aire Market. It was morning so I asked for the Breakfast roll/empenada which came with bacon in eggs all stuffed in a delicate pastry for $3.50. For kicks, I decide to try the mushroom & goat cheese empenada for the same price. It's better to by three for a better deal just so you know. Both empenadas' fillings were great. The scrambled eggs fluffy, well seasoned, and cooked through well. The bacon was of good quality and tasted great and had nice texture too. The pastry that surrounded the roll was very well prepared. It was crispy yet soft and moist at the same time: very well made. The mushroom empenada was stuffed with tender sauteed mushrooms and creamy goat cheese that melted nicely. I liked that the goat cheese was not overwhelming. In fact, it was quite mild and flavorful. This empenada's pastry crust I though needed a little bit more time in the oven. The crust was not as crispy, only on the top, but soft and a bit doughy in a few places. It still tasted very good, 60 to 90 seconds would of made a difference in the oven. The gent, the owner, running the stand was very welcoming and quite enthusiastic about his Argentine eats. I concur, they are tasty. read more

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I definitely enjoyed the Ham and Cheese empanada the best; I could have had a few of those easy. The beef was fine, but not as good. Great atmosphere sitting outside. read more

Empanada Kitchen - Ham and Cheese, Beef, and Ratatouille - Empanadas Near Me - San Diego, California

I'm a cheapo and refused to pay for parking in the paid lot and instead drove in circles until a meter opened up, and that took a while. The staff were super friendly and the empanadas were delicious! They were generously filled and the crusts were nice and flaky. I wish they had a location more northern in central SD so I didn't have drive far for tasty empanadas. I had the mushroom, veggie and corn empanada. The mushroom was my absolute favorite. I will be back to try the other flavors. read more

Empanada Kitchen - Empanadas Near Me - San Diego, California

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Oh my goodness, I'm so happy I came here! I didn't have many expectations coming into the place because I haven't eaten empanadas before, so I asked an employee for recommendations. He gave great recommendations- the sweet corn and basil, and the mushroom and goat cheese. They taste simply wonderful! The sweet corn and basil almost tasted to me like pumpkin which was surprising yet pleasant. Absolutely. They're great both with and without the dipping sauce. You'll find yourself holding the empanada with love as you take another bite if the yummy filling and soft skin. I didn't have to worry about empanada cravings before coming here but now I do! read more

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The El Cajon location is excellent but this one was a miss for me. Waited for over 10mins just to order, without so much of a "I'll be with you in one minute... or sorry for the wait" Finally order and my items were burnt and not good. I will continue to patrón the other location instead, empanadas are Always perfect, service is quick and customer service is on solid. read more

Dairy free!!! So many dairy free options (that are actually lactose free). Phenomenal empanadas. Will be back very soon. Spicy beef with the chimichurri was the move read more

I love the fresh empanadas, I can't believe they are baked and hand-rolled. There are a dozen types with cute unique shapes. I enjoyed the Spinach Empanada so much that I went back the next day and got the Corn with Bechamel Sauce Empanada and the Mushroom and Goat Cheese Empanada. All 3 were really savory and flavorful, but the spinach was my favorite! The Chimchurri sauce is quite zesty! I enjoyed dipping the empanadas into the vinegar and spices, it gave the empanadas a nice kick. The empanadas are quite filling, I'm stuffed after eating 2. Over a dozen delicious vegetarian and tasty meat options to choose from! read more

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Great empenada spot! We ordered the beef, spicy sausage, chicken and caprese, and were not disappointed at all. The ingredients were fresh, tasty and bursting with flavor, and the dough was succulent with just the right amount of crisp. My fav was the Italian sausage, with the beef a close second. The actual spot is clean, bright and nice to sit in and enjoy, and the service was fantastic. However, it's not in the best neighborhood, and homeless ppl are sort of lurking just outside, making coming and going a little weird/awkward. All in all an enjoyable experience, and I'll be back, perhaps to try the breakfast empenada with eggs and bacon. read more

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Came in and was immediately greeted warmly. In fact, From the time we entered until we left the customer service here was great! This is something you don't experience in chain restaurants and one of the reasons why small businesses are so awesome and deserve more of our attention. We ordered a ham & cheese empanada and a caprese empanada. Both were served hot and came with a small cup of chimchuri. Although I enjoyed the empanadas, I still feel they are pricy; enough to say that they are a luxury I cannot afford with any regularity. The empanadas here are hand-made and there's a soul to the food sold here. There is no doubt in my mind that these are well-made empanadas and worth the drive to experience them firsthand. read more

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Their empanadas are a lot smaller than expected, especially for the price of $3.65 a piece. Was really excited to try their mushroom and goat cheese. Flavor wise it was okay, but I was really missing the goat cheese. I didn't taste a hint of it, which was a big bummer. It came with a lovely chimichurri sauce but it was too liquidity and difficult to add into the empanada without making a mess. Trying to dunk the empanada would cause the filling to run out. Service was friendly and I loved their clean and simple decor; especially the bold yellow colored walls and branding! read more

Empanada Kitchen - Mushroom and goat cheese empanada with chimichurri sauce - Empanadas Near Me - San Diego, California

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Really good empanadas. My favorite was the lamb one. Customer service is 5/5. Perfect empanadas. Just be careful for the zombies. read more

Not good Empanadas but GREAT Empanadas! Walked by their Downtown Shop on 'C" street and had to go inside. I tried the fan favorite beef and also had the Spinach special and all very good and fresh. Love their mild Chimichurri sauce to! Will come back! read more

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A half-assed Walmart version of Porto's chicken empanadas for double the price. Meat tasted cheap and not flavorful. The only decent thing was the ham and cheese. read more

Always fresh. Always on point. Great empanadas! Parking can get a bit tight, but completely worth it. A San Diego gem. - Denise @realdenisewilliams read more

Now is downtown location moment! I went to this location days ago and I loved the place, is the perfect space to eat and enjoy the view. It's always clean and the staff it's really kind. I like to eat outside to enjoy de view and also it's easy to get because the trolley station is super close. I noticed the homeless situation and I believe is not their responsibility but they always keep clean and that is what it count for me. I order one of my favorites, ham and cheese, and like always, the taste is excellent. I'm not a cheese person, but for sure I like good quality cheese, and this flavor has it. Also, the mushrooms and goat cheese got me speechless. I always like to come here (I live in Tijuana) when I cross to San Diego because we don't have good quality empanadas at TJ (in my opinion). That's why I always eat here and take some to go to share with my mom. She also loves empanada kitchen. read more

Empanada Kitchen - Empanadas Near Me - San Diego, California

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EK is a very nice looking, very clean Argentinean restaurant with bright yellow and white decor. Scott, the Asst. Manager, has a super great attitude being very courteous with me and all other customers I observed. I had a nice variety of Empanadas including sausage, lamb, beef, corn and my favorite ham & cheese. Their chimichurri sauce is phenomenal. They also sell delicious Kombucha-my blood orange, ginger was amazing. Bump coffee and Argentinean Alfajores cookies finished my adventure here with flying colors. I rate EK best Empanadas in San Diego. read more

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Short n Sweet Review of quick n savory joint for empanadas Delicious quick snack or a light meal on the go this place is perfect Server cares not much obvi just a job to her quick serve, no matter Bright and clean inside little patio outside your choice of seating Flaky yummy crust wraps the filling of your choice 10 there to choose from Special on our day was delicious spicy beef tasty, little heat Get 3 for 10 bucks fun to go with few people share and taste the lot They have party packs! 24 empanadas 72 bucks If my office bought I'd feel appreciated by my management A great hors d'oeuvre too it would surely impress guests when hosting parties Yelp Top 100 glad I stopped by for visit Congratulations! read more

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I'm pretty disappointed. I thought empanadas would be made fresh. But the food we ordered was sitting out for a while on display and I think it was heated up in a microwave... I think that pretty much speaks for itself on how the food tasted. read more

Empanada Kitchen - Empanadas Near Me - San Diego, California

I've been wanting to try this place for a while now, ever since it replaced the juice bar that was there before. I think it was just not for me. The taste was a bit bland, and I'm used to empanadas from a different region of South America. I took one star away because their sauces were subpar, and their salad dressing needs more seasoning. Took another star away because the empanadas were very doughy, almost undercooked, and the stuffing was not flavorful. Great customer service, fast, convenient, and I would come here for their reasonable prices and decent food. read more

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I tried the 3 empanada deal - beef, chicken, and mushroom. My favorite was definitely the beef, but all three empanadas had tons of flavor (and juice, make sure to eat over the container!). I'm a big fan of the dough too - sweet, salty, and the right about of crunch. read more

Empanada Kitchen - Empanadas Near Me - San Diego, California

This place was delish! The proteins in the empanada were super moist! A little greasy that it softened the wrapping but that's got an easy solution of adding a little corn starch. Chimichurri was good too, could have less oil and a little more of the herbs. Pictures are the beef and chicken empanadas! Definitely will be back to try the corn and basil empanada read more

Empanada Kitchen - Beef Empanada (top) and Chicken Empanada (bottom) - Empanadas Near Me - San Diego, California

Delicious empanadas here. Tried beef, chicken and mushroom. The chicken was number one, so savory! The beef was good and the mushroom was fine. The crust is nice and flaky. Recommend. read more

I love this place! The empanadas are baked so they're not incredibly greasy like a couple other places I have been. The Chimi Churri sauce they give is heavenly, they have spicy and regular, and the spicy isn't crazy hot which I really enjoyed. They have a lot of options for different empanadas, meat, veggie, a vegan option and even a great apple pie! The location downtown is really easy to get to, and the ambiance was nice and quiet with some good tunes playing in the background. Me and my friends all came in and were greeted when we walked through the door, the server was great and helped us pick out some options and brought the food to us outside. Over all I have to say I love this place and will definitely be back! read more

These are the best empanadas I've ever had and the spicy chimichurri is incredible! Great place to grab one for a snack or three for a meal!

This place is located in downtown SD, my wife and I tend to stop here whenever we need a quick bite. There's always new flavor of empanada that they are bringing out. For me, my favorite would be the spicy beef, it never disappoints. Plus for the price you cannot complain. All you need is 2-3 and you'll be full for lunch. The staff is always polite and helpful every time we go there. There is a spot out front for people to sit and eat if inside is full. I definitely would come back and grab some empanada next time when I'm close by. Also I must add, once the empanada is sold out you have to wait until the next day, it is made fresh daily. read more

Empanada Kitchen - Empanadas Near Me - San Diego, California

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The emapandas are amazing! We loved the beef, lamb, and caprese. The caprese was light and tasted similar to a pizza. The beef and lamb were good and really delicious. The empanadas themselves are decently sized and good to share between two people! The staff is super pleasant and willing to answer questions. I highly recommend checking this place out! read more

Great service! The Mushroom empanada is absolutely amazing! The goat cheese combination makes it sooo good, and I don't care for mushrooms ‍ read more

Empanada Kitchen - Mushroom and goat cheese on top, the other ones are beef and chicken - Empanadas Near Me - San Diego, California

Yumminess for ratatouille veggie!! This was a recom and was pleasantly surprised .. Mushroom n goat cheese and finally beef rounded up my trio .. Service was good and fast and the gentleman was helpful . Can't wait to try other flaves read more

Empanada Kitchen - Ratatouille yumminess - Empanadas Near Me - San Diego, California

On a recent trip to San Diego, the best meal that we had was hands-down at Empanada Kitchen. This is one of those rare restaurant finds that reminds you of why good things can come in the most unexpected packages. The lamb empanada was so good that I found myself wanting to weep. I could eat the ham and cheese for lunch every day until I croak. And the caprese makes me dizzy thinking about it. Skip the other high-dollar restaurants in the area and go to Empanada Kitchen, and rediscover the joy of eating. read more

I love empanadas as they remind me of dumplings. It's been hard finding a great empanada spot here in San Diego so I was quite surprised when we saw Empanada Kitchen at the La Jolla Open Aire Farmer's Market on Sunday. They're located towards the lawn side of the market. The empanadas cost $2.95 for 1 and $8 for 3. They have a few varieties that are kept warm in a glass case for you to see. They also have a small oven on hand to bake fresh batches. Friend decided on a beef empanada. They also have a bacon & cheese, a braised lamb, a veggie empanada. Don't forget the jar of freshly made chimmi sauce that's on the table when you pick up your order. We also go one beef empanada to try. They're baked and not fried. The beef empanada didn't look very big when we took it out of the paper bag. BUT, my goodness, the hot empanada was DIVINE. The ground beef was savory, peppery, and juicy. The diced onions and bell peppers complimented the fatty beef so well. The chimichurri sauce was light and didn't over power the empanada. I appreciated the small containers that were on the table for us to pour the sauce into. I am a fan of Empanada Kitchen and can't wait to return to try out a few more of their empanadas. read more

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While walking around the outskirts of downtown, the bright yellow exterior immediately drew my attention to this place. Once I realized that this was a place specializing in empanadas, I excitedly headed inside to check it out. The interior is just as charming as the exterior. It's bright and airy with high top wooden tables, industrial yellow stools, and plants hanging off the walls. They have plenty of outdoor seating as well. I went with their 3 for $9 special and got chicken, beef, and sweet corn empanadas. They were really tasty. The crust was flaky, warm, and buttery, with just the right amount of char. It sturdily held in the generous filling without crumbling apart after sinking my teeth into it. The filling of the beef and corn were very flavorful and well seasoned, but I was a bit let down by the chicken empanada. The chicken was a little dry and the sofrito (pepper/onion/garlic mixture) was cold. They have a good selection of empanadas, so I'll probably skip out on the chicken next time and try their other flavors. Each empanada is uniquely shaped with different edge foldings to distinguish between the different flavors. They include a card with illustrations with every to go order so you know which empanada is which. While this is a good idea, I find this to be a bit wasteful- my suggestion would be to have this printed on the to go box itself. Or maybe get a stamp to brand on each empanada- my favorite empanada place back in the Midwest did this, which I thought was clever. If you're looking for a quick bite or craving empanadas, come check out this place! read more

Empanada Kitchen - Empanadas Near Me - San Diego, California

The food was so good you can really tell the empanadas are handmade with the sauce especially, absolutely delicious. The owner is fantastic. They are so sweet and the service is impeccable. Will definitely be coming here again, highly recommend if you're ever in La Jolla. read more

Omg! I could eat these every day. So good. Nothing like it. In combination with spicy chimchurri sauce, its next level. Our faves are mushroom and goat cheese, beef, and lamb. We highly recommend the Apple pie there, too! This place is a hidden gem. Dont pass it up read more

Empanada Kitchen - Mushroom and goat cheese and lamb - Empanadas Near Me - San Diego, California

This was the first stop on my self guided food tour of Gaslamp with a few friends, and the empanadas were so good that I almost didn't want to eat anywhere else! They had a ton of options, so my friends and I got a bunch to share-- my favorite was the spinach. Can't beat the soft dough and cheese combo. Friendly and fast. read more

We were vending SDCC in July and ordered from this restaurant almost every day. The owner went above and beyond to make sure everything was fresh and delivered in a timely manner. Customer service is impeccable and the food is phenomenal. Can't wait for next year, we know what our go-to place will be! All of the flavors were delicious, but my three favorites were definitely the chicken, sweet corn and mushroom. And if they have the apple pies or Argentinian cookies, make sure you get them. So yummy! read more

This is a simple, clean, attentive place. The staff is nice and the menu has a variety with more than one vegetarian option. It's 3.50 for one empanada, but there are combo and bulk options. The size of each is not that large, the meal of 3 could fill you, but if you are really hungry than maybe not. I tried the veggie, corn, and mushroom ones. My favorite was the corn, it had the most flavor, but then all of them did had flavor and tasted good. The only thing is that they seemed a little burnt, but nothing too bad. Still a good option for a food that's not widely available in SD. read more

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What a wonderful little gem in downtown. The choices are limited, but the flavors speak for themselves. The owner has outstanding customer service and is an overall nice guy! He definitely added to the overall experience. Tried 6 different empanadas, I think there are maybe 9 total, lol. The one I went in to try was definitely in my top three. The beef, the ham & cheese and the caprese (my pick to try), were my top three, The special of the day was spicy beef, but they had run out by the evening when we went in. I have a sneaky suspicion that that one would have been my favorite! The rest were all good too, there was not one that did not have the great, homemade flavor of chef who has been making empanadas his whole life! We will definitely be back to try the rest! read more

Really good empanadas & good for the price since everything in downtown is SUPER expensive. They are very flavorful. Would definitely recommend. read more

Amazing food and amazing staff Warm crispy empanadas, thick flaky crust With perfect portioned insides ! I tried the corn empanada and it was great! Will definitely be back read more