Went there for dinner before watching a play at Broadway. The place was very busy and we didn't have 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. read more

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Love, love, love Empanada Mama!!! Anytime I'm in the area, I stop by for my go-to empanadas: Bombay & 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. read more

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For a quick night bite this place is fantastic. So many different types of empanadas to enjoy. Toro and Bourbon chicken were great. The only one I didn't like was the Romero and Juliet. It was too a big chunk of fried cheese with the jam. But overall would go anytime I get that late night food craving read more

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

Empanada Mama seemed like a fun place to try. I read their posted outdoor menu which showed most empanadas were like $4.95. Once inside though the prices were much higher. I'm guessing they had an old misleading menu outside. I ordered a shredded beef flour empanada & a "viagra" corn empanada. lol, the viagra is their name for shrimp filling. I have to admit I was not too impressed by the wait staff. There were a lot of employees but they seemed very content to stand & visit with each other. I almost felt like I was a bother since that interrupted their socializing. I was prepared to give this place a low mark, but the food was admittedly very good. So the misleading outdoor menu & less than stellar wait staff would have led to a 2-3 star review. But the food made it a 4. And who knows, maybe I caught the staff on an off day. read more

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Would not let me eat in after ordering at the terminal. Terrible service. Terrible policy

I have been here a couple of times and every time, I go it is good. The service is always great as well. I went and I ordered the Cuban empanada, and the steak sandwich with yuca fries. It was really good and the portion is generous, easily you can have for another meal. I had a frozen drink and it was good. This place is always a good idea because they are 24 hours, the food is consistent and reliable and the service is always good. The vibe is a dive bar mixed with college vibe. It's a fun place a a great place for late night eats. read more

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Our local Hell's Kitchen resident suggested Empanada Mama as a place for dinner for us to catch up. We walked in around 7 pm on a Monday and was lucky to find a table. Initially, they wanted us to sit in the far left corner but it looked really dark there. I'm not sure if there was a light out or what. I saw another table on the far right corner and asked if we could sit there instead. The person seating us seemed slightly annoyed with my request, and I did not mind waiting if they needed to set it up as we were still waiting for the rest of our party. It only took a moment and they had a take a seat. It took a good while to get a menu as they only have 1 paper menu on hand and everything was online. We were not getting the best internet service at the restaurant, so it was hard to look over the menu. And not everyone at our table had a device to look at the menu as well. We also waited a good while to put our order in. Thank goodness we were not in a rush, but it was noticeable. Despite being called Empanada Mama's, they also have a plenty of other dishes if empanadas aren't your thing. I'm not the biggest fan of empanadas, so was excited for the other items they offered. These were some of the things we ordered: * Yucca & Chips Combo $16.50 - I really enjoyed the plantain chips, which is why we ended up having another side order of them. The yucca was okay. * Homemade Plantain Chips $5.00 * Mama's Steak and Eggs $23 - This is a huge order and honestly, should be shared. However, the Little Guy, who is a growing teenager, ate pretty much the whole thing minus the bread. * Cubana Arepa $13.50 - I enjoyed their version of the arepa. It's a good size and can be shared as well. * Cheesesteak Empanada $4.90 * The Argentinian $20 - This is a pretty filling sandwich and it comes with chips. * Ham & Cheese Arepa $13.50 * Coconut Margarita $17.00 * Pineapple Shake $7.95 * Guava Shake $7.95 * Pisco Sour $17.00 For the amount of food we ordered, including beverages, there just wasn't enough room on the table. We were struggling as we had a party of five and the platters were huge. At one point, we wanted to look at the menu again to order an item but the lone menu was being used so we couldn't look at it again. Thank goodness I took photos of the menu earlier. We did end up ordering too much food and had some to take home. There were some highlights for sure like the plantain chips and arepas. What put us off was the automatic 20% gratuity added to our bill. I did not see this written anywhere and would have been fine with it if the service actually warranted a 20% tip. But we had wait often, and that's not a good thing. In the future, I would consider grabbing their food to go as dining in wasn't worth it. read more

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Amazing. Great late night bites. So many options. Can't wait to visit again. Plantain chips with guacamole was amazing. Jerk chicken empanada was amazing read more

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My boyfriend and I went here for an early bite. Bottom line...the empanadas are good. I would stick to the traditional empanadas (beef, pork). The drinks were decent. My issue is the service. The host was super rude...wouldn't allow us to sit in window bc we were a party of two. We later saw two white women sitting in window seats. Racism? Whatever it is...I won't be returning to this location. read more

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

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I'm not sure how I've never written a review for empanada mama, I've been to this Hell's kitchen location many times in the last 20 years. Congratulations to them, by the way, for being there for 20 years and their expansion. We were lucky enough to get a table for 5 there on Mother's Day, and everything was excellent. We had the shredded chicken, el jefe, cheeseburger, portobello mushroom and eggplant parm empanadas. Both wheat and corn versions were great, I'm a big fan of the green sauce- not as spicy as the red sauce but still has a nice kick. The maduros were delicious, shared by the table. Guava cheese dessert empanada was OK- most didn't love the guava but enjoyed the cheese part. The service was great, and my kids enjoyed their Shirley Temple read more

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Maduros - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

Let's start with the food!! I especially enjoyed my selection. I got the Brazil. It was flavorful and the way everything came together; the ground beef, olives... Come to think of it there wasn't any potato inside but that was still 10/10, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. I got the Caramel, cheese empanada. Those flavors some sound like they go together BUT here me out. If you like sweet and salty, if you are into textures, you won't appreciate/ enjoy this! You have the sweet creaminess of that caramel and the stretchiness and saltiness of the cheese and THEN the crispy, flakey crust. It is like a food porn party on you taste buds! The service was okay. Star was friendly although they took the order and didn't check on me. Ambiance was a nice crowd. Chatter in the background. Would def come here again and will get the same. My date had the Viagra which was better than the BBQ pulled pork. read more

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Great service, sweet waitress, casual bar decor, many interesting choices of food and drinks on the menu. I had a corn flour portobello empanada and tea. I thought the empanada would be baked because it was corn but it was deep fried and too greasy for me although the filling tasted delicious. Open 24 hours. Wheelchair accessible. read more

Love, just love. Big and flavorful. I actually like the corn ones and the baked ones more than the regular ones. I love the variety they offer, including some interesting ones like the Viagra (seafood stew). The only downside is they're always super busy, so pickup can get a bit disorganized read more

Im an out of towner and my friend who is a local suggested we meet there before seeing a broadway show. So glad she did! Such a hidden gem! I hardly ever eat empanadas and I probably still want because these were so amazing that it will probably be hard to find in LA. But I had the buffalo chicken and bourbon chicken ones, and my friend had the ham and cheese and cheeseburger ones. They were so delicious plus they came with so many dipping sauces which is like heaven for me! We also split an order of plantains which I think might be the best plantains I've ever had. They were so perfect and had a caramelized crunchy border that was just amazing. It also happened to be Halloween night, and we arrived as they were setting up for some sort of party, which was awesome. Everyone was dressed in costume and they had a DJ plus decorations. Big props to the DJ who was playing amazing throwback tunes. Who doesn't love Eating with a good soundtrack?! read more

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Perfect plantains - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

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Hi there Empanada Mama, I gotta say I'm a big fan in a big way! While drinking around enjoying a chill afternoon in Hell's Kitchen a buddy took me to Empanada Mama for a quick bite and it hit the spot. So much so that each time since I've been in the city I've stopped by for another round. This location not only has table service, and a full bar, but also offers easy takeaway options to boot. I've always dinned in and service has been fast and friendly, without being overbearing. I'm vegetarian and have tried a variety of their offerings and have never been disappointed (the corn flour empandas hold a special place in my heart and belly) . I usually will order an extra empanada or two to take back with me to the hotel for later on. Speaking of their offerings...the menu has LOTS to offer...like it can be overwhelming, but I love how diverse their offerings are. Not only that but they also have seasonal and rotating/limited menu offerings to boot, so be sure to check it out. As I mentioned earlier, they have a full bar and an extensive drink menu, but I have never personally partaken in their boozy libations. All things considered, it is safe to assume that I will continue my Empanada Mama tradition in coming trips and now that I've typed up this review I am craving said return visit. read more

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It's a Tuesday night and there's a crowd here with people looking for some good drunchies. But also still a great spot for empanadas even when sober too. Two or three empanadas will fill you up at under $5 each. My friend and I shared the Al Pastor, Viagra, Jerk & Cheese, Bombay, and Romeo & Juliet. All the flavors were delicious and the crust is flakey and crispy holding all the fillings very well. They were all well stuffed and seasoned for a delicious bite everytime. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the flavors here honestly. Love that they are open 24/7 and offer a pretty big dining space when you just want to wine down after a night out, but also great for on the go. It is also great for pre-gaming too as they offer margarita towers. read more

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Empanadas. - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

We absolutely loved this place. The vibe is very upbeat and energetic. The service is exceptional and the food was amazing. We ordered several different options of empanadas to try and loved all of them. The flavors are perfect and I would love to go back to this place again. We didn't get a cocktail this evening, but they have an extensive cocktail menu. read more

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Pretty good empanadas. Surprisingly liked the corn shell more even though it was much thicker cause it hold the topping in better and the sauces as well. The rice and and bean one was my favorite. read more

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

They added some items to their menu and I couldn't resist the Mexi-burger. It did not disappoint! So delicious! Their take on the burger has fresh avocado slices and a tasty sauce on it. Very filling too, with a side of light chips that are very flavorful. I went with the happy hour red sangria today to drink and it might be my new go-to! read more

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

Popped in here to grab a bite after walking around the city on a cold day just before the holiday wrap up. Food is always fresh. Our server is a little bit in a mood but it's all good. The vibe is always chill otherwise read more

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Empanada Mama is usually open when others are not. That is a big deal. Chicken empanadas of any sort are usually a go to for me. Spicy chicken there is a no brainer. Regular chicken is cool also but I don't usually get that. Nutella & Banana is good when you want something sweet and there is nothing else available. Romeo & Juliet with the guava/mozzarella cheese is a more savory sweet as is the Caramel and Cheese. read more

Disappointed because they didn't have my bourbon melt. That's my favorite. Ordered 2 buffalo chicken, 2 cheeseburgers & 1 viagra. Buffalo chicken was good with the ranch sauce. Cheeseburgers were very greasy. Tried the Viagra for the 1st time & now it's my 2nd favorite. Yummers! Will always support empanada mama! read more

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Empanada HEAVEN! I have only had these delivered but they never disappoint. I can't decide if I prefer the flaky wheat or the corny corn. They are both delicious and make sure to dip in the delicious green sauce. read more

Yummy empanada shop with other spread of soups, rice plates, and drinks! Love the pride flags and (kinda) tiki theme they have going on inside, staff were all really friendly The empanadas are great, the viagra empanada was my favorite. The shrimp is cooked just right and tastes fresh and is contrasted so well with the crispy empanada shell. The Romeo and Juliet (guava + cheese) was interesting, wasnt as much as a fan of it because the cheese wasn't very liquid it was kind of chewy like it didn't fully melt and tasted more savory than sweet. But if you really like guava and a sweet / savory combo this might be up your alley read more

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Avocado Salad - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

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Empanada Mama's delivered a solid meal. The steak was tender and seasoned well, and the rice and peas actually had flavor instead of tasting like filler. The tostones came out crispy, not greasy, which I appreciate, and the guacamole tasted fresh with good balance instead of being bland. Of course, the star here is the empanadas -- flaky, well-stuffed, and actually worth ordering again. Service was friendly, portions were fair, and the vibe felt welcoming. Definitely a spot worth coming back to when you want comfort food done right. read more

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Guacamole & Plantain Chips - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

We were lucky enough to catch them during the street food market and we tried the spicy chicken empanadas. It was packed with chicken and a punch. I enjoy spicy and this was the perfect amount with a crunchy outside for a great price of $5/ea. I will be back to try multiple more kinds. read more

Shoutout to Johnnie and Ce Ce!!!!! Johnnie and Ce Ce were absolutely amazing behind the bar. Their professionalism and great personalities made them hands down the BEST.. They brought so much warmth and joy to the experience - quick with a recommendation, attentive.. genuinely fun to talk to. Their energy elevated the whole visit and made the place feel even more welcoming. It's rare to find bartenders who make you feel like a regular on your second visit, but they pulled it off effortlessly. My Hubby and I can't wait to return We luv luv this place can't wait to hang with you guys again. Thank you for making our Anniversary weekend Fabulous! See you soon read more

The staff here was completely rude and disrespectful. We were told that we cannot eat our order in the sit down area- we placed an order on the machines and did not know it was designated for take out. The security guard claimed I pushed him and then tried to start a fight with us. We will never come here again!!! read more

Five days in the Big Apple means countless food options, but since we were seeing Hell's Kitchen on Broadway, I sought out local eats in the neighborhood--and Empanada Mama was the major discovery. I'm hitting this spot up fa' sho on my next NYC visit! They offer flavors galore that will satisfy every tastebud. The moment I saw their Jerk Chicken and Viagra (seafood) empanadas, I was sold. Our appetizer of plantain chips and guac was hittin', and the entire meal was fantastic. To top it off, the service was fast, friendly, and top-notch. I will say the music was a little loud; maybe because we were sitting by the DJ booth, but we're music lovers, so it didn't take away from the vibe. Just be prepared because this 24-hour spot might be jammin' when you visit! read more

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You need this in your life being GF I ordered the corn flower ones. Bbq , cheese, ground beef and a cheese steak Arapa. They were all amazing with the garlic and red sauses. I would recommend this to everyone you cant get this in my home town and the pricing was extremely good. One world of advice is skip the flan it tasted old and not like eggs more like a mouth full of wet flour. read more

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - My order of gf dinner - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

I truly can't believe I've never left a review for this place yet. One of the best places to eat in the city, for sure. It's a super cozy restaurant but still with ample space to move around. I would always come here for their empanadas, but recently, I actually ordered something else off their menu, an actual dish. I ordered the Carne Sudada, and it was amazing. The beef was so tender and packed with flavor, and the sauce had the perfect balance of richness and spice. It came with rice and plantains, which made the meal even better. Every bite was comforting and full of the kind of flavors that make you want to come back again and again. As always, the service was great, and the food came out fresh and hot. Whether you're grabbing empanadas or sitting down for a full meal, this place never misses. Safe to say I will be expanding my usual order from now on. PS: For empanadas, make sure you try the spicy chicken and viagra! read more

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Came here after catching a show at the nearby studio and it's taken the throne for my current fav Manhattan spot this trip! We were seated quickly and there was lively music playing. Our server was also really nice and attentive. As always, food is what I care about the most and it's fantastic. Everything was so well seasoned and flavourful. The first that came was the Cubano arepa. It was my first time trying an arepa and I loved it. It came with a huge portion of slow cooked pork and melted cheese, I would have been full from that alone. But since we were there to try the empanadas we got 5 different ones. Viagra was my favorite; it's packed with whole tiger shrimps and was perfect with the crispy crust. But I would definitely get bombay, spicy chicken and jerk and cheese again. I got the cheesesteak thinking it was my safe bet and it turned out to rank last compared to everything else we got, so that says a lot. We were so stuffed after. Would love to try some more flavours and the dessert empanadas next time. Yum. read more

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Alright! So I ordered my empanadas and they came out Freshly fried and not like they were in a warming draw! That's all I ask for. Fresh food! I had a cheeseburger and Pizza empanada. Soooo delicious! I'm glad they corrected their methods because before I could definitely tell the empanadas were kept warm (Not hot) in a warming draw which made them Not Crispy and fresh tasting. Great job. Service was on point as usual. Environment was perfect as usual. Nice Latin jams, salsa playing lightly in the background. Patrons enjoying themselves while munching and conversing. If you're looking for fantastic empanadas or great Cuban food this is your spot here! Gotta try this spot out! Ok! Have a great one yall! -Ray read more

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Classic Tostones - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

Food was fresh and hot I waited maybe 10-15 mins but worth the wait great variety's of empanadas they also have a Bar so that was a plus. I'm not normally in this area but there's a lot of restaurants pick your choice staff was quick and efficient. The atmosphere is a chill low -key spot I myself picked up my food. They also have a great Dining section it's nice and cozy Latin spot Mucho Buenos. read more

Food was great: a ton of empanadas and they all had their flavorful stories to tell. HUGE menu so you'll never run out of new things to find. Service was wonderful: even though the area is quite crowded and the place was packed, we were seated within a few seconds upon entering and the waiter was attentive to our requests. read more

I loved their ox tail empanadas and their viagra empanadas. Those are the best ones. It's a grab and go spot for me but you definitely can sit down there it'll just be a little chilly right now because of the weather. Definitely dip the empanadas in their green sauce read more

It was my first time in New York. I was craving for Colombian food so I came here to Empanada Mama. Let's start with the people working here. The bartender was amazingly friendly. Then, I was lucky to find a seat empty by the corner of the bar, and I was able to order a delicious bandeja paisa. It's enough to say that I love the food. Also, one of the waiters, Mateo, was so helpful and friendly. I will definitely come back!! read more

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Wow I was on the fence as I am from Chile and empanadas are a thing that I am very particular about but wow this place is unreal and the taste was excellent our server was from Ecuador and she was vey helium. What a great meal and experience!!!! Thank u read more

I had the most annoying experience at this place. As I entered the place , I said out loud my cousin & I were going to sit down inside to eat. I ordered an empanada from the kiosk and sat inside to wait for it. As I was about to enjoy the food, I was told I couldn't eat the empanada inside because I ordered from the kiosk. There were so many empty tables & chairs I was confused as to why I couldn't eat inside. There were others whom ordered from the kiosk & had sat down eating their food. While I hadn't been a patron in some time, I was highly disappointed that I couldn't enjoy a simple empanada. On top of the inflation of pricing on smaller items, the service was poor. I was not greeted & I had to wait for atleast 2 minutes before the person at the front to stop talking with the others whom worked at the place. Will not ever be returning to this location. read more

Empanada Mama is a HELL YES in Hell's Kitchen. After a night of reverie, stop in for a veritable feast selected from many different kinds of inventive, unique, and also traditional empanadas. Their staff rocks and so does the decor. I loved the Reggaeton and Pernil versions. Their sangria is also sooo good. read more