I just want to take a moment to give a shout-out to this restaurant and, especially, the amazing staff! 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! read more

MANHATTAN | LOWER EAST SIDE 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! read more

24/7 empanada chain. Good price w/ crispy and flavorful empanadas. The sauces are good too, esp the red hot sauce.Interior is what you would expect from a fast food spot. - El toro empanada: 100/10, the oxtail meat was SO tender and flavorful, and so were the carrots. Everything literally melts in your mouth. Will def be coming back for this - El jefe empanada: 8/10, yummy and flavorful, but not as good as el toro - Viagra wheat empanada: 6/10, meh not the biggest fan of this one. Fake seafood - Romeo & Juliet empanada: 8/10, guava and cheese paired very well tg, but more cheese than guava, and the distribution of cheese and guava was off, so some bites were just cheese, and some were just guava read more

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Empanadas are good but the service wasn't it. The two Hispanic ladies working the cash register + calling out food orders when we went on Thursday evening, April 24th needs to be trained on proper customer service. No greeting, no "I'll be right with you" as I'm just standing there waiting to order. Even though we ordered around the same time, my friend got her empanada first while I sat here for over 7 minutes waiting for mine. How difficult is it to reheat these empanadas? It wasn't until I had to walk up to the lady at the cash register to ask about the status of my order. She then gives me my bag that was just sitting behind the counter. Did they not bother to call my name/order number? And trust me, I was listening diligently to make sure I hear my order when called. Like I said, empanadas tasted good, big in size and packed with meat. Not sure if this is a sketchy part of town or just where the riff-raffs hang out soo that may explain the lack of care here. A place to just order your empanadas and move on with your day. read more

Got overcharged but didn't notice until after I left. Would highly recommend reviewing the itemized bill, especially if you order anything before and after happy hour ending. Their system will just charge your full price for everything. read more

Yummmy !!!! The fresh prince tasted like a cheeseburger with no cheese lol. Well seasoned and the empanadas are soft yet crunchy. 10/10 I can see why their line was longgg. Will definitely try some other flavors read more

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Very nice establishment, and very clean. Quick empanada eats with an extensive menu of options. They can do the empanada any way you want it pretty much. I loved the beef one and my friend loved the pork one but I wasn't a big fan of the chicken. Service was great though and everyone was nice and helpful as it was my first time there so I didn't know how many different styles there were. I'd come here again to try more options and combinations that they have. read more

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This 24/7 spot is an amazing spot for a bite at any time of day. This location in the LES, has lots of seating to dine-in but also kiosks for you to order at for take-out. Service is kind and fairly quick. They have a huge menu of lots of different empanadas as well as other Mexican dishes and sandwiches. I got their oxtail one, spicy chicken, greek spinach and feta, and their viagra (seafood stew with tiger shrimp and crab). Favorites were definitely their viagra and oxtail as both were so flavorful and filled with protein. I can definitely see this spot being a favorite late-night go to. read more

Empanada Mama - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

A staple post drinking snack spot-- the el jefe and el toro were filling and not terribly priced! Would love to come back after another night drinking! The ambience is a smidge ominous w some random people walking up and asking for money multiple times, but hey that's New York-- Cheers! read more

Empanada Mama - El Jefe and El Toro - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

I thought the food was really flavorful. I got the jerk & cheese, Buffalo chicken, cheese steak, and el jefe. My favorites had to be the jerk and cheese and el jefe. The Buffalo chicken was lacking something and the cheese steak consistency of the sauce was too runny for me. I really enjoyed the el jefe empanada and the jerk and cheese. They went great with the sauces. There's a dine in section and a take out section. read more

Empanada Mama - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

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So good ! We weren't too hungry but wanted a snack and were craving empanadas and this hit the spot ! The one we wanted was sold out sadly but the other options were just as delish !!! Quick service read more

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Came here for a quick bite at 1am, got the El Toro (Jamaican oxtail) and pernil - they are very generous with portion size and I'm talking they stuffed the empanadas, no air pocket inside. Pop some green sauce on there and you're good. Did I need two? No, but I ate both in less than 10 mins. I'll be back lol read more

Empanada Mama - El Toro, pernil, el jefe - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

Been coming here for years at ALL hours of the day and night and have never had a bad experience until tonight with Cynthia. Every time I've come I guess I ordered ahead so I'm used to them calling out my name. This time I ordered at the register and not only were they out of 100 flavors but the cashier was miserable and rude. My name hadn't been called so I inquired (I promise you I was extremely courteous and kind; I realize people sometimes make mistakes and sometimes it's me! so I was just wondering if maybe they'd called me) and Cynthia became defensive and rude. I calmly told her that it was unfortunate she was so nasty with me when I wasn't a drunk patron I was literally just another person who worked in the neighborhood and she just ignored me. I will be eating elsewhere from now on. read more

Pinch me--I think I've gone to heaven! Empanada Mama is open 24/7 and serves alcohol, which honestly feels like a game changer for anyone who loves late-night eats. I've been to plenty of their locations before, but I had no idea this one was open around the clock. After a night of drinking, I was craving something delicious, so I checked Yelp, saw they were open, and wobbled my way over. To my surprise, the place was PACKED with club-goers just like me, all hunting for that perfect late-night bite. Whether you want to grab to-go or chill inside, Empanada Mama has you covered. The empanadas are insanely good--crispy, flavorful, and just what you need after a night out. This spot just became my new favorite for late-night cravings. If you haven't experienced their 24/7 magic yet, you're missing out! read more

Empanada Mama - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

Tried this outlet coming back from our archery lessons. Always have been a fan of their empanadas- Love their hawain and mac and cheese ones. They never disappoint! They also have new sandwiches and burgers on their menu that my friends tried and loved. Also liked their spiked hot choco!!! A lil pricey if you dine in but great for pickups! read more

Empanada Mama - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

Empanada Mama was a lifesaver at 4 a.m. after a night of drinking. The cheeseburger, jerk chicken and cheese, and mac n' cheese with bacon empanadas were all incredible crispy on the outside, packed with bold, comforting flavors inside. Perfect late-night food and worth every bite. read more

Empanada Mama - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

Anywhere there is an empanada, I'll be getting one but this place unfortunately wasn't as great as everyone hypes it up to be. I was really excited to try the corn flour empanadas but they were extremely hard and not worth it. Food 3/5: I got the bbq pulled pork (corn flour), corn cheese (corn flour, and pizza (regular). The only thing that really saved this meal was the green sauce that comes with them. The bbq pulled pork was just okay with the filling being pretty average. Though, the crust was so hard and unpleasant to bite into. The corn cheese literally had zero corn it was all cheese I just ended up throwing this away because it was so oily and swallowing me before I could swallow it. The regular pizza was the only thing to save this meal. Highly recommend and it even complimented well with the sauce. Service 3/5: Kiosk ordering system but long wait. My friends got drinks while we were waiting which complimented well with the empanadas and the bartender was nice. Ambiance: You can choose to sit in their front area or "dine in." A little confusing to be quite honest but we just chose to sit in the front seating area since we didn't feel like we would be there for long. read more

Empanada Mama - BBQ Pulled Pork - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

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This place is soooooo good so many options and the oxtail one is the best! Very affordable and I love that they have dine in seating. They get very crowded so keep that in mind. read more

Good empanadas. Pricey for 1 but it's new York and inflation so we're fucked regardless. Loved what I ordered. Definitely delicious but took a bit to get out. Also apparently is dine in only. So if you order from the kiosk it's automatically a to go order. Personally I think it's dumb if the restaurant isn't packed. Maybe figure out when peak times are to determine such times for that policy. But can't hate the food. It was good. Got spicy chicken, El Toro and El jefe. Would recommend the last 2 for sure. Spicy chicken is weird. Not bad weird but just weird. They pack it with plenty of meat so valid read more

Loved the empanadas! Accidentally ordered a plant based one and I could not even tell it wasn't beef! Loved both empanadas and the lemonade. Best of all the Brooklyn location had plenty of seating and great AC! read more

This is my go-to place when I am in and out of the city. Over the years, the quality has remained the same: delicious, nicely stuffed empanadas. What we get in preference: 1) Viagra - Big bites of shrimp. 2) Cuban - savory and salty. Cheesy. 3) El Jefe - beef and corn is a nice touch 4) El Toro - mildly sweet 5) Jerk and Cheese - mildly sweet We usually order 2 per person and we're full. Though we always end up doubling the size of our orders for some easy leftovers. read more

This is a perfect late night snack after a night out. The cheesesteak empanada is so good. There are a few tables inside or you can order for to go. Apparently, they also have frozen margaritas to go. It was so good. We went two times on our trip to New York. read more

Empanada Mama - Cheesesteak - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

I never knew there could be so many different types of empanadas. I got 2 for a light night snacks and they were amazing and dripping in juice from the meat. I love how they are open 24/7 because its a great spot for a late night snack. The food did take a while to come out so we waited for a while but I just assumed that they were super fresh and they did taste good so the wait was fine. read more

Empanada Mama - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

One of my favorite empanada place. I couldn't remember the last time I had it and I was craving for it. The person I told to get viagra for me really thought i was getting a viagra lol. read more

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Came here just now after searching for a pizzeria that ended up being closed early. I was hungry but it was late so there wasn't a lot of spots I could go in that weren't bars. My husband saw the neon lights of this spot as if it were a pond in the middle of a dessert. We asked for 4 empanadas to go and I'm glad we waited 18 minutes for them because that means that they were fresh. They were also super huge. I had ordered a pizza empanada because of the pizza craving I still had and it was delicious. I also had a Bombay empanada that made me feel like I was having a full plate of Indian food. The cheese empanada was so big that I thought they had given me two of them accidentally when I first felt it. That I'm saving for when I get home. I highly recommend if you love empanadas and variety as well. read more

Empanada Mama - Cheese empanada - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

These are great on the go options and two is the perfect amount to feel full. They have pretty good options and I look forward to trying more. Also the Bombay and spicer flavors are the best! read more

Empanada Mama - Two Empanadas + Rice & Beans - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

Ive been here twice now. Place is clean and service was good if a little slow. The Viagra is delicious I got the corn instead of the wheat empanada. However it's a mix of tiger shrimp and imitation crab which is understandable for the price but it isn't specified on the menu. The Romeo and Juliet was good the first time. The second time I ordered through door dash. I got the Viagra, el toro, raggaeton, Romeo and Juliet, and the passion fruit juice and cherry lemonade. empanadas were still crispy except for the Romeo and Juliet which became soggy. I also got the el toro which tasted too sweet for me. I didn't enjoy the flavor profile of it however it came with a generous amount of meat which was nice. I also got the reggaeton which was delicious. I liked it second to Viagra. The juices are skippable. It tasted like concentrate mixed with water. I felt like you could get them anywhere, also borderline didn't taste great. Overall I'd go here again for cheap and delicious foods, although some a hit or miss depending on your preference. read more

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Ordered a pick up ahead of time, got my order, packaged well. You can also eat inside as there are plenty of seats. I'm surprised this restaurant is 24/7 opening. Got the smokin beef burger and the Mac and cheese. The beef burger was good and flavorful. No lettuce and tomato in the burger fyi. It's like a cheeseburger but bigger in size. Beef patty was thick. The Mac and cheese as a side, crusty on top with a bit of a kick of spice. I like the crust on top. read more

Empanada Mama - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

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a good choice and open 24/7 Always get the green & red sauce as well. I just wish the chicken soup when delivered was bigger portion for that price cause it's crazy how small it is especially when I dont eat the rice that comes with it. read more

Empanada Mama - Arroz Con Pollo 20th Anniversary Special - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

The food was decent. I wanted something quick and it was late, so I decided to give them a try. The Jerk & cheese empanada wasn't jerk, it was more barbecue tasting. The viagra empanada was a little too much for me, I don't know if I like all of those seafoods together but it doesn't hurt to try. I'm a huge fan of empanadas, so wanted to see what was up. The shrimp burger was actually good but I couldn't finish it after sampling the empanadas. Did I finish anything? No, but I would try the place again with different empanada choices. Surprisingly enough, the chips were the best thing I had. ‍ read more

Empanada Mama - Mexi-Shrimp Burger - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

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Frustrating experience overall. They can't wait for takeout while sitting, not even for a long period, and the ordering kiosk is constantly interrupting them while typing. Very annoying setup. read more

Ordered through the kiosk as at the counter was cash only. Easy to navigate the kiosk. Loved that the food came with clear descriptions and categories. Empanadas were filling and good size. Very affordable. Would love to return here or to another location for more options. Very clean. Service nice. Seating available and bar read more

Great 24/7 spot, open late, always good food for a good price. The only place open late in the area that is decent, cheap and good for groups small and large. We got El Toro, Bourbon, Portabello and Rice and Beans. The green sauce is always a house favorite, red less so. We ordered around 50 empanadas for our group and they were a hit. Their service is also fast and easy. read more

This place is absolutely incredible!!! I honestly had no idea that they have a full menu besides empanadas. My favorite empanada was the reggaeton & the ground beef. I personally wasn't a fan of the Mac & cheese empanada it was very bland with barely any cheese. On the other hand, I had a grilled chicken quesadilla and it was cooked to perfection. The chicken, cheese, & guacamole was fantastic combination of flavor. It also came with yuca fries and cheese and that was delicious. I do feel the service was quite slow & the food took awhile to come out. But I love this place and I would definitely eat here again. read more

Empanada Mama - Grilled Chicken Quesadilla - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

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Used to come here all the time back in college and being here again, it is every bit as delicious and drunken hunger satiating as ever! You can order via a kiosk this time around, which is helpful if you know what or want, or alternatively, want to slowly sift through the menu. Can't go wrong here. read more

So many options! Honestly, I spent a good amount of time just deciding what I wanted. I ended up ordering 3 empanadas - Jerk Chicken, Ground Corn Beef and the Bourbon Chicken. My favorites were the jerk chicken which had Swiss cheese so the flavors were really good. You got a little bit of spice and then the saltiness of the cheese. I really liked the bourbon chicken with the mushrooms as well. It was a bit oily. I think I preferred the wheat empanadas versus the corn but I'll be back to try again. It took around 15/20 minutes to get them so I would recommend ordering beforehand if you don't want to wait. They have indoor seating and frozen margs if you want to make your wait more fun. read more

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First time at Empanada Mama L.E.S, I ordered their Mama's Smokin' Beef Smash burger (black Angus beef double 8oz patty, American cheese, chopped lettuce & onions, Jalapeno Burger sauce & Honey BBQ sauce) and Mac & Cheese (the side option was potato chips, house salad or Mac & Cheese) for $17 before tax. Both the burgers and Mac & cheese were fresh and delicious. I will definitely come back and try other items on their menu (definitely a empanada). I noticed they were open 24/7, so you can definitely also stop by for morning breakfast or super late night snack. read more

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Ordered my Birthmas dinner from here a few weeks ago. The steak dinner is phenomenal. I ordered it medium, it was cooked to a perfect medium. The rice, beans and salad were delicious and well-seasoned. The coconut margarita is POTENT and arrived very well-packaged. Side note: the El Toro and Bombay empanadas are also wonderful, and they are STUFFED, not just filled with mostly air. read more

Delicious empanadas! Might be one of my favorite empanada places I've had. My wife loves empanadas and she approves! You order and wait till it comes out. Service was quick and the prices weren't too bad! read more

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This place is wonderfullllll - especially late night! ;) My partner and I landed in NY around midnight, and were able to pop in and get some delicious empanadas. A lot of flavorful options, and I'm gluten free which works perfectly with corn-based foods. Love the easy self-service kiosks where you can just order and wait for your food. Still, the workers are helpful if/when needed. There's a limited number of seats/tables, but honestly this place has a to-go vibe anyway! read more

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