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Empanada Mama

4.1 (62 reviews)
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Desayuno Colombiano
Patrick Z.

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

Katherine N.

Empanada Mama has become my unofficial late-night pit stop, the kind of place you stumble into on autopilot after a long evening. This time, I went for the plantain nachos--an inventive twist I couldn't resist. The plantains leaned a little soggy, but the sweetness paired with the pulled pork actually worked in their favor, adding a depth you don't get from ordinary nacho chips. The pork itself was tender, the queso melted into everything beautifully, and together it made for a plate worth lingering over. The restaurant itself is wonderfully laid-back, the kind of chill sit-down space where you can catch your breath before heading home. Nothing fancy, nothing forced--just comfort food with a little personality. Late-night cravings don't stand a chance here.

El Jefe
Kathie H.

I got the El Jefe empanada which had birria and was sooo good! Simple place, limited seating. You order via a kiosk, it's pretty quick. Great place for a snack or quick meal.

Candice C.

So gross and disappointing. I've loved EM for a long time but now will never go there again. Three of the empanadas were dissolved. It looked like someone put them In the bags then stepped on them but packaged them anyway. One red sauce, one of green sauces and the rest were some super gross white cream that tastes like it's gone bad. The bag was fine when I grabbed it. When I got home 20mins later and went to pic it up it DISSOLVED on my passenger seat and then onto the floor. So on top of everything will have to get my car cleaned.

El Jefe - flavor of the month
Seby I.

The cheese empanada was downright delicious. No wonder- it was fried. The cheese inside was soft and pulled like mozarella. It was quite filling but as I was still hungry I had a second one with spinach and cheese. This one was less tasty as the spinach only lent color and no flavor. Here oniy one tiny sauce is given as the second one costs money. Service was friendly. Mama Empanada has been here for over two years. I knew the hot dog place which was here. Each empanada costs under $5. Besides empanada, a variety of food is available and some is expensive like the guacamole and plantain chips for nearly $15. This place is popular with youngsters.

Betty S.

They have delicious empanadas. Have ordered several times in store and for pick up & even for big groups. Never disappoint. Only con is if you order in store there is always a wait of 5-10 minutes. I suggest ordering for pick up.

Michelle O.

8/19/2024: Enroute home saw this before heading to train station: Cute and small. Staff is friendly and pleasant. I selected 3 to try: El Toro: had a little kick Chicken: flavorful Reggaeton: a bit spicy All yummy and would definitely return if in the area.

Eva G.

The best empanadas I have ever tasted are from Empanadas Mama!!! They are filled with delicious ingredients and every bite is delectable and delicious!!! They don't skimp on ingredients!!! Every time I'm in town I do my best to drop by to any of their locations and bring some back to Cali!!!!! My faves are the spinach and cheese, Greek spinach, chicken corn. I also like the Bombay, Brasil, Viagra , Desayuno Columbiano. They are all good. I recommend to come and enjoy some empanadas!!!!

Bombay + Rice & Beans Combo
Justin T.

I heard a lot of great things about Empanada Mama, so I had to give it a shot. This location seems much smaller than the others, and there's really only a handful of seats available -- this seems more like a grab and go location. There was a lunch special deal that came with 2 empanadas and a side of beans and rice, so we got that. The two empanadas we chose were the Wheat flour Bombay and the Shredded Chicken. I thought they were both pretty good and the sauce it comes with compliments the empanadas well. The rice and beans were good too, but nothing special. Looking back, I feel like the food was a bit pricey when considering the size, but nonetheless it was good. I would recommend checking it out at least once!

Inside
Vanessa S.

What a great spot to goto when your on the run and need some tasty empanadas! I got the corn empanadas with meat and another with vegetables both were amazing. While their good, it sometimes takes a while to come out it's absolutely worth it I promise. They also take all forms of payment so just bring your phone to pay if you want.

Corn veggie empanadas
Vincent W.

This location is my go to along the L. Late nights I'd order online and they have discounts when order ahead via website. The service is usually fast and empanadas are consistent. This location is pick up mostly, due to limited space but you can dine in. I recommend try this eatery.

Carolina , Alvaro , Andres

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11 months ago

Great spot. Price, Quality, & convenience perfectly blended in the east village. Will be revisiting!

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2 years ago

Delicious- dont sleep on the cheeseburger one its so good I think about it even after moving away from NYC

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3 years ago

Delicious empanadas!! Service is a little wonky and so is the ambiance but the empanadas are worth the trip!

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Ask the Community - Empanada Mama

Review Highlights - Empanada Mama

“If I had to choose what to eat as my last meal, I would say Viagra empanadas time and time again.”

Mentioned in 7 reviews

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Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Chicharrones

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen

4.0(3.2k reviews)
2.3 mi•Hell's Kitchen, Theater District, Midtown West
•$$

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

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

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Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Bar (empty where we were told we cannot sit with takeaway orders)

Bar (empty where we were told we cannot sit with takeaway orders)

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Appetizers- guacamole,  plantain chips and potatoes

Appetizers- guacamole, plantain chips and potatoes

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Cerveza Águila!! The best!

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Empanada Mama - Viagra Wheat

Empanada Mama

3.8(1.1k reviews)
1.0 mi•Bowery, Lower East Side
•$

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

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

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Empanada Mama
Empanada Mama - Grilled chicken salad and empanada

Grilled chicken salad and empanada

Empanada Mama - Romeo & Juliet

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Empanada Mama - El Jefe

Empanada Mama

3.9(29 reviews)
3.0 mi•Upper East Side, Yorkville

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

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

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Empanada Mama - Inside

Inside

Empanada Mama - El Jefe

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Empanada Mama - empanadas - Updated October 2026

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