While in the Carolinas visiting we decided to make our way to Charolette to check out Optimist Hall. Felix's Handmade Empanadas was the third eatery selected to try. My sister went with: Jamaican Beef, Chicken & Cheese, Bacon, Date N' Goat Cheese, w/ Cilantro garlic lyme She was so pleased she raved about the flavors of all three and went back to purchase more. So I imagine they were just that good or she was being.... Nevermind she may read this. Needless to say Felix's Empanadas were a hit. Just A Note: They offer a 3 for $13 dollar deal. Provides a small discount while you explore their flavor options. read more

Felix's Handmade Empanadas - Jamaican Beef, Chicken & Cheese, Bacon, Date N' Goat Cheese, w/ Cilantro garlic lyme - Empanadas Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Ya know.. I was expecting some delicious empanadas but the street empanada I got was very underwhelming no flavor. Tho the crust was tasty and fresh. But the real star was the alfajores- delicious. Oh and I ordered a side of chimichurri... but it def didn't taste like chimichurri. Keep your baker but get a new chef. read more

A staple of the optimist food hall. I can't remember the employees name working the register, but he was awesome. Friendly and walked me through the menu and knew exactly how everything was cooked. He even said "I bet yours will be out in 4 minutes" and it was exactly that. I went with the Jamaican beef. It was on the sweeter side, and the beef was tasty. The empanada itself was flaky, crispy and crunchy. A perfect snack in the cool optimist hall which has plenty of seating! read more

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One of my favorite empanada places in Charlotte! I love the variety and serving size - they're big enough to share, but small enough to where you can eat multiple. I am not sure why but the pizza one, although pretty basic, has me in a chokehold. I also really love their goat cheese and date one. Their sauces are what really make them even more delectable! read more

Felix's Handmade Empanadas - Menu as of Jan 2024 (almost closing time so out of some stuff) - Empanadas Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Great empanada place in optimist hall. I got a chicken and cheese and a Nutella and banana and both were great. Ordering on the tablet was an issue, it said they were out of many side dishes but people ordering at the register were able to get them. I learned for next time. read more

Cute little empanada shop tucked inside the Optimist Food Hall in Charlotte. I was surprised to see the low ratings here because I actually enjoyed both the food and the service, unlike some of the other reviewers. We tried four varieties of their empanadas: Pulled Chorizo, Lobster & Corn, Four Cheese, and Pizza. The last two were the only vegetarian options on the menu, which was a bit surprising. Each empanada is shaped differently so you can tell them apart, and they even give you a little pamphlet that shows which shape matches which flavor. I thought that was a fun touch. The sauces were also pretty interesting, and the server gave me one of each, which was nice. The chorizo and lobster empanadas were solid, and the veggie ones were decent. Overall, I enjoyed the food, especially with all the dips. Definitely worth a try if you're at the food hall and want to explore different cuisines. read more

Felix's Handmade Empanadas - Pulled Chorizo, Lobster Corn & Chive, Four Cheese, and Pizza Empanadas - Empanadas Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

This small shop is in Optimist Hall. The lady that worked the register was very nice and friendly. We placed our order and she said it will be ready in 6 min. She was right. They were hot and VERY good. So good that we went back the next day to get one! If you are at optimist hall.... definitely get an empanada.. especially the cheeseburger option. read more

Felix's Handmade Empanadas - Empanadas Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

During a roadtrip to Charlotte, I wanted to grab some empanadas for the drive back home. Empanadas sounded like a great choice; they're easy to eat in the car and it's supporting a small business instead of a fast food chain. Let's discuss service first (why I knocked down the review down two stars). I passed by this stand a few nights before while visiting Optimist Hall. The cashier was hitting on a girl walking by and she seemed a bit uncomfortable with him pushing to get her to order something. He did not treat others like this. It was very unprofessional and honestly, gross behavior. When I came back a few days later on my way home, the same cashier was working. He wasn't friendly at all and I did not feel very welcome. There was zero eye contact, didn't ask if I wanted sauce...it very much felt like a "just order and get out of here" feeling. Not a great first impression but it is a lasting one, unfortunately. Now, the empanadas are actually really good! I ordered the Cubana, Carnitas Taco, the Bacon Date n Goat Cheese, and the guava empanada. The carnitas taco was by far my favorite next to the guava. However, I didn't receive any sauce with my empanadas even though it comes with one (and like I mentioned earlier, the cashier never asked, so I assumed it comes with a sauce unless requested otherwise). If it weren't for this cashier, I would absolutely bump my rating to a 5 star review. It's just unfortunate when the people being the front face for a business ruin it. I would only come back if he's not working up front, otherwise, I'd rather spend my hard earned money on a business that appreciates it more. read more

Felix's Handmade Empanadas - Empanadas Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Got to two secret menu items after checking Reddit to see what dishes were the best here at optimist hall. The recommendations had the Sheppard pie empanada and the truffle garlic cheese fries. Honestly they were both good! I would say that the fries were lacking truffle and garlic flavoring. The cheese was loaded though! We snagged the 2nd to last of the Sheppards pie empanada and that was also good. Would like to other empanadas here though! read more

Felix's Handmade Empanadas - Truffle, Parmesan, and Garlic Fries - Empanadas Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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The Empanadas's taste terrible, almost like MSG. Witnessed the cook touch the broom, the ordering screen and then touch empanadas. No glove change. Server was stoned and weird. Will not be back. read more

Bacon date and goat cheese and Jamaican beef were SO good! Larger than I thought they would be and the option to get 2 sauces was fun to try as well. Quick service and the seating area is communal as part of the food court. We got the Cuban as well, but preferred the other two. read more

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This is such a great spot!!! We were in Charlotte and decided to give this place a try in Optimist Hall. We ordered four types of empanadas - pizza, traditional chicken, pulled chorizo, and Bacon Date & Goat cheese. They were all sooooooo so good. But my favourite has to be the pizza and chicken. The cheese pull of the pizza empanada was next level! This place was so packed the entire time I was at the Hall. And after tasting their food, I know why they're so popular. And the staff, and the owner Felix are super sweet and engaging with all their customers, making the experience better. If you're ever in the area, do give this place a shot. And do you want to know a secret - they're baked, so they're healthy! ;) read more

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I LOVE Feliz empanadas. They have so many different options to choose from and each are made fresh with many different flavors. My go-to order is the 3 empanada of choice for $13 . They also let you get as many sauces as you'd like so definitely try out their Mambo sauce !! I have also tried the pizza empanada and it is amazing. The service is fast and the staff is very friendly. It is located inside of a food hall and they do not have the t"ext when your order is ready" option, so you do have to stand near their location while waiting for your food. read more

Felix's Handmade Empanadas - Chicken Empanada - Empanadas Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Carolina BBQ Empanada (4/5): I liked the shell which was flaky but still doughy. The pulled pork and slaw were both pretty tasty and flavorful. Cheeseburger Empanada (3/5): Tasted more like a sloppy joe filling than a cheeseburger filling. Would've loved a little more complexity in flavor and texture. Pulled Chorizo Empanada (3/5): Honestly couldn't tell that this was chorizo. It was very bland overall, but tasted better with the mambo sauce which was a little sweet and sour. *I really liked how the empanadas came in different shapes so you could tell which was which! RATING SYSTEM 5 - Great (Need to get this again) 4 - Good (Would get this again) 3 - Ok (Might give this another shot) 2 - Not Good (Won't get this again) 1 - Bad (Telling people to avoid this) read more

Felix's Handmade Empanadas - Carolina BBQ Empanada, Cheeseburger Empanada, Pulled Chorizo Empanada - Empanadas Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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So many unique flavors. I tried 3 different ones and loved them all. You can tell the pastry is freshly made flakey goodness. I love how each flavor has a different shape as well. read more

Felix's Handmade Empanadas - Pizza, Cheeseburger and Guava Empanadas - Empanadas Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Friendly service and great food. I tried both a traditional steak option and a fusion one--the Cubana. The Cubana was especially delicious: the pastry was super flaky, and the empanada was perfectly seasoned. I also loved being able to sample different sauces with it. I did not care for the fries, I don't believe they were made to order. That is why I gave it 4 stars read more

The street beef empanada was delicious. However, the chimichurri dipping sauce was not the best since I had better. Overall, I wouldn't go out of my way to go to this place again for empanadas. read more

Felix's Handmade Empanadas - Empanadas Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Empanadas were okay, not bad. The service was a little slow as they only have one person on a Saturday night. The light fixture was covered in dust, would recommend more cleaning specially since it was above the food. read more

Felix's Handmade Empanadas - Empanadas Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Fast and delicious food and you can even substitute fries for salad in the combo, if you want. I think my favorite sauce was the cilantro sauce but to each their own. It's a nice handheld meal you can take while walking around the area and not have to worry about too much mess. read more

Service was quick and friendly. The menu offers a great variety. Only issue I had was trying to narrow my selection to three. We ended up going with the Carnitas Taco, Bacon Date 'n Goat Cheese, and Pepperoni Pizza empanadas. All great options! We had originally planned to take them to go as we had sampled a few different restaurants this trip and were pretty full, but I didn't realize the Carnitas Taco had toppings that likely wouldn't travel well. So we ended up splitting that and taking the rest to go. I'm glad we did because it was still hot. The dough was fresh and crispy and the carnitas filling was flavorful. I would definitely get this one again. The Bacon, Date 'n Goat Cheese caught my eye and I just had to try it. I loved that the bacon was thick cut. It paired well with the sweet date and tangy goat cheese. I do feel this one could've used a little more filling but it was still good overall. Like the other, the dough was perfectly crispy and fresh. We had the Pepperoni Pizza empanada later that night and it reheated well in the air fryer. I feel like it would've been perfect dipped in some marinara sauce but was still very good on its own. I would order any of these options again. I also enjoyed the dipping sauces they offered. My favorite being the mambo sauce. Their hot sauce is really good too (and pairs nicely with the Texas Cheesesteak next door if you happen to visit them.) Next trip I will definitely be ordering at least one of these empanadas again, but I also have my eye on their sweet options as well. All in all, I don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu. They're perfectly cooked and have great filling options no matter your preference. read more

Felix's Handmade Empanadas - Bacon, Date, and Goat Cheese Empanada, Pepperoni Pizza Empanada, and Carnitas Taco Empanada - Empanadas Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Best empanadas in Charlotte!!!! I would definitely order them again. Arrived hot. The three pack was a good deal to try a variety of the empanadas. read more

Felix's Handmade Empanadas - Three pack of cheeseburger; sausage, egg, and cheese; and chorizo - Empanadas Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Was in the area and decided to give them a try...it was a good experience! Their kitchen is visible from the front counter and you can see the empanadas in process. The staff is friendly and helpful when it comes to selections as well. I opted for the taco empanada, which was really good and flavorful. Also tried the beef and chicken which were good as well! They are located inside Latta Arcade in Uptown, so cans get to it from S. Tryon or Church St. Seating is available outside in the hall or take it on the go. Definitely give them a try! IG/TikTok: @JBEatzCLT read more

Felix's Handmade Empanadas - Empanadas Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

A few months ago someone mentioned this place and how delicious the empanadas are. We stopped by on New Year's Day. Fortunately, Optimist Hall wasn't too packed at all...somewhat quiet and very relaxed. Although I wasn't really hungry, I was determined to try the Bacon, Date, and Goat Cheese empanada. There wasn't a line when we approached the counter. We watched the ladies in the back work for about 5 minutes before the cashier walked in and we were finally greeted...he must've taken a bathroom break. While I was waiting for the order, someone else walked up and began talking about how the line is usually very long, so we lucked out on the holiday. The empanada was good. I like dates and bacon, and I love goat cheese, but the empanada was extremely rich and had a LOT of goat cheese. I believe I would have enjoyed it more if I had an appetite, and if the portions were divvied up differently. That was my first time trying them out. I'll eventually return and try another kind. read more

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The owner Felix is incredible and personable, you can tell he cares very much about the quality of food, service, and the experience he gives all of his guests. Definitely my favorite place of the food hall! read more

Felix's Handmade Empanadas - Empanadas Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I went to Optimist Hall and tried Felix Homemade Empanadas. They are about $5 each which isn't too bad. Since it was my first time, I went with the traditional flavors (chicken and street beef). I preferred the chicken but both were good. I got two sauces (chimichurri and Mexican hot sauce) the chimichurri went well with the chicken. To me there wasn't too much spice to the hot sauce but could taste the adobo base in it. I do wish my empanadas were labeled so I knew which was which before opening them. Overall, it's a good place to check out. read more

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The counter service was pretty quick and friendly. I like how their menu is laid out on the wall with pictures of the shapes of the empanadas. I ordered the combo meal which comes with two empanadas, a side, and a fountain drink. My empanadas were pulled chorizo and the Carolina BBQ and I wanted rice and beans as a side but was told that their machine was broken. Not sure what machine they use to make rice and beans, but no big deal I went sea salt fries instead. Their open kitchen area is right behind the counter so I was able to watch them take a scoop of fresh fries out of a tray and placed in the fryer which was cool to see that they are not frozen. The empanadas both were very tasty, although I didn't realize how filling they would be and felt the need for a siesta after my meal. The chorizo empanada had chorizo, peppers, and maybe onions in it and the Carolina BBQ had purple slaw and BBQ meat (pork or beef, I forget). The fries were golden, well cooked, had great seasoning, but had no crispness to them. Pretty soft for French fries. Overall, it was a great lunch and I would come back next time I'm in the city to try the other empanada options (and hopefully some rice and beans). P.S. the photo I included is after I had gone through about a quarter of my fries, read more

Felix's Handmade Empanadas - Carolina BBQ Empanda, Pulled Chorizo Empanada, Sea Salt Fries - Empanadas Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I came here on a weekday afternoon, and they weren't swamped, so the service was prompt. The gentleman behind the counter was very kind and offered his suggestions. I opted for the street beef. The dough was Argentinian-style empanada dough, which is more akin to a cross between puff pastry and pie dough. The filling was flavorful, and the portion size was great. It was very good, and I recommend it. They have two locations: one inside Latta Arcade and the other inside Optimist Hall. Both are great and give off a food hall vibe, so it's perfect for casual no-frills dining. read more

I love empanadas and this place never disappoints! For the longest time they only had a food truck, but thankfully they found a brick and mortar to ca in Optimist Hall! I have tried almost the entire menu and my favorites are still the guava & cheese and the steak. I'm not sure they will be yours, but they have an empanada for just about anyone! They have a few different sauces to choose from... my favorite is the Chimichurri!! Obviously you have to pick and choose according to the type of empanada you order, but if you're getting a savory one (even the bacon egg and cheese), you can't go wrong with the Chimichurri! It's worth a try if you're at optimist or happen upon their food truck! And the more you get, the cheaper they are ;) read more

Felix's Handmade Empanadas - Guava and Cheese Empanada - Empanadas Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The food was fresh, and the crust was amazing. Very good and a must-try. The chicken was my favorite.

as i was heading back home from visiting charlotte this weekend , i decided to check out Optimist Hall to see what i could grab to eat before getting on the road . Felix Empanadas caught my eye . i opted for the cheese pizza, chicken and spinach and feta cheese empanadas. they were all very flavorful, but the chicken empanada was my favorite . the service was excellent and it took it only about 5 minutes to get my food . i was disappointed in myself for not trying any of the dessert empanadas . but maybe the next time i visit i will. i thoroughly enjoy the food hall vibe . the inside was super clean and i can't want to come back to visit . read more

Felix's Handmade Empanadas - Cheese Pizza Empanada, Chicken Empanada, Spinach Empanada - Empanadas Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The fillings have such muddled flavors, you might as well lick the box the empanadas came in. Absolute Trash.

LOVE IT... Let me start with the SWEET part of Felix... the Apple Tart was for ME a perfect balance of sweet and savory.. it was NOT a little-debbies artificial apple-filling-sauce... no, this was like a traditional no-sugar or low-sugar receipe that balanced the fats and salt in the flaky pastry perfectly. Visually, the apple appears to be over-flowing and out-of-balance, but once you bit into it, it IS perfectly balanced! AHHH the Nutella-Banana... again, NOT overly-sweet, could use a little bit more banana... but not a negative... Oh and guess what... take a bit of the Nutella Banana and drip a SMALL amount out onto your Apple Tart... marriage made in heaven Breakfast anyone? All-day breakfast? The bacon, egg and cheese empenada was amazing... HOW,, just HOW did they get the FLUFFY EGGS inside a baked pastry shell??? I guess they do it by hand!! This was WAY above my expectations... other variations I have had of this, leave the eggs running or greasy... but NO these were GOOD scrambled eggs inside!!! VERY NICE!! Order the savory in 3's so you get the discount! Can't wait to try some more! read more

Felix's Handmade Empanadas - Nutella on the left, apple tart on the right - Empanadas Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

During our last trip to Optimist Hall, this was one of the new food stalls we tried. Covid-19: you can order and pay online. You have to go inside to pick it up. Unfortunately, my order wasn't ready and I had to wait 10 minutes past when it was supposed to be ready. Usually this wouldn't bother me, but I don't like being inside longer than necessary right now. You can get 3 empanadas for $11, so that's what I did. They charge an extra $1 for any premium options you select (I got one). I tried the Lobster/Corn/Chive, Cubana, and Bacon/Date/Goat Cheese. I really enjoyed all of them. The lobster was probably my least favorite. The goat cheese was my favorite. I really liked the sauces they came with too. I definitely think it's worth stopping at this food stall for some tasty empanadas. read more

I tried the lobster and chive empanada from here. Price was $5, not too bad, and the service was quick. They took my phone number when I ordered so I could be notified when the order was ready, which I appreciated, since I could browse the other stalls while I waited. The flavor of the empanada was pretty good, nice and crispy on the outside and juicy filling. However, for a $1 more, they were pretty stingy with the lobster. There was more filler than anything. But I did really like the green sauce they gave me on the side, it was a nice compliment to the pastry. read more

Felix's Handmade Empanadas - Lobster and chive empanada - Empanadas Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Threw three of Felix's offerings onto what we had already ordered from Boxcar Betty's and were very happy we did. I'm not an empanada expert by any stretch but have had a few in my day and I thought that the ones served here held up well. They were out of the Cuban that day so subbed a lobster, corn and chive to go along with a steak and finally a bacon, date and goat cheese. The pastry was flaky and delicate and the fillings were all good with our fave being the goat cheese version. There were a couple different dipping sauces that accompanied the empanadas and they were tasty as well. We ordered online before heading to Optimist and I appreciate that they tried to call and let me know about being out of the Cuban to see what i would like to sub. Only problem was I don't answer the phone if I don't know the number... Robocalls and all. It all worked out fine though as I changed the order at the counter and 5 min. later had 3 piping hot and delicious empanadas to savor. read more

Felix's Handmade Empanadas - Felix's Handmade Empanadas. OUTSTANDING!! The pastry was perfection and the fillings delicious. - Empanadas Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The empanadas are delicious! I've had Jamaican beef, steak and chicken. My friend had the goat cheese, fig and bacon and loved it! Here's what went wrong: we got the Caesar salad as a side and it was 90% iceberg lettuce. I'd have preferred it if they'd just said they were out. And they put the dressing ON for takeout - so it was soggy iceberg lettuce and croutons. I know not to have salad next time! read more

Consistently well done empanadas. Loved the cilantro garlic sauce and the honey mustard curry sauce.

We actually tried Felix's right before the COVID stay at home orders went into place and I am now getting caught up on my reviews. We came to Optimist Hall on a Sunday for lunch and it was beautiful out! We decided to try three different places and Felix's was one of them. As we ordered from three places, we only got one empanada and truffle parmesan garlic fries. The empanada was small and did not have much flavor. Really nothing exciting. The fries were all truffle. Truffle is a strong flavor, so you do not need much, but it was entirely all truffle and no parmesan or garlic. Really disappointed in this place and probably will no go back considering there are amazing alternatives at Optimist Hall. read more

Felix's Handmade Empanadas - The small empanada with truffle "parmesan garlic" fries - both blah. Papi Queso grilled cheese sandwich is on bottom - highly recommended. - Empanadas Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

While visiting Optimist Food Hall, I tried three different empanadas from Felix's. The Carnitas Taco was absolutely delicious - I wish I ordered more! The pizza empanada was good and the pulled chorizo was good but I probably wouldn't order it again. The truffle Parmesan fries were a great side. I enjoyed this meal and I can't wait to come back for the Carnitas Taco and to try different flavors! read more

Felix's Handmade Empanadas - Pepperoni Pizza Empanada Carnitas Taco Pulled Chorizo Empanada - Empanadas Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Amazing empanada spot inside of optimist hall that just opened last week. This is a great place to grab a quick and tasty lunch. I ordered the half dozen empanadas and wanted to try a bunch of different ones but they only had a few available (The ones with blue dots next to them on the menu). The chicken empanadas were amazing! They were so flavorful and tasted great dipped in the sauce that came with them. I believe it was a cilantro mayo sauce. The guava and cheese dessert empanada was sooo good!! It was warm and melted in your mouth! Lastly, I had the Nutella banana empanada. It was also very good! I loved that the empanadas were not greasy yet they were still so flaky and crispy. I will definitely be coming back here to try the other flavors when they are available! read more

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