Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Julia's Empanadas

    3.9 (314 reviews)
    ModerateEmpanadas
    Open • 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Julia's Empanadas Photos

    Business Info

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Julia's Empanadas

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Dessert Empanada Case
    Chelsea C.

    I absolutely love this place for a quick and affordable bite! Empanadas are one of the most comforting hand-held bites you can have, they take a lot of dedication in terms of labor and thought in what makes a great filling, so I'm glad that there is a bakery solely dedicated to the craft of the great empanada. The menu is incredibly varied, drawing from flavors not only derived from the south American communities that make empanadas (such as chorizo or Saltena), but drafting from the unique flavor profiles that are present in the DMV such as Jamaican. There are also vegan empanadas! Which were extremely satisfying and taken with the same consideration as their non-vegan counterparts. The pastry casing was delightful to see with all the hot empanadas that were likely made the day of. The quality of the empanada is great, the pleats are tight and don't even add an unnecessary thickness. The dough has a tight crumb as well and all of these things mean that the filling is secured and insulated with all of its unique juices and seasonings and that it will come in your hand piping hot! Their dessert empanadas are so delicious with a unique variety of fruit flavors. The guava is a personal favorite, because its so sweet and tangy. Genuine guava is a had flavor to get in any metropolitan city so I'm glad I got to have a taste of it through this bakery. Whoever Julia is, you did your big one here. Thank you! Note, this is a bakery front, so the bakery is done in house (and they evidently produce really high quality empanadas) and the countertop. There is no seating inside, aside from the bench outside! But thats fine because empanadas are a handheld. I recommend coming here if you're trying to find a quick meal for a festival that is often occuring in the area or order a large box to take home.

    Empanadas
    Min Z.

    Julia's Empanadas in the heart of (Adams Morgan) is a cozy gem I found by accident. I tried their popular Chilean-Style Beef empanada-a perfect mix of beef, egg, olive, and raisin with a spicy kick. So delicious! Can't wait to try the other flavors.

    Alex R.

    They got all different types of empañadas all from various parts of South America. That makes this restaurant super specialized in empañadas. I wasn't sure at all about what the differences are and I was stuck between the Chilean beef or the Bolivian chicken empañada. Honestly I have had empañadas before but I never really knew that there were so many different types. They're almost like a delicacy. The worker gave me a little guidance, but there was no way to know for sure until I tried one. After much self-denatr I decided on the Chilean beef empañada, and I have high hopes that it was be as delicious as everyone else says they are. In terms of the ambiance, this tiny restaurant is designed for take-out and delivery and there are no seating options or restrooms available.

    Daniel R.

    It's great to have an empanada place in the neighborhood, but this place frankly was a skip for me. I was immediately rubbed the wrong way when I found out this is a cash-only establishment. In the world of Square readers and digital payments, there really is no reason for this. The empanadas were fine but not particularly memorable. The chicken empanada was my favorite; I loved the curry-inspired flavors. The dessert empanada is a skip. Strawberry jam inside what tastes like an old pie crust wasn't quite as delicious as I had hoped.

    Steak empanada
    Amber F.

    Service was fine, but I was not a fan of the empanadas. I prefer mine fried instead of baked, but still wanted to try out the fillings. I ordered the steak on and only about half of the pastry had filling, the rest was just dough. I ended up tossing the unfilled part, but the steak filling was sweet? It was weird. Texture and flavor was off and I didn't even finish it.

    RaeLynn F.

    This is such a great spot! I got the Chilean and Jamaican empanadas and they were great. My fave was the Jamaican for sure. A bit expensive but the price is expected given the area it's in. I also got the apple dessert empanada and it was amaaazing!! Would definitely return.

    empanada counter
    Stephanie Z.

    Visiting DC and wandered around AdMo for the afternoon. I got the Jamaican Style and Chilean Beef. The flavor was not as powerful as I expected. The empanadas are baked, and the dough was not flaky. I'm not an empanada expert though

    Chilean Beef Empanada
    Jamie L.

    I have been looking forward to knocking Julia's Empanadas off my bucket list for years now. Unfortunately it was not nearly as good as I expected. They were out of most, and takes 15 minutes if you have time to wait for a fresh order. I had the Chilean Beef and the flavor was great, but the edges were extra hard. The pricing is a little high, $8.25 plus tip. Doubt I will ever go back, as parking is a nightmare and I got a ticket.

    Empanadas - spinach & cheese
    Kat T.

    Must try!! This place is one of the signature spots of Adam's Morgan! It's been around for a while, and it's not surprising. Veeeery delicious empanadas, good selection (including vegetarian ones), always fresh and warm!! Highly recommend!

    Will M.

    Wow! Chorizo empanada was bursting with so many different flavors. Piping hot and wasn't reheated. Spice let's you know it's there but doesn't overwhelm you. Could taste the freshness of the dough. Service was friendly, will definitely be returning to try other ones.

    Mimi I.

    I have been craving empanadas after having some good ones recently. I was in the area and hungry, so I stopped by Julia's. These didn't satisfy my empanada cravings though. My first thought was they were pricey at $6. I still bought one, trying the Chilean version, which is beef, raisins, onion, egg, olive. The dough wasn't what I thought. It was kind of a light, soft dough. The flavor of the filling was good, but I was looking for a more dense dough and packed filling. It wasn't terrible, but with the price and not the type of empanada I like, I wouldn't return.

    Open later than 9

    See all

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    23 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 24
    Thanks 6
    Love this 23
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sonia R.
    69
    42
    14

    11 months ago

    Really good traditional empanadas with a variety of fillings - they even have vegan and vegetarian options!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Cute small shop, there is no place to sit so a take and go place. food was good, be prepared for cilantro and onions in everything!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Argentinian empanadas this is not Bolivian.this was a big disappointment. Wish they were more strait forward about what you are getting.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    The chorizo empanada barely had any chorizo and was severely underseasoned! The pastry itself wasn't great either

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Bingying L.
    572
    119
    106

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jess C.
    12
    12
    5

    3 years ago

    Worth every penny! Kind and informative staff, wish I had gone sooner. Great selection from savory to sweet.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Pete F.
    376
    866
    3100

    14 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Julia's Empanadas

    Has anyone been to Julia's lately? I called and received no answer. I would be driving a good hour to get empanadas and want to be sure they still exist post COVID before I make the trek. Can anyone tell me if they are open?

    I went today. Fantastic!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Julia's Empanadas

    “The fillings are amazing - my favorite is the spinach but the Jamaican and Saltena empanadas are also classics.”

    Mentioned in 30 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Empanadas 1,177 times last month within 10 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Flor - Breakfast plate & cold brew

    Flor

    4.1(67 reviews)
    1.5 mi•Georgetown

    OBSSESSED IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT FOR THIS PLACE. This cafe is the most whimsical calming place I've…read morebeen too in DC. I believe it's an Argentinian cafe , with so much space. There lowest/ground floor is the order station and the floor above is the patio area and the 3rd floor is a bookstore dining area. That floor was my favorite! It's very cozy but also bright. Everything was perfect. I ordered a special drink and made it whimsy (which means they add sprinkles!). I also added a shot of espresso. I also got a mini Argentina croissant and it tasted extremely delicious! Apparently light syrup was added. The total costed $15.82. I think my drink was on the pricier end because the croissant costed $3. The workers were so sweet and took the time to explain to me what each pastry item was. It was overall a wonder place to visit and I plan visiting them again!

    I was so excited to try this spot given the raving reviews. The interior is a bit of me and I loved…read moreit. The shop is located on a beautiful street with Georgetown. I didn't see pricing for the drinks in particular the dulce de leche latte which came out to $11-12. I probably would've ordered something different if that was the case. My latte fell short for me. The espresso was extremely bitter and I don't think it was extracted properly. The cold foam was delicious but it didn't help to mask the poor espresso. For the price, I'm wasn't too happy.

    Photos
    Flor - Interior

    Interior

    Flor - Latte and empanadas

    Latte and empanadas

    Flor - View from bench seat looking at bookstore and other seating.

    See all

    View from bench seat looking at bookstore and other seating.

    Colada Shop - COLADA SHOP CUBAN and STEWED SWEET PLANTAINS

    Colada Shop

    4.0(398 reviews)
    3.1 mi
    •$$

    We stopped by Colada Shop during our trip to DC, and it ended up being one of our favorite meals…read morenear the Wharf! The restaurant is super cute, with a fun cafe vibe, and it's an easy walk from the waterfront. We ordered the Colada Trio, which came with empanadas, cauliflower sliders, and yuca fries. Everything was delicious, and it came with three different sauces that were honestly all so good. I could've eaten those sauces with everything. We also ordered the Platanachos (plantain nachos), which were flavorful and such a fun twist on traditional nachos. They accidentally forgot the cauliflower and mushroom topping, but as soon as I mentioned it, they brought it out right away along with extra sauce. Mistakes happen, but what matters is how a place handles them, and they were incredibly accommodating, which I really appreciated. It was pretty busy when we visited, and I noticed who I believe was the manager or owner helping clean tables and checking on guests. I always love seeing that kind of hands-on involvement. Great food, friendly service, and an awesome location if you're exploring the Wharf. I'd definitely recommend stopping by!

    I've lived in the area of The Wharf Colada Shop for about three years but just recently tried it…read morefor the first time. Very pleasantly surprised. I don't typically go for counter service or QR code service restaurants, but stopped in for a quick bite before a concert at the Anthem. The Cuban sandwich is legit and very tasty with tender pork, soft fresh bread with a crunchy crust, and great pickles. And the stewed plantains were perfectly tender with a caramel like sweetness. Probably the nicest surprise was their reasonably priced cocktails that have a Cuban flair. The happy hour options are very tasty.

    Photos
    Colada Shop
    Colada Shop - Churro- fried pastry dough with cinnamon sugar served with condensed milk. Beware this came out HOT

    Churro- fried pastry dough with cinnamon sugar served with condensed milk. Beware this came out HOT

    Colada Shop - Tostada - traditional toasted cuban bread with butter & a delicious guava marmalade.

    See all

    Tostada - traditional toasted cuban bread with butter & a delicious guava marmalade.

    DC Empanadas

    DC Empanadas

    3.7(174 reviews)
    1.7 mi•Petworth
    •$

    If you don't want to track down the DC Empanadas food truck, then you can just visit this stall at…read morethe Union Market. DC Empanadas specializes in gourmet empanadas, but there were only four options to choose from (Divine Swine, Latin Beef, El Greco, and Speedy Gonzalez [all cheese]). $3.50 for each empanada or you can pick any 3 for $9. ***. Divine Swine (pulled BBQ pork, featuring the No. 5 sauce [smokey sweet] from BBQ Bus Smokehouse - $3.50): Empanadas itself wasn't too bad - tasted slightly sweet with crunchy dough. However, $3.50 is a bit pricey for one empanada and you will probably still feel hungry even if you get 3 for $9 deal. *** I will still stick with empanadas from Los Angeles (Tito's Market in El Monte or Red Ribbon Bakeshops) as they are both good and inexpensive.

    Pretty good empanadas! I got the three meat options being offered that day: divine swine, el toro,…read moreand the badass. None was particularly impressive, but I WAS impressed with how much sauce they managed to put in there. For example, I really tasted the buffalo sauce for the chicken one and I was amazed at how Americanized it tasted. There isn't much service to be provided here, but it could really use a step up. The guy taking orders had a don't-bother-me look and never once made eye contact or smiled once. He's the same one frying the empanadas, and he does it without wearing any gloves or anything-right after he handled the money. Sigh.

    Photos
    DC Empanadas
    DC Empanadas
    DC Empanadas - Huge Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich (08/01/2016 special).  Normally comes with pickles and custom sauce on sandwich...

    See all

    Huge Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich (08/01/2016 special). Normally comes with pickles and custom sauce on sandwich...

    Julia's Empanadas - empanadas - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...