Busy takeaway located on 16th street. I ordered online while standing in the line. The quesadilla empanada was ok but the real star was the chicken caprese. I also ordered a side of green sauce and it was perfectly flavored. LOVE how flaky the empanada was. Ambiance was typical casual downtown fare. read more

The staff was super friendly, and the empanadas came PIPING hot. Honestly, my issue was the cost-to-value ratio. We went with a 3-pack of empanadas that came with a can of soda and was $16.99. We picked steak, cheese, and spinach, and chicken caprese. The steak ended up being pretty spicy, so we wondered if it was the wrong steak pick; the cheese and spinach were solid, and the caprese was the very, very best, super flavorful. The overall problem was the size of the empanadas; they were all pretty small, and we both left still hungry. read more

I visited Lazo Empanadas twice for dinner during a visit to Denver. My experience was that they were good but a little inconsistent. I would give them 3.5 stars if I could, but I'm rounding up for the great service. My first visit was excellent. Service was very friendly and helpful, asking if I wanted to bundle the two empanadas I wanted with a sauce for $10, a deal I had not noticed. I got a mushroom empanada, a BBQ chicken empanada, and a side of chimichurri. I was told it would take about 10 minutes for my order, which I appreciated for two reasons: (1) it set my expectation properly and (2) it meant the empanadas would be freshly baked. My empanadas were ready on time and were excellent. They were crispier than other baked empanadas I've had and had great fillings. The chimichurri was one of the best I've had, packed with herbs and the right amount of acidity. I thought the size of the empanadas was reasonable, with two being enough for the light meal I wanted. There were different staff there the second time I visited, and the empanadas weren't cooked as well. The bottoms were a little soggy. The atmosphere is spare but clean, with seating only at counters at the windows. But they also had a nice outdoor patio and a water dispenser inside, which are nice features. read more

Lazo Empanadas - 16Th Mall - Mushroom and BBQ Chicken Empanadas with Chimichurri (picture taken after I broke one open) - Empanadas Near Me - Denver, Colorado

First they ran the empanadas through a heater oven. I expected deep fried or at least something fresher. The interior had a methane smell but there was a nice potato outside. I really liked the steak quesadilla one but not the spinach and cheese. The avocado sauce was a little thin IMO. read more

Lazo Empanadas - 16Th Mall - Empanadas Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Stopped here for a lunchtime snack. The service was friendly. The place was clean and even "cool". Had some foot traffic, too. My only complaint are the prices. They charge 16.99$ (in August 2026) for a combo of 3 empanadas, a salsa and a soda. The same money gets one a small sized steak at the Texas Roadhouse, which includes two sides. In a single of these empanadas, there is not even half a cup of filling - even less meat. While they tasted good, there was just not enough protein in this 17$+tip "meal" for it to hit any spot. read more

Delicious empanadas! We had them at the cinco de mayo festival. Spinach and cheese empanadas were good. Please add more vegan/vegetarian options! I'd love to come back for more. read more

Lazo Empanadas - 16Th Mall - Empanadas - Empanadas Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Amazing empanadas filled nicely we tried the spicy chicken and the chorizo eggs and bean definitely 10/10. Excellent service as well. read more

Lazo Empanadas - 16Th Mall - Spicy chicken - Empanadas Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Argentinian empanada spot in the 16th Street Mall area. My Denver colleague said it was a must-try. Nice staff, small space - you can eat at the counters. Tried 3 empanadas which was a good portion for my lunch. My savory options - ground beef $5.29 (good), steak quesadilla $5.29 (very good), and some chimichurri $.50. And then nutella & bananas $4.89 for dessert (very good). Always great to have ethnic options in the area too - thank you! read more

Their empanadas are pretty decent! The breading is a little thinner and crisper than what I expected, more like Cuban style than the Argentinian doughy ones I enjoy but they were very flavorful! They have decent combos versus ordering a la carte and also make the scalloping of the empanadas differently so you can distinguish what you're eating-very inventive! Great little shop in the downtown area! read more

Lazo Empanadas - 16Th Mall - Empanadas Near Me - Denver, Colorado

The good: - This place was close to the hotel I was staying and looked to be a quick option for lunch. - Empanadas were heated up after ordering. - 12 savory options to choose from. - The spicy avocado sauce was good. Then things went downhill from there. The bad: - I tried 3 different options (steak quesadilla, chicken, and beef). Taste didn't quite hit the mark. - $0.50 charge for each sauce. - Skip the chimichuri- oily and not much flavor. - And probably most concerning: the grab and go chops they sell were expired by 2 months. read more

Lazo Empanadas - 16Th Mall - Empanadas and sauces (chimichuri and spicy avocado). - Empanadas Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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I got the ham and cheese and steak quesadilla with the avocado sauce and wow yes love mmmm delicious

I absolutely love this place. I can't tell you how many times I have been there and the food and service is always on point. I have probably tried every flavor of empanadas that they serve. Its a little building on the 16th Street Mall that is clean and well kept. It is mostly the type of place you grab and go but there is seating if you want to stay. I work in the area so I like to drop in for lunch and have done catering with them for the office. They are always friendly and work hard to fulfill orders in a timely manner. My favorite of all the empanadas is the Steak Quesadilla. The steak is tender and is accompanied by red peppers and onions with just a touch of seasoning wrapped in a crisp dough. Ham and Cheese is my second favorite. Full of melted cheese that gives the bits of ham a warm hug. The Chicken Caprese was delicious with chicken, cheese and tomatoes. Chorizo, Cheese and Egg is another outstanding choice if your hankering for a brunch type empanada. For vegetarians the spinach and cheese won't steer you wrong. Honestly, I have yet to find one that wasn't perfect. read more

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Delicious empanadas! I cannot say more about them. They were crispy on the outside and had the best filling on the inside. I went in with a group of four and we each got two empanadas. I had the spicy beef and the spicy chicken. Both were fabulous. I had two sauces, the chimichurri and the avocado. I personally prefer the avocado, but Other people in my group prefer the chimichurri. Go big and get both! There is ample counter seating, and one bathroom on the inside. This is part of the 16th St. mall so there isn't parking right outside the restaurant. The service was fast and friendly. Gabriel and Jennifer were lovely. I apologize if I spelled either of their names wrong. We are visiting from out of town and all of us wish that we had this in our little town in South Carolina. read more

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OK, it has been a few years since I have been here, and now I am asking myself, why did I wait so long. Hahaha. I had a beef empanada and a mushroom to start Both were so good and full of ingredients, the mushroom surprised me it was so tasty. I went back and got a spicy steak, yummm, I love spice.and another mushroom, ha. I guess I truly enjoyed that mushroom empanada. I will be going back. The staff were super friendly, they are made fresh to order so they come out hot. I love that. I got the chimichuri dipping sauce and the hot sauce. Both were delicious. read more

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Came here because was around the block from the hotel I'm staying and weather was awful to walk anywhere else. Glad I found this place. Is a bit hidden, but cozy environment. People here were very friendly too. Empanadas are tiny tiny tiny, tho, but delicious. I ended up staying longer so I could finish my wine, which was surprisingly good and the fact they serve beer and wine. read more

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Interesting way they create the shells for the empanadas. They were delicious! Great attentive service. Nice space, small but mighty.

Customer service is severely lacking. Went in for an empanada but saw that they had Boulder Canyon chips. I got one while I waited for my empanadas and the first chip was stale. I brought it to the attention of the worker and asked if I could exchange the bag. He acted confused and asked what I meant by that. I asked again if I could exchange the bag and he told me there was nothing he could do since the bags date wasn't expired. I agreed that he was correct about the date, but the chip in my mouth is stale, help me out here man! After a few rounds and eye rolling from the employee, he reluctantly gave me a replacement. You could see he was visibly annoyed by the situation, some customer service. Will not return read more

We we're at the 16th St. mall visiting the museum for black girls, and wanted something to eat. So, we walked over to Lazo and came in as a party of eight ordering about 15 piñata's, everything from vegan to meet options. Everyone enjoyed their food. The service is fast and the food is delicious! read more

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Best empanadas in town. Steak quesadilla and cheese spinach are the go to. Why Yelp need 85 words

I can't recommend. Prices are quite high, portions are very low. The wait times around lunch are pretty long (30 minutes or so), but that's not necessarily an issue, since they reheat the empanadas to order. The empanadas are small, but the different flavors are well-differentiated. They are weirdly stingy with sauces. I think that the overall business---reheating pre-made empanadas---could be a lot faster and cheaper. It's not a good value currently. read more

While traveling for work from California and was pleasantly surprised and delighted! I had a spicy ground beef and spicy chicken. Delicious and crispy. The service was quick and efficient and I was back in my hotel with my snack within 10 minutes of ordering. My newest favorite in Denver. read more

Honestly high quality empanadas, come out hot and flaky. Cheese ones are a little too cheese-heavy, but the chimichurri is great. Worth a stop for sure read more

Lazo Empanadas - 16Th Mall - Empanadas Near Me - Denver, Colorado

It is a no frill take out place on the ground floor of what look and office building. We sampled 6 different ones paired sauces. We decided to eat in the store, the empanadas were served warm, crust is flaky, the meat is warm. We took time to sample each one and they are delicious. We liked them all, but or favorite is the chorizo, spicy chicken and spicy ground beef. read more

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Their empanadas are good - I like the ones with beef. They are a bit expensive ( about $5 each) but they are worth it. They are not skimpy with fillings and the empanadas are oozing with delicious marinade - which made me realize I didn't need to order additional sauces I also bought the dessert one and I like the one with peaches- they are super yummy! The seating is arranged so that everyone is facing the window. Service is also fast and I highly recommend this place. You gotta try this one read more

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Very yummy! I was there during a conference and the place was slammed, however they were quick and kind. Would recommend!

It has been a while since I have had an empanada and these were so damn good! I had the spicy chicken and chicken caprese along with green sauce. Both were amazing flavors and will come back many times! read more

Was amazing food. I ate here two days in a row with different groups and had most things on the menu. The empanadas were made fresh and baked. Will be back. read more

Lazo Empanadas - 16Th Mall - Empanadas Near Me - Denver, Colorado

A pretty sweet (and savory) lunch option amidst a touristy, crowded downtown. The staff was super friendly and knowledgeable, patient with our questions and clearly passionate about what they do. While a bit on the pricier side compared to local, whole-in-the-wall spots of similar caliber, the quality was outstanding and was the perfect fuel for a touristy day yet to come. read more

ORIGIN: Initially envisioned as a wholesale company for frozen empanadas by Luis Gomez and brothers Christian and Francois Saber in 2016, a storefront was opened in a former downtown Denver pizzeria the following year. Since then, several locations can be found across Colorado, including this one at the 16th Street mall. CONCEPT: The partners identified an American empanada trend and looked to fill a particular gap in Colorado by offering empanadas like those prepared in Argentina. They strive to accomplish this by using Argentinian recipes and pastry dough imported from Argentina. A wide variety of empanada fillings are offered, including meat, vegetable, and sweet fillings. EXPERIENCE: The partners' goal is to "create empanada fanatics everywhere". This was accomplished with my reluctant first visit at the invitation of a colleague during a nearby convention center conference. Lazo Empanadas are the best empanadas I have experienced so far. The pastry is thin, flaky, and attractively shaped. The fillings are flavorful, moist, and abundant. I am so pleased with my choice of spicy ground beef empanada with blood orange San Pellegrino, I've hesitated to try other options when I visit! Lazo Empanadas makes it easy for empanada newbies to select from their large menu of fillings -- twelve savory and three sweet -- by describing not only the base ingredients, but the seasonings as well. For example, the spicy ground beef empanada is described as seasoned with red bell and Serrano peppers, black pepper, raisins, oregano, basil, onion, marinara sauce, and a blend of olive and sunflower oils. During my last visit I did venture to pick up a dessert -- a special opportunity to experience culinary treats from an unfamiliar cultural heritage. I chose Dulce de Leche Alfajor, a crumbly shortbread and caramel sandwich that was large and easy to share. SETTING and COMPLEMENTING PRODUCTS: This location is small, designed for take out or take and sit. There are stools that line a narrow counter that face storefront floor to ceiling windows, as well as sidewalk umbrella-shaded high top tables just outside the door. With the beer and wine list, this dining area can morph into a makeshift bar on a warm and sunny day. However, other beverages that well complement the restaurant's focal point, including less popularly found San Pellegrino sodas (e.g. grapefruit and blood orange) and coconut water, are also available. Orders are taken at the counter from a list of possible fillings. These are then BAKED and served in oval baskets. Condiments representing three different spice levels are available for a small fee ($.50): Chimichurri (mild), Green Avocado (medium); Red Hot (spicy). Contents are cleverly indicated by pastry edge design (see key). This is an ideal place for a quick snack or meal when on the go... or to temporarily appropriate sidewalk high tops as sunlit bar. SERVICE: The counter service is swift, and not particularly informative or friendly. I suppose that is what can be expected given its fast-food restaurant set up. TIPS: There are several discounted promotions for beverage, empanada, and sauce combinations, as well as when ordering three sweet or savory empanadas. Plan to eat empanadas soon after picking up in order to get the full effect of crisp exterior encasing hot, moist interior. Look out for expanding number of locations via their website. Lazo Empanada can now be found in Florida! read more

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Great food, quick, even when they're slammed! Their empanadas were possibly the best I've had in Denver - amazing filling and perfect pastry. Will be back. read more

We stopped in for a quick snack and it was so good! The staff were very friendly and they had a restroom and water we could use. The pastry was very flaky and delicious. Highly recommend! read more

Lazo Empanadas - 16Th Mall - Spicy Chicken and Chicken Caprese - Empanadas Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Holy crap we got a lot of food from toast to omelet and a few of pastries and honey lavendar and affogato and everything is a 10/10 Decent service too read more

Lazo Empanadas - 16Th Mall - Empanadas Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I had the opportunity to try Lazo empanada! I got the ground beef empanada which was on point!! Loved the seasoning of the ground beef - I was not very hungry so I only got amine but 2 or 3 is better if you are eating a meal! I also got chocolate and caramel for dessert which was sooo good! Gooey melty chocolate in a crispy coating with a light dusting of powdered sugar- a perfect end to a meal! I also got an alfajor for later and while the flavor was good it was so crumbly that I cannot imagine that is how it is intended but I don't really know what it is supposed to taste like - at $6 plus this was not worth the price as their empanadas are all $4 or so! Service was friendly and place has some nice chairs and areas to eat but I took mine to go to eat outside - all in all a great meal or mini meal and can't wait to try again read more

Lazo Empanadas - 16Th Mall - N15. Milk Caramel & Chocolate - Empanadas Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I love empanadas. Sweet & savory. My Nana used to make empanadas when I was little so they're special to me. I thought this was gonna be a quick little snack so I can have a big dinner. I walked in and I was greeted. I placed my order for two empanadas: one spicy ground beef and one fresh mushrooms. I also got an order of chimichurri sauce. They came out in less than five minutes. I bit into the first one which was spicy ground beef and I did the happy dance. I downed that one and it was so amazing with the chimichurri sauce. I ate the second one, the fresh mushroom and it was good, but not like the spicy ground beef, which hint of sweetness, a little chile kick... just a lot of flavor. I sacrificed my future big dinner and I got another spicy ground beef. I wanted more but my stomach is not that big. I'll be back! read more

Lazo Empanadas - 16Th Mall - Empanadas Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Friendly service, good food, casual ambiance, affordable prices. We stumbled across this little gem while walking down the 16th St., Mall. The spicy beef was very good. And we could drink the avocado sauce. It was so good. read more

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Looking for something beyond the basic burgers, tacos, and pizza? Here's a tasty option right on the 16th Street Mall. The choices run from steak to chicken to chorizo with some mild and some spicy options. Order at the counter and you'll be dining in 5-10 minutes. Seating is at counters along the exterior wall - good if you're dining solo or with a friend. If you're hungry and looking for some enjoyable flavors stop by Lazo. read more

Lazo Empanadas - 16Th Mall - N9 - Chorizo, Egg & Cheese Empanadaand N4 - Spicy Steak Empanada - Empanadas Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Yay for empanadas! Back in October, I arrived in Denver on business and needed a quick bite before I went to the convention center. While in my hotel room, I looked for something local and voila! Lazo Empanadas came up. It was about a 15 minute walk from my hotel and located on right within the 16th street mall. Upon walking in, I noticed the shop was modern, clean, and brightly lit. I was greeted by the staff and able to order within minutes of waiting. I immediately asked where their empanadas originate from - they're Argentinian! I have been to Argentina and had authentic empanadas, so I was excited. Their menu is pretty straightforward. You can order empanada's individually @ $4.69 each or order a unit as part of a promo. They offer a variety of animal based proteins, veggie, and even dessert types like nutella and banana. In addition, they offer a frozen assorted pack for your convenience. I really liked all of this as it seems to cater to every type of customer. Ok so for the main event. I decided to go with 3 empanadas - ground beef, chicken caprese, and steak quesadilla, along with a side of chimichurri sauce. Firstly, the empanadas are baked, so the crust is soft and flaky with a warm filling. Out of the 3, the ground beef was the best. It was seasoned well and reminiscent of the traditional empanadas I've had. The runner up was the chicken caprese. The filling was not the most appealing, visually but the taste was alright. It reminded me of a chicken calzone. Very unique offering among their other flavors though. Lastly, the steak quesadilla. Also not appealing. It was runny and reminded me of a canned pasta meal like chef boyardee. The flavor alright and could've used some elevation. It was not reminiscent of a steak quesadilla in the least bit and I was disappointed. I think there was so much more they could've done like using steak bites or ground beef with sauteed onions, cheese, and bell peppers. I did not have purchase any drinks however, they offer free tap water to customers. Finally, the staff were kind and helpful. Service was also quick and simple, but pricing was slightly higher than I'm used to. It's a nice place to stop in for a bite to eat whether solo or with friends. There are a few seating areas inside and some outdoor seating which gives it a cafe feel. Overall, 3 stars for good service and ambiance but the empanadas were not a hit for me. If I were in Denver again, I think I'd return but it wouldn't be on my list of places that I needed to run to. I would encourage others to check it out though and make your own call. read more

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Very good Empanadas!! We were very happy with the food and the service. Will be back the next time we visit! read more

Lazo Empanadas - 16Th Mall - Promo 1 2 Empanadas 1 Sauce - Empanadas Near Me - Denver, Colorado

My favorite were the chicken caprese empanadas! And the staff and service was great and quick!

I found this spot while in town for business. Went one day for lunch and went back the next day. The empanadas are authentic and taste great. The selection is pretty impressive. Best to eat them there while they are hot. Try all the dipping sauces as well. Oh yea, they were so good I picked up a 10 pack of frozen to bring home !!! Just go and try them. read more