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    Makus Empanadas

    3.9 (281 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 7:00 pm

    Order Makus Empanadas Takeout or Delivery

    Makus Empanadas Photos

    Business Info

    MAKUS EMPANADAS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Makus Empanadas

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    This is me sitting at a window seat in makus
    Mary W.

    The food was very well seasoned. I think the chicken was my favorite. It's very clean in here and they have high top tables which are nice. Please be patient because this is no fast food.

    Prices have gone up compared to other pictures
    Sam V.

    Great food. I got beef and chicken. Both very delicious. Pretty small though. Guess next time I will get the lunch special that comes with 3. Their prices have gone up since the photos that have been posted. I have taken a photo of todays pricing.

    Delicious
    Kong L.

    I feel like this location has declined over the years. The quality used to be there but seems like they've lost their passion. Their reward program/kiosk has been broken for quite a while now. I was unable to redeem my rewards months ago. I stopped by this past weekend and it's still has not been fix. At the moment, it's dine in only but there are a few tables outside if you're planning on eating there.

    These empanadas include all the ones with meat!
    Richard G.

    I ordered seven empanadas, choosing to go with all the meaty options as I was looking for something savory. I added the sauce and hot sauce with my order, later finding out it was kind of a necessity. For one, I appreciate the empanadas being stamped with their respective labels, as it was one of my main concerns ordering with my brother. I have no doubt their service is great, but solely judging off of taste, the empanadas are a bit underwhelming. When I say the sauce is a necessity, I really mean buying the sauce is crucial to the overall taste. Without sauce, the empanadas come off as too rich or fatty, lacking flavor. While I think this is one of the most unique options in the area, It is not one of my go-to places to satisfy my cravings. Personally, I place heavy importance on value, and for 21 dollars plus tax for 7 empanadas and two sauce containers, the pricing doesn't do it for me.

    Empanadas + hot sauce and original sauce
    Eric G.

    I ordered 7 empanadas and two sauces. One hot and one original. The total came out to be a little bit over $20. I appreciated that each empanada had its own little code that was creased into the crust so that you could tell which empanada you were eating. It's definitely a clever way of figuring out who ordered what empanada when you order for large groups. The ones that I tried were beef, pork, chicken, and bacon and cheese. Overall, it was pretty bland. If it had a little more salt and seasoning, it would have transformed average to pretty good empanadas. The flavor of the crust definitely overpowered the flavors of the filling. The sauces were okay too, it was clear that the hot sauce was definitely just...some generic hot sauce that you can buy from the store, so the fact that you had to spend an extra 50 cents for a small plastic cup of hot sauce was a bit unfortunate. Overall, they were okay and for the price, I don't think they were worth it. It was a unique experience, but I probably won't be coming back.

    Beef
    Teresa W.

    I wasn't too impressed here. The empanadas were good but not great. My husband had the beef kind but said it was a little small and wished they were bigger. The shop was nice and clean the price was good ( $2.50 each) Make sure that you check in on yelp because you get a free item!

    Kay S.

    I had three empanadas: ham and cheese, chicken and spinach. They were okaaaay. Definitely not worth almost $10.

    Makus Empanadas menu
    Marcelo C.

    I have discovered Makus when I've moved in the Raleigh/Durham area five years ago. It was the ultimate epiphany. The Argentine empanada the way it's meant to be: a crispy, perfectly baked dough, a tasty filling and the right variety of them. But more importantly, the icing of the cake is the impeccable, timely and friendly service you receive, either when you order online for take-out, dining in, of for their catering offers. Think no more: if you look for the real Argentine thing, Makus is the place to go!!

    Very friendly. I got the kids meal which came with a drink, 2 small cookies and a small empanada. Small restaurant with relaxing music and vibes. I got ham and cheese. It was good, but I wish the empanadas was bigger for the price.

    Vegetarian empanadas
    Leslie W.

    The veggie empanadas were a little bland. The sauce makes them better, but it's an extra 60 cents for a cup of sauce. The place was relatively clean and pleasant atmosphere. Quick service.

    J W.

    Food was absolutely amazing for the price. Got 3 flavors, Beef, Pork and Spinach. Yum! And you can see in the pics, they put a little branding on each empanada to distinguish the difference. So smart. The rice and beans were really good but wish it was a larger portion. The sauces were great, Spicy sauce and chimichurri must have! The staff is kind and attentive. They also have dine in specials thru out the week like Half off wine etc. totally recommend checking this place out whether Dine in or delivery

    Rose L.

    Solid empanadas but more of a snack than a meal. This is fast food at its best, you've got options, but only three options [empanadas, empanadas dogs and cheese bread]. You won't find a healthy option here, although the empanadas are baked never fried, it's still full of delicious breads, but it's quick and tasty. If you're headed here for a "full meal" you can pay $9.95 for a meal deal: three empanadas, one sauce (sauce is regularly an additional $.50), drink and one side (options: bag of chips, beans or rice). To breakdown the empanadas for you (regularly $2.50 for one) they are better in flavor then Sarah's Empanadas but smaller. About the same size as Calavela's but more 'ordinary'/traditional favors (sans free sauces). From the four I tried, the chicken was the tastiest (but also the hottest, could've made a difference). The chicken tasted a lot like the beef, but obviously different proteins. Both reminded me of my mothers Shepard pie recipe (minced onion, carrots and spices, no potatoes). Loved the cheesiness of the bacon and cheese and the onion and cheese was good. Good "breading" to filling ratio. Overall, Makus is a competitive option in the Empanadas marketplace but I don't see myself going for full meal. I think they are hurting themselves by not offering their sauces as a free option, something that could really enhance meal. It's not a place I would go out of my way to visit again, but would revisit if convenient. Could make for a very easy catering food for a party!

    Awesome marketing department!

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    Hernan M.

    Sean, thanks for the love!

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    2 years ago

    The food is great but the staff could work on their people skills. The cashier was rude

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    8 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Food is excellent and freshly made. The details in the making of the empanadas is true quality.

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    Page 1 of 8

    Makus Empanadas Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Makus Empanadas

    Question: How do I "check in on Yelp" to get free item?? Thanks! David

    Hi David, just go to Makis Empanadas and while you are there just check in. Your free item will pop up

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas

    Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas

    4.3
    (697 reviews)
    6.2 mi
    $$

    Came here after the Durham Farmers Market with a friend and wow this place was a surprise. …read more I went with the grain bowl and honestly it is one of the best I have had in downtown Durham. It is built on quinoa and rice with black beans and kale, then layered with corn salsa, tomato cortido, guacamole, and a creamy acevichado style sauce that pulls everything together. It is finished with a crunchy mix of pepitas, nuts, and grains. The balance is quite ideal in my view. My friend had the rotisserie chicken with two sides, kale and slaw, and it was just as impressive. Crispy skin, juicy inside, and really clean flavors. Simple food done right and GF friendly. Everything felt thoughtfully prepared. Prices land right where you would expect for the quality, roughly 16 to 21 dollars depending on what you order, and it feels worth it. My bowl plus side of dark chicken was plenty. A few notes. Parking is what you would expect for downtown, so plan accordingly. Service was solid and friendly, but nothing that stood out. The vibe inside is festive and relaxed, bright and open, and just a fun place to hang out for lunch. Porbably not a special occasion. I also suspect it could get loud when full. This is definitely going into my regular rotation. That grain bowl is going to be hard to pass up next time, so instead of replacing it I will probably just add a side or an empanada and start working my way through the rest of the menu.

    I would say the service here was average to poor. The sweet tea had a strong chemical/artificial…read moretaste to it; I recommend they simply take it off the menu. The food is decent!

    Photos
    The main area
    The main area
    Patacón
    Patacón
    Sangria

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    Sangria
    Sarah's Empanadas

    Sarah's Empanadas

    3.9
    (150 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $

    I had my hopes high up and come to find out the owner is from South America but the empanadas are…read moreunlike any I had in Chile, Argentina or Peru Place looks dated and in need of remodeling to make it look clean and inviting, sorry just not my type of empanadas, the filling doesn't show top ingredients and I understand she has to make a buck but I rather go for high end flavor and presentation Not going back. They sell the frozen empanadas but I can see myself eating the same thing after two weeks in the freezer

    I actually visited this place before months ago, but was called away before I was able to order any…read morefood. So today I took the opportunity to drop in to try a couple of selections that I have been wondering about. I give them an A+ for customer service. The waitress and waiting staff were very polite and eager to accommodate dear customers in every way. I saw the cook come out from behind the kitchen and greet. I love the customers and checking in to make sure that everyone was satisfied with their meals. I ordered a sweet corn Arepa as well as the pork & cheese Pupusa. They were quite excellent to my taste buds, although I had never experienced having them before. They even provided me with a nice selection of spicy condiments that I thoroughly enjoyed as well...heyyy, what can I say...I'm a spicy kind of fellow, ya know. (Smiles) The restaurant is spacious with an adjoining room off to the side. Very clean with a very interesting mural hand painted on the wall. I considered it really nice artwork. I enjoyed my time there. I surmised from observing the customers responses; the food seem to be pretty authentic, judging from their conversations with the chef.

    Photos
    Wall menu
    Wall menu
    Entrance
    Entrance
    Tabled seating

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    Tabled seating
    Boricua Soul

    Boricua Soul

    4.5
    (247 reviews)
    5.9 mi
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Catering service

    My Afro-Latina heart was so happy…read more I've been searching for really good Latin food since moving to North Carolina, and Boricua Soul absolutely delivered. From the moment we walked in, the vibe was on point. They were playing great music that made the whole place feel lively and welcoming, and I loved that you can choose to eat inside or enjoy the outdoor patio. My husband and I both ordered the Boricua Soul Bowl. He got the chicken, and I got the pernil. The pernil was incredible it was tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. The bowl came with arroz con gandules, collard greens, mac and cheese, and I chose the tostones. I had honestly given up on finding good tostones that I didn't have to make myself, but these were exactly what I'd been craving. Crispy, perfectly cooked, and absolutely delicious with the Guava Lava sauce. Since, I couldn't pass them up, we also ordered a side of maduros, and they were perfectly caramelized and sweet. The empanadas easily made my top five. Crispy on the outside, flavorful on the inside, and gone way too quickly. Also don't skip the watermelon lemonade, it was so refreshing and paired perfectly with everything we ordered. We'll definitely be back. There are still so many things on the menu I want to try, but I already know I'll be ordering the Boricua Soul Bowl. One tip for first-time visitors: if you're sitting inside and trying to get back outside , the exit is the same door you originally came in through on the far glass door. There is a sign, but we watched three different people accidentally try every other part of the glass first, so hopefully this saves someone a little confusion.

    I'm from Charlotte and my friend was in the southeast visiting so we met up in Durham. ChatGPT…read moresuggested Boricua Soul as a part of our girls day. First stop. We never made it anywhere else lol! I'm so excited to write this review!! We chose it because when I reviewed the Yelp reviews they were stellar. But mostly I was super intrigued by the sweet potato cheesecake empanada and y'all it was everything I hoped it would be. It's small, you can maybe get 4 or 5 bites. The filling is sweet but not overpowering, good balance. The crust, crunchy and delicious. Came with a side of whipped cream. Drizzled in caramel sauce. I had the restraint to save it for last. We opted to split the shrimp sandwich and house made chips because we weren't too hungry and wanted to save room for the empanadas. Perfect plan. The sandwich can be ordered with a garlic, jerk or buffalo sauce. We were given a sample of the jerk to determine spicyness. Super spicy (which I loved) but my friend doesn't so we went with buffalo which wasn't spicy at all. The shrimp were a nice size, coated and seasoned well. The restaurant itself is small with about five tables but there is an abundance of outdoor seating shared with other businesses. We knew we planned to relax and catch up so we opted to eat outside. Despite the 90 degree weather, the entire area was shaded with a little wind so perfect. We got a number and our food and drinks were served to us. (Peach passion froze----yum!) Now. Boricua Soul is a great example of why I love seeking out and patroning local restaurants. The founders, Serena and Tori Fredericks, were both present, Serena managing the front, Tori managing the kitchen and both in and out of the restaurant serving people outside as well as inside. They were all over! Very welcoming. We were there for four hours and Serena's smile never left her face. She personally checked on us throughout. It felt like hanging out at your family's for the day. When we came in just a few people there, no line. Serena was at the register. I told her I came from Charlotte and she graciously gave us samples of the mac and cheese and collard greens as she described the menu. Both by the way, amazing! I don't think I've ever been able to find delicious perfectly seasoned greens with no meat. Before we knew it the line was to the door. By then I had the chance to experience her love for what she does and her heart for the community. Clean restaurant, beautiful and personable decor. Clean gender neutral private bathrooms. I took pics of the article on the wall about them, well worth the read. You too will drive miles to experience this Caribbean and Southern inspired restaurant! Im coming back and bringing people. There's so much more for me to try.

    Photos
    Boricua Soul
    Entrance, and outdoor seating.
    Entrance, and outdoor seating.
    Coquito French toast, pimento cheese deviled eggs, sweet plantain chicken and waffles, cheese hash brown waffles, sausage and mixed fruit.

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    Coquito French toast, pimento cheese deviled eggs, sweet plantain chicken and waffles, cheese hash brown waffles, sausage and mixed fruit.
    kokí

    kokí

    4.4
    (184 reviews)
    6.3 mi
    $$

    I was a bit disappointed with Kokí. We came on a Thursday for lunch because the empanadas looked so…read moregood in the post, but they were out of almost every flavor except for cheese and a mushrooms one or something like that. If we would have had more time, we would have left and went somewhere else. My fiancé and I actually saw two groups (7 people total) leave the restaurant after speaking with the people at the register. We ended up getting the Señor Iglesias Chicken Sandwich, which was good but very messy. The chicken isn't a patty and the bun isn't solid enough to hold the sandwich together so the tomato and chicken strips were constantly falling out. The Spanglish Cuban was very meaty and good as well. Not my type of sandwich but that's what I got from the bite I did have and my fiancé loved it. The pinto beans and steamed white rice were good. I probably won't return out of fear that I might waste time going there because if you don't have the empanadas during your lunch rush, when would you have it.

    Found Koki on TGTG and decided to try it out! For ~$6, I got two bowls filled with pulled chicken,…read moreblack beans, salad mix, and white rice. Nothing mind blowing, but it was still a great deal. Service was fast (took about 10 minutes after arrival) and friendly. Ambiance was nice, casual. There's nearby parking in City of Durham garages after 7pm or on weekends. 9/10 would recommend, at least through TGTG!

    Photos
    Register and soft drinks area in the back
    Register and soft drinks area in the back
    Beef & Maduros
    Beef & Maduros
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    Interior
    Guasaca

    Guasaca

    4.3
    (378 reviews)
    6.4 mi
    $

    Food is a solid 4 star, especially when considering the price. Service was 2 star but I chose to…read morestill aware 4 star for the food. This is located in a hospital cafeteria after all. I ordered the SHREDDED BEEF AREPA which also comes with plantains, cheese and beans inside. I chose garlic sauce and it was superb on the arepa! Very delicious and I suspect the arepa samdwiches are gluten free for those intolerant, but I didn't ask. The TORTILLA CHIPS that come with the meal are good, and suspect they make them in-house. The SERVICE was horrible. Guy behind counter told me the soda machine only had diet soda, which was what I wanted anyway. Out of curiosity I asked if it was hospital policy to exclude sugar soda or if the machine was just out of sugar syrups. He responded "don't know" in a "don't care" attitude. I went to fill my cup and the machine didn't serve ice either! This place could really help people in the hospital by smiling and showing they care about the customer. Most eating here in the hospital cafeteria are carrying the weight of poor health on their shoulders, whether their own or a loved one. It's a hospital cafeteria so its a place to sit down, and could be a good break from sitting in a loved ones patient room. It's not a restaurant that one would come to if not in the hospital.

    It's harder to find arepas than it should be. There's just something about grilling corn that makes…read moreit irresistable. What's notable about this local chain is its extensive options for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diners. The default arepa apparently has some dairy and gluten in it, but options for getting one to suit a vegan or gluten-free diet are there. The filling options for an arepa are customizable and numerous, with a range of flavors and nutritional profiles. My takeout order was ready speedily. Oddly, they gave me an extra arepa, which was unlabeled except for saying that it was a gift. It didn't seem to be vegetarian, so I didn't eat it. I appreciate the sentiment, but they might want to think about at least making it clearer what's going on.

    Photos
    Front
    Front
    Shredded Beef Arepa
    Shredded Beef Arepa
    Black bean and cheese arepa

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    Black bean and cheese arepa

    Makus Empanadas - empanadas - Updated August 2026

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