I can't believe I haven't written a review for this place yet, I've eaten here for years…read more I have frequently ordered out but ordered at the restaurant once. My go to empanada is the chicken Al pastor oh my god it's a flavor bomb empanada, so delicious. I also get every so often the Nutella and bananas which I mean you can never go wrong with those flavors. The fries idk what they put in them but they are so addicting, before I know it I finish the whole thing. The service is great, the people are friendly. Parking is a big things for me and this area has plenty of it in the shopping center where it's located. Overall amazing empanadas.

First time I was at the restaurant with a group of friends trying the empanadas for the first time…read moreto see if I wanted to order for a party on the weekend. We enjoyed the empanadas, I think for our group of 5 we ordered at least 20 empanadas and 3 plates to try. I asked a man behind the counter I need a order for 2/3 dozen on Sunday around 12pm. He said not a problem, I should call Sunday at 10 to place the order. I asked "are you sure" he responded it would only take 20 minutes. Problem number 1: No one was answering the phone Sunday morning, I called multiple times. Problem number 2: It take forever to place the order via the website AND there is a superfluous "support local fee" that cannot be opted out. I want this refunded. As someone who invited the group to dinner there Wed where we spent at least $150ish to my order for Sunday around $170, how dare a "support local fee" be added that could have been avoided if someone answered the phone. Problem number 3: The order was 30 mins late. Lack of personal awareness regarding your capability to answer phones and prepare orders on time is a problem. My first and second experience was so vastly different, beyond disappointing, on a day where I am putting things together to host a party it caused unnecessary stress I sent an email and didn't hear back and wanted to post my experience.

Ariel was our server. He was amazing. Made suggestions that were great!!! Exceptional food and…read moreservice!!!

Ariel was a very friendly and hardworking person. We saw him checking on all guests to make sure…read moreour experience was pleasant. The food was delicious!

Wow! If I lived in the area this would be my 'Go to' place for a 'meat' dinner!…read moreVery tasty! Atmosphere is inviting! Staff is very accommodating! This was a great place for our cousins get together. I definately will be back!

I'm going to emphasize that this is an Argentinian spot! Just a fun fact if you're thinking about…read moregoing. Before you go, I recommend browsing through the menu in advance. Figure out what you want to try before going because the menu is intimidating. There's a lot to try out depending on the time of day AND they have daily specials. I have 6 photos full of items that they offer and that is not enough to capture everything they offer. This place has definitely been around a while. Everything is a bit run down due to wear and tear. It kind of gives the place a rustic charm that also works as a small local market. Now I've read some reviews about service here, but I had a very bad experience. It was slow and we often felt ignored. Had to hail down some waiters to get served. Maybe it's because we came for lunch so there weren't as many employees on the floor? Not sure, but that's the only reason for flagging this rating as a 4 star. Food was great and unique. I tried their daily special and realized that I would love to imitate some of their cooking methods. Soup was not what I had expected, but the idea behind the food was there.

The sisig plate is amazing. Good amount of pork and veggie stir fried, it is the perfect filipino…read morebrunch. If you want a more fatty, crunchy pork, get the cebuchon plate. Pork has crispy skin with juicy tender meat. It is so good! Get it when you are in the area. Hopia is also very good, and have many different type of flavors for you to try. Go go go.

Update: ok so I see the owner or managers reply (who I'm sure is very kind and had nothing to do…read morewith this experience), and while I appreciated the no charge, I 100% felt uncomfortable and judged because why would he then say "I have to ask, is this all for you or is your family making something with it?" Or making a dish with it? all while laughing. It makes absolutely no sense. Why did he need to ask that? Why did he need to keep laughing? It is one thing to be friendly, and another to do that. Also it does not matter what it's for, but why did he feel compelled to make those comments? I of course said thank you and stayed kind because that's who I am but after I felt completely attacked. Now onto the food, lumpia was actually delicious. So hopia was not my thing, but definitely some of the best lumpia I've had. It just can't change my experience so unfortunately I will not be back. Thank you. This is based off of the hopia dessert which I tried the one other time I went into this restaurant (was horrid), and my experience today. I will update this once I actually taste the lumpia. I was just so shocked by this employee that I couldn't wait to post a review. Now I don't know his name, but the guy working the front end seemed friendly...until I asked for the larger or largest sweet and sour. I was on hold on a phone call at the same time because I was on a work lunch, and quickly popped in here to grab something, so my mind was fuzzy. Rather than say the 2oz size which may not be the size I wanted, I said largest or biggest side sweet and sour. The guy laughed and held his hands up to make a motion like widening them and said biggest? I said yes the bigger one towards the end. Shook his head and laughed again. Now I don't know what other reason this was funny other than my size maybe? I'm heavier so maybe that was funny to him. It was just rude and honestly weird. I stayed sitting on hold and waited for my order, and once it was ready he just had to ask "is this just for you or is your family making something with it?" I was shocked (still sitting on hold too) and said my family loves sweet and sour so why not and he said "ok I just had to ask" while laughing. Really? You just had to? Did I order a gallon of sauce? Did I ask for something you don't openly sell to customers all day long? I can't possibly think of anything else other than it being so funny, and me being judged because of my weight. So I will never step foot in here again. The hopia is not good anyway which is why it's been over a year since I've gone there. It was flavorless, dry, just disgusting. Apparently aside from the food being horrible quality, you will also be shamed and laughed at. Repulsive behavior and unacceptable. Second and last time trying to give this place a shot. Not worth it. The sauce isn't even filled hahah

Their pastries never fail to satisfy my sweet tooth. I always get their assorted ponchik because I…read morecan't pick just a single flavor -- you can't go wrong with any of them because they're all pretty good! The texture is always right and they're generously filled. It's one of their popular items, but they have a lot of other good stuff on their menu too! Their perashkis are good if you're looking for something savory (I wish there was an "assorted" box for this too for when I can't pick a single flavor). Also recommend their Bread broat - Adjarakan and Georgian Khachapuri. And then there's the cake section. Don't get me started on this. I'm admittedly biased when it comes to honey cakes but their assorted sheet cakes are SO GOOOOOOD!!! Just the right sweetness and texture, and good portion sizing (bless them for this because I'd eat the whole sheet otherwise). So yeah, if you're looking for a new spot to try or just want a break from other known big or chain bakeries, try Papillon!

We've ordered from Papillon Bakery in Northridge several times now, and every single visit has been…read moreconsistently great. The food is always fresh, tasty, and very reasonably priced, which keeps us coming back. Some of our absolute favorites are the potato pirashki, cabbage pirashki, nacho cheese empanadas, and of course the custard and Nutella ponchiks--everything is always warm, flavorful, and perfectly made. Today my husband, who is very picky, decided to try their lahmajun for the first time. He loved it! It was crisp, fresh, and perfectly seasoned. That was another win for Papillon. Definitely worth trying a variety of their recipes--you really can't go wrong here.

I've eaten at Mercado's sister restaurant in Northridge quite a few times, and I was stoked to…read morefinally get to the mother ship. While the West Valley location is small and hushed, with dark woods and muted lighting, the OG Mercado is the exact opposite: big and bright, with a bustling edge in the air as the staff navigates between eat-in diners, people ordering take-out, and still others buying items from their meat, pastry, and cheese displays. Yes, it's a real market and restaurant in one, and the energy is palpable as you browse the large menu, knowing everything is going to be very fresh and cooked to order. It's always difficult to decide between a Choripan or Steak Milanesa sandwich, but today I opted for the Choripan -- and while I deleted the lettuce & tomato that's usually on top, I added grilled onions. As I waited, I was brought fresh-baked Argentine baguette, which was crusty on the outside and pillowy on the inside, with just a touch of chew. The bread is served, of course, with Chimichurri, but also a tomato & olive oil salsa of sorts that had a light and veggie-forward flavor that offered a nice contrast to the earthy, herbaceousness of the chimi. I've learned the hard way to no overindulge on the bread and sauces, so I pulled back after one piece -- and luckily, my sandwich arrived soon after. This is a hefty Choripan, demonstrably larger than what I've had at the sister location. A very plump, butterflied and charred Argentine sausage resting on more of that bangin' baguette (the chewy center offering solid support for the fillings), and a generous helping of grilled onions. There was a patina of "grease" on the sandwich, but that's not a bad thing -- this slight oiliness was packed with flavor, adding tremendous Argentine Umami to the meal. The sausage was meaty and dense, with just a bit of fat and a very nice punch of herbs and spices, leading to an enjoyably potent flavor very specifically South American. The onions were excellently prepared: grilled to a medium firmness, the chef bringing out the natural sweetness while retaining just enough of the original, onion bite to add extra layers of taste. As if that wasn't enough, the onions were clearly cooked in a bit of spice, which gave them an extra kick of heat that blended very nicely with the spiciness of the chimichurri. This is just an excellent sandwich. Service is friendly, the entire restaurant is spic & span clean (including the restrooms), and the crowd seems genuinely happy to be where they are, eating what they're eating. The meats, cheeses, pastries, breads and empanadas on display in the market areas all look top notch and very appealing. I'll be shopping here for things to make at home, and I'll be coming back for another dine-in meal very soon. If you haven't been, you should stop by to try it for yourself. It's just so, so good!

If you are a Messi fan then his pictures are everywhere here. Argentinan restaurants are hard to…read morefind so thank you for serving the community. Story began with Paul Rodriguez serving meat at the small market. Business kept growing so they expanded to meat market/ bakery/sit down restaurant. Now there are 2 locations in the local area which is Van Nuys and Granda Hills. All I know is everything is good here and taste great. All made in house with so much love and made from scratch daily. They take the time to marinate and triple whip pasties. You can taste the difference. They must buy ingredients/ food from a high end distributor. You can do all your market shopping here, meats, spices, etc too. Market/restaurant (mercado) is your one stop shop for Argentina goods. Btw- there is vegan dishes/burger here too. Breakfast opens at 7:30am. They are a large kitchen inside. Pastries facturas are cute and deliciously fresh. I recommend 3 and coffee if you are on the run. If you have time choose some omelettes which are all under $15. I will need to try breakfast sandwiches one day. Lunch: Handmade empanadas if you are on the run. They are only $2.80 for baked or fried with meat inside. Chimichurri sauce with (crispy baked) bread is a must if you are dining in. Spices in the sauce is sooo amazing. Again I must try the lunch sandwiches one day. Dinner: I have tried spaghetti and steak which has all the right spices that does not resemble Italian. Sauce has a meaty beef stew thickness. I also like the steaks that are certified angus choice skirt steak, bone-in short rib flanks with homemade Argentine sausages. Buenos Aires burger is quite delish too unlike your normal American burger. It has chimichurri sauce inside. I must try the seafood soon because I see everyone else ordering it. Sugar time: Flan that is has vanilla custard with dulce de leche from Argentina. All desserts are good and I yes I have tried them all. Cakes super moist to flaky cakes and specials not on the menu. Improvements: alcoholic drinks would be so much more popular if they are perfect this department. It is def not my fav. I like a good mix from a bartender. The basic wine/beer is fine. Hidden gem with the friendliest staff. Muchas gracias Mercado Buenos Aires!

BOOM!!!! A must stop…read morefor Columbian! Know that this is a very busy place to though.This was a truly amazing experience into the flavors of a Colombian meal. I decided to go with here to taste a different part of the world. The dish I selected, is the Banda Paisano Trifeca which is a macro and micronutrient bomb of delicious vegetables, starches, and protein. Apparently many with very hard physically demanding jobs need a "strong meal," and within Columbian Culture this dish was formed. Beautiful story, AND it has blood sausage!!! The place was slammed but got me the first available seat in 10 mins or so, and though we both couldn't communicate beyond the common cordial words and menu semantics, her demeanor and body language was very inviting and courteous. This place was a class act. Get you some!!!

I live 4 hours away from this place, so everytime I am in the Los Angeles area I try to stop here…read more I ate at this place on Monday 6/9 around 5 pm knowing that they were closing at 6 pm. Flavor was spot on as usual. Things I did not enjoy this time: 1. I was charged for 2 chorizos when I had only ordered 1. (Always ask for printed invoice and check before leaving). 2. I was charged $6 for a chorizo that was as long as my thumb. In the past their chorizos were much bigger and cheaper. (Do not order chorizos a la carte). 3. The meat in my "bandeja paisa" was ver fatty. Maybe my negative experience had to do with the fact that the restaurant was about to close.

My sister and I had a great time celebrating my dog's birthday here! The food was delicious and the…read moreservice from the staff was amazing. Jaime was kind and attentive. When he noticed the birthday hat on my dog, he offered to bring him a small plate of whipped cream to celebrate. It was such a small gesture but it meant a lot to us. We are all grateful for his kindness and warm personality! We will definitely be coming back to this location.

Jaime was so nice and helpful he was so kind I love the tiramisu almost everything parking is easy…read moreand the food is amazing line was fast. I got the polo Plato Cubano with orange juice so good and filling. I would 100% recommend