I decided to try Papi's at the Kailua Farmer's Market tonight (Thursday), because I was looking for a quick dinner bite. They don't have a permanent location, and do pop ups at various locations. I love a great empanada, and have been getting mine from the "other" empanada store that opened in early 2024 in Kailua.
These empanadas are really small for the $5 price 3 for $13), but that's the only "negative" about it. It's about 3 inches across, which is about half the size of a "regular" sized empanada. Empanadas are more of a snack anyway, but two or three would make a meal for me, just not at this size (lol).
The taste and texture are really great. The crust is flaky and slightly crisp, like the outside of a biscuit or a pie crust, which is really nice. The fillings are very tasty, and they have a good variety.
I tried the Greek empanada, and the Cochinila, which is a slow roasted pulled pork. They were both very good and flavorful. They provided a small dish of chimichurri, fresh, tart, and slightly spicy.
Their special one is their crab empanada ($6), and if they're a regular at the Kailua FM, I may try that the next time.
Overall, they're very tasty with a great texture, but a bit pricey. read more