As Puerto Ricans straight from the island, my girlfriend and I were excited to try this spot, especially when we saw an empanada called "Boricua" on the menu. We ordered that along with the "Pernil," "Republica Chicken," and "Yucca." The Yucca was the standout! Crispy, flavorful, and paired with a great dip. That was easily a 10/10. Unfortunately, the rest of the meal fell flat. The proteins were alarmingly pale, lacking the depth of seasoning we were hoping for. It seems like this place caters to a demographic that prefers things a bit milder... I'll leave it at that. The crust on the empanadas was good, but overall, the food didn't hit the mark. Safe to say we won't be coming back. If you're going to name something Boricua, STEP UP YOUR SEASONINGS! read more

if it was not because of the friendly staff and diversity selection of empanadas, i would have rated 2*. This is one of the worst salmon I have ever had. It was so dry, and so hard to chew. I think they forgot to take it out while cooking. at one point, i dont know what i was supposed to eat anymore. Ironically, the portion was huge, which was the nightmare for me to finish. But I highly recommend the dessert empanadas though. They are fantastic ! read more

Republica Empanada - Salmon Torta - Latin American Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

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Went twice while I was in Mesa , food and drink were perfect each time. Service is great too !

This is a locally owned gem in Mesa! I always love coming here. It's such a vibe. I feel like I've been transported to South America every time I come here. It's a cute building on the corner of 1st Ave and S Hibert, surrounded by art and plants. It is next to the court house. There is street parking and a small parking lot at the rear of the building. They have digital menus, so be prepared to scan the QR Cose when you arrive. They have savory and sweet empanadas. They do have alcohol available as well. Today I got 2 savory empanadas - the El Capitan and Boricua and one sweet, Dizzy Fig. I wanted to get more, but I fought my tendency to go overboard. They are small but they are stuffed and filling. It was just what I needed for lunch to be satisfying, but not feel comatose for the rest of the day. Definitely come out and try Republica Empanada!! read more

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This restaurant is a staple of Mesa! Today, I ordered the achiote, peanut butter and jelly empanada, and a guava margarita. The food came out fast and hot and the margarita was the perfect addition to my food. This is a perfect place to take anyone from out of town and has many vegan options. The restaurant is quiet and the art work is fun and colorful. I also loved the murals outside in the parking lot. It could make for a fun Instagram moment. I can't wait to go back! read more

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I liked this place a lot for so many reasons, but I do question whether it was worth throwing down so much money as I sit here snacking at home AFTER dropping $$$ on empanadas that were maybe 5 bites each. The good: 1. Lots of empanada options for vegans, vegetarians, and non-veg. Everyone can find something they want. 2. Good for all ages from kid to adult. 3. That green sauce they serve on the side. 4. Love a local joint and empanadas in general. Flavor was pretty good on most, but still struggled to see how each empanada was on worth $5ish each. Now for the tough stuff: 1. The bathroom smelled horrific. Not sure what that smell was, but it wasn't normal bathroom smell. More like stinky garbage on a hot day? 2. They really need those sushi cards where you can order what you want. It was hard to scroll up and down on our phones and keep track of all we ordered. $5ish per empanada adds up, so be warned! Our bill was well over $100 for 3 adults and 3 kids. I'd return, but probably be more mindful of amount ordered and cost. An adult can easily take down 3-4 empanadas and that adds up to about $20 per person without drinks. read more

Republica Empanada - Nutella and peanut butter empanada - Latin American Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

I really love this little gem in downtown Mesa. I'm such a fan of empanadas. If you like Latin American cuisine and comfort food, this is the place to come. Empandas are a baked or fried turnover consisting of a savory or sweet filling. Republica Empanada has a pretty large selection of them. The El Capitán, Cubana or any of the Jalapeño ones are my favorites so far. I recommend getting the Empanada Platter so you can sample a couple different flavors. It comes with maduros (plantains) and arroz (rice) on the side - yum! I'm more of a savory person, but they also have a variety of sweet empandas on their menu if you would prefer one of those. My first visit here was a very enjoyable one for me. I came during COVID winter of '20 when restaurants were allowing customers inside again. It was a quiet weekday evening and I sat alone and watched an ASU basketball game while eating my dinner. A gentleman came up to me and started to chat with me. We talked Valley sports for a long time and I was impressed with his knowledge of the many different athletes that have played here. I eventually discovered he was owner Edmundo Meraz. I really enjoyed his hospitality and for taking time to keep me company. Republica Empanada strives to make you feel at home when you are here. They are located in a mid-century looking building that has an interior layered rock wall in its entryway. There is a mural painted on the exterior wall and a large Saguaro cacti out front. The architecture here is very charming. Republica Empanada was featured on Food Network's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" a few years back. They are just a couple blocks off Main St. and worth the drive over to Mesa for some delicious comfort food. read more

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I had a weird ordering experience. We were planning to order a couple empanadas for lunch and then order some others to take home with us for later, so I asked if it would be easier to do this as two separate transactions, but the cashier said if we ordered "to go" we couldn't eat any there. I didn't quite understand so she clarified that we could get the entire order brought to the table and she would bring us boxes for the "leftovers", but if we wanted any boxed for carry out we could not eat them there. So we ended up doing one transaction and taking it all out to the car and eating it in there in the parking lot. I still think it was kind of weird that after spending $85 we couldn't eat one there and take the rest home. read more

I so needed a changeup and when I realized I was going to be in Mesa towards the early evening, I knew exactly where I was going. Another return visit and the empanada of choice were a hit. A cocktail (Republica Margarita after a stressful day) to start off the evening along with the Empanada Platter (you get to pick 2... Pernil & Boricua this time) and it comes with rice, beans, cabbage salad, and maduros (that were so good). I always need 3 empanadas so al la cart I tried the El Capitan which had raisins, boiled egg, and ground beef. Green salsa to compliment was great (I ended up getting a 2nd one and I added it to my rice & beans). Dining is available inside and outside on the private patio. Love how it's cooked to order and literally felt like I was in a friend's house from Costa Rica read more

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This is one of the best restaurants in Arizona (this is coming from a 35 year Phoenix native). Just come experience it and you will thank me later. My family and I drive 30 minutes from our midtown home to feast on this magical food. read more

Republica Empanada - Latin American Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

Since moving to the AZ area I have been craving Empanadas and trying to find a place to go in the Phoenix area. Well this weekend while I was in Mesa and decided to try Republica Empanadas. They had a variety of vegetarian options so I tried a couple. Black beans and cheese R.E. black beans & mozzarella cheese Pura vida Garbanzo beans, mushrooms, carrots, spinach, celery, and bell peppers Greek Sautéed spinach, feta, sun dried tomato & kalamata olive Guava and cheese Guava preserve & mozzarella Everything was good I will be back to try some other things on their menu. read more

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This place has been on my list for awhile, having finally tried it I was very underwhelmed. I lived in miami and have been looking for some good empanadas, and this place isn't it. They're very expensive and not worth the high price. I was impressed by the fried plantains they were pretty good and I wish they'd given a couple more than two with the platter. The vibe inside was pretty cool and all the staff seemed pleasant and happy. read more

Great food and service! Good prices and I feel like I got my money's worth. Definitely recommend the desert empanadas

Well I was debating on giving it a 4 star but Im having hard time.. Well the restaurant was clean and very friendly staff. Never tried this place and I've only had empanada few times at other places.. I ordered 3 empanadas and water and that cost me little over $15. Empanas were smaller than I expected... Ordered chicken, Cubano, and boricua.. My darn boricua had only rice on one side.. I hate that when food is not mixed evenly . Flavor was not bad little bit on the dry side.. Chicken was definitely drier and didn't like the flavor of it.. But with the green salsa it made it taste little better. Cubana I have to say is one of the better of the three. More flavorful. But after all said and done Ieft there going.. Man I'm still hungry... Maybe I'll try some other dish one day.. But for today I left little disappointed. read more

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I think the food is okay here. The empanadas were not served with a sauce. The flavors are good, but not great. I think it is expensive for the portion. read more

In search of a good empanada restaurant, we found a great option in this restaurant. Started off with two chicken empanadas and added a third pork. Enjoyed the chicken with the spice sauce more than the pork. Would likely just get all three chicken next time. French fries as a side we're also very good. Will definitely be back as this will likely become a destination place. read more

I was very disappointed. Not because the empanadas were bad, but because they were sooooo average. Disclaimer: I'm from Costa Rica. Born and raised. So I have not only had great empanadas, but my grandmother (who was known as a master empanada maker) taught me how to make them and I've gotten pretty good at it. Another note is that empanadas are different in every Latin American country you visit. Empanadas in Guatemala are not the same as in Colombia. So be aware that one man's "yuk" is another's "yum!" Having said all that, these empanadas were just ok, hence the 3 stars. I've had better in a million places. These lacked flavor, the crust was hard and dull, and the sauce that came with them was not great. I was hoping for a fresh chimichurri, or a tangy or spicy sauce; something interesting to compliment the empanada. But I got a very boring sauce. I tried chicken, beef, pork, and a "banana cream" one. None of them were standout. I know restaurants are having a tough time right now, so I want to be positive and tell you that the empanadas were fresh. I thought they were ok. But maybe I'm picky, right? I've had such great empanadas on street carts and on the street in general. Empanadas that we're hot and greasy and tender and full of flavor. These were not them. I'll try it again...maybe. read more

Awesome place seen on Guy From food network. Owner amazing food great and drinks better. Cool vibe come out and try everything read more

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The food was good. I'm always safe when I'm unsure of spices so I went with cheeseburger, cubana, chicken and pbj. I enjoyed all of them but I'm a sucker for warm peanut butter. The sweet one was my favorite. My husband got the Jalapeño potato popper and the roasted pork. He enjoyed his plate. Our server was really nice and had recommendations for us first timers. We'll be returning for sure. read more

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A bit pricey but very very good. Quick service. Don't know what else to say! Just trying to fill out the minimum word count.

Nice little empanada place with lots of options. I tried the combo appetizer($10), Republica chicken($4.24), boricua($4.50), jalapeño ham popper($4.50), and the dizzy fig($4.50). The orders take a very long time to come out after ordering, and we waited around 20 minutes for our food but all the food did come out at a nice, hot temperature. The combo platter is a nice mix of all the appetizers sans the fries. The cassava fries and tostones with the cilantro jalapeño ranch sauce are both hearty and good but they definitely rely on the sauce for the flavor. The maduros are very sweet and the crema sauce balances it well but it could be overwhelming for some. The chicken empanada started off very strong and had a great flavor. It had a good amount of chicken and the empanada itself also had a nice crispy texture. The boricua was also pretty good and the sauce was decent. It wasn't as good as the chicken for flavor but still solid. The jalapeño ham popper was okay. I was a little put off by it tasting similarly to the ham and cheese hot pocket. My least favorite of the bunch. The dizzy fig contains sweet dulce de Leche along with locally grown fig. It is pretty sweet with the fig to counteract it. The caramel flavor and the fig goes well together and makes for a nice finisher to a meal. Overall a decent restaurant for a light lunch with acceptable prices. Nothing really blew me away so I'd recommend if you have a strong empanada craving. read more

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We stopped here after seeing it on Diners Drive-ins and Dives! It was an adorable little place with a fun atmosphere. Service was quick and the food came out hot! We got the special of the day - elote empanadas which were fantastic! I could've eaten several of them! For the table we ordered yucca fries and tostones. Both of which we would get again. If you've never experienced this type of cuisine, this is a good place to start! read more

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How crazy are we that we live in Arizona and never heard of this place. Have we been living under a rock!!! Well we seen a recent TikTok. I'm sure you know which one we are talking about. If not check it out! So yess we decided to stop by! Yes there is a wait with a line out the door. So Please be patient and kind because the staff are busting their butts. All staff were friendly and A smile never left any of their faces. DJ on the patio playing music. Such a vibe! Now for the food A 10! We got a few items to share/Sample. The Cubana, Bean and cheese, Boricua, and the Nutella and banana. They were crunchy and stuffed with yummy goodness . The sauce added extra flavor that you didn't even know you needed. My toddler devoured the Nutella and banana. We were able to smell it imagine what it tasted like. Don't be us order extras. So glad we gave this place a try we will definitely be back to try some other menu items. The Arroz Con Pollo is calling my name. read more

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Cannot wait to go back and try more of the menu as everything we tasted was amazing. Been day dreaming about the tostones and maduros, could eat a mountain of both. Great staff and great food read more

Give me empanadas or give me nada! While I may not be a Guy Fieri fan or a Triple D fanatic, I gotta admit that he got it right with this place. You can taste the love in these empanadas. I got the Empanada Platter with The Greek and El Capitan. So tasty and fresh. Don't pass on the green salsa. I also ordered a Banana Cream empanada for dessert. Not one bad bite was had the whole meal. It was so good that I was left speechless. I'm glad I don't live near Downtown Mesa because I think Republica Empanada could be a problem for me. read more

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Republica is located a block away from the heart of Town. It has fun painted walls in their parking lot. It is a small place with indoor seating and an outdoor covered patio. Staff are friendly and helpful. I had reviewed their menu before arriving and had decided which empanadas I wanted. I ordered the Republica Chicken, the Cheeseburger and the Pernil to go. I was told they would be ready in 10 minutes. While waiting I looked at the wall mural, several framed photos and some stitching on the walls. Customers on the patio enjoyed a nice meal and great weather. I asked about reheating the empanadas at home. They suggested to microwave them briefly with a damp paper towel covering. The meal came and staff reiterated the order and mentioned two green sauces were included. I asked how I would know the different orders. Staff package each empanada in a marked bag. Great thinking! We really enjoyed the empanadas. On your first bite, there is meat. The chicken was a bit spicy and good with green sauce. Hubby preferred the cheeseburger ground beef and cheese order to the Pernil (pork). Good eats and certainly different from our standard fare. read more

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Drove 30 mins to come check this place out! I have been craving my hometown Colombian food lately, so when I saw the menu, I knew I had to make the drive!! The place is right on the corner of 1st Ave & Hibbert and I love ambiance even walking up to the front door. Beautiful ivy canopy, water fountain, cacti & murals on all the walls. Inside is pretty spacious and clean, and I love all the little needlepoint art by the hostess stand. It took a few mins for the hostess to get to us but I think she's the only server here working as hostess as well (another server was helping later on). We opted to sit outside on the patio and were lucky enough to get the last table. There were 4 tables outside and 1 inside already occupied even with getting there an hour before close. The most gut wrenching news was that they were out of maduros. Besides the empanadas, I was looking most forward to the maduros!! It's ok, I still ordered the Combo Caribe so we could get yuca & tostones. Hubby ordered the empanada platter with one ham & cheese and one chicken/mushroom. I ordered the Republica chicken and the Pura Vida. The hubby said the ham & cheese empanada was what a hot pocket is supposed to taste like only this was better. The ratio of cheese to ham was spot on, it was warm and oozy yet the shell of the empanada remained crispy and flaky! The chicken mushroom was amazing. Chicken well seasoned and tender and the mushrooms & olives were complementary to all the flavors in the chicken and nothing was overpowering. And again the shell was perfect. The republica chicken was what I expected in a traditional empanada and it hit the spot. Chicken was tender and well seasoned and I love the juices from the seasoning dripping out all over. The Pura vida was actually my favorite and I don't like mushrooms! I loved how packed with veggies it was and they were perfectly tender-crisp. And like the hubby said, the shells on both were perfectly crisp and flaky. The yuca was crisp on the outside and chewy in the center as it should and I liked how they were cut like fries instead of the usual thick chunks I make. The tostones were delish as well but I usually prefer them a bit more salted. And of course we couldn't leave without ordering some sweet empanadas!! I ordered the guava & cheese (my fave growing up) and the hubby ordered the banana cream pie. The bubbles on the shell were everything! I knew it was going to be crisp, airy & gooey in the center just by the shell. The guava/cheese brings me back to my childhood so thank you for that! The banana cream pie was just that. A pie inside the shell that was warm and gooey and sweet. Perfect end to the meal. Needless to say, we enjoyed every bite and will absolutely be making the drive again. It was totally worth it!! Hopefully next time they have maduros!! read more

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Picked this place out of Yelp since it is close my hotel. I love the Yuca Frita but it comes with the huge portion. The waitress agreed to provide a few samplers since I order a platter. Arroz Colombians is almost like a Latin style of stir fried rice with a blend of shrimp and sausage in combination with tomato, achiote, celery, onion, bell pepper, carrot and cilantro. The top is garnished with avocado. The cilantro jalapeño ranch sauce come with Yuca was great as well. Yummy ! read more

Republica Empanada - Arroz Colombiano - Latin American Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

Care for a side of hair with your mushroom chicken empanada? Sorry Keith Lee but you were wrong, this was not bussin'! Don't get me wrong, but was the place ADORABLE?! YES! Was the cashier a sweetheart?! INDEED SHE WAS! But was I 100% disappointed with finding hair cooked into the empanada? ABSOLUTELY. Especially because when I called to tell them about it and offered to send photos I was promised a replacement. A REPLACEMENT. Nothing extra for ruining my meal and turning my stomach. Nothing else for having to go out of my way to come back to *hopefully* get a hairless empanada. Nothing extra for the inconvenience. That's ok. Good luck to everyone else. read more

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Empanadas were so delicious! Fun place with a garden out back. Friendly cool vibe and excellent service! Definitely go try!

This place was great. We started things off with the sampler platter. It was tasty, but easily the weakest part of the experience. Everything was pleasant enough, but flavor wise the most standout part of the experience was the cilantro jalapeño ranch that accompanied it. The empanadas were obviously incredible. Empanada shells were just the right balance of crispy and chewy. We had the jalapeño ham, pernil, boricua and cubana empanadas. Each of them were masterfully prepared with a perfect balance of flavors and textures. Hard for me to choose a favorite, but it had to be a toss up between the boricua and cubana. The dessert empanadas were just as amazing as their savory counterparts. The dizzy fig was a delightful combination of the sweetness of the figs with creamy, salty cheese. The ruiz's pieces empanada was erupting with molten Nutella and peanut butter. Both were among the best desserts I've ever had. I'll definitely be back to try all the empanadas I didn't get a chance to sample this time around. read more

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Haha we had the elote, bean and cheese and guava. AMAZING! The right amount of sweet and salty! Highly recommend! Cute chill atmosphere, customer service is awesome ! And the food BOMB read more

Republica Empanada - To good I forgot to take a picture. - Latin American Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

I love this place so much Every time I visit here I feel so happy because of their food My favorites are jalapenp ham poppers but honestly all empanadas are super yummy. Have some with lemonade :) read more

The place to go before an event at Mesa Arts, so be prepared for a wait. The food is delish and they offer lots of vegan and vegetarian options - and remain delightfully affordable. Unfortunately their popularity has outstripped their ability to keep up. They no longer offer table service, everyone walks in and waits, sees the small sign saying "order at counter" but are confused. The kitchen is super slow to put out food, and it's simple food the greater majority already prepared. The wait for 2 empanadas and some sides was way too long, over 20 minutes. and that was before they were even super busy. Cant imagine the wait as the line to order starts heading towards the door. read more

The empanadas were great for sure. They are not traditional Venezuelan cooking or filling on them. But they were tasty. The green sauce was delicious. I give 3 starts just because the wait line was excessive, EXCESSIVE! We waited 40 minutes in line to order at the counter and another 40 minutes just get the food. Empanadas are meant to be kinda fast food. And the prices were a little too high for what the size of each were. Solid 3. Probably would not be back. read more

Came here with a couple of friends for some drinks and some delicious empanadas. The staff was nice and it was a good first experience. Food is great, you won't be disappointed. read more

I've eaten the food from here several times from Grubhub, but you gain so much more coming in person. There are several types of empanadas and other things only on the Specials menu that isn't on the Grubhub. Plus there is the music and mural that give the place a funky vibe. Waitstaff are all efficient and friendly. Food is made fresh, not sitting around... Everything was very hot and tasty. The accompanying sauces were good too. And don't forget to try out their refreshing Limonades, like the one with strawberry. The appetizer with mixed fried plantains and casavas is delicious with the side sauces. The Pura Vida empanada never disappoints. Try out the special empanadas, too. read more

Republica Empanada - Strawberry Limonade sitting outside with the cool mural on a Saturday afternoon. - Latin American Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

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Good empanadas here, but you need three or four to feel satisfied for a meal. I like the variety in selection of flavors! The murals are beautiful outside and inside, and the patio is nice in the cooler months. Always a big fan of plantains. One thing I thought was odd was I asked if I could get some cotija or any type of cheese sprinkled on my chicken empanada and the waitress said, "no, we can't." Wondering if they don't deviate from recipes at all but ended up ordering something else. read more

White washed empanadas in Phoenix. Sherreded chicken so dry and no flavor They litterally put a pickle inside one of them? Gross. 26$ on a beer (bottled) and flavorless 3 empanadas read more

Came here for lunch on a Saturday, it was quite busy, like a 20 minute wait which i was ok with. The temperature inside was kind of warm, but not unbearable. Would've been better if it was cooler though. Seemed like the bussing of tables and turnover was slow, they had clean tables and we still sat there waiting to get sat. The food though. So good. The empanadas are small so get multiple. The Capitan was really good and so was the elote and the Boricua. The arroz columbiano was amazing. Staff were nice and accommodating. Great place overall. read more