Empanadas are amazing!!! Definitely coming back for them These are like no other, hot and savory! read more

Rico’s Empanadas - Cárne con papa y éspinaca con queso - Empanadas Near Me - Venice, California

The best empanadas in LA ! I come here like 3-4 times a week . Rico and Rosie are the best . read more

Great service and great food. It's a great Venice Beach experience I had the beef and the chicken empanadas with chimichurie they had Crispy shells and flavorful stuffings. I also had the Rico Suave espresso. It was Rich and Beautiful. I'll be back read more

Rico’s Empanadas - Rico and his rubber chicken - Empanadas Near Me - Venice, California

The ham and cheese empanada at Rico's Empanadas is fire~! My brother in law of 25 years' family has a bakery in Argentina specializing in empanadas....and this was better. Don't tell him I said that! But legit, the dough is perfect and flavorful, the insides were excellent and the garlic sauce they put over the top is a fun & unique fire touch! Found on the Venice Boardwalk, it's a cute black & white shop sandwiched between Rico's Surf Shop and Pizzeria. No seating but you can take your eats and sit over by the basketball courts. After ordering, food takes about 10 minutes to come out and you can get the aforementioned garlic sauce strewn over your eats if you like. I did like but what's weird is they just handed it to us without napkins so be sure to ask for napkins because it is messsssssy with all that garlic oil. One thing that I wasn't a fan of was ordering a cookie and they had me grab my own. I accidently touched the cookie below as I was grabbing mine and then didn't love the idea that the last person did the same touching my cookie. I would suggest a covering/bag for the cookies so staff can grab them & people can actually take them to go. Just holding a melting cookie in the sun while waiting for my eats was not ideal. Just a suggestion to optimize your customer's experience. :) Now as mentioned, the Ham & Cheese is the MUST get here, straight fire. I also enjoyed the beef though it wasn't nearly as delicious. Unfortunately the Cheese & Sweet Corn which I was most looking forward to was 95% crust with barely any filling. It was not cheesy at all and had but a few pieces of corn. Maybe an off batch? Overall, I would try them again because I loveeeeed the Ham & Cheese Empanada and would like to try more on the menu. read more

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Went here awhile ago and the Empanadas were really good. Came back and the place is twice as big... Had really good coffee now with a whole coffee bar read more

Rico’s Empanadas - Empanadas - Empanadas Near Me - Venice, California

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This is my kind of breakfast. Had to take my son to surf at Venice beach at 6:30am. I was not thrilled until I came across this little morning treasure just off the walkway that's lined with stores not yet open and where all the bodybuilders will show off their bulges once they wake up and drink their protein powder shakes. But me I'm having the "Today's Special " 2 empanadas & a drink for $15. Usually I don't do anything except coffee till 10 but this place was calling to me. So glad I listened to myself for once. read more

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Was delighted to find an Argentine empanada spot, walking around. Nice spot in a corner, along the Venice beach boardwalk. Not too far from the main parking lot. Wanted to try the eggplant empanada but they were out so got the spinach & cheese. Was good with the chimichurri on top! Good cheese pull when taking bites. We also got a coffee. Would go again when in the area. read more

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Absolutely must stop and try these empanadas! So full of flavor and good quality texture! If you know me, I'm stopping by any Argentine place I see. I spotted this out of the corner of my eye, and was skeptical about trying it. The lady working the stand was very sweet though, and convinced me otherwise. I tried the chicken empanada, sitting at $6 per empanada. That's good beachside price for one big empanada. But this empanada was one of my favorites I've ever had! The flavors and textures were cooked to perfection! I very much enjoyed my empanada and am very glad I stopped by! read more

Rico’s Empanadas - Empanadas Near Me - Venice, California

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June 11 & 12th, 2025 | Venice Beach: When you're walking on the Venice Boardwalk and crave a bite of Argentina, I highly recommend Rico's Empanadas! Memorable empanadas bursting with flavor, personality plus via Rico & beach scenery...it's a win! Eggplant Empanada: Eggplant, bell peppers, seasoned to perfection... gets me every time, I love it!! While I have been going to Rico's Empanadas for years, this one is my absolute favorite empanada! Eggplant, bell peppers, seasoned to perfection... gets me every time, I love it!! Corn & Cheese: Piping hot, cheesy, creamy corn filled & flavorful, inside of a crispy edged empanada! Oh my!! Customer Service: Rico is pure happiness! He easily leaves you with a smile & often times, laughter! He's full of personality & a whole vibe! Note: Got 2 empanadas to go for myself & the very next day, met up with a friend and introduced him to the empanadas, and we both got empanadas to go! They truly are delicious! Overall: Mouthwatering bites that will easily have you coming back for more! Yes! Let's go! read more

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Wow wow wow! I had a Berenjena, Spinach & Cheese. Beautifully balanced, with a sauce that adds a perfect heat. A crust thats got just enough resistance & crunch, soft & tender in the middle. Service is warm, authentic & So Cal chilled. read more

Super friendly and chill empanada stand! Wonderfully enjoyable empanada lunch with iced coffee- can't think of a better way to spend a day walking along the beach! read more

Rico’s Empanadas - Menu - Empanadas Near Me - Venice, California

Empanadas are so delicious and rico and Rosie are so nice . I highly recommend this place

My son is 7 years old the first thing he says when we get to Venice beach "dad let's go to Rico's empanadas" after our adventure at Venice "dad let's get a empanadas before we go home" Rico's empanadas is really good especially with that Chimichurri sauce omg it sooo delicious we'll be back again in may. read more

Rico’s Empanadas - My son eating the ham and Ham & Cheese Empanada - Empanadas Near Me - Venice, California

Delicious amazing service and can't wait to go back! Beef empanadas yummmmm, matcha yummmm

Rico's Empanadas are the best , his service is excellent and professional definitely I would recommend eating here and also I can't forget his coffee and Rosie's as well sooooo Delicious read more

Small little coffee shop. Super nice people, excellent coffee, great vibe. Thanks for perking me up a few times while visiting!

If you're looking for something real and high quality on the boardwalk that isn't overpriced tourist food, this is it. These are the best empanadas I've had in LA, even better than Johnny pacifics in the valley. Glad I walked by Rico on my morning walk today! read more

THE BEST EMPANADAS! Rico is so lovely and hospitable. I always see him anytime I'm in Venice

I recently moved to Venice and am always on the lookout for the next legendary hole-in-the-wall--and wow, I think I just found one. I spotted this spot on my way to yoga, and something about it stuck with me, so I came back after class just in time for "last call." I grabbed a beef and a chicken empanada (already prepped, just needed a quick reheat) and... wow. The crust was the perfect balance of soft and crispy, and the filling? Juicy, flavorful, and packed with seasoning. No dry bites here--just pure satisfaction. Rico, the owner, was such a vibe--super chill and welcoming. Turns out he also gives surfing lessons and runs a shop right next door. You can tell he pours love into both his food and his community. A gem in Venice for sure. Can't wait to go back! read more

Stopped by when we saw the little shack during our walk along the Venice boardwalk. Rico was really kind and made them fresh and quick! I had never had an Argentinian empanada before and was blown away. You can add chimichurri sauce (and other sauces) on top if you choose or want spicy. I definitely recommend! read more

I got one chicken empanada because their beef was sold out and with good reason! The empanada was very good and not too greasy or heavy. It was the perfect snack while enjoying a day at the beach! read more

Rico’s Empanadas - Chicken empanada with chimichurri sauce - Empanadas Near Me - Venice, California

Rico is the most awesome and kind guy making and serving the most awesome empanadas you could ever dream of!! Trust me, add the empanada sauce with some green sauce and forget about...best you ever had!! read more

Rico’s Empanadas - Beef Empanada with house chimi sauce - Empanadas Near Me - Venice, California

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Rico is absolutely terrific! He was so sweet, friendly, and funny. When we got there it looked like he was just opening up, but he still took our order right away and was very communicative of what was available or not, and how long it would take for him to get our order to us. While waiting, many people approached him for a quick snack or just to chat. I could tell he was loved and well-known in this area. It made my experience so much better because everyone was so comfortable around him. It felt like I was eating at a family establishment. I'll be sure to stop by to continue to support him whenever I'm in the area. The beef empanadas were pretty good and the garlic chimichurri made it even better. read more

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Location was tiny. I thought there was a shop like we could sit at with tables but it's literally on Venice Beach one of the little tiny shops and they just sell them right there. They were delicious. Definitely will eat them again but we need to find a place to sit. The girl was on it as soon as you walked in she served us and gave us the empanada we want so we were happy. read more

DON'T DO IT !‍ I repeat DO NOT DO IT. The owner was a dickhead and IS NOT sanitary. Me and my family came here for a picnic and a few rounds of pickle ball early in the morning so we got to see everyone opening/setting up and the owner of this place was using the SHOWERS...yes the VENICE BEACH SHOWERS TO replenish his and the business next to his juice containers, that they were selling to patrons. I can't make this up. We went to go buy some empanadas before noticing that he was the guy we saw at filling his neighbor's juice jars with the shower water. The place is FILTHY, his fingernails were dirty and there was no sink in sight so I doubt this guy is washing his hands. When we asked him about the shower water, he stated he could do whatever he wants and I quote "who the fuck are you to tell me how to run my business." I didn't wanna argue with this guy so I laughed and just walked away. I understand one off bad experiences but this was a nightmare to witness. read more

These empanadas are amazing! They're some of the best food on the Venice Boardwalk. It's an easy to miss little shack just a few feet inland from the boardwalk - look for the sandwich board on the walkway or the sign with the cute little empanada drawing above. Venice Empanadas (or Rico's Empanadas as the sandwich board says) is an important representative of the funky old Venice that got beat up by Snapchat corporatization. The place is run by Rico, and the empanadas taste like he is doing exactly what he is supposed to be doing in this world. I've tried almost everything he makes. My favorite is the eggplant empanada. Make sure to add some chimichurri on top. There are a coupe of outdoor seats if you want to stay there, but I like to take my empanadas down to the beach or to the stands by the nearby basketball court. (Both are maybe a 1 minute walk away. The skatepark is maybe a 3 minute walk.) read more

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incredible empanadas!! Rico's is the perfect spot to get a quick meal and an authentic Venice experience. Locals stopping by, in and out. Staff was extremely friendly. Highly recommend the beef empanada with the chimichurri sauce! read more

Rico's Empanadas is the kind of spot you randomly try once--and then find yourself craving weekly. The empanadas are flaky, golden, and packed with filling (the beef and cheese is a classic, but the spinach and feta is surprisingly addictive). You can tell they put care into the dough and the seasoning--nothing feels rushed or mass-produced. It's a small, casual setup, but the flavors are big. Service is quick and the staff is always warm and welcoming. Great for a snack on the go or grabbing a few to take home. If you're into handheld comfort food that doesn't disappoint, this place is absolutely worth checking out. Bonus: they reheat well if you're stocking up. read more

5/5 We got the beef and ham and cheese empanadas and they were both super delicious, stuffed with amazing filling and flaky crust. The beef has some cheese inside, I'm not sure what kind but it looks like tofu cheese. It also had some roasted red veggie inside & it was soo good. The ham and cheese had a heap of ooey gooey cheese and also very good. I can't pick a favorite. Now-- the sauce- it's like a chimichurri sauce but had amazing garlic flavor and it made these the best empanadas I've had in the US. It's a no frills stand, kind of easy to miss, on Venice boardwalk. Skip all the gross burgers, hotdogs, and pizza and come here! read more

Rico’s Empanadas - Ham and Ham & Cheese Empanada with sauce - Empanadas Near Me - Venice, California

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Sooooo....I love empanadas in general. Mainly when they're fried lol but these baked ones did not disappoint! I loved the jalepeno and cheese...it was the right amount of spice. (I'm usually a habanero girly so these were right up my alley) If you eat meat my best friend said the beef ones were incredible! Definitely worth a try and I'll be back for more! read more

Rico’s Empanadas - Jalapeno and Spinach & Cheese Empanada - Empanadas Near Me - Venice, California

Empanadas are worth it! Had the jalapeño and cheese and my girl had the vegan eggplant, both were better than what we even expected as we've never had Argentinian empanadas read more

Rico’s Empanadas - Empanadas Near Me - Venice, California

Thank you Rico ! Great food and service We arrived and he was out of beed but made some right on the spot and even added on a donut read more

Rico’s Empanadas - Great service and great service! Beef Empanada and chicken empanada. Thank you Rico - Empanadas Near Me - Venice, California

This was a great place to get a snack in between Venice and Santa Monica pier. The Empanadas were delicious. We tried the Roasted Eggplant and Spinach and cheese empanadas. 2 for $9 if I remember correctly. Make sure top your empanadas with both hot sauce and their house sauce. read more

Rico’s Empanadas - Empanadas: Spinach and Cheese, and Roasted eggplant topped with house chimichurri. - Empanadas Near Me - Venice, California

Was on my 30min lunch break near the Hotel Erwin and spotted this place. The owner said "we have the best " so I ordered (2) Beef empanadas and a strawberry lemonade they take Apple Pay very tasty with the garlic spice blend. $20.00 plus a cash tip. Definitely would stop by again. read more

Best empanadas in town! Just listen for the sweet sounds of "empanada, empanada, empanada...quack quack quack. "Try the empanada if you don't like it your money back" quack.... But there actually really good! Give them a try! read more

Amazing food and hospitality if you want a quick bite with great service come and get your empanadas and delicious beverages. Thank you Rico!!! read more

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Had to come back & get my issue, this time I got the beef & chicken empanadas topped with chimichurri Sauce read more

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YES, B#TCHES!!!!! I totally, TOTALLY, TOTALLY, TOTALLY, RECOMMEND THIS SPOT!!! Anyone else who disagrees with me can go F#CK OFF! Here's why... I grabbed my order of 4 dozen empanadas at like really late on Saturday night (it's Wednesday right now) so it was recent. So, I took them to the airport (that's Los Angeles LAX Airport) and then I shared them with 10 flight attendants onboard my flight to Atlanta... with RAVE REVIEWS, BTW!!!! And then of course, I had one more flight into Jacksonville, and then it was like an hour before my Uber picked me up at the airport and then it was like maybe another 45 minutes to my friend's house... The point of saying all of this is those damn empanadas were so f#CKING moist, tasty, delicious, well-seasoned, like, total wow moment!!!! Can you imagine how surprised me and my friend were, knowing I had been hand carrying those empanadas across the United States of America and we were so amazed at how tasty they were, going through two plane rides, altitudes of 37,000' in an airplane cabin of dry air... a plane change (with a missed connection in Atlanta) like seriously, you b#tches better give this place 5 stars and don't be a cheap #SS and complain about prices. It's Los Angeles, not Hillbilly Kansas or something. LOL. Support this small business because it's all about being nice and supportive of our local business community. Oh, and this place was recommended to me by someone who recommended this place and this is how I even found this spot in the first place, so just listen to me and go here, or stay the F#CK HOME. ‍ read more

Rico’s Empanadas - Empanadas from Empanadas Venice / sitting at the bar at LAX Airport; yummy all day and all night long! - Empanadas Near Me - Venice, California

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Great cheap empanadas close to the Venice boardwalk. They have beef, chicken, or spinach and cheese. I highly recommend the beef though the chicken and spinach are also good. One of the most important things about a good empanadas place is how good their chimichurri sauce is-it's great here. If you're looking for a cheap but filling and delicious snack this is the place to go. Food is easy to carry and eat on the go but can get messy with the sauce. There also is very limited seating at the stall, maybe 4 seats between two tables max. Can also get pretty windy by the beach. If you love empanadas, check this place out! read more

Rico’s Empanadas - Empanadas Near Me - Venice, California

Best empanadas get the jalapenos and cheese the front worker at the time recommended (forgot to ask for their name) but their energy was everything and it was so worth it. My partner and I go here every year we visit Cali beaches. read more

Rico’s Empanadas - Empanadas Near Me - Venice, California

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