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Sarah's Empanadas

3.9 (150 reviews)
InexpensiveEmpanadas
Closed 10:00 am - 8:00 pm

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Wall menu

I haven't eaten here in a very long time. They have downsized since my last visit. It was primarily a sit down place. Now, it's primarily a carryout with a handful of tables. The Grubhub menu doesn't nearly cover the offerings. I would suggest on site ordering. The food was on time, hot and delicious.

inside
Melissa Z.

This spot is decorated so cute on the inside you would never be able to tell from the outside. It is located in a shopping center with other food spots and plenty of parking. The staff was really friendly and the menu was easy to read with plenty of options, even a vegan option. I ordered 3 empanadas online and it took about 15 minutes to come out for around $4 a piece. I got a chicken and cheese, broccoli and cheese, and spinach and cheese empanada. They were all filled to the brim with filling and VERY cheesy. The broccoli and cheese one was my favorite even though it was light on the broccoli. I would've preferred them to be a little heavier on the meat rather than the cheese but it was still great.

a hand holding a piece of empanada
Deja H.

Yum!! I love love love Sarah's Empanadas! I always order here for lunch. They are HUGE. The first time I ordered, I ordered 5 because I was under the impression they were small, but was impressed when I received my order and they were very large. In the photo, I held it in my hand so you can see the size! My favorite are the chicken empanadas. They're very juicy, meaty, and flavorful!

2 Empanada with 1 Side - Beef and cheese empanadas + rice and beans
Laiza H.

Go there for the empanadas! I love the Columbian ones (corn dough) and my favorite one is the Beef with potato. It's SO good! My husband loves the Beef and cheese empanadas and he used to come here often when he had to go in the office (before COVID). I also LOVE their passion fruit juice! And they have Brazilian soda (Guaraná) which is a plus! Last visit I decided to try their daily special and it was chicken croquettes, rice and salad for $9.95. The chicken was very dry. It came with 3 croquettes and I ate one and I didn't want the rest. The presentation was pretty but there was not much flavor and it was too dry. I ate the salad and some of the rice. So next visit I'll just stick to my usual order: empanadas. And I'll definitely be getting more passion fruit juice if available! I live in Wake Forest and I would drive there just for the juice and Columbian empanadas.

Natika G.

I was looking for something different and ended up here. It's located in a shopping plaza so there is plenty of parking. The inside is warm, colorful and tidy. I love all the cultural items they have on the walls. It seems to be a family business, service was excellent! Prices are reasonable...you can get two empanadas and a side for $10. They have a variety of combinations and flavors you can try! I tried the beef and cheese and the chicken with cheese. The beef was my favorite!

Corn and Cheese Empanada
Alison P.

The corn and cheese empanada was super cheese and a little sweet. The seating area is soooo cute and well decorated. I would love to try the rest of their flavors. Service was super fast and friendly!

Empanada combos
Onvara A.

My husband had previously been here and so I've wanted to try out Sarah's Empanadas for a while, but it was so tricky as they were always open just for lunch on weekdays! But I think they've changed their hours now so that they are open on Saturdays too. We managed to come by on one of our days off and had a delicious lunch here. Food was served very quickly, everything came out hot, and service was very friendly. We got the Pandebono appetizer - Colombian cheese bread made with cassava starch and a couple of empanada combos (2 empanadas + a side). For my empanadas, I got one of their specials (a Jamaican-style beef), the Mexican, and sweet plantains. He chose the Beef, the special (but chicken), and tostones. My favorite was the special empanada, both the beef and chicken. I'm not sure I would get the Pandebono again but it was tasty to try out! Everything was way more filling than I had anticipated. Overall a good experience!

Steak and Chicken Empanada
Ellice Mae S.

Great place for a quick snack! The chicken was delicious and steak was as well, however, the steak was lacking meat. So I would've liked to see more meat in the steak. However, still delicious.

How they keep the tables socially distanced
Glenn G.

This place has has been around for ages but it's only open for lunch on weekdays so I've never been here before. I've read good things about them and even saw them on a TV show. Finally was able to stop in after my car was serviced nearby. You order at the counter and they'll bring your order to you at a table. We sat outdoors since the weather was nice. It looks like they have plenty of authentic empanadas as well as some innovative fusion empanadas. I got a Colombian beef empanada and a one with shrimp and grits. Both were delicious, and I also enjoyed the special passion fruit drink they had that day. We also enjoyed how the set up decorations on indoor tables to keep people socially distanced. Very fun! Will need to come back and try their other items. We liked their fare better than another empanada place in Durham we tried.

Daily fresh juice Passion Fruit low on the juice

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3 months ago

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11 months ago

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7 months ago

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3 months ago

I had a takeout chicken and cheese empanada and it was perfect! Great quality and size for the price.

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2 years ago

Very authentic, flavorful, and fresh! Also awesome customer service! Will be back definitely

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10 years ago

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3 years ago

Freshly made empanadas. Best I have found in Raleigh-Durham area. Open up until 8pm. Highly recommend.

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Review Highlights - Sarah's Empanadas

Fast, fresh, tasty, inexpensive, different food, served by family members I have seen grow two decades older ...

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Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas - Pollo a La Brasa / Crispy Yuca Frites / Maduro

Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas

(690 reviews)

$$

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.

The empanadas, arepas and Luna Grain Bowl were awesome. We had their generous portions and…read moreperfectly seasoned chicken, pork and brisket with these. Their cocktails were also very good. Nice decor and vibe. Service was also good.

Makus Empanadas - Delivery from Makus Empanadas - 2 Sweet Corn Empanadas and a Chicken Empanada with sauce. (Jan 2025)

Makus Empanadas

(281 reviews)

$

| Overview + Good…read morevariety of empanada fillings to choose from with gluten free options + Texture of empanadas is fine - Size of empanada is ridiculously small - Slow & unfriendly customer service - Makus mostly serves empanadas (the rest of its menu are boring) - Not comfortable ambiance | Review After 3 years, I decided to give Makus another chance. I went to Makus in New Hope Commons, Durham in a Tuesday afternoon, and when I entered its lackluster ambiance with cheap-looking uncomfortable high chairs, I was surprised that there's not a single employee in the front. I saw about 2 of them in the back, seemingly preparing the empanadas. I was ready to order but no one was there to accept my order. I almost left Makus until I saw the bell on the concession with a notice saying, "NEED HELP? RING ME PLEASE!" I rang the bell once, no one came; I rang twice, finally, an employee! I ordered 2 beef empanadas & 1 ham & cheese empanada for a total of almost $13. There was only 1 customer before me, waiting for her order when I went. While I was waiting, the employee who was smoking earlier outside came in and just ignored me as he returned back to work in the back. At around 15 min. mark of waiting, an employee went to the front, holding a plastic with a small takeout box inside. I stood up and asked if my order was ready, the woman just nodded without saying a word, just cold and expressionless. Finally, after about 20 minutes of waiting just for 3 empanadas, the same woman handed me the plastic with my order. I thought they were busy preparing empanadas in the back. Why'd it take so long just to get 3 empanadas ready? Out of all the empanadas my girl & I have tried: Filipino-style, Ilocos-style & El Salvadorian style in the Sabor restaurant nearby, the empanadas in Makus are the smallest. Each empanada cost about $4 (a dozen for $47 - seriously, who would buy a dozen of these?). I'd be fine with this size if the empanadas are gourmet quality with astonishing fillings and flavors, but the taste was alright - nothing special, and definitely not worth $4 in our book. The good part was that the empanadas were not doughy, so the texture was fine. The sauce that came with it was alright, and the 1 small cup is just fine for 3 tiny empanadas. When I came home to eat the 3 empanadas with my girl, she asked me why I returned to Makus after we were disappointed in our first visit a few years ago. I said that I wanted to give it another chance. Now, I deeply regret this decision. | Overall Score: 1.2/5

Bottom line: This Durham location of Makus Empanadas provide tasty choices I enjoy for delivery…read morelately. The chicken filling and sweet corn filling are my two go-to varieties of these baked empanadas, each hitting the spot and delicious. I am a fan! The Deets: I've had the chance to enjoy meals from a few of the NC Triangle locations of Makus Empanadas. With this Durham location, I mainly utilize delivery to enjoy their empanadas lately. Even with them not being just around the corner from me, they arrive fairly warm and withstand the trip well. One of the draws for me in getting Makus Empanadas are they appear to be baked and not fried (don't get me wrong, I like fried empanadas as well!) and honestly they remind me of mini-versions of my grandmother's homemade fruit turnovers in appearance (a good thing). I usually order these light pockets of tasty goodness with their chicken filling or their sweet corn filling version. I find both pretty good, they hit the spot with chicken giving flavorful and needed protein with not being overly spicy while the sweet corn version being a delicious but not so heavy choice. They even identify which are each variety by initials baked in at the edge of the crust, pretty cool and no guessing. I am a fan and I will continue to keep this location of Makus Empanadas in my delivery meal rotation.

Guasaca - Shredded Beef Arepa - inside view

Guasaca

(378 reviews)

$

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.

Sabor Latin Street Grill

Sabor Latin Street Grill

(107 reviews)

$$

I came for lunch on a Wednesday and was warmly greeted when I entered. The service is very friendly…read moreand quick. I ordered a Sabor Especial Burrito with chorizo, and they definitely pack the chorizo with a good amount of spice, which I appreciate. The burrito also had rice, beans, lettuce, sour cream, pico, and guacamole. Good flavors and generous portions. It was very filling and reasonably priced for the size of the burrito. That's all I had for lunch and was very satisfied with the amount. It is a great location near the Southpoint area and parking was easy to find. There was plenty of indoor seating, the bathroom was clean, and the ambiance is very casual with TVs playing in the background. It's pretty kid- and family-friendly. Other items on the menu sounded interesting, so I hope to return and try more items on the menu.

I went here for lunch for lunch today-my first time coming in! My lil sister has been plenty of…read moretimes and recommended the spot and I'm so glad that we came in. It's not a very big space, great customer service when we walked up to order. My sister ordered the kids meal; a chicken quesadilla that came with a drink and she ordered a side of French fries. I ordered the birria taco meal and the they were delicious! I got myself a fountain drink and it came with some tortilla chips that were great. I loved the variety of options at the salsa bar. I thought they were very reasonably priced and I am looking forward to going back and trying more menu items. My sister even shared with me that they have a kids eat free night. Thank you for a great lunch experience!!!

Succotash Southern and Creole Kitchen - Chicken and sausage gumbo

Succotash Southern and Creole Kitchen

(150 reviews)

$$

Okay, We're from New Orleans so when we see a "New Orleans style" restaurant, we always question…read morethe authenticity of the claim. In the case of Succotash we feel we have found the holy grail... Friendly, knowledgeable waitstaff? check Homey and a little funky atmosphere? check cool soundtrack? check BUT what about the food? We first came for brunch... I had the 'Brisket and Grits'. It was a very tender brisket with cheesy, garlicky grits, scallions with fried egg. The best part? They drizzle some of the brisket gravy over the grits... Oh man this was delish. We got talking about South Louisiana food with our server and he told us they bring in Leidenheimers french bread from New Orleans for their po-boy's. What's the big deal? ...I'll tell you! The bakery was founded in 1896 and it is the ONLY bread that marks a true po-boy to New Orleans natives. Why? Because of it's unique texture. Their loaves have a pillowy soft interior and a crunchy crust that isn't found in most french breads. It's the gold standard for po-boys. So today, I came back to Succotash for an Oyster po-boy. And the Verdict? Five stars mon ami! Leidenheimers bread with a very generous amount of perfectly fried oysters. ...I like mine simple with just lettuce, tomato and a little hot sauce. This was I can honestly say, the very best oyster po-boy I have found outside of NOLA. ... so yeah, I've found a new home... thanks and a tip o' the hat to Chef Juan DiGiulio and the great staff he has brought together!

Succotash is a bit in the cut if you're not familiar with the area…read more I almost passed the restaurant. The staff was welcoming and gave suggestions when I asked. I enjoyed the catch of the day corvina with a side salad and potato's. This dish was delicious. I got the fish blackened and this was a bold flavor with a spicy and deep smoky flavor. I enjoyed the peach bread pudding for dessert with a decaf coffee. The bread pudding presentation and taste didn't match but I wasn't disappointed. Everything was great.

Sarah's Empanadas - empanadas - Updated May 2026

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