I had my hopes high up and come to find out the owner is from South America but the empanadas are unlike any I had in Chile, Argentina or Peru Place looks dated and in need of remodeling to make it look clean and inviting, sorry just not my type of empanadas, the filling doesn't show top ingredients and I understand she has to make a buck but I rather go for high end flavor and presentation Not going back. They sell the frozen empanadas but I can see myself eating the same thing after two weeks in the freezer read more

I actually visited this place before months ago, but was called away before I was able to order any food. So today I took the opportunity to drop in to try a couple of selections that I have been wondering about. I give them an A+ for customer service. The waitress and waiting staff were very polite and eager to accommodate dear customers in every way. I saw the cook come out from behind the kitchen and greet. I love the customers and checking in to make sure that everyone was satisfied with their meals. I ordered a sweet corn Arepa as well as the pork & cheese Pupusa. They were quite excellent to my taste buds, although I had never experienced having them before. They even provided me with a nice selection of spicy condiments that I thoroughly enjoyed as well...heyyy, what can I say...I'm a spicy kind of fellow, ya know. (Smiles) The restaurant is spacious with an adjoining room off to the side. Very clean with a very interesting mural hand painted on the wall. I considered it really nice artwork. I enjoyed my time there. I surmised from observing the customers responses; the food seem to be pretty authentic, judging from their conversations with the chef. read more

See all

First of all, I felt welcome and comfortable as soon as I walked in the door and throughout my visit. This restaurant has that lovely authentic (and clean) vibe to it. I ordered chicken and beef empanadas with a side of rice and beans. I'm not going to give a review of the empanadas, because I just think i'm not an empanada- loving person... So I don't consider myself an authority. The rice and beans were magical... The rice in particular. I've NEVER seen a rice so fluffy and fun to eat. There are fun peas and carrots in there too. And mixed with those delicious beans, it's just a delicious treat...for $2.99! Actually, with my small appetite, I could make a meal of just the rice and bean side. I'll go back for sure. They have other offerings besides empanadas like chicken wings and quesadillas. read more

Sarah's Empanadas - Empanadas Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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

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. read more

Sarah's Empanadas - Wall menu - Empanadas Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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. read more

See all

Sarah's Empanadas never misses. Warm, fast, genuinely kind service and some of the best empanadas and arepas. Fresh, flavorful, affordable, and consistently excellent! The corn & cheese, spinach, and spicy empanadas are some of my favorites. The arepas are just as good. You can even buy frozen empanadas and bake them at home, don't forget to add the spicy chipotle sauce to your order. Love this place! read more

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! read more

Sarah's Empanadas - a hand holding a piece of empanada - Empanadas Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This place is great! The man taking our order was very friendly and helpful. Additionally, the ordering process is very easy (they have menus as soon as you walk in and you go to the counter to order) and the a la carte or combo options make it easy to try whatever you'd like. I would recommend one empanada and 2 sides or 2 empanadas and 1 side. The star of my order was the pork arepa. It was more of a pancake shape than a traditional arepa, but tasted the same and was incredible! The staff consistently came by to see if we needed anything. The food is also very affordable, especially in today's economy. read more

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. read more

See all

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! read more

See all

I'm SO glad you are now open till 8pm, I never come into the shopping center except for the Indian food & I love your empanadas & juice! I think I'm an original customer from the very beginning when I worked nearby & always came for lunch! read more

Omg so good. I ordered the vegan empanada which was savory with a curry feel and the plantain arepa which was a little sweet. I can't decide which one I liked more. I ate every bit of them. Will def come back read more

I LOVE baked empanadas. Very few empanada spots fill and bake them correctly. Sarah's empanadas hits it out of the park. They're the best empanadas in the area by far of all that I've tried--and I've tried a lot. Don't miss out on this spot! read more

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! read more

Sarah's Empanadas - Corn and Cheese Empanada - Empanadas Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

best tasting empanadas and yucca fries. deserves so much recognition ! they're also super nice and they used to have this cool seating area! excited to see what they add next. read more

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! read more

See all

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. read more

Sarah's Empanadas - Steak and Chicken Empanada - Empanadas Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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. read more

See all

Oh, the seven lost years before I found this place! How on earth have I missed this, when I've been innumerable times to this shopping center? I even have had dental implants done nearby! This is everything you want in a local restaurant -- lovely, friendly owners (it's a family-run business), delicious food, charming cultural atmosphere with a few crafts to buy, and a bit of outdoor seating. I had the 2 empanadas + side combo and it was a bargain at around $13 with a drink. The broccoli-cheese empanada was gooey and cheesy....not much broccoli but who cares? It was delicious. The crust held the cheesy goodness in without getting soggy, but wasn't at all too thick or heavy. Empanada perfection. The NC pork was lean but tender and savory. Absolutely delicious. The yellow rice seemed a bit bland, but I got it as half rice and half beans and the combination was perfect. I can't wait to go back and try more! read more

So, it only took me 3 years of living in the area, going to that exact DMV (because DMV's are confusing and this shopping location is the only one I trust), and passing by while driving in my car hungry, to make this day happen. It finally HAPPENED. Picture this: look at your hand while it's in a fist. Now, open it up and stretch your fingers without straining. That's how big their empanadas are! Size matters... or so I think it does for empanadas. The man who looked like he owns the place was actually just a worker, darn. He gave good recommendations because I obvs can't read a menu. Ordered the combo 2 empanadas with a side. Dos Taquitos was BANGIN bro! The pork in the cubano tasted bland, and overall it wasn't that great to me. The Yuca fries were dope. I'd get it again although I've had it in the past and my taste buds have wiped its database for its taste. Their passion fruit drink was tasty! I'd recommend it. Covid: they enforce wearing masks, have hand sanitizers, and the employees themselves wear mask, even the ones in the back! Bottom line: empanadas, get the Dos Taquitos. I don't know what else I'd recommend, maybe get 2 instead of one Dos Taquitos and LIVE UP TO ITS NAME, because I failed to. P.S. if you were wondering what taquitos actually are, remember when you walk into those gas stations with hot dogs and they have this fried roll next to it? Yeah, that's it :) read more

Sarah's Empanadas - Daily fresh juice Passion Fruit low on the juice - Empanadas Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

Great food Good environment and very nice & kind employees I will be coming back!!!!! read more

Love this place! Service is friendly and quick. So far I tried the following empenadas: - Chicken & cheese - Beef & cheese - Spicy cheese - Mushroom - Spinach - Guava cheese - Apple cinnamon (has raisins in it) Everything was delicious but my absolute favorite is the spicy cheese one. The spinach and mushroom ones have a great flavor but they do get soggy unfortunately. If it's your first time, make sure you give the desert empanadas a try. The apple one is amazing! Definitely coming back to try the arepas and other items on the menu. read more

If you would like to get the best empanadas look no further, you HAVE to try Sarah's. They are amazingly tasty! Quiet frankly they were the best I'd had. The salsa and chipotle sauce topped it off too. And if you're hungry, No worries, they are filled to the rim w/lots of chicken, spinach, and cheese. And the price of each is well worth the $ at a meager $3.95 each. This was our first visit and I'll definitely be back!!! Thank you Sarah :) LOL read more

Sarah's Empanadas - Spinach n Cheese, Chicken n Cheese Empanadas - Empanadas Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I wish I could review the food. I can't because no one ever took our order. We sat with menus in front of us and sat and sat. The table next to us was served and we thought, "Finally!" Nope. Without making eye contact, the server turned and started clearing another table. Mind you, there were other empty tables and no one was waiting for it. We left. The End read more

I have no idea how I've never written a review for this place. It's so close to our house and one of our favorite lunch take out. One of these days I'll snap a picture of our meal before we all jump in like vultures! Favorites: beef and cheese, Columbian beef, cubano, dos taquitos, and the arepas. We always order the 2 empanadas with 1 side, usually getting Maduro/plantain or rice and beans. We always order too much so we can enjoy a wide variety. I love that they have weekly specials and every time we order them they're great. The salsa they provide is awesome to pair with the empanadas and to enjoy leftover with chips. The only downside is that they're only open for lunch Mon-Fri. That has been the one upside of working from home, I've been able to enjoy more empanadas! read more

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

I came here for a quick business lunch, and was initially surprised how busy it was. After sampling their food and prices, I can see why! Its a lunch-only establishment located in a strip mall, specializing in Bolivia-style empanadas, which are baked pastries filled with goodies similar to Italian calzones. Their menu is pretty limited in the style of empanadas; however they definitely execute their dishes well. I got two: chicken & cheese and broccoli & cheese. Both had a nice hot and flaky crust and very rich and flavorful fillings. It tasted even better with adding a dab if their red sauce for some extra kick. I got one side: 1/2 rice and 1/2 beans - excellent dish with soft beans and rice. The gravy really added good flavors. Everything was well balanced in terms of saltiness. Highly recommend this place for a quick, light lunch. 4 stars! read more

Sarah's Empanadas - 2 empanadas (chicken & cheese; broccoli and cheese) with 1/2 beans and 1/2 rice for side - Empanadas Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Excellent empanadas and friendly service. I used to eat lunch there when I worked in RTP. I still make the 20 min trip out there to pick up several beef empanadas. The olives, raisins, spices make them very tasty. I freeze them so I always have some available. They're the real deal. read more

Awesome homemade, delicious and authentic empanadas. This is THE place to go. These are, hands down, the best empanadas I've ever had stateside. read more

Their food is good, but this last time I waited almost 40 minutes for a takeout order. Normally the wait is fine, but it's not worth the risk, so i doubt i'll ever come back. read more

This place stays BUSY from the moment they are open and even before they open! I called them in order to get a take out order for my family and they had several orders ahead of me but still got me my food on time. The dishes are simple and done very well! I love everything on their menu and wish they were open in several locations because they would definitely do well based on how business is! Business hours are only during the week day and during lunch but the sheer volume of people who support this business during that limited time are a true testimony of how great the food is! read more

The empanadas were incredibly dry with minimal filling. They were also very small compared to other establishments and authentic empanadas. Service was standard but very poor quality and quantity for the price. read more

Only open over the extended lunch hours, which works for me as that is what I'm looking for. If the place is packed, service will be a bit slow to get to you but once they get to you things move quickly from there. They have some 'traditional' and 'fancy filling' ones and so far each I've tried has been great. There are options to get some frozen ones and bring them home to heat yourself, great option and better than any frozen thing in the store. Better to beat the lunch rush if your'e in a hurry but worth it. The salsa served with it has a nice kick to it but isn't too overpowering. read more

Stopped for lunch with a large party. We thought we had arrived prior to the lunch rush, but the place was already very busy. A few of the varieties of Empanadas were not available on an already short menu, making the lunch selection very limited. The food was pretty good. The service was okay. I would probably return if asked to go with a group of co-workers again. read more

I've noticed this place the few times I've been to this strip mall to visit other businesses, and I'm SO glad I finally tried it out. I got the 2 empanadas and 1 side combo. I had 1 steak empanada, 1 chicken, and 1/2 rice 1/2 beans. Everything was delicious and I loved the sauces that came with the empanadas. The service was quick, the employees were friendly, and I'll definitely be back. read more

Maybe I'm spoiled by Calavera, but these empanadas were not tasty. For one they are way too dry, and it seems like the only remedy to that is to order it with cheese, but then all you taste is the cheese. They give you a sauce that helps but again, I want to taste the empanada and not just the sauce! Plus there isn't much variety, only a few choices to pick from. The rice and beans was the most unflavorful I've had in a long time. And the creepy old guy staring you down as you eat doesn't help either. I won't be back. read more

Sarah's Empanadas - Empanadas Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

What a wonderful discovery! Found this place while getting tags at the DMV and decided to stop in for lunch. The place has so much charm and everything sounded delicious. The man behind the counter was friendly and gave us some great suggestions on popular items. The beef and cheese and chicken empanada, along with the plantains and yuca were delicious! Two empanadas and a side is a substantial sized lunch for one person, you will definitely be full. The price, food and service all lined up for a 5 star review for this hidden gem! read more

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

So wanted to love this place. Beautifully unique decor and friendly service. However wasn't really impressed with the food. Tried both the beef and chicken empanadas. Chicken was more flavorful than the beef but both just felt lacking. Filling consistency was just weird. Rice and beans as a side added nothing to the meal. Also tried the pupusa...where was the curtido my friends? Best thing we ate was the plantain arepa but again not much to say sadly. read more