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The Empanada Spot

4.8 (450 reviews)
Closed • 6:00 am - 8:00 pm

Order The Empanada Spot Takeout or Delivery

The Empanada Spot Photos

Business Info

THE EMPANADA SPOT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed
Outdoor seating

Recommended Reviews - The Empanada Spot

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Reviews With Photos

Costilla De Puerco
Chloe C.

Really good stuff here! Wide selection with savory and sweet options, helpful service, and delicious food. The empanadas are freshly cooked and are super crunchy! The Costilla De Puerco is a little salty for my taste but the sweet empanadas take the house.

The Empanada Spot
Liz G.

Fantastic empanada spot!! I was greeted immediately when I walked in. I had the cheese pizza empanada and a pumpkin cheesecake one for dessert. I love that they have creative fillings for their empanadas. The cheese pizza empanada has all the best elements of a pizza slice, creamy cheese and a flavorful tomato sauce. I'll definitely be back for that one again! The pumpkin cheesecake empanada was ok; it definitely fits into the pumpkin spice season. Ambiance is fun and casual. They have a cool empanada mural if you're looking for that social media moment. Add The Empanada Spot to your foodie list. You won't regret it!

Quesobirria empanada - I didn't want the consummate to dip it in, but the dark red salsa is the better one for this flavor!
Ona R.

I wanted to try something new but also only get something that wasn't gonna be too heavy on my stomach and it did not disappoint with the quesobirria empanada and the churro cheesecake empanada. Since I dyed in both were brought to the table with the trio of salsa and the red one that's a little chunky was my favorite. A gentleman offered me a bottle of water cause he said this also might be a little hot and that was very kind of him. Both the empanadas came out fresh, hot and we peer deliciousness. The crust on the outside was amazing just like both of the feelings. The quesobirria was delicious and the meat was well seasoned- I will definitely have to make that a frequent stop when I'm in the area either for sweet treat or something savory. It's a nice little establishment with some tables on the inside and some chairs on the outside.

Birria empanadas
Daniel A.

First time trying The Empanada Spot. I think they had a good selection of regular and desert empanadas. My favorites were the quesabirria and pepperoni empanadas. The consome that you do need to buy separately is pretty decent and the pepperoni empanada tasted just like a hot pocket but better. I think the prices, $4.75 each, is high considering the size but overall I would come back to try other flavors.

churro
Brianna B.

As an empanada obsesionada this spot had been on my radar for a while, I just never got around to actually stopping by. It was recomended by many and I understand it now because I am now telling you to go and try it for yourself. The highlight of the show for me was rhe Rajas con Queso & Corn! O.M.G The bean and cheese was good and the dessert ones were good as well. The churro one was delish! The service was quick, the food came out hot and fresh. We went later in the day so there was ample seating available. The salsas they give you all 10/10. The agua de piña was a 1000/10. Because I participate in Lent I only got to try the non-meat options. Once I am able to, I want to go back and try all their other ones and update my rating to reflect my experience with more of their empanadas. Happy Eating!

Best empanadas I've had, Costilla De Puerco, bean & cheese are my favs & get that Birria Broth to dip them in it's real good
Andy M.

Best Empanadas in SD hands down! Chile De Puerco is my fav but don't sleep on the Bean & Cheese especially when you dip it in the Birria broth they have. Birria De Queso also good, the Chicharron one is a hit too, especially with the Nana & Tatas, so bring them they'll love it, they have that old school Mexican flavor the Chicharon, Chile De Puerco & Bean one. They have others that I plan to try & a nice mix & match special if you buy a dozen. The taste to the empanadas is amazing with the breading baked to a perfect crisp & always fresh. The salsas they have are fire! Desserts/sweets they have are good too. It's a cute little shop with a few tables inside & out with a lot of parking. The customer service is very good, friendly, fast & polite. They actually gave me 2 Chile De Puerco by accident instead of one being the bean & cheese one but it was ok I ate it & went up to buy the bean one she nicely said another one? I said oh no you guys mistakenly gave me 2 Puerco ones but it's ok it's my fav so I ate it. She smiled & said, it's ok this one is on us & I'm sorry. Now that's great customer service. Me & the fam plan to come back for sure, they have loyal customers in us. And a tip, they have a great new Coffee Shop next door so you can buy & have some coffee with your amazing Empanadas, see you soon Empanada Spot.

Michelle P.

* Fast service * Great service * Tasty food *causal ambiance This is a hidden gem in Chula Vista! I've been here a few times and the empanadas are always fresh and made to order. They also have more options now compared to the last time I visited especially more dessert flavors, which has me excited to come back and try more. Today we tried the rajas con queso, chipotle chicken, are super cheesy and the churro cheesecake (a must-try ). and flavorful! Just a heads up they come out SUPER hot, so be careful on that first bite . The spot is clean and there's plenty of parking. FYI as for napkins! Definitely recommend if you're in the area!

Hot sauce was amazing
Eric S.

Pulled up to this empanada spot with 2 of my homies. These empanadas were crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside the kind where you gotta pause mid-bite and say Ggggyyyaaaaat! We ordered the dozen option (pro tip) so everyone got 4 each, and honestly that's the move. Perfect for sampling without fighting your friends over the last one. They also give you hot salsa/sauces if you eat there. I got the Birria, pot pie, OG and Churro empanada. I love that there are hella options, so no matter your vibe savory, cheesy, sweet you're covered. Everything came out hot, fresh, and cooked right. See ya soon!

Birria empanadas
Tracey L.

Stoped here on our way to Sesame Street place seen the good reviews. First the customer service was good but once I asked for my console dip for my birria empanada I was told I didn't order one which I did. Then I bit into the Birria empanada there was this black plastic inside. Also my Reese's empanada was nothing but peanut butter I was told it came with chocolate as well what a waste of $35

Chicken pot pie-delish!
C C.

Amazing empanadas! I had the chicken pot pie. The chicken was tender, the filling was creamy, crust was crispy on the outside and flaky inside. Everything was hot and tasty! Accompanied by 3 salsas, my fav was tomatillos. Great quality for such a tiny spot. Love the artwork.

John A.

Came out with the wife and in-laws for some breakfast. Very good empanadas. Chill vibes & good service. Salsas are always good.....

Silvano G.

The Empanada Spot is literally the spot for empanadas! The make them per order so you know it's fresh and hot! Service was good order taker was helpful and friendly! Ambiance was good. Enough space to sit and eat a dozen if you dare! Check them out and get the chicharrón one!

Chicharron empanada
Jose A.

The chicharron empanadas was tasty and crunchy even after the drive home in a hot steamy box. The cashier who attended to me in the morning was friendly and polite. I rate places by asking myself would I go back, and the answer is no! For $5.17 for a tiny empanada that's pretty much high way robbery! Not worth it in my books.

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2 months ago

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1 month ago

I love this place super friendly, kind hearted people great food super clean I will keep coming back

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7 months ago

the empanadas was crispy and good. The OG i didn't enjoy at all. Service was quick and multiple salsas.

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The Empanada Spot Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - The Empanada Spot

Vogue Tavern - Sausage party!!!

Vogue Tavern

4.3(316 reviews)
2.5 mi
•$$
Locally owned & operated
5 years in business

I just had to come back and give you guys a HUGE shout-out because you have officially redeemed…read moreyourselves! I was previously complaining about those sad, crappy tater tots you guys started serving. I mean... I was concerned. I was disappointed. I may have questioned our entire relationship. But we stopped by for dinner last week and, to our absolute delight, discovered that the GOOD tater tots are BACK! And then you went and added those new potato balls?!? Those things are the effing bomb! Seriously, whoever came up with those deserves a raise. So, I owe you guys an apology for all the tater-tot negativity. I'm going to see if I can find my old post and delete it because you guys have officially gotten back in my good graces. Well played. Welcome back to the tater-tot Hall of Fame.

Decided to try their happy hour deals here. We tried the michelada ($5), pretzel bites ($5), &…read moresausage party ($20). They had pretty good deals to offer. Michelada was decent tasting. We didn't realize the sausage party already included pretzel bites so we had double the amount of pretzels, our server failed to mention this to us. The food was unfortunately extra greasy, we felt so sick with all the grease that we couldn't finish it. The "pretzel" bites tasted like slices bread soaked in oil. The sausages were also all covered in oil. I would not have paid regular price for this food. Aside from that, staff was super nice. I just think they could improve on the amount of oil they use in their food!

Photos
Vogue Tavern - Large bavarian pretzel dippy dipped!

Large bavarian pretzel dippy dipped!

Vogue Tavern - Onion rings hot and crunchy

Onion rings hot and crunchy

Vogue Tavern - Stack o' burgers

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Stack o' burgers

Burger Kook - Spread

Burger Kook

4.7(199 reviews)
4.9 mi
•$$

Good food, great people and amazing service? Sign me up. We…read morefinally stopped by Burger Kook and have officially became Kooks ourselves. The quality of the food is unbeatable. We met up with some friends to give them a try and we left happy and wanting to go back. The owners and employees were also so sweet and friendly! The best part is that even though we ate burgers and fries, we left not feeling bloated and groggy from the food. Which is something that sticks with me. We also enjoyed our food so much I may have forgotten to take pictures...so updated pictures next time we go!

Look dude, the vibes of this place are immaculate. It's a super cute diy skate shack homey vibe…read morethat I LOVE. I used to drive almost an hour to Encinitas on special occasions for my favorite burger but then this place opened up and I could cry with joy. Burger kook is now my favorite burger. Hands down. No contest. Forget hodads, forget tanners, forget hamburger hut & any other laid back burger joint - THIS place is where it's at. And not to mention the owner and the people that work there. Truly positive and welcoming people. I legit feel like I've been low key welcomed into the family every time. It feels like it's not just an establishment that they decided to open, but it's a passion project that they actually enjoy. There's a uniqueness to this place that I hope they never lose as they get more successful. Basically I'm saying this place is a 10/10 and you should absolutely go!

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Burger Kook - Merch!

Merch!

Burger Kook - Strawberry Cheesecake Milkshake

Strawberry Cheesecake Milkshake

Burger Kook - Dining tables

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Dining tables

Banh Mi Paris Express - Crispy Pork Belly Sandwich

Banh Mi Paris Express

4.5(175 reviews)
2.6 mi
•$$
Family-owned & operated
16 years in business

We've ordered their number one Banh Mi sandwich: Bánh Mì Đặc biệt - their House Special "featuring…read morebuttery whipped mayo, chicken liver pâté, two types of ham, pickled carrot, daikon, cilantro, jalapeño, with their signature soy sauce." We really enjoyed their #1 Banh Mi sandwich, which was fresh, tasty, and surprisingly healthy, with such a satisfying crunch. The sandwich meat wasn't fatty at all, thank goodness. The sandwich was reasonably priced at around $8 with tax, and it was such a refreshing meal for my boyfriend & me to enjoy in the middle of the summer heat. Not only was our House Special sandwich prepared and served quickly; we originally thought that our House Sprcial Bánh Mi was going be served warm. We were very satisfied with trying their sandwiches for our very firs time! I also noticed that Banh Mi Paris Express also carried to-go drinks, chiken egg rolls and other ready-to-go foods, which makes it especially convenient for busy individuals and families who are always on the go! Forgot to take a photo of our sandwich! Make sure to give this place a try for lunch sometime soon, they typically close at 4pm. Head's up - * there's ample amount of free parking within this shopping plaza, which is such a relief.

I was super excited to try this spot as it's a banh mi spot I wouldn't have to drive 20+ mins for…read more I got this crispy pork belly banh mi and the cha lua banh mi. The crispy pork belly was indeed crispy even after a drive home. I just wished it had a little more flavor. The cha lua banh mi was decent, but I wasn't a fan of how they added 2 small cuts to make it look like there was more.

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Banh Mi Paris Express - House special $7.49

House special $7.49

Banh Mi Paris Express - For sale items

For sale items

Banh Mi Paris Express

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Classics Malt Shop - Western burger

Classics Malt Shop

4.8(1.7k reviews)
13.1 mi•Midway
•$$

5 STARS -- AN ABSOLUTE HIDDEN GEM!…read more I honestly can't say enough good things about Midway Classic Malt Shop! This was hands down one of the best dining experiences I've had in a long time, and I genuinely hope this place gets all the recognition and success it deserves! From the moment I called to ask about getting a medium-rare hamburger, I was treated with such genuine kindness and hospitality. And when I arrived, that same warmth carried through the entire experience. The whole team was absolutely amazing! Walking in felt like stepping into a small hometown diner where everybody knows everybody. You know those rare places where you immediately feel welcome, like you're part of the family? That's exactly what this place feels like. The atmosphere is charming, the restaurant is incredibly cute and clean, and the positive energy is contagious. And now, THE BURGER! I ordered my hamburger medium rare, and WOW, did they deliver! Cooked exactly how I requested, absolutely delicious, and genuinely one of the best hamburgers I've had in a VERY long time. You can tell there's real care going into the food. But what really made this experience special wasn't just the incredible burger. It was the people. The kindness, the smiles, the hospitality, and the genuine sense of community. You simply don't find that everywhere anymore. I'm a huge believer in supporting small businesses that truly care about their customers, and Midway Classic Malt Shop is exactly the kind of place that deserves our support. To the entire team: THANK YOU! You turned a simple lunch into an experience that genuinely made my day. I walked in hungry and left with a full stomach and an even bigger smile. If you're in the Midway area, do yourself a favor and stop by. Skip the big chains and give this local gem a chance. You'll be glad you did! I'll absolutely be back, and I'll be telling everyone I know about this place! Five stars aren't enough!

Over Labor Day Weekend Our experience here was outstanding…read morewith my little family we were extremely exhausted from the horrible experience at Sea world. Kids were fussy and we were starving. I have to say the owner and employees were so nice to us. Talked to the kids and even gave them free drinks the Philly cheesesteak was one of the best I've ever had in my life the fries and onion rings etc were so good. We appreciate you so much for making us feel welcome in your establishment even with our kids acting up this will be our go to place everytime we come to Cali for sure. Thank from Theo and his little family. Our little Tj gave you knuckles saying potato and French fries. It's a nice little diner atmosphere which we loved it's so family friendly and welcoming. Thank you again

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Classics Malt Shop - Main area.

Main area.

Classics Malt Shop
Classics Malt Shop - Vanilla 'soon To Be Famous' Malts And Shakes

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Vanilla 'soon To Be Famous' Malts And Shakes

Urbane Cafe - Chimichurri Steak Sandwich

Urbane Cafe

4.4(162 reviews)
4.6 mi
•$$

They might have good food, don't know... but what I do know is that I was given the middle finger…read moreby one of their employees in the parking lot, so that's cool. edit: Emailed guest services, thank you for reaching out.

On Monday 9/28/26 at 8:35pm, I received news my fiancées mom has a poor prognosis for her cancer. I…read morecouldn't find the energy to cook, so I decided to go where the food is good, healthy and affordable. I drove to Urbane Cafe. My favorite is a Baja bowl and the young cashier asked me, for here or to go? I said for here. She said "I've already selected it to-go but can you eat it here?" I said, can it please be for here? She cancelled the transaction and reordered it, so I assumed she had corrected it to have my meal in peace at the restaurant. My food arrives in a paper plate, with a lid, and bread in an aluminum foil. I'm from Ventura, CA. Urbane Cafe is my comfort food. I've been going here for years and it shocked me to know that I couldn't have my meal in a proper plate. Promptly, I called Armando over, the manager, and I asked him, "is there a cut-off time where customers cannot eat for here?" He answered, "no there isn't. Do you want me to make it for here?" I shook my head and I replied, "I already told the cashier, and it seems like she still chose to make my food to go. That's not okay" He apologizes and walks away. I wanted to brush it off until the family next to me gets their food. It's served, again, with paper plates but this time with no lids. I couldn't help, but ask the family and they confirmed that they also asked to have their meal for here. So I immediately recognize, this is a management problem. I walk to Armando, introduce myself, shake his hand, and I confront him and ask "I thought you said there was no cut off time for people to have their meals here, why are you serving paper plates to the guests?" He answered, it's because we are closing and so that the dishwasher doesn't have dishes to wash. I asked "is this a new protocol?" And Armando, said no it's just for tonight. To the general manager: when someone is having a bad day, people go where they know there will be at peace. The peace comes from the safety of knowing what you will expect. Because of the laziness, lack of leadership and poor work ethic at this store, it breaks the trust of those who rely on the high standards that Urbane Cafe has worked so hard to uphold. Since my food was already made to go, I was not welcomed to stay so I left. Might as well have to gone to The Habit next door.

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Urbane Cafe - Seared Ahi Tuna Bowl

Seared Ahi Tuna Bowl

Urbane Cafe - Power Veggie Salad

Power Veggie Salad

Urbane Cafe - Cilantro Chicken Salad

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Cilantro Chicken Salad

The Empanada Spot - empanadas - Updated October 2026

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