DiningBuzz! - empanadas in the US

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Where can one find good ones?

Alex,, are we talking entire U.S.?? As far as NYC is concerned there are a few mediocre places but I wait until I get back to Baires.

Don't remember the name but it was on Roosevelt Ave. in Queens at a Columbian place.

But then what kind are you asking about sweet, savory...so many kinds for such a simple question.

http://www.manolospizza.com/ (estilo argentino) - Urbana, IL

http://www.yelp.com/biz/chile-lindo-san-francisco (estilo chileno) San Francisco

There used to be a smallish local chain in the Los Angeles area that a friend of mine from Misiones liked to patronise. One location was just off I-5 north of the airport.

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Alex,, are we talking entire U.S.?? As far as NYC is concerned there are a few mediocre places but I wait until I get back to Baires.

In NYC, there was once a joint in Hells Kitchen that had proper empanadas... but I think they are no more... :(

I tried a few from Mexican bakeries in NorCal, but they didn't hold a candle to what you get locally. I wouldn't bother unless the store indicated a connection to Argentina. Nothing like that within 50 miles of where I live (I could make that statement about a lot of things, though).

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I tried a few from Mexican bakeries in NorCal, but they didn't hold a candle to what you get locally. I wouldn't bother unless the store indicated a connection to Argentina. Nothing like that within 50 miles of where I live (I could make that statement about a lot of things, though).

Im surprised the Mexican connection is no good... Ive had some good empanadas in the Santa Fe area of el DF...

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Where can one find good ones?

Where have you looked?

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Where can one find good ones?

Where have you looked?

Only in NYC...

We have a really good place on the Westside of LA:

Empanada's Place - Argentinian Food
3811 Sawtelle Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90066

It may be the same place YVR Cockroach was referring to if by airport he meant LAX (Empanada's Place is just off the 405 just south of Venice Blvd).

We have a really good place on the Westside of LA:

Empanada's Place - Argentinian Food
3811 Sawtelle Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90066

It may be the same place YVR Cockroach was referring to if by airport he meant LAX (Empanada's Place is just off the 405 just south of Venice Blvd).

Location seems familiar but it's been years since I went there.

Best ones I have tried are close to home at http://www.empanadaman.com/

Can you elaborate on which empanadas you are referring to?

Spain has several versions, but the most famous of these are the empanadas gallegas and as the Galicians are amongst the most travelled of all the Spaniards I wouldn't be surprised if their versions have influenced the empanadas in Argentina and other parts of South America.

Whoever made this webpage is obviously a bit of an empanada connoisseur
http://www.spanishnewyork.com/spanish-restaurants-in-new-york.html
and amongst the recommendations are lots of mentions of empanadas with comments on those that are good and those that are best avoided.
Out of the suggestions I'd be swayed by:
Costa del Sol
369 West 50th Street, New York
(212) 541-8382
Which specifically mentions Empanada Gallega (which should be ordered in advance) and that the owner is from Galicia. Both of these are a good sign.

I'm very partial to the empanadas from Alicante (particularly those with 'pisto' and with pisto and tuna). For my wedding reception I asked an aunt to bring a selection from Spain with her... delicious! And didn't last long at all. I've no idea where you'd get anything as nice as those in London.

My wife swears by a place in Boston but I have no idea the name or the location. Best I can do is remember that its on the green line somewhere. I'll try to find a name and report back.

Fruit-filled empanadas are widely available throughout much of the US Southwest in Ethnic Mexican bakeries and in the bakery sections of large supermarkets in communities with sizable Hispanic populations. Then there's CubanoFlorida", home of the guava empanada, the finger food of the Gods.

Here we see pineapple, pumpkin, apple, peach, occasionally mango, even cherry (a Gringo flavor). I recall one nearby bakery in which the empanadas and the kolaces occupy adjoining display case position.

A blow for cultural diversity!

We have a really good place on the Westside of LA:

Empanada's Place - Argentinian Food
3811 Sawtelle Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90066

It may be the same place YVR Cockroach was referring to if by airport he meant LAX (Empanada's Place is just off the 405 just south of Venice Blvd).

Yeah, but the FRY their empanadas, which isn't the same. I won't mention that they charge $3 for sauce...but I did.

Other So Cal Places:

Rincon Aregentino
1375 E Colorado Blvd
Glendale, CA 91205
(good masa, kind of bland fillings, and no sauce provided)

Grand Casino Bakery
3826 Main St
Culver City, CA 90232
(freshly made, can't give too much comment)

Miami Airport:

The empanadas (savory and sweet) at La Carreta/Cafe Versailles stands are cheap and fairly delicious.

I don't know much about Empanadas. But I've always been under the impression that these are part of Filipino cuisines? Or at least those are the only ones I know of.

I don't know much about Empanadas. But I've always been under the impression that these are part of Filipino cuisines? Or at least those are the only ones I know of.

Empanada just means "embreaded" i.e. sealed in bread/pastry. It's just like using the word "pie" in Castilian/Spanish.

Originally this word came from Spain (and even there there are different kinds of empanadas) but the Spanish empire was pretty extensive. So, yes, it's almost inevitable that empanadas would have been eaten in the Philippines and adopted and adapted there.

That's why it would be nice if el señor OP would actually tell us what he actually means when he uses the word "empanada" :p

Gaucho100K can also find pretty decent empanadas in Los Angeles at Mercado Buenos Aires in Van Nuys on Sepulveda Blvd., baked....not fried. In fact, the Argentine folks I know all swear by the place as the best food outside of their own country.

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I don't know much about Empanadas. But I've always been under the impression that these are part of Filipino cuisines? Or at least those are the only ones I know of.

Empanada just means "embreaded" i.e. sealed in bread/pastry. It's just like using the word "pie" in Castilian/Spanish.

Originally this word came from Spain (and even there there are different kinds of empanadas) but the Spanish empire was pretty extensive. So, yes, it's almost inevitable that empanadas would have been eaten in the Philippines and adopted and adapted there.

That's why it would be nice if el señor OP would actually tell us what he actually means when he uses the word "empanada" :p

One can play the semantics game all you want but pie or no pie, there is in reality only one empanada.

One can play the semantics game all you want but pie or no pie, there is in reality only one empanada.

:confused: And I still have no idea what that one kind of empanada you are referring to is.

A shame, I was hoping to actually learn something on this thread.

Empanada Mama on 9th Avenue between 50th and 51st in NYC is decent. Their traditional empanadas are better than their "Americanized" ones, in my opinion. Really like the pernil.

Julia's Empanadas (http://juliasempanadas.com/) keeps the DC region well-supplied.

I'm not fond of the fruit ones (too sweet), but the meat and vegetable ones are pretty good.

Not too far from Ontario Airport (ONT):

TANGO BAIRES CAFE (http://www.tangobairescafe.com/)
870 East Foothill Blvd. #2
Upland, CA 91786-4047
Tel: (909) 985-6800

Not too far from Ontario Airport (ONT):

TANGO BAIRES CAFE (http://www.tangobairescafe.com/)
870 East Foothill Blvd. #2
Upland, CA 91786-4047
Tel: (909) 985-6800

Hey that's not far from another place for good food (though not related to Empanadas):

BUCKBOARD BBQ (http://buckboardcatering.com/)
1386 E Foothill Blvd # M
Upland, CA 91786-4016
(909) 608-7393

Berta's Latin American Restaurant
on the edge of Old Town (park) in San Diego

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Julia's Empanadas (http://juliasempanadas.com/) keeps the DC region well-supplied.

I'm not fond of the fruit ones (too sweet), but the meat and vegetable ones are pretty good.

fruit empanadas....???

:eek:

lots of them in the miami area most are Cuban or Caribbean inspired, not a big fan of them personally, so I don't know where the best can be found.

fruit empanadas....???

:eek:
Also mentioned in post 16.

Before your extraordinary declaration of: "there is in reality only one empanada".

(And, generally, for the empanadas I know, you're not far off the mark - with an empanada there is often only one served (http://www.xic.cat/racons/1191949749.jpg), but in portions. It's empanadillas (http://www.pastelerialamurciana.es/img/salado%5Cempanadillacebolla.jpg) we have a few of. Now that's playing semantics.)

http://www.pastelerialamurciana.es/productos.php?idfamilia=4 It's going to be months before I can have a decent empanada/empanadilla :(:(:(
'Greggs (http://www.greggsthebakers.co.uk/products/product.php?ptid=1)' just doesn't do it for me...

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Im surprised the Mexican connection is no good... Ive had some good empanadas in the Santa Fe area of el DF...

It's because they were all fruit filled. I might as well order an apple pie at McDonald's.

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Im surprised the Mexican connection is no good... Ive had some good empanadas in the Santa Fe area of el DF...

It's because they were all fruit filled. I might as well order an apple pie at McDonald's.

agreed.... fruit has no business in empanadas!!

....agreed.... fruit has no business in empanadas!!

I disagree mightily. I've had some bad meat-filled empanadas in my time, but few capable of being used for door stoppers, the best fate for some Cornish pasties of my kin. I suspect that most fruit filled empanadas of North America owe their origin to Cuban cuisine, and indirectly to some Spanish ancestor. I've seen a couple of sources which claim that the SAmerican meat empanadas are not even of legitimate Spanish heritage, actually fomented by "Other" immigrants from Europe installing vestiges of their own cuisine.

Call'em pasties, empenadas, samosas, whatever, similar styles of "finger food" are found around the world, stuffed with everything from the noble to the noxious...

Ruben's Empanadas
505 Broome St
New York, NY 10013
(212) 334-3351

also;

If you are on the 400 block of Suriwongse Rd, Bangkok, Thailand and you walk down the block with the commercial Indian restaurant, being on your right....towards Silom Rd.....there is a fantastic Empanada shop on your right, halfway down the block on the right side. This is the actual factory that supplies other locations with this product daily. There are some very friendly ladies running this place....and they will even do your choice of mixtures for the next day.

I disagree mightily. I've had some bad meat-filled empanadas in my time, but few capable of being used for door stoppers, the best fate for some Cornish pasties of my kin. I suspect that most fruit filled empanadas of North America owe their origin to Cuban cuisine, and indirectly to some Spanish ancestor. I've seen a couple of sources which claim that the SAmerican meat empanadas are not even of legitimate Spanish heritage, actually fomented by "Other" immigrants from Europe installing vestiges of their own cuisine.

Call'em pasties, empenadas, samosas, whatever, similar styles of "finger food" are found around the world, stuffed with everything from the noble to the noxious...

Im not saying they cant be good... they are just not empanadas, no matter what twist you want to give it.