Lily K.

Such a great place for lunch or dinner! Great empanadas and more! Try the arroz con pollo. They sometimes have soup in the winter time. Located a couple of blocs off the light rail stop in downtown Mesa. A must try if you're looking for good food, fun & a cool place to hang out
(4)
Houston R.

Republica Empanada is one of my favorite spots anywhere. I love ALL the empanadas but especially the Boricua and the El Capitan! Their house green salsa on top of those beauties is a transcendent experience. Their pernil torta is incredible as well, as is the delicious Arroz con pollo. And you've got to try the maduros! (Sweet fried plantains) The restaurant on the inside is really fun with murals and a long bar table. It's so great to have such a fun spot here in Mesa. It's hard for my wife and I not to be there multiple times a week!
(5)
George L.

Hip little place within walking distance of the last stop on the new light rail extension to Mesa. The offer a wide variety of empanadas, which are little hand held pastries that have various fillings and are then fried. Good selection of beers in the bottle but nothing, thus far, on draft and that is something they may wan to consider, if they have room, as this is definitely beer friendly food. My friend and I also had the combo appetizer platter with both the fried ripe plantains and the smashed and fried green ones - came with some good good sour cream like dipping sauce but my favorite sauce was the spicy green sort of salsa like sauce - seemed to go good on everything. I finished the meal with the fig, cheese and caramel empanada - not quite as exciting as I thought it would be (I would prefer fig jam in it versus whole dried figs) but glad I got it with the ice cream. I'm not a big desert person so will probably stick with just the savory versus the sweet ones in the future. The best deal seems to be their Monday and Tuesday evening specials - any four beers and any four empanadas for only $20 - which is about a $30 discount when you take into account the beer at happy hour prices ($4 a bottle). I will definitely be back to this place - especially as the weather cools down and you can sit outside on their nice patio.; -)
(4)
Terry T.

I heart this place not just because it may be the only restaurant in metro Phoenix devoted to empanadas with dough that is so crispy and soft on the inside, but the owner is warm, friendly and just a really good guy. This place is only a block over from downtown Mesa's Main Street yet it feels so removed. It also at first glance appears not to be in the best neighborhood. The owner said there are quite a few halfway houses in the area. Still, instead of being intimidated by it, he offers a helping hand if needed. The place isn't that big but it's still an inviting space. That's in large part due to the repurposed wooden tables and the one long communal table. There are a couple of TVs but it doesn't feel like a sports bar. As for the food, I had a special--arroz Colombiano--which came with shrimp, sausage and slices of avocado and red bell pepper on a huge pile of rice. It was kind of oily but still tasty. I thoroughly enjoyed my chicken and beef empanadas. Two is plenty for one meal. But by far, my favorite was the dessert one--fig, mozzarella and dulce de leche. That one is worth miles and miles of exercise. Definitely do yourself a favor and get that if nothing else. The owner was flattered when I said I came all the way from central Phoenix, like it's super far. But he appreciated it because he knows there are a slew of choices closer to my home. I reassured him that I would be back!
(5)
Beth L.

Thank you Yelp for helping me find this gem! Surprisingly they were not busy when I went today at 12:45. I was seated right away and drinks order taken. The staff is so friendly. The service quick. Our order was out about ten minutes after placing it. Between my daughter and I we ordered five empenadas. Hawaiian, ham n cheese, jalepeno popper and el capitain. For dessert we had the nutella and banana. We were so excited to try the dessert that we dug in and forgot to take a picture. Darn it. But it was so good I highly recommend trying it. The shells were cooked to perfection. Light, golden and crispy. My favorite was jalepeno popper and Hawaiian. Great place. I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Brett B.

"I've never eaten a hot pocket and then afterwards been: I'm glad I ate that" -Jim G All you need to know, is that these palatable pouches are anything but the frozen snacks made infamous by Mr Gaffigan. J-WoW and I had been working up quite an appetite painting moonlit cherry blossoms, and wanted to pair our creative sides with a venue we'd never frequented... enter Yelp, which suggested this highly-ranked hideaway. I was relieved to see a nearly packed parking area, as our previous potential eaterly was kinda ghost-town'ish. J spotted a swanky hi-top, which suited me just fine... because the seats were 360 degree swivel! Is there a better way to annoy that obnoxious group of strangers, sitting to the left of you, who ordered "samples" of Malbec and Shiraz? Actually, I might try that sometime. Oh, and it gets hella LOUD in there, son. I looked like a fool with that waitress, yes, the one with the captivating red lipstain... after I referred to the cuisine as Cuban, or as I like to call it: Cuban-oh. The fare is actually Costa Rican, or as I like to call it: Chican-oh. Not knowing which of the appetizers to order, the waitress suggests the most expensive item, which I thought was a good choice. After a little pleading, and emotional breakdown, J decided to trade halfs of her empenadas for halfs of mine. That makes sense, until I realized I gave her both halves of my Pernil (slow roasted and specially seasoned pork). I tricked her into trading one half back, because she tried to offload both halves of her Republica Chicken (chicken, fresh vegs and seasonings), onto me. I saw how it burned her fingers after cutting it in half and picking it up. As the scalding liquid ran down her fair hand, she screamed out So don't change the dizzle, turn it up a lizzle Got some cheesy drizzle, drippin' on my shizzle All I could do was sit and stare. I was captivated by my lil G, J. I also ordered the Cubana (pernil, ham, mozzarella & dill pickle), which was fabulous (and J's favorite, even though she balked at first), and she also ordered the JalapeÃ±o Popper (cream cheese, grilled seeded jalapeÃ±os & salted ham). That oÃ±e was my favorite, eveÃ± though I Ã±ever order poppers aÃ±ywhere, maiÃ±ly because I can Ã±ever find the "n" key with the tilde, and that lack of autheÃ±ticity really cheapeÃ±s the review. "There is the vegetarian hot pocket, for those of us who dont want to eat meat, but would still like diarrhea." -Jim G Anywho... they also offer empenadas that dont contain meaty things. Choose the Greek (sauteed spinach, feta, sun dried tomato, kalamata olive), the Cheeze (asiago & mozzarella blend), the Bean & Cheese (black beans & mozzarella) and Achite Potato (potato, annatto seed seasoning). That's right, fool, count em... 4 vegetarian selections. So, if yous latch key kids are sitting around the house, and got nothing in the freezer, grab some cash from your parents dresser and call a neighbor to swing you by Republica Empanada! Hungry kids in the crib, ma Pocket like it's hot, pocket like it's hot, pocket like it's hot
(4)
Justin C.

Finding myself Mesa, the allure of highly rated Republica Empanada was too temping to pass up. On arrival, the location was questionable but stepping inside I was reminded to not judge a book by its cover. Striking a fine balance between trendy while retaining the feel of a family ran business.
(5)
Ms. K.

I have read about Republica Empanada in the past and have always wanted to try. We were in the area around 1:30 and I looked up on Yelp and saw the rave reviews. This neighborhood gem was clean, bright, and had a trendy, hipster, college town feel. We met Melody at the cash register told her it was our first time here, she gave us the rundown. We ordered Empanadas: 1 Republic Chicken (chicken, fresh vegetables & seasoning), 1 Pernil (slow roasted & special seasoned pork), 1 El Capitan (seasoned ground beef, potato, boiled egg, green olives & golden raisin), 1 Cubana (pernil, ham, mozzarella & dill pickle) and 1 Jalapeno Popper Empanadas (cream cheese with grilled seeded jalapeno). All the Empanadas were served in stamped labels paper slip bags, great idea especially when they look the same. We were also thrilled they served beer. All the Empanadas were excellent, hot, flaky crust, juicy and had flavorful fillings. Service and food Excellent, so glad we tried and will definitely be back!
(4)
Joyce W.

Although April 8th is National Empanada Day, July 18th seemed like an appropriate day to try out these bad boys! The Spanish word for bread is "pan" and "empanar" is a verb that means "to bread." Emapanada is the past-participle, "breaded." Think of it as a pasty, a Hot Pocket, or a turnover. These delicious pastries can be sweet or savory. Since I had the best dining companion with me, I decided to go empanada-crazy [no joke, I tried six yesterday]! Bretters and I shared a Combo Caribe which is starch-infused goodness and we each got an Empanada Platter which comes with two savory empanadas and is served with rice, beans, cabbage salad, and maduros & crema Mexicana. I got the Jalapeno Poppers and Republica Chicken while Brett got the Pernil and Cubana. Although I didn't originally wanted to split my empanadas with Brett after that Stufrageous fiasco where he had the lesser burger, I'm glad I did! I think my favorite empanada was his Cubana [Pernil slow-roasted pork, ham, mozzarella, & dill pickle] and his fave ended up being my Jalapeno Popper empanada. Those suckers are tiny bombs of super hot meat and sauces. It's amazing how I didn't whip my Republica Chicken across the room like a grenade when some of the sauce dribbled onto my hand. It was an intense moment of pain... lots and lots of pain. I got The King and Guava & Cheese empanadas to-go for dessert. Mr. Dubs consumed them all like a champ and his official statement is that The King was the best because peanut butter and bananas... obviously! All in all, delicious empanadas! It's a small cozy place with a great atmosphere . The bullet holes in the skinny window off to the side is... charming. I'd return for the empanadas hands down but I'd probably pass on the appetizers. And a friendly reminder: Don't be dumb like me and try to eat the empanadas right away or you'll suffer burning your tongue!
(4)
Trea E.

A diamond in the ruff exposing this seemingly rough side of town to a delectable Latin flavor.
(5)
Doug B.

This is a nice little place with great empanadas. They have a variety of savory and sweet offerings -- the sweet ones have an option to add ice cream and chocolate sauce. They appear to have several kid- and vegetarian-friendly offerings. We have lived in Mesa for a long time, but this was our first time here. The location is a little off the beaten path, but we agreed that is was worth the trip. There isn't a lot of parking in their lot, but we went there when it wasn't very crowded and did not have any trouble. As some others have reported, I think a normal person can probably eat 2-3 empanadas for a meal -- I'd suggest 2 and +1 for dessert, especially given the interesting dessert options. For the savory options, I also recommend using the salsa verde that they give you. It just seems like the right thing to do to brighten them up a little. Maybe not the Hawaiian one, but the others for sure. My kids had a bean and cheese and a cheeseburger empanada and enjoyed them. It was a nice touch that each different kind came in a little paper bag that was stamped with the type. They all look the same and that keeps things organized. If you order multiple of one type, you get one labeled bag containing several of that type. I had the Pernil, which contained some roasted pork that was very good -- moist and tasty, especially with a little hit of the salsa verde. I also tried the Boricua, which had the same pork, but also rice and some kind of peas in it, I think. I liked this one the best. I had the platter, and found the rice to be cooked well, but a little boring (salsa verde to the rescue!). The fried plantains were perfectly cooked and very tasty. For dessert, we split the Fig, Cheese and Caramel (Well, that one ended up being all mine since everyone else thought it sounded "weird") and the Ruiz's Pieces with ice cream and chocolate sauce. The Ruiz's Pieces is Nutella and peanut butter, and I have to admit it was the star of the show. The Fig, Cheese (Mozzarella) and Caramel was good, but I didn't think the flavors blended together as much as I would have liked: the ingredients were stacked/layered in the empanada with the caramel on the bottom, figs in the middle, and cheese on the top. It was definitely worth a try and interesting, especially if you like something a bit off the norm, but it was a little challenging to ensure that you got a bit of each filling in every bite. Overall, I think everyone was happy and we'll be back.
(4)
Chris S.

My review: Please understand that I am a hard rater. I rarely award more than 3 stars. My definition of 3 stars is a good, solid meal with good service. It is a place that I recommend you try and a place I will likely return to. The food here was tasty and the value for what you pay is within reason. The staff was friendly and attentive. Both made for a positive dining experience. Tonight I had a variety of items. Yum! Take a chance and eat here. I think you will enjoy it. Tell them Chris S. from Yelp sent you. They will have no idea who the hell I am but you may get a good laugh out of it! Enjoy!
(3)
Jeff W.

This place is awesome. Small and located in downtown Mesa. I must have missed thus place many a time. The Cubana, Republica, Pernil, and Borica were my lunch. All good. If you are in Mesa downtown, do hit this place.
(5)
Bob G.

The Arroz con Pollo is the best I ever had. The portion is huge can feed two however once you taste it, you're not going to want to share it with anyone (Serious).
(5)
Stephanie T.

I've been here a few times, and it's always been good although it's usually empty. My sister, friend and I went before a concert at Mesa Arts Center, and it was unusually packed. They didn't do a good job handling the chaos. The waitress quoted us a 20 min wait time which we were agreeable to, but it was my sister who had to ask her to start a wait list for all the parties building up in the lobby. Many people ended up leaving due to the disorganized handling of seating. Food wise, I enjoy their empanadas, but I'm a vegetarian and their choices are disappointingly limited. They should really explore veggie options because there's tons they could create, and I'm sure they would be delicious. I wanted to try something new, so I ordered the torta. I asked if I could sub tostones for the fries, but the waitress said that's not allowed. Uh really? There's just no possible way you can not put fries on my plate and put tostones in their place? I would be more than happy to pay the upcharge. I told the waitress to forget and asked for the gallo pinto plate (their vegan entree) instead, but I still got the torta with fries. Sigh. It was a good torta, and at least I got some plantain goodness as a sandwich topping. My sister and her friend loved their buffalo empanadas although I think the too warm wine was augmenting our appetites. There's a lot of room for improvement at Republica, but due to the dearth of good restaurants in downtown Mesa, I would still come here if I was in the area.
(3)
Brit M.

I've been here twice now. This will definitely be my new favorite spot after moving to the area. Super cute inside. Awesome food. Decent drink prices. And most of all, really sweet, competent staff.
(5)
Noor B.

This is an interesting shop that I was surprised to find in Mesa. Someone mentioned it has a cool, hipster vibe, and I think that's an accurate way to describe it. There's plenty of parking around the building, and there's menus near the door to look over while you wait in line to order. Food is brought to your table. I had the lunch plate special, where you choose two empanadas from several options. It comes with sides - black beans, rice, and a cabbage salad. There's several beers and canned soda to choose from, too. I had a black bean and cheese empanada and the buffalo chicken empanada. I thought the black bean and cheese was pretty good - nice ratio, without one element overpowering the other. It was flavored pretty simply but it was good. The buffalo chicken had a lot of bleu cheese, so beware if you aren't a fan. It was pretty good, but it tasted like bottled buffalo sauce from the grocery store. It was good, but not great. Chicken was moist, which is a definite plus. The side of black beans were also very plain. The rice was dry. The cabbage had a tiny hint of sweet dressing but it seemed like a weird side to the empanadas. A friend had the boricua which he did not like. He said the filling was dry and lacked flavor. We split a fig, cheese, and caramel dessert empanada which I liked a lot. It was probably the highlight of the meal. For Mesa, this is nice, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here. If you're in the area, stop in. It's a nice, different concept that's pretty well executed.
(3)
La C.

The empanadas where sooo fresh and good. I had the cubano and the boricua.. I will definitely come back .
(4)
David H.

Freakin' great empanadas! Sampled 3 different empanadas, and they were magnificas! Would like to see autentico Mexican natural water beverages (jamaica, agua de coco, horchata, etc.).
(4)
John A.

If you want to treat you taste buds to something deliciously different than the normal Az cuisine, this is the place. Republic has a great locally owned vibe and the food is fresh and delicious. So far I have not ventured past the El Capitan and Chicken. This evening I tried the Fig, cheese and caramel. Soo good. The empanadas are just the perfect size that you can dip them into the tasty green sauce and treat the buds to a pop rock like experience of flavors. Went well with their double IPA.
(5)
Gab R.

Very solid option to try something different. Their specialty is empanadas and they do it well. I tried the PERNIL and the Ham and cheese from their lunch special which is a very good value because it is essentially a platter. But for a few dollars more you might to try one of their "platter" which includes fried plantains which are just delicious. Good ambiance, friendly staff, clean restrooms, cozy place. Recommended.
(5)
Tatiana M.

I'm Latina and these empanadas are great!!! The dough is a very nice: crispy outside and soft inside, flour based, not oily at all. Really good. Loved the fact they mark the paper bags so you don't only know what you eating but also use the paperbags to hold them while you are eating. My "guttural" choices didn't disappoint at all: Pernil: great Latin pulled pork El Capitan: well seasoned ground beef Boriqua: authentic arroz con guandules Cubana: great shredded (ropa vieja) beef Had to order the second Pernil Empanada before I left !! Oh! And don't forget to spread the cilantro salsa on your empanadas!! I also order lime and add a little to any beef-stuffed empanadas. That's a family thing. Totally coming back here.
(5)
Audrey B.

Absolutely amazing! The service alone made it worth it! We felt like family here even though it was our first time. And the food was EXCEPTIONAL! We had the Cubana empanada, colombian rice, ham and cheese, bean and cheese, and arroz con pollo. You could not go wrong with any of these! Order multiple empanadas though as one probably won't be enough. You'll want more anyway
(5)
Claudine F.

Came here for the first time today and I'm so happy I went out of my way to try this place. My sister, daughter and I shared a bunch of items on the menu and left very satisfied! We had the Combo Caribe for an appetizer, then shared the Chicken, Cheeseburger, Cheese, Boricua, Greek and JalapeÃ±o Popper Empanadas(Chicken and Cheeseburger came with rice and beans for the lunch special). We were stuffed at this point but decided to indulge in the Fig Cheese and Caramel, and Cheese with Guava dessert empanadas both topped with ice cream and chocolate.... Everything was amazing! Reasonably priced, service was fast and friendly even though they were busy for lunch. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Amelinda L.

I called 30 minutes prior to our arrival to order our 14 empanadas. Everything was made fresh and it was ready for us. We wanted to try their popular Boricua, but they were sold out, so we chose a couple others and they threw in an extra empanada for the trouble. The location was easy to find, but a little dark in the area at night. There is a lot of parking as well. The interior is cozy and I like the decor. There's also a nice outdoor patio for cooler days. Republica Chicken ($3): Chicken, fresh vegetables, and seasonings. Good flavors and packed with chicken. One of the best ones we had. Pernil ($3.25): Slow roasted and specially-seasoned pork. My absolute favorite of our selections. The pork was delightfully juicy and very flavorful. As with the chicken, there is a very generous serving of pork. El CapitÃ¡n ($3.25): Seasoned ground beef, potato, boiled egg, green olive, and golden raisin. I've had variations of this Argentinian classic and I'm usually a fan, but I do not like green olives and the one in this empanada was SO salty that it took away from the rest of the filling (fortunately, it was only one bite). Otherwise, it was good. The Buffalo ($3.25): Chicken, buffalo sauce, and gorgonzola. Tasted just like a buffalo chicken pastry, nothing particularly exciting for me. Ruben is a big fan of Buffalo Chicken and he really enjoyed it. Cubana ($3.25): Pernil, ham, mozzarella, and dill pickle.This was one of my favorites. Delicious and a great combination of flavors. I enjoyed every bite. Mushroom Chicken ($3.25): Chicken, sautÃ©ed mushrooms, and kalamata olive. You can't really taste the mushroom in this one, so it was hard to distinguish from the Rebuplica Chicken, but with much less flavor. I also did not like the one whole kalamata olive. It would be better chopped up and dispersed throughout the filling. Cheeseburger ($3.25): Seasoned ground beef and cheddar cheese. There was a generous amount of ground beef and it was nice. Although, the cheese was oddly non-existent. JalapeÃ±o Popper ($3.25): Cream cheese, grilled and seeded jalapeÃ±os, and salted ham. The ham was a pleasant surprise and I enjoyed its flavor and saltiness against the mild cream cheese and jalapeÃ±os. All empanadas are encased in a nice pastry and fried for a crispy exterior. The savory empanadas are served with their fantastic salsa verde (one of the best I've had). Overall, they're all lovely. I personally enjoy a little more doughiness in pastries, but I was really pleased with the amount of meat in the fillings. As far as flavors, it was a bit all over the place; some were more robust and some were too mild. I was disappointed by most of them. My favorites: Pernil, Republica Chicken, and Cubana.
(3)
Alejandra S.

Empanadas are delicious! A little pricey but good! We ordered a total of 9 and three waters and it came out to about 45 bucks
(5)
Sonia G.

Republica Empanada is a gem in downtown Mesa. The owners are accommodating and the food is delicious and innovative. Try the Greek, Jalepeno popper, Republic chicken or pernil popper or if you like something simple for the kids or yourself bean & cheese, cheese, or cheeseburger empanada... For something light try the hearts of palm salad or arroz con pollo... Enjoy agua frescas, housemade sangria, or organic margaritas, or craft beers.
(5)
Luke L.

Really enjoyed the empanadas and the feel of the place. Kind of hipster/retro but family friendly too. Definitely worth a try! Fun Mesa Yelp find.
(5)
Nick G.

What a strange experience. This place fell way short of the hype and buildup, and I walked away very disappointed. I entered at a time where there was nobody else in the restaurant. I believe they were transitioning from their lunch configuration to their happy hour at the time. I was asked to wait to be helped, and I did -- I stood at the entrance for a pretty long time before someone (who seemed like the owner), who was more interested in chatting with an employee than addressing me, finally approached me. I had never been before, so I asked for some guidance in ordering. I opted to go for the lunch plate special, which has two empanadas, salad, and rice and beans. They were out of the boricua, so I ended up asking for a pernil and a cubana. Apparently, the lunch special only applies to specific empanadas on specific days, but the person serving me said he'd allow this order since it was my first time. This was nice of him, but over the course of the meal he reminded me 3 or 4 times how much money he'd saved me by doing this. Honestly I could've gotten both on their own for under a dollar more than the combo cost, so it really wasn't the huge act of kindness he made it out to be. The service continued to be weird as the owner initially seated me and took my order at the bar, then had me move to a table before serving me the food. Maybe he wanted a tip? The food took forever considering that they apparently have these ready already, and that I was again the only customer in the place (and no they were not close to closing). Once I was served, he never came to check on me. Anyway, the empanadas were tiny and really not filling by any means, and unlike similar combos from other restaurants, this place served seemingly the tiniest portion of rice & beans that I've ever seen. It was like one serving spoon's worth. If you're going to make the empanadas so small, at least compensate with the sides which cost next to nothing to make. In the interest of being fair, the empanadas did taste pretty good, but there wasn't really enough of them to confirm that -- they were gone in 3 bites. In New York (and maybe somewhere here, haven't found it yet), you can get very tasty, well-sized empanadas for a dollar a pop from a lady's street cart. So I have to roll my eyes at paying 3-4 bucks for one that's less than half the size. The sense I get from this place is that it desperately wants to be a modern trendy hipster place, and it has all the hallmarks of one. The logo, menu, and design of the place are all filled with hipster eatery tropes, and yes, good craft beer selection yadda yadda. I like many hipster eateries. But to Republica, apparently, near-absentee service, overpriced and underportioned food, and a healthy dose of pretension all come with the territory.
(2)
Amanda T.

AMAZING!!!!! Great dough and fillings were yummy. Price is great too. Will definitely come back to and leave room for dessert.
(4)
Brittany M.

All the empanadas at Republica are yummy, and the service is great. I particularly like the chicken, pernil, and "El Capitan" (beef, egg, olive & raisin) empanadas here.
(5)
K. F.

One of my favorite places to come. Very ordinary but cool! The owner is too sweet! They have the best empanadas!!! Everything else is beyond good. A unique spot and I find it hard to stay away...
(5)
Isabella H.

Only the word amazing comes to mind. The Yucca Frita was some of the best I've had, and I've been eating it all my life. The jalapeÃ±o popper empanada is delicious and creamy! The service was excellent. They even changed the channel so my baseball obsessed 3 year old could watch the game. We will be back, and will be bringing friends!
(5)
Kin N.

I'm puzzled how this place received so many positive reviews. My visit was a disappointment. Sure, the decor is trendy and the atmosphere is energetic, but the positive stops here. I had the lunch special (select 2 empanadas from a list, salad, black bean, and rice) with the King (peanut butter and banana) and Boricua (pork). The Boricua has decent taste, but nothing special. While the King is creative, the ingredients were not distributed evenly....so you literally get half banana empanada and half peanut butter empanada. The black bean was absolutely bland. I'm not too crazy about the two spoonful of cabbage salad either. The white rice is the best tasting element of the meal. It's one of the most flavorful rice I've had..thanks to the coconut milk(?). Perhaps the worst thing about this place is the service. When I was ready to order, the cashier/server made me wait 5 minutes while she went to clean tables, refill water...etc. waited 25 minutes for food until I asked the server. Was told they messed up the order. Waited another 5 to 10 minutes before food arrived, but and there was no silverware. I had to go behind the counter to help myself because the server was MIA. It's especially painful to watch the food at the window ready for pickup for more than 5 minutes...yet the server was clueless where the food should go (she messed up the order of the next table, too). It wasn't busy at that time and there were 5 staff and about 15 customers. If they can't handle with that staff to customer ratio, I doubt they can handle a busy lunch/dinner crowd. The next table left at the same time and one of the guys commented that he'd never return....yeah, me neither.
(2)
angie l.

I honestly don't know how anyone can give less than a five star review. The sangria was strong and not too sweet. I ordered the empanada platter with the beans and cheese and pernil empanada. Somehow the beans and cheese in the empanada tasted even better than the side of beans. The pernil was moist and really flavorful, I was sad when I didn't have another one to eat. Since the restaurant is small I can see how busy this place could get but I came after the lunch rush and didn't have to wait for a table or my food.
(5)
Eleana H.

Just came in and ordered several empanada s to try. Ham and cheese El capitan The Cuban The peril The boricua The cheese And finally a sweet empanada, the fig cheese and caramel. My favorites in the savory category are the boricua and the fig cheese caramel was jaw droppingly amazing. The boricua is filled with rice, peas, ham and is so moist it drips with a homemade sofrito sauce.
(5)
Kyle B.

Gallo pinto was solid, empanadas were great. I suggest the combo apps with the tostones, yucca and the Maduros. And glass of wine or three. Good vibe; the Owners are super cool
(4)
Molly H.

After my trip to Puerto Rico, a tiny voice in my mind has been calling for empanadas relentlessly. Unfortunately some of the places I've been to here in AZ have been selling glorified hot pockets masquerading as empanadas, so you can imagine my delight finding a place that specializes in them. It's tucked away in central mesa, and if you're not looking for it you'll probably miss it. The atmophere is fun, urban and inviting. We were greeted and seated promptly. I ordered the chicken empanada with the black bean salad- both were absolutely incredible, especially when dipped in the delicious green salsa everyone gets as they're seated. Warning: the salad is a LOT of food- you might want to split it with someone or get ready for some leftovers. We also ordered desert which was nothing short of incredible. Spring for the scoop of ice cream and whipped cream- worth every penny of the extra $3. My only complaint was that the service was incredibly slow, especially considering we were one of only three or four other groups in the dining room. All said it took us about an hour to get our food. Also, we were shorted one empanada that barely made it out before our desert- and when it did it was the wrong one and we waited even longer for the correction. We were still charged for that one, which I was a little surprised by. I didn't want to make a fuss, so we paid and didn't say anything. That said, the service was very friendly and attentive, so no worries there. We'll definitely be back as soon as that little voice in the back of my mind nagging for empanadas starts getting too lout to ignore.
(4)
Erin C.

Loved!! Yuca Fritas were delicious. Pernil (slow roasted pork shoulder) was amazing. Also did the Cubano and jalapeÃ±o popper. Classic marg was also great. Loved the wait staff; all around great lunch!
(5)
Sarah I.

Empanadas are tasty but you will have to order a pile of them to have enough to eat for dinner. I would recommend this place if your looking for appetizer portions of tasty food to go with your drinks but be prepared to spend a lot, no good deals on drinks. Stay away from platters they are overpriced by about $6.00. If you are going to try it out just get the empanadas and order a rice n' bean empanada instead of a combo or side order. Allow plenty of time service is slow
(2)
Carissa B.

I love this place. I always start with the combo caribe: tostones (fried green plantain slices), yucca fries (with an awesome salt and herb garnish) and maduros (fried sweet plantain). The dish is served with crema and jalapeÃ±o cilantro ranch. For empanadas I usually go with an El Capitan, a Boricua and a Cubana. Those three are my favorite go tos, I especially love the green olive, golden raisin and egg in the El Capitan. If I have room dessert the fig, cheese and caramel is to die for. The sweetness of the figs and warm caramel is balanced out by the mild saltiness of melty cheese; throw some powder sugar on top and it is awesome. Plus there's always friendly and quick service which is a huge plus. They can get pretty busy and even then the food times aren't too bad. Plus they seem to always be playing Nacho Libre when I'm there, which I'm totally okay with.
(5)
Mcintyre B.

Today was my first time! My wife and I got the papas fritas, Pernil, la boricua, achiotte potato, and the fig cheese and caramel. On arrival they set themselves apart with an older architecture than what is seen on main st. And plenty of parking! The inside is clean and has a modern bistro feel to it. Staff are very friendly and more than willing to answer questions about the food. The starter: we got the papas fritas, fresh cut fries w/ herbs and salt, served w/ jalapeno ranch and ketchup. Just skip the ketchup and go for the ranch, so good! The main: Pernil (pork), deep flavor and its all meat, they let it speak for itself! La boricuo, shredded beef, rice, vegetables. So juicy and the right amount of each to compliment eachother! Achiotte potato, this is a vegetarian option, as with the pernil they let it speak for itself, very subtle with bits of spice. (They also have a bean and cheese thats vegetarian) Salsa: The salsa here is on point! Takes all the empanadas over the top, very fresh and bold flavors. One of the best ive had! I want to buy some to take home next time I drop in for lunch! Dessert: Fig cheese and caramel, I paused when I saw this, intriguing yet questionable. Topped w/ powdered sugar the inside has locally grown figs, mozzarella cheese, and caramel. Warm and creamy, each bite I question it, mozzarella and dessert? But find myself going back in for that next bite, I cant get enough! Salty, sweet, amazing! this literally is a perfect finish to the meal, I cant stop thinking about this one! Beverage: Coconut water, Ive since heard they have fresh squeezed juice though! Trying that next time! Portion size/price: Great prices, and portions, it may seem small but once that food settles you are FULL! As a professional chef Im so happy with the service and food, I wish I was there on day one! I will probably be going by once a week for lunch from now on! I cant wait to try everything on the menu!
(5)
Sean S.

The wait time in this place is to die for. I mean it, you'll be dead before you ever get seated or have any food. The hostess told us it would be 15 minutes to be seated. Forty minutes pass and we have yet to see the hostess return. I look around and see table after table of happy customers, who have no food on their tables. The bell from the kitchen only dinged twice while we were waiting. So I guess they are getting to an entire three tables an hour, yipee. The only thing this place serves are air tacos.
(1)
David J.

Ate here a few weeks ago for the first time. My wife and both of our mothers were so excited about all of the food we had. This is a must visit place for anyone in the valley if you are looking for something to eat that breaks the mold of your standard south of the border cuisine. Even if you have to drive from the other side of the valley it will still be worth the trip.
(5)
Realtalk Y.

Enjoyed Arroz Con Pollo and especially liked the jalapeÃ±o popper and the cubana empanadas. Many craft beers to choose from. Crew was extremely nice and made us feel welcome. Very clean and relaxed environment. Republica Empanada is a hidden gem.
(5)
Brendan W.

Loved how unique this place was. Great empanadas. Recommend the jalapeÃ±o popper and cheeseburger. I would order 3 for a meal. They come ala carte or white rice and sides. The staff was very friendly. I will be back.
(5)
Melia S.

Republica Empanada is the perfect little lunchtime gem I've been looking for in the area. I almost don't want to sing its praises because it is at the top of my lunchtime list and I don't want to throw any elbows for a seat. But. It deserves some love, so I'll share I guess. What's not to love about empanadas? It's the latin american equivalent of a hot pocket but instead of processed bread and mystery meat, there's no mystery and tons of flavor. RE does empanadas right with a perfectly flaky crust that serves as a sleeping bag for quality fillings of beans and cheese, potato, pork and even figs. Two is enough to fill me up at lunch, but I could probably eat more if naptime were an option afterwards. My favorite so far is the El Capitan which is a mixture of ground beef, green olives, hard cooked eggs and raisins. I know, I hate raisins too, but it works in this empanada. I also really like the bean and cheese empanada which is simple but so good. The only one I haven't cared for so far was the potato which I felt was under seasoned and just didn't work for me texture-wise. The lunch time special is great-for $6.95 you get two empanadas (selection of which ones qualify for the lunch special changes daily) with rice and beans. It's just enough food to be satisfied without leaving that post-lunch food hangover. They also have a fantastic early week special that runs Monday and Tuesday 6P-10P of four empanadas+four beers (OR a bottle of wine) for the baller on a budget price of $20. It makes for a great happy hour, particularly on Mondays, because Mondays are just hard. The decor is super cute and they have an enclosed patio which is a plus come summertime. The inside layout features a dining bar that stretches almost the length of the restaurant and then a handful of two and four tops. It's not the biggest space, so I imagine it can get pretty crazy during the lunch time rush which I've never witnessed because I'm always hungry by 10:30, which makes my lunchtime no later than 11:30. If you work in the area or are just passing through downtown Mesa-definitely worth a stop!
(5)
BreAnna W.

If you like Cornish Pasty AND Mexican food, then you have to try this place! There are a good variety of sweet and savory empanadas, which are cooked fresh and served hot! Today was my first time dining at RepÃºblica and there was a lunch special: 2 empanadas, rice, black beans, and cabbage salad all for under $10. Great deal! I'll be back to try the other varieties. :)
(5)
Chheng L.

This was my 2nd visit to RE. Both times I got take out. I will have to dine in one of these days for their Mon/Tues night special. Their empanadas are really tasty! I like that they are crispy fried rather than soft baked. I bought 6 to share with the BF; 5 savory ones and one sweet. We had: El Capitan, Boricua, Pernil (pork), Chicken, Chicken & Mushrooms and the Caramel Fig one for dessert. My favorites were the chicken and pork. I didn't really care for the more complex ones. The caramel figs one was pretty good also. I think I would've preferred lesser caramel to taste more of the figs but I might be in the minority with this. I have to say though what makes these empanadas over the top is that delicious green sauce that comes with them. Don't forget to ask for extra!
(5)
Mandi T.

Wanted to try something new with my husband and sister so we thought this would be something fun to do. We went with the intent to try one of everything and we did, empanadas that is. We ordered one of every empanada, main meal and dessert, a total of 22 empanadas in all. Each one was split equally 3 ways and we reviewed them all as we ate. Service We were happy with our server and other personnel as well. Our waitress was nice, informative, and on the ball. We were also visited by another waitress making sure we were taken care of and visited by what we think was the owner or manager. All very friendly. Location It's a small place but clean, fun, and eclectic. It's a little off the beaten path but completely worth it. Empanadas When you first sit down there is a small container of green salsa at your place. This salsa was delicious and works well with some of the empanadas. When the food is delivered each empanada comes out in its own bag, labeled so you know which one you're eating. All the empanadas had a wonderfully flaky crust and although it was fried, did not taste greasy at all. They were all very flavorful, not dry, and filled with good quality ingredients. Any meat that was added was juicy, tender, and flavorful. Not too large and an average person could eat 2-4 for a meal. Republica Chicken - The chicken was flavorful and juicy. Didn't notice the vegetables but they weren't missed because the flavors gave this one a 5 star. Achiote Potato - This empanada did not have much dimension to it. It was just full of under seasoned potato, a good potato, but just potato. While it didn't taste bad we would not order it again and received a 1 star. Bean & Cheese - The black beans were cooked well and the mozzarella gave it a nice creamy texture. It was a nice blend of flavors and received a 4 star. Ham & Cheese - Very cheesy with good ham, moist and flavorful. It was a little on the simple side with the flavors but good ingredients. 3 stars. Cheese - Lots of cheese. The asiago gave a nice flavor to the mozerella. While good on it's own, it is excellent with the green salsa given at the table. 4 stars. Pernil - This one was so good! The pork was juicy, flavorful, tender, and just all around melt in your mouth goodness. 5 stars! Boricua - While the pork is good on its own it worked well with the combination of these other ingredients. The rice mixture really added a whole new depth to it making it feel more like a complete meal. 5 stars El Capitan - Because of the complexity of the ingredients and splitting it three ways it is a little hard reviewing this one. While one person got strong olive taste another really tasted the egg. This one may have tasted better by one person but it just didn't seem to work for us. 2 star The buffalo - Was not available so can not review Cubana - We are a little torn on this one. While one of us loved it the others found it jus okay. This can probably be attributed to the dill pickle, it was too distracting for 2 of us while it really made the flavor for the last person. So, know how you feel about dill going forward. 3/5 star. Mushroom Chicken - Chicken was wonderful of course and if you like mushrooms, this one would be good. The flavors didn't meld too well though; they almost stood out on their own. 2/3 star Cheeseburger - It's meat and cheese. Good flavor for the ingredients. 3 star Hawaiian - Tastes like a Hawaiian pizza with good quality ingredients. 3 star Greek - There was way too much spinach in this one. The bites that had every ingredient in it was great. It has potential with the flavors but it didn't quite it the mark, it needed more of the other ingredients, less spinach. 1 star for the wad of spinach but for the bites of all ingredients, 4 star. JalapeÃ±o Popper - Tasted like a good jalapeno popper. The ingredients were proportioned well, giving nice flavors throughout. 4 star Sweet Empanadas Brought out in bags like dinner empanadas but dusted with powdered sugar. Not sure if the sugar added anything but helped it smell really good. In the dessert empanadas you have everything from mainstream flavors to a little on the adventurous side, offering something for everyone. All made with flaky crust and come out very hot. The King - Holy peanut butter batman! If you like peanut butter and bananas this would be for you, but not our cup of tea. 2 star Nutella & Banana - Flavors melded well together. 3 star PBJ - Nostalgic but still a lot of peanut butter. 2 star Fig Cheese & Caramel - Yum yum yum. Flavors really complimented each other and brought together really well. 5 star Guava & Cheese - It was good but not great. Didn't really taste the cream cheese though. 3 star Plantain & Cheese - This one was executed well. The plantain really brought the right amount of sweetness to the cream cheese. 4 star Ruiz's Pieces - The name says it all. It was really good and would be excellent with the ice cream. 4
(5)
Cathy M.

The Empanadas here are amazing!!! I tried the Pernil and the Greek. The service was friendly and fast! If you are ever in the area make sure to stop in!
(5)
Mark R.

Just happen to be in the area with the wife and decided to check them out. We were getting ready to see a concert at the nearby casino and needed to fuel up on some craft beer and get a quick sampling of their Empanadas. Nice job on the remodeling of an old building that looks like it could have been everything from possibly a bank to several Mexican food joints. Inside is pleasantly decorated with a happy face greeting us at the door. Nice! Started off with a couple of tasty locally brewed Hefeweizen beers from SanTan Brewing Co. They even brought us a cute little chilled glass to make the occasion special. There are also several other choices of beer and a few of wine that you can choose. Had to try out the Cubana, El CapitÃ¡n, Republica Chicken and the Pernil Empanada. They were all really good. My favorite was El CapitÃ¡n and the wife really liked Pork Pernil. The Empanadas were cooked perfectly and had a nice amount of well seasoned filling inside. We have had these kind of treats at several restaurants here in town and think these were the best tasting yet. Been to a couple of restaurants where they reheat them in a microwave or toaster oven. Party Foul. This place makes them correctly and with a lot of TLC. Looking forward to coming back so that we can try out their Sweet side of the menu and the Albondigas Soup that was offered to us on our last visit. They also have Salads, Appetizers and a few Platters that look really delicious. I'LL BE BACK! 4.25 STARS
(4)
Ashley B.

We just love this place so much. Love having a delicious and cool spot to go here in Mesa! The owner is rad and loves his patrons, he's passionate about Mesa and good food. Lunch time is a great time to go and get the special. Lots of food for a great price. The worst part about RE is having to choose what to get! My absolute favorite thing is the bean and cheese Empanada and their yuca frita dipped in their jalapeÃ±o ranch (you have to ask for it). If you're with a group, get the caribe platter as an appetizer. My husband is obsessed with the pork torta smothered in their green salsa and the jalapeÃ±o ranch. The fries it comes with are YUM and I'm always stealing some. We also love the potato Empanada and the Nutella dessert Empanada. If you're interested in a salad the black bean one is my fave. You guys, GO, support Mesa and make your belly happy. Then go for a stroll in the urban garden next door :)
(5)
Matt L.

This is probably my favorite place in Mesa. Everything has been good every time. I recommend the jalapeÃ±o popper and Cubana empanadas and the Arroz con Pollo. Their salsa verde is good on everything!
(5)
L T.

Delicious empanadas! I've tried 4 different flavors and enjoyed them all. I think the chicken is still my favorite. So happy to have another good restaurant option downtown.
(5)
Ana C.

While the food was good, not oh my goodness this is heaven, but pretty different empanadas, I don't think I'll ever come back. Reason is, the wait for these little bites (I say bites because the empanadas can't be bigger 3inches) is RIDICULOUS. we waited about 45 minutes to get our first order and since it was our first time we didn't order much (1 each). Once we tried them and decided we wanted more, we ordered another round of them and those took about another 30 minutes to come out. By that time, we hadn't been offered refills on our drinks or explained why the wait was soooo long. We ordered two to go as soon as the second order came out figuring maybe by the time we finished and paid it would be ready but we had to wait an additional 15 after that. Most of us were in the car by then. There was probably 3 or 4 tables being served by two servers, at most. All in all, good food, not coming back though. Im not dying to try an empanada that comes w such long wait time and bad service.
(2)
Megan W.

Cheap, tasty, fun and super cute inside - What is not to like? Plus, they have happy hour! We got the Combo Caribe to start which is fried yuca fries with jalapeno ranch sauce, giant squished green plantain chips, and sweet plantains served with crema for dipping. Yuca fries would have been improved by being a tad smaller and crispier and I wished the jalapeno ranch was spicier, but all in all very good. Sweet plantains were the obvious winner of this trio, and I shall be back to eat many of them. We then got the chicken and veggie empanadas and the pulled pork (pernil) along with simple cabbage salad, Earl Grey iced tea and watermelon agua fresca. The empanadas were light, crisp and delicious. I really cannot wait to try the more exotic offerings!
(5)
Boyd H.

This place is on point! The customer service was great and they even had a little scooter for the toddler to roll around on! The fries are very similar to the fries at Wilderness Brewing Co. I had the Pernil, Boricua and Greek...all good! The 10 year old said the Hawaiian was really good too. Everyone loved the banana Nutella! We'll be back!
(5)
Alexandra C.

Nice little family restaurant. We tried 5 different empanadas and all were very good. Like it and we`ll be back !
(5)
Toryanni E.

The empanadas are delicious!! One of the best lunches I've had in a long time. We had the Cheeseburger and the Buffalo Chicken empanadas. The green sauce they give you is fantastic, I'm not quite sure what's in them besides a heavy helping of what surely must be magic, but I could drink that stuff up!!
(5)
Caryn V.

Great, trendy place to get your Carribean comfort food. Really good for vegetarians and meat eaters. I had Achioto empanada and my husband had the lunch special which came with your choice of 2 empanadas, rice and beans for $7.95. We shared the appetizers combo caribe which although was over priced was very good. Good, fast service and establishment was clean and upbeat.
(4)
Brandon K.

Just tried RE for the first time and am left feeling totally disappointed. I arrived about 12:15pm just beating a lunch crowd in. I ordered the lunch special with the Chicken and cheeseburger empanadas plus a pork pibil empanada based on a recommendation from the cute girl behind the counter. I ordered my food to go and sat at the long wooden table. A middle-aged woman brought me over a plate and silverware within a few minutes of sitting down and I explained that my order was to-go. I continued to wait approximately 15 minutes while the restaurant began to fill up and the lunch crowd placed their orders. At this point, I noticed that the middle-aged woman behind the counter was preparing a to-go order. I assumed it was mine but since the girl at the register was taken a to-go order over the phone when I walked in, I then decided it was probably that. 5 minutes later the middle-aged woman brought food to a couple who were dining in and had ordered 15 minutes after me. She then realized I was still waiting an proceeded to ask ME where my order was even though she was essentially the food-runner and I had already told her I had a to-go order. She then ask me what I ordered and went back behind the counter confused only to realize that she had already packaged my food but had let it sit there. I was frustrated but wasn't too upset since I wasn't eating it right then anyways. Got home to try everything and found the chicken empanada to be decent, not bursting with flavor by any means by passable. The cheeseburger empanada was gross (I got this one because I'm a big fan of the Royale with Cheese at Cornish Pasty Co), greasy and just an odd cheese flavor to it. The pibil was the worst. It was not edible due to the pork contents being one entire chuck of fatty, gristly pork. It was literally a waste, pic to be posted. The rice was okay, plain but it complimented the empanadas nicely as did the beans. The slaw was underwhelming. All in all, the highlight was the girl at the register and I'd only go back for her. I'm a big fan of stuffed pastries and sadly this just made me wish I'd gone to Cornish Pasty Co instead.
(1)
Monica O.

My oldest daughter and I met up with a friend and her daughter for dinner , the placed picked Republica Empanada. We walked in and where greeted right away, and our server was Heidi, who was amazing & helpful! For starters I ordered Tostones, fried green plantains severed with creama and this amazing cilantro jalapeno ranch sauce, this was a great starter, I loved it, the plantains where cooked perfectly and the combination of the creama & cilantro jalapeno ranch sauce was perfect! They flowed well with each other, so good! Now they do offer sweet & savory empanadas, and for the savory I went with the Republica Chicken and the Cubana. The Cubana was slow roasted pork, ham, mozzarella & dill pickle, it was very tasty, I enjoyed it very much. The Republica Chicken was chicken & veggies with some seasoning. OMG AMAZING!! I need to try out the rest of the savory ones, but right now the Republica Chicken is my fav!! Now for the sweet!!! I ordered the fig, cheese & caramel & Nutella & banana. The fig empanada had figs, mozzarella and South American style Dulce de Leche, this was amazing, I loved the combinations of everything! Figs, Cheese and Caramel, yes please! The Nutella & Banana AAAAAMMMMMMAAAAZZZZZIIIIINNNNNGGGGGG!!! I am a Nutella loving fool, love that stuff, and this empanada was perfect!! So so good!!! I enjoyed everything I had tried and everything is so reasonably priced, didn't even break the bank account for everything! Great service and great food look forward to coming back and trying more empanadas out!
(4)
Kent M.

Two of my friends and I stopped by for the first time today for lunch. Lots of parking and the place looks clean from the outside. We walk in and the seating and decor is very cool. Signs direct you to how to place an order. There was lunch special that was $7.95 for two empanadas, rice, beans and cabbage salad. I ordered the special and a Coke Zero in the 12oz can. I was getting ready to pay the bill so my order could start and realized my Coke can was being charged at $2.00 and I had to ask to make sure. The girl said yes and since I was already rung up I went along with my $10.59 lunch special. My friends and I sat down and our food was brought to us.The plate presentation was excellent. The food flavors were really good. We walked away feeling comfortable. I would have like a 12oz can for less than $2.00 and empanadas to be a little larger to feel the total value package to earn 5 stars. I will try next time take out or the $20 beer and empanada special.
(3)
Carolyn B.

Hit his place before a concert at the Mesa Arts Center. Seriously, the best empanada that I've ever had. Got the El Capitan and the the chicken veggies empanadas. The outer skin is nice and thin - not super thick and doughy like a lot of other places. The restaurant has a laid back vibe. The service is excellent. We had about 45 minutes to eat and had entrees and dessert out in no time. One of the owners, Marco was there waiting tables and making sure guests had everything they needed. I think it's really nice when the owners help with the day to day and make sure all of the details are taken care of. Will definitely be back when we see our next concert at the Mesa Arts Center.
(5)
DaNelle W.

I was really expecting this place to be amazing but the empanadas were really disappointing. The dry, cracker-like crust was the biggest problem. The fillings were okay and the fries were great, but for a place that specializes in empanadas, it was really dissapointing.
(1)
Jennifer A.

The restaurant was nearly empty when we arrived, but we "waited to be seated" for about 5 minutes before one of us went to find someone to help us. The food was great. Everyone at our table enjoyed what we ordered. If we had ordered takeout, this would be a four star review. We ordered two different appetizers, four different empanadas and a dessert empanada. There weren't any real complaints about the food. We did not enjoy that the entire process took over an hour. The other comments about waiting are no exaggeration. The empty restaurant had a line out the door by the time we left. There is no way the staff was prepared for this when they couldn't handle our table of four. Total bill was $60 including tip. 2 appetizers 6 savory empanadas 3 dessert empanadas 1 Pepsi
(2)
Jill T.

My boyfriend and I really like this place and have been here a couple of times. The empanadas and drinks are great and the staff is nice. I'm not a fan of the 2 big TVs that are playing unless there's a huge game on and would prefer for the music to have more Latin influence. It's a nice small and comfortable place with yummy food and we will definitely go back.
(4)
Stacy F.

Headed here with the husband and a friend for the first time last night and fell in love with this place! The parking lot was a little tight to navigate, but there is plenty of street parking surrounding this location, so don't fret! We headed in to this eclectically designed venue and opted for a high top table since all the regular tables were taken up with patrons and it was a little too hot out to enjoy the patio seating. Fortunately we made it in time to squeeze in a happy hour drink order before the 7 p.m. end - $1 off wine and beer. I hoped for Sangria, but they didn't have any, however, they said they were working on getting it in, so fingers crossed for next visit! My husband and I both ordered the dinner platter since it came with maduros, rice, black beans and salad, along with the choice of 2 empanadas. We had the El Capitan, Pernil, Chicken Republica, and Boricua - then we cut each in half and shared them between each other, so we both got to try 4 varieties! The maduros were delicious and cooked perfectly. I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite between the 4 empanadas we tried, I'd order them all again in a heart beat. When we walked in we noted that they had dessert empanadas, and knew that this just had to happen, so we "saved room" for them (read as attempted to save room, really didn't have room, but ordered them anyways, cause...dessert.) We had the King and the Fig. I would probably say I preferred the fig over the King, but both were great! Overall: A A smaller restaurant (max seating of 49 people) that gives off an intimate artsy vibe with great food and nice staff! Happy hour from 3-7 daily!
(4)
J M.

LOVE this place, unique , great food, nice set up :) I will go back
(5)
Alex J.

Yum! Hubby and I met a couple friends for dinner and they were blown away. The empanadas were delicious, crispy and freshly made. We ordered 8 different empanadas and some beer and then after a while, another round. We were a bit disappointed they didn't have a huge selection of Latin beers but what they had wasn't too bad. We stay past the 9pm closing time. No one encouraged us to leave but the crew was packed and ready. Since we hadn't seen our friends in a long time we completely lost track of time. Our tab wasn't too bad considering we had about 16 empanadas, 2 glasses of wine, and 6 beers. On our way out, the owner introduced himself and thanked us for our business. He also apologized they for their early hours. All in all, we had a great experience and would definitely recommend to anyone.
(4)
Chris M.

Good food and very friendly staff. I would totally go back if I heard that they found a way to get the food out quicker. That said, both times I have been there the food took exceptionally long to arrive- like 45 minutes to an hour. We actually had to leave part of our party behind because they ordered dessert (and had been waiting 20+ minutes) and the rest of us had to go.
(3)
Devin S.

Excuse my French but this place is F***ING amazing. Your a fool if you don't enjoy these pockets of joy! Rated 10 STARS
(5)
Natalie G.

Any other day I would give this place 5 stars. I've been here a handful of times and the food is always delicious and I love seeing the owner talking to everyone! However, the service has been declining and Monday night was just the end of it for me. I was bragging up and down about this place to my boyfriend and when I brought him in no one greeted us. When I asked for a seat (in a nearly empty room) she told told me no and that I had to wait. We then waited ten minutes after setting down our menus to be greeted by our waitress. Our food order was then forgotten. Simply said, I'm embarrassed that I brought anyone here.
(3)
Matthew C.

A real hidden treasure awaits you in this downtown location and it's worth the trip from anyplace in metro Phoenix. They really got a grip on Empanadas!! Give this place a try you will be pleasantly treated!
(4)
S W.

This place is awesome! We just moved here and will definitely be back. We had the callo pinto, cubana empanada and pernil empanada. All were amazing and had such great flavor! The green salsa they serve makes the meal. The meat was flavorful and everything was quality. The star of the dinner was the dessert-try the fig, cheese caramel empanada...you won't regret it! Plus, the service was great. One of the family members who own this place stopped by to talk. Five star for sure!
(5)
Megan E.

Republica Emanada is sooooo yummy. The Pernil, the Cubana, the Achiote Potato- they're all delicious. And don't get me started on the Fig Cheese and Caramel. I'm still dreaming about it's gooey deliciousness. The only thing I've had that I didn't love was the appetizer combo with plantains and yucca fries. It was okay, but not particularly flavorful. Definitely check this place out, but skip the appetizer and order an extra dessert!
(5)
Katie O.

The food is amazing and the staff was great! Hands down the best green salsa we've ever had. We hope to go back before we leave!
(5)
Richard C.

I never find myself in Mesa, strictly out of principle :D, but I was headed to the Mesa Arts Center for a concert and found this gem using my Yelp app. The waitress was very attentive and actually apologized for asking me a question right after I took a bite (I swear they must teach that timing in the training videos at every restaurant). I had the El Capitan & the Cubana empanadas as part of the platter for dinner. Both were excellent. There was a surprisingly decent assortment of craft beer bottles to choose from as well. I was easily convinced to look at the sweet empanadas for dessert, and the waitress was quick to point out all her favorites (essentially the whole menu). I settled on the Ruiz's Pieces, because obviously I'm a sucker for a clever name. I suppose I'll have to find an excuse to be in Mesa again soon. It will be an easy walk from the light rail as well once it's finished being built out that far.
(5)
Rosemary J.

Ate lunch here with my husband and three of our friends. Empanadas are delicious and tasty. We enjoyed the Pernil, El Capitan, and a Chicken with vegetables. Service was very good. We willl go back.
(4)
Rahul I.

This is a small cafe located just behind Benedictine University in Mesa. It is hard to locate. I initially drove right by it, and I was looking for it. I was pleasantly surprised though. The empanadas are very good. I had the Lunch special, and I chose the Greek and the Boricua for the two empanada choices. They were good. I see that they do serve certain alcoholic drinks (beer). While I do not drink alcohol, what they do serve is fitting for it. Perhaps with it being in downtown, this may be a good late night hangout....perhaps just missing the mojitos and related, but then again I do not drink. I also do not know if they want to have a full bar given they are so close to the university. This is a good place for either lunch or a snack....maybe late night.
(4)
Ashley A.

I am so excited to call this a Mesa restaurant! We have returned a couple times and have had wonderful times each visit! What to expect: - full flavor - tender meat - CHOICES (my husband is a big fan of choices) - cozy atmosphere - live music some nights - YUMMY desserts (my favorite part of any meal) We will continue to come back and hope foodies looking for a new spot will give this one a try!
(4)
Kelly T.

If I could give this 8 stars I would. Amazing, fresh flavors in a perfect dough. Huge variety. Had the cubano, pernil, el capitan and the dizzy fig. All very good. The cubano is the favorite but I still loved the rest. Great atmosphere. Extremely fast and friendly service. I know I sound like a commercial, but this is the real deal. I am a fan and will be a regular. My only complaint is that they are not closer to home.
(5)
Libna M.

I absolutely love this place! The food and service are amazing!! The aciote potato is my favorite!
(5)
Jack A.

First time here. The food and service was absolutely fantastic! I will definitely go back.
(5)
Danny S.

If I had a way to add one more star, I totally would! First of all, let me say that I do NOT like rice dishes that much, especially central/south american rice dishes. The arroz con pollo here is one of the best foods I have ever eaten! I'm not kidding. I don't know what they put in there (well, besides rice and chicken) but I just cannot stop eating that rice! The staff is always friendly. Not sure when everybody else has waited so long. They're usually busy when I go and I tend to get served rather quickly. Another plus is the simplicity of their menu. It's a small menu which means that they can specialize in what they're good at resulting in much better quality food. But don't take that to mean you'll have an easy time choosing your meal. Literally everything on the menu sounds delicious! My general go-to, though, is El Capitan which has seasoned ground beef and... well, I'm not sure what's in there. Magic, I'm guessing. They are well-stocked on bottled sodas from Latin America and have decent size fountain drinks. I don't drink alcohol so I can't comment, but they do have some really good specials on drinks! Oh, dessert! OMG how could I nearly forget dessert?! Empanadas with figs, cheese and caramel! Empanadas with peanut butter and Nutella! Empanadas with Bananas and Nutella! Seasonal flavors as well. Seriously, if you don't get dessert at this place you'll make the angels in heaven cry. And you don't want to be responsible for making angels cry.
(5)
Amanda L.

What should you eat? The Cubano empanada with a side of tostones. And get a little extra of that jalapeÃ±o ranch - you'll want it. When should you go? After 6 PM on Mondays and Tuesdays, apparently. They do a $20 "flight night" deal: 4 flights of beer, 4 empanadas, all for less than a tank of gas. And all their beer is localish - there's some Portland and Mexican brews, but there's selections from Phoenix, Tempe, Chandler, and even Mesa. My only regret: Other than not coming during that 4-for-20 nonsense extravaganza, I wish I'd had room to try one of the sweet empanadas. After two empanadas and sharing the caribÃ© platter (which, delicious), I couldn't eat another bite. But oh man, did I want to.
(5)
Bekah S.

Why did we wait so long to try this gem? The food was out of this world. Try best we've had out in a long time. The green salsa is divine. I could drink it. Our three boys 17, 14, and 10 loved loved loved it. We tried many empanadas; chicken and veggie, chicken and mushroom, cheeseburger, the two different pork ones, and the jalepeno poppers. We couldn't pick a favorite. They were all incredible. We ended with a Nutella/PB empanada with ice cream and a caramel fig. Both were heavenly. If you haven't been and are considering it GO! NOW!
(5)
Tom T.

A quaint restaurant in Mesa that serves amazing empanadas. My family and I ordered take out and we got a variety of empanadas to try. I have to say that not a single one disappointed us. But I have to say, my favorite was the desert ones. :) I recommend 2-3 for a hungry adult male. Maybe 4-5 if you're starving. Save room for the sweet ones though. You won't regret it.
(4)
Eric W.

First time here and the food was awesome and the owner the kept the place open till we finished! Talk about service. I'll be sure to come back when I'm in town.... Really really good... The salsa is amazing!
(5)
Vilay S.

I found myself in Mesa for a conference and was disappointed in the "downtown" food options. I am so happy that I found Republica Empanada early during my week because I went there many, many times. There are so many choices, and not just with the empanadas. You can get a heaping bowl of rice, or down a platter full of deep fried goodness, or be responsible with a hearty vegan salad. The waitstaff and the owner were so, so nice when I was there with a huge group. Wish I could take this restaurant home with me.
(4)
Najwan J.

This place is so good! Something so different and light but gets you full, variety of unique delicious empanadas, I recommend this place to everyone, will defiantly go back for more with friends, also the staff are soo nice! The owner was also very nice he walked up to us and asked us about the things we ordered and if we liked them. (Thumbs up)
(5)
Sean H.

Love coming here!! Came today for my third time.. and just love it! They have great customer service,.. as we ate the place started too fill up.. The food is always great! The french fries are amazing.. and I always order a variety of their empanadas.. I totally recommend it!!
(5)
Carlos V.

Excellent food, loved the combination plate and the empanada platter. The service was great and the place was very clean. Will definitely come again.
(5)
Anna T.

You go in and its very Latin hipster. I love the way we can walk up and order OR we could be seated by a waiter. The ones who are there to work, are super casual which helps new people who come there. The empanadas, oh the empanadas!! I've been twice and not been disappointed. I ordered the Cubano, the jalapeno and cream cheese, the shredded pork, and the one with golden raisins. The most favorite part of the food wasn't actually the empanadas, but the house salsa! It went with every empanada I ate, whether out was supposed to or not. I loved it! I have to take time to compliment the staff and Howe they take care of people and their things, because I left my credit card here by accident for three days and they kept it for me until I was able to come for it. Thanks RE!!! Not only do I trust you with my stomach but with my stuff if I ever forget it again!
(5)
Lee W.

We went to a concert at the Mesa Art Center and went to dinner here before the show. We are so glad that we did! The food was delicious, if you like empanadas you will have a great selection. I loved the El Capitan. We also had both of their salads which were very fresh and delicious. The beer selection was good and we had wine. The wine was warmer than it should have been but was still good. The restaurant itself was really cute and mod. We enjoyed sitting on the covered patio watching the hummingbirds buzz around. Service was friendly and good. I highly recommend Empanadas Republica.
(4)
Susan S.

Oh, Republica I desperately wanted to love you... We came in on Saturday night about 7:45. The restaurant was about 25% full but it took 15 mins to seat us. We ordered the papas fritas, and were saddened to get limp fries. We both ordered platters and the food was good, but don't think we will be back. Highlights included the green sauce on the table (jalapeÃ±o, cilantro salsa) and the jalapeÃ±o popper empanada. The Cubano gets an honera me mention.
(3)
Rosson S.

This place is definitely worth it. I had the bean & cheese along with the jalapeÃ±o popper. Awesome vibe and unique food. Will be returning again and again.
(5)
Eva G.

Delicious, scrumptious empanadas! Great lunch specials! Fabulous restaurant! Fast and friendly service! NUFF SAID! *drops microphone and walks away*
(5)
Fabiola F.

I had the perenil in an empanada and both the meat and the pastry were great, my next option is to have it on a torta because it will come with more stuff. The empanada options on the lunch special are good, but they haven't, at least these last two times, featured the really good ones. Rice and beans are alright, but nothing to write home about. Just get a single empanada, like the classic, and a side of slaw. throw in a desert one if your still hungry.
(4)
Hanna B.

I went to Republica Empanada after researching local places. Their fig, mozzarella and dulce de leche empanada caught my eye so I grabbed my partner in crime and went for lunch on a Friday afternoon. The place is tiny but very clean and nicely decorated. Not ideal with children. Inside it has one long table (bar) with bunch of chairs and about 8-10 small tables with 2-4 chairs each. They do have an outside seating area but I didn't go out. The place was rated A by health department as well. I went just before noon and it was already busy. By the time 12:30 hit, it was packed. But they are very fast and lines moved quickly. The food didn't take long to come out and in the meantime, you get the enjoy the delicious smell. We got 6 empanadas total. 4 meal and 2 sweet. We had the buffalo chicken, mushroom chicken, pernil, boricua, Ruiz's pieces and fig cheese & caramel. The savory ones were filled and generous. The pernil was tender and flavorful. The boricua is pernil with rice, peas, etc. and it had a tiny bit of spice and even better than the pernil. The buffalo chicken wasn't overpowering buffalo flavor and mushroom chicken was savory and moist with good spices.Ruiz's pieces was nutella and peanut butter. It was generously sprinkled with powder sugar and inside was warm and gooey. The star of the show for me was fig cheese and caramel. Dried fig with melted mozzarella and dulce de leche. What an interesting combination of flavors but it worked wonderfully together. It also came generously sprinkled with powder sugar. It's a great local hole in the wall. We both loved everything about the place but the food is definitely worth the trip. It's a bit hidden but look for a red sign, it's hard to miss from the corner. Definitely a great find!
(5)
Jay D.

Finally a good empanada place ;) Favorites so far are the El capitan and jalapeÃ±o popper with ham. Also tried the Cubano and buffalo chicken along with the chicken with mushroom ;) The restaurant is small but friendly hipster type of place. They have a great beer selection.
(4)
John M.

Oh hell yes! I was exposed to empanadas during my time in Chile. This place is a godsend. Cool locale, nice people, and great sangria and food. We have had almost all flavors on the savory side and they are all very good. They cheeseburger flavor was a wonderful surprise. This place is a must!
(5)
Jewel M.

Great vibes, great service and very pretty but quaint. Independent as hell, the food is super soulful and homemade. Has a nice patio too! What a little gem in the heart of Mesa.
(5)
Kim R.

Found this place was open late (till 9) and thought I would try it. Very pleasant surprise when I walked in! Not a low-rent "taco stand" at all, but a hip, friendly local place with high-quality food and a lovely atmosphere. I met the owners who were so friendly and said I could sit on their patio with my dog anytime. The empanadas were DELICIOUS, very inexpensive (2 for $7.95) and had a green chili dipping sauce that is to die for. I will make this a regular local spot from now on!
(5)
Laela L.

Super yummy! (Even my difficult to please boyfriend couldn't stop raving about his empanadas!) One of the highlights of my visit to AZ!
(5)
Lauren E.

Very tasty empanadas! We got the fig cheese caramel dessert empanada, and it was awesome! Our favorite savory empanada was the bean and cheese. Yum!
(5)
Erica W.

Writing this and thinking about this place is making my mouth water. I LOVE Republica! So unique and so delicious! Some of my fave empanadas are: Jalapeno Popper, Cubano and the Buffalo Chicken. You MUST try them with the green sauce. Best I have ever had. Not sure if they put crack in it or what, it's Goooood! The fries are something you can't leave without trying. They have the best fries in town, hands down. I could go on and on. There's nothing that I have not loved! And the place itself is so swanky and cool. This is the perfect spot to impress a date!
(5)
Brandon V.

I had two of their empanadas and my wife and 2 others so I was able to taste 4 of them. They were all awesome! I don't have a favorite. I can see me getting different ones for my different moods but they will be perfect. We also shared plantain chips. Yum! I haven't had plantain since our honeymoon cruise in the Caribbean and these did not disappoint. Probably better. They also had some very tasty salsa-verde. Yum! Note: I was also very impressed with clean, hip atmosphere. The large HD TV's playing "Back to the Future" was an added bonus.
(5)
Alwin L.

Had their empanada platter with el capitan and boricua. Delicious.
(4)
Cody H.

This place is a breath of fresh air in downtown mesa that is saturated by subs and Mexican food. This place is clean, not to expensive ( good lunch deals), and just something totally new. The hamburger and slow cooked pork is heaven. I don't usually eat dessert but the fig, mascarpone, and caramel is a home run that would even impress Babe Ruth. If you're in the area, try it!
(4)
Clay O.

All I can say is OHH MYYYY! Took one bite and was in heaven. I think I gained 5 lbs today, but worth it. I had the lunch special since I could not decide what to do...come with beans, rice and cabbage salad. The cashier was very friendly and helpful. Everyone there is very friendly. Nice people Good food. The lunch special comes with two choices. I had the chicken and mushroom (very good) and the el capitan which was very flavorful. Both were excellent. So I had to have desert.... banana and nutella... this was out of this world. I will be back to gain some more lbs.
(5)
Cindy R.

I have to say.... YUM! My first time here and so much more to try! So it's a quaint little mom and pop store. Clean and cute. There is both off the street parking and a parking lot. We were seated immediately at lunch hour on the July 4th. The waitress was attentive and did her job well. Now for the food! I ordered Boricua which is rice, peas and pork , my daughter, not so adventurous had ham and cheese, we split an order of their homemade seasoned fries that had a yummy green sauce. I also ordered the fig empanada. If I only go back there again for one thing it would be for that fig empanada! I really liked the Boricua the pork was amazing. I can't wait to go back and try more!
(5)
Wanda J.

Delicious Empanadas. Menu has such a nice variety, something to please everyone. Restaurant sits on a corner and reminds me of a quaint coffee house. Staff is warm and friendly. I picked this place based on the reviews from fellow yelpers and I love empanadas. Please know they are not cheap and they are not big. Cost for two was $7.89, but worth it fresh and frabjous.
(4)
Melba R.

Just came for the first time and I am beyond satisfied. Everything was amazing and at reasonable prices. The Greek empanada and the Fig, cheese, caramel are the best tasting empanadas I have ever had and I am Puerto Rican, I've eaten many empanadas in my time. Service was great and the place is very clean. Even met the owner who was nice and attentive. This is must try! We are definitely coming back.
(5)
David R.

This place was great had lunch here had the hawaiin and the jalapeno popper enpanada and they were great. The decorations are cool and modern. Highly recommend
(5)
Ryan J.

This might be apocryphal but many in Latin America claim that God didn't rest on the 7th day, he celebrated by creating the empanada. A few visits to Republica Empanada and you will become a true believer to this sentiment. While the place might have a serious hipster facade the owners behind the scenes are the genuine real article. It's this type of restaurant that Yelp was made for. Plan on making a few visits because you'll want to sample everything.
(5)
Matt M.

If the revitalization efforts of Mesa's downtown restoration succeed, places like Republic Empanada can take a lot of the credit. Briefly, a comfy cozy place with hip music and good solid food, albeit, mostly empanadas. The decor try's a little hard, but I applaud the effort. The light fixtures are awesome and I love the couch.
(4)
Molly F.

Be careful not to get a dessert empanada 'a la mode'. For two very small scoops of your run-of-the-mill vanilla ice cream we paid an extra $6! I was shocked and disappointed. The empanadas are good. But the service is poor.
(3)
Martha W.

The food here is really solid, but the atmosphere is not good. Republica Empanada fries their empanadas, but they don't feel greasy or overly heavy. Everything comes out piping hot. The dessert empanadas are particularly stellar - this restaurant was on a list of the best restaurant desserts in the Phoenix area for their fig, cheese, and dulce de leche (caramel) empanada, and with good reason. They make the dulce de leche in house and it's phenomenal. Unfortunately, the last time I went, it was so loud that it literally gave me a migraine. I would recommend either making a reservation to sit on the patio or just stopping by for dessert in the middle of the day when it's not so busy. The other reviews are correct about the disorganized service, but the desserts are worth it if you avoid sitting inside during peak hours.
(4)
Aiesha M.

Very rarely do I give a 5 however these empanadas are amazing, at least the ones I ordered! I had the jalapeÃ±o popper, la boricua, fig cheese and caramel, Nutella and banana and Cubana. Very friendly staff. Fast service and VERY affordable. I would have gotten 1 of each if I could. Great selections.
(5)
Jen V.

Totally recommend this place to anyone wanting to try something new, fresh, and authentic. I ordered the Empanada Platter, it came with the choice of two empanadas, white rice, black beans, cabbage, and plantains for $13.00, completely worth it. The food reminded me of my Mom's home cooking. It's a real small restaurant, but the atmosphere is great. Right next door you have the Mesa Urban Garden, cool place to check out after.
(5)
John H.

Saw all the reviews and really wanted to go. We went for dinner on a Wednesday night and were 2 of about 5 people in the whole place. We order the special and the rice and beans were cold. The empanada were good but somewhat small. Got a beer for a dollar off which was nice. Also got two dessert empanada which were the highlight of the meal hot and good. Food was ok but not sure I would drive the 20 minutes to come back.
(3)
Charlie S.

Today tried a seasonal special, pork enchiladas. They were incredibly good! Spicy red sauce was perfect. My wife, the hot fan, loved the jalapeno popper. Have yet to try anything here that isn't excellent!
(5)
Kayla V.

Great beer choice ( though not draft) and the food is EXCELLENT. The fig and cheese dessert Empanada was a perfect, sweet and savory finish. Mondays and Tuesdays you can get 4 empanadas and four beers ( or a bottle of wine) for $20 (2 People min.) I highly recommend this chic, little hole in the wall joint.
(5)
Laurie B.

As out of town visitors, we were glad to try something different. I wondered if the empanadas (fried dough after all) would be heavy. Not at all. The chicken empanada was delicious with the sauce and so was the bean and cheese empanada. Definitely add the green sauce to your whole meal- it livened up even the rice and beans on the side. Great interior.
(3)
Gary D.

Pro's: It's close to where I live and the food is OK in my opinion. Con's: It's a loud bar atmosphere. Asked for no ice in my soda and I got unwanted ice. A bit expensive for people on a tight budget. This place is perfect for people that like outdoor dining and a loud bar environment.
(3)
Jasmin S.

The empanadas may be small but they are full of flavor and filling. Both savory and sweet styles. Good beer selection. The restaurant is small so expect a wait on busy days.
(4)
Raylun G.

Great taste but the combo was not worth the cost. I recommend ordering 3-4 empanadas, specifically the jalapeÃ±o poppers. The atmosphere is an indie modern take with upbeat songs from a cultured era. Definitely a hole in the wall to visit
(4)
S C.

This is a gem. This is by far one of best places you've never heard of and should try. Actually going there tonight and can't wait.
(5)
Mama Bee B.

Great empanadas! Love the location and atmosphere. My favorite is the pernil. Cheese burger, jalapeÃ±o popper are relish too. Sort of pricey.
(4)
Scott G.

We had the Arroz con Pollo and a variety of the empanadas, everything was so delicious!! The service was also fantastic!!
(5)
Shain J.

Came here with my family and we had a variety of empanadas. All were delicious!!! The desert empanadas were delightful! I'm not even a desert person, but I had to try one after the tasty empanadas we had for lunch. I'll be coming back to try the other types!!!!
(5)
Holly R.

Ever since the boyfriend and I discovered empanadas in New York we have been dreaming of finding something comparable close to home. Enter Republica Empanada. When we saw the menu online we got excited because there were a variety of options, many quite similar to what we had experienced in NYC. Our expectations were high and Republica Empanada did not disappoint. We both ordered the lunch special - 2 empanadas, rice, beans and salad for $7.50. I chose the Hawaiian and the El Capitan, both were very, very good. The shell was done just right - crispy but not greasy. And there was plenty of filling with a good ratio of ingredients. They served them with a spicy cilantro sauce on a side that definitely had a kick but was very tasty. The rice and beans, though simple, were flavorful and a nice complement to the empanadas. The place itself is clean, contemporary and comfortable. The staff was very pleasant and helpful explaining the menu options. One thing to watch out for when going there - they are on First AVE. Apple maps will take you to First STREET (thanks a lot SIRI!) So watch out for that. I can't wait to go back and try a few of the other flavors. This is sure to become a regular place for us.
(5)
Jenteel P.

I so appreciate this place! Very hard to find Caribbean/Latin (not Mexican) food in Phx that is reminiscent of those back home that are actually good! The staff is really nice, orders are fulfilled quickly, and they stay open until 9p on weekdays!
(5)
Brianna S.

Yum yum! Decent prices, clean, friendly and different. We will definitely come back.
(4)
Keri W.

It truly is a rare treat to find such an exquisite restaurant. This quaint little nook tucked away in downtown Mesa is serving up delicate, fluffy pillows of empanada heaven on the daily! From the first bite, I knew that this Chef was supremely passionate about food. I need to go back for dessert. Our server was delightfully charming and demure. Their garden is very impressive. This spot is positively heartwarming.
(5)
Drew M.

Food was OK. It's different than anything around so that is appetizing. I'm not a fan of ham, Green and Kalamata Olives, so that eliminates 89% of their menu for me. I tried the buffalo chicken and the cheeseburger. I'd eat the chicken one again, but the ground beef pocket I can do without. My stars are actually for the decor, service, and beer selection. The place would get more stars from me once they make more affordable, appetizing empanada combinations. but for someone like my dad, that likes nasty tasting olives, this may be 5 stars. The empanadas are $3 each, but are small. good luck getting full for less than $10.
(3)
Janet S.

This restaurant is great. I had their pulled pork sandwich (I can't remember what they called it). Its really good. I put their green sauce all over it. Its one of the best sandwiches I have ever had.
(5)
Marisa K.

I'm a big fan of this place. I've been three times now and have had the chance to try several offerings and haven't been disappointed yet. They have a great range of flavors, both savory and sweet. The lunch special is a great deal too. Just be careful, I have burned my mouth every time I've eaten here.
(4)
Jessica L.

Not unlike its namesake, this joint has an unassuming exterior and pure delight on the inside. Stopped in here for a late lunch during a business trip, and as with nearly all other Yelpers, the food and service did not disappoint. There are three shared-seating areas (2 small bars and and long community table). There are several small 2-person tables and a couple larger tables. Decor was pleasant with a down-to-earth-but-hip, urban vibe. Very casual atmosphere. Not fancy, just fun. Lunch: I dined with two business colleagues, and we enjoyed everything we tried. We started with an appetizer Combo Caribe (yuca fries, tostones, and maduro). The accompanying jalapeno-crema and the light green-chile salsa were pleasantly spicy and delicious. I ordered the Lunch Special, opting for the Pernil (slow-roasted pork) and Ham and Cheese empandas which were served with rice, black beans, and cabbage salad ($7.95). I think anything would be delicious wrapped in that perfect pastry crust, so it was especially nice that the fillings were also spectacular. The cabbage salad was simply dressed with a light acidity, proving an especially nice foil for the rich pastry. My colleagues each ordered a special "Arroz con Colombia," which they devoured, echoing high praise between mouthfuls, stopping only to swallow and eat more. They may have breathed; not sure. Sadly for me, they didn't share! This tasty-looking dish was an achiote-seasoned rice served with shrimp, sausage, and vegetables (peppers, carrots). It looked like paella (without the crisped rice bottom). Taking their word and empty plates, it must be fantastic. To accompany the meal there was a small, thoughtful selection of bottled beers, cider, and sodas. We finished our delightful lunch by splitting the guava and the fig-caramel dessert empanadas (yes, I'm nicer than the boys!). Fig-caramel was amazing, with just a touch of salt (maybe from the cheese?) to balance the sweet caramel and I adored the just-right textures of crispy-chewy-creamy. Mmm. When I return, the Pernil and Fig-Caramel will remain a must-order. I will venture into other savory flavors and report back.
(5)
Kayla B.

Yummmm! Came in today for the lunch special, which came with a choice of 2 empanadas and all three of their sides. As a vegetarian, I was delighted that their rice and beans were both veggie! I went for the cheese and potato, the potato was my favorite, so good. The cheese was a giant mozzarella stick of deliciousness. My sister ordered a bean and cheese empanada, she's a veggie too, and TWICE empanadas came out with meat in them. The employees were very apologetic and we could tell it wasn't purposefully, as if a prep cook had accidentally mixed them up, but could have been bad if my sister had actually taken a bite. But as I said, they were nice about it, and I wouldn't hold it against them. We also ordered three.... Yes three.... Dessert empanadas! Guava and cheese is where it's at. I'm excited to come out on a Monday or Tuesday for their special! Beer and fried goodness. Nom!
(4)
Jami e.

Lovely interior, just enough comfort-to-hip ratio. Went there for the first time Monday night got 4 empanadas and a desert for take out. The food was delicious!!! and we will be going there to eat in next time. As I was waiting for my food I noticed that the staff were engaged and informative and customers were enjoying the atmosphere as much as the food. Go there to eat and hang out it will make a wonderful evening. Ps the food is mostly somewhat Puerto Rican & Caribbean style -ish and tastes just like you hope it will.
(5)
Teresa A.

Amazing. Traveling from out of town and discovered this place on Yelp. Absolutely wonderful atmosphere and food. Definitely recommend.
(5)
Sarah D.

Good food, great prices and ridiculous portions. The tostones fried plantains were awesome and has just the right texture. You can taste the freshness in everything they make. The only thing I would improve on would be service and even that barely needs work. The staff was friendly and attentive, I think we caught them on an off night lol. I'm a server so I notice the little things. All in all, the food holds on it's own. With 2 appetizers, 2 big ass meals and a brew for my guy the bill was only 37! Could barely fit the leftovers in the 2 to go boxes... Give this a go if you're in the neighborhood for sure :)
(4)
Jae And Nui K.

Stopped in here on a Wednesday night at 7pm. There was only one other couple there eating, we were grabbing something to go. We ordered a couple empanadas each. Wife had the potato empanada and the fig and cheese. Both were really good. I had the pernil and the chicken with mushroom. Both were good but the pernil was the best. The green sauce they give you is really good. Has a little spice to it but it is just right. After eating two empanadas I could use a third. They do have a happy hour that ends at 7. Not sure what the specials are, but they do serve beer and wine. They have a special Monday and Tuesday, $20 for 4 empanadas and 4 beers. Must be shared with 2 people.
(5)
Ryan J.

We were looking for a dog friendly restaurant and called up Republica Empanada and they let us bring him out on the patio with us. A good start Their Tostones were very, very good. Large and enough for 3-4 people to start. We decided to all try a few and share, everything was great. The Cuban was tasty and the Capitan was particularly good. The house Pork was also amazing. We will be back, we are always looking for good spots to eat. Prices aren't too bad when you consider the flavor!
(5)
Cassandra S.

I've eaten here with friends three times, and each time the empanadas have been supreme, and the beer selection good. I love bringing new people here. The jalapeÃ±o and the caramel mozzarella dessert empanadas are the beeest... At times, they have a $20 special for two beers and four empanadas perfect for a small dinner or large snack. And the staff are wonderful.
(5)
Julius R.

I had high expectations of this place. I ordered a few different types of empanada, both savory and sweet. Only a couple of them were good...not great, just good. Also, price is too high for what you get.
(2)
Cheryl B.

Nestled close to downtown, this place is a hidden gem in Mesa and definitely worth discovering! Although small inside & a slightly limited menu, containing empanadas savory and sweet (some gluten free, wheat, and vegetarian choices) a few appetizers, platters, a couple sides, soup and salads, Republica Empanada was big on flavor! Beverages consist of RC products on tap, bottles of fully loaded Pepsi, Coke, Jarritos in several fruity flavors, canned soda, lemonade and tea. I ordered the Greek empanada filled with sautÃ©ed spinach, creamy feta, and kalamata olive, thanks to the suggestion of our awesome server Heidi, and that day's special, the Jalapeno popper empanada with cream cheese, ham, and roasted jalapenos, both melt in your mouth savory perfection! Oh and the jalapeno cilantro ranch is amazing, so great I could put it on both and could have finished it with a spoon! My daughter had the buffalo chicken which she wanted me to say that it was soooo good and from the one bite she was sweet enough to share I agree, it was soooo good! Only wished the empanadas were bigger but for my waistline's sake glad they're not because I want to try them all! Dinner isn't complete without dessert, so we ordered "the King" an empanada stuffed with peanut butter & banana. Little Miss loved it and by the last bite was saying thank you, thank you very much! (LL) I had melt in your mouth sweet perfection, fig and caramel empanada made with fig, mozzarella cheese, & South American dulce de leche, a definite must try! Great food, prices and service will definitely keep me coming back for more!
(4)
Nichole H.

This was my first visit and the verdict is in: this place rocks! It's affordable, close to home, friendly, cozy, and unique. Oh, did I mention the food is great too? The Popper flavor was my favorite but honestly I didn't find one I didn't like and we must have tried about half the menu. Me and mine will definitely be back to try everything at least once.
(5)
Sonia O.

These are the best empanadas I've ever had. The empanada dough is perfect. It's thin and crisp - not so thin that it's falling apart and not too crisp that it's hard to eat. The fillings are delicious and the dessert empanadas are uuuuhmazing! We came here two times in two days because we are out-of-towners and had to get as many empanadas as we could! I liked the Republica Chicken, Bean and Cheese, the Fig, Cheese, and Caramel desert empanada, and the guava and cheese. I'm seriously thinking the drive from LA might be worth it! Plus the staff is very friendly and welcoming. I can't wait to come back.
(5)
John R.

Fantastic. Stopped in hoping to find some authentic Argentine cuisine. Food was terrific. Service was excellent. Empanadas to die for. The El Capitan, chicken, & pork were outstanding. Try the banana & nutella desert empanada. Killer! We'll be back.
(5)
Phoebe B.

Love this place! The coconut porter was really good and the yucca fries were amazing! I had the chicken empanada and my husband had the beef and the mushroom and chicken and everything was divine. The sauces are all great compliments to the food. I have actually been to South America and I know authentic empanadas. We will definitely be returning! Also the caramel fig empanada is amazing!!!!
(5)
Maria B.

Very cute place, good empanadas
(4)
Jeff L.

Amazing all the time! Everything is really freaking good and I've tried half the empanadas on the menu. They are small so get 2 or 3. The gallo pinto brings me back to Costa Rica. The coconut porter was also a pleasant surprise. It has a trendy feel but still mom n pop. I like to think of it as a Costa Rican Cornish Pasty with way fewer hipsters, and no draft beer.
(5)
Don M.

The fig carmel empanada is worth the trip on it's own. Also really liked the rest. Definitely going back again.
(4)
N R.

Great food and good service. The variety of empanadas is great. Dessert selection of empanadas is yummy. Good drink selection... Bottled drinks, beer too I think? Atmosphere is great; excellent spot for quick lunch.
(5)
Jennifer G.

This place is the bomb! Great food nice clean casual atmosphere. You can even get a beer with you lunch! If you haven't tried it you are missing out!
(5)
Christina W.

Was nice to try something different for lunch but it was only okay. Tried the lunch special which came with two empanadas + rice + beans. Empanadas good but needs a dipping sauce. Overall a bit dry and the shell greasy. Also tried the pollo con arroz. That was disappointing. Compared to other PCAs I've had this was not it. This was prepared like chicken fried rice (but not as good tasting). Likely not to return as it was not memorable.
(3)
Matt B.

Very cool place, great empanadas both authentic like the CapitÃ¡n and more Americanized like the Buffalo Chicken!
(5)
Alexis X.

I like this little joint. It's small, clean, and has a hip vibe. The pernil empanadas were tasty. The crust is the main attraction, crisp but not greasy. The outer crust is made with flour rather than with cornmeal which is fine. I like both crusts as long as they're done right. The meat is flavorful, but slightly on the drier side. The version with rice and beans and pernil was OK, but I liked the straight pernil better. The ground beef was good also. I guess I subscribe to the "less ingredients is more," approach to empanadas. Would've liked to have tried the chicken, but they were already out at 5pm on a Saturday. The empanadas are a good size and my friend and I split 3 so we could try a variety. The green dipping sauce was a bit on the bland side, and I would've liked to have had a house made red sauce option. We also ordered yucca, which is always great right out of the fryer, but cut quite thick so it can get starchy when it cools down. The hearts of palm salad was enormous, and can easily be shared between 2-4 people. It's packed full of fresh ingredients but it overall it wasn't anything special and the green dressing was also on the watery blander side. The plantain patty that comes with the salad was crispy and had a great texture. Again, it was fried but not greasy. I will probably just skip the salad next time, and save room for more empanadas, which are the star of the show. Servers were casual but very attentive. I don't get to the the East side much, but the next time I catch a show at the Mesa Arts, I will make a stop. It's literally walking distance.
(3)
Jerry S.

Every one we tried was delish. I am pretty picky about empanadas because I used to live in Venezuela where they are on every corner and better than any I have had here. They had green sauce that was legit like the Venezuelan street vendors which I haven't seen since I left. It went well with the chicken, the rest are very fusion type empanadas but I liked that there were traditional and empanadas like the Nutella banana. Great mix of new and old and so yummy
(5)
Sarah A.

I found this on Google maps, searching for something in close proximity to Mesa Arts Center, where I attended a concert tonight. My sister and I shared several savory empanadas, the Yuca Fritas, and one sweet empanada. We agreed that our favorites were the Pernil and the Mushroom Chicken, although we liked all the ones we tried. We had the Guava and Cheese for dessert, and it was delicious too. All the empanadas were very flavorful, with a crispy (and not oily) pastry. What a delicious concept, and it's great to share so you can try many different flavors. The service was a little slow, especially since there weren't many people there, but the staff was very friendly. This is a true gem in downtown Mesa. I will for sure be back.
(4)
Lexington L.

What a great addition to downtown Mesa. The eatery offers a hip little hangout with a long community table down the center backing up to the Mesa Community Garden (you start to see the concept they are going for). The service was good, food was great, menu is sleek and simple. We have not had a chance to try the desserts yet, that is on our list! The selection looks unbelievable. We heard they are also getting a liquor license, which will transform it from an urban eatery to a place to hangout and stay a while. Looking forward to that.
(5)
Mark E.

OMG we just shared six and I couldn't pick a favorite, they are all fantastic! Do yourself a favor and try this place..
(5)
Mike P.

We tried 6 different empanadas and everything was excellent! Service was good and food was awesome! We will definitely come back. The fig cheese and caramel desert empanada was our favorite!
(5)
Mike S.

We were looking for a lunch place and my phone app suggested this place, I couldn't be more in love with my phone for suggesting it. It is a very small an unassuming place on the outside and you would miss it if you weren't looking for it. The wait staff was very friendly and very informative, our waitress made sure to ask if it was our first time and answered any questions we had. The food was amazing! I would put down what we had, but I think you should go in not knowing and have an amazing experience like we had. I will definitely be back for more!!
(5)
Eric L.

What an awesome place! To start with, the staff is great. they're very friendly and come around often to check on you. The owner is really nice and pleasant and we had a very nice conversation with him. Now the food, Awesome!!! We tried a variety of empanadas and they were all great. The Jalapeno one was especially good. The dessert empanada fig cheese and caramel was delicious! This place is wonderful! We will definitely be back and we highly recommend that you try it!
(5)
Brain B.

Do you like empanadas, do you hate empanadas? Well, whichever it is, you will love this place. They have everything to spiced ground beef and veggies to Fig and Cheese empanadas.. also me not being a fan of Nutella, LOVES their Nutella Empanada !
(4)
Keiko D.

Why are you on YELP reading about this place and NOT eating here? Holy balls, this place is amazzzzzing. I have single-handedly converted a small army of people to adoring this place. Really, it's all fab, except for the Buffalo Empanada. The ham and cheese is fabulous, the black bean salad to die for, the fig and cheese empanada my BFF. Plus, BOTH my kids eat whatever the get here. Go here now.
(5)
Jessica H.

Delicious! Went for lunch and they had an awesome lunch special; 2 empanadas, cabbage salad, rice and beans. The service was very welcoming, I felt like I walked into a friends home, it was very clean, and had 2 large screen TV's. The food was absolutely delicious. We got 4 different empanadas ALL were yummy!!! We will be back and I highly suggest your check it out too.
(5)
Brea J.

Service can be a bit flaky--there were only two servers on when I got there (6:30 on a Saturday) and it took a long time for anyone to help me/the staff seemed overwhelmed. I still love this place, just some info for the powers that be.
(5)
Kat F.

Great service, reasonable prices , and an excellent variety of Spanish dishes. I also enjoyed the local beer selection. There's a couple of delicious vegetarian options (not your ordinary salad and veggie burger options either). I am anxious to go back again.
(5)
Eric H.

I've been to Republica Empanada several times and each time it's a delight! I love this quaint restaurant located in the heart of downtown Mesa. I also love the prices! Seriously, when most restaurants overprice their meals, RE keeps the prices reasonable. The interior is perfect, modern, and clean. Also, the owners are always available to speak to and I love the family-owned atmosphere. You can't go wrong here! I love everything on the menu.
(5)
Kassandra M.

I created a yelp account just so I could post about this place! I went into Republica Empanada today for a lunch date. I ended up being stood up for said date! Not only did they give me a free dessert, but they were incredibly kind and said it was his loss that he didn't show up. I decided to stick around and have lunch anyway, and I have no regrets about that! I got to eat great food in a comfortable place, and listen to some great music! They have created a business where people will not only want to return because of the food (which was FANTASTIC; I recommend the peanut butter and banana empanada) but people will want to return for the whole atmosphere and the kindness of those that work there! I will definitely be back, and next time probably with a girlfriend or my mom. :)
(5)
Lorena V.

Great lunch special! Simple and delicious. Pick your two empanadas and it comes with rice, black beans, and cabage salad. Afordable. The place is modern and love that they have a couch to relax after finishing your meal. Customer service great.
(4)
Lily M.

The place was fairly easy to find, we were greeted and sat immediately despite the rush. Did take a while to get our drink order due to short staffing. Otherwise, the food totally made up for it! A nice, and much needed spot in the Mesa area!
(4)
Danielle C.

I finally had the chance to come eat here for lunch one day a couple weeks ago and so glad we came here! From the outside it looks a bit interesting... But the inside is very nicely decorated, very colorful and modern. We got one of the lunch plates (two empanadas with rice and beans) and then another two empanadas to share since it was our first time. Everything was all really good, especially the Cuban and Pernil empanadas. We also got the cheeseburger (doesn't have a great punch of flavor) and the mushroom chicken. I've had Maduros from a Cuban restaurant in Louisville, KY and had to order them here when I saw them on the menu. These were just as good; although we weren't crazy about the dipping sauce that came with it. Overall, definitely looking forward to coming back here! We didn't get a chance to order dessert and I had my eye on a few of them!
(4)
Ben B.

This place is the BOMB.COM! Go there you will not be disappointed! The straight up cheese empanada takes you to the streets of Chile! Soooo good!
(5)
John J.

These guys have a great little restaurant. Food is excellent. I'm excited to see what they do with the place. Hope the salads and entree selection on their menu grows!
(5)
Jonatan F.

Excellent fried empanadas + soccer on the TV.
(5)
Brett A.

The only things I've had are the empanadas, which by the name of the place you'd think are the house specialty. Solid, good but nothing special. I tried all the empanadas between my wife and I. My favorite was the boricua. The jalapeÃ±o popper had way too much cream cheese. Friendly service, I think I was hearing such great things it was a letdown. Just a small one tho
(3)
Jennifer O.

This restaurant was like a little slice of hipster downtown Phoenix in Mesa. The space is nicely decorated and has a 'cool' atmosphere. I went with a friend and we each got the dinner plate. Unfortunately, they were out of more than half of their variety of empanada... it was only around 6 pm.... Anyway, the empanadas I ended up getting were very good. Got the Cubana and the Boricua. The Cubana was very flavorful, and though I don't typically like ham, I really liked this. The Boricua was also good with pulled pork and a yellow rice.... it even has olives in it, which I don't like, but I liked this. The crust of their empanadas was thin and crispy....really delicious. The green sauce they provide is good, with nice heat, but is really strong with raw onion... I could taste it in my mouth all night. The dinner plate also came with rice and beans (which were both pretty standard, nothing special) and maduros which were very tasty. We shared dessert, a fig and cheese with ice cream...this was tasty, but I didn't think the ice cream added too much...for the extra 3$, just get a second empanada. I would definitely come back here if I were in the neighborhood again.
(4)
Mary D.

Yummy food in a cute little setting! I look forward to returning again soon. Definitely a great addition to downtown Mesa and the Mesa Arts Center area.
(5)
Bonny O.

This is fantastic. The empanada were amazing. My favorite was the cubano with pork ham cheese and pickles but the pbj and plantain and cremA were also amazing. The plantains were out of this world and the cassava with jalapeno ranch was also delightful. It was busy put not packed which was weird considering the high quality combined with reasonable prices. Beer selection was also superb. Try it!!!
(5)
Elizabeth B.

I first heard about this restaurant through Phoenix New Times, and finally tried it out tonight. Very good food! Everything was super tasty and fresh, and the service was quite good - everyone was very attentive and knowledgeable. Everything was really reasonably priced especially when you get the special. We had the combo appetizer, a couple specials, a couple of desserts, and some sangria - loved it all! Definitely recommend trying out this great restaurant - you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Laura S.

This place is Fantastic! The empinadas are perfect and not oily or dry. The Pernil is my favorite along with the Posole. They serve beer and wine and are working on getting their liquor licence. The lunch special is filling and delicious. Or try the Posole for your lunch. A great way to go. The place has a great vibe, the staff are friendly and nice and the bathrooms are always clean! I like supporting small business, and this is a win win!
(5)
Tiffany O.

The food was great! I tried the republica chicken, cheese, and Nutella banana. They were all wonderful, and came out really quickly. The interior was very clean and modern. All of the empanadas were $3-3.50, so they're great for even just a snack before going to the art center or museum.
(5)
Lucien H.

I used to eat at this building years ago. I think it was called Casa Rosa's at the time, but when I moved I wasn't able to visit again until after the business had shut down. For the first time in years, I saw this place open, so I excitedly pulled into one of the street side parking spaces and walked in. The general idea of the place is the same. There is a tv, but the giant screen projection tv is gone for anybody that remembers it. You must walk in and go immediately left to see the counter where you order. All of the furniture is new and the interior has been completely remodeled from the looks of it. The employees were extremely helpful and polite, and I believe it was the owner that introduced himself to me. I ordered the Cubano, which alone is not nearly enough for a meal even though it was delicious. It was served with an excellent avocado sauce (didn't seem quite like guac). They have a full selection of beverages imported from Mexico and therefore not including high fructose corn syrup. Order one of these with a two empanada lunch combo. Their prep time was very fast making this a good place for a lunch break or date. It also looks like they're applying for their beer license (exciting). If you haven't been here since the building reopened in July 2013, it's definitely worth stopping by if you're in downtown Mesa around lunchtime.
(4)
Jack S.

Costa Rica food with South American flavor. It is a small fast food set up but the food is very good.
(5)
Alex C.

I used to have the empanadas served here back when it was the owner selling them from a small mobile shop. The restaurant has grown but the food has remained uniformly excellent. Delicious, filling, inexpensive and a fun atmosphere. I just took my mother here, visiting from Michigan. She's says: "minimal setting ad frills, and just really, really great food."
(5)
Danny R.

Outstanding food, great service, great staff. Only complaint is the kitchen is pretty slow.
(4)
Lynne A.

Love this place! Great atmosphere and cute diner feel. The selection was amazing and variety awesome. I would eat there once a week if they were in my town. We loved it so much we ate there twice.
(5)
Cabo D.

Probably some of the best cheap eats in Mesa, and within walking distance to the Mesa Arts Center. Small restaurant, parking in the back, good service. Order the yucca frita, much better then any fries.
(4)
check p.

This is a friendly, tasty, fried fast food joint. Fried but not greasy!! I'm here with a group and the outside/inside choice is perfect. Everyone, even veggie lovers are happy!! The pernil empa is crispy but not greasy, with a delicious meatball of juicy pork. Also loved the plantains, rice and black beans! And the sweet empas were good too. Dinner for $11! A real find
(5)
Thomas J.

Walking into RE you are greeted with a nice clean dining room with tasteful art and a slight industrial theme (the light bulbs are pretty cool). The empanada's are very tasteful, although I would like to see some more onion in the cheeseburger empanada. I also tried the El Capitan, Mushroom Chicken, and Jalapeno Popper; all were VERY good! The staff was very friendly and the service was excellent. If you are looking for a nice lunch in a good atmosphere, visit Republica Empanada. I plan on going back and trying a few more empanada flavors along with their yummy house green salsa.
(5)
Britney B.

We were impressed with the freshness and quality of the ingredients. Everything was homemade, and there was great attention to detail. The server was attentive to our needs. It was reasonably priced. The food was delicious. It reminded me of my time spent in Latin America. What else could you ask for? We'll definitely be going back :)
(5)
Danielle E.

The empenadas here are quite tasty. However, I found that they were quite small for what you pay for. I'm always looking to get the best tasting food for my buck and Republica Empanada fell short. I'm glad I gave them a try, but I most likely won't be back.
(3)
Steven B.

My new favorite place. I've eaten many empanadas in my lifetime because my Puerto Rican god-grandmother has fed them to me my entire life, and I haven't had any other that even come close to comparing besides the empanadas here. The first time I came here I probably had like four or five, not even joking. It's so hard to choose just one. 10/10, would recommend to everyone. :)
(5)
Jarilyn W.

This place is amazing! The staff & atmosphere were great and the food even better! I had the Pernil (seasoned pork) empanada & it was fantastic! But take my advice: though you'll be tempted to keep trying more of the deliciousness in the 'main course' or meat empanadas, pace yourself, because ALL of the sweet, dessert empanadas are equally amazing (the plantain & crema is the BEST in my opinion!). They also had a great, local beer selection! Great food, great prices & great service!
(5)
Marcie B.

I just ate here. It is Saturday at around 3:30 so we had to order dinner menu which was more expensive. I had the El Capitan empanadas with the dinner option. They were OK but not great. My husband had the Arroz con Pollo and is average too. I really like the ambience so I'll give it another try someday, maybe a happy hour. They seem to have lots of beers if you like that.
(3)
Mike D.

My friend and I were hungry last night but didn't know what we wanted or where to go so we pulled up Yelp. Yep, we found this place because we like new places that are off the beaten path. We were not disappointed!! The atmosphere is inviting, the service is personal and the food is AMAZING!! Simple ingredients done right!! Definitely going back!
(5)
Chris J.

Great place and nice change of pace from typical good found in the valley - empanadas are a wide range of fillings and there is something for everyone. Try the sweet empanadas for dessert they are great
(4)
Denise B.

Overall the night went very well the moment we walked in. Our waitress was very kind, happy, and helpful. I ordered the Hawaiian and for dessert the Nutella & Banana they were to good to just have one so i ordered two more :)
(5)
Ruthie P.

Meh, not impressed and kind of over-priced for what you get. Ordered two different empanadas and the pozole. One of the empanadas was way over done and the other was just right which was of course the one that came with beans in it which I didn't like but was recommended. The pozole was beef and reminiscent of canned beef vegetable soup. Overall expected better, but may try them again.
(2)
Janee P.

I really like it. Service was outstanding. Simple menu. Sleek and stylish decor. It's a beautiful addition to downtown Mesa. ER has so much potential! I had a lovely chat with the owner, Edmundo, who told us about his family, him being from Mexico and his wife from Costa Rica. The beautiful mural on the wall represents his family. It's awesome! You can tell there is a lot of love and passion behind this business. I also liked the fact that the owner was so friendly and open to suggestions and feedback. I was so very excited for ER to open since I lived in Chile for a year and ate empanadas nearly everyday. We ordered the El Capitan (it sounded the closest to the traditional Chilean empanadas I loved), and the Cubana. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed by the El Capitan. It wasn't bad, just not what I was expecting I guess. Cubana was very good. They also had a really good lunch special. It was $7.50 for 2 empanadas, a side of beans, rice, and salad.(I think). Excited for them to get their liquor license and start offering local craft beers! I think ER has a lot of potential. Will be back to try the rest of the menu.
(4)
Jacob P.

Bold flavor in simple, fried pockets. If you are anywhere near the Mesa area just do yourself a favor and drag your ass to this place. The maduros are tender and sweet, the boricua will make any Nuyorican proud, and the capitan is savory and balanced. By the time you get to dessert you may be jaded from the empanada concept (I was). But they make a great effort in maintaining their identity till the last bite. I would have preferred a custard or bread pudding... something to mix up the texture.
(4)
Jennifer S.

Yum! The empanadas are not big so you get to try 2-3. Every one I tried was very good. There are only 4-5 choices of sides I believe and I only tried rice and black beans and those were good as well. I went a few times while in town and always saved room for a third and made it The King, a desert empanada. Wow! Sin-sational! PB, banana, little honey, powdered sugar on the outside. I always wished I had just ordered 3 Kings.
(5)
Leilani M.

Amazing lunch specials! The Pernil empanada is to die for!
(5)
Ashley C.

What a fun, delicious find in downtown Mesa. We loved the decor, music and most importantly the food. The empanadas are excellent! I had the Chicken and Jalepeno Popper one. It's worth a drive if you don't live close.
(5)
Chad F.

Arrived around 5 for dinner and the restaurant was entirely empty. This was nice as we had great service and the entire menu was explained to us by our waiter. He suggested the combo app platter that had tostonies, fried plantains, yucca & two dipping sauces which was a jalapeno ranch and regular ranch. This was good but did fill you up pretty quick. He recommended the dinner combo... OK portions are huge. Could have skipped the app combo. Dinner special was 2 empanadas of your choice. They have about 10 different varieties. Also on the plate was rice, black beans and some more fried plantains. I would have opted for the dinner special. You can order the empanadas individually which run around $3 each, they also serve 4 different tortas with the same fillings they use for the tasty empanadas. Place was very clean on the inside. As we where seated a couple was leaving. They decided to move outside by the main entrance and proceeded to smoke. The smell of smoke did fill up the dinning room and the owner asked the patrons nicely to move away from the door which they graciously did. The food was very good and the service was excellent. Prices pretty decent as well. Dinner special ran $11 and well worth every penny.
(4)
Laurel N.

This was my first time eating an empanada. I got the black bean and cheese and the Hawaiian. For desert, we got the Nutella and bananas (with ice cream and wipped cream of course). Delicious!! Oh, we also got the Papas Fritas. They are potato fries with house seasoning. So so good! I highly recommend them. Can't wait to go back and try some more. I'm now an empanada fan!
(4)
M G.

Great new gem in downtown Mesa! Light, flaky delicious empanadas. One person can have 2-3 and still have room for a dessert empanada. I had the Boricua, El CapitÃ¡n and the Cubano. All equally delicious and honest to their menu descriptions. Good bottled beer selection and the restaurant was clean, tidy and modern. The service was attentive and friendly. So happy to see a good and unique restaurant in Mesa.
(5)
Chrys W.

Try alot of them. Cheeseburger republica chicken japeno popper. Cubana all were excellent. Buffalo chicken pass on that one . Ewww
(5)
Kevin R.

Meh... $3-$3.25 fancy under filled hot pockets. Didn't feel it was a good value and at bill time got forgotten about for about ten minutes. Won't be returning.
(2)
N W.

A very cool restaurant in downtown Mesa! We tried several of the empanadas and loved all of them. Great staff, nice location next to the community garden. This is definitely going to be a regular.
(5)
Abby G.

I'm digging the Downtown Revival! Republica Empanada was a great place to stop for a nice lunch. The service was great, the lunch special is fantastic and a good amount of food, I didn't leave the slightest bit hungry. The empanadas were delicious, and the decor and atmosphere were quaint, welcoming and thoroughly enjoyable. Will stop by again. Love the original building!
(4)
Beth V.

This place is great. Right next to my job, super convenient for lunch. The lunch special is a lot of food for a good price. There are so many flavors, I can't keep track of my favorites. I just know the green sauce is amazing with all of them. And be sure to try the fig cheese & caramel dessert, ah-mazing.
(4)
Cynthia W.

Busy Friday night and Republica is as loud as a junior high lunch room. It was so noisy we couldn't hear our server and I don't think she could hear us because I wound up with an order of Papas Fritas that I thought was included in the dinner special as an appetizer. They served it after we were well into the meal so we were puzzled when it showed up. They were generously seasoned with rosemary. I had a black bean salad which was large and fresh. My partner had a special that included 2 empanadas which he thought were OK. Skip the Reisling at $6 for a juice glass size and the glass was warm. We thought it was a little pricey.
(3)
elizabeth b.

went with my husband last nite for date nite & we had a wonderful time. the staff was helpful & friendly. we tried a a variety of the empanada flavors & they were all great not a bad one they were all crisp & flavorful.the dessert ones were heaven. all in all it was a great restaurant, layed back vibe you have to try it out, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
M L.

I'm so happy I found this place! I grew up in South America eating empanadas and I never thought I would find such an authentic place in the valley. We loved the food, and we enjoyed watching the world cup too! We'll definitely go back whenever we are in the area.
(5)
Christina S.

Haven't had anything that's bad. Things seem to taste best when the owner is there. Anytime he's not the arroz con pollo isn't the same.
(5)
Danielle A.

My favorite thing about spending a summer in Argentina was trying to eat the most delicious food, as often as possible. Empanadas were a staple, and always mouthwatering. Republica Empanada nails it every single time- super authentic, every time I crave my Argentinian staple I have to come here! Mushroom and chicken is my favorite. Stop in and support, it's an awesome mom and pop place that's a must for lunch. Hoping they expand to Phoenix and Scottsdale soon!!
(5)
Joel N.

I recently heard of this empanada restaurant and I just had to make sure I would go and try it out. I lived in South America for 2 years and empanadas was a food that I ate just about every day down there. At the Republica Empanada, I ordered the ham and cheese, buffalo chicken, and the beef (El Capitan). The ham and cheese and the El Capitan were very good and they tasted pretty much like the ones I ate in Paraguay. I was not impressed with the buffalo chicken empanada. I love buffalo wings, but this empanada did not have the "buffalo" flavor that I was expecting. They used gorgonzola in the buffalo chicken empanada, so that may be the reason I could not taste and "buffalo" flavor. We also ordered yuca frita (fried yuca) with was good. In Paraguay, you pretty much have mandioca (yuca, cassava) with every meal you eat. It was nice to eat yuca frita again. If you like empanadas, give this place a try, it is good.
(4)
Sharin S.

I ate at Republica Empanada before and loved it, so I went back. They must have had an off night because my second experience was horrible. We asked for the first available table inside or outside. We waited about thirty minutes and they sat us inside, meanwhile a table had been open outside the entire time. It was very loud indoors, so we asked for the table outside. The hostess called for help to wipe off the table outside. (Does it take an army to wipe a table?) We were seated and we ordered. The food did not arrive for about 45 minutes to an hour. During that time, we experienced four staff members including our waiter, continuing to ask us if we needed anything. It was obvious that they were trying to tend to our needs but without our meals, there was not much that could be done. So the repeated questions about our well being became more of an annoyance. On top of this, there was an irritating music mix that was playing that was blasting onto the back patio. It was a blend of Lady Gaga meets South Park. Don't know where they found that music but it was a mood killer. Our meals finally arrived and then the repeated questions about how the meal tasted continued. Then, the owner came out and asked us if we were well and he inquired as to whether the waiter told us about the specials. Our waiter did not inform us of the specials but we were indifferent to that fact. He seemed concerned about it and seemed he went in the back and may have reprimanded his staff for this. The owner continued to service us, talking up the desserts and clearing away our plates. What happened to our waiter? Dessert was served and it was incorrect. The owner came back and apologized and corrected it. Our bill came, nothing was discounted for the inconvenience of waiting so long or the mistakes. Then we waited another 20 minutes until our waiter came back to take the bill again. Wow. This was getting old. After paying, we slipped out the back exit, kind of over the experience and feeling icky from the awkwardness of it all. Won't be back there for awhile even if the empanadas are tasty.
(2)
Curious G.

Another place in downtown Mesa that is missing the boat. No paper menus to go. SLOW service. The food looked exellent but I'm a busy professional, I can't wait or take a hour llong lunch, unless I get a job woriking at the Courthouse or the City of Mesa--good pay, cake jobs, count me in.
(2)
Meghan D.

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(2)
Luisa P.

You can taste the love in the food. A unique place, no other like it!
(5)
Cameron S.

Wow, deliciously different. Made a bit of sampler platter with my wife. Tried 8 different empanadas...all delicious, but the Boricua and El Capitan were my favorites....primarily for being so different and complex. Great melange of flavors. Loved the spicy green sauce they give you on the side. The restaurant is very clean, great, friendly and efficient staff. They are very helpful explaining the different ingredients. Great addition to Downtown.
(5)
Walt C.

Cons: I am a fan of spices. In all honesty, I did not really taste a lot of spice in any of the dishes I tried today. I also thought the empanada's were a bit on the small side. Finally, I was not a big fan of the ham. Seemed more like farmer john boiled ham in cubes then a real smoked or cured ham. Don't get me wrong it tasted good, but if I wanted lunch meat I would have got a sandwich. Pro's Some of the nicest people I have met. The girl that waited on me was respectfully dressed. She was kind, courteous, and more than willing to go over everything on the menu and make recommendations. There was a gentleman on a laptop that introduced himself to me, shook my hand, and thanked me for coming in. There was a slightly older gentleman that held the door open for me, and everyone thanked me for coming in and asked me to come again as I left. Finally, the food is very reasonably priced. Food- Now as i said before in my opinion, I though the empanadas themselves were a bit on the small side. However, they are budgeted for their size. So don't walk in thinking 1 or 2 is probably going to feed you if you have a big appetite. I came in with the attitude of the empanadas would be the size of a cornish pasty. When I saw the price I was like wow this is going to be a great deal. It ended up being a fair deal. Their pork is pretty decent. Their black bean and cheese was really good, their cubana which is pork, ham, cheese. I was slightly disappointed because again what I expected was not what I got. I figured it would be a shaved smoked or a cured ham. The sides I got were black beans and rice. Plus a cabbage salad. All fairly decent, nothing to right home about. Final thoughts- Spice it up, maybe try a different type of ham and don't be afraid to tell people empanada's are hand sized. It's the only thing keeping me from giving five stars. In all honesty, I probably would have given three stars on the food because nothing stuck out as great or terrible. What really makes this place though are the people. I am glad I met them today. It's nice to see more places coming to downtown mesa and more business owners need to take a tip from these folks and appreciate their customers.
(4)
Ingrid P.

Delicious food, amazing latin American tastes. Yucca frita was amazing... reminded me of home . So good to be able to present some of my comfort foods to my friends. Definitely will go back
(5)
Di M.

Great ambiance. Some of my faves: arroz con pollo, pernil, el capitÃ¡n, and my #1 guava and cheese! Yummy!
(5)
Ashley N.

I'm so addicted to RE. I crave their bean and cheese Empanadas and yuca fries literally everyday! I also love their platter that has the various plantains and yuca! Great design too, a gem in downtown mesa :)
(5)
Frank K.

It's on 1st AVE NOT 1st St. Had Acho Pollo platter with cilantro jalapeÃ±o salsa stuff. HOLY COW!!!! Fantastic!!! Wife and daughter had rice pudding for dessert but I'm loving this cilantro after taste. Great service. Family owned. We are definitely coming back.
(5)
Sarah R.

Delicious, cheap food. The staff are really nice, hardworking people.
(5)
Elise V.

I live very close to this place, and I would order a lunch special on a weekly if not daily basis simply because their food is top-notch in terms of flavor and freshness; however, I rarely eat there because the prices are not reasonable in terms of food portions. What's more is the lack of business savvy that would draw more customers like myself. I appreciate it when businesses reward frequent/ loyal customers. I have rewards cards at all my favorite restaurants and stamp/ punch-out cards stuffed in my car to everywhere else. Republica Empanada needs to get on that stat! I would also visit more often if they had a set rotation to the items included on their daily lunch specials as I do not enjoy every single empanada recipe. I'm sorry, I'm not a fan of every one of them, and they shouldn't expect ALL of their customers to love everything on their menu. That is called the earning power of a varied menu, hullo?! I've learned to call ahead of time and ask if my favorites are included in the day's lunch special, and I'll just get food elsewhere if I hear that they're not. Again, for my budget, those little (but tasty) empanadas are just not worth the money at full-price hence the reason why I only go for lunch specials. It's great food. The owner has talked to me on most occasions when I visit. Great atmosphere. They would get five stars from me if their specials and business strategies were more customer-friendly. And I have mentioned ALL of this to the owner to which he simply nodded and gave a polite smile. Nothing more. I've warned all my friends. I think, in this social media age, every happy customer counts, but this owner doesn't seem to fully grasp that crucial fact.
(3)
Mandy B.

Fantastic! The avocado/heart of palm salad is a winner because of the fresh ingredients and great flavor. I tried a variety of empanadas. All of them were tasty. I especially liked the crust because it was crisp, not greasy. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because they were out of a few flavors I really wanted to try. They open at 11 and I was there before noon, so kind if a disappointment. Not really a big deal, except if it's on a printed menu, I expect it to be available. If they used a chalk board, or similar, and erased when they were out, I wouldn't have known what I was missing. I'm kind of knit picking. I'll be back. The food was great, the service was friendly and it has a good atmosphere.
(4)
K C.

Everything is great great great! One of my favorite places!
(5)
Daina M.

Great place with a great vibe and delicious empanadas! We must have tried 10 flavors between the 4 of us and they were all amazing! The ranch/ cilantro dressing with a few items (salads and appetizers) was also amazing. Very interesting flavor combos for the empenadas and delicious flaky crust. Superb! Great new find for me! Oh and I love the stamps to label everything! And the beautiful mural and all the cactus. Its a creative place!
(5)
Christopher L.

Super stylish, super hip, super friendly and SUPER GOOD. I never knew white rice could be so savory, and the beans were keen, too! The empanadas are just exquisite!!!!!! I HIGHLY recommend Rupublica Empanada!!! It's truly a gem of downtown Mesa!
(5)
Mark M.

Stopped for the first time two weeks ago after seeing the menu posted at Costco of all places! Ordered the lunch special combo with the Greek, Mushroom Chicken and a 3rd Jalapeno Popper. First and third were very tasty -- second was good but I would try something different next time more challenging. The dÃ©cor was nice and the staff did a great job. I'll visit again soon for lunch!
(4)
Bethany S.

So delicious! Everything we ordered was fabulous. Super good black beans and rice and the pork and the potato empanadas are amazing. New favorite place!
(5)
Andrew B.

Really good food, from really great people. The Dessert empanadas with ice cream and dulce de leche were amazing! They were out of a few of the menu items I wanted to try, but I really liked the potato empanada, maduros (sweet plantains) and tostones (savory green plantains.) I'll definitely be back to try the yucca frita and bean and cheese empanada. This place reminds me of fusion between, Havana Cafe and Cornish Pasty. You should definitely give it a try.
(4)
Maria M.

Great simple menu. Great pricing. Had the lunch special today with my husband and it was super good. The rice and beans were very tasty. My usual pet peeve about empanadas is that they are either too greasy, too doughy, or the insides are greasy and tasteless. Soooo not the case here. I had the potato and the cheese one and both were very tasty, not greasy, and not doughy. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Ivonne P.

Best Latin Food! I've been there quite a few times now since I work close By. Their menu has a variety of Latin Food and every Dish I've tried has been tasty and fresh made. My kids love their rice & Beans. The Empanadas are not Greasy and they have at least 8 different kinds to choose from. I got Addicted to the Sweet Empanadas :) There are also Healthy options my favorite is the Black Bean Salad made with Fresh veggies, Black Beans & Avocados. Their Sauce & Dressing are homemade. RE has an Industrial/Moderm Style & Their staff is very Friendly. For all this reasons I just simply Love this Place.
(5)
Mark T.

Had lunch there today OMG it is so good! We will be going back, often!
(5)
Craig O.

I love this place. Delicious food, reasonably priced. Seems like the owners are always here making everyone feel like family. The pumpkin empanada was delicious. Cheeseburger empanada also did not disappoint. Nice to see a family business in downtown Mesa giving it a go.
(5)
Terri R.

Love this place. Well-made food, great atmosphere. The avocado and heart of palm salad is possibly my favorite thing on the menu (with the exception of their nutella banana empanada). Their gallo pinto is even tastier than the versions I had in Costa Rica. This is an absolute must-try in Mesa.
(5)
Alex S.

I wanted to like this place more. Perhaps my experience with home made empanadas from a variety of sources growing up makes me more critical than the average yelper for this type of food. We tried the fried appetizer. It had a fried yukon, tostones (non ripe platanos) and platanos. Having spent a few years in Puerto Rico where these are served quite commonly I would say it was okay. I tried the chicken and beef empanadas along with a meal that included rice, beans and another forgettable side. The filling on the empanadas was generous. However, they seemed to lack spice and flavor. They were actually quite bland for my taste. The highlight of the meal was the fig and cheese empanadas. If I go back to this restaurant it will be to enjoy this dessert again. For the low price of the meal you really can't go wrong. But some of the reviews claiming they serve the best empanadas are a bit over inflated in my opinion.
(3)
Chris M.

First time here. I loved it! Excellent food. Great atmosphere and friendly people. Absolutely perfect!
(5)
Houston R.

Republica Empanada is one of my favorite spots anywhere. I love ALL the empanadas but especially the Boricua and the El Capitan! Their house green salsa on top of those beauties is a transcendent experience. Their pernil torta is incredible as well, as is the delicious Arroz con pollo. And you've got to try the maduros! (Sweet fried plantains) The restaurant on the inside is really fun with murals and a long bar table. It's so great to have such a fun spot here in Mesa. It's hard for my wife and I not to be there multiple times a week!
(5)
Lily K.

Such a great place for lunch or dinner! Great empanadas and more! Try the arroz con pollo. They sometimes have soup in the winter time. Located a couple of blocs off the light rail stop in downtown Mesa. A must try if you're looking for good food, fun & a cool place to hang out
(4)
George L.

Hip little place within walking distance of the last stop on the new light rail extension to Mesa. The offer a wide variety of empanadas, which are little hand held pastries that have various fillings and are then fried. Good selection of beers in the bottle but nothing, thus far, on draft and that is something they may wan to consider, if they have room, as this is definitely beer friendly food. My friend and I also had the combo appetizer platter with both the fried ripe plantains and the smashed and fried green ones - came with some good good sour cream like dipping sauce but my favorite sauce was the spicy green sort of salsa like sauce - seemed to go good on everything. I finished the meal with the fig, cheese and caramel empanada - not quite as exciting as I thought it would be (I would prefer fig jam in it versus whole dried figs) but glad I got it with the ice cream. I'm not a big desert person so will probably stick with just the savory versus the sweet ones in the future. The best deal seems to be their Monday and Tuesday evening specials - any four beers and any four empanadas for only $20 - which is about a $30 discount when you take into account the beer at happy hour prices ($4 a bottle). I will definitely be back to this place - especially as the weather cools down and you can sit outside on their nice patio.; -)
(4)
David H.

Freakin' great empanadas! Sampled 3 different empanadas, and they were magnificas! Would like to see autentico Mexican natural water beverages (jamaica, agua de coco, horchata, etc.).
(4)
John A.

If you want to treat you taste buds to something deliciously different than the normal Az cuisine, this is the place. Republic has a great locally owned vibe and the food is fresh and delicious. So far I have not ventured past the El Capitan and Chicken. This evening I tried the Fig, cheese and caramel. Soo good. The empanadas are just the perfect size that you can dip them into the tasty green sauce and treat the buds to a pop rock like experience of flavors. Went well with their double IPA.
(5)
Brett B.

"I've never eaten a hot pocket and then afterwards been: I'm glad I ate that" -Jim G All you need to know, is that these palatable pouches are anything but the frozen snacks made infamous by Mr Gaffigan. J-WoW and I had been working up quite an appetite painting moonlit cherry blossoms, and wanted to pair our creative sides with a venue we'd never frequented... enter Yelp, which suggested this highly-ranked hideaway. I was relieved to see a nearly packed parking area, as our previous potential eaterly was kinda ghost-town'ish. J spotted a swanky hi-top, which suited me just fine... because the seats were 360 degree swivel! Is there a better way to annoy that obnoxious group of strangers, sitting to the left of you, who ordered "samples" of Malbec and Shiraz? Actually, I might try that sometime. Oh, and it gets hella LOUD in there, son. I looked like a fool with that waitress, yes, the one with the captivating red lipstain... after I referred to the cuisine as Cuban, or as I like to call it: Cuban-oh. The fare is actually Costa Rican, or as I like to call it: Chican-oh. Not knowing which of the appetizers to order, the waitress suggests the most expensive item, which I thought was a good choice. After a little pleading, and emotional breakdown, J decided to trade halfs of her empenadas for halfs of mine. That makes sense, until I realized I gave her both halves of my Pernil (slow roasted and specially seasoned pork). I tricked her into trading one half back, because she tried to offload both halves of her Republica Chicken (chicken, fresh vegs and seasonings), onto me. I saw how it burned her fingers after cutting it in half and picking it up. As the scalding liquid ran down her fair hand, she screamed out So don't change the dizzle, turn it up a lizzle Got some cheesy drizzle, drippin' on my shizzle All I could do was sit and stare. I was captivated by my lil G, J. I also ordered the Cubana (pernil, ham, mozzarella & dill pickle), which was fabulous (and J's favorite, even though she balked at first), and she also ordered the JalapeÃ±o Popper (cream cheese, grilled seeded jalapeÃ±os & salted ham). That oÃ±e was my favorite, eveÃ± though I Ã±ever order poppers aÃ±ywhere, maiÃ±ly because I can Ã±ever find the "n" key with the tilde, and that lack of autheÃ±ticity really cheapeÃ±s the review. "There is the vegetarian hot pocket, for those of us who dont want to eat meat, but would still like diarrhea." -Jim G Anywho... they also offer empenadas that dont contain meaty things. Choose the Greek (sauteed spinach, feta, sun dried tomato, kalamata olive), the Cheeze (asiago & mozzarella blend), the Bean & Cheese (black beans & mozzarella) and Achite Potato (potato, annatto seed seasoning). That's right, fool, count em... 4 vegetarian selections. So, if yous latch key kids are sitting around the house, and got nothing in the freezer, grab some cash from your parents dresser and call a neighbor to swing you by Republica Empanada! Hungry kids in the crib, ma Pocket like it's hot, pocket like it's hot, pocket like it's hot
(4)
Justin C.

Finding myself Mesa, the allure of highly rated Republica Empanada was too temping to pass up. On arrival, the location was questionable but stepping inside I was reminded to not judge a book by its cover. Striking a fine balance between trendy while retaining the feel of a family ran business.
(5)
Terry T.

I heart this place not just because it may be the only restaurant in metro Phoenix devoted to empanadas with dough that is so crispy and soft on the inside, but the owner is warm, friendly and just a really good guy. This place is only a block over from downtown Mesa's Main Street yet it feels so removed. It also at first glance appears not to be in the best neighborhood. The owner said there are quite a few halfway houses in the area. Still, instead of being intimidated by it, he offers a helping hand if needed. The place isn't that big but it's still an inviting space. That's in large part due to the repurposed wooden tables and the one long communal table. There are a couple of TVs but it doesn't feel like a sports bar. As for the food, I had a special--arroz Colombiano--which came with shrimp, sausage and slices of avocado and red bell pepper on a huge pile of rice. It was kind of oily but still tasty. I thoroughly enjoyed my chicken and beef empanadas. Two is plenty for one meal. But by far, my favorite was the dessert one--fig, mozzarella and dulce de leche. That one is worth miles and miles of exercise. Definitely do yourself a favor and get that if nothing else. The owner was flattered when I said I came all the way from central Phoenix, like it's super far. But he appreciated it because he knows there are a slew of choices closer to my home. I reassured him that I would be back!
(5)
Beth L.

Thank you Yelp for helping me find this gem! Surprisingly they were not busy when I went today at 12:45. I was seated right away and drinks order taken. The staff is so friendly. The service quick. Our order was out about ten minutes after placing it. Between my daughter and I we ordered five empenadas. Hawaiian, ham n cheese, jalepeno popper and el capitain. For dessert we had the nutella and banana. We were so excited to try the dessert that we dug in and forgot to take a picture. Darn it. But it was so good I highly recommend trying it. The shells were cooked to perfection. Light, golden and crispy. My favorite was jalepeno popper and Hawaiian. Great place. I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Ms. K.

I have read about Republica Empanada in the past and have always wanted to try. We were in the area around 1:30 and I looked up on Yelp and saw the rave reviews. This neighborhood gem was clean, bright, and had a trendy, hipster, college town feel. We met Melody at the cash register told her it was our first time here, she gave us the rundown. We ordered Empanadas: 1 Republic Chicken (chicken, fresh vegetables & seasoning), 1 Pernil (slow roasted & special seasoned pork), 1 El Capitan (seasoned ground beef, potato, boiled egg, green olives & golden raisin), 1 Cubana (pernil, ham, mozzarella & dill pickle) and 1 Jalapeno Popper Empanadas (cream cheese with grilled seeded jalapeno). All the Empanadas were served in stamped labels paper slip bags, great idea especially when they look the same. We were also thrilled they served beer. All the Empanadas were excellent, hot, flaky crust, juicy and had flavorful fillings. Service and food Excellent, so glad we tried and will definitely be back!
(4)
Joyce W.

Although April 8th is National Empanada Day, July 18th seemed like an appropriate day to try out these bad boys! The Spanish word for bread is "pan" and "empanar" is a verb that means "to bread." Emapanada is the past-participle, "breaded." Think of it as a pasty, a Hot Pocket, or a turnover. These delicious pastries can be sweet or savory. Since I had the best dining companion with me, I decided to go empanada-crazy [no joke, I tried six yesterday]! Bretters and I shared a Combo Caribe which is starch-infused goodness and we each got an Empanada Platter which comes with two savory empanadas and is served with rice, beans, cabbage salad, and maduros & crema Mexicana. I got the Jalapeno Poppers and Republica Chicken while Brett got the Pernil and Cubana. Although I didn't originally wanted to split my empanadas with Brett after that Stufrageous fiasco where he had the lesser burger, I'm glad I did! I think my favorite empanada was his Cubana [Pernil slow-roasted pork, ham, mozzarella, & dill pickle] and his fave ended up being my Jalapeno Popper empanada. Those suckers are tiny bombs of super hot meat and sauces. It's amazing how I didn't whip my Republica Chicken across the room like a grenade when some of the sauce dribbled onto my hand. It was an intense moment of pain... lots and lots of pain. I got The King and Guava & Cheese empanadas to-go for dessert. Mr. Dubs consumed them all like a champ and his official statement is that The King was the best because peanut butter and bananas... obviously! All in all, delicious empanadas! It's a small cozy place with a great atmosphere . The bullet holes in the skinny window off to the side is... charming. I'd return for the empanadas hands down but I'd probably pass on the appetizers. And a friendly reminder: Don't be dumb like me and try to eat the empanadas right away or you'll suffer burning your tongue!
(4)
Trea E.

A diamond in the ruff exposing this seemingly rough side of town to a delectable Latin flavor.
(5)
Gab R.

Very solid option to try something different. Their specialty is empanadas and they do it well. I tried the PERNIL and the Ham and cheese from their lunch special which is a very good value because it is essentially a platter. But for a few dollars more you might to try one of their "platter" which includes fried plantains which are just delicious. Good ambiance, friendly staff, clean restrooms, cozy place. Recommended.
(5)
Cathy M.

The Empanadas here are amazing!!! I tried the Pernil and the Greek. The service was friendly and fast! If you are ever in the area make sure to stop in!
(5)
Jill T.

My boyfriend and I really like this place and have been here a couple of times. The empanadas and drinks are great and the staff is nice. I'm not a fan of the 2 big TVs that are playing unless there's a huge game on and would prefer for the music to have more Latin influence. It's a nice small and comfortable place with yummy food and we will definitely go back.
(4)
Doug B.

This is a nice little place with great empanadas. They have a variety of savory and sweet offerings -- the sweet ones have an option to add ice cream and chocolate sauce. They appear to have several kid- and vegetarian-friendly offerings. We have lived in Mesa for a long time, but this was our first time here. The location is a little off the beaten path, but we agreed that is was worth the trip. There isn't a lot of parking in their lot, but we went there when it wasn't very crowded and did not have any trouble. As some others have reported, I think a normal person can probably eat 2-3 empanadas for a meal -- I'd suggest 2 and +1 for dessert, especially given the interesting dessert options. For the savory options, I also recommend using the salsa verde that they give you. It just seems like the right thing to do to brighten them up a little. Maybe not the Hawaiian one, but the others for sure. My kids had a bean and cheese and a cheeseburger empanada and enjoyed them. It was a nice touch that each different kind came in a little paper bag that was stamped with the type. They all look the same and that keeps things organized. If you order multiple of one type, you get one labeled bag containing several of that type. I had the Pernil, which contained some roasted pork that was very good -- moist and tasty, especially with a little hit of the salsa verde. I also tried the Boricua, which had the same pork, but also rice and some kind of peas in it, I think. I liked this one the best. I had the platter, and found the rice to be cooked well, but a little boring (salsa verde to the rescue!). The fried plantains were perfectly cooked and very tasty. For dessert, we split the Fig, Cheese and Caramel (Well, that one ended up being all mine since everyone else thought it sounded "weird") and the Ruiz's Pieces with ice cream and chocolate sauce. The Ruiz's Pieces is Nutella and peanut butter, and I have to admit it was the star of the show. The Fig, Cheese (Mozzarella) and Caramel was good, but I didn't think the flavors blended together as much as I would have liked: the ingredients were stacked/layered in the empanada with the caramel on the bottom, figs in the middle, and cheese on the top. It was definitely worth a try and interesting, especially if you like something a bit off the norm, but it was a little challenging to ensure that you got a bit of each filling in every bite. Overall, I think everyone was happy and we'll be back.
(4)
Chris S.

My review: Please understand that I am a hard rater. I rarely award more than 3 stars. My definition of 3 stars is a good, solid meal with good service. It is a place that I recommend you try and a place I will likely return to. The food here was tasty and the value for what you pay is within reason. The staff was friendly and attentive. Both made for a positive dining experience. Tonight I had a variety of items. Yum! Take a chance and eat here. I think you will enjoy it. Tell them Chris S. from Yelp sent you. They will have no idea who the hell I am but you may get a good laugh out of it! Enjoy!
(3)
Jeff W.

This place is awesome. Small and located in downtown Mesa. I must have missed thus place many a time. The Cubana, Republica, Pernil, and Borica were my lunch. All good. If you are in Mesa downtown, do hit this place.
(5)
Bob G.

The Arroz con Pollo is the best I ever had. The portion is huge can feed two however once you taste it, you're not going to want to share it with anyone (Serious).
(5)
Stephanie T.

I've been here a few times, and it's always been good although it's usually empty. My sister, friend and I went before a concert at Mesa Arts Center, and it was unusually packed. They didn't do a good job handling the chaos. The waitress quoted us a 20 min wait time which we were agreeable to, but it was my sister who had to ask her to start a wait list for all the parties building up in the lobby. Many people ended up leaving due to the disorganized handling of seating. Food wise, I enjoy their empanadas, but I'm a vegetarian and their choices are disappointingly limited. They should really explore veggie options because there's tons they could create, and I'm sure they would be delicious. I wanted to try something new, so I ordered the torta. I asked if I could sub tostones for the fries, but the waitress said that's not allowed. Uh really? There's just no possible way you can not put fries on my plate and put tostones in their place? I would be more than happy to pay the upcharge. I told the waitress to forget and asked for the gallo pinto plate (their vegan entree) instead, but I still got the torta with fries. Sigh. It was a good torta, and at least I got some plantain goodness as a sandwich topping. My sister and her friend loved their buffalo empanadas although I think the too warm wine was augmenting our appetites. There's a lot of room for improvement at Republica, but due to the dearth of good restaurants in downtown Mesa, I would still come here if I was in the area.
(3)
Brit M.

I've been here twice now. This will definitely be my new favorite spot after moving to the area. Super cute inside. Awesome food. Decent drink prices. And most of all, really sweet, competent staff.
(5)
Noor B.

This is an interesting shop that I was surprised to find in Mesa. Someone mentioned it has a cool, hipster vibe, and I think that's an accurate way to describe it. There's plenty of parking around the building, and there's menus near the door to look over while you wait in line to order. Food is brought to your table. I had the lunch plate special, where you choose two empanadas from several options. It comes with sides - black beans, rice, and a cabbage salad. There's several beers and canned soda to choose from, too. I had a black bean and cheese empanada and the buffalo chicken empanada. I thought the black bean and cheese was pretty good - nice ratio, without one element overpowering the other. It was flavored pretty simply but it was good. The buffalo chicken had a lot of bleu cheese, so beware if you aren't a fan. It was pretty good, but it tasted like bottled buffalo sauce from the grocery store. It was good, but not great. Chicken was moist, which is a definite plus. The side of black beans were also very plain. The rice was dry. The cabbage had a tiny hint of sweet dressing but it seemed like a weird side to the empanadas. A friend had the boricua which he did not like. He said the filling was dry and lacked flavor. We split a fig, cheese, and caramel dessert empanada which I liked a lot. It was probably the highlight of the meal. For Mesa, this is nice, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here. If you're in the area, stop in. It's a nice, different concept that's pretty well executed.
(3)
La C.

The empanadas where sooo fresh and good. I had the cubano and the boricua.. I will definitely come back .
(4)
Amelinda L.

I called 30 minutes prior to our arrival to order our 14 empanadas. Everything was made fresh and it was ready for us. We wanted to try their popular Boricua, but they were sold out, so we chose a couple others and they threw in an extra empanada for the trouble. The location was easy to find, but a little dark in the area at night. There is a lot of parking as well. The interior is cozy and I like the decor. There's also a nice outdoor patio for cooler days. Republica Chicken ($3): Chicken, fresh vegetables, and seasonings. Good flavors and packed with chicken. One of the best ones we had. Pernil ($3.25): Slow roasted and specially-seasoned pork. My absolute favorite of our selections. The pork was delightfully juicy and very flavorful. As with the chicken, there is a very generous serving of pork. El CapitÃ¡n ($3.25): Seasoned ground beef, potato, boiled egg, green olive, and golden raisin. I've had variations of this Argentinian classic and I'm usually a fan, but I do not like green olives and the one in this empanada was SO salty that it took away from the rest of the filling (fortunately, it was only one bite). Otherwise, it was good. The Buffalo ($3.25): Chicken, buffalo sauce, and gorgonzola. Tasted just like a buffalo chicken pastry, nothing particularly exciting for me. Ruben is a big fan of Buffalo Chicken and he really enjoyed it. Cubana ($3.25): Pernil, ham, mozzarella, and dill pickle.This was one of my favorites. Delicious and a great combination of flavors. I enjoyed every bite. Mushroom Chicken ($3.25): Chicken, sautÃ©ed mushrooms, and kalamata olive. You can't really taste the mushroom in this one, so it was hard to distinguish from the Rebuplica Chicken, but with much less flavor. I also did not like the one whole kalamata olive. It would be better chopped up and dispersed throughout the filling. Cheeseburger ($3.25): Seasoned ground beef and cheddar cheese. There was a generous amount of ground beef and it was nice. Although, the cheese was oddly non-existent. JalapeÃ±o Popper ($3.25): Cream cheese, grilled and seeded jalapeÃ±os, and salted ham. The ham was a pleasant surprise and I enjoyed its flavor and saltiness against the mild cream cheese and jalapeÃ±os. All empanadas are encased in a nice pastry and fried for a crispy exterior. The savory empanadas are served with their fantastic salsa verde (one of the best I've had). Overall, they're all lovely. I personally enjoy a little more doughiness in pastries, but I was really pleased with the amount of meat in the fillings. As far as flavors, it was a bit all over the place; some were more robust and some were too mild. I was disappointed by most of them. My favorites: Pernil, Republica Chicken, and Cubana.
(3)
Alejandra S.

Empanadas are delicious! A little pricey but good! We ordered a total of 9 and three waters and it came out to about 45 bucks
(5)
Sonia G.

Republica Empanada is a gem in downtown Mesa. The owners are accommodating and the food is delicious and innovative. Try the Greek, Jalepeno popper, Republic chicken or pernil popper or if you like something simple for the kids or yourself bean & cheese, cheese, or cheeseburger empanada... For something light try the hearts of palm salad or arroz con pollo... Enjoy agua frescas, housemade sangria, or organic margaritas, or craft beers.
(5)
Luke L.

Really enjoyed the empanadas and the feel of the place. Kind of hipster/retro but family friendly too. Definitely worth a try! Fun Mesa Yelp find.
(5)
Nick G.

What a strange experience. This place fell way short of the hype and buildup, and I walked away very disappointed. I entered at a time where there was nobody else in the restaurant. I believe they were transitioning from their lunch configuration to their happy hour at the time. I was asked to wait to be helped, and I did -- I stood at the entrance for a pretty long time before someone (who seemed like the owner), who was more interested in chatting with an employee than addressing me, finally approached me. I had never been before, so I asked for some guidance in ordering. I opted to go for the lunch plate special, which has two empanadas, salad, and rice and beans. They were out of the boricua, so I ended up asking for a pernil and a cubana. Apparently, the lunch special only applies to specific empanadas on specific days, but the person serving me said he'd allow this order since it was my first time. This was nice of him, but over the course of the meal he reminded me 3 or 4 times how much money he'd saved me by doing this. Honestly I could've gotten both on their own for under a dollar more than the combo cost, so it really wasn't the huge act of kindness he made it out to be. The service continued to be weird as the owner initially seated me and took my order at the bar, then had me move to a table before serving me the food. Maybe he wanted a tip? The food took forever considering that they apparently have these ready already, and that I was again the only customer in the place (and no they were not close to closing). Once I was served, he never came to check on me. Anyway, the empanadas were tiny and really not filling by any means, and unlike similar combos from other restaurants, this place served seemingly the tiniest portion of rice & beans that I've ever seen. It was like one serving spoon's worth. If you're going to make the empanadas so small, at least compensate with the sides which cost next to nothing to make. In the interest of being fair, the empanadas did taste pretty good, but there wasn't really enough of them to confirm that -- they were gone in 3 bites. In New York (and maybe somewhere here, haven't found it yet), you can get very tasty, well-sized empanadas for a dollar a pop from a lady's street cart. So I have to roll my eyes at paying 3-4 bucks for one that's less than half the size. The sense I get from this place is that it desperately wants to be a modern trendy hipster place, and it has all the hallmarks of one. The logo, menu, and design of the place are all filled with hipster eatery tropes, and yes, good craft beer selection yadda yadda. I like many hipster eateries. But to Republica, apparently, near-absentee service, overpriced and underportioned food, and a healthy dose of pretension all come with the territory.
(2)
Amanda T.

AMAZING!!!!! Great dough and fillings were yummy. Price is great too. Will definitely come back to and leave room for dessert.
(4)
Brittany M.

All the empanadas at Republica are yummy, and the service is great. I particularly like the chicken, pernil, and "El Capitan" (beef, egg, olive & raisin) empanadas here.
(5)
K. F.

One of my favorite places to come. Very ordinary but cool! The owner is too sweet! They have the best empanadas!!! Everything else is beyond good. A unique spot and I find it hard to stay away...
(5)
Tatiana M.

I'm Latina and these empanadas are great!!! The dough is a very nice: crispy outside and soft inside, flour based, not oily at all. Really good. Loved the fact they mark the paper bags so you don't only know what you eating but also use the paperbags to hold them while you are eating. My "guttural" choices didn't disappoint at all: Pernil: great Latin pulled pork El Capitan: well seasoned ground beef Boriqua: authentic arroz con guandules Cubana: great shredded (ropa vieja) beef Had to order the second Pernil Empanada before I left !! Oh! And don't forget to spread the cilantro salsa on your empanadas!! I also order lime and add a little to any beef-stuffed empanadas. That's a family thing. Totally coming back here.
(5)
Audrey B.

Absolutely amazing! The service alone made it worth it! We felt like family here even though it was our first time. And the food was EXCEPTIONAL! We had the Cubana empanada, colombian rice, ham and cheese, bean and cheese, and arroz con pollo. You could not go wrong with any of these! Order multiple empanadas though as one probably won't be enough. You'll want more anyway
(5)
Claudine F.

Came here for the first time today and I'm so happy I went out of my way to try this place. My sister, daughter and I shared a bunch of items on the menu and left very satisfied! We had the Combo Caribe for an appetizer, then shared the Chicken, Cheeseburger, Cheese, Boricua, Greek and JalapeÃ±o Popper Empanadas(Chicken and Cheeseburger came with rice and beans for the lunch special). We were stuffed at this point but decided to indulge in the Fig Cheese and Caramel, and Cheese with Guava dessert empanadas both topped with ice cream and chocolate.... Everything was amazing! Reasonably priced, service was fast and friendly even though they were busy for lunch. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Isabella H.

Only the word amazing comes to mind. The Yucca Frita was some of the best I've had, and I've been eating it all my life. The jalapeÃ±o popper empanada is delicious and creamy! The service was excellent. They even changed the channel so my baseball obsessed 3 year old could watch the game. We will be back, and will be bringing friends!
(5)
Natalie G.

Any other day I would give this place 5 stars. I've been here a handful of times and the food is always delicious and I love seeing the owner talking to everyone! However, the service has been declining and Monday night was just the end of it for me. I was bragging up and down about this place to my boyfriend and when I brought him in no one greeted us. When I asked for a seat (in a nearly empty room) she told told me no and that I had to wait. We then waited ten minutes after setting down our menus to be greeted by our waitress. Our food order was then forgotten. Simply said, I'm embarrassed that I brought anyone here.
(3)
Matthew C.

A real hidden treasure awaits you in this downtown location and it's worth the trip from anyplace in metro Phoenix. They really got a grip on Empanadas!! Give this place a try you will be pleasantly treated!
(4)
Kin N.

I'm puzzled how this place received so many positive reviews. My visit was a disappointment. Sure, the decor is trendy and the atmosphere is energetic, but the positive stops here. I had the lunch special (select 2 empanadas from a list, salad, black bean, and rice) with the King (peanut butter and banana) and Boricua (pork). The Boricua has decent taste, but nothing special. While the King is creative, the ingredients were not distributed evenly....so you literally get half banana empanada and half peanut butter empanada. The black bean was absolutely bland. I'm not too crazy about the two spoonful of cabbage salad either. The white rice is the best tasting element of the meal. It's one of the most flavorful rice I've had..thanks to the coconut milk(?). Perhaps the worst thing about this place is the service. When I was ready to order, the cashier/server made me wait 5 minutes while she went to clean tables, refill water...etc. waited 25 minutes for food until I asked the server. Was told they messed up the order. Waited another 5 to 10 minutes before food arrived, but and there was no silverware. I had to go behind the counter to help myself because the server was MIA. It's especially painful to watch the food at the window ready for pickup for more than 5 minutes...yet the server was clueless where the food should go (she messed up the order of the next table, too). It wasn't busy at that time and there were 5 staff and about 15 customers. If they can't handle with that staff to customer ratio, I doubt they can handle a busy lunch/dinner crowd. The next table left at the same time and one of the guys commented that he'd never return....yeah, me neither.
(2)
angie l.

I honestly don't know how anyone can give less than a five star review. The sangria was strong and not too sweet. I ordered the empanada platter with the beans and cheese and pernil empanada. Somehow the beans and cheese in the empanada tasted even better than the side of beans. The pernil was moist and really flavorful, I was sad when I didn't have another one to eat. Since the restaurant is small I can see how busy this place could get but I came after the lunch rush and didn't have to wait for a table or my food.
(5)
Eleana H.

Just came in and ordered several empanada s to try. Ham and cheese El capitan The Cuban The peril The boricua The cheese And finally a sweet empanada, the fig cheese and caramel. My favorites in the savory category are the boricua and the fig cheese caramel was jaw droppingly amazing. The boricua is filled with rice, peas, ham and is so moist it drips with a homemade sofrito sauce.
(5)
Kyle B.

Gallo pinto was solid, empanadas were great. I suggest the combo apps with the tostones, yucca and the Maduros. And glass of wine or three. Good vibe; the Owners are super cool
(4)
Molly H.

After my trip to Puerto Rico, a tiny voice in my mind has been calling for empanadas relentlessly. Unfortunately some of the places I've been to here in AZ have been selling glorified hot pockets masquerading as empanadas, so you can imagine my delight finding a place that specializes in them. It's tucked away in central mesa, and if you're not looking for it you'll probably miss it. The atmophere is fun, urban and inviting. We were greeted and seated promptly. I ordered the chicken empanada with the black bean salad- both were absolutely incredible, especially when dipped in the delicious green salsa everyone gets as they're seated. Warning: the salad is a LOT of food- you might want to split it with someone or get ready for some leftovers. We also ordered desert which was nothing short of incredible. Spring for the scoop of ice cream and whipped cream- worth every penny of the extra $3. My only complaint was that the service was incredibly slow, especially considering we were one of only three or four other groups in the dining room. All said it took us about an hour to get our food. Also, we were shorted one empanada that barely made it out before our desert- and when it did it was the wrong one and we waited even longer for the correction. We were still charged for that one, which I was a little surprised by. I didn't want to make a fuss, so we paid and didn't say anything. That said, the service was very friendly and attentive, so no worries there. We'll definitely be back as soon as that little voice in the back of my mind nagging for empanadas starts getting too lout to ignore.
(4)
Erin C.

Loved!! Yuca Fritas were delicious. Pernil (slow roasted pork shoulder) was amazing. Also did the Cubano and jalapeÃ±o popper. Classic marg was also great. Loved the wait staff; all around great lunch!
(5)
Sarah I.

Empanadas are tasty but you will have to order a pile of them to have enough to eat for dinner. I would recommend this place if your looking for appetizer portions of tasty food to go with your drinks but be prepared to spend a lot, no good deals on drinks. Stay away from platters they are overpriced by about $6.00. If you are going to try it out just get the empanadas and order a rice n' bean empanada instead of a combo or side order. Allow plenty of time service is slow
(2)
Carissa B.

I love this place. I always start with the combo caribe: tostones (fried green plantain slices), yucca fries (with an awesome salt and herb garnish) and maduros (fried sweet plantain). The dish is served with crema and jalapeÃ±o cilantro ranch. For empanadas I usually go with an El Capitan, a Boricua and a Cubana. Those three are my favorite go tos, I especially love the green olive, golden raisin and egg in the El Capitan. If I have room dessert the fig, cheese and caramel is to die for. The sweetness of the figs and warm caramel is balanced out by the mild saltiness of melty cheese; throw some powder sugar on top and it is awesome. Plus there's always friendly and quick service which is a huge plus. They can get pretty busy and even then the food times aren't too bad. Plus they seem to always be playing Nacho Libre when I'm there, which I'm totally okay with.
(5)
Mcintyre B.

Today was my first time! My wife and I got the papas fritas, Pernil, la boricua, achiotte potato, and the fig cheese and caramel. On arrival they set themselves apart with an older architecture than what is seen on main st. And plenty of parking! The inside is clean and has a modern bistro feel to it. Staff are very friendly and more than willing to answer questions about the food. The starter: we got the papas fritas, fresh cut fries w/ herbs and salt, served w/ jalapeno ranch and ketchup. Just skip the ketchup and go for the ranch, so good! The main: Pernil (pork), deep flavor and its all meat, they let it speak for itself! La boricuo, shredded beef, rice, vegetables. So juicy and the right amount of each to compliment eachother! Achiotte potato, this is a vegetarian option, as with the pernil they let it speak for itself, very subtle with bits of spice. (They also have a bean and cheese thats vegetarian) Salsa: The salsa here is on point! Takes all the empanadas over the top, very fresh and bold flavors. One of the best ive had! I want to buy some to take home next time I drop in for lunch! Dessert: Fig cheese and caramel, I paused when I saw this, intriguing yet questionable. Topped w/ powdered sugar the inside has locally grown figs, mozzarella cheese, and caramel. Warm and creamy, each bite I question it, mozzarella and dessert? But find myself going back in for that next bite, I cant get enough! Salty, sweet, amazing! this literally is a perfect finish to the meal, I cant stop thinking about this one! Beverage: Coconut water, Ive since heard they have fresh squeezed juice though! Trying that next time! Portion size/price: Great prices, and portions, it may seem small but once that food settles you are FULL! As a professional chef Im so happy with the service and food, I wish I was there on day one! I will probably be going by once a week for lunch from now on! I cant wait to try everything on the menu!
(5)
Sean S.

The wait time in this place is to die for. I mean it, you'll be dead before you ever get seated or have any food. The hostess told us it would be 15 minutes to be seated. Forty minutes pass and we have yet to see the hostess return. I look around and see table after table of happy customers, who have no food on their tables. The bell from the kitchen only dinged twice while we were waiting. So I guess they are getting to an entire three tables an hour, yipee. The only thing this place serves are air tacos.
(1)
David J.

Ate here a few weeks ago for the first time. My wife and both of our mothers were so excited about all of the food we had. This is a must visit place for anyone in the valley if you are looking for something to eat that breaks the mold of your standard south of the border cuisine. Even if you have to drive from the other side of the valley it will still be worth the trip.
(5)
Realtalk Y.

Enjoyed Arroz Con Pollo and especially liked the jalapeÃ±o popper and the cubana empanadas. Many craft beers to choose from. Crew was extremely nice and made us feel welcome. Very clean and relaxed environment. Republica Empanada is a hidden gem.
(5)
Brendan W.

Loved how unique this place was. Great empanadas. Recommend the jalapeÃ±o popper and cheeseburger. I would order 3 for a meal. They come ala carte or white rice and sides. The staff was very friendly. I will be back.
(5)
Melia S.

Republica Empanada is the perfect little lunchtime gem I've been looking for in the area. I almost don't want to sing its praises because it is at the top of my lunchtime list and I don't want to throw any elbows for a seat. But. It deserves some love, so I'll share I guess. What's not to love about empanadas? It's the latin american equivalent of a hot pocket but instead of processed bread and mystery meat, there's no mystery and tons of flavor. RE does empanadas right with a perfectly flaky crust that serves as a sleeping bag for quality fillings of beans and cheese, potato, pork and even figs. Two is enough to fill me up at lunch, but I could probably eat more if naptime were an option afterwards. My favorite so far is the El Capitan which is a mixture of ground beef, green olives, hard cooked eggs and raisins. I know, I hate raisins too, but it works in this empanada. I also really like the bean and cheese empanada which is simple but so good. The only one I haven't cared for so far was the potato which I felt was under seasoned and just didn't work for me texture-wise. The lunch time special is great-for $6.95 you get two empanadas (selection of which ones qualify for the lunch special changes daily) with rice and beans. It's just enough food to be satisfied without leaving that post-lunch food hangover. They also have a fantastic early week special that runs Monday and Tuesday 6P-10P of four empanadas+four beers (OR a bottle of wine) for the baller on a budget price of $20. It makes for a great happy hour, particularly on Mondays, because Mondays are just hard. The decor is super cute and they have an enclosed patio which is a plus come summertime. The inside layout features a dining bar that stretches almost the length of the restaurant and then a handful of two and four tops. It's not the biggest space, so I imagine it can get pretty crazy during the lunch time rush which I've never witnessed because I'm always hungry by 10:30, which makes my lunchtime no later than 11:30. If you work in the area or are just passing through downtown Mesa-definitely worth a stop!
(5)
BreAnna W.

If you like Cornish Pasty AND Mexican food, then you have to try this place! There are a good variety of sweet and savory empanadas, which are cooked fresh and served hot! Today was my first time dining at RepÃºblica and there was a lunch special: 2 empanadas, rice, black beans, and cabbage salad all for under $10. Great deal! I'll be back to try the other varieties. :)
(5)
Chheng L.

This was my 2nd visit to RE. Both times I got take out. I will have to dine in one of these days for their Mon/Tues night special. Their empanadas are really tasty! I like that they are crispy fried rather than soft baked. I bought 6 to share with the BF; 5 savory ones and one sweet. We had: El Capitan, Boricua, Pernil (pork), Chicken, Chicken & Mushrooms and the Caramel Fig one for dessert. My favorites were the chicken and pork. I didn't really care for the more complex ones. The caramel figs one was pretty good also. I think I would've preferred lesser caramel to taste more of the figs but I might be in the minority with this. I have to say though what makes these empanadas over the top is that delicious green sauce that comes with them. Don't forget to ask for extra!
(5)
Mandi T.

Wanted to try something new with my husband and sister so we thought this would be something fun to do. We went with the intent to try one of everything and we did, empanadas that is. We ordered one of every empanada, main meal and dessert, a total of 22 empanadas in all. Each one was split equally 3 ways and we reviewed them all as we ate. Service We were happy with our server and other personnel as well. Our waitress was nice, informative, and on the ball. We were also visited by another waitress making sure we were taken care of and visited by what we think was the owner or manager. All very friendly. Location It's a small place but clean, fun, and eclectic. It's a little off the beaten path but completely worth it. Empanadas When you first sit down there is a small container of green salsa at your place. This salsa was delicious and works well with some of the empanadas. When the food is delivered each empanada comes out in its own bag, labeled so you know which one you're eating. All the empanadas had a wonderfully flaky crust and although it was fried, did not taste greasy at all. They were all very flavorful, not dry, and filled with good quality ingredients. Any meat that was added was juicy, tender, and flavorful. Not too large and an average person could eat 2-4 for a meal. Republica Chicken - The chicken was flavorful and juicy. Didn't notice the vegetables but they weren't missed because the flavors gave this one a 5 star. Achiote Potato - This empanada did not have much dimension to it. It was just full of under seasoned potato, a good potato, but just potato. While it didn't taste bad we would not order it again and received a 1 star. Bean & Cheese - The black beans were cooked well and the mozzarella gave it a nice creamy texture. It was a nice blend of flavors and received a 4 star. Ham & Cheese - Very cheesy with good ham, moist and flavorful. It was a little on the simple side with the flavors but good ingredients. 3 stars. Cheese - Lots of cheese. The asiago gave a nice flavor to the mozerella. While good on it's own, it is excellent with the green salsa given at the table. 4 stars. Pernil - This one was so good! The pork was juicy, flavorful, tender, and just all around melt in your mouth goodness. 5 stars! Boricua - While the pork is good on its own it worked well with the combination of these other ingredients. The rice mixture really added a whole new depth to it making it feel more like a complete meal. 5 stars El Capitan - Because of the complexity of the ingredients and splitting it three ways it is a little hard reviewing this one. While one person got strong olive taste another really tasted the egg. This one may have tasted better by one person but it just didn't seem to work for us. 2 star The buffalo - Was not available so can not review Cubana - We are a little torn on this one. While one of us loved it the others found it jus okay. This can probably be attributed to the dill pickle, it was too distracting for 2 of us while it really made the flavor for the last person. So, know how you feel about dill going forward. 3/5 star. Mushroom Chicken - Chicken was wonderful of course and if you like mushrooms, this one would be good. The flavors didn't meld too well though; they almost stood out on their own. 2/3 star Cheeseburger - It's meat and cheese. Good flavor for the ingredients. 3 star Hawaiian - Tastes like a Hawaiian pizza with good quality ingredients. 3 star Greek - There was way too much spinach in this one. The bites that had every ingredient in it was great. It has potential with the flavors but it didn't quite it the mark, it needed more of the other ingredients, less spinach. 1 star for the wad of spinach but for the bites of all ingredients, 4 star. JalapeÃ±o Popper - Tasted like a good jalapeno popper. The ingredients were proportioned well, giving nice flavors throughout. 4 star Sweet Empanadas Brought out in bags like dinner empanadas but dusted with powdered sugar. Not sure if the sugar added anything but helped it smell really good. In the dessert empanadas you have everything from mainstream flavors to a little on the adventurous side, offering something for everyone. All made with flaky crust and come out very hot. The King - Holy peanut butter batman! If you like peanut butter and bananas this would be for you, but not our cup of tea. 2 star Nutella & Banana - Flavors melded well together. 3 star PBJ - Nostalgic but still a lot of peanut butter. 2 star Fig Cheese & Caramel - Yum yum yum. Flavors really complimented each other and brought together really well. 5 star Guava & Cheese - It was good but not great. Didn't really taste the cream cheese though. 3 star Plantain & Cheese - This one was executed well. The plantain really brought the right amount of sweetness to the cream cheese. 4 star Ruiz's Pieces - The name says it all. It was really good and would be excellent with the ice cream. 4
(5)
Mark R.

Just happen to be in the area with the wife and decided to check them out. We were getting ready to see a concert at the nearby casino and needed to fuel up on some craft beer and get a quick sampling of their Empanadas. Nice job on the remodeling of an old building that looks like it could have been everything from possibly a bank to several Mexican food joints. Inside is pleasantly decorated with a happy face greeting us at the door. Nice! Started off with a couple of tasty locally brewed Hefeweizen beers from SanTan Brewing Co. They even brought us a cute little chilled glass to make the occasion special. There are also several other choices of beer and a few of wine that you can choose. Had to try out the Cubana, El CapitÃ¡n, Republica Chicken and the Pernil Empanada. They were all really good. My favorite was El CapitÃ¡n and the wife really liked Pork Pernil. The Empanadas were cooked perfectly and had a nice amount of well seasoned filling inside. We have had these kind of treats at several restaurants here in town and think these were the best tasting yet. Been to a couple of restaurants where they reheat them in a microwave or toaster oven. Party Foul. This place makes them correctly and with a lot of TLC. Looking forward to coming back so that we can try out their Sweet side of the menu and the Albondigas Soup that was offered to us on our last visit. They also have Salads, Appetizers and a few Platters that look really delicious. I'LL BE BACK! 4.25 STARS
(4)
Ashley B.

We just love this place so much. Love having a delicious and cool spot to go here in Mesa! The owner is rad and loves his patrons, he's passionate about Mesa and good food. Lunch time is a great time to go and get the special. Lots of food for a great price. The worst part about RE is having to choose what to get! My absolute favorite thing is the bean and cheese Empanada and their yuca frita dipped in their jalapeÃ±o ranch (you have to ask for it). If you're with a group, get the caribe platter as an appetizer. My husband is obsessed with the pork torta smothered in their green salsa and the jalapeÃ±o ranch. The fries it comes with are YUM and I'm always stealing some. We also love the potato Empanada and the Nutella dessert Empanada. If you're interested in a salad the black bean one is my fave. You guys, GO, support Mesa and make your belly happy. Then go for a stroll in the urban garden next door :)
(5)
Matt L.

This is probably my favorite place in Mesa. Everything has been good every time. I recommend the jalapeÃ±o popper and Cubana empanadas and the Arroz con Pollo. Their salsa verde is good on everything!
(5)
L T.

Delicious empanadas! I've tried 4 different flavors and enjoyed them all. I think the chicken is still my favorite. So happy to have another good restaurant option downtown.
(5)
Ana C.

While the food was good, not oh my goodness this is heaven, but pretty different empanadas, I don't think I'll ever come back. Reason is, the wait for these little bites (I say bites because the empanadas can't be bigger 3inches) is RIDICULOUS. we waited about 45 minutes to get our first order and since it was our first time we didn't order much (1 each). Once we tried them and decided we wanted more, we ordered another round of them and those took about another 30 minutes to come out. By that time, we hadn't been offered refills on our drinks or explained why the wait was soooo long. We ordered two to go as soon as the second order came out figuring maybe by the time we finished and paid it would be ready but we had to wait an additional 15 after that. Most of us were in the car by then. There was probably 3 or 4 tables being served by two servers, at most. All in all, good food, not coming back though. Im not dying to try an empanada that comes w such long wait time and bad service.
(2)
Megan W.

Cheap, tasty, fun and super cute inside - What is not to like? Plus, they have happy hour! We got the Combo Caribe to start which is fried yuca fries with jalapeno ranch sauce, giant squished green plantain chips, and sweet plantains served with crema for dipping. Yuca fries would have been improved by being a tad smaller and crispier and I wished the jalapeno ranch was spicier, but all in all very good. Sweet plantains were the obvious winner of this trio, and I shall be back to eat many of them. We then got the chicken and veggie empanadas and the pulled pork (pernil) along with simple cabbage salad, Earl Grey iced tea and watermelon agua fresca. The empanadas were light, crisp and delicious. I really cannot wait to try the more exotic offerings!
(5)
Boyd H.

This place is on point! The customer service was great and they even had a little scooter for the toddler to roll around on! The fries are very similar to the fries at Wilderness Brewing Co. I had the Pernil, Boricua and Greek...all good! The 10 year old said the Hawaiian was really good too. Everyone loved the banana Nutella! We'll be back!
(5)
Alexandra C.

Nice little family restaurant. We tried 5 different empanadas and all were very good. Like it and we`ll be back !
(5)
Toryanni E.

The empanadas are delicious!! One of the best lunches I've had in a long time. We had the Cheeseburger and the Buffalo Chicken empanadas. The green sauce they give you is fantastic, I'm not quite sure what's in them besides a heavy helping of what surely must be magic, but I could drink that stuff up!!
(5)
Caryn V.

Great, trendy place to get your Carribean comfort food. Really good for vegetarians and meat eaters. I had Achioto empanada and my husband had the lunch special which came with your choice of 2 empanadas, rice and beans for $7.95. We shared the appetizers combo caribe which although was over priced was very good. Good, fast service and establishment was clean and upbeat.
(4)
Brandon K.

Just tried RE for the first time and am left feeling totally disappointed. I arrived about 12:15pm just beating a lunch crowd in. I ordered the lunch special with the Chicken and cheeseburger empanadas plus a pork pibil empanada based on a recommendation from the cute girl behind the counter. I ordered my food to go and sat at the long wooden table. A middle-aged woman brought me over a plate and silverware within a few minutes of sitting down and I explained that my order was to-go. I continued to wait approximately 15 minutes while the restaurant began to fill up and the lunch crowd placed their orders. At this point, I noticed that the middle-aged woman behind the counter was preparing a to-go order. I assumed it was mine but since the girl at the register was taken a to-go order over the phone when I walked in, I then decided it was probably that. 5 minutes later the middle-aged woman brought food to a couple who were dining in and had ordered 15 minutes after me. She then realized I was still waiting an proceeded to ask ME where my order was even though she was essentially the food-runner and I had already told her I had a to-go order. She then ask me what I ordered and went back behind the counter confused only to realize that she had already packaged my food but had let it sit there. I was frustrated but wasn't too upset since I wasn't eating it right then anyways. Got home to try everything and found the chicken empanada to be decent, not bursting with flavor by any means by passable. The cheeseburger empanada was gross (I got this one because I'm a big fan of the Royale with Cheese at Cornish Pasty Co), greasy and just an odd cheese flavor to it. The pibil was the worst. It was not edible due to the pork contents being one entire chuck of fatty, gristly pork. It was literally a waste, pic to be posted. The rice was okay, plain but it complimented the empanadas nicely as did the beans. The slaw was underwhelming. All in all, the highlight was the girl at the register and I'd only go back for her. I'm a big fan of stuffed pastries and sadly this just made me wish I'd gone to Cornish Pasty Co instead.
(1)
Monica O.

My oldest daughter and I met up with a friend and her daughter for dinner , the placed picked Republica Empanada. We walked in and where greeted right away, and our server was Heidi, who was amazing & helpful! For starters I ordered Tostones, fried green plantains severed with creama and this amazing cilantro jalapeno ranch sauce, this was a great starter, I loved it, the plantains where cooked perfectly and the combination of the creama & cilantro jalapeno ranch sauce was perfect! They flowed well with each other, so good! Now they do offer sweet & savory empanadas, and for the savory I went with the Republica Chicken and the Cubana. The Cubana was slow roasted pork, ham, mozzarella & dill pickle, it was very tasty, I enjoyed it very much. The Republica Chicken was chicken & veggies with some seasoning. OMG AMAZING!! I need to try out the rest of the savory ones, but right now the Republica Chicken is my fav!! Now for the sweet!!! I ordered the fig, cheese & caramel & Nutella & banana. The fig empanada had figs, mozzarella and South American style Dulce de Leche, this was amazing, I loved the combinations of everything! Figs, Cheese and Caramel, yes please! The Nutella & Banana AAAAAMMMMMMAAAAZZZZZIIIIINNNNNGGGGGG!!! I am a Nutella loving fool, love that stuff, and this empanada was perfect!! So so good!!! I enjoyed everything I had tried and everything is so reasonably priced, didn't even break the bank account for everything! Great service and great food look forward to coming back and trying more empanadas out!
(4)
Kent M.

Two of my friends and I stopped by for the first time today for lunch. Lots of parking and the place looks clean from the outside. We walk in and the seating and decor is very cool. Signs direct you to how to place an order. There was lunch special that was $7.95 for two empanadas, rice, beans and cabbage salad. I ordered the special and a Coke Zero in the 12oz can. I was getting ready to pay the bill so my order could start and realized my Coke can was being charged at $2.00 and I had to ask to make sure. The girl said yes and since I was already rung up I went along with my $10.59 lunch special. My friends and I sat down and our food was brought to us.The plate presentation was excellent. The food flavors were really good. We walked away feeling comfortable. I would have like a 12oz can for less than $2.00 and empanadas to be a little larger to feel the total value package to earn 5 stars. I will try next time take out or the $20 beer and empanada special.
(3)
Carolyn B.

Hit his place before a concert at the Mesa Arts Center. Seriously, the best empanada that I've ever had. Got the El Capitan and the the chicken veggies empanadas. The outer skin is nice and thin - not super thick and doughy like a lot of other places. The restaurant has a laid back vibe. The service is excellent. We had about 45 minutes to eat and had entrees and dessert out in no time. One of the owners, Marco was there waiting tables and making sure guests had everything they needed. I think it's really nice when the owners help with the day to day and make sure all of the details are taken care of. Will definitely be back when we see our next concert at the Mesa Arts Center.
(5)
DaNelle W.

I was really expecting this place to be amazing but the empanadas were really disappointing. The dry, cracker-like crust was the biggest problem. The fillings were okay and the fries were great, but for a place that specializes in empanadas, it was really dissapointing.
(1)
Jennifer A.

The restaurant was nearly empty when we arrived, but we "waited to be seated" for about 5 minutes before one of us went to find someone to help us. The food was great. Everyone at our table enjoyed what we ordered. If we had ordered takeout, this would be a four star review. We ordered two different appetizers, four different empanadas and a dessert empanada. There weren't any real complaints about the food. We did not enjoy that the entire process took over an hour. The other comments about waiting are no exaggeration. The empty restaurant had a line out the door by the time we left. There is no way the staff was prepared for this when they couldn't handle our table of four. Total bill was $60 including tip. 2 appetizers 6 savory empanadas 3 dessert empanadas 1 Pepsi
(2)
S W.

This place is awesome! We just moved here and will definitely be back. We had the callo pinto, cubana empanada and pernil empanada. All were amazing and had such great flavor! The green salsa they serve makes the meal. The meat was flavorful and everything was quality. The star of the dinner was the dessert-try the fig, cheese caramel empanada...you won't regret it! Plus, the service was great. One of the family members who own this place stopped by to talk. Five star for sure!
(5)
Stacy F.

Headed here with the husband and a friend for the first time last night and fell in love with this place! The parking lot was a little tight to navigate, but there is plenty of street parking surrounding this location, so don't fret! We headed in to this eclectically designed venue and opted for a high top table since all the regular tables were taken up with patrons and it was a little too hot out to enjoy the patio seating. Fortunately we made it in time to squeeze in a happy hour drink order before the 7 p.m. end - $1 off wine and beer. I hoped for Sangria, but they didn't have any, however, they said they were working on getting it in, so fingers crossed for next visit! My husband and I both ordered the dinner platter since it came with maduros, rice, black beans and salad, along with the choice of 2 empanadas. We had the El Capitan, Pernil, Chicken Republica, and Boricua - then we cut each in half and shared them between each other, so we both got to try 4 varieties! The maduros were delicious and cooked perfectly. I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite between the 4 empanadas we tried, I'd order them all again in a heart beat. When we walked in we noted that they had dessert empanadas, and knew that this just had to happen, so we "saved room" for them (read as attempted to save room, really didn't have room, but ordered them anyways, cause...dessert.) We had the King and the Fig. I would probably say I preferred the fig over the King, but both were great! Overall: A A smaller restaurant (max seating of 49 people) that gives off an intimate artsy vibe with great food and nice staff! Happy hour from 3-7 daily!
(4)
J M.

LOVE this place, unique , great food, nice set up :) I will go back
(5)
Alex J.

Yum! Hubby and I met a couple friends for dinner and they were blown away. The empanadas were delicious, crispy and freshly made. We ordered 8 different empanadas and some beer and then after a while, another round. We were a bit disappointed they didn't have a huge selection of Latin beers but what they had wasn't too bad. We stay past the 9pm closing time. No one encouraged us to leave but the crew was packed and ready. Since we hadn't seen our friends in a long time we completely lost track of time. Our tab wasn't too bad considering we had about 16 empanadas, 2 glasses of wine, and 6 beers. On our way out, the owner introduced himself and thanked us for our business. He also apologized they for their early hours. All in all, we had a great experience and would definitely recommend to anyone.
(4)
Chris M.

Good food and very friendly staff. I would totally go back if I heard that they found a way to get the food out quicker. That said, both times I have been there the food took exceptionally long to arrive- like 45 minutes to an hour. We actually had to leave part of our party behind because they ordered dessert (and had been waiting 20+ minutes) and the rest of us had to go.
(3)
Devin S.

Excuse my French but this place is F***ING amazing. Your a fool if you don't enjoy these pockets of joy! Rated 10 STARS
(5)
Megan E.

Republica Emanada is sooooo yummy. The Pernil, the Cubana, the Achiote Potato- they're all delicious. And don't get me started on the Fig Cheese and Caramel. I'm still dreaming about it's gooey deliciousness. The only thing I've had that I didn't love was the appetizer combo with plantains and yucca fries. It was okay, but not particularly flavorful. Definitely check this place out, but skip the appetizer and order an extra dessert!
(5)
Katie O.

The food is amazing and the staff was great! Hands down the best green salsa we've ever had. We hope to go back before we leave!
(5)
Richard C.

I never find myself in Mesa, strictly out of principle :D, but I was headed to the Mesa Arts Center for a concert and found this gem using my Yelp app. The waitress was very attentive and actually apologized for asking me a question right after I took a bite (I swear they must teach that timing in the training videos at every restaurant). I had the El Capitan & the Cubana empanadas as part of the platter for dinner. Both were excellent. There was a surprisingly decent assortment of craft beer bottles to choose from as well. I was easily convinced to look at the sweet empanadas for dessert, and the waitress was quick to point out all her favorites (essentially the whole menu). I settled on the Ruiz's Pieces, because obviously I'm a sucker for a clever name. I suppose I'll have to find an excuse to be in Mesa again soon. It will be an easy walk from the light rail as well once it's finished being built out that far.
(5)
Rosemary J.

Ate lunch here with my husband and three of our friends. Empanadas are delicious and tasty. We enjoyed the Pernil, El Capitan, and a Chicken with vegetables. Service was very good. We willl go back.
(4)
Rahul I.

This is a small cafe located just behind Benedictine University in Mesa. It is hard to locate. I initially drove right by it, and I was looking for it. I was pleasantly surprised though. The empanadas are very good. I had the Lunch special, and I chose the Greek and the Boricua for the two empanada choices. They were good. I see that they do serve certain alcoholic drinks (beer). While I do not drink alcohol, what they do serve is fitting for it. Perhaps with it being in downtown, this may be a good late night hangout....perhaps just missing the mojitos and related, but then again I do not drink. I also do not know if they want to have a full bar given they are so close to the university. This is a good place for either lunch or a snack....maybe late night.
(4)
Ashley A.

I am so excited to call this a Mesa restaurant! We have returned a couple times and have had wonderful times each visit! What to expect: - full flavor - tender meat - CHOICES (my husband is a big fan of choices) - cozy atmosphere - live music some nights - YUMMY desserts (my favorite part of any meal) We will continue to come back and hope foodies looking for a new spot will give this one a try!
(4)
Kelly T.

If I could give this 8 stars I would. Amazing, fresh flavors in a perfect dough. Huge variety. Had the cubano, pernil, el capitan and the dizzy fig. All very good. The cubano is the favorite but I still loved the rest. Great atmosphere. Extremely fast and friendly service. I know I sound like a commercial, but this is the real deal. I am a fan and will be a regular. My only complaint is that they are not closer to home.
(5)
Libna M.

I absolutely love this place! The food and service are amazing!! The aciote potato is my favorite!
(5)
Jack A.

First time here. The food and service was absolutely fantastic! I will definitely go back.
(5)
Danny S.

If I had a way to add one more star, I totally would! First of all, let me say that I do NOT like rice dishes that much, especially central/south american rice dishes. The arroz con pollo here is one of the best foods I have ever eaten! I'm not kidding. I don't know what they put in there (well, besides rice and chicken) but I just cannot stop eating that rice! The staff is always friendly. Not sure when everybody else has waited so long. They're usually busy when I go and I tend to get served rather quickly. Another plus is the simplicity of their menu. It's a small menu which means that they can specialize in what they're good at resulting in much better quality food. But don't take that to mean you'll have an easy time choosing your meal. Literally everything on the menu sounds delicious! My general go-to, though, is El Capitan which has seasoned ground beef and... well, I'm not sure what's in there. Magic, I'm guessing. They are well-stocked on bottled sodas from Latin America and have decent size fountain drinks. I don't drink alcohol so I can't comment, but they do have some really good specials on drinks! Oh, dessert! OMG how could I nearly forget dessert?! Empanadas with figs, cheese and caramel! Empanadas with peanut butter and Nutella! Empanadas with Bananas and Nutella! Seasonal flavors as well. Seriously, if you don't get dessert at this place you'll make the angels in heaven cry. And you don't want to be responsible for making angels cry.
(5)
Amanda L.

What should you eat? The Cubano empanada with a side of tostones. And get a little extra of that jalapeÃ±o ranch - you'll want it. When should you go? After 6 PM on Mondays and Tuesdays, apparently. They do a $20 "flight night" deal: 4 flights of beer, 4 empanadas, all for less than a tank of gas. And all their beer is localish - there's some Portland and Mexican brews, but there's selections from Phoenix, Tempe, Chandler, and even Mesa. My only regret: Other than not coming during that 4-for-20 nonsense extravaganza, I wish I'd had room to try one of the sweet empanadas. After two empanadas and sharing the caribÃ© platter (which, delicious), I couldn't eat another bite. But oh man, did I want to.
(5)
Bekah S.

Why did we wait so long to try this gem? The food was out of this world. Try best we've had out in a long time. The green salsa is divine. I could drink it. Our three boys 17, 14, and 10 loved loved loved it. We tried many empanadas; chicken and veggie, chicken and mushroom, cheeseburger, the two different pork ones, and the jalepeno poppers. We couldn't pick a favorite. They were all incredible. We ended with a Nutella/PB empanada with ice cream and a caramel fig. Both were heavenly. If you haven't been and are considering it GO! NOW!
(5)
Tom T.

A quaint restaurant in Mesa that serves amazing empanadas. My family and I ordered take out and we got a variety of empanadas to try. I have to say that not a single one disappointed us. But I have to say, my favorite was the desert ones. :) I recommend 2-3 for a hungry adult male. Maybe 4-5 if you're starving. Save room for the sweet ones though. You won't regret it.
(4)
Eric W.

First time here and the food was awesome and the owner the kept the place open till we finished! Talk about service. I'll be sure to come back when I'm in town.... Really really good... The salsa is amazing!
(5)
Vilay S.

I found myself in Mesa for a conference and was disappointed in the "downtown" food options. I am so happy that I found Republica Empanada early during my week because I went there many, many times. There are so many choices, and not just with the empanadas. You can get a heaping bowl of rice, or down a platter full of deep fried goodness, or be responsible with a hearty vegan salad. The waitstaff and the owner were so, so nice when I was there with a huge group. Wish I could take this restaurant home with me.
(4)
Najwan J.

This place is so good! Something so different and light but gets you full, variety of unique delicious empanadas, I recommend this place to everyone, will defiantly go back for more with friends, also the staff are soo nice! The owner was also very nice he walked up to us and asked us about the things we ordered and if we liked them. (Thumbs up)
(5)
Sean H.

Love coming here!! Came today for my third time.. and just love it! They have great customer service,.. as we ate the place started too fill up.. The food is always great! The french fries are amazing.. and I always order a variety of their empanadas.. I totally recommend it!!
(5)
Carlos V.

Excellent food, loved the combination plate and the empanada platter. The service was great and the place was very clean. Will definitely come again.
(5)
Anna T.

You go in and its very Latin hipster. I love the way we can walk up and order OR we could be seated by a waiter. The ones who are there to work, are super casual which helps new people who come there. The empanadas, oh the empanadas!! I've been twice and not been disappointed. I ordered the Cubano, the jalapeno and cream cheese, the shredded pork, and the one with golden raisins. The most favorite part of the food wasn't actually the empanadas, but the house salsa! It went with every empanada I ate, whether out was supposed to or not. I loved it! I have to take time to compliment the staff and Howe they take care of people and their things, because I left my credit card here by accident for three days and they kept it for me until I was able to come for it. Thanks RE!!! Not only do I trust you with my stomach but with my stuff if I ever forget it again!
(5)
Lee W.

We went to a concert at the Mesa Art Center and went to dinner here before the show. We are so glad that we did! The food was delicious, if you like empanadas you will have a great selection. I loved the El Capitan. We also had both of their salads which were very fresh and delicious. The beer selection was good and we had wine. The wine was warmer than it should have been but was still good. The restaurant itself was really cute and mod. We enjoyed sitting on the covered patio watching the hummingbirds buzz around. Service was friendly and good. I highly recommend Empanadas Republica.
(4)
Susan S.

Oh, Republica I desperately wanted to love you... We came in on Saturday night about 7:45. The restaurant was about 25% full but it took 15 mins to seat us. We ordered the papas fritas, and were saddened to get limp fries. We both ordered platters and the food was good, but don't think we will be back. Highlights included the green sauce on the table (jalapeÃ±o, cilantro salsa) and the jalapeÃ±o popper empanada. The Cubano gets an honera me mention.
(3)
Rosson S.

This place is definitely worth it. I had the bean & cheese along with the jalapeÃ±o popper. Awesome vibe and unique food. Will be returning again and again.
(5)
Eva G.

Delicious, scrumptious empanadas! Great lunch specials! Fabulous restaurant! Fast and friendly service! NUFF SAID! *drops microphone and walks away*
(5)
Fabiola F.

I had the perenil in an empanada and both the meat and the pastry were great, my next option is to have it on a torta because it will come with more stuff. The empanada options on the lunch special are good, but they haven't, at least these last two times, featured the really good ones. Rice and beans are alright, but nothing to write home about. Just get a single empanada, like the classic, and a side of slaw. throw in a desert one if your still hungry.
(4)
Hanna B.

I went to Republica Empanada after researching local places. Their fig, mozzarella and dulce de leche empanada caught my eye so I grabbed my partner in crime and went for lunch on a Friday afternoon. The place is tiny but very clean and nicely decorated. Not ideal with children. Inside it has one long table (bar) with bunch of chairs and about 8-10 small tables with 2-4 chairs each. They do have an outside seating area but I didn't go out. The place was rated A by health department as well. I went just before noon and it was already busy. By the time 12:30 hit, it was packed. But they are very fast and lines moved quickly. The food didn't take long to come out and in the meantime, you get the enjoy the delicious smell. We got 6 empanadas total. 4 meal and 2 sweet. We had the buffalo chicken, mushroom chicken, pernil, boricua, Ruiz's pieces and fig cheese & caramel. The savory ones were filled and generous. The pernil was tender and flavorful. The boricua is pernil with rice, peas, etc. and it had a tiny bit of spice and even better than the pernil. The buffalo chicken wasn't overpowering buffalo flavor and mushroom chicken was savory and moist with good spices.Ruiz's pieces was nutella and peanut butter. It was generously sprinkled with powder sugar and inside was warm and gooey. The star of the show for me was fig cheese and caramel. Dried fig with melted mozzarella and dulce de leche. What an interesting combination of flavors but it worked wonderfully together. It also came generously sprinkled with powder sugar. It's a great local hole in the wall. We both loved everything about the place but the food is definitely worth the trip. It's a bit hidden but look for a red sign, it's hard to miss from the corner. Definitely a great find!
(5)
Jay D.

Finally a good empanada place ;) Favorites so far are the El capitan and jalapeÃ±o popper with ham. Also tried the Cubano and buffalo chicken along with the chicken with mushroom ;) The restaurant is small but friendly hipster type of place. They have a great beer selection.
(4)
John M.

Oh hell yes! I was exposed to empanadas during my time in Chile. This place is a godsend. Cool locale, nice people, and great sangria and food. We have had almost all flavors on the savory side and they are all very good. They cheeseburger flavor was a wonderful surprise. This place is a must!
(5)
Jewel M.

Great vibes, great service and very pretty but quaint. Independent as hell, the food is super soulful and homemade. Has a nice patio too! What a little gem in the heart of Mesa.
(5)
Kim R.

Found this place was open late (till 9) and thought I would try it. Very pleasant surprise when I walked in! Not a low-rent "taco stand" at all, but a hip, friendly local place with high-quality food and a lovely atmosphere. I met the owners who were so friendly and said I could sit on their patio with my dog anytime. The empanadas were DELICIOUS, very inexpensive (2 for $7.95) and had a green chili dipping sauce that is to die for. I will make this a regular local spot from now on!
(5)
Laela L.

Super yummy! (Even my difficult to please boyfriend couldn't stop raving about his empanadas!) One of the highlights of my visit to AZ!
(5)
Lauren E.

Very tasty empanadas! We got the fig cheese caramel dessert empanada, and it was awesome! Our favorite savory empanada was the bean and cheese. Yum!
(5)
Erica W.

Writing this and thinking about this place is making my mouth water. I LOVE Republica! So unique and so delicious! Some of my fave empanadas are: Jalapeno Popper, Cubano and the Buffalo Chicken. You MUST try them with the green sauce. Best I have ever had. Not sure if they put crack in it or what, it's Goooood! The fries are something you can't leave without trying. They have the best fries in town, hands down. I could go on and on. There's nothing that I have not loved! And the place itself is so swanky and cool. This is the perfect spot to impress a date!
(5)
Brandon V.

I had two of their empanadas and my wife and 2 others so I was able to taste 4 of them. They were all awesome! I don't have a favorite. I can see me getting different ones for my different moods but they will be perfect. We also shared plantain chips. Yum! I haven't had plantain since our honeymoon cruise in the Caribbean and these did not disappoint. Probably better. They also had some very tasty salsa-verde. Yum! Note: I was also very impressed with clean, hip atmosphere. The large HD TV's playing "Back to the Future" was an added bonus.
(5)
Alwin L.

Had their empanada platter with el capitan and boricua. Delicious.
(4)
Cody H.

This place is a breath of fresh air in downtown mesa that is saturated by subs and Mexican food. This place is clean, not to expensive ( good lunch deals), and just something totally new. The hamburger and slow cooked pork is heaven. I don't usually eat dessert but the fig, mascarpone, and caramel is a home run that would even impress Babe Ruth. If you're in the area, try it!
(4)
Clay O.

All I can say is OHH MYYYY! Took one bite and was in heaven. I think I gained 5 lbs today, but worth it. I had the lunch special since I could not decide what to do...come with beans, rice and cabbage salad. The cashier was very friendly and helpful. Everyone there is very friendly. Nice people Good food. The lunch special comes with two choices. I had the chicken and mushroom (very good) and the el capitan which was very flavorful. Both were excellent. So I had to have desert.... banana and nutella... this was out of this world. I will be back to gain some more lbs.
(5)
Cindy R.

I have to say.... YUM! My first time here and so much more to try! So it's a quaint little mom and pop store. Clean and cute. There is both off the street parking and a parking lot. We were seated immediately at lunch hour on the July 4th. The waitress was attentive and did her job well. Now for the food! I ordered Boricua which is rice, peas and pork , my daughter, not so adventurous had ham and cheese, we split an order of their homemade seasoned fries that had a yummy green sauce. I also ordered the fig empanada. If I only go back there again for one thing it would be for that fig empanada! I really liked the Boricua the pork was amazing. I can't wait to go back and try more!
(5)
Wanda J.

Delicious Empanadas. Menu has such a nice variety, something to please everyone. Restaurant sits on a corner and reminds me of a quaint coffee house. Staff is warm and friendly. I picked this place based on the reviews from fellow yelpers and I love empanadas. Please know they are not cheap and they are not big. Cost for two was $7.89, but worth it fresh and frabjous.
(4)
Melba R.

Just came for the first time and I am beyond satisfied. Everything was amazing and at reasonable prices. The Greek empanada and the Fig, cheese, caramel are the best tasting empanadas I have ever had and I am Puerto Rican, I've eaten many empanadas in my time. Service was great and the place is very clean. Even met the owner who was nice and attentive. This is must try! We are definitely coming back.
(5)
David R.

This place was great had lunch here had the hawaiin and the jalapeno popper enpanada and they were great. The decorations are cool and modern. Highly recommend
(5)
Ryan J.

This might be apocryphal but many in Latin America claim that God didn't rest on the 7th day, he celebrated by creating the empanada. A few visits to Republica Empanada and you will become a true believer to this sentiment. While the place might have a serious hipster facade the owners behind the scenes are the genuine real article. It's this type of restaurant that Yelp was made for. Plan on making a few visits because you'll want to sample everything.
(5)
Matt M.

If the revitalization efforts of Mesa's downtown restoration succeed, places like Republic Empanada can take a lot of the credit. Briefly, a comfy cozy place with hip music and good solid food, albeit, mostly empanadas. The decor try's a little hard, but I applaud the effort. The light fixtures are awesome and I love the couch.
(4)
Molly F.

Be careful not to get a dessert empanada 'a la mode'. For two very small scoops of your run-of-the-mill vanilla ice cream we paid an extra $6! I was shocked and disappointed. The empanadas are good. But the service is poor.
(3)
Martha W.

The food here is really solid, but the atmosphere is not good. Republica Empanada fries their empanadas, but they don't feel greasy or overly heavy. Everything comes out piping hot. The dessert empanadas are particularly stellar - this restaurant was on a list of the best restaurant desserts in the Phoenix area for their fig, cheese, and dulce de leche (caramel) empanada, and with good reason. They make the dulce de leche in house and it's phenomenal. Unfortunately, the last time I went, it was so loud that it literally gave me a migraine. I would recommend either making a reservation to sit on the patio or just stopping by for dessert in the middle of the day when it's not so busy. The other reviews are correct about the disorganized service, but the desserts are worth it if you avoid sitting inside during peak hours.
(4)
Jonatan F.

Excellent fried empanadas + soccer on the TV.
(5)
Aiesha M.

Very rarely do I give a 5 however these empanadas are amazing, at least the ones I ordered! I had the jalapeÃ±o popper, la boricua, fig cheese and caramel, Nutella and banana and Cubana. Very friendly staff. Fast service and VERY affordable. I would have gotten 1 of each if I could. Great selections.
(5)
Jen V.

Totally recommend this place to anyone wanting to try something new, fresh, and authentic. I ordered the Empanada Platter, it came with the choice of two empanadas, white rice, black beans, cabbage, and plantains for $13.00, completely worth it. The food reminded me of my Mom's home cooking. It's a real small restaurant, but the atmosphere is great. Right next door you have the Mesa Urban Garden, cool place to check out after.
(5)
John H.

Saw all the reviews and really wanted to go. We went for dinner on a Wednesday night and were 2 of about 5 people in the whole place. We order the special and the rice and beans were cold. The empanada were good but somewhat small. Got a beer for a dollar off which was nice. Also got two dessert empanada which were the highlight of the meal hot and good. Food was ok but not sure I would drive the 20 minutes to come back.
(3)
Charlie S.

Today tried a seasonal special, pork enchiladas. They were incredibly good! Spicy red sauce was perfect. My wife, the hot fan, loved the jalapeno popper. Have yet to try anything here that isn't excellent!
(5)
Kayla V.

Great beer choice ( though not draft) and the food is EXCELLENT. The fig and cheese dessert Empanada was a perfect, sweet and savory finish. Mondays and Tuesdays you can get 4 empanadas and four beers ( or a bottle of wine) for $20 (2 People min.) I highly recommend this chic, little hole in the wall joint.
(5)
Laurie B.

As out of town visitors, we were glad to try something different. I wondered if the empanadas (fried dough after all) would be heavy. Not at all. The chicken empanada was delicious with the sauce and so was the bean and cheese empanada. Definitely add the green sauce to your whole meal- it livened up even the rice and beans on the side. Great interior.
(3)
Gary D.

Pro's: It's close to where I live and the food is OK in my opinion. Con's: It's a loud bar atmosphere. Asked for no ice in my soda and I got unwanted ice. A bit expensive for people on a tight budget. This place is perfect for people that like outdoor dining and a loud bar environment.
(3)
Jasmin S.

The empanadas may be small but they are full of flavor and filling. Both savory and sweet styles. Good beer selection. The restaurant is small so expect a wait on busy days.
(4)
Raylun G.

Great taste but the combo was not worth the cost. I recommend ordering 3-4 empanadas, specifically the jalapeÃ±o poppers. The atmosphere is an indie modern take with upbeat songs from a cultured era. Definitely a hole in the wall to visit
(4)
S C.

This is a gem. This is by far one of best places you've never heard of and should try. Actually going there tonight and can't wait.
(5)
Mama Bee B.

Great empanadas! Love the location and atmosphere. My favorite is the pernil. Cheese burger, jalapeÃ±o popper are relish too. Sort of pricey.
(4)
Scott G.

We had the Arroz con Pollo and a variety of the empanadas, everything was so delicious!! The service was also fantastic!!
(5)
Shain J.

Came here with my family and we had a variety of empanadas. All were delicious!!! The desert empanadas were delightful! I'm not even a desert person, but I had to try one after the tasty empanadas we had for lunch. I'll be coming back to try the other types!!!!
(5)
Holly R.

Ever since the boyfriend and I discovered empanadas in New York we have been dreaming of finding something comparable close to home. Enter Republica Empanada. When we saw the menu online we got excited because there were a variety of options, many quite similar to what we had experienced in NYC. Our expectations were high and Republica Empanada did not disappoint. We both ordered the lunch special - 2 empanadas, rice, beans and salad for $7.50. I chose the Hawaiian and the El Capitan, both were very, very good. The shell was done just right - crispy but not greasy. And there was plenty of filling with a good ratio of ingredients. They served them with a spicy cilantro sauce on a side that definitely had a kick but was very tasty. The rice and beans, though simple, were flavorful and a nice complement to the empanadas. The place itself is clean, contemporary and comfortable. The staff was very pleasant and helpful explaining the menu options. One thing to watch out for when going there - they are on First AVE. Apple maps will take you to First STREET (thanks a lot SIRI!) So watch out for that. I can't wait to go back and try a few of the other flavors. This is sure to become a regular place for us.
(5)
Jenteel P.

I so appreciate this place! Very hard to find Caribbean/Latin (not Mexican) food in Phx that is reminiscent of those back home that are actually good! The staff is really nice, orders are fulfilled quickly, and they stay open until 9p on weekdays!
(5)
Brianna S.

Yum yum! Decent prices, clean, friendly and different. We will definitely come back.
(4)
Keri W.

It truly is a rare treat to find such an exquisite restaurant. This quaint little nook tucked away in downtown Mesa is serving up delicate, fluffy pillows of empanada heaven on the daily! From the first bite, I knew that this Chef was supremely passionate about food. I need to go back for dessert. Our server was delightfully charming and demure. Their garden is very impressive. This spot is positively heartwarming.
(5)
Drew M.

Food was OK. It's different than anything around so that is appetizing. I'm not a fan of ham, Green and Kalamata Olives, so that eliminates 89% of their menu for me. I tried the buffalo chicken and the cheeseburger. I'd eat the chicken one again, but the ground beef pocket I can do without. My stars are actually for the decor, service, and beer selection. The place would get more stars from me once they make more affordable, appetizing empanada combinations. but for someone like my dad, that likes nasty tasting olives, this may be 5 stars. The empanadas are $3 each, but are small. good luck getting full for less than $10.
(3)
Janet S.

This restaurant is great. I had their pulled pork sandwich (I can't remember what they called it). Its really good. I put their green sauce all over it. Its one of the best sandwiches I have ever had.
(5)
Marisa K.

I'm a big fan of this place. I've been three times now and have had the chance to try several offerings and haven't been disappointed yet. They have a great range of flavors, both savory and sweet. The lunch special is a great deal too. Just be careful, I have burned my mouth every time I've eaten here.
(4)
Jessica L.

Not unlike its namesake, this joint has an unassuming exterior and pure delight on the inside. Stopped in here for a late lunch during a business trip, and as with nearly all other Yelpers, the food and service did not disappoint. There are three shared-seating areas (2 small bars and and long community table). There are several small 2-person tables and a couple larger tables. Decor was pleasant with a down-to-earth-but-hip, urban vibe. Very casual atmosphere. Not fancy, just fun. Lunch: I dined with two business colleagues, and we enjoyed everything we tried. We started with an appetizer Combo Caribe (yuca fries, tostones, and maduro). The accompanying jalapeno-crema and the light green-chile salsa were pleasantly spicy and delicious. I ordered the Lunch Special, opting for the Pernil (slow-roasted pork) and Ham and Cheese empandas which were served with rice, black beans, and cabbage salad ($7.95). I think anything would be delicious wrapped in that perfect pastry crust, so it was especially nice that the fillings were also spectacular. The cabbage salad was simply dressed with a light acidity, proving an especially nice foil for the rich pastry. My colleagues each ordered a special "Arroz con Colombia," which they devoured, echoing high praise between mouthfuls, stopping only to swallow and eat more. They may have breathed; not sure. Sadly for me, they didn't share! This tasty-looking dish was an achiote-seasoned rice served with shrimp, sausage, and vegetables (peppers, carrots). It looked like paella (without the crisped rice bottom). Taking their word and empty plates, it must be fantastic. To accompany the meal there was a small, thoughtful selection of bottled beers, cider, and sodas. We finished our delightful lunch by splitting the guava and the fig-caramel dessert empanadas (yes, I'm nicer than the boys!). Fig-caramel was amazing, with just a touch of salt (maybe from the cheese?) to balance the sweet caramel and I adored the just-right textures of crispy-chewy-creamy. Mmm. When I return, the Pernil and Fig-Caramel will remain a must-order. I will venture into other savory flavors and report back.
(5)
Kayla B.

Yummmm! Came in today for the lunch special, which came with a choice of 2 empanadas and all three of their sides. As a vegetarian, I was delighted that their rice and beans were both veggie! I went for the cheese and potato, the potato was my favorite, so good. The cheese was a giant mozzarella stick of deliciousness. My sister ordered a bean and cheese empanada, she's a veggie too, and TWICE empanadas came out with meat in them. The employees were very apologetic and we could tell it wasn't purposefully, as if a prep cook had accidentally mixed them up, but could have been bad if my sister had actually taken a bite. But as I said, they were nice about it, and I wouldn't hold it against them. We also ordered three.... Yes three.... Dessert empanadas! Guava and cheese is where it's at. I'm excited to come out on a Monday or Tuesday for their special! Beer and fried goodness. Nom!
(4)
Jami e.

Lovely interior, just enough comfort-to-hip ratio. Went there for the first time Monday night got 4 empanadas and a desert for take out. The food was delicious!!! and we will be going there to eat in next time. As I was waiting for my food I noticed that the staff were engaged and informative and customers were enjoying the atmosphere as much as the food. Go there to eat and hang out it will make a wonderful evening. Ps the food is mostly somewhat Puerto Rican & Caribbean style -ish and tastes just like you hope it will.
(5)
Teresa A.

Amazing. Traveling from out of town and discovered this place on Yelp. Absolutely wonderful atmosphere and food. Definitely recommend.
(5)
Sarah D.

Good food, great prices and ridiculous portions. The tostones fried plantains were awesome and has just the right texture. You can taste the freshness in everything they make. The only thing I would improve on would be service and even that barely needs work. The staff was friendly and attentive, I think we caught them on an off night lol. I'm a server so I notice the little things. All in all, the food holds on it's own. With 2 appetizers, 2 big ass meals and a brew for my guy the bill was only 37! Could barely fit the leftovers in the 2 to go boxes... Give this a go if you're in the neighborhood for sure :)
(4)
Jae And Nui K.

Stopped in here on a Wednesday night at 7pm. There was only one other couple there eating, we were grabbing something to go. We ordered a couple empanadas each. Wife had the potato empanada and the fig and cheese. Both were really good. I had the pernil and the chicken with mushroom. Both were good but the pernil was the best. The green sauce they give you is really good. Has a little spice to it but it is just right. After eating two empanadas I could use a third. They do have a happy hour that ends at 7. Not sure what the specials are, but they do serve beer and wine. They have a special Monday and Tuesday, $20 for 4 empanadas and 4 beers. Must be shared with 2 people.
(5)
Ryan J.

We were looking for a dog friendly restaurant and called up Republica Empanada and they let us bring him out on the patio with us. A good start Their Tostones were very, very good. Large and enough for 3-4 people to start. We decided to all try a few and share, everything was great. The Cuban was tasty and the Capitan was particularly good. The house Pork was also amazing. We will be back, we are always looking for good spots to eat. Prices aren't too bad when you consider the flavor!
(5)
Cassandra S.

I've eaten here with friends three times, and each time the empanadas have been supreme, and the beer selection good. I love bringing new people here. The jalapeÃ±o and the caramel mozzarella dessert empanadas are the beeest... At times, they have a $20 special for two beers and four empanadas perfect for a small dinner or large snack. And the staff are wonderful.
(5)
Julius R.

I had high expectations of this place. I ordered a few different types of empanada, both savory and sweet. Only a couple of them were good...not great, just good. Also, price is too high for what you get.
(2)
Cheryl B.

Nestled close to downtown, this place is a hidden gem in Mesa and definitely worth discovering! Although small inside & a slightly limited menu, containing empanadas savory and sweet (some gluten free, wheat, and vegetarian choices) a few appetizers, platters, a couple sides, soup and salads, Republica Empanada was big on flavor! Beverages consist of RC products on tap, bottles of fully loaded Pepsi, Coke, Jarritos in several fruity flavors, canned soda, lemonade and tea. I ordered the Greek empanada filled with sautÃ©ed spinach, creamy feta, and kalamata olive, thanks to the suggestion of our awesome server Heidi, and that day's special, the Jalapeno popper empanada with cream cheese, ham, and roasted jalapenos, both melt in your mouth savory perfection! Oh and the jalapeno cilantro ranch is amazing, so great I could put it on both and could have finished it with a spoon! My daughter had the buffalo chicken which she wanted me to say that it was soooo good and from the one bite she was sweet enough to share I agree, it was soooo good! Only wished the empanadas were bigger but for my waistline's sake glad they're not because I want to try them all! Dinner isn't complete without dessert, so we ordered "the King" an empanada stuffed with peanut butter & banana. Little Miss loved it and by the last bite was saying thank you, thank you very much! (LL) I had melt in your mouth sweet perfection, fig and caramel empanada made with fig, mozzarella cheese, & South American dulce de leche, a definite must try! Great food, prices and service will definitely keep me coming back for more!
(4)
Nichole H.

This was my first visit and the verdict is in: this place rocks! It's affordable, close to home, friendly, cozy, and unique. Oh, did I mention the food is great too? The Popper flavor was my favorite but honestly I didn't find one I didn't like and we must have tried about half the menu. Me and mine will definitely be back to try everything at least once.
(5)
Sonia O.

These are the best empanadas I've ever had. The empanada dough is perfect. It's thin and crisp - not so thin that it's falling apart and not too crisp that it's hard to eat. The fillings are delicious and the dessert empanadas are uuuuhmazing! We came here two times in two days because we are out-of-towners and had to get as many empanadas as we could! I liked the Republica Chicken, Bean and Cheese, the Fig, Cheese, and Caramel desert empanada, and the guava and cheese. I'm seriously thinking the drive from LA might be worth it! Plus the staff is very friendly and welcoming. I can't wait to come back.
(5)
John R.

Fantastic. Stopped in hoping to find some authentic Argentine cuisine. Food was terrific. Service was excellent. Empanadas to die for. The El Capitan, chicken, & pork were outstanding. Try the banana & nutella desert empanada. Killer! We'll be back.
(5)
Phoebe B.

Love this place! The coconut porter was really good and the yucca fries were amazing! I had the chicken empanada and my husband had the beef and the mushroom and chicken and everything was divine. The sauces are all great compliments to the food. I have actually been to South America and I know authentic empanadas. We will definitely be returning! Also the caramel fig empanada is amazing!!!!
(5)
Maria B.

Very cute place, good empanadas
(4)
Jeff L.

Amazing all the time! Everything is really freaking good and I've tried half the empanadas on the menu. They are small so get 2 or 3. The gallo pinto brings me back to Costa Rica. The coconut porter was also a pleasant surprise. It has a trendy feel but still mom n pop. I like to think of it as a Costa Rican Cornish Pasty with way fewer hipsters, and no draft beer.
(5)
Don M.

The fig carmel empanada is worth the trip on it's own. Also really liked the rest. Definitely going back again.
(4)
N R.

Great food and good service. The variety of empanadas is great. Dessert selection of empanadas is yummy. Good drink selection... Bottled drinks, beer too I think? Atmosphere is great; excellent spot for quick lunch.
(5)
Jennifer G.

This place is the bomb! Great food nice clean casual atmosphere. You can even get a beer with you lunch! If you haven't tried it you are missing out!
(5)
Christina W.

Was nice to try something different for lunch but it was only okay. Tried the lunch special which came with two empanadas + rice + beans. Empanadas good but needs a dipping sauce. Overall a bit dry and the shell greasy. Also tried the pollo con arroz. That was disappointing. Compared to other PCAs I've had this was not it. This was prepared like chicken fried rice (but not as good tasting). Likely not to return as it was not memorable.
(3)
Matt B.

Very cool place, great empanadas both authentic like the CapitÃ¡n and more Americanized like the Buffalo Chicken!
(5)
Alexis X.

I like this little joint. It's small, clean, and has a hip vibe. The pernil empanadas were tasty. The crust is the main attraction, crisp but not greasy. The outer crust is made with flour rather than with cornmeal which is fine. I like both crusts as long as they're done right. The meat is flavorful, but slightly on the drier side. The version with rice and beans and pernil was OK, but I liked the straight pernil better. The ground beef was good also. I guess I subscribe to the "less ingredients is more," approach to empanadas. Would've liked to have tried the chicken, but they were already out at 5pm on a Saturday. The empanadas are a good size and my friend and I split 3 so we could try a variety. The green dipping sauce was a bit on the bland side, and I would've liked to have had a house made red sauce option. We also ordered yucca, which is always great right out of the fryer, but cut quite thick so it can get starchy when it cools down. The hearts of palm salad was enormous, and can easily be shared between 2-4 people. It's packed full of fresh ingredients but it overall it wasn't anything special and the green dressing was also on the watery blander side. The plantain patty that comes with the salad was crispy and had a great texture. Again, it was fried but not greasy. I will probably just skip the salad next time, and save room for more empanadas, which are the star of the show. Servers were casual but very attentive. I don't get to the the East side much, but the next time I catch a show at the Mesa Arts, I will make a stop. It's literally walking distance.
(3)
Jerry S.

Every one we tried was delish. I am pretty picky about empanadas because I used to live in Venezuela where they are on every corner and better than any I have had here. They had green sauce that was legit like the Venezuelan street vendors which I haven't seen since I left. It went well with the chicken, the rest are very fusion type empanadas but I liked that there were traditional and empanadas like the Nutella banana. Great mix of new and old and so yummy
(5)
Sarah A.

I found this on Google maps, searching for something in close proximity to Mesa Arts Center, where I attended a concert tonight. My sister and I shared several savory empanadas, the Yuca Fritas, and one sweet empanada. We agreed that our favorites were the Pernil and the Mushroom Chicken, although we liked all the ones we tried. We had the Guava and Cheese for dessert, and it was delicious too. All the empanadas were very flavorful, with a crispy (and not oily) pastry. What a delicious concept, and it's great to share so you can try many different flavors. The service was a little slow, especially since there weren't many people there, but the staff was very friendly. This is a true gem in downtown Mesa. I will for sure be back.
(4)
Lexington L.

What a great addition to downtown Mesa. The eatery offers a hip little hangout with a long community table down the center backing up to the Mesa Community Garden (you start to see the concept they are going for). The service was good, food was great, menu is sleek and simple. We have not had a chance to try the desserts yet, that is on our list! The selection looks unbelievable. We heard they are also getting a liquor license, which will transform it from an urban eatery to a place to hangout and stay a while. Looking forward to that.
(5)
Mark E.

OMG we just shared six and I couldn't pick a favorite, they are all fantastic! Do yourself a favor and try this place..
(5)
Mike P.

We tried 6 different empanadas and everything was excellent! Service was good and food was awesome! We will definitely come back. The fig cheese and caramel desert empanada was our favorite!
(5)
Mike S.

We were looking for a lunch place and my phone app suggested this place, I couldn't be more in love with my phone for suggesting it. It is a very small an unassuming place on the outside and you would miss it if you weren't looking for it. The wait staff was very friendly and very informative, our waitress made sure to ask if it was our first time and answered any questions we had. The food was amazing! I would put down what we had, but I think you should go in not knowing and have an amazing experience like we had. I will definitely be back for more!!
(5)
Eric L.

What an awesome place! To start with, the staff is great. they're very friendly and come around often to check on you. The owner is really nice and pleasant and we had a very nice conversation with him. Now the food, Awesome!!! We tried a variety of empanadas and they were all great. The Jalapeno one was especially good. The dessert empanada fig cheese and caramel was delicious! This place is wonderful! We will definitely be back and we highly recommend that you try it!
(5)
Brain B.

Do you like empanadas, do you hate empanadas? Well, whichever it is, you will love this place. They have everything to spiced ground beef and veggies to Fig and Cheese empanadas.. also me not being a fan of Nutella, LOVES their Nutella Empanada !
(4)
Keiko D.

Why are you on YELP reading about this place and NOT eating here? Holy balls, this place is amazzzzzing. I have single-handedly converted a small army of people to adoring this place. Really, it's all fab, except for the Buffalo Empanada. The ham and cheese is fabulous, the black bean salad to die for, the fig and cheese empanada my BFF. Plus, BOTH my kids eat whatever the get here. Go here now.
(5)
Jessica H.

Delicious! Went for lunch and they had an awesome lunch special; 2 empanadas, cabbage salad, rice and beans. The service was very welcoming, I felt like I walked into a friends home, it was very clean, and had 2 large screen TV's. The food was absolutely delicious. We got 4 different empanadas ALL were yummy!!! We will be back and I highly suggest your check it out too.
(5)
Brea J.

Service can be a bit flaky--there were only two servers on when I got there (6:30 on a Saturday) and it took a long time for anyone to help me/the staff seemed overwhelmed. I still love this place, just some info for the powers that be.
(5)
Kat F.

Great service, reasonable prices , and an excellent variety of Spanish dishes. I also enjoyed the local beer selection. There's a couple of delicious vegetarian options (not your ordinary salad and veggie burger options either). I am anxious to go back again.
(5)
Eric H.

I've been to Republica Empanada several times and each time it's a delight! I love this quaint restaurant located in the heart of downtown Mesa. I also love the prices! Seriously, when most restaurants overprice their meals, RE keeps the prices reasonable. The interior is perfect, modern, and clean. Also, the owners are always available to speak to and I love the family-owned atmosphere. You can't go wrong here! I love everything on the menu.
(5)
Kassandra M.

I created a yelp account just so I could post about this place! I went into Republica Empanada today for a lunch date. I ended up being stood up for said date! Not only did they give me a free dessert, but they were incredibly kind and said it was his loss that he didn't show up. I decided to stick around and have lunch anyway, and I have no regrets about that! I got to eat great food in a comfortable place, and listen to some great music! They have created a business where people will not only want to return because of the food (which was FANTASTIC; I recommend the peanut butter and banana empanada) but people will want to return for the whole atmosphere and the kindness of those that work there! I will definitely be back, and next time probably with a girlfriend or my mom. :)
(5)
Lorena V.

Great lunch special! Simple and delicious. Pick your two empanadas and it comes with rice, black beans, and cabage salad. Afordable. The place is modern and love that they have a couch to relax after finishing your meal. Customer service great.
(4)
Lily M.

The place was fairly easy to find, we were greeted and sat immediately despite the rush. Did take a while to get our drink order due to short staffing. Otherwise, the food totally made up for it! A nice, and much needed spot in the Mesa area!
(4)
Danielle C.

I finally had the chance to come eat here for lunch one day a couple weeks ago and so glad we came here! From the outside it looks a bit interesting... But the inside is very nicely decorated, very colorful and modern. We got one of the lunch plates (two empanadas with rice and beans) and then another two empanadas to share since it was our first time. Everything was all really good, especially the Cuban and Pernil empanadas. We also got the cheeseburger (doesn't have a great punch of flavor) and the mushroom chicken. I've had Maduros from a Cuban restaurant in Louisville, KY and had to order them here when I saw them on the menu. These were just as good; although we weren't crazy about the dipping sauce that came with it. Overall, definitely looking forward to coming back here! We didn't get a chance to order dessert and I had my eye on a few of them!
(4)
Ben B.

This place is the BOMB.COM! Go there you will not be disappointed! The straight up cheese empanada takes you to the streets of Chile! Soooo good!
(5)
John J.

These guys have a great little restaurant. Food is excellent. I'm excited to see what they do with the place. Hope the salads and entree selection on their menu grows!
(5)
Brett A.

The only things I've had are the empanadas, which by the name of the place you'd think are the house specialty. Solid, good but nothing special. I tried all the empanadas between my wife and I. My favorite was the boricua. The jalapeÃ±o popper had way too much cream cheese. Friendly service, I think I was hearing such great things it was a letdown. Just a small one tho
(3)
Jennifer O.

This restaurant was like a little slice of hipster downtown Phoenix in Mesa. The space is nicely decorated and has a 'cool' atmosphere. I went with a friend and we each got the dinner plate. Unfortunately, they were out of more than half of their variety of empanada... it was only around 6 pm.... Anyway, the empanadas I ended up getting were very good. Got the Cubana and the Boricua. The Cubana was very flavorful, and though I don't typically like ham, I really liked this. The Boricua was also good with pulled pork and a yellow rice.... it even has olives in it, which I don't like, but I liked this. The crust of their empanadas was thin and crispy....really delicious. The green sauce they provide is good, with nice heat, but is really strong with raw onion... I could taste it in my mouth all night. The dinner plate also came with rice and beans (which were both pretty standard, nothing special) and maduros which were very tasty. We shared dessert, a fig and cheese with ice cream...this was tasty, but I didn't think the ice cream added too much...for the extra 3$, just get a second empanada. I would definitely come back here if I were in the neighborhood again.
(4)
Mary D.

Yummy food in a cute little setting! I look forward to returning again soon. Definitely a great addition to downtown Mesa and the Mesa Arts Center area.
(5)
Bonny O.

This is fantastic. The empanada were amazing. My favorite was the cubano with pork ham cheese and pickles but the pbj and plantain and cremA were also amazing. The plantains were out of this world and the cassava with jalapeno ranch was also delightful. It was busy put not packed which was weird considering the high quality combined with reasonable prices. Beer selection was also superb. Try it!!!
(5)
Elizabeth B.

I first heard about this restaurant through Phoenix New Times, and finally tried it out tonight. Very good food! Everything was super tasty and fresh, and the service was quite good - everyone was very attentive and knowledgeable. Everything was really reasonably priced especially when you get the special. We had the combo appetizer, a couple specials, a couple of desserts, and some sangria - loved it all! Definitely recommend trying out this great restaurant - you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Laura S.

This place is Fantastic! The empinadas are perfect and not oily or dry. The Pernil is my favorite along with the Posole. They serve beer and wine and are working on getting their liquor licence. The lunch special is filling and delicious. Or try the Posole for your lunch. A great way to go. The place has a great vibe, the staff are friendly and nice and the bathrooms are always clean! I like supporting small business, and this is a win win!
(5)
Tiffany O.

The food was great! I tried the republica chicken, cheese, and Nutella banana. They were all wonderful, and came out really quickly. The interior was very clean and modern. All of the empanadas were $3-3.50, so they're great for even just a snack before going to the art center or museum.
(5)
Lucien H.

I used to eat at this building years ago. I think it was called Casa Rosa's at the time, but when I moved I wasn't able to visit again until after the business had shut down. For the first time in years, I saw this place open, so I excitedly pulled into one of the street side parking spaces and walked in. The general idea of the place is the same. There is a tv, but the giant screen projection tv is gone for anybody that remembers it. You must walk in and go immediately left to see the counter where you order. All of the furniture is new and the interior has been completely remodeled from the looks of it. The employees were extremely helpful and polite, and I believe it was the owner that introduced himself to me. I ordered the Cubano, which alone is not nearly enough for a meal even though it was delicious. It was served with an excellent avocado sauce (didn't seem quite like guac). They have a full selection of beverages imported from Mexico and therefore not including high fructose corn syrup. Order one of these with a two empanada lunch combo. Their prep time was very fast making this a good place for a lunch break or date. It also looks like they're applying for their beer license (exciting). If you haven't been here since the building reopened in July 2013, it's definitely worth stopping by if you're in downtown Mesa around lunchtime.
(4)
Jack S.

Costa Rica food with South American flavor. It is a small fast food set up but the food is very good.
(5)
Alex C.

I used to have the empanadas served here back when it was the owner selling them from a small mobile shop. The restaurant has grown but the food has remained uniformly excellent. Delicious, filling, inexpensive and a fun atmosphere. I just took my mother here, visiting from Michigan. She's says: "minimal setting ad frills, and just really, really great food."
(5)
Danny R.

Outstanding food, great service, great staff. Only complaint is the kitchen is pretty slow.
(4)
Lynne A.

Love this place! Great atmosphere and cute diner feel. The selection was amazing and variety awesome. I would eat there once a week if they were in my town. We loved it so much we ate there twice.
(5)
Cabo D.

Probably some of the best cheap eats in Mesa, and within walking distance to the Mesa Arts Center. Small restaurant, parking in the back, good service. Order the yucca frita, much better then any fries.
(4)
check p.

This is a friendly, tasty, fried fast food joint. Fried but not greasy!! I'm here with a group and the outside/inside choice is perfect. Everyone, even veggie lovers are happy!! The pernil empa is crispy but not greasy, with a delicious meatball of juicy pork. Also loved the plantains, rice and black beans! And the sweet empas were good too. Dinner for $11! A real find
(5)
Thomas J.

Walking into RE you are greeted with a nice clean dining room with tasteful art and a slight industrial theme (the light bulbs are pretty cool). The empanada's are very tasteful, although I would like to see some more onion in the cheeseburger empanada. I also tried the El Capitan, Mushroom Chicken, and Jalapeno Popper; all were VERY good! The staff was very friendly and the service was excellent. If you are looking for a nice lunch in a good atmosphere, visit Republica Empanada. I plan on going back and trying a few more empanada flavors along with their yummy house green salsa.
(5)
Britney B.

We were impressed with the freshness and quality of the ingredients. Everything was homemade, and there was great attention to detail. The server was attentive to our needs. It was reasonably priced. The food was delicious. It reminded me of my time spent in Latin America. What else could you ask for? We'll definitely be going back :)
(5)
Danielle E.

The empenadas here are quite tasty. However, I found that they were quite small for what you pay for. I'm always looking to get the best tasting food for my buck and Republica Empanada fell short. I'm glad I gave them a try, but I most likely won't be back.
(3)
Steven B.

My new favorite place. I've eaten many empanadas in my lifetime because my Puerto Rican god-grandmother has fed them to me my entire life, and I haven't had any other that even come close to comparing besides the empanadas here. The first time I came here I probably had like four or five, not even joking. It's so hard to choose just one. 10/10, would recommend to everyone. :)
(5)
Jarilyn W.

This place is amazing! The staff & atmosphere were great and the food even better! I had the Pernil (seasoned pork) empanada & it was fantastic! But take my advice: though you'll be tempted to keep trying more of the deliciousness in the 'main course' or meat empanadas, pace yourself, because ALL of the sweet, dessert empanadas are equally amazing (the plantain & crema is the BEST in my opinion!). They also had a great, local beer selection! Great food, great prices & great service!
(5)
Marcie B.

I just ate here. It is Saturday at around 3:30 so we had to order dinner menu which was more expensive. I had the El Capitan empanadas with the dinner option. They were OK but not great. My husband had the Arroz con Pollo and is average too. I really like the ambience so I'll give it another try someday, maybe a happy hour. They seem to have lots of beers if you like that.
(3)
Mike D.

My friend and I were hungry last night but didn't know what we wanted or where to go so we pulled up Yelp. Yep, we found this place because we like new places that are off the beaten path. We were not disappointed!! The atmosphere is inviting, the service is personal and the food is AMAZING!! Simple ingredients done right!! Definitely going back!
(5)
Chris J.

Great place and nice change of pace from typical good found in the valley - empanadas are a wide range of fillings and there is something for everyone. Try the sweet empanadas for dessert they are great
(4)
Denise B.

Overall the night went very well the moment we walked in. Our waitress was very kind, happy, and helpful. I ordered the Hawaiian and for dessert the Nutella & Banana they were to good to just have one so i ordered two more :)
(5)
Ruthie P.

Meh, not impressed and kind of over-priced for what you get. Ordered two different empanadas and the pozole. One of the empanadas was way over done and the other was just right which was of course the one that came with beans in it which I didn't like but was recommended. The pozole was beef and reminiscent of canned beef vegetable soup. Overall expected better, but may try them again.
(2)
Janee P.

I really like it. Service was outstanding. Simple menu. Sleek and stylish decor. It's a beautiful addition to downtown Mesa. ER has so much potential! I had a lovely chat with the owner, Edmundo, who told us about his family, him being from Mexico and his wife from Costa Rica. The beautiful mural on the wall represents his family. It's awesome! You can tell there is a lot of love and passion behind this business. I also liked the fact that the owner was so friendly and open to suggestions and feedback. I was so very excited for ER to open since I lived in Chile for a year and ate empanadas nearly everyday. We ordered the El Capitan (it sounded the closest to the traditional Chilean empanadas I loved), and the Cubana. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed by the El Capitan. It wasn't bad, just not what I was expecting I guess. Cubana was very good. They also had a really good lunch special. It was $7.50 for 2 empanadas, a side of beans, rice, and salad.(I think). Excited for them to get their liquor license and start offering local craft beers! I think ER has a lot of potential. Will be back to try the rest of the menu.
(4)
Jacob P.

Bold flavor in simple, fried pockets. If you are anywhere near the Mesa area just do yourself a favor and drag your ass to this place. The maduros are tender and sweet, the boricua will make any Nuyorican proud, and the capitan is savory and balanced. By the time you get to dessert you may be jaded from the empanada concept (I was). But they make a great effort in maintaining their identity till the last bite. I would have preferred a custard or bread pudding... something to mix up the texture.
(4)
Jennifer S.

Yum! The empanadas are not big so you get to try 2-3. Every one I tried was very good. There are only 4-5 choices of sides I believe and I only tried rice and black beans and those were good as well. I went a few times while in town and always saved room for a third and made it The King, a desert empanada. Wow! Sin-sational! PB, banana, little honey, powdered sugar on the outside. I always wished I had just ordered 3 Kings.
(5)
Leilani M.

Amazing lunch specials! The Pernil empanada is to die for!
(5)
Ashley C.

What a fun, delicious find in downtown Mesa. We loved the decor, music and most importantly the food. The empanadas are excellent! I had the Chicken and Jalepeno Popper one. It's worth a drive if you don't live close.
(5)
Chad F.

Arrived around 5 for dinner and the restaurant was entirely empty. This was nice as we had great service and the entire menu was explained to us by our waiter. He suggested the combo app platter that had tostonies, fried plantains, yucca & two dipping sauces which was a jalapeno ranch and regular ranch. This was good but did fill you up pretty quick. He recommended the dinner combo... OK portions are huge. Could have skipped the app combo. Dinner special was 2 empanadas of your choice. They have about 10 different varieties. Also on the plate was rice, black beans and some more fried plantains. I would have opted for the dinner special. You can order the empanadas individually which run around $3 each, they also serve 4 different tortas with the same fillings they use for the tasty empanadas. Place was very clean on the inside. As we where seated a couple was leaving. They decided to move outside by the main entrance and proceeded to smoke. The smell of smoke did fill up the dinning room and the owner asked the patrons nicely to move away from the door which they graciously did. The food was very good and the service was excellent. Prices pretty decent as well. Dinner special ran $11 and well worth every penny.
(4)
Laurel N.

This was my first time eating an empanada. I got the black bean and cheese and the Hawaiian. For desert, we got the Nutella and bananas (with ice cream and wipped cream of course). Delicious!! Oh, we also got the Papas Fritas. They are potato fries with house seasoning. So so good! I highly recommend them. Can't wait to go back and try some more. I'm now an empanada fan!
(4)
M G.

Great new gem in downtown Mesa! Light, flaky delicious empanadas. One person can have 2-3 and still have room for a dessert empanada. I had the Boricua, El CapitÃ¡n and the Cubano. All equally delicious and honest to their menu descriptions. Good bottled beer selection and the restaurant was clean, tidy and modern. The service was attentive and friendly. So happy to see a good and unique restaurant in Mesa.
(5)
Chrys W.

Try alot of them. Cheeseburger republica chicken japeno popper. Cubana all were excellent. Buffalo chicken pass on that one . Ewww
(5)
Kevin R.

Meh... $3-$3.25 fancy under filled hot pockets. Didn't feel it was a good value and at bill time got forgotten about for about ten minutes. Won't be returning.
(2)
N W.

A very cool restaurant in downtown Mesa! We tried several of the empanadas and loved all of them. Great staff, nice location next to the community garden. This is definitely going to be a regular.
(5)
Abby G.

I'm digging the Downtown Revival! Republica Empanada was a great place to stop for a nice lunch. The service was great, the lunch special is fantastic and a good amount of food, I didn't leave the slightest bit hungry. The empanadas were delicious, and the decor and atmosphere were quaint, welcoming and thoroughly enjoyable. Will stop by again. Love the original building!
(4)
Beth V.

This place is great. Right next to my job, super convenient for lunch. The lunch special is a lot of food for a good price. There are so many flavors, I can't keep track of my favorites. I just know the green sauce is amazing with all of them. And be sure to try the fig cheese & caramel dessert, ah-mazing.
(4)
Cynthia W.

Busy Friday night and Republica is as loud as a junior high lunch room. It was so noisy we couldn't hear our server and I don't think she could hear us because I wound up with an order of Papas Fritas that I thought was included in the dinner special as an appetizer. They served it after we were well into the meal so we were puzzled when it showed up. They were generously seasoned with rosemary. I had a black bean salad which was large and fresh. My partner had a special that included 2 empanadas which he thought were OK. Skip the Reisling at $6 for a juice glass size and the glass was warm. We thought it was a little pricey.
(3)
elizabeth b.

went with my husband last nite for date nite & we had a wonderful time. the staff was helpful & friendly. we tried a a variety of the empanada flavors & they were all great not a bad one they were all crisp & flavorful.the dessert ones were heaven. all in all it was a great restaurant, layed back vibe you have to try it out, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
M L.

I'm so happy I found this place! I grew up in South America eating empanadas and I never thought I would find such an authentic place in the valley. We loved the food, and we enjoyed watching the world cup too! We'll definitely go back whenever we are in the area.
(5)
Christina S.

Haven't had anything that's bad. Things seem to taste best when the owner is there. Anytime he's not the arroz con pollo isn't the same.
(5)
Danielle A.

My favorite thing about spending a summer in Argentina was trying to eat the most delicious food, as often as possible. Empanadas were a staple, and always mouthwatering. Republica Empanada nails it every single time- super authentic, every time I crave my Argentinian staple I have to come here! Mushroom and chicken is my favorite. Stop in and support, it's an awesome mom and pop place that's a must for lunch. Hoping they expand to Phoenix and Scottsdale soon!!
(5)
Joel N.

I recently heard of this empanada restaurant and I just had to make sure I would go and try it out. I lived in South America for 2 years and empanadas was a food that I ate just about every day down there. At the Republica Empanada, I ordered the ham and cheese, buffalo chicken, and the beef (El Capitan). The ham and cheese and the El Capitan were very good and they tasted pretty much like the ones I ate in Paraguay. I was not impressed with the buffalo chicken empanada. I love buffalo wings, but this empanada did not have the "buffalo" flavor that I was expecting. They used gorgonzola in the buffalo chicken empanada, so that may be the reason I could not taste and "buffalo" flavor. We also ordered yuca frita (fried yuca) with was good. In Paraguay, you pretty much have mandioca (yuca, cassava) with every meal you eat. It was nice to eat yuca frita again. If you like empanadas, give this place a try, it is good.
(4)
Sharin S.

I ate at Republica Empanada before and loved it, so I went back. They must have had an off night because my second experience was horrible. We asked for the first available table inside or outside. We waited about thirty minutes and they sat us inside, meanwhile a table had been open outside the entire time. It was very loud indoors, so we asked for the table outside. The hostess called for help to wipe off the table outside. (Does it take an army to wipe a table?) We were seated and we ordered. The food did not arrive for about 45 minutes to an hour. During that time, we experienced four staff members including our waiter, continuing to ask us if we needed anything. It was obvious that they were trying to tend to our needs but without our meals, there was not much that could be done. So the repeated questions about our well being became more of an annoyance. On top of this, there was an irritating music mix that was playing that was blasting onto the back patio. It was a blend of Lady Gaga meets South Park. Don't know where they found that music but it was a mood killer. Our meals finally arrived and then the repeated questions about how the meal tasted continued. Then, the owner came out and asked us if we were well and he inquired as to whether the waiter told us about the specials. Our waiter did not inform us of the specials but we were indifferent to that fact. He seemed concerned about it and seemed he went in the back and may have reprimanded his staff for this. The owner continued to service us, talking up the desserts and clearing away our plates. What happened to our waiter? Dessert was served and it was incorrect. The owner came back and apologized and corrected it. Our bill came, nothing was discounted for the inconvenience of waiting so long or the mistakes. Then we waited another 20 minutes until our waiter came back to take the bill again. Wow. This was getting old. After paying, we slipped out the back exit, kind of over the experience and feeling icky from the awkwardness of it all. Won't be back there for awhile even if the empanadas are tasty.
(2)
Curious G.

Another place in downtown Mesa that is missing the boat. No paper menus to go. SLOW service. The food looked exellent but I'm a busy professional, I can't wait or take a hour llong lunch, unless I get a job woriking at the Courthouse or the City of Mesa--good pay, cake jobs, count me in.
(2)
Meghan D.

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(2)
Luisa P.

You can taste the love in the food. A unique place, no other like it!
(5)
Cameron S.

Wow, deliciously different. Made a bit of sampler platter with my wife. Tried 8 different empanadas...all delicious, but the Boricua and El Capitan were my favorites....primarily for being so different and complex. Great melange of flavors. Loved the spicy green sauce they give you on the side. The restaurant is very clean, great, friendly and efficient staff. They are very helpful explaining the different ingredients. Great addition to Downtown.
(5)
Walt C.

Cons: I am a fan of spices. In all honesty, I did not really taste a lot of spice in any of the dishes I tried today. I also thought the empanada's were a bit on the small side. Finally, I was not a big fan of the ham. Seemed more like farmer john boiled ham in cubes then a real smoked or cured ham. Don't get me wrong it tasted good, but if I wanted lunch meat I would have got a sandwich. Pro's Some of the nicest people I have met. The girl that waited on me was respectfully dressed. She was kind, courteous, and more than willing to go over everything on the menu and make recommendations. There was a gentleman on a laptop that introduced himself to me, shook my hand, and thanked me for coming in. There was a slightly older gentleman that held the door open for me, and everyone thanked me for coming in and asked me to come again as I left. Finally, the food is very reasonably priced. Food- Now as i said before in my opinion, I though the empanadas themselves were a bit on the small side. However, they are budgeted for their size. So don't walk in thinking 1 or 2 is probably going to feed you if you have a big appetite. I came in with the attitude of the empanadas would be the size of a cornish pasty. When I saw the price I was like wow this is going to be a great deal. It ended up being a fair deal. Their pork is pretty decent. Their black bean and cheese was really good, their cubana which is pork, ham, cheese. I was slightly disappointed because again what I expected was not what I got. I figured it would be a shaved smoked or a cured ham. The sides I got were black beans and rice. Plus a cabbage salad. All fairly decent, nothing to right home about. Final thoughts- Spice it up, maybe try a different type of ham and don't be afraid to tell people empanada's are hand sized. It's the only thing keeping me from giving five stars. In all honesty, I probably would have given three stars on the food because nothing stuck out as great or terrible. What really makes this place though are the people. I am glad I met them today. It's nice to see more places coming to downtown mesa and more business owners need to take a tip from these folks and appreciate their customers.
(4)
Ingrid P.

Delicious food, amazing latin American tastes. Yucca frita was amazing... reminded me of home . So good to be able to present some of my comfort foods to my friends. Definitely will go back
(5)
Di M.

Great ambiance. Some of my faves: arroz con pollo, pernil, el capitÃ¡n, and my #1 guava and cheese! Yummy!
(5)
Ashley N.

I'm so addicted to RE. I crave their bean and cheese Empanadas and yuca fries literally everyday! I also love their platter that has the various plantains and yuca! Great design too, a gem in downtown mesa :)
(5)
Frank K.

It's on 1st AVE NOT 1st St. Had Acho Pollo platter with cilantro jalapeÃ±o salsa stuff. HOLY COW!!!! Fantastic!!! Wife and daughter had rice pudding for dessert but I'm loving this cilantro after taste. Great service. Family owned. We are definitely coming back.
(5)
Sarah R.

Delicious, cheap food. The staff are really nice, hardworking people.
(5)
Elise V.

I live very close to this place, and I would order a lunch special on a weekly if not daily basis simply because their food is top-notch in terms of flavor and freshness; however, I rarely eat there because the prices are not reasonable in terms of food portions. What's more is the lack of business savvy that would draw more customers like myself. I appreciate it when businesses reward frequent/ loyal customers. I have rewards cards at all my favorite restaurants and stamp/ punch-out cards stuffed in my car to everywhere else. Republica Empanada needs to get on that stat! I would also visit more often if they had a set rotation to the items included on their daily lunch specials as I do not enjoy every single empanada recipe. I'm sorry, I'm not a fan of every one of them, and they shouldn't expect ALL of their customers to love everything on their menu. That is called the earning power of a varied menu, hullo?! I've learned to call ahead of time and ask if my favorites are included in the day's lunch special, and I'll just get food elsewhere if I hear that they're not. Again, for my budget, those little (but tasty) empanadas are just not worth the money at full-price hence the reason why I only go for lunch specials. It's great food. The owner has talked to me on most occasions when I visit. Great atmosphere. They would get five stars from me if their specials and business strategies were more customer-friendly. And I have mentioned ALL of this to the owner to which he simply nodded and gave a polite smile. Nothing more. I've warned all my friends. I think, in this social media age, every happy customer counts, but this owner doesn't seem to fully grasp that crucial fact.
(3)
Mandy B.

Fantastic! The avocado/heart of palm salad is a winner because of the fresh ingredients and great flavor. I tried a variety of empanadas. All of them were tasty. I especially liked the crust because it was crisp, not greasy. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because they were out of a few flavors I really wanted to try. They open at 11 and I was there before noon, so kind if a disappointment. Not really a big deal, except if it's on a printed menu, I expect it to be available. If they used a chalk board, or similar, and erased when they were out, I wouldn't have known what I was missing. I'm kind of knit picking. I'll be back. The food was great, the service was friendly and it has a good atmosphere.
(4)
K C.

Everything is great great great! One of my favorite places!
(5)
Daina M.

Great place with a great vibe and delicious empanadas! We must have tried 10 flavors between the 4 of us and they were all amazing! The ranch/ cilantro dressing with a few items (salads and appetizers) was also amazing. Very interesting flavor combos for the empenadas and delicious flaky crust. Superb! Great new find for me! Oh and I love the stamps to label everything! And the beautiful mural and all the cactus. Its a creative place!
(5)
Christopher L.

Super stylish, super hip, super friendly and SUPER GOOD. I never knew white rice could be so savory, and the beans were keen, too! The empanadas are just exquisite!!!!!! I HIGHLY recommend Rupublica Empanada!!! It's truly a gem of downtown Mesa!
(5)
Mark M.

Stopped for the first time two weeks ago after seeing the menu posted at Costco of all places! Ordered the lunch special combo with the Greek, Mushroom Chicken and a 3rd Jalapeno Popper. First and third were very tasty -- second was good but I would try something different next time more challenging. The dÃ©cor was nice and the staff did a great job. I'll visit again soon for lunch!
(4)
Bethany S.

So delicious! Everything we ordered was fabulous. Super good black beans and rice and the pork and the potato empanadas are amazing. New favorite place!
(5)
Andrew B.

Really good food, from really great people. The Dessert empanadas with ice cream and dulce de leche were amazing! They were out of a few of the menu items I wanted to try, but I really liked the potato empanada, maduros (sweet plantains) and tostones (savory green plantains.) I'll definitely be back to try the yucca frita and bean and cheese empanada. This place reminds me of fusion between, Havana Cafe and Cornish Pasty. You should definitely give it a try.
(4)
Maria M.

Great simple menu. Great pricing. Had the lunch special today with my husband and it was super good. The rice and beans were very tasty. My usual pet peeve about empanadas is that they are either too greasy, too doughy, or the insides are greasy and tasteless. Soooo not the case here. I had the potato and the cheese one and both were very tasty, not greasy, and not doughy. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Ivonne P.

Best Latin Food! I've been there quite a few times now since I work close By. Their menu has a variety of Latin Food and every Dish I've tried has been tasty and fresh made. My kids love their rice & Beans. The Empanadas are not Greasy and they have at least 8 different kinds to choose from. I got Addicted to the Sweet Empanadas :) There are also Healthy options my favorite is the Black Bean Salad made with Fresh veggies, Black Beans & Avocados. Their Sauce & Dressing are homemade. RE has an Industrial/Moderm Style & Their staff is very Friendly. For all this reasons I just simply Love this Place.
(5)
Mark T.

Had lunch there today OMG it is so good! We will be going back, often!
(5)
Craig O.

I love this place. Delicious food, reasonably priced. Seems like the owners are always here making everyone feel like family. The pumpkin empanada was delicious. Cheeseburger empanada also did not disappoint. Nice to see a family business in downtown Mesa giving it a go.
(5)
Terri R.

Love this place. Well-made food, great atmosphere. The avocado and heart of palm salad is possibly my favorite thing on the menu (with the exception of their nutella banana empanada). Their gallo pinto is even tastier than the versions I had in Costa Rica. This is an absolute must-try in Mesa.
(5)
Alex S.

I wanted to like this place more. Perhaps my experience with home made empanadas from a variety of sources growing up makes me more critical than the average yelper for this type of food. We tried the fried appetizer. It had a fried yukon, tostones (non ripe platanos) and platanos. Having spent a few years in Puerto Rico where these are served quite commonly I would say it was okay. I tried the chicken and beef empanadas along with a meal that included rice, beans and another forgettable side. The filling on the empanadas was generous. However, they seemed to lack spice and flavor. They were actually quite bland for my taste. The highlight of the meal was the fig and cheese empanadas. If I go back to this restaurant it will be to enjoy this dessert again. For the low price of the meal you really can't go wrong. But some of the reviews claiming they serve the best empanadas are a bit over inflated in my opinion.
(3)
Chris M.

First time here. I loved it! Excellent food. Great atmosphere and friendly people. Absolutely perfect!
(5)

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Address : 204 E 1st Ave
Mesa, AZ, 85210
Phone (480) 969-1343
Website https://www.republicaempanada.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Hipster
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Republica Empanada

204 E 1st Ave, Mesa, AZ, 85210

Republica Empanada Menu

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