4. Restaurants

Empanada’s Place

3011 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626
  • (714) 825-0100
  • Store is closed

Empanada’s Place Menu

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  • Cherry K.

    With an appetite like mine I wouldn't think empanadas would be a satisfying lunch. Their empanadas are so delish I definitely felt like I had a good meal! I tried - Criolla ground beef raisins, green onions, eggs & assorted spices. - Arabe ground beef tomatoes, onions seasoned with fresh lemon juice & spices -Spicy Chicken fresh california grown chicken with bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, and spices -Potato & Cheese russet brown potatoes, onions, tomatoes & cilantro with mozzarella cheese All were very good. The beef ones were EXCELLENT!!! I will definitely become a regular at this place! The only draw back is they only take cash.

    (4)

  • Colin S.

    Ok so after many mouth watering reviews I was able to sneak to Empanada's Place. After a hung over late breakfast and a dreadful trip to Ikea Nicole and I had to head to Target. It was about 1:30 and I asked Nicole to pull into the right lane heading South on Harbor because I think I have a good surprise for her. We head walk in the door and the delicious aroma made me hungry and Nicole a little more assured that we might be in store for some good eats. We walk to the counter and start the difficult selection process. I was eavesdropping on a table of 4 women and that helped me steer Nicole into the spicy beef and a cheese and onion. We paid the six dollars and change, grabbed a water, and anxiously waited. In a few minutes out came heaven on a plate or make that two plates. We cut the golden brown empanada's in half and made a switch so we each got a taste of both succulent flavors. Whatch out!!!!!!!!! that first rushed bite is HOTTTTTTT. After some gentle blowing and what seemed like a lifetime of waiting I finally got to taste a bite. Wow so worth the burnt tongue. The spicy beef was the better of our two choices. They call it spicy but I could have used more spice. And no I am not guy who has to act macho and try the hottest thing just to say I did. But the spice may have been mislabeled and should be called seasoned beef as I have had more spice in a Del Taco hot sauce packet. Still it was amazing. The cheese and onion was good but somehow it was cold in the center. They may have rushed the serving to us as the ends were nice and steamy but the thick center needed a bit more time. Nicole found the cheese one a bit to rich so I got the prize of an extra bite. I can't wait to go back and show this place off to all my friends. I just might start making the 12 pack of empanada's my obligatory gift to all future parties. Who needs to be the guy bringing average beer or a bottle of wine. I say bring the flavor and some love and stop off at the Empanada place before your next gathering and be the star of the show.

    (5)

  • kelbo ..

    This place had pretty good empanadas! The woman helping me was nice enough to explain what everything was and even offered a sample of their dessert while I waited for my order! Although I do enjoy an occassional empanada, for me, it doesn't quite make a meal. The next time I go is for snack time!

    (4)

  • Curt O.

    I've only had empanadas at one other place, Empanada Man in Lake Forest. So that is the only comparison I can give. The Empanada's at Empanada's Place were bigger than those at Empanada Man, but just didn't have the succulence of the Man's. Work nearby and this has been added to our list of take out menus. If you want chimichura sauce it is another $2.99 for 4-oz. The one with the beef, hard boiled egg, raisen and carrots is the best.

    (2)

  • Paul S.

    Empanadas, mate & al frijores. Toda joya!

    (5)

  • Peter Y.

    I'm not a big fan of fried food nor pastry, unless we are talking about KFC. I don't thing I have ever had a good Empanadas in the past to warrant my visit to this place. The only reason I came here today is based on the reviews from fellow Yelpers - damn you all. The place is nice and quaint which is fitting along with the people working at the place. I felt like I was at a small family owned restaurant with family's secret recipe for their special Empanadas - which this place is. I was not disappointed. My biggest decision was whether to have the meat/savory or vegetable Empanadas. Also, how many should I get. There are $3 a piece and can I handle 3 or 2 will be enough? I ordered Cheesy Spicy Chicken and Araba Empanadas. They were both savory and delicious but I especially liked Cheesy Spicy Chicken. We asked for a hot sauce which was not what we expected but it has a little kicked to it. All-in-all, they were delicious and I will be back to try other Empanadas on the menu. Cheers,

    (4)

  • Jaime S.

    The size of Empanada's empanadas are only dwarfed by their tastiness. I'm a bit shocked at someone complaining about the price of the food here, as everything comes as big as Texas and twice as thoughtful. Raves for the spicy chicken and spinach, with a full-hearted "yum" for the potato and cheese. The grilled chicken sandwich with garlic and parsley and grilled onions was fantastic but to me, the power here is in the name. EMPANADA, my friend.

    (4)

  • Ricardo G.

    My finace took me to this place over the weekend and I tried out the criolla empanada, which was a mixture of beef, egg, and raisins wrapped up in a masa/quesadilla style pocket. While not too small or too big, three of these $3 super hot empanadas would make a meal. While I was not blown away by the taste of the masa wrapping, I would say that the filling was flavorful enough to get me to return, and I look forward to trying something with cheese in it.

    (3)

  • Liza P.

    I guess today (tues) was the first official day they were open for business. A group of 7 of us got there by 6:30 and it was already packed. There are only about 8 small round tables w/ 3 chairs each. Really cute inside. Simple menu. sometimes simple is good. Although their simple menu choice of empanadas included almost 10 choices each for meat or veggie lovers. They had already ran out of spinach which was probably the first choice all of us had. The staff recommended their spicy beef or spicy chicken (it was ok...not spicy enough or at all). I personally like the eggplant! Also tired one of their steak sandwiches which was huge but just alright. I would stick to just sampling their empanadas. I say this because my friends and I compared their sandwich and chimichurri sauce to another Argentinian spot on Melrose in LA called LALAs which is amazing!!! Despite not comparing in their steak and chimichurri sauce I would definitely return to Empanada's Place because thankfully there's something else on Harbor (or OC for that matter) to eat that's not chain restaurant and appeals to one's love for other cultural foods! note: cash only (refer to the first review for prices)

    (4)

  • Tim S.

    The empanadas are great and the staff is better.

    (5)

  • Karey R.

    I love empanadas! I ordered the spicy chicken and the spicy beef. The spicy beef wasn't very spicy, but the chicken was even less spicy. The chicken had big chunks of chicken in it, which I wasn't a fan of either. I definitely enjoyed the spicy beef better. The man at the counter said that the cheesy spicy beef was the most popular. I think I will try that one next time. The price is pretty high at 2.99 per empanada, however they are larger than the normal empanada you would encounter at the market. The crust is also a tad sweeter than I've had before. The restaurant has a cafe ambiance about it. There are several small round tables with glass tops and vases with fresh flowers on them. The service was excellent, the man behind the counter was very helpful and never stopped taking care of us until we were out the door. I highly recommend Empanada's place. Keep in mind that this place is CASH ONLY!

    (4)

  • Karen A.

    I loved this place not only for their empanadas but for their customer service. As soon as I walked in I was greeted and helped. It was My first time there so I was little naive about their menu but one of the ladies approached me and started explaning the flavors to me. So I ended up ordering six empanadas which were 2 criolla (beef) , 2 ham and chesse, and 2 chicken. They were all good but I really liked the chicken ones it had a lot of wonderful flavors the criolla ones were a little different taste to me not sure if i liked them and the ham and chesse you can't go wrong there. I will definitely go back and try some more.

    (4)

  • Liz M.

    MMM! I have passed by this place so many times and finally I decided it was time to go in and check it out. I got the spicy beek and chicken empanadas and they were delicious. My friend got the potato and cheese and the spicy beef with cheese. They were so warm and tasty. I wanted to try the criolla but they were out:(. So I will be going back to order a dozen for a christmas party. I can't wait. Plus the guy who helped us was cute which was a bonus!

    (4)

  • Brian E.

    This small place is quite good. The staff was friendly and helpful. The food arrived quickly. Bring cash as they do not take card.

    (3)

  • bellanancy v.

    just tasty and yummy, thats all there is to it, loved the onion empanadas yum!

    (4)

  • Munir S.

    Read the reviews on here and finally had a chance to stop by for lunch (take out). I ordered the Spicy Cheesy Beef and the Criolla empanadas. They were piping hot, the dough had a good texture and light flavor, and the fillings were just the right amount to prevent the empanadas from busting out. They were quite tasty, nothing wrong with them, but it would have been nice if the flavors were a little bolder. Nevertheless, I plan to returning often to try the other flavors and sandwiches too. The place is small but inviting and clean. Too bad they are not open later than 8pm on most nights.

    (4)

  • Huckleberry L.

    i liked this place. the problem was that i really wanted to love it. i had been wanting to try it for months and when i finally did, perhaps i had such high hopes, but i was a bit let down. don't get me wrong. everything was pretty good. just not delicious. i had the corn, the chicken, the spicy cheese beef, and the spinach. all of them were pretty good. but that's all i can say about it. service was great. my wife was curious about some of their dessert treats and the waitress let her go ahead and try some. another couple who came in after us, proceeded to sit down at the table without ordering in the front. the waitress went to their table, took their orders, and even went to fill up their drinks for them even though the soda was self serve. she did all this with a smile.

    (3)

  • Rosina F.

    The empanadas are good but too small for being so pricey.

    (3)

  • Christopher G.

    I usually go there Venice/ Culver City location, but I am so happy that they are in Orange County. The empandas are yummy and tasty, and I can't stop eating them. I wish you were in Long Beach, but since I go to school in Costa Mesa, I am still very happy.

    (5)

  • Christine P.

    damn we finally got to try this place after three tries. they say that usually a person eats 2 empanadas each, but we both chowed down 3 each (over the course of a few hours though). my fav empanada is the pepperoni ones and the meat ones. the vegetarian ones were not half as good. i wouldn't order them again. the cashiers were excellent, very friendly and helpful. one girl even gave us some cookies to snack on while we waited! each empanada is only 2.99- what a deal! definitely one of my favorite places to go now.

    (5)

  • Patricia F.

    Great empanadas in all kinds of varieties, great value, AWESOME prices, outdoor dog-friendly seating. Empanadas are like 3 bucks a piece how awesome is that? Friendly service too. Cash only, there's a drugstore accross the way where you can get cash back. Try this place with a smoothie from Boba Smoothie place accross the street. You will not be sorry!!!!

    (5)

  • Anita I.

    oh empanada's place.. why do you close so early? from the first time i bit into your cheesy spicy meaty empanada i couldn't stop thinking about you.

    (4)

  • Ann Z.

    I finally had a chance to try the Empanadas I had the Criolla, Spicy Chicken and potato with cheese, my opinion is they lack flavor and not enough filling inside them. If this is the way they make them in Argentina then I prefer the ones from other parts of South America and Central America. I also think they are overpriced for what they give you.

    (2)

  • Ann C.

    Just picked up some lunch there. I got a criolla and a ham & cheese. Surprisingly there were not a lot of people there and it was only 12:30 or 12:45 when I went in. Anywyas, service was great and it was very clean and bright inside. Kinda small inside, but they were able to fit in 7 tables with about 2-4 seats per table. Had to wait a bit as they were cooking the empanadas after I placed my order. Drove home and opened the container. Smelled fabulous, crust was crispy and they were larger than expected. Ate the ham & cheese first and I thought it was okay. I really like the crispy crust. Then I had the criolla. It wasn't bad, kind of unusual to see raisins inside as the filling. Like the other empanada, I loved the crispy crust. I will definitely go back and try the other flavors. Besides the empanadas, they also have sandwiches which sounded tasty based on the descriptions on the menu. Not a bad deal either. Each empanada was $2.99 and I am absolutely full from eating two empanadas.

    (4)

  • Tanya H.

    I tried the broccoli empanada.. not my favorite. I would stick with the corn and spcy chzy chix. I also found out they sell the dulce de leche caramel filling they put in those little pastries/cookies. Def gonna be back to pick up some of that next time I need to do some baking!

    (5)

  • Charity H.

    This place was delish! I've only had homemade Empanadas before and they were much much smaller, more of an app rather than a meal. This place was amazing, my BF and I shared 4 and a salad...it was more than enough food and it was reasonable priced. I really liked it, very cute inside, and very clean. Its tiny...so I wouldn't go with a lot of people but its certainly well worth trying! They don't serve alcohol, but when I was there the table next to mine had their own bottle of wine...I think I might consider doing that next time I go.

    (4)

  • Brandi L.

    So many choices, great for vegetarians and meat eaters.

    (5)

  • Angela L.

    Oh my! finally a decent Empanadas place near us!!!!, I usually have to wait for my friends or my mom to visit me back from South America to get a taste of yummy piping hot Empanadas ...... just happen to visit this store last Saturday Feb 28 to try a couples of their best. Maybe because I have kids, but for the price of $2.99@ the size were amazing (compared with the Empanadas we tried from Santa Ana bakery which were Mexican style and even from Regina's Rest. who are serving Argentinian food) BUT I would recommend them to STUFF a little MORE STUFFING (please?!). My kids loved their Ham and Cheese (personally I didn't like it very much as I was expecting Queso Fresco flavor, they use Mozzarella which were bland for my taste) and also the Corn with cheese. I was expecting more flavor for the Criolla and Spicy Beef, but I would recommend them along with the Arabica (?) which has a hint of lemon in it. All of the Empanadas that we tried were MOIST not dry! (Yippee!). Try them with a good Tabasco drop!. Will come back for more for sure! And by the way do try their dessert: ALFAJOR it is just the same as we used to bake at home, buy the DULCE DE LECHE tub home and smear it on toasted bread (just as you will do with peanut butter, but NO jelly as it is very sweet already) chow it down with coffee or tea (better yet with the Cocido!).

    (3)

  • Eric C.

    Renewed my passion in food. The empanada's especially the chicken and spicy chicken were a jolt in my redline. Hadn't had much excitement or pleasant surprises in food for awhile. Food was becoming rotational until empanada's place became that curveball, that blip of discovery. The chicken tamal or tamales is otherworldly. Bring cash that's all they accept! 5 star tasty food!

    (5)

  • Kat K.

    If by any chance you are craving food of the Argentine sort, as I do because I'm a world class foodie, you should stop by Empanada Place. Not only is the staff warm and welcoming, the food is authentic, and satisfying to the palette and wallet. Please stop by and show this wonderful place some love next time you happen to be in Costa Mesa.

    (5)

  • Edgar R.

    Crunchy Savory Goodness! The empanadas are soooo good. Make sure to buy a few extra, you'll want to share with people you like. Lots of fillings to choose from...I really like the Spicy Chicken, and the Spinach...I plan to try them all!! If you ever make someone in your life so mad at you that they stop talking to you....give them some of these empanadas...every bite is worth a kiss CLOSED MONDAYS!

    (5)

  • Lisa C.

    I really enjoyed this place! I tried 1 spinach and 1 chicken empanada. They were both really delicious. I got the lunch special which included a salad. I also tried the little cookies and they were both good. I disliked that they are cash only but we just stopped next door to get cash. It was well worth it. I would come here again!

    (4)

  • Ivane L.

    Best empanadas I had so far. They have a bunch of different varieties, but the best one is the criolla. You might think raisins in an empanada??? They do go well with everything that is it. I also tried the spicy chicken and the cheesy spicy beef. I don't think these compare to the criolla. I also tried the milanesa sandwich. I recommend getting the milanesa at pasta connection instead. The meat there is softer. It tears much more easily.

    (4)

  • Alina M.

    Unbelievable. We basically got almost every flavor they offer in a big old box to go and we had a blast tearing into these on a long drive we had for the day. Soft, pillowy, crunchy dough and such homey, cozy insides :) The cheesy ones tasted reminiscent of French onion soup: hello, heaven! Going back soon.

    (5)

  • Jackie S.

    Way overpriced for just ok food. I paid 12 bucks for te milanesa sandwich that was just eh and came with a handful of fries. Not worth the price at all! $3 for an empenada which again were just ok. I guess to me it just doesn't seem worth it..

    (3)

  • Candice K.

    To anyone who bought a Restaurant.com certificate, Empanada's Place does not take them anymore. You can get a refund from Restaurant.com , though, so not much is lost. Was I disappointed? Most definitely. However, the lady who took my order was very apologetic and more than made up for it with her customer service. Not only did she offer me free cookies (the ones with dulce de leche in them--yum!) but she also gave me a free 4 oz. container of chimichurri sauce (regularly $3). Since I went out of my way to come here, I decided to order what I was originally going to get: a dozen empanadas for $29.99. - Criolla: my partner is Argentinian, and his mother often makes us empanadas when we come to visit. Compared to hers, the criolla here isn't as good. Then again, his family lives an hour away, so Empanada's Place is a good substitute. The difference is in the flavoring of the beef, which isn't as strong here. Plus, the hard-boiled eggs used in the criolla are much more chopped up than I'm used to. - Beef, Spicy Beef, Cheesy Spicy Beef: there's not much of a taste difference between the beef and the criolla; they have nearly the same ingredients. As far as the Spicy Beef and the Cheesy Spicy Beef are concerned, I didn't pay enough attention to notice much of a difference. Since I'm a ground beef lover, they all tasted good to me. However, none really stood out. - Chicken: sort of like a chicken pot pie what with all the carrots and peas. Probably the whitest empanada available. - Ham & Cheese: it's like a Hawaiian pizza. Definitely the second whitest empanada available. - Spicy Chicken: now we're talking! Mmm... I want a plate of these. The flavor is strong and the taste hearty. - Pepperoni: I liked this one, too, but then again, I love pepperoni. It makes sense that Empanada's Place would have Italian offerings like this considering most of Argentina is comprised of Italians. - Tucumana: the flavor is fantastic! The beef used in this is not ground; it is chopped cubes of soft beef. So. Good. - Arabe: one of my least favorites. The lemon juice is overpowering and gives the entire empanada a sourness that i just can't enjoy. - Potato & Cheese: you really can't go wrong with big chunks of potatoes. - Broccoli: I was expecting a lot less broccoli, but this thing is filled with it. The only problem is that most of the broccoli in here is the stems whereas I like the florets. Flavor-wise, I don't think it was savory enough. It sort of reminded me of one of those underseasoned broccoli Hot Pockets. - Chimichurri: forget it. The flavor is just... weird. Then again, my yardstick is Piaggio Gourmet on Wheels, which serves some of the most flavorful chimichurri sauce I've ever had. Also note that the empanadas served are a good size. I was worried that I wouldn't be getting my money's worth ordering only a dozen for a whopping $29.99, which is quite expensive to me. However, I would consider a basket of 3 empanadas to be a filling lunch. Estimating from memory, a regular empanada is about 5-6 inches across and 2-3 inches from top to bottom with 1 inch of height (AKA the filling).

    (4)

  • Monica B.

    I'll keep this short and sweet: I'm Bolivian and quite harsh when it comes to judging South American cuisine, but this place hits the nail on the head with authenticity. Not only when it comes to food quality, but with how absolutely personable the staff is. I've never been to a restaurant on a first time visit and instantly felt like a regular. With that said, the empanadas are MASSIVE for the $2.99 price tag. The criolla was my favorite, I feel like it's a must eat if it's your first time there. Delicious, savory, just...perfect. Dying to go back because I want to try their milanesa.

    (5)

  • Peter L.

    This place has great empanadas! Ordered chicken, cheesy spicy beef, and potato/cheese. All of them are delicious but the one that stand out to me the most is the spicy beef good amount of of spices and portion of the beef in the empanadas. Cash only people!

    (5)

  • Phuong K.

    Okay the Empanadas here are good, but I don't think its worth the price and kind of a rip off. If you are coming here hungry and looking to get full and satisfied off of Empanadas you came to the wrong place. They do offer sandwiches and stuff, but its almost 10 bucks for a sandwich, which is pretty pricey and not worth it in my opinion. I tried the tamales here too and its pretty good except it was like about $4 for a small cheese tamale. So if you're looking for a quick snack this is a good place to go, but don't go here expecting to leave full of Empanadas.

    (3)

  • Misha M.

    Good empanadas! I had the spicy beef w cheese, spicy chicken, and Arabe. My favorite was the spicy beef w cheese. Their cookies were also delicious. Would love to see a dessert style empanada! (Not sure if that's just simply not authentic to do that though!). Saw a few ppl come in w no cash, it seems like they would profit from accepting cards and not just cash.

    (4)

  • Michael S.

    Their empenadas are delicious. It is cheap enough and convenient to go, but the decor inside is nice and makes it a good place to dine in and relax.

    (5)

  • Henry L.

    The empanadas here are really big. The person taking our order was pretty cool. She came by to refill our drinks. We left when they were closing up and she gave us some free desserts. They have a lot of vegetarian option here too which is always good for me. If they had a seafood empanada then it would be even better. Hahaha

    (4)

  • Poupee C.

    The last time I had Argentine Empanadas was in Buenos Aires. It was my first meal in Argentina with my friend-then-husband-now. Wow, what a great little place. Less than 10 little tables inside, and a couple outside. We opt for inside, a bit warm today. Need something to satisfy our hunger. This was it! We had three Empanadas and a House salad: Criolla Empanadas - WOW (This is your typical Argentine Empanada). The filling: ground beef, raisins, green onions, eggs, and some secret spices! Yummmmm (This might be my favorite filling) Potato and Cheese empanada - Yum! This combo is always welcomed in my mouth! The filling: potato, onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and mozzarella cheese. Eggplant empanada - OK. The filling: fresh eggplant, tomato sauce and Parmesan and mozzarella cheese. AND the empanadas are made to order so when it came out, it was pipin' hot. Oh, and the crust is sooooooo tender but has got that crispy crunchiness to it. House salad - goes well with the empanadas! Mixed greens, pecans, raisins, dried cranberries and cherries, carrots, onions, tomatoes, feta tossed with a vinaigrette Service was extra friendly. She let us sample a couple of their sweets. We got the pastry filled with dulce de leche. yummmmmmm. oh, I am in love. Anyway, it brought back some good memories of Buenos Aires.

    (4)

  • Marc L.

    Let's face it: empanada places in Orange County are few and far between. Yeah, they're starting to proliferate here and there, but a really great empanada is hard to find. usually, the good ones are found as secondary items on someone's menu (like the ones at Inka Grill off Bristol and Redhill). Running a restaurant that relies solely on these little folds of heaven takes some guts. Empanada's place is a good, solid empanada joint. They have an enormous selection of empanadas, the size of the empanadas is quite generous, and the flavors are very good. So why only 3 stars? Well, being Latin myself, I'm picky about empanadas. And if you're going to name your restaurant after them, they better be stellar! In reality, I would give this place 3 1/2 stars, but you can't do "halves" on Yelp. Where Empanada's Place fell was in the sauces. They were just awful. The star of the show - Chumichurri sauce - should have been oily and garlicky and pungent and sharp. Instead this was watery, bland, almost devoid of garlic, and had a moldy flavor. I'm sorry guys, but it was awful. Chimichurri sauce should NEVER be watery. And it should be a red-green color. Not green-brown like swamp water. The other sauce - a watery, red, tomatoy concotion - was just as bad. It tasted rancid, To be fair, we were in the middle of 3 days of extraordinary heat in Orange County (above 105) and maybe their refrigerators were not up to snuff. Still, it was disappointing.And bordered on unhealthy. The red sauce tasted like alcohol. It was obviously starting to "turn." That's plain bad. if you're an empanada place, you HAVE to make your sauces amazing. Because an empanada is an empanada. the secret is in the sauce. So listen up ladies: your empanadas are fantastic! But you're ruining them with your sub-par dipping sauces. Work on em and you'll have yourself a sold 4 stars. Then I'll come back.

    (3)

  • Pammy L.

    I have been walking around this block for months and always wanted to stop in. Finally! I got a variety of empenadas so as to try a few , and they were all fantastic, had a hard time figuring our which ones I liked best! The spicy beef is great, next time im going for the cheesy spicy beef,and eggplant. The crust is perfect on every one! A nice snack for $3.00! Cant wait to go back! Wish they would take debit cards tho, as well.

    (4)

  • Julie N.

    I love me some empanadas especially when they make it fresh. I've been here several times and each time I leave totally satisfied and craving for more. The empanadas are huge, so $2.99/empanada is really no biggy. My favorite are as follows: corn, spicy beef, beef, arabe, and spicy chicken. I don't know what's up with me and corn, but man that corn empanada is soooo good. Something about the sweetness of the corn and the melted gooey cheese on that flakey crunchy crust that makes my taste buds sing in harmony. Oh, btw, don't forget to ask for the red sauce, you'll need it! I usually drench all of my empanadas in the red sauce since it can be a little dry and that sauce just takes the empanadas to a whole 'notta level of yummy goodness. The only down side is that it's cash only. No good if you ask me, so minus 1 star for inconvenience.

    (4)

  • Andrew D.

    I didn't know there was a place close to me that served empanadas. My friend and I shared 3 empanadas and a sandwich. I'll admit I'm not a connoisseur of empanadas, but I thought they tasted great. The steak sandwich really won me over. The flavor was perfect. The price seemed on the high side, but not expensive. For a little over $20 my friend and I got a great meal. So I can't complain.

    (4)

  • Allison M.

    This one-of-a-kind Empanada cafe is a unique gem in the very heart of Costa Mesa. This place serves only empanada's, the token Argentinian tea-Mate, and the Milanesa sandwich. So if you're looking for a full-blown Argentinian cuisine, you've come to the wrong place. The ladies that work here are absolutely friendly and can recommend the most tasty empanada's. They have a wide selection and half of the menu is vegetarian which is good for those on this diet. Among my favorites are the spinach, mushroom & ricotta, tucumana, and corn. My absolute favorite is the potato cheese which has potatoes, cheese, and a dash of cilantro for that extra fresh taste. The great thing about these empanada's is that they are huge. 2 will fill you up. They are also the perfect snack and lastly, they are not oily as one would expect something deep-friend to be. My guess is they bake it? I could care less how they make it-these babies are delish!

    (4)

  • Kelly T.

    The only Empanadas I've ever had were the ones from Taco Bell (ya, I know, I should be ashamed of myself) filled with cinnamon apples and deep fried. Oh, and the chicken Empanadas from Valerio's bakery (Filipino). So I was intrigued by what this place had to offer. I ordered the following: 1) corn = one of my favorites. The corn wasn't as sweet as I thought it would be but it had a nice creaminess to it with texture from the corn. 2)criolla =Most popular apparently and I can taste why. Filled with ground beef, raisins, green onions, eggs and spices. I didn't get to try these because sharing is caring so my cousins told me they were tasty. 3)pepperoni = pepperoni, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, mozzarella 4) potato and cheese = potatoes, onions, tomatoes, cilantro, mozzarella 5) cheesy spicy beef =ground beef, peas, carrots, potatoes and mozzarella. If you're in the area, you should stop by and pick up a few.

    (4)

  • Michael P.

    The food is great, and the staff is super-friendly. I recommend the house salad to go with your empanada, but anything you get here is great. Four stars instead of five because they are cash only. Michael Peterson franchisebeacon.com

    (4)

  • Jonathan Y.

    I think in another life I was a quiet, chubby latino kid growing up in Argentina, walking to school every morning with my little pokemon backpack happily munching on hot, crusty cheese-filled, foil-wrapped empanadas my grandmother just made. After school I walk back home to be greeted by more spicy beef and potato-filled empanadas, with names a Chinese guy has never heard of but naturally, as a chubby Argentinian kid I'm an expert in. I also wolf down some macaroon looking cookie things filled with caramel and soft dough that gives me a nice sugar high. The next hour is spent pretending to catch pokemon in the throes of that sugar frenzy, while washing all the caramel-doughy goodness down with Argentinian beer because in this world they are chill here. I eventually grow into my weight, becoming a talented Empanada-cook myself and a world famous soccer player.

    (4)

  • Stephan Y.

    I always see this place when going to PHO COMPANY...and after consuming 3 empanadas...I LOVE THIS PLACE. Ive never really had an empanada before, but I was very happy when eating them. The empanadas are about $2.99 each. They are also very large sized hot-pocket type material. I ordered the ham and cheese, cheese and potato, and cheesy spicy beef. ALL VERY GUUD! I AM DEF. COMING BACK HERE AGAIN! UNTIL THEN!! ^-^

    (5)

  • Arianne N.

    Mine's the 150th review! Woot. I'm not even going to bother describing in detail these delectable treats. You can check out the 149 other ones if you really want to. However, I do have to say I noticed a huge size difference of orders between different days. The first time I went the empanadas, the criolla and arabe, I got were huge and packed with meaty goodness. Fast forward a few weeks later to today where the arabe is seriously only a smidge bigger than my fist. I'm slightly heartbroken. I didn't grow so why did they shrink?! On the bright side, I bought five for lunch so I'm full regardless :]

    (4)

  • Christine N.

    Tasty fillings enveloped in a pastry pocket and fried? Yes, please! A friend and I came here for a late lunch today. I got a cheesy spicy chicken empanada and a spinach one. They were both good, but I thought the chicken one was a little bit more flavorful. The chicken empanada was good, but it was not spicy at all. The crusts were perfect though, super crispy and not that oily. My friend got the corn empanada and also a spicy chicken one. She also thought the chicken was the best out of the two. Service was very good. We were given water even though we didn't ask for it. The place was really small though and not in a cozy kind of way. It can get kind of awkward during slow times. There was a great variety of both meat and vegetarian empanadas to choose from. They should also offer empty empanadas. Yep, that's how good those crusts were! I can't wait to go back and try some more.

    (4)

  • Jennifer L.

    On our way to another restaurant my friend and I spotted this gem and I squealed in excitement. I made a mental note to make sure and come back here later because I love empanadas ever since a trip to Miami a couple of years ago. As luck would have it the restaurant we were on our way to had closed so we quickly hopped into the car to come to Empanadas Place. The owner was in the midst of closing the store down but she smiled and told us to come in anyway. Yay! I got really excited looking at the menu because there were so many choices. We choose to get a box of a dozen for $29.99 trying as many of them as we could. My favorite ones have to be the meat ones, especially the cheesy spicy beef. They were stuffed generously and simply delicious. If you are looking for some yummy empanadas, this place is definitely worth a try. And oh ask for the green sauce to go with them... So good!

    (5)

  • Randi B.

    Has it really been a year since I came here? Wow! Last night BF and I shared spicy cheese and beef (yum yum), cheese & onion (cheesy perfection) and spinach (um...not too sure about all the nutmeg). The absolute highlight of the meal though, were the Alfajor cookies! BF went to see how much one was, and the guy working gave us some for free to try, to see if we liked them. Oh yes we did! They were just like powdered donuts. OMG so good. We bought a box which has maybe 10 in there...and the box was $7. I felt like that was kind of a rip considering the empanadas are only $2.99. But, they are good, so I guess it was worth it to splurge!

    (4)

  • Josey V.

    I love me some empanadas! So when I found this place I just had to try it and i was not disappointed. The place could use some redecorating but the food is on point. The criolla is my favorite empanada but they are all good. One word of advice is to let them cool down a bit as the filling is super hot.

    (4)

  • Channing W.

    Tiny little place in Costa Mesa across the street from Target. This place is CASH ONLY, but totally worth it. The empanadas are amazing. They are fresh and super authentic. These empanadas remind me of the ones my grandma used to make for me. This place always seems to be empty and I can't understand why. Hidden gem of the OC.

    (5)

  • Craig R.

    What contains ground beef, raisins, green onions, eggs and assorted spices? No, it's not an omelet; it's my favorite Empanada from my favorite Empanada restaurant, Empanada Place. Empanada Place, which is located in Costa Mesa, is a tiny place that serves some of the best Empanadas I have ever had. And when I say this place is tiny, I'm not joking. Their dining room is no bigger then an average size living room you would find in a one bedroom apartment. Luckily they also offer outdoor seating. Last week when I had to work in Costa Mesa I decided that I would give this place a try for lunch. And I'm so glad I did. EP offers about 18 or 19 different hand made empanadas. They also offer sandwiches, salads and desserts. Because they have so many flavors, and because they all sounded so good, it was hard to pick out what empanadas I wanted to try. I decided to go with two that have beef and two that had just vegetables. These are the ones I ordered and what they were filled with. Criolla- Ground beef, raisins, green onions, eggs and assorted spices Saltena (cheesy spicy beef) - spicy ground beef, peas, carrots, potatoes and mozzarella Pascualina (spinach) - fresh spinach, mozzarella and parmesan cheese and a white sauce Humita (corn) - sweet corn, mozzarella cheese and white sauce Every single one of my empanadas was phenomenal. The actual pasty had perfectly crispy edges and the middle was super soft. They were also not stingy with the fillings because all of them were stuffed full of their respected ingredients. As I mentioned above, my favorite was the Criolla. I had never had an empanada that was filled with eggs and raisins. I loved the way it was both sweet and savory. To wash down my empanadas I got a glass of their Iced Mate Cocido, which is a green tea made with Argentine herbs. For dessert I got two different types of handmade, cajeta filled cookies. The first cookie was actually two super soft shortbread cookies that had lots of sweet cajeta sandwiched between them. The second cookie was more like a small pastry that is filled with cajeta and dusted with powdered sugar. Both of these cookies were amazing and a perfect way to end a perfect meal. The service and prices here were great. The girl who was working the day I went was really friendly. The cooks, who were behind the scenes, were also great. They had my empanadas served to me, piping hot, within minutes of my ordering them. Each empanada is only $2.99, which is a great price considering that there pretty big and extremely tasty. My entire bill was less then $15, which was not bad at all. The only problem I had with EP is that they only take cash. If you like empanadas then you defiantly need to check this place out. If you do go, make sure and try the Criolla empanada. I know that raisins and eggs sound like a weird mix, but trust me, it really is a delicious empanada. I can't wait to try this place again.

    (5)

  • Matt D.

    Enjoyed this place. Food and service was very nice. Would like to try other things on the menu.

    (4)

  • Lisa C.

    Still great as ever. We went and picked them up in Costa Mesa and brought them over to my in-laws for Father's Day and they were a hit! My mother-in law is a superb cook so its sometimes hard for a place to be a hit with her but even she's a fan. Can't wait to take more of our out of town in-laws here. Also want to say the two ladies who work her are sweet as can be. I always enjoy seeing them when I come in.

    (5)

  • Danny V.

    My wife and I are crazy about this place! No joke! Whenever we are in the OC area, we NEED to go eat here. This small little Argentinian place is a great place to take in their culture and eat what they are known for: empanadas. They have other items on the menu but, just like their name implies, their specialty are empanadas. We have tried a few and I would recommend the beef, spinach, or the potato empanada. They're fried to perfection and are hand delivered piping hot to your table. You don't have to worry about grease running down the side of your hand when you take your first bite. They are soft with a bit of crispy brown on the outside and flavorful and delicious in the inside with the choice of stuffing you choose. The service is great! I always emphasize service since service is king when it comes to restaurants. If there's bad service, how can you expect to come up with your opinion on how good the food is? I digress. Your waiter/waitress won't leave you hanging for too long. Sadly, you have to pour your own fountain drinks but then again, if you are sitting in the inside, it's only a couple steps away from almost every table. I highly suggest this place since it ranks as my best quick Argentine food here in SoCal. Bring CASH since they don't accept cards!

    (4)

  • Hannah M.

    Five stars for the yummiest little sandwich cookies! I wasn't crazy about the roll cookies but the other ones were SO good. However this is really only the first Argentinian dessert I have ever had so I have nothing to compare it to but the lovely woman at the counter was super friendly and gave me a free sample. I will definitely be returning here when I'm in need of an out of the ordinary sweet.

    (5)

  • Remy E.

    Still Loving this place. Tried the Ham and Cheese, soooooo good it had caramelized onions and mozarella cheese, the flavor was out of this world. I kept asking Arnold it tastes like there's something else in this because it tasted so flavorful. I think the special ingredient was crack. Tried the broccoli one: yum, and the potato cheese: yum on that too. They added some kick to the potato one so it was a nice touch. Unfortunately T thought it was too spicy for her tongue though. I also tried the pepperoni one which was way better than any hot pocket I've ever tasted, which isn't hard to do. hehe. I'm beginning to think that this place can do no wrong with their empanadas so if you haven't gone yet, get up and go now!

    (5)

  • Chris M.

    This is the second time time i tried to eat at this place. the first time i went i got there 5 minutes after they closet's went there again this Santayana i made despite the flash of that camera light going off on beach and Adam's wanted my Empanadas and that wasn't going to stop me again it was already closed...the guy working there saw me driving I've was already closing the store up and putting all the chairs on top of the tables...I hurried inside and they still let me order...extra points for that part...i ordered the spicy chicken, spicy beef, and the the pepperoni...my order took about 5 minutes to make...i made my way home...my whole car smelled delicious...on to the empanadas...the empanadas are pretty decent size...it makes me think of calzone...the first one i tried was the spicy beef...little pieces of ground beef...it was good...next one i tried was the spicy chicken...i liked this one the most out of the 3 i tried...it had large pieces of chicken...and it was cheesy...the pepperoni one reminded of s supreme pizza...very delicious also...this is the first time i ever tried empanadas like this...the ones i usually eat are the ones made of chicken and beef made by filipinos and are never this fresh...this is different...i like it...im a fan...

    (4)

  • Jasberry H.

    Very cute and homely vibe with outdoor seating too, delicious empanadas and the chicken sandwich is yummy too! It's cash only and last time I forgot so the lady put in the extra so I could have a soda, how sweet is that! Amazing service! Will be back so I can at least pay the kind lady back!!

    (4)

  • Chris Q.

    After months and months of driving by this place, I finally took some time on Saturday to see what it's all about. Right when I walked in, I was greeted by a very nice employee who had already sensed it was my first time here. She was very helpful in explaining all the types of empanadas. I took her advice by picking a Criolla and Spicy Cheesy Beef. The Criolla is good for what it had, but I love spicy foods and thought the Spicy Cheesy Beef empanada was fantastic. Less than five minutes of waiting, the empanadas were placed on my table. She also was kind enough to give me a sample of Argentine pastry that had a sweet center of dulche de leche. Knowing my family's a fan of Filipino empanadas, I ordered a dozen of Criolla to go. Needless to say, they enjoyed them as well. I plan on going back soon!

    (5)

  • Nemo M.

    This place ok Empanadas. The onion cheese one tastes like french onion soup it was incredible! The Arabe one is my favorite though. The portions are just right. Very cool spot and clean. Cash only.

    (2)

  • Joy C.

    This place is good if you want variety. They have so many choices, it makes ordering a hard task. I shared 5 empanadas with my boyfriend. Although they were big, I didn't find it filling. I liked the original empanada & the spicy beef. It's a good place to go to for a snack. Skip it if you're really hungry. The place is small, only has about 8 tiny tables. It gets pretty noisy too if it's packed.

    (3)

  • Edgar D.

    So the wife and I went to check out this place after debating on a lunch spot in the Costa Mesa area. I was craving Vietnamese food and we headed to a restaurant in the area when we came upon Empanada's Place. We decided to check it out. Now, I must say that I take my empanadas seriously, since I've grown up on Filipino empanadas. If you haven't tried them before, I highly suggest the densely filled savory meat pies from Red Ribbon. This place takes cash only and the staff was very helpful in helping us pick from a long list of empanada choices. We were pretty hungry that day and decided to get the skirt steak sandwich, chicken tamal, eggplant empanada, and the arabe empanada. My steak sandwich was pretty good, but there are better ones in the OC. The carmelized onions were a nice touch though. I had a taste of my wife's chicken tamal and it was very good. So good, in fact she devoured it up before I got my second bite! On to the empanadas... the eggplant was okay but the arabe empanada was awesome. We are definitely going here again to try out the other empanadas on their menu!

    (4)

  • Alex L.

    You come here to eat empandas. at $3 each, 2 should fill you up or 3 if you are really hungry. The crust is slightly oily and not too hard. I had the criolla(beef) and cheese & onion. I thought the criolla was okay but the cheese & onion one was really tasty. If you like empandas or never tried one before, you should definitely give this place a try.

    (3)

  • John N.

    Last night I finally try this place and oh boy do I love their empanada's. The place itself is very small but cozy and the waitress who was helping me pick which empanada's I wanted to get was very friendly and nice but she speak 1000 word's in 1 minute maybe too much Coffee :) I decided only to get 7 empanada (5 meats, 2 veggie) and I try one of their carmal pastry which was very tasty. I was so excited to finally try one of the empanada but my friend call and wanted to go eat dinner and I told her I brought some empanada's already but offer her some but she was on a diet so we decided to go eat dinner instead while i was driving to the other resturant. I ate a spicy beef empanada which was DELICIOUS and the crust was super crispy. I also ate the corn empanada which was good and cheesy. Next morning I ate the spicy chicken and cheese/Beef one and it still was good. I totally would recommend anyone who love pastry with meat, u have to go to this place!!!!!! Next time I think I will buy a dozen of them for $29.99 and try all of their favor out but I think my favor has to be the spicy beef but one that it is lacking was HOT SAUCE!!! and maybe a COLD Agrentina Beer

    (4)

  • Craig D.

    After passing this place a few times and seeing the reviews in Yelp, my wife and I decided to try it out. Wow, this place is fantastic. The girl at the counter is adorable, friendly and very helpful. As soon as we walked it, she asked if we had ever been there before. Since we hadn't, she pointed out the different types and recommended her favorites. We picked 4 of them, two different chicken, the potato and cheese, and the ground beef with lemon juice, raisins, and onions. We split them all, and had two drinks all for under 20 bucks. Crust was great, not greasy or soggy. The fillings were all very tasty. And to top it off, you get a couple of cookies to sample. We will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Joe B.

    5 Stars for the food. The only thing they could do better is have a nicer atmosphere and open up in Long Beach.

    (5)

  • Jason T.

    gawd damn this place is good! Cute women serving you food, bomb ass empanadas, and all during a gigantic automotive social meet! (tri-city honda meet). the only other places i've had empanadas are Felix's in Orange and Red Ribbon Bakery in Cerritos. I'd say this place is slightly better than both but a def. +1 for having crazy variety. Very reasonable prices too! I'd recommend stopping by if you happen to be in the area. And if you're REALLY craving some, it's probably worth the drive =]

    (5)

  • Nghi L.

    The idea of being able to hold an entire meal in one hand is fantastic and that is what this place does. The empanadas are delicious and big. Two would be filling as it is and since I'm somewhat of a piglet I ate 3! The caramel cookies are so so so yummy! The owner gave me two free cookies to try. The cafe is quite quaint and the staff are so friendly. After all of that I was hooked to this place and especially to the cookies! I'd go again. They have both meat lovers and vegetarian so it caters to all dietary restrictions. Enjoy!

    (4)

  • Christina S.

    I have had Empanada's book marked for sometime now and last night after leaving Target on my way home I picked up some of those tasty Empanda's. Just know that they close at 8 here. It was close to 8 when I walked in. I ordered the Pollo Empanada and a Papa's (potato)... Note to vegans. I asked the guy that was at the front counter if the masa or dough is made with any animal products and he said no. No egg (Per him) and they use margin and not lard. So, I ordered the potato empanada a "vegan" one for my friend who is vegan.... I also ordered a side of the chimichurri sauce. BEST THING EVER!! My chicken empanada was soo good. It was mixed in a saucy mixture with onions and peppers!! I remember growing up and my mother making empanadas for us. The only difference is that my mother would bake the empanada and not fry them like they do here. So, hence the lack of the extra star. I really enjoyed my empanada but in moderation. Fried foods are just not my thing.... Service was good. The guy that helped me was the youngest son of the owners who was real helpful and nice.. NOTE: Caution if you are taking ALLI...

    (4)

  • chris n.

    Place is AMAZING....You really can't go wrong with an empanada's that you go with. The best part about the place is the incredible service. I swear the owner with the blonde hair, if she was 25 years younger....i'd hit that.

    (5)

  • cat v.

    very very very good. i was expecting it to be greasy since its fried...but its actually light for being fried. the skin is slightly crispy and flaky. the fillings are tasty. i've had the spicy chicken, the potato & cheese, and the spicy beef. cant wait to go back and try the rest of them! they only accept cash...but if you forget (like i did) you can run to the rite aid, buy something small, and get cash back. :o)

    (4)

  • LiLMiSS B.

    I wasn't really sure when I walked in from there little teacup tables, but the empanadas where delicious we had to try all of them, but the cheesey chicken was my fave!!

    (4)

  • Callie S.

    For me it was just ok. I would try it again just to make sure it wasnt me! I had spicy beef and the potato.

    (3)

  • scott n.

    such a big variety of empandas. the food is really good and the service was great (you order at the counter and they bring it out to you) my favorites were the potato, and the pepperoni empanadas

    (4)

  • Brian G.

    oh man this is sooooo good. we finished dinner at Pho 99, since we were still a bit hungry, we strolled down the mall to this tiny corner shop. it has about 6 tables inside near the tiny counter. **CASH ONLY** we bought a six pack of empenadas to bring to a friend's for a visit. we could not resist tasting a few, and only 4 made it to the event. whoops, it was impossible to resist! reasonably priced for stout-filled pastries with way too many delicious flavors. we ravaged the potato & cheese and spicy cheesy beef. oh my was that tasty. i believe they have about 12-15 different empenadas - several meat and non-meat options, also sandwiches and drinks. small shop across Harbor Blvd. from Target and Wing Nuts. you probably should just consider buying a dozen. seriously, just get every type of empenada and then go home and sit and eat and eat and love and mmmm b

    (5)

  • KC J.

    Hub and I went here on the advise of fellow yelpers. The servers were so nice and helped us navigate the menu as we were obviously novices. We split 5 meat empanadas and loved all of them! My favorite was the arabe, and my husband loved the cheesy spicy beef. Don't forget to ask for the spicy sauce (which wasn't really spicy, but very good), and have an iced mate.

    (5)

  • Christine K.

    I chose from their two types of empanadas.. either meat or vegetable~ and I had their Spicy Chicken, Spicy Beef, and one of their Chicken Tamales in sweet corn... the tamale was awesome and delish for sure! As for their empanadas, it was a bit difficult to bite into since it was too crispy, but the chimichuri sauce that I had with the empanadas was really good and went very well with both the chicken and beef empanadas. It's not a huge sit-down restaurant, so you do have to order at the counter ..but they bring the food to you~ their service was very friendly though. For my first time eating Argentinian food, this was a nice experience!

    (4)

  • Peter H.

    Let me start by saying that my experience with Argentinean food is minimal. That being said, I really like these damn things! The service is polite and fast and the price is great. They have these little caramel filled cookies that just melt in your mouth but, they are a little expensive. They are home made though so that counts for something. great little business and I recommend trying them out. Like I said I'm not a seasoned pro when it comes to empanadas but, I seriously doubt you find anything better out there. They specialize in them so how can you go wrong!!

    (4)

  • Laura L.

    Save yourself time if you come during lunch and order at the register before taking a seat. The ladies working are nice, but there are only one or two, so it saves them and you time if you order first. :) The beef empanada is awesome and the pepperoni one is good, too--reminded me of hot pockets of my childhood, but so so so much better (good flavor, not as oily, and the pastry is much tastier). They're like comfort food pies and economically priced, too. Very happy and looking forward to coming back with my hubby in tow to try more flavors. The free trial of their dessert was good, mmmm, caramel! Definitely a happy lunchtime excursion. ^_^

    (4)

  • Nichole M.

    This place is amazing. The empanadas are delicious and the alfajores are a fun dessert addition. Great place to go on lunch and sit on the cute little patio outside. You can even order ahead if you are on a time crunch. Beef empanadas are my FAVORITE, but my office loves the spicy beef and the spicy chicken

    (5)

  • Phuong L.

    Had to wait a bit at the counter for someone to come but I didn't mind. Really cute place they had little cookies with dulce de leche in them for .99 or a box for 7.99. She even let us have a sample of one! The outdoor seating is nice and cute love it

    (5)

  • Robert Q.

    You know, I feel pretty bad leaving a not so great rating for this place. Not that there was anything really BAD about this place, but there were just too may short comings for me to ever come back. So I got the cheesy spicy beef empanada and the milanesa sammich. The empanada was great, easily 4 stars; not 5 because I feel like it is overpriced, but I would be excited if anyone ever handed me one and said, "a gift from me to your your tastebuds." ::high five:: However the milanesa sammich was $13. It came with fries that were.... honestly just filler. The sammich was big and the steak was bigger then the bread which is always nice. Maybe thats supposed to justify the cost but I got through half the sammich and i just got bored of it and didn't eat anymore of it. It just wasn't good enough to put the effort in to keep chewing; that's really not a good thing. Maybe this isn't the fault of the restaurant, maybe that's just the way a milanesa sammich is supposed to be. Either way, don't get it. Admittedly, if I had a couple empanadas instead of the milanesa, this review would be 4 stars however, when I go to places like this that are highly ethnic, I like to try a few things, not just a bunch of the same stuff. Anyhow, probably a good place to go get a dozen empanadas for a party, but I'm sure there are cheaper places.

    (3)

  • Angel B.

    Yelp challenge 2015. 169 /365 Driving south on Harbor Blvd just before Baker st off the 405 my heart skipped a beat, my eyes took a blink, and my stomach sank. All for empanadas. You know when you forget about a bookmark, then drive right on by then ask yourself why didn't I know about this place. Only to see you Bookmarked it years ago. Finally I made it here. But my wallet was empty and only had enough dough for 2 Empanadas. I ordered the beef and spicy chicken. These tasty babies were hugemonhous and full of stuff. I was very pleased. She even gave me a free cookie. The kindess lady ever works there. She is very friendly and loves to talk. The empanadas are made to order, so it will take about 12 minutes. These pockets full of love are about $3.29 each plus tax. Bring cash! !! I am a fan!!!! #659

    (4)

  • K H.

    I absolutely love this place. TIP - Cash only! The food is always amazing, the service is equally as great. Places like this are my absolute favorite.

    (5)

  • Ahmed S.

    + Small cozy place + Indoor/outdoor seating + Delicious empanadas + Large number of empanada types + Good prices I'm a big fan of this place and recently took my parents here. They are hard to please so I wasn't very hopeful, but to my surprise they loved

    (5)

  • Wendy B.

    Gnarly, dude. That means mondo in surfer speak. Oh....yeah....that means awesome and big and cool. I just had to throw that in...we were in Costa Mesa, an *almost* beach town. Blond surfer-type sightings everywhere. Just trying to get in the "groove". We came here based on great Yelp reviews. And, no lie, they were absolutely right on! The empanadas seem pricey, but are twice the size of normal ones. And the pastry is really fine. There are so many fillings, meat and vegetarian, you could choke a horse. But I didn't want to share with him. The one everyone raves about, the Criolla (ground beef picadillo) empanada, was ok, but not as good as those I had at Corona's El Pollo Kri-ollo. But I actually found the potato filling (with cheese and cilantro) made me feel quite stoked (yep, a big thumbs up). But then, we did not try them all, so I guess we will have to return. Sigh. They also offer a few interesting sandwiches, Argentine of course. One is the Milanese. We preferred to do without the bread, so we asked to plate it as a dinner entrée, not offered on the menu. I am here to tell you, this Milanese was out of this world. It was a well pounded steak, thin to perfection, big enough to cover the plate, and which had then been marinated in something that had green leaves (maybe their chimichurri ?). Then they lightly breaded it with a Japanese panko or something equally delicate, and pan fried it. All we had to do was squeeze some lemon on it. Beautiful! Every bite made us cry, so good. Radical, bodacious food! Glad we made it out there. Hear me scream, Cowabunga!

    (5)

  • Tiffany K.

    A hole in the wall in a strip plaza with a whole lot of character and most importantly, satiating empanadas. The restaurant is small, yet is dressed with a very comforting feel as if you are eating at someone's house. With old pictures framing the walls with what I assume is the owner's family members, you can't help, but embrace the inviting sense of being at home. Empanadas are freshly fried, with each packed with a ton of flavor. 2-3 should fill one person up. Some notables: -spicy cheese beef -criolla -spicy chicken -broccoli and cheese -arabe -CASH ONLY Quite possibly the best empanadas I've ever had. And I've had my fill of them. Empanada dance time commences now.

    (5)

  • Steve M.

    I have never had such a rude experience at a restaurant. My friend and I walked in and there was a woman on the phone. No greeting no I will be right with you. I could forgive that and I really wanted to try the food but unfortunately I never got a chance to. We picked up menus decided what we wanted I poured myself a coke and after 10 minutes of waiting the woman on the phone still wouldn't acknowledge us. If she wouldn't even acknowledge two costumers after they had been standing in front of her for ten minutes then she can be content in her empty restaurant next to the tire place on harbor blvd.

    (1)

  • Victoria N.

    The portions are Big. The size of empanada here is around 4-5 inches. They have all kinds of flavors both meat and vegetarian friendly. I need more spices in my food tho. The service is excellent - they are quick attentive and very friendly. at the end of the meal, they offer complimentary homemade dessert.

    (4)

  • Mary P.

    Delicious empanadas, and they cook it to order for you! Every one of them was so tasty. Had the Cheesy Spicy Chicken, Saltena & Criolla. Fairly priced considering they were a good size. Their pastries/confections are amazing. Seemed pricey at first, but the quality was superb. Bought the one that had 6 of each (cookies & rolls). Just the right amount of sweetness is hard to find. It was subtly sweet, just like the service there. The waitress noticed we were hot and even though we ordered to go she brought us glasses of iced water. Can't wait to come back to try everything else!

    (5)

  • Jamie N.

    I really should have gone to this place sooner, but it's just been chilling on my bookmark list for quite some time. Finally decided to take the plunge and head there for lunch with my brother. You know what's weird, but I love it, it felt like walking into someone's house. Not in a creepy way, but like that coming home kind of fuzzies. The decor is a blast from the 80s, but it's got that warmth and inviting feeling that you don't see very often these days. It's a seat yourself kind of place, but you order your meal at the counter first. We looked at the menu and my brother is excited that they do take-out. He doesn't get out much...but without hesitation, he said, "Let's just get a dozen." Bro...this is why we're family - you read my mind!! So without further ado, we picked at random -- Criolla, Spicy Chicken, Spicy Beef, Cheesy Spicy Beef, Arabe, Potato & Cheese, Spinach, Eggplant and Picante. They are made fresh to order so it took about 10-15 minutes before they were ready to take home. Individually, they are $2.99, but it you get a dozen, it's $32.99. Just a friendly reminder that it's CASH ONLY so come prepared. OH MYYYYYYYYYY LAWWWWWWWD. Just do the right thing - buy a dozen. Personal favorites are the Picante and Spicy Chicken. Both are not very spicy, but you get the chili pepper taste and they are very cheesy. The empanadas are stuffed generously and will fill you up quickly. I had 1.5 as I split 3 with my brother and we were full. If you come for lunch, they have a combo special for two empanadas with a side salad that will mostly likely put you in a food coma. Be warned.

    (4)

  • Mike K.

    Fresh out da oven and in yer face! These empanadas are insane! Stop driving by and start stopping in, you won't regret it. Atmosphere is super mellow, enjoy a cup of coffee and let the grub settle in.

    (5)

  • Tatiana M.

    I saw the reviews and they are right: -very good empanadas -slow paced place So, if you are in a hurry don't come here. Or call ahead of time. This chain is here in CA since 1985. They have lasted that long for a reason! The empanadas are great. Oh! And about the "mean" lady? She is not mean at all. Yes, is not a multitasker but is a nice person. And no, she is not the owner, she is from Mexico and has been working with the owner for a long time. So, please don't be too hard on her and be patient. The empanadas here worth the wait :-)

    (4)

  • Cecilia P.

    A definite new favorite! I came with my boyfriend and we ordered 3 different types of empanadas and two humitas - one of cheese and one of chicken. We are also South American so we have had better empanadas, but these were good! Just not great. And the humitas were amazing. I cook these back home and it was perfect! We're coming back soon!

    (4)

  • Grace M.

    Pretty great place for empanadas! If youre familiar with spanish empanadas and are looking to try something new, I would recommend the Picante empanada. Truly one of the best empanadas I've ever had! Highly recommend!!! Boyfriend ordered the criolla and I ordered a spicy cheesy beef. They both tasted a little similar and were not as tasty as the Picante, but they are both very typical empanadas, so I would recommend those for first timers. The Flan Casera was also extremely delicious, it had a thicker syrup than normal. Overall, a teeny bit disappointed at the criolla and the spicy cheesy beef, but I am definitely coming back for more and excited to try new things!

    (4)

  • Christopher M.

    Empanada's Place is a cute little cafe serving some of the best empanadas around for 3 bucks a piece, which is a bargain. I ordered three, but two is plenty enough for a meal. I went with Ricotta, Corn, and Cheesy Spicy Beef. The Ricotta needs a new name, cuz the best part is the mushrooms. Corn is simple but tasty, with mozzarella and white sauce. And Cheesy Spicy Beef is popular for a reason: Beef, carrots, peas, potatoes and cheese. Inside, it's a tiny place, best for groups of four or less. They do have limited seating outside too though. They also offer mini empanadas, if you need some apps or hors d'oeuvres. Beware, it's cash only, and they're CLOSED MONDAYS (learned this the hard way).

    (4)

  • Albert W.

    This place is only 2 or 3 blocks south of the Harbor exit off the 405. Small and quaint, it's feel like a mom and pop place that you'd run into in south america. The waitress was very nice and not only gave suggestions and look our order but gave Fumie and I each a piece of their dessert (it's like that cookie thing that escapes my mind). Anyhow, the empanada was fried and I didn't mind it one bit. If you're looking for baked, I would suggest a place in Glendora but that is a bit of a drive. All in all, try something new. You'll like it.

    (4)

  • Juan G.

    Always good. The service is great, they care about their customers like they're guests at their house. Cash only. Support local business.

    (5)

  • Irene H.

    I do love the empanadas here. My favorite one is the egg plant empanada. Also the alfajores are quite tasty. The cons to this place is that they only take cash and that the tables are quite small inside so if you have a party greater than 2 then you will have trouble putting all your food in the table.

    (4)

  • T C.

    You'll be hard-pressed to identify another restaurant that offers the vast array of empanadas like this place elsewhere. While the array is commendable, I was disappointed that many of the empanadas I tried were dry and crumbly. Billed at $3 each, more or less, these pastry pockets come out (mostly) piping hot. It's pretty obvious, to me, that they are frozen and fried-to-order. The cheese and potato, criolla, tucumana/chopped beef, and beef-flavored empanadas were forgettable; the only a-ok empanada was the cheesy spicy chicken. Their lunch special - two basic empanadas and house salad - really isn't a good bargain. If you eat in, the paying arrangement is a little confusing. You pay after your meal, but you get your own drinks. Weird. I'm glad I tried this place out, but I won't be back. Other important info: limited hours, vast empanada flavors, parking can be a little hairy at peak lunch hours, uber-friendly staff, confusing dining-in pay arrangements, and skip the lunch special because it really isn't that great a bargain.

    (2)

  • Adam H.

    Cash only = legit. You can't go wrong with: Potato: I thought it would be an average potato empanada, but the seasoning on the potatoes were delicious. Ricotta Spinach Criolla Spicy Chicken- the chicken is very juicy; I actually prefer this over the beef options. Spicy Beef The dessert cookies melt in your mouth, I've tried both but prefer the cannoli looking one. Those are all amazing and you can't go wrong. I've had other empanadas in the past, but Empanada's Place is by far one that I'll always visit because the service is awesome and the food is delicious. I have yet to try the Arabe and was informed that it's succulent.. the beef has a lemon marinade. This spot sure as hell beats the munchie creation from taco bell, the carmel apple empanada.

    (5)

  • Debby L.

    On our way to Target, we saw this place across the street. The location is teeny tiny, but so cute inside. The Argentinian feeling swept over you when the wonderful lady stepped out from behind the curtain and greeted us with a friendly smile. MEAT EMPANADAS They are 2.99 and soo worth it. They are about the size of my palm and stuffed with the most delicious meats and flavors. Although my Peruvian friend was with me, he let me ask the lady questions about the empanadas, and I picked the two kinds of empanadas that I didn't understand: Criolla and Arabe. CRIOLLA EMPANADA This is the most typical Argentinian empanada with ground beef, raisins, green onions, eggs, and assorted spices. I loved this one! I brought one home and it still tasted delicious after I toast it in the oven. Its the perfect snack!! ARABE EMPANDA This one has ground beef, tomatoes, onions seasoned with fresh lemon juice and spices. The lemon juice spills out, so be careful because its hot and the juice stays on you! [i couldn't wait and grabbed a bite in the car...spilled all over me] SPICY BEEF OR SPICY CHICKEN Both are really good. I like them better than the one with cheese. The spicy beef is tender and melts in your mouth. The chicken isn't dry. They also sell Argentinian coffees and spreads. I recognized some from my trip to South America, so I got all excited and will have to come back to pick up some of the spreads. The pastries are also sold on the counter. Since I've never had the macaroon like pastry, she gave me one to try. It was so soft and delicious, I will have to pick up a whole box of these! CASH ONLY

    (4)

  • Marc L.

    For some reason, reading the reviews for Empanada's Place, I expected the empanadas to be mind-blastingly good. Instead, they were just okay... A tasty combination of savory meats and sauces wrapped in dough and deep-fried, but not worth making a pilgrimage to get. I stopped in for a quick bite and ordered three empanadas to go- the sweet corn, the potato and cheese, and the arabe. From ordering at the counter to picking up my food, it all took 15 minutes... 15 awkward minutes. I guess since I wasn't dining in there was no incentive for the waitress to seat me, so I just stood there, checked out the Argentinian goods they had on sale, and looked around the restaurant. Afterward I walked out, perused the goods over at Moscow Deli, then went back into Empanada's Place and waited for them to call my name. It was a lazy Sunday afternoon, so there was only one table of people eating inside, but other than that it was eerily silent. Eerily silent... as if you were eating in a friend or relatives' dining room, but they left you to watch the house and nobody else is there... The empanadas are tasty, to be sure, and judging from the other reviews it sounds authentic... but there's just something missing about my experience at Empanada's Place. Part of it was the let-down in flavor (were these supposed to be really good for emapanadas?), and the other part is how "cold" the restaurant felt. Me no know... We'll see what happens next time.

    (3)

  • Paula N.

    Decent empanadas. Some of them are really outstanding, some are just okay, and others are meh. You know what, though? They were hot and fresh, the crust was perfect, and the service was outstanding (super attentive and hospitable). The restaurant was small, clean and quaint. They had a wide array of empanadas, which were conveniently organized into two groups on their menu--meat & vegetarian. Here are the ones we've tried: Criolla - Not too shabby. Not as outstandingly magnificent as I've had in other places, but not bad. The kids ate this. Chicken - Same as the criolla. Decent. It was also packed with onions and bell peppers. Cheesy, Spicy Beef - My husband said that this tasted better than the criolla. Cheese & Onion - Yummy. I would come again just for this one. The kids loved this, too. Potato & Cheese - It was okay. Corn - It had cheese and finely diced vegetables. I wouldn't be able to tell you what veggies, though. It was a big hit with my kids. Eggplant - Unimpressive. I had two difference sauces--a tomato sauce and chimichurri. The tomato-based sauce was pretty good. The chimichurri just tasted....blech. It was weird--like the didn't use olive oil. It was pretty gross. The best chimichurri sauce I've ever had was from El Gaucho in Anaheim. For dessert we bought a box of these crumbly cookies filled with dulce de leche. SO GOOD. I think they make them at their other restaurant in Culver City. I would go back again just for these dulce de leche cookies and the cheese and onion empanada.

    (3)

  • Nate T.

    Just good empanadas. It gets 4 stars cause the interior and service was weird.

    (4)

  • Mike M.

    My Yelp buddy Jaime L. got me in the mood for Empanadas when I saw her recent review. This place has been on my bookmark radar for a while so I went for it. First time here and I was surprised how small the place is. It looks a lot bigger from the outside. They have a patio but it's right on noisy Harbor Bl. so I grabbed a table inside. Dude behind the counter was very helpful with menu suggestions. I tried the Criolla and it was very tasty. The ground beef and other fillings were hot and fresh. It was a little bland so it needed some hot sauce to jack up the heat. The crust was fantastic. Flaky but not crumbly. Crispy and not greasy. The eggplant was also quite good. I could have eaten four or five because of the size but two should fill up most people. I wish there was a little coleslaw or something to break up the flavors a bit. Good stuff overall.

    (4)

  • Cecily C.

    We were in the area and wanted something different and to our pleasant surprise we found this place. It was a wonderful little cafe, very welcoming. We tried a criolla and spicy chicken empanada. They were tasty and light not greasy at all...and the cookies were just the perfect tad of sweet to finish off the meal... Great place to bring company for a light bite...

    (5)

  • Susan L.

    We had a rare Sunday open to do what we wanted, so hubby and I decided to go get empanadas after church. They are in a small strip mall next to the rite aid. They are cash only too, so be aware of that if you are planning to check it out. (if you by chance forget, you can get cash back at rite aid.. that's what we did. LOL) We ordered 3 different empanadas: Cheesy Spicy Beef, Cheese & Potato & Pepperoni. The empanadas came out golden and nicely fried. they were a pretty good size too, size of my hand about +/- 6inches each? I really liked the cheesy spicy beef, it reminded me of a sheperd's pie, it wasn't spicy at all, but i'm sure its probably because my tolerance for spicy things is a lot higher than most. it had beef, cheese, potatoes, peas, onions, and the crust was flacky and buttery, it was pretty dang good. the cheese & potato had cheese, potatoes, onions and i think it was chopped cilantro, it was different, but good as well. the pepperoni, literally tasted like a pizza, cheese, pepperoni, mushroom, olives, like a little pizza pocket. it was a little salty probably bc of the pepperoni but nevertheless really good. i def want to go back and try all the other fillings. i doubt you would want to take someone here if they are on a diet, but a good place for a mixed group with different tastes, they have both meat filled & vegetarian options. :)

    (4)

  • Poachedeggs g.

    Empanada Heaven! Argentinean food. Yays Criolla Friendly Service Mom and Pop, small cute place Nays Cheese Spicy Beef Ricotta Cheese with Mushrooms Spinach, Mushroom and Onions $2.99 each

    (4)

  • Michelle H.

    Ever since I came home from Chile/ Argentina, I've been scouring OC/LA area up and down for some good, authentic empanadas and I've found them!!!! Wow, these empanadas are so damn good. They are fried and not baked, which make for a kinda greasy dinner but its worth it! All of the empanadas I tried were freaking delicious and very authentic. The pastry was just really crispy and perfectly flaky. The fillings were deliciously cheesy, flavorful and moist. My favorites were the spinach, cheese and onion, and criolla. But don't get me wrong, all of them were good: spicy chicken, tucumana. These are really big empanadas too, I ordered three but I was already filled with just two! And relatively cheap, about 3 bucks a pop. Next time I can't wait to try their Mate and Alfajores!

    (5)

  • Kat S.

    Drive by it going to class and noticed it and knew I had to try it. Ordered: Ricotta & mushroom Broccoli & Parmesan And then we decided to try the Chicken w peas, Bellpepper, onion It was Very good, flaky outer crust inside everything is hot and melting of yumminess. Can't wait to try more.

    (4)

  • Trang H.

    Parking: There are plenty of parking spots. Area: This place is located in small shopping center next to pho 99 and moscow deli. Decor/ambiance: This tiny little location is set up almost like a little cafe. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating with blue picnic table prints and a fresh set of flowers to top it off. A very cute ma and pa restaurant. Foodies: 1. Beef empanada ($2.99) Lean ground beef, potatoes, hard boiled eggs, olives and spices we could have done without the olives. 2. Ham & cheese empanada ($2.99) American ham and mozzarella cheese with fresh onions 3. Potato & cheese empanada ($2.99) Russell brown potatoes, onions, tomatoes & cilantro with mozzarella cheese Try this one! 4. Corn empanada ($2.99) Sweet cut corn with melted mozzarella cheese and white sauce. All the flavors mixed well together. 5. Flan Casero ($2.99) Homemade flan topped with caramel. Deelliccous! very creamy with a hint of tartiness. Service: The food was quick and the employees are friendly. Overall: We loved the crunchiness and texture of the fried exterior. All the empanada's flavors blended together very well. If you love empanadas, you should definitely try this place!. Make sure you bring cash!

    (4)

  • Kristen D.

    It took 45 minutes to get 4 empanadas! Plus we sat outside for 15 & no one greeted us, so we came in. No one said a word to us. We finally got up & asked. This trumps the food by FAR. I hate bad service & this was BAD! The empanadas were ok. They tasted like hot pockets really. I prefer Mil Jugos! Plus they have Arepas too!

    (1)

  • Traci D.

    I came here with my friends Becky and Stephanie. When we walked in we were greeted by two nice ladies. They asked us if we had ever been here and we told them no. They handed us each a menu and told us that people normally order two empanadas. I ordered the spicy chicken and potato and cheese. Each one is $3 bucks. We sat outside and it took about 10 minutes for our food to be made. We browsed the menu and they also offer things other than empanadas. They had a salad that sounded delicious. When we got our food, it was pipping hot and crispy. I enjoyed both of my empanadas. The spicy chicken was flavorful but not very spicy. My potato and cheese empanada was filled with chunks of potatoes and lots of cheese. Yummy! My friends also enjoyed both of their empanadas as well. We kept taking about how we needed to come back to try the other types of empanadas.

    (4)

  • Bonita W.

    The empanadas were heavy, the store seemed dirty and dingy, and the service took forever. I will not be returning.

    (2)

  • Sabrina C.

    All these empanadas are crispy and perfect. Wish there was more filling because it was so good! Chicken, spinach all of them are awesomely delicious!

    (5)

  • Jessica V.

    I've been wanting to try this place for the longest time! I live so close to it but I've never had the chance to stop by until recently! I went to service my car at the nearby Acura dealership and decided to stop by here on my way home. I will never regret that day! I got four empanads: 2 spicy chicken with cheese, and 2 beef. The spicy chicken with cheese wasn't on the menu, but the woman at the front informed me that the spicy chicken wasn't available, only the spicy chicken with cheese. I was planning on driving all four empanadas over to the bf's place so we could try it together but... I ended up eating two as I drove :( I couldn't resist! The first bite was so delicious I couldn't stop! I went for the first empanada and I told myself I was going to save the second one but I lied. I was so sad seeing the bf eat the two that I got for him but he was kind enough to share YAY lol. My bf ended up going back here to get 8 empanadas for me on Valentine's Day. I forgot which flavors exactly but there were 4 different kinds. All were amazing! My dad tried one and he loved them also! Only downside is it's cash only, but it's not stopping me from coming back.

    (5)

  • Billy J.

    The pastry was flaky, soft and delicious. Needed to bump up the spices in the filling though.

    (4)

  • Moshi M.

    Fried Gooey Pockets O' Love! This place was great. Fried deliciousness and the fillings were flavorful. My favorites: Arabe (ground meat seasoned with lemon), Spicy Beef and Spicy Chicken. Plenty to try on the next trip and plenty of veggie only options. Fried to order and didn't take too long, about 5-7 mins depending on how many you ordered (we ordered 7). We ate there at 11am on Sunday. Not crowded but people were in and out for to-go orders. And at the end we were given a sample of their dessert cookies. Good stuff and will come here again. They have "cocktail" sized empanadas for order at least a day in advance which would be great for parties (bookmark that for my next potluck). Remember to look at the photo section, these empanadas are not dainty. Worth going with some friends and sharing all the different types. You've been warned: CASH ONLY!

    (5)

  • Stephanie R.

    Empanada's place... you had me at cheesy, spicy beef. But lost a few stars when your empanadas didn't live up to their Yelp reviews. My husband and I show up around 11:45 on a Thursday morning in an adventurous mood looking for these 4 star empanadas.We were pleasantly greeted by a friendly face behind the counter who prompted us to try the criolla empanada (which is their top seller.) We eagerly ordered 5 empanadas between the 2 of us (Spinach, potato & cheese, Criolla, beef & cheesy, spicy beef) all were $2.99 each. A great price for these massive meat filled pastries. We also ordered their house salad for $5.99, which was delicious... it was a mixed field green salad with nuts, cranberries, feta cheese & balsamic vinegar. The 1 salad was enough to share. OK... now the scoop... this beautiful and cozy restaurant (which has plenty of outdoor seating) was lacking the robust flavors I am usually used to. This place was good not great. Tip: order their empanadas, but ask for the spicy sauce that comes on the side (a definite flavor boost.) Order 1-2 empanadas per person because they are huge! Also... check out the Mascow deli a few doors down. It's pretty cool.

    (3)

  • Annie N.

    Maybe, I'm just not a major fan of empanadas well I had this other place in downtown before too. The empanada place to me is a little price this other place I go to though the size is smaller it's only 1.10 for a empanada. I had the criolla, arabe, and the spniach. Criolla I like a bit more than the other it had more flavor too it. The arabe it's probably cause I'm not use to the flavor so it tasted a bit odd to me even though everyone else recommended it . My favorite was probably the spinach but it needs something else. I wish I had some of the sauce they had but it's a 3 dollar charge for it. Price wise it was pretty decent for the size of the empanada's since it's bigger than the regular size. Two is actually enough to make you full.

    (3)

  • catharine d.

    Day trip from LA: catching lunch in Costa Mesa after the beautiful Noguchi Garden... driving and trying to find something interesting... just happened to catch the sign for this amazing place. Never a fan of empanadas as usually the pastry isn't good and there's too much of it and not enough of the inside goodies, I would eat here every week if I could....just delicious. Small,cozy place...inside/outside. Quick, family owned style service. They really want you to take home the pastries but I was off sugar for the day. Just off the 405.

    (5)

  • Isabella O.

    YES! yes yes yes... yes. Empanada Fridays, y'all. Did I just make up my own tradition? yes. Isn't that how traditions are always made? yes. Is this place da bomb? yes. Did I think this place was called Empanada Palace for the longest time? yes. I've been going here once a week, almost regularly, for the past few months. Let's just say I have found my new favorite food. Favorites: Criolla - the most typical, so good, a great spice, and the chopped egg! (I usually take out the raisins, not a fan) Cheesy Spicy Beef - SO GOOD!!! OH man, I am just getting hungry thinking of it Arabe - delicious lemon flavor on the that beef Potato & Cheese - probably my most favorite thing of all time, who doesn't love deep fried dough stuffed with soft potatoes and cheese Chicken TAMAL - YUM! it's nice to have something non-fried after all the deep fried wonders Overall: love it, delicious, the service is great, and even the cookies are good too! cash only, y'all

    (5)

  • Reya G.

    wow, i found this place through yelp and it's definitely worth coming back for another visit. I've never had an empanada but the reviews about it before mine were true to their word. Flaky, golden crust but not oily. The cheesy spicy beef and the spinach empanadas were definitely up my ally. I have yet to try the pepperoni, but i have no doubt that it's up to par to the first two i tried. Considering that this business had been running since 1985, I'm quite surprised the local college students aren't more well known of this establishment. They should set up a stand at UCI on ring road advertising their products (hint hint) especially during midterms/finals week. It's like $2.99 for each ------well within a college student budget. Probably a dollar more so than a taco bell establishment; so if you're budgeting a fancy meal without the fancy costs, definitely check this place out. Interior is cozy, and the outside dining is cute on a better so-cal weather days. And plz: bring cash otherwise, stop by rite-aid for a quick cash-back.

    (4)

  • Pablo L.

    it was ok

    (3)

  • Rory M.

    Basically Boston Market items wrapped in pie crust and fried. One of the seven great wonders of Costa Mesa.

    (3)

  • Grace N.

    I LOVE empanadas! Pretty much any kind of handheld pie like food, I love. So when I found this place I was so happy! The place is quaint and small right on Harbor, next to a tattoo shop, Pho company and Moscow Deli. The place is very inviting and homey with cute little tables and wicker chairs. There is outdoor seating which is great on a nice day and you can eat with your pet, which I did with my two dogs. There are so many different kinds of empanadas that I would suggest you come with others so you can share several different kinds. The menu has one side of all meat empanandas and the other side has vegetarian ones. I personally liked the meat ones better. The empanadas themselves are not huge, they are about the size of a hot pocket, but moon shaped. The crust is flaky and crispy. Exactly how it should be. My favorite is the Arabe one which happens to be shaped more like a triangle. The combo of beef with the spices and the lemon tanginess is just incredibly tasty altogether. I ended up getting one for myself while I shared all the other ones. The spicy beef and spicy cheesy beef are super tasty. After eating the beef ones, the chicken ones just seemed good, but not as good as the beef. Tried some non meat ones too. We tried the spinach one, broccoli one, eggplant one and potato and cheese one. Of those, the best ones were broccoli and the potato and cheese. Broccoli with cheese and potato with cheese automatically work together and put inside a hot toasty crust just makes it all the better. I suggest you ask for their hot sauce. It enhances the flavor to all the empanadas without being too spicy. The employees are extremely friendly and helpful. They answered all our questions and always had a smile on their face. I will come again and again. I've been there twice and I plan to go there again and again.

    (5)

  • Trashauler T.

    Delicious!! Stopped in for a treat with the wife and it was a great experience. Staff was super friendly and service was quick.

    (5)

  • Greg T.

    The guy here who works the front has a picture of him hanging in the front area kind of like the posters and statues you'd see in North Korea of Kim Jong-il, but those are just propaganda. The guy at the Empanada Place is well deserved for having his hanging in the restaurant, and I can't wait to try this place again. I just might even construct my own statue of him as an homage to how good the empanada's are here (that's not propaganda). It's also cool that he's a car guy, so that's another cool plus.

    (4)

  • Brandon K.

    I've lost my empanadas virginity here and not a single regret! Empanadas are similar to chicken pot pie however it's hot dog folded. Great place!

    (5)

  • Matthew C.

    Very good empanadas. Nice range of flavors. Sausage sandwich was ok.

    (4)

  • Faraz K.

    Even though four empanadas on their menu were unavailable, we really enjoyed the flavors and variety. The crust was buttery goodness. Service was a little slow.

    (4)

  • Arnold E.

    EM-PA-NA-DA'S!!! *clap-clap, clap-clap-clap* Woo-hoo!!! Yeah!!! *jumps up and does a Russian* So yeah, I'm a fan now. This place has seriously tasty empanadas. Of course, deep frying almost anything will make it taste better, right? However, Empanada's takes an already tasty dish and does it up so well that I am reluctant to go elsewhere for empanadas (even to my own people!) A nice, not-too-sweet, slightly chewy, slightly crispy crust combined with well-seasoned fillings provides the basis for a great meal. Throw in friendly service and a comfortable, friendly atmosphere and you've got one extremely satisfying experience. Here's a breakdown of the empanadas we sampled: Criolla (ground beef, raisins, green onions, eggs, spices): great flavor, well-seasoned, not too juicy, and not too sweet (unlike other places). Cheesy Spicy Chicken (chicken, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, spices, mozzarella cheese): good blend of meat, veggies, and cheese; not spicy at all though. Cheesy Spicy Beef (ground beef, peas, carrots, potatoes, mozzarella cheese): heartier blend of meat, veggies, and cheese; again, not spicy (for me). Arabe (ground beef, tomatoes, onions, lemon juice, spices): distinctive triangular empanada, tangy, strong in the herb department (oregano?) I also ordered the grilled steak sandwich (Entraña). It's basically thinly sliced steak simmered in chimichurri sauce and stuffed into a French roll along with shredded lettuce, tomato, mayo, and sauteed onion. I found the meat to be a bit on the salty side, but still tasty. It would've been nicer to have a bit more meat in the sandwich, too, but I guess that's where the empanadas come into play. Overall, I'd suggest that you stick to the empanadas. With a variety of meat and veggie varieties to choose from, I'm sure anyone will find something to satisfy their cravings. If you like empanadas, you really should check this place out. I think you'll quickly become a fan, too. Woo hoo!! *throws pompoms down and wiggles empanada spirit fingers in your face*

    (4)

  • Steve S.

    Great service and AMAZING empanadas here! You can't really go wrong with damn near anything on the menu, well, I haven't tried any of their sandwiches, but I assume they are great too. How much did I like it here? Well, when my GF and I first discovered this place (due to Yelp) we came here 3 times during the week. 3. times. It's great. Go, eat, but CASH ONLY!!!!

    (4)

  • nick w.

    I ordered one of each empanada to give them the first try. I liked all but one of them. I was happy to discover they each had a unique flavor. I was expecting them to sort of taste the same. The ladies there were prompt and polite.

    (4)

  • Shingo A.

    I'm fighting nasal congestion so my taste buds are not working so I defintely have to go back again. I ordered 3 pieces of empanadas and green tea. To be specific, I ordered eggplant empanada, Arabe, and Cheesy Spicy Beef. I found Arabe to be the best and most flavorful. (Again, remember I have nasal congestion so I can't smell or taste like I usually do.) I thought these empanadas will be greasy but they were not! And mate (green tea) was good match to the empanadas. Everything came out quick and they actually bring your food to your table. Cashier was friendly, nothing fancy about the interior but fresh flowers on the tables were very nice touch. I also loved the music they were playing over the loudspeakers. Very soothing. They only serve empanadas and sandwiches but its a great place to eat in laid back style. I'm a fan!

    (4)

  • David v.

    Empanada's Place is a quaint little joint serving yummy goodness in a bread pouch. They have a wide variety of empanadas to choice from and they are broken down into a separate meat and vegetarian menu. Inside, they have the distinct mom and pop feel to the place with the small business type service to match. We ended up getting a wide variety of empanadas to share: * crilloa - which is labeled as the traditional agentine empanada. It was decent. * spicy chicken - was pretty tasty * cheesy spicy beef - even better than the chicken * cheese and onion - reminded me almost of french onion soup but in bread envelop. yum! The empanada bread here is really quite excellent, the size of the empanadas are quite large but I wish they had a list more filling (either that or reduce the quantity of bread), and the prices are somewhat high for the amount of food you are getting. Having said that, this is a great place which you must give a try (at least once) and the food is pretty good. 3 stars! And Yes... cash only.

    (3)

  • Cindy T.

    3.5 up. I expect to give it a solid 4-5 when I try the empanadas. The interior is so cute, but the best thing about this place is really the ladies at the counter. They have this warm hospitality that makes you feel heart-tingles! :) I went in today just for a cookie. The lady gave me a big smile and said, "You can try it for free!" I've read that this place gives out cookies when you're waiting for your empanadas, but I only wanted one cookie. She insisted on giving it to me...so I took another cookie and paid for that one. I got the rolled cookie (pastry-like) and the sandwich cookie. I usually like these sandwich cookies, or alfajores, but the ones offered here are on the floury side. I like the buttery shortbread kind, like the one at Charo's in Long Beach and Mama Occlo's packaged alfajores sold at Bay Cities Italian Deli in Santa Monica. Still. 75 cents for 2 cookies. Sweet!

    (4)

  • Kim N.

    The chicken one was my favorite it was like a potpie with much more flavor. And I loved the bits of potatoes and peas. Also tried the chimichurri and spicy beef & cheese. All really good! They came out hot and fresh. They were still hot by the time i drove home (45 mins). very small cute mom&pops place.. will be back again to sit in for a meal and try more empanadas!

    (4)

  • matt s.

    Nothing special here. Food is on par with a trader joe's frozen empanada and service is poor.

    (2)

  • Dave A.

    I've been dwelling on this review for months, it staring back at me with its expectant glare... "You have 1 unfinished review." But, eventually you have to face your demons, and so I finally must say that I am not a huge fan of empanadas. I know, right? Meat fried in dough, how can that not be good? Well after much contemplation I think it comes down to the fact that it all tasted the same. Empanadas place is good, don't get me wrong. They fry meat filled dough well, free of the greasy soggy issues that may ruin similar american dishes. But the flavors, that's where it loses me. There's not enough spice, nor diversity, and just not enough variance to keep it interesting. And yeah, I have had just about everything, criolla, tucumana, arabe, spicy beefs and chicken, fugazza, potato n' cheese, eggplant, etc... Would I recommend you eat here, sure. Would I say it's a sensation for your palate? Not so much. So there you go, I give it an A-OK because for what it is, it's good, just not that exciting.

    (3)

  • Fernando C.

    I thought everything was ok but nothing special. The spicy beef was the best out of the ones I had. Also had the spicy chicken and the chipotle. The spicy chicken was my least favorite. Quaint little place, would be better for someone who hasnt had empanadas before

    (3)

  • Craig W.

    Empanadas here were awesome. Great dough, fillings were really flavorful. I Liked the Criolla, potato cheese, and beef and cheese. It's been a minute since I went but if you are ever in the area, say at Ikea, skip the Swedish meatballs and get an empanada.

    (4)

  • Danielle C.

    The menu is divided into vegetarian and non vegetarian. It makes it easier for me to figure out which ones don't have meat in them or not. A lot of the vegetarian ones have onions in them so I haven't tried a lot of them but the spinach ones are absolutely delicious. Their service is always spectacular, the food is delicious (and filling), and the place is always clean.

    (4)

  • Jonathan F.

    Quick and friendly service along with great empanadas. I went there today for lunch and I tried the beef, chicken, and pepperoni (pepperoni being my favorite). It's a small place, but that just adds to it's charm. I'll definitely be coming back again.

    (4)

  • Angela B.

    Perhaps with this place, you can compare it to an adult store: You never knew what you're was missing out on until you go in. Yeah, cash only.. poor college students with no dinero on them, friend had to run to the bank as I sat down and chatted with the nice waitress that is the daughter of the owner there... Unfortunately, we came in at around 7 pm on a Thursday, and some evil person bought their last 3 dozen criolla empanadas. I was heartbroken, but it's okay, cause cheesy spicy chicken made up for that! Seriously, that stuff is hella bomb! Yum! My friend and I got 4 empanadas: one spinach, two cheesy spicy chicken empanadas, and I think a beef one. Our favorite was the cheesy spicy chicken one. :) It was about as big as my hand, the filling was maybe as much as my palm? Pictures later, but yeah - awesomeeee. I think two is good enough to get satisfied, they're an okay price I guess, $3 for one. Everything here is homemade, and if you're going to apply for a job here - forget it. Family business only! My Asian friend got declined. They make their own flan, their own cookies, there's a free water dispenser on the inside.. I love this place. It's a bit small, but it's fine. Close to Target too! WOO

    (4)

  • Allyson H.

    Not the best Empanadas I've ever had but I can't find any other place that is closer to me. They have good taste, some of them are great like the Tucumana and the Criolla and the other ones are just OK and lack on flavor. The ham and cheese is just OK, I'd rather go and get a ham a cheese croissant, it is bigger and I get more for my money. I think this place it is overpriced for what they serve. The filling is tasty but you end up eating more dough, I think they need to fill their Empanadas a little more. I read some comments about the staff being unfriendly; in my case I've never had any problems with the staff. This place looks like a little cafe; it is cute and very small. There is plenty of parking. I would come here a little more often but they only accept cash and I think it is a big inconvenience so when I'm in the area, I decided to eat at the Pho restaurant next to them because they take debit. 3.5 stars

    (3)

  • Tiffany W.

    The first time I came here was on a hot summer day last year. It was a chance walk-in, as most of my restaurant reviews are. No patrons inside and the server looked absolutely bored, fiddling on his phone. Man, this place needs more traffic! If it's your first time inside, the servers won't hesitate to recommend some good choices for you, especially if you're an empanada noob. With a name like Empanada's Place, you only really come here for one thing (3 guesses what!) and boy, they do it right. I totally recommend getting their spicy beef and the spinach empanadas. Mmmm.. soo good! Definitely worth an extra 3 hours in the gym for them. :D

    (4)

  • Tiffany W.

    mmmmmpendadas....I fell in love with them when an old argentinian lady gave me one at my old place of work.. so I was waiting for this place to open for quite some time, and I finally made it in. They were delicious!! i recommend that you peeps stop by empanada's place, and then make a stop at that russian market next door... jk. I didn't really go there, but it sounds interesting doesn't it?

    (4)

  • Mel G.

    This place is great. My wife and I split a Criplla & Pollo empanadas. Can't wait to return to try others. The pastery was fresh and filling perfect. This is as close to Argentinia as you can get to in SoCal.

    (5)

  • Ailee F.

    Serves delicious empanadas with great prices! Between the two of us, we shared 4 different ones, beef, spinach, potato/cheese and their "the most typical" one which has beed/egg/raisins. Definitely going back again to try more things. Cash only though, make sure you bring some.

    (4)

  • Mike P.

    This place is ok. I much prefer Empanada Man in Lake Forest, but it's a far drive from Costa Mesa. The empanadas are good and their sandwiches are great. The biggest downfall are the steep prices, in my book. Just two empanadas will set you back $6. The sandwiches start at around $9. They also only take cash. The owners are cheerful and very friendly, but their hired help needs training. They forgot our sandwich order, so we were finished with our empanadas by the time it came out, we aslo had to ask 3 times for our drinks, and we had to ask twice for another place setting.

    (3)

  • John N.

    My first time here was a memorable and delicious one. so the 3 of us all ordered 4 different empanadas so we could compare and sample the different types. The crust was very nice, crispy, and tasty. The contents of each were standouts in their own respects as we ordered both meat and veggie variations. Upon devouring my 4 empanadas, they asked me how it was. I just told them "look at my plate and you should be able to see how much i enjoyed them."

    (5)

  • Lex K.

    I have only had Filipino Empanadas, which are fantastic, but a little sweet for my taste. But when I saw an Argintinean restaurant that specialized in empanadas, I wanted to give the little dumplings another chance! These were the best meaty, savory, turbans of goodness that I have ever eaten. The cashier at the front was so nice and he recommended some really tasty little morsels. Although you pay up front, this place had a quaint "Evita" sit down feel. The cashier brought out our freshly fried empanadas on ceramic plates and even brought us a little dessert on the house. I approve!

    (5)

  • Misty S.

    The ladies that work at this charming tiny caffe were so sweet. My husband and I had 5 empanadas all which were wonderful. Service was great, place was very clean, and the prices were great.Must try the flan.

    (5)

  • Jason L.

    Great Empanadas!!! Just like in Buenos Aires!! The minus star is just because the decor is pretty bad for the prices..

    (4)

  • Rhea S.

    I decided to stop by last Friday before my flight to Sac-town. I figured I needed a little sustenance before my flight, but nothing to heavy so that I would still be able to have dinner when I got to Sac. Since I was going to get a few empanadas for myself, I decided to ask Mariel C. and my bro if they wanted anything. I ended up getting a dozen since we were pretty much wanting to get 3 each anyway. It only made sense. We got: 2 Corn 2 Cheesy spicy beef 2 Chicken 2 Beef 1 Cheese & Onion 2 Criolla 1 Spinach So... I thought I could at least finish 3 without a problem but those suckers are more filling than they looked. I ended up only having 2 and even that was pushing my fullness level. I had the cheese & onion and the cheesy spicy beef. Out of the 2, my vote would go for the cheese & onion. The cheesy spicy beef was damn good as well, but I just can't resist cheese + onions. It sucks that I can't really vouch for the other ones that I got, but now I have an excuse to go back and order the ones that I missed out on. No worries... there is plenty of time to try them all out in the future. Empanda place is located on harbor right across from the shopping plaza with the Target. It's on your right hand side... you can't miss it!! The ladies are friendly, but are not really ones for small talk. The empanadas took a few minutes to come out so I was left in the tiny room with 2 female employees. It was such an awkward staring contest that consisted of smiling and pretending to look through my cellphone. Once the empanadas are ready, they write on the box so that you know which empanada is which. Just so you know, they come out hot hot hot... and your car will smell so delicious. Practice restraint when driving home!! $30 + tax buys you a dozen. Might as well, right?

    (4)

  • John O.

    Decided to try something different today and stopped in to order some empanadas to go. I was also pleasantly surprised at some of the other menu items available, including a steak milanesa sandwich that I will try next time. The waitress was friendly and made a couple good recommendations. The selection of both meat and veggie empanadas was great! Will definitely be coming back.....

    (4)

  • Sandy A.

    I moved to the OC about 3 1/2 years ago and I had always wanted to find a place that sells empanandas over here because I was getting tired of driving all the way out to LA to my usual spot. This by far is the best empanadas I've had even better then my usual spot in LA. They are a great size and a good price. I had the criolla and the ricotta cheese and they were both delicious and they were completely full of meat and cheese. I read a review below where he says they are not full of meat at all and that is not true. They are stuffed with alot of meat and cheese. The service was awesome and they give them to you fresh! I highly recommend this place!

    (5)

  • rosie g.

    OOOOH! I love this place! Ive been going to Empanadas Place in Venice for years! and am soooo excited they've opened up a place close to my parents- what an incentive! I will definitely be visiting the parents more often :) my favorite empanadas are the berenjena- the eggplant, the potato and cheese and the spinach- give them a try! very yummy! also the empanadas have a different shape so you can distinguish, but of course in the rapture of an empty stomach who would? anyways- the little cookies are da bomb! everything is the bomb in the place- mmmmm

    (5)

  • Nunya B.

    Hello yelpers. This is my first review so bare with me. I brought a few of my co-workers to the Empanada's Place based on reading reviews right here on this website. Everyone had great things to say so I thought I would give it a shot along with some of my adventurous friends. I was a little bit concerned because we arrived at noon on a Friday and there was no one else in the restaurant. Mind you, this place only seats about 20 people inside but still made me a little nervous. We were greeted by one of my most friendly people I've experienced in a retail food location. Very pleasant, informative and extremely customer service oriented. The 6 of us ordered 14 Empanadas and drinks and our bill was around 50 bucks. Not bad at all. The food was delicious. I would highly recommend the potato and cheese, spicy beef and spinach Empanadas. Flaky outside, delicious inside for each one I tried. The Empanadas were served with 2 types of spices (I can't recall the name).. but one was a spicy / tangy orange sauce that I couldn't get enough of. I eat like a horse so I downed 4 myself. A little too much. I should have gone with three, but hey, I need to feed the gas tank of the love machine. We were in and out within 35 minutes. Not bad for a larger party full of questions. Definitely recommend it.

    (4)

  • Kayleen G.

    Empanada's, Yum! This place is small, but cute, I think it may be family owned. Service was great, really nice and helpful. I wasnt sure what my 20 month old would like so I got a spinach and a potato and my husband got a Spicy Chessy Beef, Criolla, and a Chicken. The potato was ok, my son wasn't a fan but the spinach was sooo good. I should have just got two spianch, i ate half and my son ate the other. My husband liked all of his but the Chessy Spicy Beef was the best, I had a bite too and it was really good. They dont look that big but they are a pretty good size, I would have been fine with one and my husband with just two, their really filling. Overall great place , we for sure will be back.

    (4)

  • Kevin G.

    Just tried the place today. Really enjoyed the food, empanadas what else. The empanadas are large and excellent. Lots of different choices for vegetarian as well as transitional. The place is small but comfortable and the staff is great. Just what I love. I highly recommend it.

    (4)

  • Lan C.

    I thought the empanadas were just okay, I've had better at other places. The spicy beef was the best one, the cheese, chicken, and beef was ok, nothing spectacular. Friendly staff!

    (3)

  • gloria a.

    I have been craving a GREAT Empanadas and boy did I find some!! I had both the POTATO and the CHEESY SPICY BEEF...both varieties were amazingly full of flavor....prices are decent, though they do no accept credit cards..... just have a some cash and get ready to really enjoy a tiny piece of Argentine heaven!!

    (5)

  • Alice K.

    The best way to describe empanadas to people who have no idea what they are would be... huge pot pie dumplings!! I ordered the Criolla (ground beef, raisins, green onions, eggs and spices) and the Spicy Chicken (chicken, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes and spices) Empanadas. Being the carnivore that I am, I did not even bother to look at the vegetable empanadas but they have a really good selection of empanadas that I would like to try: spinach, broccoli, ricotta, cheese & onions.. yummm. I will definitely make another trip to Empanada's Place. The workers there dress up as if they're about to tango any minute. They are really nice and service is fast. Plenty of parking, good location.

    (3)

  • Anisa T.

    So... my mom was craving some empanadas and my friend told me about this place. It was very cute inside like a small coffee shop and the people are very friendly and helpful. there was so many options I got 12 for $40 two of different kinds they are big empanadas this spanich and spicy beef are my favorite! the dough is so crispy and super good!

    (4)

  • Holly W.

    Treats come in all shapes and sizes and courtesy of "Empanada's Place," now they come to us in the form of empanadas! This cute little café reminds me of grandma's house - warm, inviting, and with cookies laid out on the counter. Entering the café, you're invited to pick up a batch of empanadas "to-go", or to have a seat at one of the doily-covered, round café tables which are tastefully adorned with red-pepper centerpieces. yelp.com/biz_photos/WE5F… yelp.com/biz_photos/WE5F… yelp.com/biz_photos/WE5F… Empanadas are essentially warm pastries filled with meats, vegetables, cheeses, and whatever delicious ingredient you can think of. These savory concoctions are incredibly tasty and all wrapped up in a warm, buttery and crispy outer shell. And Empanada's Place hand makes 18 different, delectable varieties of these treats. I've only had but 4 and I dare say I've been hooked! yelp.com/biz_photos/WE5F… The main event is cutting into one of these treats and devouring all the delicious fillings! The "Criolla" (the most typical Argentine Empanada) is filled with ground beef, raisins, green onions, hard boiled eggs and spices, and is just as sweet as it was savory AND hearty. The "Salteña" (hailing from Northern Argentina), or "spicy beef empanada" takes the spice slightly up a notch and adds hearty peas, carrots and potatoes. My absolute favorites were the "Papa con queso", a potato/cheese and spice mixture adding a dash of tomato, and, the "Humita", a corn/salsa mixture that is just perfect with the spicy tomato sauce on the side. Get one of these treats for $2.99 or splurge for $29.99 per dozen. yelp.com/biz_photos/WE5F… yelp.com/biz_photos/WE5F… yelp.com/biz_photos/WE5F… yelp.com/biz_photos/WE5F… Wash your empanadas down with a cold glass of Iced Mate Cocido, a green tea made with traditional Argentine Herbs. yelp.com/biz_photos/WE5F… Service is outstanding and both Carmen and Gemel made us feel right at home. They answered all of our questions and even invited us to try the handmade, cajeta filled cookies. Like the empanadas, they were an absolute treat! yelp.com/biz_photos/WE5F… yelp.com/biz_photos/WE5F… Overall, visit Empanada's Place and I guarantee you'll feel all warm and cozy, like...... a wrapped up empanada! They also do platters of "cocktail sized" empanadas for catering, a variety of sandwiches, and a curious sounding "Argentine Tamal" which I can't wait to sample on my next visit. Cash only and Closed Mondays

    (5)

  • Kathleen H.

    This place is A-Ok. My friend who is from Argentina says that she is not used to eating deep fried empanada's as most of the ones she's had in Argentina were actually baked. I was hoping this place had baked empanadas but soon discovered the wide variety of meat and vegetarian-friendly empanadas were ALL deep fried. Although the empanadas are NOT too oily, it would be nice to have baked ones instead. I like the Criolla w/ beef, raisins, eggs and spices as well as the other beef empanada w/ beef, egg, potatoes and olives. It was absolutely delicious. I liked it so much that I ordered another criolla (3 all for me). I also ordered a dozen for a party I was going, came back in an hour, and picked it up. This place is A-ok.

    (3)

  • Ryan K.

    Criolla, chessy spicy chicken, chicken, arabe, potato & cheese, spinach--this is the list of Empanadas me and my girlfriend consumed, not all at once we at quarters and took the rest home. It was really good, nice and cheap... Go to it and enjoy. Criolla was my favorite. Don't forget the cookies they are Yum-o-rama.

    (4)

  • Al P.

    Totally Yummy! Clean, friendly and delicious!!!!!

    (4)

  • Lona L.

    The food here is great. It's also a charming little place with very nice service. Frankly, I've always been disappointed with empanadas--my experience with empanadas (even at so-called good restaurants) has usually consisted of little, dry, hard hockey pucks of dough. Empanada's Place totally changed my perception on that note! My husband and I were thrilled when we got home and opened our box of goodies--light, non-greasy, tasty dough absolutely STUFFED with generous amounts of juicy filling (these are big empanadas, you only need 2 for a full meal). All the varieties we had were excellent--and each one was very distinct. Don't expect "super" spicy--the flavorings are delicate and well-blended. If you want spicy, we got a spicy chimichuri sauce from the hostess (who was very helpful) for free. She also gave us a more traditional citrus/herb chimichurri. Note--this place takes cash only--but definitely worth a stop at the ATM. I know we'll go back.

    (5)

  • Paul C.

    Maybe I'm not an empanada guy, but I found the food here pretty boring. Comfort food, sure. Interesting? Not really. If you're craving a quick and easy meal and you've hit your taco quota for the week, a couple of empanadas could easily fill the void. The empanadas are $3 a pop. The employees of the restaurant are very friendly ... you'll feel good about giving them your business. I'll be back someday to try a few of the other fillings, but not until I'm burned out on Mexican food again.

    (3)

  • Trina D.

    Thanks to Yelp for another great find! If you know me, then you know I love portable food. Especially the fried kind. I strolled in when they opened today after shopping and was starving. I ordered 2 cheesy spicy beef empanadas but they didn't have any available. #fail Then I ordered 2 spicy beef empanadas to go instead. I then perused the menu some more and saw that they had corn empanadas with cheese. Intrigued, I ordered an additional one to go as well. Within 10 minutes my order was ready and I was on my way. They packed it in a paper dish with foil on top and paper-bagged it. It was an excellent way to keep it warm. I then high-tailed it to my friend's place where we enjoyed the empanadas. They were still warm and crispy! They are definitely a good size and 2 will do you if you were starving like myself. The empanadas are $2.99 + tax. So I paid $9.75 total for 3. Make sure you have cash on you because they don't take credit cards.

    (4)

  • t s.

    Empanadas Empanadas, Empanadas Empanadas Empanadas, Empanadas Empanadas Empanadas, oh oh oh Empanadas!! (sung to the tune of Rock me Amadeus) I had debating whether or not to try this place since the prices seemed high and I was unsure of the portions. Well, as I was driving home one night, I decided to give this place a try and I've been kicking myself ever since for not trying it sooner. Here are the Empanadas I've tried so far: corn, potato, broccoli, spicy beef, criolla and tucamana. The corn empanada was a little disappointing but I recommend trying the rest. I'd also recommend the steak sandwich. It's pretty pricey at 10 bucks but this is one of the best steaks sandwiches I've had. The steak is sauteed in chimichurri sauce and served on toasted bread with mayo, lettuce and tomato. Sounds simple but its so good!

    (4)

  • Ariana D.

    Yum! I love empanadas of all kinds, and I was excited to try this place. I got two and sampled two other ones that a friend ordered. As best as I can remember, we got spicy chicken, corn, broccoli, and potato and cheese. A little salty and cheesy for my taste, but that's just a personal preference. The crust was light and just crispy enough. There are plenty of vegetarian options, but I'm not sure about vegan. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the dessert cookies. Make sure you have a beverage when you try those... The service was one of the best parts. They were extremely helpful and attentive, and the little tables are cute. Don't forget to bring cash!

    (5)

  • April H.

    So good, I went twice in one week. My favorites, cheesy spicy chicken and the eggplant, the dough is perfect! The empanadas are not small, to me the price is fair. They also make a really good house salad that's nothing to scoff at. I wish I had more days to try the othe flavors.

    (4)

  • Maria R.

    Wow, so I worked a few blocks from this place for five years and never ventured in. It wasn't until my co-workers @ my new job drove me to this place that I discovered the wonders of Empanada's Place!! My friend and I shared an empanada (I believe it was the 'criolla', which is a mixed one) and a milanesa steak sandwich. The empanada was perfectly cooked, the filling tasty, the crust flaky and delicious and the hot sauce that came with it was awesome. :D The milanesa sandwich was HUGE, so it's a good thing my friend and I shared! The BREAD was firm and warm and yummy and the milanesa was also great (what can I say - I'm a total bread-lover!) The only down side would be the size of the place... there's only a few places to sit and we were lucky to find a little table. My Argentinian co-workers also like it, so that's always a good sign, since this is Argentenian food. ^_^ Now eventhough the sandwiches over at El Gaucho in Anaheim are little more delicious for me, the empanadas here have more filling and are a little bigger, so this place it's definately worth a try!

    (4)

  • Ivy N.

    I ordered criolla, chicken, spicy chicken, arabe! The food is fresh and hot! I will definitely come back again. I've seen this place when I go to target and rite aid but it 's usually not that busy so that's why I haven't been here. After yelping this place, I decided to stop by and test it out for myself.

    (4)

  • D L.

    This place has a simple menu and simple food that is very tasty and easy on the wallet. My friend Justin and I popped in here to grab some empanadas (I hadn't had argentine empanadas in a while) and we asked the waitress (very pretty, I may add) what she recommended. She suggested the cheesy spicy beef for the meat empanadas and the corn or potato empanada on the veggie side. After chowing down on three each, I seriously wondered why I had waited so long to visit this place. Three perfectly fried, filled, and seasoned strikes and I was out. This place is really good for a quick snack and offers something outside the normal OC cuisine. A definite diamond in the rough, lost among the waves of Pho and Carne Asada fry joints in the OC (I still bow to your greatness). If you are looking for an alternative to these, this is a great place to go and enjoy some good food.

    (4)

  • Neil S.

    Good prices, Good food, Good service. It took about 10-15 mins for our food to come out, but that's good because I know its not all ready made sitting over a heat lamp in the back. Most of the veggie empanadas have a bit of cheese in them even though its not in the title of the dish. Def. try the eggplant. The cheese and onion is very cheesy. The potato one is similar to a samosa. I asked for some extra sauce on the side and it added a bit more flavor. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because there was nothing overly unqiue or made my pallet go, "HOLY CRAP!" But overall really good food.

    (4)

  • Ross V.

    Very unique place I must say. I must also say that the owner and the workers are extremely friendly with good positive energy. Nice and warm little mom and pops joint. Overall, the food is good and the 2 kinds of fresh baked cookies are my favorite! They do have a variety of different meat and vegetable empanadas. I have only tried 3 different vegetable ones and I must say that they are yummy. However, they are fried; And I limit myself to fried foods. The two kinds of cookies they have on the counter are fresh baked and DELICIOUS. You have got to try them. One is a Coniocito, and the other is a Al Fajores cookie. Both consist of a flour outside and dulce de leche inside. They are the best! Prices are moderate, but kind of on the expensive side for the cookies. I will be returning for sure!

    (4)

  • Desiree P.

    The empanadas are DELICIOSO!! The best I have ever had (sorry to family members). The Aribe was Husband and my favorite! The decor is cute and kitchy, nice to have a quiet lunch.

    (5)

  • Bob B.

    I wanted to add a quick (and very incomplete) introductory review to the aptly named EMPANADA'S PLACE (Argentine Food). There is another location in Culver City and I have deliberately avoided reading those Yelp reviews before posting this. The Costa Mesa location had a special two-day opening on October 4-5, 2008. As I write this on 10/4, we've just returned home. Our party went there fully intending to give the place a try. As it turned out, the place was open but they were not exactly "open for business". EMPANADA'S PLACE was serving free empanadas and sodas to get acquainted with all who came by for the Grand Opening Celebration. We made a nice lunch of the four empanada samples offered and tipped as though we'd ordered it all off the menu. This was a very cool way to start. A tip of that hat for a creative and generous way to establish a presence! We sampled the ground beef, chicken, spicy chicken and spinach empanadas. These were the four available choices culled from a regular-menu offering of eighteen! Also on offer from the regular menu are a Grilled Steak Sandwich, Milanesa (breaded) Steak Sandwich and a Grilled Chicken Sandwich ... all look promising for the future. Other menu items include french fries, an Argentine Tamal and a few sides ... a mixed green salad, Chimichurri Sauce, a condiment mixture of garlic/parsley/oil/vinegar/spices. The dessert menu includes a sole item: homemade flan topped with caramel. The empanadas we had were cooked superbly. The bane of not-first-class empanadas is a lack of crispiness and a doughy-in-the-middle effect. These, one after the other, were perfect! The fillings were generous and fresh-tasting. All single empanadas are 2.99 each. The sandwich price range is 8.99 to 10.99. Empanadas can also be ordered by the dozen for catering or parties. The full-size empanadas are 29.99 per dozen, smaller-sized cocktail empanadas go for 19.99 per dozen. This is, admittedly, a tentative review based on an atypical experience with limited items. (And free, no less) But if this is any measure of the quality and flavor we can expect, I'll update this review soon. It's our intention to get back as soon as we can. Open Tuesday-Saturday: 11:00 am to 8:00 pm Sunday: 11:00 am to 7:00 pm Closed Monday

    (5)

  • KaThy T.

    I tried the Arabe meat epanada. It was too sour from the lemon, but it was good overall. It reminded me of the Vietneamese pate sol (I forgot how you spell it). I still like the pate sol better and it's way cheaper like less than $1 for 1-2. I just discovered this place because my boss bought some for the coworkers. Because it's Argentinian food, I am down to try other things on the menu.

    (4)

  • Just Us ..

    Definitely a takeout kinda place as there are maybe 6 tables if that much. $$Cash only$$ I'd give the place a 3.5-4. The cashier was very very friendly. I ordered the dozen and got a few of each. A friend of mine suggested this place because they goto the original place out in LA somewhere. I'd say the stuffing for each was pretty ok, maybe a little bit more flavoring (not spicing as that was fine) would have made it a 4-5 star ^_^ The sauce (I believe that reddish dip sauce is the chimichurri?) was ok and made it taste better. Definitely better than the Mexican style empanadas. A good place to try.

    (3)

  • Danielle L.

    LOVE this place. The lady at the counter is so sweet and friendly. Delicious empanadas. I also love the little cookie thing they give at the end of the meal.

    (4)

  • Bonnie S.

    oh lala.. an addiction of the perfectly flaky, the right crispy texture but not too much, buttery crust with a oh so yummy savory filling with pieces of beef, soft veggies and cheese that simply leaves strings of cheesy happiness from the filling and to your mouth. that is how cheesy it is. what am i talking about? CHEESY SPICY BEEF EMPANADA. You will not be disappointed. try it and pass along the word. you can tell these pockets of delicious goodness are handmade, fresh to order and made with care. yeah.. $2.99 .. not bad to just try. i have to confess.. i came here twice within 4 days... and i am thinking about visiting this place again because it is OHhhhh soo good! Especially the cheesy spicy beef empanada. cheers!!!!

    (5)

  • H A.

    I've always wanted to go to this place back when I used to live in costa mesa. But for some reason I never had the chance. Until now, and all I can say is that it was worth the wait!! Their spicy beef and cheese empanadas and the potato and cheese empanadas are amazing!!! It is great for lunch or dinner. It is small and quaint and perfect for a romantic meal with your loved one. If you prefer, you can also do take out. But this place is located in a small and quiet shopping center. I love the relaxed feeling that I got and definitely enjoyed it with my loved one. I recommend it 100 % and I will be back soon!!!

    (5)

  • Tiffany F.

    Went with a few friends for the first time a couple of weeks ago and it was a great experience! We got the Criolla and Spicy Beef, which was very yummy! Will definitely be back soon!

    (4)

  • Hiep V.

    The Cheese and Onions and Tucamana empandas are like crack. If crack was deep fried deliciousness. The chicken one is deliciousness as well. Loses one star as it is a cash only establishment. Who uses cash these days anyways.

    (4)

  • Hester C.

    Empanada's Place is a fun little place to pop into for good-tasting empanadas if you're in the area. Their menu is neat in that one side is meat empanadas and the other is vegetable empanadas. If you have a friend who is vegetarian, they can just go directly to that one side and not have to sift through a bunch of meat empanadas to get to their veggie-filled ones. These are the ones I've had: Criolla- Ground beef, raisins, green onions, eggs, and assorted spices. I love the raisins in it because it gives a slight sweetness and they're nice and plump! Tucumana- chopped beef with hard-boiled eggs and spices from the Tucuman province. Whatever those spices are, I love them! Arabe- ground beef, tomatoes, and onions seasoned with fresh lemon juice and spices. This is one of my favorites because I like the tang from the lemon. Corn- sweet cut corn with melted mozzarella cheese and white sauce... YUMMY. All the empanadas come out piping hot although they are not made on the premises. Each day, they are brought over from their location in LA off Sawtelle. That's why when they run out, THEY RUN OUT. My only problem is that their spicy stuff is NOT spicy whatsoever. My friends have said the same thing. It's a good place to stop in for lunch or a late breakfast or something. I've never been here at night so I can't speak for the dinner atmosphere. It's also great that it's near OCC so you can come grab a quick bite between classes... if you're okay with giving up your parking spot, lol. The price is pretty decent for what you're getting. Oh, I don't recommend getting the grilled chicken sandwich. Its chimichurri sauce is extremely bland... and there's garlic in it! Plus, the chicken is pretty tasteless, too, and the sandwich is so big and the french roll is hard that it makes it kind of hard to eat. OH, and they don't accept credit cards so... have the cash ready! Also, try the little dessert cookies they have... absolutely AMAZING! Ya gotta love that Argentinian caramel :-) Ohhh, drool.... And last but not least, the service is impeccable. They are extremely friendly and nice and will help you out on your empanada journey!

    (4)

  • P M.

    I was totally stoke that I heard of this place. I love empanadas! This place was gooood. I would go back. They dont take credit card only cash

    (5)

  • Joseph R.

    I LOVE empanadas. I went here and ordered 2, at about $3 each. The price is ever so slightly steep (I have since been to Argentina and over there they're more like $1-$1.50 each, but I suppose I was spoiled), but they are more filling than they look. I had one with chicken (and peas and...potato I think?), and one with "criolla" which is a mix of beef and other delicious vegetables. The chicken one was good, but the criolla one was fantastic. They were fried-to-order and I burned my tongue a little (my fault). I would give 4 stars because I don't feel like paying $3 for an empanada, but the cashier (I'm guessing she's also the owner? she was a middle-aged lady) was really kind. She even gave me a mini-alfajor for free to try when I asked what it was (they're normally $.75 each). I love community-owned businesses and their personable owners.

    (5)

  • Tammy V.

    This place is such a great find and is right next to UCI. The prices are low for the amount of food you get (2.99 per empanada). The empanada's are huge. For me, 2 empanadas made me just a little more than full (they're a little bigger than the size of a Taco Bell Crunchy taco, and far more fulfilling). I had the Criolla and Potato & Cheese. Both really good. My buddy had the Spicy Beef & Cheese, Spinach & Cheese, and the Spicy Chicken. While all were really great, I found the best one out of those to be the Spicy Chicken. The chicken was perfectly seasoned and moist, accompanied with delicious bellpeppers and other vegetables. I recommend all! Our bill came out to be 18.07 for 5 empanadas and a Soda (1.75). With tip, 20.07. So much food for so little. My buddy said it was much like the way they do them in Argentina, even the music was typical of Argentinian touristy places.

    (5)

  • Frederick C.

    I'm a guy, so I don't really get full after eating 2 empanadas, but they are damn good. I always pick up a box of their alfajores too. One of a kind around Costa Mesa, couldn't find empanadas anywhere else.

    (5)

  • Munch I.

    The ham and cheese! Wow! It was better than it is when it is in a croissant! We got about a dozen empanadas and they were all so delicious! The traditional one they had was perfect with the meat and raisins! It was my first time trying this place and. Will deffinately come back!

    (4)

  • Shant D.

    I drive by the place all the time.. and finally I stopped in to take some food home. The people were really nice.. the 3 empanadas I got were all good and as far as value goes... its fantastic. I go back all the time!

    (5)

  • Adam K.

    Get the arabe- my favorite!

    (4)

  • Heather B.

    So good! Get a variety so you can try different flavors and share. They are closed Monday's (and somehow I always seem to crave these on a Monday). The potato and beef one is good and the spinach & ricotta is great!

    (5)

  • Steve D.

    Lovin' the Empanadas! Good empanadas are a little hard to find but not at this little family gem. Lots of delicious choices and you cam call in orders to pick up if you need a few dozen for a party or other occasion. Small family place with very friendly service - cash only. Good Stuff!

    (4)

  • John S.

    Thank you for your existence Empanadas Place! I've been looking all over for great tasting empanadas. I had the chance to try the spicy beef, chicken, and potato empanadas and they were all fantastic! They came out piping hot and oh so good! I will be back for more!

    (5)

  • Marc D.

    Monster chicken sandwich with a massive helping of fries? excellent. The chimichurri was wonderful too. Definitely gets credit for having personality and being hospitable also. I consider this a winner, go now.

    (4)

  • Bonnie L.

    Oh god, I could probably eat about 7 of these in a sitting. For reals. They are unbelievable!!! I had never had empanadas before Sunday, and only came because we had seen their big Grand Opening sign. But oh my god!! These are freaking delicious... they're basically meat pastries!! It's really difficult to describe the texture of the unfathomably delicate crust... it's like this flaky yet crispy yet doughy yet thin yet thick breading, filled with any sort of meat + veggie + cheese mixture you would ever want. Meat and cheese, spinach and cheese, cheese and chicken, chicken and veggies, veggies and cheese, veggies and meat and cheese, veggies and meat and spicy cheese, spicy cheese and meat and chicken... oh god, I just want to fill my mouth with these right now!! We ordered 2 each, at the girl's suggestion, but after we had scarfed them down in pure ecstacy, we had to order 2 more. I agree with Brian G. that you may as well go for the dozen and split it with another person... if you are any sort of respectable eater, you can definitely eat at least 4-5 of these and have one extra for later! A dozen is $29.99 and one by itself is $2.99, so I guess you're really not saving very much, but if given the option why WOULDN'T you go for MORE EMPANADAS??

    (5)

  • Myra C.

    Not bad, not bad at all. The service is wonderful- the Owner (?) rang us up and gave us 2 free cookies with our meal. Try the house salad along with your empanada. It was fresh and delicious with berries, nuts and spring mix greens. It went well with the empanadas. I had the chicken, corn and the potato cheese. I didnt care for the potato cheese, it was packed with cilantro. Then again I'm not a fan of cilantro so if you like cilantro it would be a good choice. We will definitely return. The service was so friendly. It's clean and delicious!

    (4)

  • Bob S.

    I read the yelp review and tried E.P. on the way to a football game. Excellent decision. Our server helped us with a "first time" selection and it was quite tasty. We even got to try their carmel cookies post meal. The service was great and the food did not disappoint.

    (5)

  • jody k.

    My first empanadas. Freshly made upon order, so a bit of wait time. I tried spicy chicken and cheese & spinach empanadas. Both were really good. I could tell they aren't so friendly for my waistline. Oh well...A small price to pay for awesome food. I can't wait to try the other ones.

    (4)

  • Joy F.

    My BFF/Roommate organized a small "1 year anniversary of my 25th birthday" celebration at this cute place. The day we went was their official grand opening. Everything on the menu was appealing. As a result, my BFF/Roommate and I ordered and shared the following items: Entrana Sandwich, Eggplant, Ricotta, Broccoli, and Spicy Cheese and Beef Empanda. I really wanted the Spinach Empanada, but was disappointed that they had already run out! It definitely gives me a reason to go back! However, from what we ordered, my favorite was the Eggplant. Please note that this place is small, so space is limited. Their round tables can seat up to 3 comfortably. UPDATE: Prior to a trip to USC to watch a friend perform in a play, I wanted to introduce the place to my fiance. I was very happy that they had the Spinach Empanada, as a result I ordered two! Let's just say, I wish I ordered four. It's definitely my favorite so far!

    (5)

  • Jenny B.

    3.5 stars. they were fried, not baked. tasty, but just ok. alfajores were delish!

    (3)

  • Kendra W.

    I normally support those local ma and pa's type of restaurant. There food is normally authentic, customer service is up the roof, and the food is something you would continue to talk about. As a new customer the waitress really made me feel unwelcome. She wasn't helpful on ordering, and in a way i just felt like walking out and going to that pho restaurant next door. We ordered four different empanadas. They were pretty plain and i felt like you needed to drench it in sour cream cause they tasted so dry. I don't recommend it and will probably venture out for more of a dining experience.

    (2)

  • Charlie B.

    Good selection and great for take out. Two if you are hungry and three or more if you are starving. Tried spicy beef(good but not too spicy), ceriolla(really good), ham/cheese(decent, lots of onions), beef(good), spinach(good), ricotta(really good).

    (4)

  • Gudia A.

    This is a great place..i imagined it to be much bigger than how it actually is.. tried it finally today.. i live few blocks from it but never had been inside before.. the empanadas are fried, and crunchy, i tried the spicy chicken, spinach and corn.. must say spicy chicken was my number one and second favorite was the corn.... they were fantastic... i do wish they had some combos to go with them... just because they are fried, they dry your throat out, so you constantly want to drink water... the lady at the register was super nice.. provided us with two free dulce de leche two types of cookies...that they had at the register... OMG. gotta just say that... that just topped the meal.. so nice of them... the entire experience was great... each empanada was 2.99.

    (5)

  • David M.

    Can't get enough! Delicious empanadas and a welcoming atmosphere. Have gone many times and when I have taken friends and family they have become instant fans as well.

    (5)

  • Amory G.

    Really! You too? CASH ONLY...and no receipts. The least you should expect from a place like this is good food. I left this place totally embarrassed for the nice lady who either works there or owns the place. The best place about this cutesy little mom and pop is the location. It's surrounded by lots of fast food places you can eat at after you leave. The empanadas are okay. The breading part if it was great, but the fillings were tasteless, and sparse. For a place calling itself Empanada's it really should have decent food. But they did get my money...

    (1)

  • Melissa L.

    All of the same stuff from my original review is still true, but I just had to update because OMG...ham & cheese and corn are freaking awesome...these are my new faves from Empanada's Place.

    (4)

  • Angela P.

    Yelp really needs half-star ratings! I give this place 3.5 stars. Cash only. Ordered the arabe empanada (lemon herb ground beef) and potato and cheese empanada ($2.99 each). They were both really tasty with a nice crust and it definitely makes me want to try the other ones. Hubby ordered the grilled steak sandwich ($9.99) which is huge. Served on french bread and decent fries on the side. It was a bit salty but good flavor. Overall, nothing outrageously special about this place but since it's near my work, I could potentially grab some empanadas for lunch.

    (3)

  • Jeff C.

    It was just kind of ok. I needed a quick lunch, and stopped in based on yelp. I tried the pizza, the cheesy meat, and the one with lemon. Nothing spectacular, but decent. Apparently they run out of certain flavors at times, so if you go there looking fort one in particular, you might be disappointed.

    (3)

  • heather l.

    i randomly found this place on yelp...either under hot on yelp or best of yelp.....i also thing a random stranger mentioned this place to me when waiting in line for food somewhere else..wouldn't be surprised if it was a food truck i put it on my "to eat" list after reading through a lot of the reviews (which totally legitimized the 4 star overall rating)....i LOVE empanadas btw.....nice flaky chewy crust on the outside and meat (& cheese) on the inside w/ a thick sauce or gravy?!?!? YUUMMMMMM we tried this place last night...very small and intimate restaurant....i love it when people of the same ethnicity as the restaurant's cuisine, work there...there was one fairly young gentleman (mid 20s to 30s) working the whole place. a really nice and friendly guy...he suggested for us to get 2 empanadas each b/c that's what fills him up....(i wasn't full after 2 empanadas...it made the hunger go away...but i think we both needed at least 1 more each) his suggestions: most popular is criolla, he likes cheesy spicy beef and spinach we got: argentinian green tea - i don't remember what it tastes like b/c i only had 1 sip.....it had it's own distinct taste though..different than other green teas....we drank it unsweetened....worth a try! criolla (typical argentine and most popular one) - i couldn't really taste the raisins...which i guess is good...and i like the texture of the egg in it...i don't know...feel like it lacked any strong intense flavor which i was hoping for cheesy spicy chicken - my guy's fav....this was made w/ shredded chicken..i'm not really fan of shredded chicken or onions or bell peppers..bleh....but he loved it....perfect blend and mix of all the ingredients cheesy spicy beef - mmm....i think this one was my fav...great flavors...loved the filling...nice and savory...just the way i like it spinach - very creamy and cheesy...kind of reminded me of a savory warm spinach dip.....this one tasted great but i'm a meat eater =) all the empanadas are hand made each morning and prefilled, the specific dough they use doesn't allow them to bake the empandas...they're fried in vegetable oil.....the dough is nice and chewy and a little bit tougher than some other empanadas i've had... they gave us a cookie w/ carmel sandwiched inbetween & roll w/ carmel inside coated w/ powder sugar for a nice little dessert treat....the carmel isn't too sweet which is why i don't really like it....it's very thick, sticky, and chewy.....the cookie was a nice texture though....i thought it was very sweet of them to let us try their desserts =) my guy's comment when he saw i was yelping empanada's place right now...."pictures don't do it justice...those pictures suck"....so insightful....thanks for the input sweetie...haha i didn't get the OMIGOD YUMMMMMMMMMMMM reaction when i ate here....it was good..i would definitely love to get some more and try the rest of the flavors.....but i'm not about to call everyone and their mom to tell them to try this place....good....but not FAN-F-ING-TASTIC....which is what i was hoping for since i'm in love w/ empanadas

    (4)

  • Bryan W.

    The place was great: Great empanadas, Incredible sandwiches, and Great service! With your sandwich you get a choice of sweet potato or regular french fries, Go for the sweet potato! If you are feeling like desert the dulce de leche pastries are very tasty. Not the place to go if you are looking for a light meal, but you will love the delicious food.

    (4)

  • Jennifer N.

    The Criolla empanada is the best. The girl working was really nice & helpful. She even gave us free samples of the cookies. I'll be back!

    (4)

  • Suzn L.

    My favorite is definitly criolla...con Queso even better. It's located close to Ikea and Murakai...whenever you're shopping, on the way to the beach, or craving Argentinian empenada come here. Not fancy, no wait, and worth the visit.

    (4)

  • Yralla L.

    We have tried a variety of empanadas here. They were all okay and forgettable. Some were tastier than others. For $3 per empanada, we think it is on the steep side especially b/c the empanada lacks filling. The best value is to buy a dozen for $29.99. We have not returned since our 1st visit.

    (3)

  • Omar M.

    Cute mom and daughter run empanada only cafe. Try the Arabe empanada

    (5)

  • Mike D.

    First and foremost, I added one picture that emphasized on the size of the empanada being that the other pictures I saw are all deceiving and make it look huge. I was driving around the area of Orange Coast College during my 90 minute break in between classes searching for a place to eat. I saw Empanada's Place and remembered that I have been wanting to try this place out for a while now. I walked inside to just take a look at the menu. The menu was very simple; several empanada's with meat and several without meat. Each of the empanada's with meat costs $2.99 per, so I looked at the tables where someone was having an empanada just to see how big it was. I ordered two empanda's; the spicy chicken, and the cheesy spicy chicken. Both items were clearly fresh because they were piping hot. The items may look like there are a lot of food stuffed inside of it but may I assure you that there surely isn't. The amount of stuffing in it is probably the amount that would only take up half the size of your palm, which greatly disappointed me even though I walked into this place having no expectations whatsoever. I give this place two dollar signs simply because of the quantity and quality of the food that you get for the amount that it costs is not proportionate.

    (3)

  • Grace C.

    The empanadas are not good at all. They are NOT authentic Argentine emapanadas and it is expensive.

    (1)

  • angela o.

    This restaurant has been an LA staple for years! The empanadas are authentic and made fresh. The variety of flavors is long and so fantastic! It's hard to recommend which one to try because it's all about what meats and/or veggies appeal to each person. You really can't go wrong. The sandwiches and little shortbread sandwich cookies are quite good too! Enjoy OC - consider yourself blessed!

    (5)

  • V C.

    if this is related to the culver city/venice location, you can't go wrong. very friendly family O&O. empanadas are always fresh and satisfying.

    (3)

  • katherine I.

    I can't believe a place that has cheese in most of there empanadas refuses (very rudely) to make me a simple cheese empanada!! which leads me to believe there empanada are premade made and probably frozen.YUK!!! Never have i had such shitty sevice and empanadas! And i have lived in buenos aires.

    (1)

  • Danny C.

    cree-oh-la, cree-oh-zha, whatever your name, you are yummers. the servers here are EXTREMELY freindly and cordial. ate outside for lunch on a sunny day and it was a great change of pace from your everyday food places. the cheesy spicy chicken was good but the criolla is numba 1!! they gave us complimentary desserts. one was a mini hamburger looking thing and the other looked like a hot dog in a croissant. both were a good way to finish off the meal. if you're looking to try an empanada place, try empanada's place!

    (4)

  • Alicia B.

    Cash only! Had the beef Empanada and tasted the grilled chicken sandwich. The Empanada was a good size and pretty darn good. The grilled chicken sandwich came with fries and was tasty. Could have been a little less dry, but all in all, everything had great flavor. I'll have to go back to try more of the Empanada options.

    (4)

  • Julie L.

    Sweet ladies work here! They have delicious and hot empanadas. I got the criolla.

    (5)

  • Retired B.

    The empanadas are now $3, not $2. I tried the most popular empanada (criolla) and it was decent. Since the crust is pretty thick, it picks up the deep fried oil pretty heavily so I don't recommend eating the whole thing. FYI- Empanadas are only $1 at porto's bakery.

    (3)

  • Eugine Y.

    I fantasize about chimichurri. Allow me to elaborate before you porn enthusiasts let your imaginations go buck wild. I envision lathering it all over myself a la Drakkar Noir in hopes of attracting a Monica Bellucci type to share the same ambitions as I. Innocent enough, right? But at $3 for a smidgen of chimichurri. It's unlikely to happen. Thanks for cock blocking, Empanada's Place. Paying for chimichurri at an Argentinian dig is like paying for ketchup at McDonald's, think. It's not like your chimichurri is all that great either. Get real. El Gaucho has way better chimichurri and it's free. As in no extra charge and you can drench your food in it all you want, which would inevitably help Dr. Phil get laid. But you made out with my $3 like bandit. Enjoy them. Also, a shot full of chimichurri isn't 3 oz. Unless, you use the metric system, and even then, you're wrong. Your Empanadas are good though. There's no quarrel about that. The criolla is like eating a South American Shepard's pie in a golden fried crust pocket. The steak sandwich was good, but had I had more chimichurri, it would have been great. I'm not bitter at all. The spicy beef empanada isn't....at all. If the Argentinians think it's spicy, they're sissies and need to learn a thing or two from Diego Maradona. That man really knows his cocaine. The bathroom is clean and inviting and it looks like my abuelitas (had I ever met her). I will return one day and drop a deuce-deuce in there. Thug Nasty...signing off.

    (3)

  • Albert P.

    Yo quiero Empanada! I've been meaning to come here for quite some time now and finally had the chance to stop by for some lunch. I think the place was too hyped up for me. The empanadas here are pretty good... It wasn't anything that blew my mind... but it was tasty. The restaurant pretty small and by small I mean they only had 7 little tables inside. I don't know how busy this place gets but they only had 1 person in the front the entire time I was there. I had the spinach / chicken and cheese / spicy beef and cheese / ricotta cheese empanadas. All 4 were pretty good... my favorite would be the chicken and cheese / spicy beef and cheese. I guess I love cheesy meat oozing out of every bite. I have never been to another empanada restaurant so I really have nothing to compare this to. Everything was good but it wasn't amazing... I feel like I could have fried my own empanada at home. I definitely want to come back and try everything, so stay tuned for more updates.

    (3)

  • Bianca D.

    Stopped by here again after the fair to try a couple more different empanadas. Chicken, Cheesy Spicy Beef, and Arabe. Chicken was good like last time. Arabe was alright, a little too watery/juicy and had way too much of that pico de gallo taste for me to really enjoy it. The cheesy beef was really good though and I liked the Italian touch they put in it by using mozzarella cheese. Out of the three, the cheesy beef was my favorite but I think I still like the spicy beef out of all the kinds of empanadas that I've tried at this place.

    (4)

  • Monica R.

    OH EM GEE! There is an Empanada's Place in OC??? How could I not know about this? The owner is indeed the same one in West LA and the empanadas are just as good and piping-hot fresh. Get the classic criolla and the spinach, which is my personal favorite. Don't forget to add the spicy magic sauce they have! Try the desserts... if you have any room left. This location is not as homely as the other one but it is not as crammed.

    (4)

  • Jill T.

    Just came here for lunch and it was a great meal. It's located in the plaza where you see Rite Aid and next door to Just Tires, across the restaurant is a small floral shop. Can't miss it. It took awhile to get our orders because the waitress aka cashier aka everything was doing her best. So have patiences if you only see her working. I got the criolla and corn empanada. Both were so yummy, I loved the crust. My friend got the spinach and broccoli. She said the spinach was better. My other friend got the milanese (beef breaded) sandwich which is a big sandwich with fries. She said it was really good. The beef was protruding on all ends of the bread, which is a plus. That didn't sound right but it looked yummy! We also got the sweet potatoe fries, soft and hot, very yummy. I tried the desserts that were on the counter. I liked the one that's rolled up. The macaroon looking one was ok but I bought the other one. Both had caramel fillings. If I heard correctly, if you buy 10 empanadas than you get 2 free. I would definitely come back.

    (4)

  • LLF-LongLiveFood L.

    This place has some ok tasting empanadas. The only thing that really pissed me off was the empanadas were $3 each. Three freaking dollars! I wanted to try all the different flavors and types, but I didn't want to break the bank. However, I still spent almost 20-30 bucks just to try 7-8 different empanadas! After trying out each empanada, I prefer the cheesy meaty ones, but everything else was average. I can't bring myself to come back here and pay so much for their empanadas. Never again! Never never never unless I have my friends take me here and let me order anything and everything I want. Still, this place is too overpriced for the portions and the product they offer. To sum up, this place if very forgettable because I rather spend my money on trying something tastier and more reasonably priced. So please come here if you want to pay $3 plus for empanadas that should be really $1 or $1.50 max.

    (3)

  • Sam R.

    CASH ONLY CASH ONLY You can never go wrong with Empanadas, you just can't! Or at least I haven't! solamente dinero!! Priced at $2.99 is fair considering the size of these treats. no acceptan tarjetas de credito o debito!! My fave at Empanadas Place is the Fugazetta, which is ham and cheese. Doesnt it sound delicious when you say Fugazetta!! After eating this one the others had absolutely no chance!! cash only!!! For the record the other two i had were the chicken and spicy chicken. I was not to impressed by the chicken. The spicy chicken had more flavor then the plain chicken so i would try that one first! Once again cash only!!

    (4)

  • Kayla H.

    One of my Yelp amigas suggested this place. Compared with the place in my last review, this place is heaven. By the "heaven" I mean fresh prepared and really clean. Ensalada there gets my vote. Garden fresh. I wish I had a garden. They do a great thing with potatoes and spicy beef. I have not found good examples of this in my brief survey of restaurants. The place is pretty cheap too, So if barato is your thing, you should see this place.

    (4)

  • MONIQUE H.

    I had been eying Empanada's Place for about a week or two as I whizzed past on Harbor to my many alternate lunchtime locations. I was just never comfortable thinking about spending my precious lunchtime eating an empanada. Given, I love empanada's but to me they are a grab and go sort of food, not the sit for 30-45 minutes, chatting with your lunchmate and savoring your food sort of meal. So on Saturday I found myself on Harbor again running errands and thought that this would be the perfect time to stop in. They had quite a wide selection of empanadas that it became hard to choose one, but I eneded up going with the Criolla - ground beef, raisins, green onions, eggs, and assorted spices - since it was the most Typical Argentine Empanada. It took a while to get the empanada and as I waited they offered me a taste of some pretty tasty cookies they had on display.I didn't get the name but they seemed like a soft and light shortbread with a caramel center. They were very tasty and not too sweet but were kinda steeply priced for a dozen cookies. When I finally got the empanada it was everything I expected. Nice and golden brown outside with a crispy crunch. The inside was piping hot and super flavorful. I figured I would like the filling given my affinity for Picadillo which is very similar and it did not disappoint. I cannot wait to go back an try some of the other flavors especially on the vegetable side. I would even recommend getting the dozen pack for a party as I am sure they would be a big hit. It also passed the mobility test, aka eating while driving. So if you are in the area and just can't stomach another burger or taco to go, stop by Empanada's place for the other on the go food option. I am sure they are also good eaten while still Check out my blog for more pics: emoeating.wordpress.com/…

    (5)

  • Alex C.

    Very simple food is great cash only. This is a true family restaurant. Just ask!

    (4)

  • Kate T.

    Picked up a dozen empanadas for a pool party we were having, they were a huge hit. I got a variety but the spicy beef & spinach were my favorite. Definitely going to be getting these often for parties. My 100 pound, 16 year old sister ate probably 4 all by herself and has been begging me to get her more ever since haha. Can't wait to go back and try their sandwiches.

    (4)

  • Vu B.

    They are actually open from 11a-6p on Sundays. This tiny hole in the wall has some of the best empanadas I have ever had. The hostess (not sure if she was the owner, but there was no one else working there) was super friendly and since I didn't know what to order, she made several suggestions that were great. I even tried and Inka Cola. Kind of like a Red Bull tasting soda.

    (5)

  • Huana P.

    Empanada's Place is this little Argentinian restaurant on Harbor near a Pho shop, tatoo parlor and flower shop. How random. But random places seem to be the best. This place rocks!! 5 stars for the food, but I took off 1 star because it can get pricey at $2.99/empanada! I love supporting Mom and Pop shops, and this place really meets the mark. Their menu is cute. Yes---there are actual pictures of each empanada in different shapes and sizes and a description of each emapanada. The menu is almost kid-like. You point to the empanada and you can recognize the filling by the shape of the empanada. The lady recommended these to me: Criolla---the most typical Argentinian one. Ground beef, raisins, eggs, green onions and spices. It was pretty good. I don't normally like raisins, but they tasted pretty good in the empanada! Spicy Chicken Arabe---almost like biting into a grape leaf. This tastes very Mediteranean. Ground beef, lemon juice, tomatoes and onions. Potato and Cheese: Wowzers! Talk about comfort food! This was really delicious! Each empanada is pretty large. I think 3 would equal a meal. Maybe 5 if you're a guy and you can eat a lot. It's relatively pricey so I had to ding one star off of it. Service is very good though. The owners seem very nice and friendly. While waiting, you can stare at the Mate Tea cart on the side. Overall, 4 stars for Empanada's place! Hooray for empanadas this good!!

    (4)

  • Anhers M.

    So after reading reviews, we decided to check this place out. FYI no one should be able to eat 4 of them. They are huge and I could barely finish one but they were really good and embarassing at the same time receiving a dozen for 4 people. After taking a bite of 12 different types of empanadas, we prefer vegetable ones. If you like french onion soup, you're going to love MY FAVORITE: the onion empanada.

    (4)

  • Nancy G.

    DE-FREAKIN-LICIOUS! I'm a little bit obsessed with the Cheese and Onion empanada. And the spicy beef and cheese empanada. They're so delicious and fresh, with just enough filling to fill you up, but not so much that you can't control the thing. They served us our empanadas on plates with forks and knives, but after trying to be civil for about 1.5 bites, I just picked up the thing with my hands and chowed on it like a ravenous beast. There was cheese shooting out, oil dripping, meat on my face...it was kind of like one of the scenes from Animal Planet where the lion eats a gazelle. But more delicious. It's one of those places I'd try not to go to very often only because it's a deep fried pocket of cheese, but it's hard to resist! I recommend getting two, which should be enough food for a meal. I got two and my bf got three and we were both full but not super stuffed. Pros: Cheap, SO GOOD, friendly, helpful, quick Cons: It feels like an indulgence so I can't go too often.

    (5)

  • Mariana M.

    Delicious empanadas. I wish they had baked empanadas (did not noticed on the menu) and would accept cash. Parece um pastel frito brasileiro.

    (4)

  • Jess D.

    First try here. Tried 4 different types, they were all pretty good.

    (3)

  • Vicky N.

    Spicy beef and Criolla was good. The lady was nice and gave me some caramel treat. I'm going to come back here and try other varieties, you could bet on that! I came back and tried the Ricotta and Pepperoni, both were delish!

    (4)

  • Kelly R.

    I came here for lunch with two other friends. I am ok with it being cash only but I am not ok with their refusal to provide me with a receipt. Makes me feel they are deceitful and cheating the public. I found the staff to be very unfriendly and the place poorly kept. The service was not very friendly either. We ordered a dozen empanadas. We picked spicy beef, regular beef, lemon beef, spicy chicken, and regular chicken. The chicken was not very flavorful; all three of us thought it was a really bad choice. Unfortunately, the spicy and regular beef tasted the same. There was not spice. The empanadas were very greasy and not filled with quality meat. They did not taste freshly made either. I also ordered a cappuccino...big mistake. Tasted like dish water. I love empanadas and have eaten them all over the world...this was by far the worst yet based on taste and healthiness.

    (1)

  • Windell S.

    Food was great. Only complaint is when you are charged extra for chimichurri sauce I want what I pay for. Charged for 4 oz but comes in a 3.25 oz container. No you can't get 4 oz of liquid in it I tried. Yes it might be petty but give me what you are selling me.

    (2)

  • Sara Y.

    I had the corn cheese empanada, spicy chicken empanada, criola empanada, and potato cheese. I didn't like the corn or potato as it was too rich and creamy! The criola tasted weird... maybe b/c I don't like beef. My favorite was the spicy chicken which wasn't spicy at all with roasted bell peppers! It was sooo delicious, I will definitely come back for that. The caramel cookie was also good, it crumbled easily and melted in my mouth. Service was great and the lady was so nice, she gave me a free cookie! I will definitely come back to try the other flavors!

    (4)

  • Faz K.

    Man I love this place. Not only are the empanadas awesome but I tried the cookies they sell and I can't get enough.

    (5)

  • David C.

    My first empanada.... Or should I say my first 5 empanadas. Fantastic and friendly service - very affordable as well. Great place for lunch, or a casual meal. Menu is limited to only empanadas for the most part, so don't expect much else. Very authentic feel!

    (5)

  • Doug A.

    Good empanadas, great service, great atmosphere and music. Cash only. The empanadas could have been a little bigger and had more veggies in them. But the salad was very good. No iceberg lettuce...all spring mix with onion, tomato, and carrots. Good size...Very nice. For the price, it ain't bad. All you can drink.

    (4)

  • Carlo A.

    If you're looking for an authentic Argentinian Empanadas this is your place! They also have some "gringos empanadas " like pepperoni and cheese and ham and cheese

    (5)

  • Kiana C.

    ***CASH ONLY*** i was a fatass when i came and took home a box with basically like one of each for the fam to feast on and OMGGG they all tasted incredible!!!! There really is no need for a review. Just go down here and ordered something, anything really! You won't be disappointed!!! TRUST!

    (5)

  • NYSD G.

    CHICKEN EMPANADA! CHICKEN EMPANADA! CHICKEN EMPANADA! i could seriously have eaten 20 of those. it was as good if not better than my lola's. sorry lola. she would make it for noche buena (x-mas eve) and as a kid i would eat those things like a dyson. what made them so good was you could smell them baking all afternoon, the savory and sweet fillings didn't hurt and that super flaky crust. the first batch i could never wait cause i would get yelled at for opening the oven and letting the heat out. also what was best about it, i could eat as much as i could and they were free. we got there and we almost missed the turn cause i was thinking of the book off that was one block over. when we walked in i was expecting to see cases of baked empanadas but there wasn't, there was a big empananda menu though. after giviing it the one over i knew we had to try the chicken and beef to taste if its any good. we wanted a light snack since dinner was more than a few hours away so we got one of each and brought it to fashion island. it smelled amazing during the drive but i kept telling myself as much as they're good hot they're better warm. when i saw it and i should've known cause he said it would be ready in 5mins that it was fried. nothing wrong with fried but i prefer baked cause you don't get that doughy flaky crust when its fried but frying is easier for restaurants as opposed to baking. either way they smelled and look fantastic. opened the green chimichuri and broke empanandas in half. the beef was great, i could see and smell the seasoned beef and eggs and olives. the chicken though was beautiful and magical. the tomato based sauce which could only be done if it was fried smelled and tasted magical. it was unlike a chicken empanada i've had before cause it was very saucy. i loved every bite of it and i could've seriously eaten maybe not 20 in one sitting but 10. it was that great. their empanadas was so good that the wife whose not the biggest fan said "i would go back there again for sure". if i had choice of eating samosa or sambosa vs. empanadas i'd choose empanadas all day everyday. something about them always brings a smile to my face whenever i see it.

    (5)

  • Jaime T.

    I used to go to the one in Culver City and this sister location is just as good and if you can believe it - bigger! Got the usual suspects at $2.99 each and I wasn't disappointed in the crispiness of the dough and the freshness of the ingredients on the inside. I did notice at this particular location though, they don't skimp on giving you the dipping sauce. Add a squeeze of lemon and some siracha and you have a perfect Argentine treat. CASH ONLY

    (4)

  • Jonathan G.

    Quickly becoming a lunch favorite of mine... the empanadas are fried perfectly, crispy but not greasy. The Arabe and Spinach are so far my favorites. $8.99 combo of 2 empanadas + a salad is a solid deal. So often lunch combos include throwaway "side" salads.. well this one is a mixed green salad with generous amounts of spinach, carrots, onions, cherries, nuts, feta, I'm sure i'm missing some other ingredients... but a great salad. A tip though, they do tend to overdress the salad, if you're like me and dislike that be sure to ask they go light.

    (4)

  • Dru C.

    Do you ever have one of those days where you just feel like driving in random places during your lunch break? I had one of those recently, and after driving around aimlessly for about 15 minutes, I found myself on Harbor Blvd. Around the corner, I see the blue cursive lettering "Empanada's Place" on a small building in a strip mall. Why not, I said to myself. I was definitely surprised at how tiny the place is, decorated like a Latin grandmother's shack. There was nobody around, and if I sat down to eat all by myself, I couldn't help but feel a bit self conscious. So I decided to order to-go. Not knowing about all the flavors, the lady suggested the spicy beef. I plunked down about $3 and change in cash and waited patiently. I secretly hoped that 1 empanada would fill me up. I wanted to order more, but I didn't have enough cash and I was too lazy to go to the ATM. After about 10 minutes or so, I was getting a bit restless. The place wasn't busy at all, and I only ordered 1 empanada. I wonder if they are made fresh or previously frozen? After picking up the empanada, I raced back to work. I was so hungry, I devoured it within a minute. No kidding. Two, maybe 3 bites total? There was much more air than meat in my empanada, that's for sure. For being spicy beef, I didn't taste an ounce of heat. Honestly, I was disappointed in the overall size and the amount (lack thereof) of meat filling inside. For $3 a pop, I expected a bit more. Maybe it was an off day? But I'll take Empanada Man in Lake Forest over this place.

    (3)

  • Jenelle J.

    The empanadas were excellent and their freshly baked cookies and fresh chimichurri sauce were even better! The waitress was very kind and the entire place was very clean and festive. I love the vairety of options they provide and I will definitely go back.

    (4)

  • A B.

    Came here a week ago, and do not regret it! Service was excellent, the lady working the cash register who I believe is the owner, was very sweet. Now for the empanadas. I tried the potatoes and cheese, as well as the creolla. The pastry itself was perfectly flaky. The filling was equally as delicious. We couldn't leave with out eating a couple of the dessert pastries filled dulce de leche, they were also delicious. The price per empanada is a steal given the massive size of each empanada.

    (5)

  • J W.

    I've been coming here for years and they never fail to bring me back with their piping hot, delicious empanadas! I always get the cheesy spicy beef-- it's a good thing they're $2.99 because that's the only thing keeping me from eating 15 of these pockets of goodness in one sitting! The corn one is also pretty good, as is the cheese and potato- but you can't go wrong with the cheesy spicy beef. If you're nice, they might also give you a sample of their dessert items at the end, which was a nice surprise. :)

    (5)

  • Suong N.

    Stopped in for lunch for the first time a couple days ago. It's a small shop, full of little round tables with lovely blue tablecloths, each with a vase of fresh flowers. I ordered the spicy chicken and cheesy spicy beef, boyfriend had the criolla and beef. I didn't find them to be very spicy at all, but they do have hot sauce available if you ask. My boyfriend was still a bit hungry so he got up and ordered a ham and cheese 'nada. The addition of onions kind of gave it funky, sweet taste that I'm not really fond of, I'd skip it. In addition to empanadas they also have a variety of sandwiches (served with regular or sweet potato fries) and two kinds of salad. They have fountain sodas and hot/iced coffee drinks, yerba mate, and boxes of cookies for sale too. $2.99 per empanada or a dozen for $19.99, sandwiches & salads are about $9. They take cash only.

    (3)

  • Lily P.

    I guess my first time was a fluke with my dough issue, because this time - so good! Got 3 empanada's - 2 with ground beef and lime and a spinach one. Fried to crispy-bubbly perfection. You can smell the Chimmi-churri sauce as soon as they put it on your table. My only wish is that they would offer some other types of sauces. Service was great, we tried to buy some sweets but she just offered them up.

    (4)

  • T N.

    I'm not a Latin food connoisseur, so my take on this may not be as keen as someone who is a Latin food lover. Although, I am fickle with my food, but I can say I know delicious food when I taste it. Empanadas has a good variety of flavors and choices. A little something for everyone. Meat filled, vegetarian, and other exciting flavors. The size of two Empanadas would satisfy the average dudes' hunger pangs, but certainly won't kill the eating beast that men tend to have. To say it tactfully it is a very intimate spot. It has around 7 to 8 small round tables, a very snug fit. It is in a strip connected to a tattoo parlor. It doesn't look like a kosher location, but not to fear the taste of the food trumps the sketchiness of the area. If you're in the area of Costa Mesa, give them a try if you feel the need for something different. I'm definitely a fan, but the price does keep my visit to a minimum

    (4)

  • Janice L.

    Had the spicy beef and one chicken, both were good and loved the quaint decor inside Definite must try ! :)

    (4)

  • Kat Z.

    According to my well traveled Ecuadorian friend these are not authentic empanadas but looked more like something he would find at Costco. Well okay then, but I still want to eat them...a lot! They are pretty filling though. About 2 is plenty for me, I've eaten three before and that was A Very Bad Idea. My favorites are: Criolla which is ground beef, olives, hard boiled egg and god knows what. Sounds weird but delicious and juicy and addictive. Spicy Beef which has spicy ground beef, peas carrots and potatoes, yumm. Just like an argentinian pocket sheppards pie. Spicy chicken: Shredded chicken, onions, peppers, tomatoes and spices. Very good. The chimichurri was not to my liking. Can't explain why. I know, not helpful. I did however very much like the thin spicy tomato sauce. I would like to try more flavors from the menu. I also wish they would do an american style breakfast empanada with country sausage, potatoes,onions, egg and cheese. I have thought about this many a hungover Saturday morning. It would be... i can't even think of a word to describe how awesome it would be...and I'm not even hungover. I also agree that they would be wise to extend their hours to 9 Thurs-Sat. Overall if you haven't been here you should give it a whirl. I come in about once a month for my fix. The ladies are really nice and sometimes offer me a cookie :)

    (4)

  • Tammy H.

    I've been coming to Empanada's Place for the past year that I have been a Costa Mesa resident and I will say that it is good, but not great. The limited hours (who closes at 8pm on a weekend night?) make it more difficult to dine in, and the empanadas-only menu (all deep-fried goodness) make it hard for those that aren't die hard empanada fans, but they do a good, authentic job. I love their chimichurri sauce, and sometimes come in to purchase that solely, so I can have it to drizzle onto my steaks or chicken I prepare at home. My favorite empanadas are the Adobe and the Spicy Chicken! Love it! Have yet to try the Spicy Beef. The potatoes and onion - I would say pass. After having tried it several times, the potatoes are just too mushy, and lack the flavor that the others carry. I usually do take-out here, due to their super abbreviated hours and lack thereof a beverage offering (soda and coffee only!) I would go back, but being that everything is deep-fried, maybe once a month at most. It's very inexpensive - they charge $2.99 per empanada and they are pretty fairly sized. 2 people can certainly get full on 6 empanadas. At most, there have always been one set of diners eating at one of their 7 tables. It's never busy. One last warning: they are CASH ONLY!

    (3)

  • Fortunato D.

    It's not the size of place that matters... It's the food (and service) it provides. Lemme' tell you about this place with so much more bite than bark. It's small. BUT DEFINITELY SOMEPLACE TO TRY. The 4-5 star ratings from other reviews are surely from how good the empanadas are and not the place of venue. They sure hit the spot. I purchased the spicy beef, potato cheese and spinach. All three were excellent. She gave us a free sample of the dessert pastries sold in packages. I didn't buy any because if I did, it would disappear before I get to my next destination. Yes, it's that delicious. The only caveat of this place is that it's cash only. Change that and it's a 4 star in my book! 1. Try the empanada. Any of em' 2. Try the pastries. That's all I gotta say.

    (3)

  • Wendy N.

    Review #275! Huzzah! My dining guest and I decided to do our best for Yelpers everywhere by trying 12 different Empanadas all at once. (Yes, we almost tried the entire selection in one shot! XD) So here goes: Beef - Just your basic beef empanada. Good, but nothing special. Chicken - Also another basic empanada. Also good, but nothing special. (Has almost a chicken soup flavor.) Spicy Chicken - Tasted much better than the regular chicken one (had bell peppers, etc) but it wasn't spicy. o_o Ham & Cheese - My dining guest loved this one, but I didn't think the onions went well with the ham and cheese. (Too overpowering.) Pepperoni - I liked this one a lot! Tasted like a slice of supreme pizza. Potato & Cheese - Plenty of potatoes and herbs, but didn't see/taste the cheese at all. XD Tucamana - Spicy beef was better. Just can't explain it. o_o Arabe - People who like very strong flavor in their empanadas would like this one. (I like a lighter flavor, I suppose.) Spicy Beef - My favorite of the night. Wasn't spicy either, but the beef and potato pieces went very well with all the seasonings and sauce. Ricotta - My 2nd favorite of the night. I didn't actually see or taste any ricotta, but the mushrooms and cheese mixture was delish w/ the crispy empanada shell. Spinach - My least favorite of the night. Pretty much flavorless, unless you count the mushy spinach flavor. Cheesy Spicy Chicken - Same as the Spicy Chicken, just with cheese. ;) Had the honor of being served by the owner's son (very nice guy,) and on a rainy day, hot empanadas were a great choice for dinner! Food: 3.5 (Would have been higher if I only rated my favs) + Service: 4.5 stars = Solid 4 stars. I will definitely be back to try the remaining flavors and some of their other Argentine offerings! P.S. Just so I don't look like a pig, my dining guest and I cut each empanada in half (stored that half in a to-go box) and then split the remaining half into two to share. So while we tried all 12 flavors, we ate only 3 whole empanadas-worth! ^_^

    (4)

  • Dartanian L.

    I took 8 people to try this place for first time. They all liked this place a lot! Thank you. Spicy chicken was the best for my taste. The outer shell could be little more chewy.

    (4)

  • The F.

    Pros: - The food - Customer service - Parking Cons: - Small fit's about 28 inside - Closes early - Cash only Recommendations: - Everything Overall: Costa Mesa has good empanadas???? Never in my wildest dreams. Argentinian food in the O.C?...go figure. Empanada Place is the truth. The food is ridiculous and authentic (to my knowledge anyway) Of course I have to review the empanadas because I'm a junkie when it comes to that specific food. Mind blowing!!! They make it after you order and it's nice hot and ready. The lobby is small. Capacity of 28, they do have outdoor seating, cash only and closes early, so your late night craving can't be met until the following day. . .But all that is forgivable because the taste will make you forget about it.

    (5)

  • Micah D.

    I've been wanting to try this place out for awhile now, but I was never planning on driving all the way out here just for it. And, good thing I didn't because I wasn't that impressed. Got the spicy beef, corn, and a few others. They were all just okay. The thing that I probably liked the most about the empanadas were the crust. That's all. Next time I'm in the area, I don't think that I'm gonna stop by again. I guess Argentine empanadas are just not my thing...

    (3)

  • Christopher G.

    We found this place on our search for good empanada's in the OC. This has been our favorite so far. Its on the edge of a little strip mall next to the street. Its tiny and can get cramped quickly so the outside seating is a must. They have paper menus at the counter so just grab one and start to mull over which of these little pockets you're gonna pick to make you fatter that day. I usually stop at three.... but can do 4. 1 Dozen fed four people at one sitting, just to give you an idea of size. These are fried flaky savory crusts filled with pre made/heated fillings. Some can take longer then others and you can identify them by the shape and folding of each flavor.. an added touch I appreciate. I stay close to home with the spicy chicken and spicy beef, potato, and sometimes venture off into the specialty one that I can not spell but its got egg and raisins in it. Cash only like everyone has said.... its easier to calculate taxes at the end of the day that way. Don't cry about it, just pay it and enjoy.

    (4)

  • Franklin W.

    Great empanada's! It takes about three to fill you up... but they are tasty! Try the pepperoni and arab types...

    (4)

  • David B.

    In a word: delicious! Went for lunch with colleagues. Impeccable service, super clean, the ladies working were helpful and so friendly. Worth a drive!

    (4)

  • EL Generalissimo H.

    I became a fan of empada's during a trip to Buenos Aires. They are muy delicioso. Haven't had any since then. I must admit I was a bit reluctant and thought it can't be as good as they were in Argentina.... Well, to my surprise they were in fact really good. I had the the Humita, which is filled with melted cheese, corn and peppers. I also had the spicy beef. After a few delicious bites I knew this place was legit. The empanada's had a flaky crust and tasted very authentic. They also had flan... Wait flan?? I consider myself somewhat of an expert in flan con dulce de lece.... I'll put it to you like this. In case the food didn't win me over. It's no wonder they've been around since 1985.

    (3)

  • Mighty O.

    I scream! You scream! We scream for Empanadas! no? that's not how it goes? Last week, my friends and I went to Empanada's place for lunch. This place is a really a hidden gem if you looking for something out side of the usual. As you walk in side, spine around 3 times, and open your eyes, you might think that you're really in Argentina's café. (but don't peak at the front door to see Rite Aid, then reality will kick in). we ordered 10 but the girl said we get 2 free. (about 30 bucks) Heck yeah, I'm still working on my winter fat. We got the assortment. Each one is about the size of your hand. My favorite would be Arabe. It's like a mild thai larp in a puff pastry. damn.. I was full after three. But how can I quit you Arabe. This place is great with a tentative service who are willing to explain to you the variety of their homemade empanadas. Bring cash. 'cause that's how they roll. And if you feel adventurous, try the Mate. I heard that shyt will keep you up all night. But I will pass drinking out from a cow-foot-mate- apparatus though.

    (4)

  • Iris S.

    So I finally gave this place a try. I went with my mom and we shared some empanadas. The beef one, mix and ? can't remember. Not memorable enough 1. you have to bring cash no credit cards (inconvenient) 2. Staff not too friendly, can't even smile 3. Food really not as great as everyone makes it out to be I would rather eat at Regina's Argentine Restaurant.

    (1)

  • Audrey S.

    Raisins and Eggs for a satisfying meal? Yea, I was skeptical about that one too...except, the rumors are TRUE, its the best one. We tried about 6 different types of empanadas here, and the first, and admittedly strangest sounding one was SO GOOD. I was actually bummed I didnt order all of that kind. Words to the wise. These empanadas are hefty..as in, I ordered way more than I needed. Tasty and definitely filling. Cash only. Super nice family that owns it. Love supporting my local businesses. A little bummed they didnt come with some sauce, but I am a typical American (sadly) and Im used to saucy foods. The flavor packed inside those little dough pillows makes up for it though.

    (4)

  • Augusta S.

    Mmmmm....empanadas! This cozy spot right off of Harbor at the end of a strip mall offers some pretty tasty ones. I wasn't blown away but considering I'd skipped breakfast and it was after 2pm... I was anxious to put something in my tummy. Bring cash! Imma girl, damnit... if I carry cash it gets spent so I generally do. Not. Empanada Place is apparently cash only so we had to walk across the parking lot to the drugstore and buy a pack of gum to get some greenbacks. I ordered three empanadas so I could have some variety in tastings... the Criolla (one of the most common types of empanadas)...ground beef, raisins, scallions, and spices... I think I pretty much inhaled it in less than 4 minutes. Good stuff! .... the Spicy Chicken... this was my favoritest! It wasn't super spicy but it did have a lingering kick... like being slapped on the rear sans chones.... And thirdly... the Spinach... this was my least favorite... and I LOVE spinach... but it was a little too cheesy, which overwhelmed the spinach. Normally I don't make these type of comments about cheese...but well... sorry cheese, you lose this time. And that is all.

    (3)

  • Jane P.

    I work in Costa Mesa and I finally got the chance to try the empanadas from here. Here's what I tried: Criolla - Very good! The meat wasn't dry and I like the spicyness of it. 5 stars Arabe - My favorite one so far! Lemony and herby..yum! 5 stars Potato and Cheese - A little too much cheese for me but I enjoyed the flavor so 3.75 stars Spicy Chicken - I though it was ok. 3.5 stars Argentine Tamal - The dough tasted like sweet corn, however it was too wet, sticky, and fibrous. 2.5 stars Chimichurri sauce - If you want something to dip your emapandas in, I recommend it. 4 stars The empanada crust was tasty and flaky and the size was definitely larger compared to Filipino emapandas. Two empanadas was enough to make me full. The cost is $2.99 each or $29.99 for a dozen. The staff there was very friendly and helpful. Besides empanadas, Empanada's place also sells dessert and sandwiches. I definitely would come back here again and again!

    (4)

  • Stacey R.

    I'm Filipina and used to empanadas that are about the size of the palm of my hand. So when I found out that the ones here are $2.99, I ordered 3 and thought I'd leave hungry. Wow, was I wrong... My empanadas were more like the size of my whole hand. Gushy, flavorful, and very filling. I went back again today :)

    (4)

  • Brian B.

    Mediocre at best. Average sauces, uninspired sides. Wait staff was good. Layout is decent. Overpriced for what you get.

    (2)

  • Sebastian K.

    I really like this place. I don't know why my friends don't ever wanna go. I tell them "Let's go get some empanadas yo" and they are like, "Empanadasssssss?" and then I get sad and wonder how they would feel in my mouth all hot and tasty. This place has outdoor seating, which I enjoy because I like to sit back after eating to smoke and drink my coffee like a true 20's century Argentinian revolutionary/intellectual trying to make sense of the injustice around Buenos Aires. They serve mate and alfajores, mmmmmmm dankkkkk!

    (4)

  • Mark N.

    Little Pockets of Heaven!!!! Simply delicious! We tried the spicy beef, spicy chicken, Arabe and the Chicken...all were so good. We keep talking about going back to try the rest of the menu. The cookies were out of this world! Super soft cookie with carmel insides! I could eat here everyday of the week and be happy! One thing to note, CASH ONLY!

    (5)

  • MyLinh P.

    Hands down, the best empanadas I've ever had. My favorites are criolla, arabe, and the spicy chicken. Extremely flavorful and crisp. This place is a gem!!

    (5)

  • John H.

    Simply this place has some great empanadas. They don't have a wide selection of other things, they have a pretty good tamale-esc thing and some decent desert cookies, but nothing to brag about. Best gotten as take out: get a few, take them to a party or a friends house and be the best friend of everyone there, or simply eat them at home with the family as a nice appetizer. I might suggest against eating them as a whole meal since they are fried and eating 3-4 of these might give you a bit of indigestion. The only negative I can add is that they cannot make any substitutions to the empanadas since apparently they are made off-site and they just keep them frozen to be fried up upon order. Both this location and the one off Venice have this same limitation and taste exactly the same.

    (4)

  • j s.

    Meltilicious! I'm creating a new word for these empenadas that are crispy on the outside, and oh so gooey on the inside. These things rock. Be bold, and shell out the cash for a dozen. These a good variety to choose from. I've never been to Argentina, but if this is a taste of the country, I may need to buy an airline ticket. Damn, my mouth is watering right now thinking about them. It's a little bit too far to get there right now, but I may end up there over the weekend.

    (4)

  • Kasey D.

    CASH ONLY! I love empanadas. I'll admit that I was first introduced to them at my favorite happy hour spot, Cafe Tu Tu Tango at The Block. While those are not in any way authentic, they are VERY tasty and that piqued my interest to try some that were decidedly more authentic. Thanks to Yelp, I found this place which is only 10 minutes from where I work. I ordered two empanadas and a fountain drink, which came to a total of $8.52. The empanadas are a really nice size. I ate two and am comfortably full. I have a pretty decent sized appetite for a girl, so take that as you may. I ordered: Cheesy spicy chicken empanada: not spicy AT ALL, which would have been a major let down had it not had the amount of flavor it did. Even though I would have liked it to have an actual kick, it was absolutely delicious. The chicken was shredded into decent sized chunks and there was no detectable fat on the pieces of chicken. The cheese was nice and melted, blending together very nicely with the chicken and crust. If you want actual spice, you might want to bring along some of your favorite hot sauce to spice it up. I'll likely do that next time. Potato cheese empanada: this was also good, but not quite as good as the chicken. However, I would order it again if I wasn't in the mood for a meat filled empanada. The potatoes were cut into cube sized pieces and weren't quite as soft as I was expecting. It could have been better had the potatoes been cooked a little longer and have been more plentiful. There was definitely more cheese in this one than in the chicken one. Overall, 4 solid stars. While there are a few things that I think they could do to make both empanadas better, both were really good and I will be back. Recommended!

    (4)

  • Jason G.

    So have been craving an empanada for a month, searching for a spot to get one. I even went to the Huntington Beach street fair on Tues two weeks in a row the find empanada stand but it was gone! Arggghhh.. I ask people at work and they direct me somewhere. Badabing! The Empanda's Place. It was a really cute (and yes I used the word cute) hole in the wall, perfect spot for me to grab a bite and do some reading. It had a cozy feel to it, little circular tables with a fresh set of flowers in the middle; let it be known I hate eating by myself. Well, I order a couple empanadas, they are $3.25 each, and supposedly according to the girl two should fill you up. So of course, being the fatty that I am, I get three, and order around one later. The potato empanadas were the best, they have potatoes, onion, tomatoes and cilantro inside a crispy shell. I also had a phenomenal spicy chicken empanda, imagine chicken tortilla soup but inside a calzone like crust, needless to say it was BOMB! The chicken empanda was similar spicy chicken but a little drier. I came with peas, carrots, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes. It was amazing The beef empanda was unimpressive, they used ground beef. I felt like I eating taco bell, ewwww. All and all I really enjoyed the food. I even got menus for my work and the next day I get some again! Everyone at my work loved them! Fun fact from the girl that worked there, each empanada is shaped differently so you can tell which one is which. :)

    (4)

  • Matthew L.

    This place was good, I have been craving empanadas since I saw this place after taking a glorious lunch trip to the Moscow Deli. The dough was crisp and the fillings were hot and delicious. Between a friend and I, we had the ham and cheese, the criolle, and the spicy chicken. For me the criole was the best with its beans, eggs, beef, and various other ingredients it was a perfect combination. The Spicy chicken came in at a close second, it was stuffed with peppers and juicy chicken. The ham and cheese to me was just so so but then again I'm not a big fan of ham and cheese to begin with. My amiga was the one who ordered this, and she loved it. All in all it was quick, cheap, delicious, and original (for the OC at least) and I will definitely be returning again.

    (5)

  • V M.

    Great empanadas. We had several (corn, spinach, spicy cheesy beef, and others whose names I can't spell). They were all very good. I was hungry, but felt full after one. Proceeded to eat the second one anyway. Is that why Americans are fat? I also bought some of their excellent cookies. I can't wait to go back.

    (4)

  • Tim W.

    So I've driven by this place many times while working in the area. Never once even noticed it until some of my buddies on Yelp reviewed it. Thanks buddies! Argentine food? WTH is that?? I had no clue, but I did know what an empanada was. (They had them at Taco Bell once.. right??) Didn't know it was Argentine food. Yelp is so educational. I ate two and a half empanadas. Of course they were delicious. Deep fried dough stuff with other bad for you stuff inside.... how can they not be delicious!?! Definitely worth a try. Not sure what kind of 'meal' it is. Seems more like eating way too many fried appetizers! I had the Cheesy Spicy Beef, Potato & Cheese and Chicken. All were great. The 'cash only' part does suck! I had to walk next door to buy a pack of gum at Rite-Aid and get some cash back. The girl working was really nice and explained to us what we were ordering. They also gave us some free cookies to try after which were delicious too. Food is great, but you kinda feel like a big fat greasy pig when you leave, ready to have a heart attack from all the deep fried goodness you just ate. Or maybe that's just me because I shoved down 2 1/2 of them and probably could have ate another!!

    (4)

  • Robert S.

    I have seen this place many of years and I have no idea how it stays in business. After living in Costa Mesa for 7 years, I finally decided to give this place a try...boy was I greatly disappointed. The food was okay, the service stunk (and I was the only ones eating in the entire place at the time). The prices are a complete joke! Let me spell that out for you, "J-O-K-E!!!" And on top of it all, this place does NOT take credit cards...ONLY CASH! Be ready to spend $20 per person! Very small establishment! Stay away!

    (1)

  • Sydney N.

    Simply delicious. They come out crispy and piping hot. There was a wide selection to choose from but my absolute favorite is at the top of the menu, the Criolla filled with rich spices, eggs and beef. It definitely hits the spot from the moment it touches your taste buds!! There is really something for everyone, it just depends on what you like. I actually first came here when I was a vegetarian. Half the selection does not have meat in it and I enjoyed it just as much as I did when I came back the 2nd and the 3rd time. They sell at 2.99 a piece or 29.99 for a dozen. 2 pieces is adequate to fill you up. There is definitely something about their soda machine and the glasses they serve them in that makes it extra special. A steamy empanada with a glass of their cold soda is what I want right now!! To top it all off, the waitress will most likely give you a free pastry before you leave.

    (4)

  • Tran T.

    Free dessert to try? Why, thank you! I've only been once so I don't know if you'll get free dessert to try every time you go, but I know other friends have gone and they've had a chance to sample their desserts, that is, a little flour cookie and some caramel stuffed pastry rolls. I really like the little pastry rolls... mmMMMmm. As for their empanadas... they're huge! Reminds me of a calzone. In fact, they even have a pepperoni empanada and that's pretty much a calzone anyway. But I had the vegetarian empanadas: corn, ricotta, and eggplant. Corn and eggplant were good... ricotta was good too, but it didn't look pretty on the inside (clumpy cheese around mushrooms). My bf had the cheesy spicy beef, spicy chicken, and pepperoni, all which were good but I think he really liked the spicy chicken. And I must reiterate, these empanadas are huge. Eat 2 if you want to just get satisfied. Eat 3 if you want a warm tummy ready for a food coma.

    (4)

  • Maria T.

    Oh Empanada's Place... after all this time, we finally meet! The criolla and spicy chicken were my favorites, but the potato cheese and spicy beef were good too! Like I always say, you can't really go wrong with fried dough. Likewise, there really isn't a bad choice for which type of empanada to choose! I was surprised at how reasonable the prices here are! The house salad was excellent with fresh mixed greens, carrots, cherry tomatoes, dried cranberries/raisins, and nuts and it was a whopping 4.99. Large enough for 2! The side of fries was $1.99... they were exactly like Del Taco's crinkle cut fries if not a tad crispier. That's a good thing, obviously! Since the empanadas are on the heavier side, I highly recommend adding the house salad to balance out the meal. You won't regret it! Loved the complimentary cookies filled with dulce de leche for dessert as it gives the place a bit of old world charm (they both tasted similar but I preferred the cigar-looking one to the sandwich cookie).

    (4)

  • Heina D.

    The criolla (most typical type of) empanada is pretty delicious. The raisins and spices they use in it are like nothing I've had before. Make sure to take some home for your friends. Or for yourself, for later. Or now. My partner in dining and I got five and that was more than enough between us; the price ended up being around $18 for the both of us. Om nom nom. This stuff is comfort food. The people who work here are very nice as well.

    (4)

  • Joseph d.

    I summered in Buenos Aires this year and when I came back I had the munchies for anything and EVERYTHING Argentinean. It was the best holiday. EVER. So, this place was a cure to my cravings. They have alfajores, traditional Argentine empanadas, and other goods as well that reminded me of my time in Argentina. There's just something about a beef empanada that makes my mouth water like no other. Oh. Cash only. That's the only downside about this place. But, other than that, GO!

    (4)

  • Jane L.

    The most authentic empanadasa in Orange County. Charming decor. Friendly service. Affordable.

    (5)

  • Thu N.

    It's cash only people. If all else fails, go to the Riteaid next door and purchase gum and __________________ that'll satisfy your needs and get your cash =) His favorite: Arabe My favorite: Criolla We also ordered Spicy Cheesy Beef and regular beef in between. To be honest with you, all 4 flavors were good and I honestly don't think you could go wrong with any of flavors there. For a guy, order 3. Girls, order 2---unless you're a pig like me, which in that case I just freeload off of my BFs 3rd empanada. Service: 5 ***** It definitely had a mom and pop feel to it. Not sure if this is standard, but the main lady gave us and the table next to us free samples of the cookies. =D This will satisfy your lunch needs, but it will get you hungry by 5 pm. Enjoy!

    (4)

  • Mike S.

    I looooooovvvvvvveeeeeee empanadas. I've even made them at home on occasion (very-painstakingly....). That said, I'm a bit biased towards Empanadas Place, but if I weren't, I could still justify the 5 stars. The dishes they serve here are unique, and I don't know of too many places around the area that specialize just in empanadas. The ingredients always taste fresh, and the soft, fluffy fried dough is somewhat of a comfort food as it melts in your mouth. They are always an appreciable size too, so two or three empanadas (at just $3 a pop) will usually fill you up without overloading you. The service has always been prompt and friendly, and the quaint interior is easy to relax in. If you are going, I recommend the criolla, which packs the most flavor and the best variety of ingredients. The spicy cheesy chicken/beef empanadas are similarly good, but I always feel they are missing a bit of flavor. Their vegetable empanadas, such as spinach or potato, are also impressive and are usually bursting with cheesy goodness. A few other recommendations: -Its cash only, so be prepared!!! -Don't waste your money on the salads - although they are a good compliment side-dish, that money is better spent on another empanada or too. -I've never tried their sandwiches, so I can't comment on those. -Free desert cookie after each meal = happiness. -Its pricey, but a to-go pack of cookies (either the fluffy oreo-style with the dulce de leche or the crispy-rolled type) are great for snacking on for days after and very unique!

    (4)

  • Arnold U.

    I can always count on Empanada's Place to break up the monotony that is our lunch destinations ... on a nice day out, it's great to enjoy your empanadas on the patio seating ... although it's a little loud with so much traffic going through Harbor. I like the Arabe the best - the spices and the lemon are great with the seasoned ground beef .. have also tried the Tucumana, which has spices from the Tucumana province - don't know what those are, but they are pretty good; although the hard boiled eggs weirded me out towards the end of the empanada ... make sure you have the empanadas with their hot sauce as well ... also tried the cheesy spicy chicken, but the cheese covered up the spices - would recommend against anything that was cheesy ... In all, great lunch spot - I would order 2 empanada's so you can avoid the dreaded food coma ... plus you can save some room for the cookies! Only con for me: Cash Only ... and I hate carrying cash

    (4)

  • Alan H.

    It's hard not to like this place. It's small, quaint, friendly and deep fried. This place is so small. With only a few tables, it may encourage people to order to-go. But please don't! Have the empanada's there. Or eat standing up because the texture is key to a good empanada. The instant these deep fried pockets are covered, the shell becomes lifeless. A lifeless empanada is a bad empanada. So I highly recommend enjoying the empanadas immediately after exiting the kitchen. I decided on the spicy beef and potato with cheese ($2.99 each). They were a good size but I could have eating more. The shells were fried to a nice crunchy golden brown. It was not oily at all. The edges were especially delicious! The fillings were plentiful. It was creamy and well seasoned with herbs and spices. I used a tad of tapatio to turn up the scoville unit. Their fries were good too. They were extremely crispy but had a nice soft center. Good stuff!

    (4)

  • Lisa H.

    YUM! Delicious comfort food. I've tried almost all of the empanadas, but I must say the Arabe and Potatoe & Cheese are my favs. Delicious and served hot. A guilty pleasure as they are fried. But mmmm so good!

    (4)

  • Vicky L.

    A total hidden gem in Costa Mesa. The empanadas are good, but rather greasy. What makes it better is the dessert cookies they give you as a sample. Make sure to ask for some, and the next time you'll probably buy the cookie package. It's just that good! BRING CASH, no credit cards here!

    (4)

  • Mary M.

    I was just here today for lunch. I ordered the criolla, chicken, and broccili empanadas to share with my boyfriend. They were excellent! I loved the criolla empanada so much that we ordered two more. The hot mate tea was perfect to go along with our empanadas. The cookies were also really delicious, two varieties - both filled with dulce de leche!! They also offer an option to buy mini (cocktail size) empanadas by the dozen - I thought this was a great idea to take to a party (especially with the holidays coming up)! The service was great and I will definitely be back. They also had a few shelves of Argentinian products for sale: mate gourds, mate, dulce de leche, etc.

    (5)

  • Liz K.

    Having been to Argentina & craving empanadas, this definitely did the trick. For those of you that are not familiar, a few tips: - Cash only - Their empanada size is actually above average...and for $2.99, that's a bargain given the fillings in it. With that said, you may want to get 2+ if that's all you're having for a meal. I got 3. - Spicy = has spices....not "using chili peppers" spicy. The restaurant was actually more pleasant than I'd expected, clean, and with the right Argentinian tchotchkes (Yerba Mate tea, dulce de leche, cow hoof gourds...)

    (4)

  • Peter N.

    Nothing's better than the delicious aroma smell of an empanada from Empanada's Place. Just walking around with an empanada will leave people wondering where you bought that from. If this is your first time at Empanada's Place, I highly suggest you try the Criolla empanada. It is the first empanada I've tried here and my favorite. At $3 an empanada, your stomach will be growling for more! The workers are pretty nice here. I once asked a worker how much their cookies filled with dulce de leche were and he literally said "You want to try some?" And he gave my friend and I two cookies for free! I was pretty amazed how nice he was to give us free desserts. I will definitely come back here for my empanada fixings.

    (4)

  • Marc N.

    Went today for lunch - awesome. awesome. empanadas, sandwiches and salad. all yum.

    (5)

  • Angela T.

    The empanadas here are the bomb!! I'm so happy they decided to open one in Orange County, as I really missed the original one in West LA when I lived there. We ordered the cheesy spicy chicken, criolla, arabe, cheese and potato, corn and spicy chicken empanadas. All were perfectly cooked and extremely delicious! The decor and seating area are simple and clean - nothing spectacular, but that's not what this place is about. Try the empanadas.. they will definitely not disappoint!

    (5)

  • Mel M.

    This place immediately had a sense of Argentina with the display of yerba mate products, a staple drink in Argentina. The empanadas here were delicious and piping hot made to order. I bypassed the spoon and fork and went straight to using a napkin and my hands, as street cart vendors in South America hardly give utensils. Despite being delicious and authentic, the flavors weren't as bold and the sabor was a bit lacking compared to other Argentinian empanadas I've had. The shells were cooked to perfection and despite being a little greasy on the inside (a testament to authenticity) I will definitely be returning to this place. Mel's pick: Cheesy Spicy Beef for deliciousness and Criolla for authentic Argentinian

    (4)

  • Jackie D.

    I love this place, don't tell my Mom, but their Empanadas are better than her's. My husband had the traditional Criolla(Ground beef, raisins, trad spices) & Potato & Cheese Empanadas. All of them costed around 3 bucks. I wasn't that hungry and had only 1 the Spicy Beef, yum. They are a healthy size so no need to order too many. The lady working there was so nice she gave us 2 free cookies, forgot their names but, one was a shortbread tube with what I think is Dulce de leche in the middle, and a flat shortbread cookie with dulce de leche in the middle as well. Everything was delicious, all this place needs is beer, and it would be perfect. What can I say when I go out for a meal I like me some alcohol.

    (4)

  • Rob W.

    WOW, what a charming little place with such sincerely friendly and helpful people working there! I can't wait to come back and try more flavors. Tonight I tried real Empanadas for the first time (as far as I can remember) I had one each Arabe, Spicy Chicken and Potato & Cheese. All were so fresh tasting and delicious. I put chimichurri and hot sauce (name?) on all of them, yummy. With 18 flavors to choose from there ought to be at least 2-3 for anyone. CASH only, or in my case, go to Rite-Aid next door and buy a pack of RedVines and get some cash-back. Duh. OH, if the wonderful people at Empanada's Place would like to open one in Anaheim Hills I have the perfect location for it..........that would be killer!

    (5)

  • Anne E.

    DELICIOUS!! Empanadas are hard to find, and place that does them well is even harder. This place makes them fresh, so you should call ahead of time if you want take out. Or if you come for lunch, just know it will take a few minutes. For Empanadas these things are pretty big, and stuffed to the gills. The service is great, they are always friendly and have even thrown in some free dolce deleche cookies =) WARNING: BRING CASH!!

    (5)

  • Geoff S.

    99% - awesome goodness 1% - inconvenience of cash only (but maybe if I wasnt so broke I would have cash in my wallet at times like these) If youre hungry and have the whole day to waste... have 3 If you don't want to have to take a nap after eating here... have 2

    (5)

  • Meredith W.

    In line with everyone else, I freakin love this place. Yesterday was the first time I set foot inside, but friends have offered empanada's from this restaurant before. What else can I say? I know nothing about Argentinian food, except that they offer some of the worlds best wines and meats... possibly one of the worlds best street foods? Is an empanada considered street food? Ok maybe overstepping but who can resist meaty or vegtably cheesy goodness wrapped in dough and fried? Ummmm not that many people have that sort of will power. I tried the spinach, eggplant, and spicy cheesy beef. All were delicious, with the perfect balance of ingredients. (admitedly the spicy could be spicier). I think my fav was the spinach. The restaurant is small, quaint... and they have THE most adorable embroidered table cloths ever. The empanadas are a bit larger than the smaller sizes found in pop places like Venice beach, and they offer between 15-20 different types. My boyfriend was a bit dismayed that there were no desert empanadas, but beyond that there were no complaints. They also had a few other items on the menu. You can eat there or order take out.... cash only.

    (5)

  • Giselle B.

    Loved the empanadas there! They were delicious and my entire family really enjoyed it. I would only though order for take out vs. eating in. For two main reasons: 1) A good empanada really needs a nice cold beer next to it. But, they don't really offer any drinks besides coffee and sodas. 2) Staff was really unfriendly and looked annoyed that we had kids with us. Food gets a 5 star though!

    (3)

  • jonathan s.

    yeaaaa so this place was pretty good. had a spicy beef and an arabe. both were real good and id order again. was not too stoked that carrots and peas were in the spicy beef but that is what the lady told me to get. i didn't even notice they were in there. more of a lunch place i would say? i feel like i should try a sandwich but its hard when i can just order a bunch of different empanadas.

    (4)

  • Liang W.

    There's really "nada" bad about these empanadas. Ba dum Tshhh. In fact, it's just the opposite! Decided to get some carry out from this place after reading some rave reviews...want to say that I will definitely be back to sample some other options, but also the empanadas I got, while tasty, were a little too hyped I think. I got the Spicy Beef + Cheese and the Potato + Cheese, what? I love cheese! It's brilliant. Spicy Beef? Well, you were tasty but spicy you were not. While this empanada was the better of the two, i expected a more zesty flavor to it, and found it to be rather mild. The Potato + Cheese was again not as flavorful as I would have preferred. Perhaps I am just used to different spices? I don't know, what I do know is that both empanadas were very crispy and flaky, which I did love a lot. The dough was dynamite but the fillings fell short a little. I was reaching for the tapitio hot sauce like nobody's business! Service was great and very, very quick (probably only 10 minutes or less from ordering to leaving). And yes the people who work here are extremely nice which is always appreciated. I can honestly say that I will definitely be back to sample other empanadas and hope for an even tastier meal!

    (3)

  • Mel M.

    Only been open for around 6 months, 39 promising reviews and almost 5 stars should be a testament to the quality of this place. Stopped in here last week around 8:15pm and even though they technically closed at 8:00 the dude at the counter offered me take out only. I ordered two spicy beef and cheese, one criolla (their specialty) and one arabe. I thought they were all delicious with the criolla being my favorite albeit I am no empanada expert. I do wish they served some sort of hot sauce on the side. They are cash only but if you forget (like I did) then there is a first bank atm within walking distance. $3 per empanada seems good-but again I wouldn't know any better.

    (4)

  • Rich L.

    I finally made it and it was worth the wait. The helpful lady recommended the Criolla which was excellent, I also tried the Beef and the Chicken. Loved the Beef hated the Chicken, but since my son loves everything it was all eaten. Can't wait to come back and eat and get some take away for later. The place is very small but emaculate inside.

    (4)

  • Charlene P.

    These people know how to make some good empanadas. I think this place is pretty neat -- it's tiny and comfy, and has a unique type of food. It's interesting that the whole place is based on empanadas. Mark S. and I came here one day to try some new foodies: I tried the spinach empanada and the Criolla (the typical Argentine empanada) -- it had ground beef, green onions, a hard boiled egg, and raisins stuffed inside a warm, flaky, and crispy crust. Not bad. The empanadas here are fried, so I think that's a huge factor in their taste. I really liked the Criolla, actually. The spinach empanada was a bit too cheesy for my liking. I also tried the Spicy Beef, which was PRETTY good, I have to admit. Each empanada is $3, and they DO NOT accept card (Thanks, Wendy C.)! So be prepared! I didn't have cash, so Mark had to walk to the Wells Fargo nearby to withdraw some greens. But yeah, BRING CASH! The lady at the counter also let me try some of the sweets that they were selling. I'm guessing they were Argentine treats. Either way, they were good! I liked them -- a subtle sweetness in a sandwich of soft cookies, topped with some powdered sugar, and filled with caramel in between. I like. I think I would buy these more than the empanadas, actually. Anyways, this place is good to grab a quick snack! The empanadas aren't actually that filling, so don't expect to get a full tummy from these tiny empanadas! This is a good place to come to once in a while, but a bit pricey. I'm not sure how often I'd come back, though.

    (3)

  • Sadia C.

    This place is perfect for a fried food junkie, such as myself. Everything about this place is nice, from the extremely friendly staff to the delicious hot empanadas. I came here with my sister to fulfill our empanada cravings and we were so glad we did. The place is kind of hard to find, located in the corner of a shopping plaza. Now for the empanadas, the best thing about this is that there are empanadas for everyone. They come in more than a dozen varieties. My favorite has to be the one filled with ground beef, lemon juice, onions and spices...wow..super flavorful, great textures. The contrast of the crispy dough with the soft hot fillings makes this a nice meal for cold days. Surprisingly, even though these seem more like appetizers, you can easily fill up on 3-4 empanadas at about half a pound each for about $3.00 each, its not a bad deal. They always also hand out free cookies while you wait, which adds a nice touch :)

    (5)

  • Monique L.

    I had a couple of these empanadas and was pleasantly surprised. I was also a few pennies short but they let me slide :-). The filling was so juicy and tasty I can't wait to try this place again! There are a few things that I wish were different though. I wish they took more than just cash, but I can live. I wish they weren't deep fried, then I'd eat a lot more of these and I wish that the shell was rolled a little thinner. With all these wishes, I still like this place because the empanadas are so good!

    (4)

  • Cristine D.

    I'm not much of an empanada fan, but after reading the reviews on Yelp, I thought I should give this place a try. The empanadas are $3 each and are about 4 inches wide. The lady who was there was pretty friendly and gave lots of suggestions. We sampled 3 of the many different flavors. I forget the actual names of them, but they were one of the most popular ones. The one with the ground beef and lemon flavor was good. Spicy cheesy chicken was good (although it's not really spicy at all). The spinach one was ok-but my friend liked it. I don't know if they do this all the time or if they only did this because they knew it was our first time, but we got a couple of their desserts, which was a sandwich type cookie and another pastry that both had caramel fillings. Those were really good too. If you like spicy food, this may not be the place for you. I personally don't care too much for spicy food and the lady who helped me said Argentinian people think bell peppers are spicy, which made me laugh. But I really like this place and would come back.

    (4)

  • Rob N.

    First, let's start off with a brief description and history lesson: An empanada is a stuffed bread or pastry. The empanada is made by folding a dough or bread patty around the stuffing. The empanada may have its origin in the fatay, an Arab dish which was introduced in Spain during the Arabic occupation of the Iberian Peninsula. The Spanish used this dish as a portable way to provide hearty meal for working people. The dish was carried to South America by colonists, where it acquired its most popular form. In Argentina and Uruguay, empanadas are considered to be a national dish. Fast forward to the present and we have the Empanada Place (Argentine Food) that shares its wonderful family recipes as well as its culture to modern Americans. And I am so glad they did. This past Friday, my gf and I came in and had no real idea what to expect. We just knew we were going to try an array of empanadas. With the lovely help of the owner who patiently awaited as we looked over the menu, we ordered 6 to try (the beef, chicken, spicy chicken, cheesy spicy beef, criolla and the tucumana). By far my favorite was the cheesy spicey beef. First it came out piping hot resembling a calzone except fried. As I first bit into the empanada, an array of aromas came bursting out and filled the air with oh so much goodness. The flavors that unfolded on my tongue were indescribable. Hot gooey cheese that had melded with the spices of the meat and caramelized onions filled my mouth with simple pleasures. I was a happy man :) Another favorite was the criolla. It was filled with ground beef, onions, eggs and raisins. The savory taste of the beef was offset by the sweetness of the raisins which helped to form a unique blend of flavors. I will definitely be coming back here, but not for a meal as I found eating 3 fried empanadas just killed my stomach the next day. Instead I'd recommend this restaurant as a great place to grab a snack especially for those days with late dinner parties. It's just enough to for an early lunner (lunch-dinner). Enjoy!

    (4)

  • Andy N.

    You don't find spots like this anywhere. This is a spot I recommend to people who are feeling adventurous and want to try something different. The Empanadas are awesome and they have such a large variety of it that you want to try them all. I have brought a few people here and they've said the same thing. I've had just about every empanada here so they are basically your choice on what you like inside yours.

    (5)

  • Kevin B.

    (4) Spicy Beef Empanadas $2.99 EACH (2) Arabe Empanadas $2.99 EACH Total Bill = $19.29 for 2 The decor was fun and the place was very clean. We came at a slow time, around 3pm on Friday, and the person working was very helpful and friendly. My girlfriend is allergic to dairy and eggs (among other things) and 90% of the menu has both of those. Pretty much our only choice was what we ordered above but I was very happy with it! They were perfect empanadas, large and full flavored. Perfect crispyness on the outside and very hot on the inside. The spicy beef one could have been spicier, but it still had a lot of flavor. The arabe one had a nice freshness to it and was especially juicy. It balanced out the slightly spicier one I ate before it. I would defiantly recommend this place although it is around $10 a person if you are really hungry. We actually ordered 2 each at first and then ended up ordering another one each. I haven't had many empanadas before, but I can't imagine them tasting any better.

    (4)

  • Court P.

    The place is small and homey with a small outdoor patio area if you don't mind eating off a busy street. The menu is simple and I stuck specifically to the empanadas. Being a veggie lover I was happy to find that this joint sells a rather large assortment of Vegetarian options, atypical of most Argentinian cuisine in my experience. I tried three. The spinach, the broccoli, and the eggplant, all of which had different cheeses mixed in. While the fillings of the eggplant and the spinach were pretty darn good with rich creamy flavors filling out the pastry shell, the broccoli left a little to be desired... it was tart somehow, maybe it was the cheese, I don't know, but broccoli and tart don't mix well in my book. As for the shell itself, I was a little torn, it tasted fine, but they were deep fried. I used to go to a restaurant called "Little Joe's" in Orange that closed down some years back. They would bake their empanadas and I must say, for health reasons and to some degree the taste, I preferred it that way. Being that some of you are of the variety that will deep fry anything just to see what it tastes like, ala twinkies at the fair for god's sake, this may appeal to you. For me, it was a demerit that will go on their 'permanent record'. All in all, I thought the meal was okay but will probably only revisit if I cant find some better empanadas in the area.

    (3)

  • Leland S.

    Story: Checked this place after class and my colleague/carpool buddy recommended this place. Ambiance: The restaurant is a small corner shop with an Argentinean feel from the art, the food, to the music.. Tables are set up for 4 people are less. It is a little charming place you would not really expect in the OC. Food: Brocoli Empanada Simple cheese and broccoli balanced with the baked dough of an empanada. The mix is a good compliment. Chicken Empanada Chicken with unique argentinean spices. The chicken was not too dry and was well marinated. I enjoyed this down to the very last bite. Picante Empanada Not exactly my cup of tea. Perhaps because it is the conventional empanada I see in other stores. Still a decent taste with a good kick. Caramel Canoli A not too sweet and delicious treat. I am not much of a caramel fan but this made a positive impression. Customer Service: Our cashier was awesome. She was helpful with helping us decide and offered a sample of one of their desserts! Overall: This spot earns 5 stars. It has a one of a kind, local cultural feel. No other place with these type of empanadas. Customer service was excellent, food was served quick, and my tummy was happy. Expect to see me back! Advice: -Great place for a date night!

    (5)

  • Zach P.

    Some of the best damned empanadas I've ever had. Better than the ones you get at the farmer's market. You have to try the Picante which is a mix of mozzarella, poblano peppers and tomatoes. The flavors blend perfectly. $2.99 a pop, cash only.

    (5)

  • Dayanera C.

    HANDS DOWN favorite go to lunch spot. super cute, hole-in-the-wall, family-owned restaurant with such a lovely staff. these empanadas are so yummy, sometimes I catch myself coming here once a week, oops! beware, they are CASH ONLY, and closed on mondays! see you there

    (5)

  • Yu H.

    Came here for sweets. The staff was really nice and let me try alfajores and canoncitos- both were delish! And outdoor seating looked lovely and cozy...

    (4)

  • Sophie F.

    I'm from Argentina so I'm very critical about the food that is served in Restaurants in the States. But besides this, I don't care if it is an upscale restaurant or a small shack like this one I expect good customer service. The food was alright, nothing that I would wanna come back for, I'm actually being generous giving them two stars. I ordered the Milanesa Sandwich and it tasted like re-used oil... not a second time used oil but multiple times...I actually came out of the place smelling like oil, and it wasn't a pleasant thing. The empanada was not impressive. I did enjoyed the Chimichurri sauce. But the most awful thing about the experience was the customer service. It was a Wednesday afternoon and I basically ate by myself no other customers were there so plenty of opportunity to please a customer. Well...no. The two employees that were there were conversating with each other, totally ignoring me. The place is small enough that you can hear everything I probably would have been better eating in the patio. What bothered me was that while I was trying to enjoy my food they were not trying to be quiet, they were discussing very loudly how one had been getting sick to her stomach and that she had gastritis. Come on!!! It wasn't a brief conversation they kept on and on about the Gastritis... Needless to say I didn't finish the sandwich and I couldn't get out of there fast enough. I was surprised this place had such good reviews. On another note their Dulce de Leche was completely overpriced, the center pieces on the tables had spider webs and they only accept cash. Who doesn't take credit cards now a days...Never coming here again!!

    (2)

  • Melissa D.

    My word, this place is incredible. Had three empanadas (spicy cheesy beef, arabe, and another spicy one--with some chimichurri sauce on it), we also had the lomito cordobes sandwich (skirt steak sandwich). Had an iced coffee to go with it. AMAZING!!! So glad this is so close to home. We will be back! It's cash only

    (5)

  • Kyle B.

    Yummy empanadas in a strange strip mall location. The food can be a bit heavy, and I don't think I needed to indulge in three in one sitting. The prices are plenty reasonable and I wanted to try all the different flavors. The tamale we sampled was also quite good.

    (4)

  • Yan L.

    Mmmm. Empanadas. I'm so happy I found this place on yelp! An empanada place that's not in LA woo :-) It's located in a strip mall next to Rite Aid. When I walked in, it was like I was transported to South America. The decor inside is really cute and it truly felt like I was not in Costa Mesa. There's both outdoor and indoor seating. The outdoor seating is cool but it's right next to the main road so a bit loud. The food was soo good and the lady who was working when we came was super nice! She gave us complimentary pastries to try since we've never had them before. I got the cheesy spicy beef and the Criolla. The Criolla was ehh but the cheesy spicy beef empanada was great. Not too spicy for me and very flavorful. I will definitely get that again next time. :-) I did take a star away though because I was pretty disappointed at the fact that chimichurri costs extra!! What's an empanada without the chimichurri!? My Argentine friend once told me that you are supposed to eat empanadas with it!

    (3)

  • Matt And Tay L.

    Best empanada's around! The owners are super friendly and nice and anything you try here will be fresh and amazing. It is fun to sit outside on a nice day and they will bring you whatever it is you ordered. It is visible if you are driving on Harbor but it is next to the parking lot that has the Rite Aid. The shopping center it is currently in isn't super busy but that makes for easy parking and orders to go.

    (5)

  • Jeff L.

    I ordered 4 empenadas -criolla -beef -spicy chicken -potato The criolla and the beef tasted basically the same to me. Both good but I'd pick the criolla over the straight beef. The spicy chicken was my favorite. I enjoyed the fresh of taste of veggies and chicken together. The dough was good too! Service was friendly, and the place has a nice atmosphere, I'm a fan.

    (4)

  • Rashod B.

    I visited this lovely place alone on a Sunday night. Considering the Yelp reviews, I was surprised that it was completely empty. The place is small and intimate. I order the combo but then realized it was cash only. The lady was very kind and gave me one for free so I could taste the product. I order the beef and its was tasty. I didn't like the olives but it was very good. Really cool that she let me try one for free. I definitely plan on going back (with cash).

    (4)

  • Juan V.

    Best empanadas i have tasted. My favorites were the Arabe & chessy spicy chicken! DELICIOUS! Im glad the original location is in culver city because thats much closer to me!

    (5)

  • Michelle H.

    They are all delicious but I highly recommend the criolla. The atmosphere is average but the food is why you come.

    (4)

  • Alicia A.

    Very darling hole in the wall place with fresh flowers on each table. Very limited menu, the salads were very fresh. Really best for grabbing some empanadas to go. The list of meat and vegetarian empanadas was quite a large variety to choose from. The empanadas were a lot larger than I'm used to and were tasty. Unfortunately I didn't see they had a green sauce to dip into, until I was finished eating. The only drawback was that they advertised that the used foster farms chicken, UGH! not a chicken company I would ever choose, I understand that a small place like this probably can only afford that chicken, just don't advertise it. Might I suggest Mary's organic chicken. The free cookie was a nice treat.

    (3)

  • V N.

    OMG! Raisins in the empanadas--yummy!! Had the criolla & cordobesa empanadas and they were EXCELLENT! Great food, friendly service, Clean, well decorated place with fresh flowers on the tables. Will definitely come back!

    (5)

  • D D.

    It's been a while and I was feeling something authentic. Ordered some spinach and cheese empanadas. They were great!

    (3)

  • Jesse S.

    What a wonderful surprise! Can't say that I had high or low expectations for a first time visit. The empanadas we had we're all excellent and not greasy at all. My wife & I, agree that the spicy chicken empanadas were tops, while the spicy beef was just a smidge behind. We ordered to go, so can't say much about the place other than it looked like you could get a nice quite meal. My wife liked the decor & can't say I paid much attention. If you like empanadas, I totally recommend this place. I know we'll be going back!!!

    (5)

  • Julie V.

    Strolling down Harbor, I always see this place. Always. It isn't hard to miss since they're right on the street and have a nice cursive styled "Empanada's Place" sign. My roommate and I finally decided to try it out and we were both thoroughly impressed. The restaurant is small and quaint but has a real Argentinian feel to it (don't take my word for that cus I'm not Argentinian, sorry!) The tables seat a minimum of 4 and they also have outdoor seating. Every table had a beautiful floral tablecloth and a vase with flowers. It was lovely indeed! Aside from the restaurant, the empanadas were delicious!!! Roommate tried a beef and spinach and I tried the original and chicken. I really enjoyed the chicken and spinach. They didn't have ham and cheese when I went but hey, I can always try again another time. I am definitely going back to try other things on the menu since everything looked/sounded good.

    (4)

  • Bryan M.

    Place is my older brother'a favorite spot! The Beef and Cheese empanadas are huge and sooooo bomb! Place is cash only!

    (4)

  • Lindsay R.

    Hands down the best empanadas I've ever had! We love the picante empanadas!! Tons of vegetarians options too

    (5)

  • Shinobu K.

    I knew nothing about Empanada until I read my friend Naomi T's great reviews (but her places were kinda out of my way). So I started searching! I found this place atcually only a block away from my usual shopping at Marukai, Costa Mesa. So I jumped there with joy, had to try it.. Went early in one early afternoon, could see some people did phone orders and waiting to pick up! Great! To me that's a good sign, so what if my order for 3 empanadas took like 15 minutes, fine with me.. I took them home, ate them with my Mom, tried to figure out what's so good about it?!?! They were tasty!Great! They were not small, yet if you were to have a decent complete meal, you'd need to eat 2 or 3 of it, maybe with a salad.. Is it worth it?.. I don't know.. That's the problem..I meant, by then, it's easily $12-15 a meal?? Correct me if I'm wornig.. Yelpers, give it a try and let me know.. I'm giving it 4 stars. Why? The food to was made to order. Tasty! Yes! But my problem was how to make it an affordable meal!?!? Help me out on that?!?!

    (4)

  • Megan F.

    Was at a beer festival last night and this guy told us about this place, and how amazing g it was, so we decided to check it out. He was not wrong

    (5)

  • Christine R.

    I am now addicted to their empanadas! This little place is hidden in a small strip mall but the restaurant itself is charming. The staff is ALWAYS very friendly. Food is made fresh and tastes delicious every time we have been there. There is also outdoor seating to enjoy the great Summer weather of Orange County. Glad I found this little hidden gem in Orange County. I visited Chile and Argentina and loved the empanadas there. Now I can get them without flying 4,000 miles!

    (4)

  • Paola C.

    Friendly staff and delicious food !! And an assortment of vegetarian options!! Wish they took debit card but I also like the cash only idea ... Makes it feel more authentic !

    (5)

  • Catherine P.

    A lot of variety here and the empanadas are stuffed with delicious goodness. They have every kind of empanada you can think of and really tasty homemade desserts. You can't be in a rush when you come here because everything is made to order. So there will be a waiting period of about 10-15 mins. But it's well worth it because the food is excellent! They have a decent sized menu and everything I've tried I've absolutely loved. The empanadas are never chewy or over cooked, but they are always perfect consistency. They have some flavors for their empanadas that I've never had before, so when I go there I try to be adventurous and try new things, but everything I've tried so far has been really good! They even have a pizza empanada. Great place to try.

    (5)

  • Thant T.

    Really tasty! Got the spicy beef and the arabe. Spicy beef was better of the two, which I didn't find to be spicy...still good though. Arabe has a lemony taste to it. They're filled w meat carrot pea and potato. I absolutely love pastries w meat so this is right up my alley. They were $3.25 each which is prob just a tad much but they were still worth it. The vegetarian options are $3. I called ahead to get mine to go. Took about 10 mins. Cash only. Lady who was working counter was super nice. I'll be back. Esp since I live close by.

    (4)

  • Irina T.

    Reading the reviews by other customers makes me so sad because now I'm not sure what to believe when I look for a good empanada place.... The empanadas were basically flavorless. The dough itself was nice and they were fried thoroughly, that was about it that I can say was authentic. My friend and I ordered four different kinds, the spicy beef was the closest to an actual empanada we got to taste. The kitchen couldn't handle cooking sandwiches AND flan (yes people - sandwiches and...a dessert....) at the same time - so we were basically unable to order 2/3 of the menu since sandwiches were obviously out, and so was dessert (flan was being cooked, and the bread pudding was done). We were also a bit confused why we got one tiny sauce holder of chimichurri for four empanadas and two customers. Sorry to all of those who swear by this place, and I hate to do this, but let's get real - you're not gonna find real food in OC. UPDATE 15 MINUTES LATER: Friend had thrown up last night - definitely stand by my review.

    (1)

  • SJ B.

    Grabbed a couple of empanadas to go but would have loved to stay and enjoy the quaint and sweet decor. This place is great for a quick lunch. I liked the spinach and cheese empanada.

    (4)

  • Mindy T.

    I love this place! I'm always amazed how empty it is...although it is tiny and I eat at weird times. It's family owned and they're really sweet, they've given me free cookies! The empanadas are delicious and made fresh to order. You won't regret trying Empanada's!

    (5)

  • Desiree O.

    Ok so I have to review this place because they deserve it. THIS Place is AMAZING so bomb.com lol. I have tried a few flavors and they are all great so I'm excited to try more and more. The cookies are all so amazing I took a order to my husband and he ate the more they were going out of style ahah. Please.Please . do yourself and your taste buds a favor and try this place it very reasonable pricing and great.

    (5)

  • David S.

    CASH ONLY! ( very small place don't forget or you'll be walking over to the rite-aid) Love this place, friend recommended it a LONG while back. I go once a week. My favorite empanadas are. I am more used to latin foods so these are my favorite Criolla,(traditional south american) Arabe ground beef with lemon juicyness. It's my favorite! a very light flavor and not heavy or very strongly meaty tasting. and I flip flop for my third empanada which is the potato/Cheese or broccoli/mozzarella, or cheesy spicy chicken (very tasty). my bf who has very standard Californian Americanized tastes likes Picante cheese and onion (this one is a tad sweet because of the onion) Potato and Cheese I eat them all with the chimichurri (*sp) sauce which is kind of like a mild light relish flavor. and I also get the Yerba Matte(*sp) tea and don't forget to get a cookie which are tasty as well and they have two desserts. Either a flan or a bread pudding. They kinda taste the same to me but I prefer the bread pudding more I think or the little dessert cookies.

    (5)

  • Lorenzo P.

    very polite hostess/server. good food. I was happy to support small business.

    (4)

  • Peter P.

    I didn't have any cash on me when I came in but they still let me order and eat and then go get some change afterwards. That was really kind of them. They have plenty of different types of empanadas with meat and also vegetable empanadas too. You can sit outside, but you would be too close to traffic. They have bags of Argentine yerba mate for sale here, so you can get your Argentine and Japanese shopping done in one stop; Tokyo Central is very close.

    (3)

  • Brigitte O.

    I was really excited to try empanada's Place because it is hard to find good empanadas in orange county. The eggplant empanada was by far my favorite I also really like the lemon and beef empanada. It tasted like something my grandma used to make when I was little. There was also a spicy beef empanada that was pretty good We were not a fan of the empanada that had egg and raisins in it. I'm sure some people like it because it is touted as the traditional empanada from South America -- it was just not part of our flavor palate. You can get the empanadas with a side salad that was really refreshing and helped cut the grease. While we were there we saw people pick up takeout boxes of a dozen empanadas

    (3)

  • Joseph C.

    Great Empanadas. I really liked the variety and how well prepared everything is. You can tell that everything is handmade and the flavors are wonderful. You have about enough room for 15-20 people in the dining room and maybe 8 outside. The place is really never crowded so enjoy at anytime of the day. P.S. Rite Aid is right next door, grabbed a cool refreshing beverage and was allowed to drink it with my meal, hint hint...

    (3)

  • Anna A.

    I feel like I'm sitting in a friends dining room:) you can enjoy some homemade empanadas with a sweet atmosphere. Tons of different ones to choose from. I like the chicken.

    (5)

  • Bill S.

    This place is awesome. It's a small place with only a couple tables inside but they have outdoor seating too. It's cozy little place. The lady taking the order is very helpful. They only take cash, so be prepared. I had the Cheesy Spicy Beef. It was awesome. And it was perfect for me, because I am not a spicy fan, but it was perfect

    (5)

  • D Q.

    I like supporting mom and pop places but I've had much better empanadas at farmers markets. I think they use too much dough in each "pie" however it is good and adds a different variety to area. I did get some insane acid reflux the night I ate here.

    (3)

  • Jaraldo M.

    These empanadas are super hot fire! just two will fill you up for cheap!! Don't even think about getting empanadas anywhere else.

    (5)

  • Nhi V.

    First time here and I like it a lot! Place is small with about seven tables inside and few tables on patio. Food - lot of different empanadas! Ordered: Criolla spicy beef chicken arabe spinach Each empanada is pretty big. You can get a combo with two empanadas and a salad for about $8. My favorite was the spinach and spicy beef. The amount of filling in each empanada is just right. The staff was pretty friendly. Definitely coming back here again.

    (5)

  • Vanessa N.

    Found this place on Yelp even though have driven by it several times. It is a very small, simple place. I ordered 4 different types of empanadas to try. Made to order and steaming hot !!! Have to say the spicy beef and chicken were my favorite !! Definitely will return when I am in the mood for fried goodness !!!

    (4)

  • Oli M.

    I hate when places only accept cash. Other than that, empanadas are delicious. Tried 3 different kinds, all great. The Arabe was funny shaped though and a lot smaller than the others which was disappointing for me and my abnormally sized appetite. Friendly staff, got food about 10 ,injures after ordering at noon on a Saturday. Small place seats about 30 max. I'll be back when I'm feeling fried food. The Yerba mate tea was tasty too.

    (4)

  • Wendy H.

    My first time having empanadas ever! They're good, but am I in love? Not quite. The service here is amazing! The woman was very helpful in recommending what's good. 2 is good to fill you up, but I got eye hungry and ordered 3! Of course I had to take to-go. I got the spicy chicken w/ cheese, potato & cheese, and spinach. My favorites are the potato & cheese and spinach. My friend likes the pepperoni one. I heard this is the best empanada places around!

    (3)

  • Sandy J.

    Not the best I've tried. Pricey and i hate when they charge so much for chimichurri sauce, should be included w empanadas. Only Cash, thank goodness i had just enough!

    (3)

  • Vika S.

    I had empanadas first time in my life. Loved it! Cheese beef was the best. We tried chicken, spicy chicken, cheesy beef and something else. I don't eat hot spicy food, but spicy chicken was almost not hot. Price is $2.99 each, very cheap. The empanadas are pretty big, two is enough for an adult. Hot mate tea is also good. It is pretty strong. The place is clean, the service is fast and very friendly. The only thing is that they accept cash only. I was lucky we had some cash! I'd recommend this place.

    (5)

  • Christian C.

    The food is great. Don't come with a big apatite or else you won't stop eating. I recommend umm... Everything!!! You'll enjoy it.

    (5)

  • Viswa V.

    Great quality food. I never tried Argentine cuisine before and this place was a great way to try Argentine food. Though they don't have a big menu they specialize in empanadas and that's the only thing u might find on the menu.... but its worth a try fpr thw speed of service and taste.

    (4)

  • Terry I.

    Decent food, but waaaasy overpriced at $3.29 an empanada. Other places of similar quality are about half the price. Would not repeat.

    (3)

  • Vic C.

    Came here with my husband a few months ago after we walked out of Moscow Deli due to lack of service. We were hoping to grab something to eat in here but unfortunately were blatantly ignored by the employee inside the kitchen. The employee saw us but never at all acknowledge us or told us to wait or anything. We kept trying to get the employee's attention to come over to take our order but that employee just stayed in the kitchen. Then another employee came inside and saw us and just said hi and walked to the back where the kitchen was and didn't bother to ask us if we wanted to order anything or not. So this place deserves a 1 star just like Moscow Deli for lack of service. Perhaps there's a pattern of lack of service in this plaza.

    (1)

  • James Y.

    Meh. Like The rating says. Ordered a beef empanada and a grilled steak sandwich. Both were disappointing. The flavor for each one was lacking. The grilled steak was a bit dry. i guess that's why this place was empty was i stopped by on a Saturday around lunch time. I've had better tasting steak sandwiches at local burger joints. My favorite empanada spot is still in santa ana. Search for empandas in santa ana and you'll find the spot i'm referring to.

    (2)

  • Denise M.

    Yummy need to work through all the flavors Not a large variety of dishes just empanadas.

    (4)

  • Giselle B.

    We do mostly take out and did it back before we were gluten-free and if I miss anything about being gluten-free it's these delicious empanadas. I can't recommend them enough! Any of them will be freshly made, piping hot and delicious. So good!

    (5)

  • Sarina W.

    When I first started dating my boyfriend, he would randomly surprise me and my family by bringing us some fresh empanadas from this place. My personal favorite is the not-so-Argentinian ham&cheese empanada. I also love their pepperoni, beef, and chicken empanadas. They are so delicious and so many to choose from. The people who work here are so sweet all the time as well. You just really can't go wrong with any empanada that you choose. You just gotta try them all and I'm sure you'll have a favorite or two or three. :)

    (5)

  • Tina W.

    I love eating Argentinian empanadas. I like trying different kinds from different restaurants. But this place truly surprised me with many different types of empanadas that they had. The secret to anything tasting good is in the spices and herbs and this place does a great job with that.

    (5)

  • Jim F.

    My girlfriend is very picky about her empanadas (she's Argentinian) and this place is on the top of her list... after her mother's recipe of course. :-) We typically go for the criolla empanada as it's a little sweeter than the others and includes an olive and raisins inside. I don't usually care for raisins but I don't mind them in the mix here. I'm also a fan of the arabe empanada which is a little more sour with lemon juice and onion. If you're an empanada fan give them a try.

    (4)

  • Ron S.

    CASH ONLY.. (which is good for me, cause it limits my ability to buy more then i need) Um. so I drive over an Hour just for a few of these tasty gems. best restaurant bought empanadas i've ever had... not to be confused with the home made variety (but what kind of knuckle head compares homemade food with restaurants?) the crust is flaky and buttery the filling is so flavorful and juicy. the menu selection is vast, though at times limited to what is available due to people ordering cases before you get there. but i won't hold that against them. the service is always kind and helpful. they always insist on NOT TIPPING, so i can afford to buy another empanada. So i do both in spite of it. I'm craving a few right now as i write this. I just love this place.

    (5)

  • Andria A.

    This place is a wonderful gem of Costa Mesa. It's Argentinian, and I an always impressed with their quality. It's a very small store with extremely friendly customer service. A little pricier now, but it's worth it. SPICY Beef is the best!

    (5)

  • Judy H.

    Great service, I always get the same lady, she is super nice. Very tasty empanadas, decent selection. Good prices, around $3 per, but boo to the cash only.

    (4)

  • Brit K.

    Ridiculously good empanadas, the pepperoni is awesome. The service is great, and the food is better. Try the sandwiches as well.

    (5)

  • Danny V.

    I enjoyed the food and the service. It was my first time there today and I plan to come back again tomorrow. I am from out of town and we don't have anything like this before. I hope to visit again.

    (5)

  • Melissa S.

    Read the reviews & decided to stop in for a snack after getting me car washed. I tried to chest spicy beef & arabe and both were delish!!! The seasoning in both was perfect. Reminded me of my nina's food...Yum! The service was friendly & offered hot sauce that was just the right amount of hot for a lightweight like me. She also came by to check on how I was doing & refilled my beverage. Will definitely make another trip back. Homestyle place

    (5)

  • Brian D.

    Another place that I had passed by hundreds of times but never stopped in for a bite. Well that all changed this weekend. My lady and I went here for a quick lunch. The place was fairly empty except for a table of 10 or so people that had not yet ordered and were in the process if making tough decisions. The reason I mention this was the waitress was kind enough to separate herself from the group and take our order first cause we would only be ordering a few empanadas. With about 18 different empanadas to choose from hence the store name, it was a tough decision to make. We ended up both ordering the cheesy spicy beef empanada and I also ordered a spicy chicken with my better half electing to order a vegetarian type empanada. We took advantage of their outdoor seating because it was such a beautiful day outside. As we enjoyed the weather and scenery of Harbor Blvd., we were happy to get our orders I timely manner. Now the empanadas: The Salteñas (Cheesy Spicy beef) Ground beef w/ peas, carrots, potatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese. The Pollo (Spicy chicken) Fresh California grown chicken w/ bell pepper, onion, tomato and spices. The Fugazza (Onion and Cheese) freshly cut onions plenty on mozzarella cheese with a touch of spice. All three empanadas delicious. They had a crispy shell with hot and tasty fillings inside. All were 3 bucks a piece. We did splurge for a drink a piece which made the bill exponentially higher considering the inexpensive empanadas. But all in all a great experience. Looking forward to going back and trying their many other variety if empanada fillings.

    (4)

  • Debbie Z.

    Just ate here for the first time. Can't wait to come back and try more. The empanadas are so delicious. The crust is light and flakey. The spicy chicken and the picante are great. The place is decorated very cute. Staff is very nice and welcoming.

    (4)

  • Matthew M.

    This place is really good. The lady who runs it is very friendly and makes sure you are satisfied. Got the chicken, spicy chicken, spicy beef, broccoli, and arepa...so delicious. I would come here again but I recommend you only eat 3 at the most during a visit. The amount of MSG in these things is coma inducing. Try the cookies because they are the best thing in the world. I almost bought a box of them to go. It's about 20 bucks for 6 empanadas and they are decent in size so its worth it.

    (4)

  • Jeff K.

    i've had this place booked marked for ages! AGES! and now finally i can knock it off my list. YAY! i tried the Araba, criolla and the spicy cheesy beef. if i had known better, i would have ordered 3 of the cheese spicy beef myself. that empanadas is so money!!!!! the other two were good, but not as heavenly as the spicy cheese beef one. they also have this special ketchup... i can't place my finger on it... but its different. lol. i was constantly using that on my food. my coworker got a chicken sandwich and he said it was pretty decent. my cravings for empanadas only return like once a blue moon, but when it does, i know where to go next time! maybe i'll try the veggies ones next time as well.

    (3)

  • Sheila M.

    Woah! I will say I was expecting a lot because of the other amazing reviews and... I was impressed! My boyfriend is an avid empanada fan, and he will try them everywhere, and he was very impressed by this place as well. They have about 8 Vegetarian empanadas and 10 meat empanadas (ham, chicken, beef, pepperoni). We tried the Chicken, Ham & Cheese, Potato & Cheese, Corn.. My fave (from those): HAM AND CHEESE! num num num! Least favorite (from those): Potato & Cheese because the potato was so tender that it just kinda smushed with the rest of the ingredients and a little too much cumin Many PROs: - Each one is only $2.99 ($30 for 12) - They are pretty darn HUGE - Amazing amazing crust! - The place is very clean - Nice outside seating area - Very simple menu - Their Chicken empanadas are made with only CHICKEN BREAST (of course, I asked!) Few CONS: - A little silly, but I'd love one with egg? (please!) - Some of the empanadas could be a little better flavored. From the ones we tried, about 2-3 tasted very very similar - IT'S CASH ONLY! (there's a Rite Aid a few steps away that will give cash-back) I'm sure we'll go back and try the rest, so I'll update my reviews later!

    (4)

  • Arpita S.

    We stopped by to have a quick lunch. We were so delighted to see the place. It's a small restaurant with a very lovely decor. The lady at the cash counter was very friendly and cheerful. We had veggie empanadas. Potato empanadas were good. I liked the other veggie empanadas too.

    (4)

  • Van N.

    These empanadas were quite delicious, don't get me wrong, but they weren't the best ones I've had. BUT you might say I'm comparing apples to oranges bc argentenian empanadas are so different from cuban emapanadas versus mexican empanadas.... and so on... -[[ Cheesy Spicy beef ]]- Not spicy at all, which is a good thing for me bc i suck at eating spicy foods. It was definitely cheesy. The beef was seasoned well. It was good, but not GREAT. -[[ Criolla ]]- I enjoyed this emapanda much more than the spicy beef one. The flavor is much more unique. Its sweet and savory all at the same time! Of note, the emanadas are quite large. I think 1.5 empanadas are good enough for me! -[[ Dulce de leche rolls ]] - Crispy flaky rolls stuffed with dulce de leches = heavenly!!! I brought in a box to work to share and it was completely gone within the hour! Note: I only had 2 other coworkers with me, lol. -[[ Dulce de leche cookies ]]- Same dulce de leche filling, but squished between two short bread ish cookies. The cookies were lacking in flavor in my opinion. The rolls are much more yums. SERVICE// The lady who works there is SUPER nice. I asked her what the cookies were on the counter and she just gave me free samples! Then I ended up buying a box full of the dulce de leche rolls. -{{ Overall tastiness experience }}- I give it 3 starts. Again, it was good, but not great. Had better, but I would still come back when I'm craving it. P.S CASH ONLY, poops.

    (3)

  • Akiko I.

    - Locale Destination - It's in a little shopping plaza on Harbor Blvd and Baker St in Costa Mesa. Quick service though, many people seemed to call ahead for their orders. Decor is charming. Outside seating is kinda nice. Little pop & mom place. They don't

    (3)

  • Kimmy P.

    When we walked in, it immediately felt homey and cozy. The woman who served us was very kind. She also gave us each one of the dulce de leche cookies at the end of our meal and kindly asked us how we would like to split the bill (there were three of us). The empananas themselves were delicious. None of us had eaten Argentinian empananas before. The shells were deliciously crispy and the insides were piping hot with interesting flavors. I was afraid the spicy cheesy beef would be too spicy but it wasn't spicy at all. Definitely cheesy though! The sauce wasn't spicy either (chimichurri sauce?) but my companions thought it complimented the flavors of the empanadas. I also tried the criolla and I think it had the most interesting flavors. I tried the corn empanada - it might have been my favorite one because it was cheesy, creamy, and the sweet corn was very satisfying inside of the crispy shell. Each empanada ($2.99/ea or $32.99/doz) is rather large so two is probably enough but three is if you want to indulge or be very full depending on your appetite ;P There is an extensive menu of both meat and veggie empanadas so we will be back to try more!

    (4)

  • Jason M.

    I was looking for something different in the area. Saw how well liked this place was and nearby. I was very pleased with my meal. Burnt the crap out of my tongue but I can't blame anyone but myself for that. I got the Criolla and Spicy Cheesy Beef. Both were good but I preferred the Cheesy Spicy Beef. I also ordered a dozen of the cookies to take back to work. They are wonderful and everyone loved them.

    (4)

  • Derek I.

    Found this place on Yelp. We used to live in San Diego and didn't have many places where we could get food like this. Entraña is a gift from the gods, and their entraña sandwich is simple and satisfying. The chimichurri sauce adds a subtle hint of flavor to the sandwich. We had the traditional empanada with beef, egg and raisins as well as a spicy beef empanada (peas, carrots, potatoes and ground beef). Both empanadas were flakey and had a wonderful doughy texture. It's a definite great hole in the wall place to try out.

    (4)

  • Lucius M.

    Take care when biting into these baked entrees from an Argentinian heaven. The roof of your mouth is likely to be scorched very quickly if you bite into one that has just come out of the oven. With a little patience, I could easily come back repeatedly and work my way through the entire menu. For $2.99 each, two was plenty to fill me up for dinner. Although the spicy beef and spinach empanadas that I had today was delectable, I can't wait to try something new on the next visit!

    (5)

  • Jimmy P.

    so good, these are the best Empanadas. went nuts and ordered a dozen of various Empanadas and enjoyed every one of 'em. can't wait to go back. woman staff working was very nice and it's a cash only spot.

    (5)

  • Karla S.

    I enjoyed so much our lunch at Empanada's Place, you will love each kind of empanada. I love the place as well, so much like a home, it is precious. We will definetly come back. The salsa/sauce was not that amazing hmm. Very watery, you can barely taste it, that's the only thing I would change. Also, they only accept cash, how nice if they could get square, or something to pay with your cards.

    (5)

  • Nathalie Nhi P.

    I recently came back from Argentina where I ate empanadas almost every day. Those empanadas were sooooo good and I think the ones at Empanada's Place is very similar. The ratio of meat and bread is just right which is quite important when making a great empanada. I think this restaurant knows what they're doing. The empanadas come out fresh and sizzling hot. You have a great variety of meat and veggie options too. My favorite was the spicy beef and cheese. I didn't get a chance to try the veggie selections which I must do the next time I visit. Pros: Great selection for meat eaters and veggie lovers Huge Empanadas Cons: Price Tip: Skip on the $3 Chimichurri sauce as it wasn't that good. No kick. Too much olive oil.

    (4)

  • tammy t.

    Cute tiny place, nice staff, grrreat empanadas. We had eggplant, spinach, criolla, and chicken empanadas. My favorite is criolla My sister liked the chicken My mom just ate em up!

    (5)

  • Evelyn T.

    I found my lunch at this small Argentine cafe enjoyable. Tango music was playing inside and cookies and teas to purchase were displayed. The empanadas here are large enough that two make for a good meal. I tried their traditional Argentine empanada, the Criolla, which is filled with ground beef, egg, and raisin. Their potato and cheese with cilantro empanada is also worth trying. The pastry covering of the empanadas is very tasty. We were treated to the cookies after we finished our meals and found them delicious. FYI: Empanada's Place is cash only.

    (4)

  • Lica N.

    YUM!! How can you go wrong with pastry stuffed with tasty ingredients and fried! I saw this place pop up on yelp when I was at Target searching for someplace close for lunch. My coworker Jimmy likes to watch what he eats to stay fit and looking good for his man so I was surprised he said yes to eating here for lunch. He always threatens to drag me to his trainer and confessing all my dark sins of my many eating escapades and lack of exercise to compensate it! So I drove across the street over to Empanadas place and ordered 3, the Criolla, Saltena (Spicy beef and cheese) and Arabe. Jimmy got the Saltena and Spicy chicken. They came out piping HOT! yelp.com/biz_photos/WE5F… Criolla ~ The typical Argentine empanada was very flavorful with seasoned ground beef, raisins and pieces of hardboiled eggs. Tasty, Tasty! yelp.com/biz_photos/WE5F… Saltena ~ This one is the cheesy spicy beef version and it was ooey gooey yummyness. The beef was not spicy at all. I will get this one again! yelp.com/biz_photos/WE5F… Arabe ~ This was a lemon herb ground beef seasoning and you can definitely taste the lemon. It was good but somehow I wasn't fond of this one. yelp.com/biz_photos/WE5F… I didn't try Jimmy's as I was pretty full with the 3 that I got. I'm definitely coming back here to try the spicy chicken and some of the vegetable empanada. It's I wish I had you around the corner to my house yummy goodness!

    (4)

  • Tyler M.

    Finally I find an authentic Argentinian empanadaría! I have been searching far and wide for something to take me back to the Argentinian food and culture, and this place has it all. The prices are outstanding. $2.99 for a freshly, delicious, and 100% authentic empanada. I had the criolla and it was so great I went and ordered another. The chimicurri is spot on and complemented the empanada perfectly. I'm excited to try their milanesa and their humitas, but it will be hard to pass up on the criolla any time I'm in here. What originally led me to stumble upon this gem was Yerba mate. Empanada'a Place has a great selection of the loose leaf mate by the kilo. I have searched far and wide in coffee shops and trendy health food stores most places don't have any mate, and if they do it's either bottled or in tea bags. Any true matero knows that the best way to enjoy your mate is with a traditional mate and bombilla. This place has all of the above for the best prices I've found stateside: a kilo of mate $12, an aluminum plated wood mate $20, a traditional bombilla $12. Increíble!!!

    (5)

  • Diana H.

    This a small mom and pop place place that serves yummy empanadas at only $3 - it's cash only. I've tried several now and have not been disappointed yet!

    (5)

  • Dang N.

    3 1/2 stars. Empanadas here are super solid. Would absolutely come back again. And I came and tried 4 different kinds. My favorite was the cheesy spicy beef. Found the dough to be a little thick but still really good. Got the 2 empanada and salad deal, salad is so plain it's underwhelming. Don't think I'd order it again. Service I got was great though, the women behind the counter loved how much I could eat.

    (3)

  • Gigi M.

    I finally made it here!! OMG, variety, varierty, variety!! Over 40+ flavas!! So hard to decide!! Spent $20 and walked out with a box full of yummies! Let's see if I could remember them ... ~beef/cheese ~spinach/cheese ~potato/cheese ~criolla ~ricotta So which one was my fav? Any gueses??? Being a huge potato chic, I was surprised I wasn't all over that one! I loved the Ricotta!!! I'm also a huge cheese chic, so loved it! Second was the spinach/cheese. Friendly service as I waited for my order. Cute, little place, more of a take-out place, IMO. They've been at this locale for 3 years and still have the OG one in Culver City. Thanks for the history lesson! I'll be back to try the other flavas once I lose the 2 lbs. from my first visit! Damn it!!

    (4)

  • Hannah E.

    At dinner, it was deserted but for some to-go orders. Fine by me: our big group got to spread out, order a big selection, and uncouthly saw our empanadas in half, reach our forks across the table, and stab each other's plates to sample as many flavors as possible. The only filling I really didn't like was the spinach - it had something sweet in it, and spinach and sweet things just don't go together according to my tongue. However, everything else was great. Criolla, spicy chicken, tucumana, picante, corn... everything. The hot sauce she set in the middle wasn't terribly hot, and neither were the things labeled 'spicy' on the menu, unless you read spicy as 'full of spices'. Which is fine. Full of spices is sufficient. Not everything needs to burn your face off! Free alfajores for our table for dessert: I'll never like them as much as I did that one time they were made from goat caramel somewhere. But these were good.

    (4)

  • Felicia D.

    I've been meaning to come here and their empanadas. Today I got the chance to stop by. I bought 2 corn, 2 cheese spicy beef and 2 ham and cheese. I've tried the corn on my way to pick up my shoes ( another review)... it was yummy creamy and crunchy. It was still piping hot. The price is 2.99 each or 32.99 a dozen. I thought it was pricey.. but it was actually a pretty big size empenada. Definately will come again.

    (4)

  • Victor O.

    Besides the wonderful and delicious variety of empanadas, the grilled skirt steak (entraña) sandwich is incredible. It comes with french fries, and that combo makes quite a meal. The restaurant is small but clean with an outside dining area as well. The staff is very friendly and attentive.

    (5)

  • Stacey S.

    broccoli cheese empanada ***. I will be back. SOON.

    (4)

  • Jesse M.

    The empanadas are very rich and they definitely don't skimp on the ingredients. Today I tried the spicy chicken, criolla, and spinach. Spicy chicken was the best for me. Normally would be the spinach but tey didn't have a plain spinach or spinach and carrots on the menu and I didn't ask so can't fault them for that. Will be coming back for more but not too often as I'd guess ya not the ultra healthy side of the food triangle

    (4)

  • Annie L.

    Great little restaurant on Harbor st. It feels very sweet and quaint. The cashier/server was very nice and respectable. I had the potato & cheese and chicken empanadas. It was okay. Nothing compared to my girlfriends spinach & cheese and beef empanadas. So much better!!

    (4)

  • Jennie N.

    I had this place bookmarked forever but never really craved empanadas but I'm glad I finally tried it! I had two and they filled me up. Both the cheesy spicy beef empanada and arabe (ground beef) were good, but I prefer the spicy beef probably because it has cheese. I asked for sauce, and whatever they gave me on the side made it taste even better. It was a nice cheap lunch, which was just what I was looking for. The woman offered the guest before AND after us free cookies, but not to us. I don't know why. Whutta I dooo?? :((( I'll try not to hold a grudge but this is dessert we're talking about!

    (4)

  • Jesse D.

    This tiny spot bookends the little rundown stripmall across from Target on Harbor in Costa Mesa. It's cash only (which is a major pain in the ass) and doesn't really have much seating inside. What it lacks in size and acceptance of credit cards it more than makes up for in kickass empanadas. They have many many varieties filled with many tasty ingredients, all which seem to pack a flavor punch right square in your mouth hole! Last time Brittany and I were lucky enough to remember this place and go in for a treat we ordered several. Spicy beef, picante, ricotta, cheesy spicy beef, and chicken were those which we ordered. The only one that left us a little "meh" was the ricotta. All the others were stellar. If that is how they eat in Argentina I am surprised they haven't surpassed the good ol' USofA in fat-assery from eating pile upon delicious pile of empanada!

    (4)

  • Amber C.

    Excellent empanadas! I had the lunch special: 2 empanadas and a salad. The salad was mediocre so I probably wouldn't order it again. The empanadas though, were amazing! I had the beef and the spinach ones. The spinach was my favorite and had amazing flavor. Be advised they only take cash. I'm excited to go back and try one of the other flavors.

    (4)

  • Eric L.

    Cash only. Based on how quickly I received my empanadas, they're probably prepared in advance and then fried to order. 3 empanadas will serve 1 person. I tried the criolla, arabe, and spicy chicken. The criolla was the best, a combination of ground beef, raisins, and chopped hard boiled eggs. The arabe contained lemon-spritzed ground beef. The spicy chicken was something I would not order again. Empty. The restaurant was empty at 12:45 on a weekday. It you're in the mood for empanadas, this is your gold mine. It not, steer clear. You can find better food other places.

    (3)

  • Maggie G.

    Empanada's has been a few blocks from my house for years now--and I finally just stopped in for lunch on a recent Saturday. It's small, cute, clean place, only about 7 or 8 tables--and thankfully, I got the last one. It's a place where you order at the counter, but they bring everything to your table. The lady at the counter--I assumed she was one of the owners, was really nice and efficient. And I am a stickler for efficiency. I ordered the lunch special: 2 empanadas of your choice with a green salad. Good salad with baby greens, spinach, tomatoes and carrots--very colorful and fresh. The empanadas were huge! Every other place I've had empanadas, they were about fist-sized (my small fist). These were about 6" long, 4" high, and 1 1/2" thick. I had the spicy chicken and spicy beef. Both were really good, but the chicken was my favorite. They also make a smaller empanada in a party pack with a few dozen. Sounds like a plan for the Superbowl!

    (4)

  • Summer T.

    Cute little place. Located in the same Plaza as Rite Aid store. Friendly owner! Great service. Awesome food. I love their expensive ($11.99) Lomita Cordobes sandwich. It was delishhhhhh. I love the following empanadas: chicken, spinach & eggplant. Chicken was by far the best. The beef was alright. I haven't had the pleasure to try all yet but I'm sure it's pretty good. De Leche desserts were delicious.

    (5)

  • Khoa V.

    A cute little place with a flower pot on each table. Very nice decoration. The two ladies talking in Spanish are lovely. Nice place for a date on budget ;) The empanadas are interesting and fun to eat. Have a good deal on getting a dozen for around $29.99. (2-3 of these will fill you) Tamales here are the best ones I've ever had. Only complaint is: cash only. So come prepared :)

    (5)

  • Jane L.

    As far as Argentinian empanadas go, this is the best place in LA / OC. There's another location on Sawtelle in LA near the 405, and this location tastes identical. This OC location is more spacious & cleaner. Both locations are convenient to get to, right off the fwy. I've tried many empanadas in and around LA, and this place is the most authentic... simply the best! Their desserts are awesome too :)

    (4)

  • Brandon L.

    Good Empenadas. Although they did mess up my Girlfriends order over the phone and charged her $20 extra, I will never order over the phone but may stop back in for an empanada.

    (4)

  • BBQFireGod Z.

    When I ate there, it was okay. When I ate there the empanadas warm or Brady then filling and somewhat dry. The service was good the place felt like mom's place, but the food was marginal I really didn't see it being all that.. Place wasn't bad, but it is more than likely somewhere I would not return to

    (3)

  • Nam B.

    Pretty decently stuffed empanadas (about 4 inches) for $2.99 each or $32.99 per dozen. Spicy Beef/Saltena (ground beef, peas, carrots, and potatoes - made Northern Argentina style) is not spicy at all, but does taste scrumptious. Picante/Aji Picante (poblano chile, onions, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese) is the moderately spicy one that's like a chile relleno empanada. Pepperoni/Chorizo Colorado (pepperoni, bell peppers, onion, mushrooms, and onions) reminds me of Hot Pocket pizza pie, but way better of course. Arabe/Lemon Herb Ground Beef (ground beef, tomatoes, onions, lemon juice, and spices) is shaped like a funny triangle - it's my favorite due to the nice lemon & seasoning taste.

    (3)

  • Char G.

    Wow! this place has good reviews. um... Maybe I ordered the wrong thing? I luv Empanadas so I decided to stop by this place. I will say the service was decent, the place is small & they have outside seating. I had beef Empanadas with peas & carrots! very little ground beef inside - I suppose that's a good thing? I think they should change the name to Peas & Carrots w/ Some beef Empanadas!!!!! PS- on the pic I cut it in half & that's what it looked liked... Where's the F'n beef?

    (2)

  • Joann B.

    I found this place on a whim and thought it was decent. The restaurant is small but service is friendly. They must get busy because hey were out of several different kinds of empanadas. They came out hot with a hot sauce on the side. They are cash only. I would recommend the ham and cheese one and the spinach. I wanted to try several others but they were all sold out.

    (3)

  • Jenny S.

    Angela W: Where should we go eat? Me: Want to try Empanada's Place? Angela W: pulls out iphone to search directions* Yeah what's it called? Me: Empanada's Place PLAIN and simple! this place sells deep fried empanadas for about 3 bucks each and not much else! we ordered two from the meat menu ----criolla: tasted a lot like meat you'd find in a mexican taco ----arabe: the lemon complimented the mixture of beef nicely! & two from the vegetarian menu (the worker's suggestions) ----the spinach: with cheese.. it was only okay ----potato and cheese: tasted like chicken pot pie.. mMm the outside of the empanadas were nice and crunchy, but i've had better empanadas at the century city farmers market.. i felt like the ones here had more crust than filling the girl working here was very distracted.. forgetting to gives us utensils!! unless most people are expected to use their hands?.. but she was nice enough to let us sample their desserts which they sell by the boxes, one being a crumbly shortbread caramel sandwich and the other a rolled puff pastry with caramel filling..neither of which won me over the decor is cute, each table is covered with a floral table cloth and a vase of real flowers! CASH ONLY

    (3)

  • Bryce C.

    This was my first visit and I was skeptical coming into it. But; I'm glad I got over my fear of fried, Argentine food. Being timid, I went with the ham and cheese. The woman who runs the place is so friendly, and didn't laugh at my horrible attempt at speaking Castellano. I haven't been in a while, so I'm thinking I need to make the trip.

    (3)

  • Robert G.

    It's pretty damn good. Good variety of empanadas. And their sandwiches are really good too. Only thing is they don't take credit card. Cash only. Other than that, no complaints!

    (4)

  • Peter P.

    Bomb diggity! I remember trying this place when they first opened a couple years ago and not being that impressed. However, I got a craving for empanadas the other day and decided to give them another shot. I can now safely say that their empanadas are super tasty and delicious! The empanadas are perfectly fried so that they have a slight crisp on the outside, but the shell is slightly chewy and the filling is piping hot and moist in the middle. My favorite is the Criolla which is the most typical style of empanada. It contains ground beef, raisins, green onion, eggs & assorted spices. Yummy! I find the setup of the restaurant slightly odd though. I picture empanadas as being sort of a street food, quick cheap eats thing. Nothing glamorous, but I don't get that vibe from this place. It's sort of a quasi fancy sit-down restaurant where you order at the counter and then you sit down at small glass top tables. The empanadas are brought out to you on ceramic plates with silverware. Are you just supposed to cut them up like a steak and then stab it with your fork? As Nancy G. points out, you just wanna pick them up with your hands and and devour them. Empanada's Place only serves empanadas and they do a great job with them. They are $3 each or $30 for a dozen which is pretty cheap considering the size of them. My only problem is that I can eat 3 or 4 of them when I'm really hungry. Add tax and empanadas are no longer cheap eats. :(

    (4)

  • Paul O.

    I only ordered the beef empanada and the pork empanada. I also had a cappuccino. The empanadas were wonderful! I wanted a light meal because I ate somewhere else earlier an wanted something to take home with me. I really want to go back and have a bigger meal sometime soon. The woman at the counter as very pleasant. My sister and I had our cappuccinos and talked with another customer for about a half hour. The place is very clean and comfortable. The atmosphere was very relaxing.

    (5)

  • Remie M.

    My roomie and I had dinner here on Friday. I LOVE everything abt this place! Service was SENSATIONAL! Super friendly and fast! I had the spicy chicken empanada and the ricotta cheese with mushrooms, AMAZING! Its not like those small dinky empanadas, they are huge! Inside sits abt 10ppl or so. Very cozy and quiant place! I was super stuffed!

    (4)

  • CJ E.

    I wish I could give them a better review, but they refused to serve us unless we took our food to go. After watching the sunset at the beach, my husband and I were looking for a dog-friendly place to grab a quick dinner. After mapping this restaurant I saw that we would arrive over 20 minutes before their posted closing time. Having worked in the food service industry in my youth, I know that it typically takes staff a few minutes to close up after they stop serving, so we made the drive over. We sat on the patio but were told we couldn't order unless it was to go. I would suggest they adjust their closing time if they want to be more than just a take-out joint!

    (1)

  • Heidi A.

    3.5 stars Authentic Argentinian food. The woman helping us out (i'm assuming is the owner) is super friendly, talkative, and enthusiastic about everything. Gave us some free alfajores when we were heading out! As for the meal I ordered 4 empanadas ( I took 2 home to my parents). I got an Arabe (my favorite!), Criolla, Beef, and Spicy Chicken. They were were perfectly crispy and so tasty. Two empanadas suprisingly filled me up. However I would say that all the fillings were pretty salty. Not gross salty, but pretty salty. Be advised? Arabe and Criolla were great. Beef was too salty, spicy chicken was alright. Next time ill try different ones, but you definitely need to walk it off after eating these crispy fried packages.

    (3)

  • Dan N.

    The crust, oh mah gah! Cheesy Spicy Beef: This was one of my favorites. The spice is very mild. It adds warmth rather than a spice factor. Very flavorful. Spicy Chicken: Not as good as Cheesy Spicy Beef I would say. The beef seemed to have melded more with the flavors than the chicken did. Criolla: I liked the Spicy Beef a bit more but I only had a bite of it because it was my friend's so I can't give it a proper review. Potato and Cheese: This was the only veggie empanada that I had and it was close to good. I think this one needed a little something. The other empanadas had lots of flavors so compared to them, the P&C was slightly bland. Luckily I had salsa packets, from Disneyland, and that added the missing "something." I wish I had hot sauces for the savory empanadas. I got these to go and ate in the car. Haha Definitely will come back, my new local snack stop.

    (4)

  • Sofia A.

    Amazing little hole in the wall place. The empanadas were hot, crunchy and just plain delicious. Only complaint I have is that the spicy beef and spicy chicken were nowhere near spicy, but that's OK. Can't wait to come back and try the others.

    (4)

  • Christine T.

    Criolla - juicy and it has raisins! probably my favorite Arabe - beefy and juicy Corn - cheesy and sweet Spinach - pretty good, one of my favorites Empanada's are pretty big, ordered 4 and split it. i would definitely come back to try the spicy chicken. They also have a store out in LA. Cute small place, and they only take CASH. Best empanada's i've had in California...

    (4)

  • Omid A.

    Unique - small hole in the wall - great food - home made But fried food (hence Empanada's)

    (4)

  • Tammi T.

    Girls, what to eat when you get the pms - cheese and potato empanadas. Guys, save yourselves from hell and buy your girlfriend cheese and potato empandas. And serve it with a nice cup of hot chocolate. With a sprinkle of cinammon. It's been a while since I've wanted to rush home to write a review and these empanadas just hit the spot. After seeing some yummy looking empanadas served by an Argentina restaurant last night I really wanted to get my hands on some. I've had Empanada's Place bookmarked for a while and finally made my way there today. We got the spicy beef, spicy chicken and the criolla. Hubby was a little disappointed they're fried, not baked but it's all good for me. Loved the spicy chicken and the criolla was alright, very comforting. I ordered another spicy chicken and potato and cheese to go. The desserts were delicious as well.

    (5)

  • Joe P.

    I have been here for dinner as well as for take out. What a great place! I usually order a combination of beef, potato, spinach, chicken, et al. That way I can stuff myself and save some for another meal. Much better compared to the empanadas you can buy in DT Huntington Beach on Tue night. Not greasy and stuffed with fillings. Pretty authentic as empanadas go. Many Latin cultures have empanadas, as does Spain and the Philippines. What's not to like about nice fillings inside fried dough that is not greasy? The only reason why I did not give 5 stars is because the place is tiny and only accepts cash

    (4)

  • Keoammara C.

    Love the idea of these delightful items but wish they had just simple empanadas to enjoy. I'm not always a fan of all the ingredients they use so it sucks picking it out. Can't order your way at all but in the end they do a good job.

    (3)

  • Renee H.

    I am a huge fan of things fried, cheesy, and meaty. Empanada's Place has got me covered on all (delicious) bases. Across my visits, I've had the criolla, cheesy spicy beef, tucumana, cheese and onions, and spinach empanadas. They have all been fantastic. Each has a gloriously crispy and oily pastry shell housing a piping hot filling. The empanadas with cheese ooze as they should, and I've found the filling to be fairly generous. The empanadas themselves are fairly large in size, and two can definitely fill you up for a meal. At the counter, they stock these dulce de leche cookies that are just scrumptious! The dulce de leche is peeeerfect, and they crumble so wonderfully in your mouth (and all over your clothes, if you eat like me). The owner is very nice, and she gave me my very first cookie to try for free (and I think once or twice after that). If you've never had empanadas before, I recommend you try your first taste here. Just remember to bring cash! No credit accepted.

    (4)

  • Kris C.

    This place is small and cozy. When I walked in, I immediately felt like I was at my grandma's house. Except that my grandma can't make empanadas like this, Or at all, for that matter. We tried the potato, criolla, spinach, chicken, and the corn, eating 3 each. My partner is a vegetarian, and we really appreciated the slew of veggie options. The empanadas were really good, no complaints here. The crust was flaky and the filling was nicely spiced and flavorful. We ate the alfajores for dessert and took a container home. They were soft and pillow-y with just the right amount of caramel. Be prepared- it is cash only.

    (5)

  • Jenny L.

    Large portions and it's cheap. Freshly fried empanada. I liked the spinach and cheese more than the beef empanada. Cons: cash only

    (5)

  • Rick G.

    Love coming to this place, fresh made empanadas. There is no place like this in the area. Don't forget about dessert, I was turned on to them by the owner who gave me a sample.

    (5)

  • Lara C.

    OK. Ya gotta understand....When I was 9 years old (a whole lotta years ago!), my family lived in Mexico City. On the nights we'd go to the movies, after the movie, we would go to an empanada shop. OMG...I loved those empanadas! Especially the shrimp ones in a flavorful creamy sauce. The crust was soft, yet crispy...and the whole thing was SO fresh!. They were my favorite food in the whole wide world! Now, back in the USA........nada empanadas. That was in the 60's. Started to see empanadas, maybe in the 90s. Not that good. Like English pasties...too thick, too heavy, not a lot of flavor. Sometimes the crust was tough. Or maybe it was made with pizza dough. Nothing tasted like what I remembered in Mexico City. Alas, over time, I begin to doubt my memory. Perhaps my expectations are too high....perhaps the empanadas I remember, as I remembered them, were just a figment of my burgeoning imagination. Fast forward to last week: I'm tooling down Harbor Blvd on my way to God knows where when, what catches my eye and drags it down the road? An empanada shop....Empanada's Place. I file it in my tiny mind, but I've been burned before so I am not optimistic. I check Yelp reviews. Hmmmm....some very good reviews here, but what do they know of good empanadas? It's a good bet they were never 9 years old in Mexico City. Boy howdy! Today, I went for it...went for them. One each corn, spinach, and spicy, cheesy beef (I knew the folks back at the office were going to ask for a taste). The crust! OMG! It's the crust of my childhood memory! The fillings were tasty...all of them. And they didn't have a shrimp empanada (please read this, please offer a shrimp empanada....Henry would like it and so would I!!!). But I am a happy entity. The girls that work there were delightful (and, yes, I got cookie samples, bless them). Service was fast enough. The place is clean and orderly. I will be back.....probably on a regular basis and then some :):):):):)

    (5)

  • Quoc N.

    Great place. Simple but awesome food. Has a lot of selections and it's a cozy place! It's a must try but definitely once in a while for me.

    (5)

  • Dani S.

    I'm starving, it's Easter Sunday and only fast food joints are open! Smart girl Dani here pulls out my trusty iPad, opens the Yelp app and voila! Got the Criolla Empanada for $2.99, it was definitely good, but I was just spoiled by Porto's earlier in the week, so my standards are high. The ground beef, raisins, egg center was very tasty, but the outside shell leaves much to be desired. Service is very friendly, and bathroom has been remodeled and very clean.

    (3)

  • Epi I.

    First, these are DEEP FAT FRIED, not baked like most people think they are. I ordered 3 different kinds: criolla, spicy chicken, potatoe. The potatoe doesn't taste any different than anything else with potatoe I've tasted before. The other two were just OK. They're nice and big and the dough is crispy but I could see some fat on them from when they were in the fryer. I prefer these empanadas to be baked instead. On their website they don't give the prices or they don't say these are FRIED! The staff was very friendly at this location while I was the only customer there. Was this hard to understand female taking my order. Also, they only accept CASH - WTF. ....

    (2)

  • Hion L.

    Empanadas here are really good. So good in fact that you may find yourself singing tunes from the Evita soundtrack. They have about 20 different varieties, so there is one that will fit every taste. Had the Criollo which is a ground beef mixture with potatoes, raisins, egg, and spices. Cheesy Spicy beef was also very good with mozzarella oozing out. They do the empanadas perfectly as they are crispy on the outside and the filling comes out piping hot on the inside. Their chimichurri sauce is excellent accompaniment with garlic, parsley and other herbs in an oil base, sort of like pesto.

    (4)

  • Nogg M.

    My favorite empanada place in Costa Mesa! It's a small mom and pop shop that has very cute tables inside and also an outdoor seating area. Ambience is great for a date. I've had several of their empanadas, I would have to say my favorite ones are spicy beef, corn, eggplant and spinach!

    (5)

  • Breana K.

    I'm writing this from the tile of my bathroom floor. Less than 24 hrs after trying this place, and I'm praying to the porcelain gods. I'm not sure what their food handling practices are, but I definitely regret trying this hole in the wall place. Worst part is...the taste wasn't even worth it. The ladies were super sweet though. I'd only go back for conversation...definitely not food. Ughhhh I'm hating life right now. Somebody make it all go away.

    (1)

  • Mike T.

    This little store did the empanada world some justice. Great variety of empanadas to choose from reasonably priced at $3 each Enjoyed the araba the most, that lemon zesty taste mixed with the beef was tantalizing. Outside patio gives of good vibes. The bright colors and decor definitely adds to the Argentina experience. To top it all off, our server Yamel was kind enough to hand us out a couple of dulce de leche pastry rolls for free. Yum. Make sure you bring some cash!

    (4)

  • Margo D.

    Cash only! We ventured out from our usual lunch places and came here and I'm so glad we did! This place is in a non-descript shopping center and the restaurant itself is tiny. The restaurant is clean and cute with fresh flowers on the tables which barely seat 4, photos of kids (I'm assuming family) and various Argentinian coffees and goods. They have a lunch special where you get two empanadas and a salad for $8.99 which isn't that bad considering the empanadas are big and one alone is filling. I ordered the poblano Chile and spicy beef, both had great flavor and with a little chimichurri sauce on top you can't go wrong. I can't wait to go back and try a different empanada, they have so many to choose from! However, if they run out they run out so come early if there's a specific one you want.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Tue

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : No
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : No
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Quiet
    Alcohol : No
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Empanada’s Place

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