It’s empanada time! Tacos of course rule our city but don’t sleep on this tasty convenient and beloved dish that originated in Spain.
Empanadas are so delicious and they are good at any time of the day. Some people like them for snacks, others have them for breakfast, while some people throw them down for lunch and dinner.
You get to decide when to enjoy your empanada because similar to the taco its very convenient and flexible. You can almost put anything in there and it will taste good.
As great as empanadas are there are of course certain places who truly get it right. And luckily in Los Angeles we have some amazing choices.
Here is a list of some of our favorite empanada spots in LA.
1 – Nonna’s Empanadas
Description:
Nonna’s empanadas have been delighting us for 12 years with their amazing empanadas. Handmade and always baked, not fried or oily. They serve over 30 different flavor empanadas, Oh my!! And don’t forget to add one of their great sauces classic or spicy, or get some extra chimichurri.
Not afraid to try something different and step it up a bit? Try a guava empanada with spicy sauce, yum!
Nonna’s has three convenient locations all with the same amazing flavors and you find them at Americana at Brand, LA Farmers Market and Beverly Grove.
We love to order some to go because they are the perfect party dish.
Location: 8556 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Pic Credit: @nonnasempanadas
2 – Rincon Chileno
Description:
This spot in Melrose has been there forever and serves some darn good South American food. If you love this type of food and haven’t been here yet we recommend you check them out.
Rincon Chileno serve sandwiches, stews and more don’t sleep on their empanadas. They serve a large variety of them, with some coming in large sizes.
Food here is freshly made and very tasty, and also very authentic from South America which is very distinct in flavor compared to Central America or Mexico.
If you enjoy or want to try Chilean food this is your spot as this is as authentic Chile as you’re going to get in the States.
Location: 4354 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029
PIC Credit: @ntmrkt
3 – Porto’s
Description:
Porto’s is much more than just an amazing Cuban bakery in LA, they are a nostalgic beloved tradition to many Angelinos.
They first opened in 1976 and many locals grew up with trips to the bustling café.
Their menu is ridiculously good with so many options to spoil us but we are going to talk about their amazing chicken empanadas. They are filled with slow cooked Cuban style chicken breast, carrots, raisins, peas, onions, tomato sauce and delicious Spanish seasoning.
You can find Porto’s in Buena Park, Burbank, Glendale and Downey.
There are so many tasty things on the menu but we do recommend you try these tasty chicken empanadas on your next visit.
Location: 7640 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90620
PIC Credit: @portosbakery
4 – Sus Arepas – Food Truck
Description:
Want a deep fried empanada? Colombian empanadas might be a little different than what you are sued to, made with corn maza and they are deep fried, stuffed with beef or chicken and potato. These bad boys are served hot, crispy and with a green picante sauce.
Sus Arepas is a popular food truck featuring arepas from Colombia and Venezuela, their menu which has plenty of satisfying craving choices, brings the authentic deep fried empanada.
They usually show up at special events but seemed to have a more constant home at Smorgasburg every Sunday. Whether it catching them at Smorgasburg or finding them somewhere else, its for sure worth the search to sink your teeth into one of these bad boys.
Location: 785 Bay St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
PIC Credit: @susarepas
5 – LALA’S Argentine Grill
Description:
This sit down restaurant is popular for its friendly service and has a remarkable menu with delicious Argentinean dishes.
Argentina is known for great empanadas and Lalas Grill does not disappoint because they are really good.
With this being a full service sit down restaurant the emphasis on the menu isn’t the empanadas but you can find them in the starters page or in the lunch menu.
But don’t let the lack of attention fool you, these are authentic Argentine empanadas that taste incredible. You can enjoy a variety of empanadas including beef, chicken, ham and cheese, cheese and onions, or spinach.
While most places on this list are for grabbing a quick bite you can sit back and take your time with your empanada here as they also offer coffee, beer and good Malbec.
You can find their restaurants in Studio City, Melrose and DTLA.
Location: 11935 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, 91604
PIC Credit: @lalasgrill
Do you agree with our list or did we miss an obvious one? Let us know by commenting below!