Signature Empanadas to Try on Your First Visit to Empanada Mama

Empanadas are the culinary treasure of Latin America. These crusty and flaky pockets of endless flavorful fillings are the go-to meal option for people of all ages and dietary preferences. 

Empanadas are golden, crescent-shaped pastries with both savory and sweet fillings, making them perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert! From tender beef, chicken, and seafood for meat lovers to plant-based fillings for vegans, empanadas are truly a crowd-pleaser. 

The Art of the Empanada: A Bite-Sized Journey Through Latin America

Originating in Spain and Portugal, the empanada made its way to Latin America and evolved into a culinary staple across many countries. Each region brings its twist to the dish, varying in dough types, fillings, and cooking methods. The empanada crusts are originally made with refined gluten-rich flour to give it a flaky texture, but these days you can also easily find gluten-free options. Empanadas can be deep-fried or baked. 

The popularity of empanada grew because of how portable and customizable this pocket full of flavors is. It is a staple at parties, street food markets, professional events, and family gatherings. Catering with empanadas is the new trend in NYC. People like to box it up too, for long journeys or as a mid-day snack.

Empanada Mama’s menu brilliantly celebrates this diversity by offering classic and creative empanada varieties, making it one of NYC's top empanada hotspots. Empanada Mama is a must-visit if you’re searching for authentic Latin flavors in NYC. We’ve been among the best NYC empanada spots for years, and with this experience comes insightful data on what our customers love.  

Let us show you the top-pick empanadas you must try at least once in your life.

Must-Try Empanadas at Empanada Mama

The Ultimate Spicy Chicken

If you’ve never tried an empanada ever, start with Empanada Mama’s ultimate spicy chicken empanada. You can never go wrong with slow-cooked chicken breast with the heat and flavors of Picante sauce. It is a familiar taste served in a new form. 

If you’re a little bit more hungry, we recommend adding a rice and beans combo for a fulfilling meal option or pairing it with guacamole and plantain chips for a heavier snack. You can also have a glass of ginger ale or a coke to wash it all down. 

Everyone’s Favorite: Ground Beef Corn

This Columbian-style traditional ground beef with sweet corn filling probably hits everyone’s bliss point, because it’s one of the most ordered dishes at Empanada Mama. This empanada features a hearty filling of seasoned ground beef mixed with sweet corn, creating a perfect balance of savory and slightly sweet flavors.

If you want to turn this into a satisfying lunch or dinner option, pair it with something heavy like rice and beans, a side of avocado, or guacamole with plantain chips. A tangy or sharp drink like lemonade or passionfruit juice to cleanse your palate in between mouth-filling bites of beef empanada is also a fantastic choice.   

The Classic Cheeseburger

Who says empanadas can't be innovative? The Cheeseburger empanada at Empanada Mama is a modern twist on a classic favorite. With seasoned ground beef, melted cheese, and a hint of pickles, this is a must-try for first-timers who are afraid to check out of their comfort zone. 

At Empanada Mama, we cook the ground beef in traditional Latin spices and grate the goodness of cheddar cheese on top. This gooey flavorful filling along with the crusty pastry is a delight in every bite.

Seafood Special

If sushi is your weak point and you gravitate towards the goodness of fish, crab, prawns, and more, this empanada is gonna impress you hard. 

Empanada Mama’s seafood stew with fresh tiger shrimp & crab meat will take you on a coastal ride in every bite. The fresh ingredients, when well-seasoned and simmered on low heat develop an aroma and flavor profile that’s hard to forget. You’ll need to visit again, mind you!

Cheesy Indulgence

What can scream indulgence more than cheese? Cheesesteak empanada! If your goal is filling your heart and soul along with your stomach, this is it. Top round steak strips, mozzarella, red pepper, and onions with Latin twist, gives a caramelized and creamy filling that’ll drip in your mouth and send you to food heaven. For the next level of indulgence, try pairing it with a side of caramel and cheese and Coke.

Our Bombay Empanada

If you love a flavorful bite of Indian Spices, our Bombay empanadas will soothe that craving like nothing else. This empanada has a filling of chicken and chickpea curry blended with a handful of Indian spices, cilantro, and a caramelized gravy of scallions. 

Bombay empanada is juicy inside and crispy outside. If you love the famous combo of butter naan and chicken curry, this empanada will surely become your favorite. For all of you who are vegan, don’t worry, we can customize this chickpea sauce to fit your preference.

The Dessert Empanadas: Nutella & Banana

Everything ending with a sweet note becomes memorable. That’s why we serve numerous options for dessert empanadas to satisfy all your sweet tooths. 

Among the options ranging from Belgian chocolate to warm caramel, our Nutella and Banana combo has pleased the maximum number of customers. This simple filling is good on its own, but to give it an added layer of sweetness, you can add a scoop of ice cream or drizzle caramel or chocolate on top

Empanada Mama: More Than Just Empanadas

While our namesake empanadas obviously steal the spotlight, Empanada Mama offers an extensive menu with other local and exotic-inspired dishes. Breakfast, soup, salad, lunch, brunch, dinner, coffee, tea, juices and more, you name it and we make it. We also serve healthy salads in tasty ways. From Greek to Caesar salads, we use diverse seasonings and flavorful dressings, so much so that you’ll forget you’re having just another salad day. 

For people who love food like an art, our in-house curated meal options are a must. Our Bandeja paisa — grilled skirt steak, chicharron, chorizo, maduros, fried egg, avocado, rice, beans, and arepa — is literally Columbia on a plate. Gourmet eaters love it. 

The smoking Beef Smash burger and Ham and Cheese arepas are favorites among regulars. Another famous meal option at Emapanda Mama is Arroz Con Pollo, a Colombian-style shredded chicken served with sofrito sauce, seasoned yellow rice, peas, onions, and red peppers served with maduros. 

Whether you’re visiting for the empanadas or branching out to try other dishes, we promise a flavorful journey through Latin America at Empanada Mama. Order online or schedule a takeout for a quick and hassle-free delivery!