Best Empanadas In Orange County
Empanadas are the perfect addition to a picnic or a tailgate party. These tender, flaky pastry pockets filled with everything from fresh corn to spicy beef make empanadas an Argentinian comfort food favorite. Whether you're looking for vegetarian, meat-filled or desert empanadas these restaurants are the top five places in Orange County to satisfy your empanada craving.
The Empanada Man
20761 Lake Forest Dr
Lake Forest, CA
(949) 855-9257
www.empanadaman.com
This beloved Lake Forest restaurant may offer the most affordable empanadas around. Neighbors love this spot for their authentic stuffed bites, offered in unique flavors such as tuna with white sauce and Hawaiian style featuring Canadian-style bacon and pineapple. If you are craving breakfast for dinner their scrambled egg empanadas are served all day. Catering is available for your next party when you're looking for the perfect finger foods to serve your hungry guests.
Inka Mama's
26741 Aliso Creek Rd
Aliso Viejo, CA
(949) 360-6263
www.inkamamas.com
At Inka Mama's the preparation of your meal captures the ancient human tradition of family celebration. The owners brought their Mama- Fortunata's individual recipes from Peru to create a place that is rich with traditional Peruvian flavors and culinary techniques. The draw here is the large variety of Pisco Sour (Cocoa Leaf Cocktails) but nevertheless, the empanadas are equally outstanding. Try the beef empanadas bursting with with onions and olives or the spinach and mozzarella cheese empanadas.
Empanada's Place
3011 Harbor Blvd
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 825-0100
www.empanadasplace.com
Although a cash only establishment, this Argentinian café offers affordable empanadas that are overflowing with ingredients and spices. If you come during the week you can order empanadas with the choice of salad making Emapanada's Place a great option for a lunch deal. With almost 20 varieties, there is an empanada for everyone.and their cocktail sized empanadas are great for large groups. End on a sweet note with their flan casero, homemade flan topped with caramel sauce.
Villa Roma's
La Paz Village
25254 La Paz Rd
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
(949) 454-8880
www.villaromarest.com
Villa Roma is one of those unique restaurants known for combining Argentine and Italian flavors inspired by "La Boca", a neighborhood of the Argentine capital. They are also known as one of the best restaurants for authentic empanadas! These traditional argentine turnovers come stuffed with your choice of beef, chicken, ham/cheese, or spinach and they are baked, not fried making them savory and light. Villa Roma Restaurant is an upscale restaurant, so dress to impress or choose the market and deli side for a more casual experience.
The Empanada Maker
26131 La Paz Rd., Suite B3
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
(949) 470-4830
www.theempanadamaker.com
Located near the Mission Viejo High School, The Empanada Maker has a fun back story: Cameron Davis, the owner of The Empanada Maker lived in South America for a few years as a teenager and he fell in love with the ever-famous empanada. He couldn't wait to come back home and share his newly-found favorite food with all of his friends and family so he opened up his first restaurant. Among the standouts at The Empanada Maker are the chicken Florentine empanadas (stuffed with artichokes and mozzarella cheese) and the Philly Cheesesteak empanadas (filled with thin sliced beef, sautéed peppers & onions, provolone & cream cheese). It would be a sin to leave without trying one of their five decadent dessert empanadas like chocolate crème brûlée or guava and cream cheese as these sweet treats are amazingly delicious.
Melodi Steinberg is a freelance writer out of Orange County. She typically covers food and family lifestyle topics. Her work can be found at www.eatdrinkoc.com and www.familyreviewguide.com
