Empanada Specialists Open Sunny North Park Kitchen | Eater San Diego

"Starting out as a vendor at the North Park Farmer’s Market in 2016, Empanada Kitchen — co-founded by Matias Rigali and Dan Housenga and based on Rigali’s family recipes — is returning to the neighborhood to open a second storefront, debuting Monday, September 23, in the same El Cajon Boulevard corner complex as The Heart & Trotter Butchery; its first shop opened in February 2018 in downtown San Diego. The casual, North Park eatery centers around handmade, baked empanadas with core and seasonal flavors ranging from traditional beef served with chimichurri sauce to ham and cheese, braised lamb, and vegan ratatouille, and also offers salad and alfajores (delicate Argentine cookies filled with dulce de leche). Empanada Kitchen operates a wholesale arm supplying local cafes including Bump Coffee Roasters in Cardiff and Jaunt Coffee Roasters in Miramar, and the partners say they will continue to focus on wholesale while exploring more shop locations. Hours are 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Monday–Thursday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Friday, and 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Saturday; the North Park eatery will start serving beer and wine later this fall, and a grand opening party is scheduled for Friday, October 4." - Candice Woo