9 Julio Empanada Kitchen

I ordered from 9 Julio's Empanadas for an event for 40 alumni in the Bay Area. The reviews from the attendees were really positive. I ordered their farmers market salad, empanadas (vegetarian, meat and dessert), steak, plantain chips, and some other delicious dishes). The process was easy from placing the order to delivery. I was hosting this event and flying from Los Angeles in a space co-hosted in the Bay Area so I wanted great and delicious food but didn't want to worry about the food logistics. I wanted to worry about the event only. The food was fresh and sourced locally.

We hired 9 Julio for a special non-profit founders reception for a group of about 50. Working with Erica, the owner, was a breeze. Her prices are affordable, she worked with us to adjust the menu to our needs, delivery was on time and came piping hot. Our guests raved about the empanadas and skewers. I look forward to hiring her again for our next catering needs. (Note - in the photo it shows the food on ceramic trays. We repacked those from the aluminum trays provided by 9 Julio onto our own platters.)

Delicious. Ordered two chicken empanadas and some sides. (Rice, Plantains) The crusts of the empanadas were perfectly crisp and light. The fillings were delectable and everything was well balanced and in the perfect ratio. The dips and salsas were amazing. Chimichurri was out of this world. I would totally get chips and dips as a snack and be totally happy. They also have catering and it would be such a great way to feed a lot of people - so much better than boring office sandwich catering. Vibe- The attention to detail on the interior decor is top notch. Buenos Aires imagery makes you feel like you are eating in South America. Nice drinks and atmosphere. Amazing service. We asked a ton of questions and always were greeted with a smile. Great for a quick bite or a casual meal with a glass of wine.

I had the harvest spinach salad 🥗 with chicken. The flavors were amazing. You start with the marriage of the spiced sweet potatoes with the crunch of the candied pecans. The chicken was tender and perfectly spiced.

Pictured here are the chimichuri steak and potatoes. Plantain chips and an avocado dip. The steak was tender and well marinated. Potatoes were good like a smothered, then mashed potato. Plantain chips light and crispy. I ordered a pineapple Agua fresca that could have been sweeter but definitely good. Nice clean, cozy restaurant with window countertop seating. This place definitely brought more variety to the area.

We have had this reastaurant deliver food for several events now. They are consistantly on time, professional, easy to work with and the food is amazing! Our clients tell us it is the best food they have had at any event and I totally agree. Thank you, so much, Erika!

We were excited to see this place finally open and came to the soft opening. The inside of the restaurant is small but really cute. We had one of each kind of empanada and my favorite was the Cuban but all of them were good. They are a small size so order more than one per person. We also had the gaucho salad and smashed potatoes - both great!

Very friendly service. A great menu. We enjoyed everything. It may seem minor, but there is real silverware and nice glassware. - that is so unusual for a quick meal place. Next time I'll try the salad we spied at another table , and the chimichurri steak.

Now if these aren't the best little empanadas that I ever did taste! 9 Julio most certainly knows how to do empanadas right. I've tried just about every empanada flavor on their menu, and every single one tastes fantastic! My personal faves are the spinach and cheese, Jamaican beef, and the humita. I like that they switch up the flavors every once in a while so that I can try something new and different (although it sometimes makes me miss my old faves). Erica is awesome! She is always holding down the fort and welcoming the clients. The Agua Frescas are dynamite and I looove the watermelon mint! Would highly, HIGHLY recommend that you give that a try because it's tasty. I've also fallen deeply in love so their gaucho chopped salad. It is so delicious! I typically add steak to it and make it a meal all on its' own. My staff and I order from here a few times a month, and I also pop by for lunch when I can to enjoy a sit down meal inside. They now have happy hour during the week and offer beer and wine. The interior space is bright and cozy. There's no dedicated parking lot, but I've always been able to find street parking (most times right in front of their storefront). They're located off of Claremont Ave but it can be easy to miss. They're right across the street from the Red Sea Ethiopian restaurant. So glad to have this yummy empanada spot nearby! Looking forward to trying some new empanada flavors and more entrees off of their menu soon.

We discovered this place randomly while looking for a low key lunch in Temescal, and then liked it so much we actually came back the next weekend!! Yummy fresh food at reasonable prices (~$36 for 2 people.) My favorite thing on the menu might actually be the smashed potatoes which are tossed in a delicious aji amarillo sauce. I keep randomly craving this- something about the texture and the sauce, it's seemingly simple but perfectly executed! On my most recent visit I got the peruvian roasted chicken, which I enjoyed. Had more of that addicting aji amarillo sauce and the chicken itself was tasty, though a teeny bit dry. I got a side of the 3 pepper hot sauce which made up for the dryness and was overall a great addition to the meal- very fresh and vibrant red pepper flavor. The first time we came I got the steak with chimichurri, which I didn't love. Steak itself was fine (though more well done than I'd expect since menu said it's served medium) but I wasn't a huge fan of the chimichurri. My partner has tried a few of their empanadas, with the chicken roja being the favorite thus far. We both got combos, where you can add a side or half salad and a drink to an empanada or one of their mains. Good deal and they have a good non alcoholic beverage selection ft a variety of aguas frescas and fountain sodas. I am a diet coke addict so I actually love when places have fountain soda :) Service is great as far as I'm concerned- you order at the counter and they bring out your food in a timely fashion. Both times we went the chef/owner(?) actually came around to all the tables and asked everyone how their food was- she was super nice and it's clear she actually cares about the quality of the food and the customer experience. Overall vibe is clean and bright- not busy at all when we went for late lunch on a Friday, so lots of seating available. I will definitely be returning soon- it's nearby, affordable, laid back, fresh and tasty while being not too heavy for a nice summer lunch!

I am absolutely dumb founded at the fact that this place has any more than a 1 star rating. I've tried a lot of empanadas in my life, as my family is Argentinian. I've tried many empanadas in both the US and Argentina, and many of the ones I've tried in the US have been good. This place, however, was not. My two empanadas were so small, and I was really hungry, but I couldn't even finish them. The dough tasted bad, and the fillings were gross. Also, the ambiance was bland, cold, and sterile, and reminded me of a chain fast food place. If you want good empanadas in the East bay, there are other places to go.

This review has been long overdue! I first discovered this place through social media. Needing something for a gathering, I placed an order of 50 empanadas to try all the flavors, and they were a hit! Later, I used a third-party delivery service to get some frozen ones to keep at home. This time, I only ordered the flavors we personally liked the most: spinach, mushrooms, and chicken verde (just my personal taste). Though I hadn't been to the location yet, I happened to drive by one day and saw the restaurant. I walked in and was greeted by the owner, who was incredibly friendly. We had a little chat, and the whole staff was welcoming. Already a fan of their empanadas, I was impressed by how nice, neat, and beautiful the little shop is. I sat, enjoyed my empanadas and plantain chips, and took more home . Last night, when I needed to pick up dinner and I was nearby, I ordered some Peruvian chicken, rice, gaucho salad, steak, and a couple of empanadas, of course! Let me tell you, their chicken is my new obsession. It was incredibly juicy and tasty. You definitely need to try it for yourself!

Delicious Empanadas in the cutest little shop. I got the mushroom, and green chicken flavors. The empanadas were delightful, fresh, well priced and I love that I got to pair mines with wine during a quick after-work link.

Overall a solid choice for empanadas. The shells could have been thinner and tastier - I'd say, forgo making your own and buy La Salteña empanada shells which are the best -, but the savory fillings were pretty good. The Cuban picadillo was tasty and close to my own, while the Jamaican beef added extra spice. The dessert empanadas didn't work well - one reason why dessert empanadas are usually not a thing in Argentina. Read my thorough review here: https://www.marga.org/foodblog/2024/06/oakland-eats-9-julio-empanada-kitchen/

Fairly priced empanadas in a new storefront; shells could be thinner and the classic fillings are substantially better than the fusion ones. But for the quality (and size), these are excellent. It's counter service, with the option to eat in. Overall, a pleasant surprise, especially considering that these trendy new spots usually take a while to find a groove.

Discovered this new restaurant and had the opportunity to attend the grand opening event since I saw it on Yelp events. This restaurant is nicely decorated inside and has a nice vibe on a sunny day. Ordered a couple empanadas with plantain chips and they were all flavorful and delicious!! They don't skimp out on the fillings, and everything was well-seasoned. Service is quick and attentive. Gotta go back and try the other flavors for sure

I got via delivery the chicken dish and two empanadas: Jamaican beef and Cuban picadillo. The fillings were flavorful and got a nice kick. I'd try more things in the future.

Great new fast casual spot in Temescal! The flavors are bold, very satisfying, and really well priced! The staff is kind, and the decor is bright and welcoming. This is such a great new spot in the nabe! Had the Jamaican Beef & Spinach Cheese empanadas -- and both were delicious! I also loved that they came with a side of chimichurri.

Our first time here. Ordered some bits for lunch. Their empanadas are little packets of yummy goodness. Flavorful and the pastry is very nice. Agua fresca was delicious. The spot is a wonderful addition to the neighborhood.

Discovered quite by accident and we were pleasantly surprised with the menu choices. Great flavors, good beer selection and awesome service.

Very tasty empanadas--we ordered the Jamaican beef and chicken salsa verde. The Jamaican beef was very flavorful. The chicken salsa verde was a bit dry but the chimichurri sauce livened things up. We also got the chimichurri steak and rice along with a strawberry lime agua fresca. The steak was medium rare, juicy and the chimichurri was delicious. The agua Fresca was sweet and refreshing. I will be returning to try the other empanadas and the Peruvian chicken. Service is counter service--quick and efficient. The decor is very beautiful---orange and blue tile work, a mural of 9 Julio Street in Buenos Aires, after which the restaurant is named.

Cuban Picadillo and Pineapple Rum empanadas were flavorful and enjoyed the guaclike sauce and chimmichurri. They just opened and my group was the only one there on a Thursday night. It was clean and good prices. The empanadas are not freshly made which was a bit disappointing

Must try!! Stopped by a few weeks ago with the family for lunch and this place was amazing. The empanadas were incredibly flavorful, the staff was friendly and the owner checked-in after the first few bites to see how everything tasted. One thing that really stood out was the design and decor. Simple, bright and contemporary, while maintaining a comfortable family-friendly atmosphere. Check it out if you're in the area, you won't regret it!

So yummy! Really enjoyed the Chicken Rona and the mushroom. The folks who work there were super nice I'll come again for sure.

Great empanadas, great service. Tried them all, my favorites were the Jamaican beef and chicken rojo.

Argentinian style empanadas!!! Crispy dough with juicy and flavorful filling. We tried chicken rojo with a little kick spiciness, the Jamaican beef, the mushroom onion!!! We also enjoyed the chimichurri steak Decorated nicely with murals of the widest avenue across Americas: 9 de Julio Ave, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Attentive and kind service Definitely, a place and empanadas worth coming back!!!

Recently opened and omg it's so good. We've been visiting 9Julio for a while at their farmers market stand and so excited they've opened an eat in. The empanadas are amazing, my favorite is the Cuban beef. Next time will be trying the plates. The whole team is helpful and everything came out quick. Excellent place to stop in for lunch or dinner. We even brought home enough to last through the week! Went back as promised! We had the smashed potatoes and the Peruvian chicken in addition to the plantain chips and a repeat of the Picadillo and Jamaican Beef. The chicken is perfectly spiced and so tender. The smashed potatoes were also very good; added some of the in-house chimichurri and it's a wow. The plantains are well salted, crispy, and come with an avocado dip. Totally worth it. Now have to decide between empanadas and main plates for our next visit; it's all so good.

Visited 9 Julio with a friend who knows the owner. The food was delicious, especially the sauces. In addition to empanadas, they serve Peruvian chicken and steak chimichurri. I tried the chicken, chopped salad and plantain chips. It was all fantastic! The staff was really friendly and helpful. They also do happy hour drinks.

We LOVE these empanadas, amazing staff, and super cute restaurant too! Definitely go check them out

Delicious empanadas. Having been raised in South America I know what a good empanada tastes like. These are fresh and tasty!hidden gem in Berkeley. The sitting area is also very nice. 5/5

Been wanting to try this place for awhile and got that opportunity! First off, staff is awesome. Very personable and friendly. Empanadas were very delish with a good filling, chimichurri was spot on, and the avo-jalapeno dipping sauce was a good take on guac (plantain chips were also quite good). Definitely going back and suggest you check it out!

Really enjoyed the empanadas, esp Cuban beef and Jamaican beef. Good aguas frescas, tasty salad. Also a really nice interior and good service.

Love this place. The salad and empanadas are delicious. The service is great! They are quick when you order to go and friendly staff

Been sampling empanadas lately and this place is wonderful - from the empanadas to the fresh hibiscus beverages!!! Highly recommend!

Back for my second time got the flank steak, gaucho salad and sweet apple empanada. Steak was perfect medium and the salad was fresh and of course empanadas are just so good. I actually ordered every empanadas flavor as take and bake cause I wanted to try them all. Can't wait to bake these at home!

Empanadas were delicious and well priced, with great vegetarian options. The restaurant was also well set up, and really clean. Will be back.

Ordered delivery from the Claremont location. Pricing is out of whack with what the restaurant offers: steak was small given the price point and the chicken empanadas were dry and not flavorful. Same with the rice. Really wanted to like this spot but will not be ordering again!

Argentinian here: these are delicious empanadas! I ordered here a couple of times and my favorite is the spinach empanada. So good! Try it!

A charming and bright escape with tasty food and fresh authentic flavors! We had the family Plantain Chips with a thick and delicious avocado jalapeño dip, the house salad with pulled chicken and the mushroom/onion & pineapple rum empanadas. Everything was served hot and the empanadas were well stuffed and flavorful. I took some empanadas to go and am excited to share them with my family!

Very good food in a nice setting. Chicken, empanadas, and salad excellent. Good size portions. Prices reasonable for 2024.

Amazing empanada's! I wish I took a picture of them but they were all so tasty. I loved that they have aji sauce here. The chimichurri sauce was really good as well. We tired all of the meat flavors and the mushroom. All were a 10/10. Packed with flavor and fresh. The service was amazing as well.

I ordered a few dozens of empanadas for an event. I personally tried the Jamaican beef, mushroom, and dulce de leche/ apple empanadas. All were very yummy. The flavors were authentic, well seasoned, and very balanced. The ordering process and pick up process was easy and efficient. I would recommend this place.

Really enjoy this empanada place. Great selection of empanadas, sides, and beer & wine. Clean & stylish casual dining room. People should visit this spot!

The BEST empanadas in Claremont Oakland I ordered the salsa verde empanadas with chips they were smackin the place was clean and the service was 1000% highly recommend if your by the DMV getting ur license, ID or passed ur behind the wheel test to grab a great bite to eat for lunch or tonight's dinner

We went to the soft opening in Oakland today. Everything was so flavorful and delish! I ordered the two empanada combo with Jamaican Beef and Chicken rojos plus the plantain chips with the house spin on guac, steak chimichurri and hibiscus aqua fresca. The flavors in everything were vibrant and fragrant. The plantain chips are an amazing snack with or without the "guac". The texture of the "guac" was so smooth but did not take away from the guac-ness of it all. It really is an amazing pairing. Everything that I had today will bring me back before the end of the weekend.

Everything I tried was DELICIOUS! I've passed this place a lot since I go to acupuncture down the block. I finally stopped in and the service was friendly and fast. I tried the cheese empanada, chicken salsa verde, and a strawberry lime agua fresca. Everything was super flavorful and tasted fresh! I saw the remodel they did to the place over the time I've been going to acupuncture. Everything is nice and new inside and looks really bright. Can't wait to come back!

Went to the new space in Temescal. Empanadas are still amazing and restaurant was really cute and nice. They also have beer and wine! Excited that they have a permanent location and will be adding this to our rotation.

This is a nicely redone space with a good vibe. The staff are super friendly and service was quick. Of course we were the only ones in there so that helped. The food was delicious but the chicken was a little dry and burned. We had the restaurant week special for 2 with the mushroom and spinach empanadas and smashed potato in and fried plantain sides. Our friends had the portobello and beef chimichurri empanadas. All of them were delicious if not a bit small. But we were really happy with the veg selection! Plus we tried the pineapple and apple dessert empanadas and surprisingly loved the pineapple one best. We would come back hopefully when they have their wine or beef tastings in the evenings.

This place is a dope empanada spot. The flavors in every bite are simply delicious, and the service is top-notch, making you welcomed and valued. Everyone in our party enjoyed their meals, including my picky 11 year old. Do yourself a favor and get the chicken salsa verde and pineapple rum empanadas. The restaurant itself is warm and inviting. From the cozy ambiance to the friendly staff and delicious food, it's an experience you won't soon forget.

The empanadas are tasty and filling. Our party of five ordered a dozen empanadas, two salads, sweet potato chips and a chimichurri steak. We also ordered the Jamaican punch and the Agua Fresca Strawberry lime which were both refreshing. There are a variety of beverages available including beers on tap. We shared all the food and still had leftovers. We loved everything we had and all of us definitely would return as well as we plan to order the empanadas half baked and then reheat them at home on those days when you're not in the mood to cook. The service is friendly and top notch with a little dose of a standup comedian. This is definitely a great place with excellent service and quality food for a reasonable price. Our favorites were the Cuban Picadillo and Jamaican Beef. Both salads were wonderful with fresh ingredients. We enjoyed everything! There is plenty of space inside for eating in and it's spotless and clean.

great food and service!!! came in for empanadas and it exceeded expectations. workers were so nice, and the place itself was very clean and new

The mushroom and onion and spinach and cheese empanadas are excellent, well seasoned and tasty. And I love the plantain chips and sweet potato chips, too. What a fantastic addition to the neighborhood!

Finally, great empanadas in Oakland. Friendly staff. The Chicken Rojo and the Apple dressert empanadas were delish. Loved the plantain chips! Looking forward to trying the rest. Bonus: wine too!

A great dine in experience. The empanadas were delicious, chile verde, mushrooms and cheese and spinach and cheese. Chimichurri steak is my favorite, I'll come here anytime for steak. Gaucho salad is a great dish too. We'll be back for sure. Great atmosphere, great music, great food, great service. Highly recommend this place.

Having spent some time south of the border, I have experienced empanadas that lead to craving every time the idea of eating comes up. That has not been my experience at most American restaurants... until 9 Julio. I think I am addicted. Try the Cuban and the Chicken Rojo. From the taste and smell, I am sure they use top quality ingredients. Highly recommended... enjoy the cravings.

This place has great empanadas, chicken, and steak. Everything is organic and fresh. The restaurant is cute and clean and parking is easy.

Best empanadas this side of Argentina!!! Throw in the Peruvian chicken, chimichuri steak and salad options and you could eat here for a week and never have the same thing.

My family and I tried 9 Julio for the first time after the opened, and can I just say that everything is delicious! I especially enjoyed the plantain chips and the chicken rojo empanadas! Not to mention the fact that you can take home empanadas for an event, or even to cook for dinner! All the employees were wonderful. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with intricate wood work and tile design! 10/10 would recommend for any occasion!