928 Leary Wy NW

If you're craving a delicious empanada, look no further than Maria Luisa's Empanadas. This spot is an absolute gem, offering a mouthwatering variety of flavors that will leave you coming back for more. The savory options are simply divine. From the classic beef empanada, bursting with rich, seasoned meat, to the chicken and cheese combo that melts in your mouth, every bite is packed with flavor. The pastry is always golden and flaky, complementing the savory fillings perfectly. Each empanada is crafted with care, ensuring consistent quality and taste. Whether you're grabbing a quick lunch or catering for a party, Maria Luisa's never disappoints. Highly recommend trying their spinach and feta empanada or the spicy chorizo if you're feeling adventurous. The balance of spices and textures is impeccable. Maria Luisa's is a must-visit for empanada lovers. With top-notch service and unbeatable flavors, it's no wonder they're a 5-star spot! I myself I've only ordered to go from this spot. But I know they run out of certain flavors faster than others.

The spinach one was more cheessy than spinach flavor for my taste. Beef was super good. I will order again. Service felt not friendly after I paid. Maybe because I didn't tip? I don't tip when I do takeout. Sorry They also have something like croissant. It was better than regular croissant. I will get it again.

Absolutely delicious empanadas and wonderful service as well. The space is beautiful and spacious on a sunny day, and I love the assortment of flavors. We split the beef, chorizo, spinach, and a beef lomo (marinated sirloin strips). The spinach was a little too rich for my taste, but the beef sirloin strips was by far our favorite. We also tried a alfajores, which was pretty good although there was an unexpected hit of a citrus or some other spice which was unexpected and not for me. Overall if you're craving a savory pastry or empanada, I would recommend this place without hesitation. The vibes and service were lovely.

Excellent empanada restaurant! The ingredients and the empanadas themselves are so fresh that each bite seems like it's bursting with flavor! I tried to get some empanadas with filling that I haven't had before and that wasn't very hard to do as there were a lot of options to choose from here. I got the Caprese empanadas and the mushroom empanadas. Those didn't disappoint in the slightest and provided a fresh, new take for me with an empanada dining experience. If I actually had to pick from the two I think I would go with the Caprese again as I love the fresh basil and tomatoes and have always enjoyed the sandwich version of this. But before too long I'd want another mushroom empanada too if I lived close enough to become a regular. Steve and I also had some wonderful churros to finish out the meal!

Came here and got a box of empanadas to go. You are able to order online ahead of time, so they are ready for pick up. We tried 6 different empanadas and all of them were very good. Their empanadas are very filling and I enjoyed the dough because it is nice and soft. The empanadas come with chimichurri, which is very good. Their empanadas that come with cheese are very cheesy, so if you're not into a lot of cheese, I wouldn't suggest these for you. The protein based empanadas like beef and chicken are the most filling and flavorful. My favorites were the: fugazetta, which is onion and cheese and their chicken empanada. I would highly recommend this place and will definitely be coming back here.

Was randomly craving a meal with pastry wrapping haha. These empanadas hit the spot! There's a little baby parking lot right outside, but probably ample street parking around. The place itself is kinda like a warehouse. Tall ceilings, exposed pipework, etc. I ordered at the counter, then took a seat inside. I ordered the beef empanada and spinach empanada. They both came out after about 5-10 minutes. They were nice and toasty, crust a little thick, but that was so good for me. The fillings were also fire. The beef was bursting with flavor literally and the chimichurri sauce added a nice acidity and brightness to the otherwise heavy beef. The spinach filling was delightfully cheesy. A bit lighter than the beef, but was nice and creamy. Overall, super yummy! Would love to come back and try their other ones. 2 empanadas were more than enough for me. I was full for the next 5 hours at least LOL

Empanadas were good, not great. Most were lacking in flavor and pastry dough was quite thick. The only one I really enjoyed was the chorizo. The lomo was ok. Dulce de leche had mashed banana in it, which gave an odd texture and flavor. They serve beer & wine for eating in. We got ours to go. Overall, it was ok for a quick bite. But I'm not dying to return for more.

Finally had a chance to check out this space. Had heard great things from friends and was a little early meeting friends at one of the breweries around the corner so swung in. ordered the Lomo and guava cheese. love that they're baked, and they heat them up for you. Not sure if it was a mistake or gift but there was extra one in my box when I finally had a chance to open it. A flavor I hadn't ordered but the other two were correct so a big thank you. I actually ate them the next day heated them in a toaster oven at work. Very generous in size and packed with filling one is enough for a meal but dare you to try and just order one. They had some delicious sweet treats available as well so I picked up a guava cookies like a thumb print that I can't remember the name. I really enjoyed the sauce that comes with it like a chimichurri. Friendly service and self serve lemon water to enjoy while waiting. Spacious restaurant hadn't visited when the deli was there previously. Outdooe seating available nice open space with overhead doors that open to let lots of light in. Definitely will be back to try more on the menu.

Mouth watering experience, perfect place to come with friends and family. 12 different flavors, always something for everyone.

Great empanadas. Most places don't have the variety of empanadas like Maria does. I've been getting empanadas from Maria's since they were in sodo and made them out of the other restaurant. I think they make theirs using a flour based dough, which is common. Rarely do I find them using a heavy corn based. They also make dessert empanadas and have various other pastries and drinks. It's got an empanada cafe vibe. Would be great to come in for a quick and simple date night. I'd even come for a quick lunch with friends or solo. I can't say much about the service because I've never donned in, but the new location is so beautiful I can't wait to come back and dine in. nice job guys. Keep it up.

The mushroom empanada tasted good but it was all cheese, there was essentially no mushrooms which was disappointing. I mentioned we couldn't have anything with spiciness and was told the chicken was fine - it definitely was very spicy and we couldn't eat it. Spinach and cheese pie was very good. I asked for anything spicy (ordered for my husband) in a separate container but the sauce was put in with our empanadas and spilled so that was frustrating bc the kids couldn't eat the empanadas it touched. Overall, the place is good but would be careful with kids due to spice level.

Just simply delicious. I feel lucky I'm within walking distance from here. The empanadas are nice and fresh, and hot when you get them. You order at the front counter, and there's a cabinet that showcase what each empanadas looks like along with what filling is inside. It's a lot bigger inside than I thought. Two long tables with a couple tables. They have garage style doors that open up when the weather is nice. There's a variety of different fillings, and they're packed with flavors. I got the humita and Caprese empanadas. The Humita's bechamel style sauce was so good and creamy, the caprese was loaded with cheese. We also got a kale salad, so it was a nice lunch! They also have sweets that we have yet to tried, but will be back.

We got food here recently for the very first time during restaurant week. We got 6 empanadas (2 each of chicken, beef, then 1 spinach and 1 corn) and 2 desserts for $35. Such a great deal! The savory empanadas were delicious. If I had to choose, my fave would be the chicken followed closely by the corn. But they were all so good! The desserts, though--wow! We had a dessert pastry that was like a croissant with a sweet glaze and it was the best pastry I've had in the US. Hands down. I mean it, it was one of the best things I've ever eaten. We also had a chocolate pastry with orange in the center that was creamy and flavorful--it melted in our mouths. Overall, I wouldn't hesitate to come here again. The staff were so friendly, the food was readied quickly, and everything was tasty. Highly recommend.

Yum!! So delicious. I got a variety of empanadas, because I it is my first time coming here. I just ate one on my drive home, a chicken one, and it was so very good-- really tasty and a good size. The crust is so flaky and beautifully made, and the interor had great flavor. They served the empanadas with salsa verde (incredible) on side. The restaurant is spacious and nice and it looks like it would be fun watching sports during events. I also saw someone reading and working. Seems to have a nice balance. The people were kind and welcoming. Loved the photo of Maria Luisa. I look forward to trying more. Highly recommend!

Best empanadas I've ever had, and I've been to Argentina haha. I tried the Lomo, chorizo, and chicken, and I think my favorite was the chorizo, but they were all fantastic, including the dessert one (dulce de leche and banana)! Friendly service and chill atmosphere too. Highly recommend.

They were good but weren't great. We may have done a disservice by not eating them fresh, so maybe that's the key. Nice place to order and sit down at, or outside. I would try it again, and not order as many and eat there when it's hot and fresh.

Maria Luisa was amazing! I'd been meaning to come down and try this spot after all the rave reviews, and I'm so glad I finally did. It's on Leary in a spot that you can easily pass if you're driving too fast. Not a ton of parking but luckily I went during off hours, so it was easy to park. They have a ton of seating and outdoor seating as well! They have such a good assortment of empanadas, and they're huge! I got the lomo, chorizo, and spinach for me and my partner as an afternoon snack, but we definitely could've gotten away with only ordering two. They come with a chimichurri sauce on the side, and all three were delicious! I think my favorite was the lomo, and my partner is between the lomo and spinach. Don't sleep on the spinach one just bc it's veggie! The cheese in that empanada is so gooey and yummy. Will def be back!

Maria Luisa is AMAZING! I picked some up on a whim and went back for more the same week. My favorites are the spinach, san telmo lomo, and chicken empanadas but I haven't tried them all yet. The empanadas are hefty so 2-3 should be enough depending on how hungry you are. You MUST get the chimichurri sauce on the side. The parking lot is tight so I usually park in the neighborhood.

Empanadas were ok, my struggle was with customer service. Went in and ordered a bunch of empanadas a few days before Christmas for Christmas Eve. When I got home and looked at their site to see hours it advertised 5 empanadas for $25 as a Christmas special, I went to pick up my order and asked the dude why he didn't tell me about the promotion and could he honor it? He just shrugged and said "you had to mention it when you ordered", seems so uncool, I ordered it in the store from him. I didn't even want a refund necessarily but a gift card for the balance would have been appropriate. Didn't appreciate how dismissive it all was. They also gave me about a 1/4 cup of chimmichurri for over 15 empanadas.

Such a savory and/ or sweet treat. It's about time Seattle has brought some different flavors/ culture to town. Caprese and Lomo are soo delicious. I have stopped by at least once a week after leaving the Dog Yard. Such wonderful staff

WOW! If you wanna know what love is then Maria Luisa Empanadas is you savior. Maria hands down is the "The Empanada's Queen of Seattle" and with every bite I take my taste buds rejoice. The gods have answered all my prayers with a baked pasty with meat inside. Yes, for your ultimate mouth watering experience try this Southern Hemisphere delight. For my baptism I ordered a beef empanada and a chorizo empanada, and the explosion of flavors that launched from each empanada is beyond what I expected and unbeknownst to my taste buds I was about to embark on global journey of flavor sensations. Needless to say I finished both and ordered more. A note for the first timer coming in. Ordering is different so once you enter the building, you will locate a sign with bar code. MARIAS menu you will come up and now its time order & pay on your phone and someone will deliver your empanada package. Make sure your paying attention cause they are stealth employee and it will sit there if your playing on your phone. Hope your experience is scrumdiddlyumptious!

As a Ballard resident who is always looking for new quick bites, I've been here 3 times in the last week. Truly outstanding baked empanadas--these are the best I've ever had. They have ample seating and open air seating when weather permits. I highly recommend any and all of them. None of them are too heavy. Such a great neighborhood addition!

Let me order three empanadas at 1:57 pm, without telling me they're two bucks off starting at 2 pm. Is that their responsibility? Of course not. Is it my fault for walking past multiple signs advertising their happy hour special without reading them? Probably. But I remain peeved.

Order online through their website! My girlfriend and I walked here from the Starbucks Reserve nearby. We thought it'd be faster to order in person instead of online, but when we got there they only accept online ordering! The estimated pickup time was 30 minutes, but it actually came out in about 15 minutes. We got beef empanadas and they came out piping hot. Had to eat them really slowly, but it was so delicious. Especially with the green chimichurri sauce on top, which made them even better! Warning: it is super oily and messy when eating! Note: we couldn't find the Maria Luisa store front at first... turns out it is just a little pickup area located within the same building as Cafe Con Leche and Club Sur.

We got a few empanadas to eat at the breweries and they were all delicious! Great spot of you need some quick and delicious food.

Amazing empanadas, fresh and totally flavorful. The service was amazing as well,. Maria Luisa Empanadas is my place for having a great Argentinian treat.

A coworker recommended this place for lunch, and I love a good empanada, so I headed over the same day. When I arrived, I saw a sign with a QR code to order and was directed to their website to place an order. Easy enough, but I wish I had known to do this before arriving to save some time. Silly me thought there might just be a bakery case of empanadas ready to go. Nope. I ordered three empanadas and one alfajore. And then waited 15-20 minutes for my food. When placing my order, I did have to select if I wanted frozen or baked... so perhaps I was waiting for them to bake frozen empanadas? There wasn't anyone else near the sign or waiting, so I'm not sure what to so long. CAMINITO "Caprese" - the most untraditional of flavors in my meal, yet possibly my favorite. Nice blend of ingredients and flavor. I would order this one again. FLORES "Humita" - wayyy too much Argentinian sauce and wayyy too few pieces if corn, bell pepper and onions. My least favorite of the three. I would not order this one again. LUGANO "Spinach" - good flavor in this one. A bit more moisture in the filling than I expected... basically I've I started eating it was hard to set it down (sand went for the Flores one). I'd order this again. The chimichurri sauce had good flavor, but I'll skip it in the future as it had to much garlic in it for my digestive system. The Chocolate Alfajor was delicious. Is go back there for this alone!

Maria Luisa Empanadas in Seattle's SoDo/Industrial District was brought to my attention by fellow Yelp Elite friend, Richard U and bookmarked. Also, thanks to another Yelp Elite friend, Elizabeth L's post that put that urgency back on the radar screen. I finally had the opportunity to seek these fine empanadas out, but it also came with a bit of a challenge (12/8/21). This business is located in a building that houses Maria Luisa Empanadas, Cafe Con Leche, and Club Sur. Parking area full of potholes were occupied, so I had to park along 1st Avenue South where all vehicles travel fast - exercise caution. Once inside, someone will check your vaccination status and pretty much you're on your own. The cafe side was busy. The center coffee stand had a line. And the club or pseudo banquet area was hosting some private event. I noticed signage that ordering is done by QR code or via their website. I didn't have great signal indoors, so had to go back outside to place my order, then return for about a 15-20 minute wait since I requested the empanadas to be baked and not frozen. I ordered one each of the Boca (beef), Palermo (chicken), Almagro (ham and cheese), and Lugano (spinach). I also ordered a Chocolate Alfajor. Eventually the goods will appear on the ledge, check for your name on the ticket to claim the correct bag. It was pretty much a mostly contact free transaction. Takeout box had a huge sticker on it giving additional empanada instructions which came in handy. If ordered frozen, you can have your stash that lasts up to three months. No worries there, so delicious, they won't last that long! I did have to briefly refrigerate the Chocolate Alfajor once home. It was placed atop the hot empananda takeout box, so it got kind of melty. Each empananda had its distinct savory flavor in a tasty pastry crust. They were so flavorful, that I didn't even need the chimichurri dipping sauce that was added to the takeout box. These lasted over three sittings and reheated really well, chockful of generous fillings, and not greasy. And that Chocolate Alfajor with the dulce de leche filled cookie and covered with a rich chocolate exterior, absolutely delicious! A definite exclamation point to end your meal. I will definitely have to return and try other menu items. Plus I need to do a side by side tasting between the ones offered from Maria Luisa's and the empanadas and alfajors from another popular site in NE Seattle/Lake City. Again, many thanks to Richard and Elizabeth for their respective Yelp reviews.

First understand this - This place is real (real) weird. This isn't a restaurant, or a cute little pop-up. Its a place to pick-up food within a terrible rundown restaurant, and a gross concert venue. Food: 4 out of 5 stars. - Meat filed options were by far the best. - Cheese filed option were so loaded with cheese, this is all you taste... This may or may not be your thing. "Restaurant" and pick-up experience : 0 out of 5 stars. - This place is not easy to find when you drive by. I hope my photo will help. - Once inside, its confusing. You walk to the side and scan a QR code. No one from Maria Luisa is there to talk to you. - The staff from the main restaurant were annoyed when people ask where the empanadas are. - The people from Maria Luisa, just drop off the bag on a ledge. No hello, no thank you, nada. - Should I even mention that there was loud band practice going on the whole time?! (see attached video). Message to the business: This location is HURTING your business. We watch 4 separate people walk in, ask where the empanadas were, walk around confused, look at the decor, and promptly leave. Heck, we wanted to leave too, but I pushed through. But there's no way you would know this, because you have no representative greeting your guest!!! Consider having an online menu only, and a sandwich board at each entrance of the restaurant. Tell your customers to order and wait in their car. When their order is ready, run it out to them, smile, and interact with your customers... Lots of businesses sharing a kitchen go this route.

OK so first thing - ordering is tricky. Order online. I should have read everyone else's reviews first. Showed up and then had to order via QR code. Oops. Next: you owe it to yourself to do the SRW special. Of all the places we've been to for SRW, there is some substantial discussion that we should be going back to Maria Luisa empanadas and getting more and stashing them in the freezer. You know, because that air fryer is singing the empanada song.... And we have strong inclinations to never try the same place twice. That's how good these empanadas were. Favorites: beef and chorizo. I'd ordered both frozen and fresh and ended up in the parking lot down the street wolfing down a hot beef empanada. It was transcendentally amazing, the right amount of crunch and chew in the crust, just enough al dente, plus the savory spicy juicy beef and onion filling, yeah. I might have been wearing a little bit of empanada after that small feast. There's also one with cheese and thyme that was amazing (maybe the ham one?) I probably wouldn't get the dessert empanada or the alfajores again, and some of the others were good but not our favorites, but the beef and chorizo empanadas are keepers. We'll go back for those. Especially now that we know how to order them!

Delicious authentic argentinian empanadas. Choose from a variety of options ranging from Almagro Ham, Palermo Chicken, Gessel Salmon and La Boca Beef to vegetarian options like Caminito Caprese, Lugano Spinach and Flores Humita. Don't forget to check out their breakfast empanadas and the delicious desserts ! Pickup/Delivery options available. Make sure you order in advance and choose if you want them baked or frozen. They do have a shared restaurant space if you wish to pick up your order and dine in (no service). A great option for corporate events or parties or even for if you just want to grab a bite.

My son and I tried the chorizo empanada. One of the best bites we've ever had! Flaky exterior, perfectly seasoned filling. We'll be back!

Delicious empanadas! The ordering process was a bit confusing as Maria Luisa is purely an online ordering business but the pick-up is inside of a Cuban restaurant. You order online and then walk into the Cuban restaurant. Then slightly to the right at the wall separating the walkway with the bar area, you'll find a small sign for where to pick up the empanadas. The empanadas were flaky on the outside and flavor packed on the inside. Will definitely be back.

Empanadas were delicious! The crust was perfectly crisp with excellent flavor. Very friendly service. Need at least two containers of chimichurri per empanada (need to ask for second as only comes with one). Will be back.

I'm so glad that this place moved from Sodo to Ballard! I got a beef empanada and a spinach empanada. They were both fantastic and correctly seasoned. Also size wise they were big. If you are visiting the breweries close by, come and get some empanadas from here, you won't regret it!

I've tried 3 or 4 purveyors of Empanadas and I got to say these are my favorite. When the latest deal came up I jumped all over it and got 5 for $20 dollars. Yum. I just wish they were also on the eastside so I could shop there more often.

Wow! Excellent Argentine style empanadas! A bit confusing ordering at first! It is currently housed in the same space as Club Sur and Cafe Con Leche. Take out only so you have to order on line only as well even if you show up to the physical location first. You also have to specify if you want your empanada baked for you or frozen for you to warm at home! I tried the spinach (Lugano), mushroom with eggs and cheese (retiro), spinach with egg whites, sundried tomatoes and feta (recoleta), caprese (caminito). They were all very tasty! Great flaky crust and hot pipping filling. Do yourself a favor and make sure you get a jar of chimichurri to schmear on everything! So garlicky and tangy! The chocolate alfajor was a great small sweet treat at the end. I will definitely be back!

Like some other have mentioned, the situation here is confusing. I came here hoping for a relaxing lunch experience after a morning spent working nearby at a different location from my usual routine. They are a sign and QR code inside of Cafe con Leche, which is part of Club Sur. The folks at Cafe con Leche don't seem particularly pleased about the setup and were rude. I didn't feel comfortable in there. The empanadas were high quality but not baked all the way through and had cold pockets. Next time I will order them online and frozen, and reheat at home. The actual quality of the food is excellent-the experience of getting it is a challenge.

The best empanadas I've ever had! The dough is super fluffy and soft and it's stuffed with delicious filling. My favorite is the beef, ham and spinach, but just try them all because it's worth it! Also don't skip the homemade chimichurri!

I've never had an empanada until I tried this place out but wow they're good! Outside is flaky and crispy, while the inside is packed w beef, cheese, chicken etc and dipping in the chimichurri complements the empanadas very well :) the chicken one I got was a little dry and bland and ham and cheese one was just straight cheese and a little much for me. I would stick with the beef one, super flavorful!

Flavorful, homemade, authentic empanadas in Seattle! Thanks to Yelper Richard U for reviewing this hidden gem in Sodo. These cozy empanadas are the perfect comfort food, freshly baked and packed with flavor. Loved La Boca (Beef), Palermo (Chicken) empanadas - juicy and hearty. Lugano (spinach) was a sleeper hit! Flores Humita (sweet corn) was savory with a unique flavor profile. Online / mobile ordering makes it extremely convenient to order a dozen empanadas or however many you'd like! Ordered a dozen for 5 of us to share. Counter pickup was painless, safe and convenient. Highly recommend!

Very difficult to order. I keep trying. Tired of wasting my time. Please make it easier.

OMG BEEF EMPANADAS OMG OMG OMG I'M GOING BACK JUST FOR THE BEEF EMPANADAS I tried the chicken but even with the sauce they weren't as good. The beef ones are made with this like curry or some kind of spice like that and it blows my mind This place is inside the Sol bar / Cafe Con Leche place. Just ask at the bar or scan their QR code to your right, and start your order! Food took about 10-15 minutes for me to arrive.

Ordered Maria Luisa's empanadas for a work event off of EZ-Cater. Not only was the ordering process super easy, but the empanadas arrived promptly on time but everyone LOVED the empanadas. I ordered the beef, the Palermo chicken empanadas, and the Flores humita empanadas. My personal favorite was the beef with chimichurri sauce, but the chicken was also popular. I liked the Flores humita empanada too, but it was probably my least favorite. It did serve as a great vegetarian option however. I can't wait to order from Maria Luisa's again, I am in need of more beef empanadas! Yum!

Delicious and authentic empanadas. Super flavorful and baked to perfection. The sign is easy to miss, park below a blue "Sur" sign and it's on the corner.

Bad experience getting empanadas. The woman on the front desk was pretty rude to me and my friend. The place is confusing, it was out first time there and nobody explained us how to order. The woman just scolded us and made us feel uncomfortable.

Excellent empanadas! The beef, chicken and spinach were our family's absolute favorites. The ham and cheese was a bit light on the ham and a bit heavy on the cheese, but delicious all the same. We will absolutely be back. Insider's tip: they're currently located inside of Cafe Con Leche. When you enter, there's a counter to the right with a sign with a QR code to scan. You can scan the code, place your order easily, and wait for it to be made. They are extremely fast!

We first experienced MariaLuisa Empanadas as part of a Savor Seattle Market Box. They were some of the best empanadas we've had since moving to Seattle from Texas. We found their website and ordered one of their combos which included six meat and six veggie/cheese empanadas as well as two bottles of Argentine red wine. Chef Rodrigo delivered it to our apartment building in downtown Seattle. We will be ordering from them again. The empanadas are full of fresh ingredients and come with a homemade Chimmichuri dipping sauce. So fresh and flavorful. We plan on ordering again for our houseguests coming up Friday Thanksgiving!

The real deal, like your grandma's empanadas. Fresh, great flavor, good selection. it is a small business. Happy to support them.