El Porteño Empanadas

The food was really good, but it was missing something. What exactly was it missing, I can't say. But it just didn't have that flavor that would have me coming back over and over again. It was missing that something that sets it above all the other empanadas. Would I recommend this place? Yes. Would I go with someone who wanted to try it? Yes. But would I say they set the bar for the absolute best empanadas? No.

Wow the pastry was so flaky and the flavors were so rich. We had the Lamb with Malbec and the Carne. Such a layered delicious taste. Can’t recommend enough.

I’ve been coming here for years. I’ve never been able to find a better empanada. You MUST come here. This location is in the ferry building, which is so fun to walk around and check out all the little shops. It’s just a counter where you walk up and order, no places to sit. The line is usually pretty long but moves fast. We grabbed these empanadas then went across to the wine bar to share a bottle and enjoy. I’ve never had a bad bite from this place, don’t forget to pick up the chimichurri as well!

Stopped by El Porteño with a friend for a quick bite — we didn’t have time to sit down, and this was perfect. The food was ready to go but tasted like restaurant-quality. We tried the beef, chicken, and mushroom empanadas — all absolutely delicious. The crust was perfectly flaky, and the fillings were rich and flavorful. Great spot, friendly staff, and a must-try if you're in SF. I’ll definitely be back!

Empanadas are just okay, definitely overpriced and not genuinely Argentinian. The dough is flaky and very well done, although again far from a classic empanada from Argentina. Would not line up for 30 minutes for this, only worth it if you're walking by and there's no line.

They have different locations in the Bay Area but the one we tried was in the Ferry Building. It’s more of a stall than a restaurant and being in the Ferry Bldg, it can be loud and lines can be long because it’s a tourist place. We ordered the classic beef empanadas, prices are on the high side, and (I agree with some reviews ) while it’s good it didn’t really stand out, but just okay.

Good Empanadas, we tried the Maradona and the Jamon y Queso. Service was alright, not great but not bad.

How is one supposed to describe heaven? How is one supposed to quantify perfection? That, dear reader, is exactly what I’m wondering while writing this review. Nothing I write here will ever do these immaculate empanadas justice. Imagine tasting happiness and that is just a sliver of what tasting these empanadas is like. It satisfied every need I’ve ever had. It satisfied needs I didn’t even know I had. If you are within a 20 mile radius and you don’t try every empanada on the menu, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Scratch that, 50 mile radius. This should be on your bucket list. This should be the only thing on your bucket list. You should have a job just to buy these empanadas. If you ever wanted to taste greatness, taste these empanadas.

One of my favorite stops at the Ferry Building is this shop with warm sweet and savory empanadas. Line moves pretty quickly for a grab and go experience to these palm sized delights. If you have a sweet tooth and like bananas, I highly recommend the dulce de leche banana filling!

I love getting a snack here whenever I visit Embarcadero. The empanadas are so savory, flaky and buttery! I like the pair my snack with a drink from Blue Bottle too. The service is a to-go style ordering so you can get your food pretty quick if there isn't too long of a line. The pastries are warmed up too which makes it even better. The ambiance is like a warm bakery with buttery aroma when you walk by. The empanadas are all lined up in a clear glass case which make it easy to pick your food of choice.

A fun and tasty bite to grab in the ferry building! I love empanadas and these ones sure did not disappoint. The spot is small. You just walk up to the case of treats, take your order, and dash! There was a bit of a line when we went but it moved quick. The guy behind the counter was super nice and got us helped quickly. I got their champinones (mushroom) empanada and it was so so good! The mushrooms are tender, not slimy. The flavor itself is so so savory. Complimented by cheese, the earthiness of the fungi is well balanced. The crust is flaky and not doughy, which is a must! I have also tried their spinach pancetta, acelga, and humita empanadas; all are delicious! If you have not stopped here yet, you gotta go! Very filling, rich, and yummy overall.

I'm a sucker for a good Argentinian empanada, even at $7 a pop if they're good, so the succulent smells from this kiosk was calling my name everytime I passed through the Ferry building. I guess repeated exposure, and tickling the senses serve as great marketing because I final took a second to stop by and grab a few...fiancé in tow. Even without seating, this spot pulls in numbers. The flavor options alone had my mouth watering. I should have been mindful that based on the amount of employees compared to the volume of clientele, it was pretty obvious that these were not exactly freshly made. Out of the 4 we shared, 1 had certainly been sitting under the heat lamp for way too long. It was...less than fresh. The other 3 although under the same heat lamps seemed to be prepared more recently. These delicious pockets of joy did not come with chimichuri, but they all had flaky crusts, seasoned ingredients, and great combinations. Overall, a decent snack!

AMAZINGGG!! Longest line in the Ferry Plaza Building and worth the wait! (They're super quick with it anyways!) Ordered the Jamon y Queso Empanada and the Cordero (minced lamb). Both blew my mind. We took them to Chrissy Park for a little picnic and these were a nice treat after a long walk. One if you're feeling snacky, two if you want a meal!

Can't speak to the meat empanadas, but as a vegetarian, they make my favorite empanadas out of all the ones I've tried up and down both coasts and in Argentina (granted, we were in Patagonia and not somewhere like Buenos Aires...). Other Argentinian-style empanadas I've had tend to have dough that is drier and almost more bread-like (even when rolled out thin), but the empanada dough at El Porteño is a lot flakier -- almost like pastry dough. I personally love it. It's well-laminated but not pure crispy flake; the dough is still toothsome when you bite and pull on it. The standout for me by far -- and my husband, who opts for the veggie over the meat empanadas here -- is the champiñones or mushroom empanada. So savory, so flavorful, and packed full of mushrooms each time. A close second is the Acelga (chard, cheese, pine nuts). The humita (corn) is also good. Recently branched out to try the asparagus but that one is a big thumbs-down for me. Asparagus was tough and there was almost no filling. Just air. Don't bother with that one. The alfajores are maybe a 3/5. Dulce de leche filling is solid, but the shortbread is a little too crumbly/powder for my taste. Lines get long but service is fast. You tell them your order, pay, and are on your way within a couple of minutes.

When visiting the Ferry Building in San Francisco make sure to come hungry so you can grab an empanada and snack on while shopping. The empanadas are fairly large so definitely shareable. Everyone greeted us as we waited in line to order and just happy to be there; love that!

They are located inside the Ferry building in San Francisco. There's tons of food options here, but I recommended this for a quick bite or a small lunch. There's usually a line, but they are very efficient so the line moves quickly. What makes these empanadas really stand out is the buttery, flakey crust. Here's what we tried: + Carne - beef, eggs, raisins, onions, olives - good + Jamon y Queso - ham & cheese - good + Champinones - mushrooms - great + Banana y Dulce de Leche - sweet - yummy

Yes and more yes! Grabbed a Carne and Banana empanada and was not disappointed. Flaky crust, well-seasoned meat... win, win. The banana one though! DELICIOUS. Highly recommend.

Great location, obviously! I got 4-5 different ones: mushroom, beef, shrimp, and sweet corn. I loved the mushroom empanada, but tbh, everything else was pretty forgettable. The shrimp one was particularly disappointing. I'd happily go back and get a million mushroom ones, though.

As someone that knows Argentine cuisine and has been to many different places, I'll say I was disappointed in this one. Flavor was not great and the price was horrible. Super greasy. And I'm sorry one little container of chimichurri was almost $2? The guy didn't seem to tell us anything about the flavors that weren't there or that they didn't want to make them idk I was confused about that he wasn't very clear. Not happy about the money I spent here.

Had their chicken empanada and it was super dry. The chicken wasn't flavorful. 5/10. Also, tried their jamon and queso empanada. This one was ok. 6/10. Given the previous reviews, maybe I came on an off day?

These empanadas are so good! I've gotten them the last 2 trips to SF and both times were delicious. Their alfajores are also AMAZING. They were sold out both days I tried to get them this past trip but still dreaming of them from my previous trip The staff is friendly and nice too!

Always love their empanadas--we ride the cable car to the Ferry Building to treat ourselves to them as often as possible! Our favorites are the carne (beef) with tasty green olives & raisins, malbec-braised cordero (lamb), & of course for dessert the banana dulce de leche. The cereza (black cherry) is also yummy, as are the alfajores. Highly recommend!

I went to their Ferry Building location many years ago. and when I was near Oracle Park for an event recently, I found that they have a location nearby. Tried the Camarones, Champinones, and Acelga. I also ordered two Cappuccinos. The flavors for the Champinones and Acelga were okay without a really remarkable flavor. The Camarones, however, is definitely savory and delicious. GF and I decided to split each empanada, but next time, I will definitely get a Camarones for each of us. The cappuccinos were also well-made. Service was friendly and fast. The ambiance was very simplistic and clean.

Over the last few years El Porteño has become a must stop for me when I'm in SF for work. I always make it a point to hit the Ferry Building before I leave so it's easy for me to swing by here and get a quick bite. This week was my most recent visit and, due to my favorite being sold out (the jamon y queso) I was forced to branch out and I am SO glad I did! This time around I got the La Maradona (tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil) and the Fugazetta (cheddar cheese with caramelized onions and oregano). Both were quite good, though the Maradona was a little light on the tomatoes, but let's be honest, I was mostly in it for the mozz, so I was happy. Speaking of, though, you gotta eat them when they're hot, so the cheese gets nice and gooey and you get a good cheese pull. When it hits like that? WHEW. Excellent. Oh, I also got a Champiñones (mushroom) to take on the plane with me for later. That variety doesn't have a gooey cheese (instead it has parm and creme fraiche) so that one's a good one to take with you as it's still holds up when it's colder. I also tried a sweet variety for the first time, the dulce de leche banana, which was excellent. Smaller than the savory options but it was very sweet and rich so it was the perfect amount. The line can look intimidating but since everything is made before it moves quickly so don't let that deter you! Just make sure you grab a stack of napkins. They're handhelds so your fingers can get a bit greasy from the rich dough.

Tried **El Porteño Empanadas** through their shipping option, and I have mixed feelings. On the positive side, the empanadas arrived *fresh and very cleanly packed*, which I really appreciated. The quality of the ingredients was solid, and the flavors were satisfying once heated up. However, the *labeling was super misleading and hard to read*. Some of the meat and vegetarian options ended up getting mixed up, which was frustrating--especially for those with dietary restrictions. Clearer packaging and better labeling would have made a huge difference. Overall, a decent product let down by confusing presentation. Great food, but order with caution if you need to separate certain dietary needs.

I don't normally order anything ham related, but I got the Jamon empanada here. I am eating it a day later, but dang is it good! I describe it more as prosciutto and cheese. It was delicious and I'd definitely recommend it! I can totally see why it's the most popular item here. This spot is located inside the Ferry Building - there was a line but it moved rather quickly.

While in San Francisco for a conference, I stumbled across El Porteño at the Ferry Building Marketplace, and I'm so glad I did! This isn't a full restaurant--it's a cozy stand--but don't let that fool you. The empanadas are out of this world and absolutely deserving of 5 stars. I tried their traditional beef empanada, and it was perfection. The pastry was buttery and flaky, with a golden crust that crumbled just right. The filling was seasoned beautifully, with tender beef, olives, and a touch of spice that made every bite memorable. I also sampled their ham and cheese empanada, and the rich, gooey filling hit all the comfort food notes I was craving. The location couldn't be better--right inside the iconic Ferry Building with gorgeous waterfront views just steps away. It's a perfect spot to grab a snack while exploring the bustling marketplace and nearby attractions like Alcatraz ferries and Fisherman's Wharf. If you're in the area, El Porteño is a must-visit for a quick, authentic Argentine treat. Grab an empanada (or three), enjoy the views, and thank me later!

In the ferry building. Carne empanada - get it pollo empanada - skip it banana w/ dulce de leche empanada - get it 2016

I've been enjoying empanadas from different locations when a generous friend gifted me a box of El Porteño empanadas. Today we did a sampling and discovered the goodness of El Porteño! Love how each empanada is packaged and labeled with whats inside. Love how each different flavor is in a different shape so even after taking them out of the bags they can be distinguished from each other. But what I love the most is the flaky delicious crust stuffed with the most delectable filling! Today we had a sampling. After heating up in the oven for about 10 minutes, each empanada came to life. My favorite so far has to be the mushroom flavor. Also loved the lamb and the chicken. Have yet to try the beef, humita, prosciutto and (2) dolce sweet flavors. So that favorite may still change. Thank you Mike C. for such a thoughtful and delicious gift! Located in the Ferry Building. Have a big feeling these won't be the last I enjoy El Porteño empanadas!

My go-to pick-me-up spot in the Ferry Building! Came here on a rainy Monday morning craving something warm. There was no line (but maybe because the Ferry Building was not crowded anyways), and there are always so many varieties to choose from. The staff are always so friendly and happy to help. There's not much seating around the storefront but this was better for eating while walking. I got the Espinacas y Panceta Empanada. It was so savory and good! It's warm so the cheese pull was great, and the texture of the spinach really enhances the experience. The bits of meat add a smokiness that just really sells it. The pastry is also buttery and crumbly. Determined to keep trying more of their varieties!

Quick service and delicious empanadas! Carne and mushroom are pretty solid. Great depth of flavor and they are generous w It's the filling. At $7, this is a great snack or small bite to tide you over to the next thing.

Great for a quick bite on the go! When there is a line, the line moves pretty quickly. The empanadas are warm and delicious!

I'm keeping this one neutral because technically my friend was the one who got into this really long line for a Jamon y Queso empanadas at El Porteno. She even asked if I wanted an alfajores because she remembered that I loved those cookies, but I said, no thanks (trying to be good). I did want to go to the WC (aka bathroom) so while she was lining up, I went to line up for the bathroom and geez, it took forever or so I thought...because when I came back from the bathroom, she was still in that empanadas line!!! After she got her empanadas, she offered me some and I only took one tiny bite and decided I didn't like it. Too salty and it wasn't my taste. I could tell she was a tad disappointed, too. But it's okay, the day was young. More yumm foods to come.

Empanadarama! The Buenos Aires local! A Porteño is someone who is from BA. This place is legit. They have a variety of baked empanadas, from the mushroom, ham and cheese, chicken, the traditional beef, or the Maradona- which is like a caprese salad in empanada form. They are super friendly, and I love how the stall is decorated in the traditional sign-making artwork called Filetado. It's such a beautiful location. The food is cheap too! For just a couple of bucks, you can get a filling, baked empanada made with chiefly local ingredients. This location is located in the San Francisco Ferry Building, with a bunch of food stalls. It's a great food hall to get a bit of this and a bite of these empanadas. They also sell alfajors, which are the national cookie of Argentina. Legit.

Convenient. Expensive. Mediocre. Those three words sum up the empanadas I had from El Porteno. You're definitely paying for the convenience and location because I've had much better empanadas from almost anywhere else. I was one of the first customers of the day, so they definitely should have been fresh and flavorful. The flavor, simply, was lacking. Nothing really stood out or had much flavor to begin with. Temperature wise, they were lukewarm. Service was definitely transactional; nothing special or exemplary. I doubt I'll return. 2024: 75/100

The smell of empanadas in the oven always takes me to El Porteño. Every time I walk thru the ferry building I have to pick up some empanadas. They're on the pricey side at $7 a pop but it's totally worth it. My favorite is the pumpkin empanada. They are $4 and smaller than the savory ones. I've also had the carne and camarones. I brought home a jamon y queso for my husband recently and he loved it. There's a lot more on the menu that I want to try. Service is nice and friendly.

If you take a walk through the ferry building, I would highly recommend stopping for empanadas. I got 2 empanadas - the savoury lamb Malbec and sweet banana. Both were delicious, and the crust was the perfect amount of crunchy, and oily. It was a sunny day so I took them out and ate them in the marina. Service was quick and simple.

Empanadas are my favorite, and I couldn't miss this place when I was near the ferry building. They are baked fresh throughout the day, and don't let the lines deter you; they move quickly. I got the Champinones (mushroom) and my husband got the Cordero (lamb), although the line of displays of empanadas was definitely tempting and made me want to get one of each. The empanadas were just perfect--very good flavor, absolutely delicious, good amount of filling. I was tempted to go for more, but we had dinner reservations for later, and hence I stopped myself at 1. I will definitely come back here for more.

My mom and I love coming here!! My favorites are the lamb and beef empanadas - they're always piping hot with delicious flakey crust. They're a little pricey but I always feel like it's worth it and there's a type of filling (sweet, savory, vegetarian, etc.) for everyone.

For around seven dollars apiece, these empanadas are surprisingly filling. Sure, it's a bit higher than average, but the available options are all quite satisfying. My server greeted me with a warm smile and quick to-go service. The line passed by super quick. The two empanadas I ended up getting were piping hot (almost too hot) and toasty. With the melty cheese inside, this was a perfect treat for the chillier SF weather. Note that this shop is to-go only (and perfect as it is).

I've always wanted to try this place. The line is always long. So today was my day. No line at all. So I got the mushroom empanada and let me tell you, OMG was it good. Flaky crust and buttery. It was delicious.

The empanadas were actually pretty good, but I would say it be better. There are cheese inside the empanadas and some is not melted. So I got like a bite of unmelted cheese. I ordered mushroom flavored as well and there is barely any mushrooms inside. It's popular since it's right by the pier. And serves is pretty fast.

The banana dulce de leche is a must! Bought one and immediately went back to buy more!

Empanadas Worth the Hype (Almost) My boyfriend has been raving about this empanada spot, calling it life-changing, so of course, I had to try it. I'll be real--I haven't had the best experiences with empanadas before, so my expectations were low. But I've got to say, this place seriously delivered. Food They have a huge range of flavors, from classic savory options to unexpected dessert empanadas. The best part? They're warm, fresh, and perfectly crispy--which caught me off guard because, for some reason, I was expecting them to be cold. Definitely a game-changer compared to the mediocre empanadas I've had before. Vibes & Location The location is so cute! After grabbing your empanadas, you can walk by the water and explore all the cool little shops nearby. It's the perfect spot to grab a bite and then wander around. Final Thoughts I'd give this place 4.5 stars. The only downside? The price--$7 for a pretty small empanada. If they were a bit bigger (or a little cheaper), this would be an easy 5/5. Still, totally worth checking out if you're in the area!

Got their Champiñones Empanada - loved the flaky shell. The stuffing was also quite good! Very quick service; and the empanada was nice and warm. Slightly on the more expensive side. They don't have any vegan options.

Located in the ferry building, El Porteno Empanadas provides hearty and delicious bites if you're on the go. Each empanada is $7 and I ordered the Maradona (tomato and basil), Corder (lamb in Malbec) and Camarones (shrimp with parmesan and scallions). First off, all three empanadas were flaky to the bite, so be sure you have a napkin nearby. I would ordered all three again but if I am to rank, the winner would be the Maradona, with the other two as close seconds. The Maradona had balanced flavor of both tomato and basil and as a sucker for both of these ingredients, each bite was better than the last. The Cordero was meaty, but a strong flavor of lamb, as expected, so if you're not into lamb, it might be worthwhile to consider the other options. The Camarones was full of medium sized shrimp (very shrimp-meaty) so if you're into shellfish/seafood, this is the one to go. I think one empanada can in of itself be a meal since it's pretty hearty and heavy, but if you have a big appetite, two or three will definitely do the job.

Came on a Saturday for a quick snack. Short line. Settled on a beef with olives empanada and a lamb empanada. All empanadas are $7 each. Went outside to enjoy it and to people watch. Filling had a good ratio to the pastry. Both had good flavor, though I preferred the taste of the lamb more. They are reheated, so I imagine if they were fresh, they would taste even better.

Came here on a Sunday morning with some friends. The vibes in the Ferry Building are always hectic and lively so my group wanted to find a good, affordable option with a short-ish wait time: El Porteno! For $7 an empanada, it's quite a good deal! I ordered two, the Pollo and the Camarones. I tried the camarones one first and regretted it later. It was SOOO good! And creamy! And tasty! I absolutely loved it! After going from that to the Pollo, the pollo one was a bit drier in texture and the flavor was more earthy (vs creamy). It was still good but next time, I'll eat the Camarones empanada last...or just order two of those. 5 stars for the Camarones empanada!

My wife and I were at the Embarcadero Ferry Building, in San Francisco, CA. While talking to the owner of Clever Clocks, Douglas Chalk, at his pop up tent, we were chatting about all of the different food vendors at the Ferry Building and he insisted that we try the empanadas at El Porteno and that we could get them frozen and bring them home. After seeing all of the different fillings for the empanadas, we decided to get 4 frozen ones to bring home for dinner, a Champinion (mushrooms sauteed with shallots, aged parmesan, and crème freshe, a Jamon (prosciutto and fontina cheese), a Pallo (oven roasted chicken, olives, raisins, onions), and a Carne (ground beef, raisins, olives, onions). We left them to defrost and then re-heated them in an air fryer at 400 degrees for about 8 minutes. They came out perfectly. They were nice and warm, and the crust was very light and flaky, almost like from a pastry shop. The empanadas were full of the fillings but not overly so, a nice balance between the crust and fillings. At $7.00 each we both thought this a very good price for these delicious treats. My wife and I are already talking about bringing them for get togethers with family and friends.

The stand was filled with the aroma of freshly baked empanadas. I got two savory ones, and they were wonderfully warm and flavorful. The staff were incredibly sweet and patient. Though it's a bit of a trek from my house, I definitely plan on coming back!

Amazing empanadas! We tried jamon y queso and the Cordero, which is lamb cooked in Malbec. They were both excellent, especially the lamb. It was very flavorful and tender. If you're in the area, definitely check this place out!

I got a shrimp and beef empanadas. They were sooooooo salty. I had to drink a lot of water halfway thru one.

I encountered this stand in the Ferry Building on the walk to Fisherman's Wharf in SF. They sell a variety of empanadas all with different fillings, both meat and vegetarian. I tried the champiñones (mushrooms and cheese) which was recommended to me and it did not disappoint. It came with a filling of seasonal sautéed mushrooms with shallots, aged Parmesan cheese, and creme fraiche. The empanada dough itself was so flaky and buttery, it was like a little pocket of heaven. The filling was savory and absolutely delicious. It made for a delicious breakfast to power my walk. It came out quick and freshly warmed which I really appreciated. Love that they're serving authentic Argentinian empanadas I will definitely be coming back next time I return to SF.

With much excitement and anticipation I tried El Porteno yesterday. It's a long standing staple of the Ferry building starting out with a small location to being in the center of the building today. And who doesn't like things in hot pocket form, from calzones to empanadas?! That being said I ordered a pollo and beef empanada for around $14. How was it? The first descriptive word would be dry. Like the Atacama Desert. Like the Rub Al-Khali desert that the Queen of Sheba crossed. It's a thirst trap in an uncomfortable and bad way. I found myself longing for relief, in search of something to wash these empanadas down with. The meat was flavorless and sparingly distributed. Hard pass for me. I would rather try any other vendor inside the ferry building. And if El Porteno was the only vender left, I still would not go.

I've been here twice and I've gotten the Fugazzeta and the Championes both times because they were just that good. I came to the Ferry Building just to eat these empanadas. I love how they have so many vegetarian options to choose from. All of the menu options seem delicious and I would like to try different ones next time. However, I'm obsessed with the Fugazzeta because of how cheesy and delicious it is. I don't think I'll ever get over it. The service is great. The line can get a little long, but it goes by really fast. Every time I'm downtown, I will always come back to the Ferry Building to grab some empanadas. Seriously, if you're in San Francisco, you have to get some. I recommend them to anyone that is in the area, or anyone at all actually. I would travel many miles to eat these.

Pretty good empanadas located in the ferry building. In a place where there are a ton of options in terms of what you can eat, it's always great to have something a bit "different" Prices are fair, but not cheap for what you're getting, but we live in a time where everything is pretty much inflated. The taste was really good and one of the better empanada's I've had.

I got one mushroom and one chicken. They were hot and tasted good. I'm e had it before. Quick service.