El Porteño Empanadas

🥟 A Decent Snack, but Ultimately "Just Okay" I recently stopped by El Porteno to try their famous empanadas. While the experience wasn't negative, the food itself landed firmly in the "okay" category for me. They are clearly a well-established and popular option, and I can see why people stop in for a quick bite, but the flavors didn't quite live up to the high expectations I had going in. It just didn't wow me. 👥 Popular for a Reason, but Not for Me It’s obvious that this place has a loyal following, and I respect that everyone’s palate is different. For many, this is a go-to spot, and "to each their own" definitely applies here. However, for my personal taste, the seasoning and overall quality didn't stand out enough to justify a repeat visit. While I’m glad I finally gave them a try to see what the fuss was about, it didn't leave a lasting impression. 🚶‍♂️ Final Verdict: I Likely Won't Return While it’s a perfectly functional spot for a quick snack, I personally won't be heading back. If you aren't particularly picky about your empanadas, you might enjoy these, but if you're a connoisseur looking for the best of the best, you might find these a little underwhelming.

A good varieties but quite pricy for empanadas (> 7.5 each). We tried three items: Lamb empanada, spinach & bacon, and Cameron. The lamb empanada is the best of all, more flavorful. The camaron (shrimp) one tastes a bit bland - not much flavor. The spinach and bacon is fine, just not much bacon. All are very oily from outside - so be careful not to contaminate bags

The empanadas were good but it has to be eaten warm cannot be saved for later I got 3 Alcegas, Champiñones, and Maradona. They were pricey but I guess they were good for the price. The only thing that I cannot passed without saying something is the fact the Chimichurri was sold separately but any Latino knows empanadas and chimichurri are eaten together. The fact that they are selling it it’s just greedy. I also tried Empanada de Cereza, ok taste. Also, I bought 4 empanadas and to carry out I need it a bag which I got charge without telling me that is a low blow for a customer they should say that is extra to get a bag to transport empanadas. The good thing that I haven’t seen before every empanada got a label to identify them.

I feel ripped off. Got the ham and cheese empanada and there was literally a piece of ham the size of my pinky in there with maybe a thimble of cheese. I attached a picture because I almost couldn’t believe it. $7.50 for this is OUTRAGEOUS. Do not recommend

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.

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.

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!

So grateful they were open on Christmas Eve, when basically everyone else in the Ferry Building was closed. The manzana (apple) empanada is always good, but oh my, the banana dulce de leche empanada was CRAZY delicious - so incredibly densely powerful in flavor, and the dulce de leche really coats your mouth. Give their sweet empanadas a try!

Food Quality: *** Service: *** Ambiance: *** Value: *** The empanadas are okay imo. I know it is a popular spot with a lot of people seeming to love them and line up patiently. They're not bad, just not memorable enough to make want to return.

I first had the pleasure of trying El Porteño a few years ago, actually just days before Argentina won the World Cup. Back then they were in a different stall inside the Ferry Building if I'm remembering correctly, but I clearly remember all the World Cup decor and loving the whole vibe since these are Argentine empanadas. I loved their empanadas then and I love them now. They are in a new spot these days, I believe, but they are just as delicious. They run a well-oiled machine. You order at the counter and within moments you have a hot empanada in an aesthetically pleasing branded bag. The first time I ever tried them I got the cordero (lamb), and this time around I had to run it back because it was that good. And my memory did not fail me, it was still unbelievable. The lamb mince inside is hot, rich with spices, insanely juicy, and packed with flavor. It is genuinely some of the best lamb I have ever had in any form. I've made herb-crusted rack of lamb, I've had $100+ lamb dishes at steakhouses, and honestly this lamb empanada takes the cake. The pastry dough itself is flaky, buttery, and not dry or hard at all. It is literally perfect. I could easily eat several of these, but I forced myself to stop at one so I could try a few more places around the Ferry Building. I love this place so much. Please expand to Sacramento or at least stop by for a farmers market pop-up one day. We need you out here, the city would love you!

Very flaky, a little greasy. Nice service and kind attendants of the stall. In a walkable place, easy to find.

I purchase the 16 in a box , the bad turn out was The shrimp and parmesan everything else was good except for this one it was the worst kind I ever had I just couldn't eat it. I have to throw all four pieces away. The shrimp was just awful. You just couldn't take another bite. It was the bad.

We were checking out the Ferry Building Farmer's Market and stopped by to grab a savory treat. It was difficult to choose between the yummy looking empanadas but settled on the Cordero which is filled with lamb braised in malbec. The lamb was absolutely amazing! Super tender pulled lamb in a flavorful red wine onion sauce. It really exceeded my expectations going in and made me almost grab another one right them and there. I loved how buttery and flaky the crust is! It reminded me of a scrumptious pie dough top and really added so much delicious richness to compliment the filling. This was definitely one of if not the best empanada I've had, I'll definitely be back to try the other fillings!

We ended up stopping to buy some empanadas because the smell that wafted out of their stall was unbelievable. Well, the food lived up to it. The lamb empanadas were amazing. My mom had the ham and cheese which were also super tasty. The price is a little pricey but they are not skimpy on the filling (see picture). I would suggest coming early since they already ran out of some of the flavors when we were there. Lovely staff and fast service. Will definitely returning for more empanadas!!

Delicious dessert empanadas! We only tried the sweet empanadas but given how amazing they were, I imagine that their savory empanadas are also delicious. We had the dulce de leche banana, cherry and apple empanadas. The dough was flaky and crispy with a perfect filling ratio. Each satisfied our sweet tooth without being overly sweet.

Stopped by here while in the ferry building and ordered a chicken empanada. It was warm, fresh, and delicious! The line went fairly quickly and the service was friendly. I will definitely be back can't wait!

One of my favorite stops when in SF! I lucked out by walking down on a random weekday. Fortunately there was only one family ahead of me and I didn't have to wait in the lines you'll see on the weekends. They had what I wanted, I paid, received my order and was on my way quickly. The flavor on both flavors of empanadas I ordered was perfect and they were both fresh and flakey. I will definitely be back for more!

The first time that I had El Porteno Empanadas was at the Ox Bow Market in Napa & shared several of their yummy empanadas, both savory & sweet. I've visited their location at the Ferry Building since I work in FiDi & they are quick, convenient & empanadas are reasonably priced at $7.50 for the savory ones. I bought 2 empanadas for lunch recently (I was really hungry) & they were both delicious so I couldn't decide which one I liked more. They conveniently have the description & ingredients on each bag so you won't mix up your empanadas if you buy a variety. These empanadas are a good size (not too small) & are filling enough that I wasn't hungry in the late afternoon or even after a workout at the barre studio. I will definitely be back & add them to my lunch rotation when I'm at the office.

This is a must-try spot in the ferry building! My partner and I have tried many of the options including the fugazetta, the espinacas y panceta, and the carne empanadas and my partner LOVES all the sweet ones and always gets some to take home. We love the savory ones with the chimichurri, it just gives an extra depth of flavor! So far my favorite savory option has been the fugazetta. Overall it is a delicious snack that we always stop at on our ferry building excursions with quick service. The only reason why it gets 4 stars instead of 5 is the chimichurri is 1.50 for a tiny cup!

Pretty good selection of empanadas! The maradona empanada was the standout. Alfajores dulce de leche were delicious! Cereza was fine.

Tried the lamb/basil and beef empanadas. Worth a stop if you're a empanada fan or in the Ferry building.

Service was quick and they have fresh empanadas coming out every second it seems like. I got the jamon y queso one and it was delicious. I normally don't like prosciutto but the saltiness went really well with the cheese.

The fragrance of the empanadas baking is what initially drew me to this place. Before trying El P. I never had an empanada so wasn't certain if I would even like them so I only purchased one to try. Well, I took that first bite then immediately went right back in that long line to purchase more because they were so delicious with that super flaky crust and well seasoned filling. I'm vegetarian so I got the cheese one only (initially). The cheese, basil and tomato and mushroom ones are also great. It's a cute, little stand so you get it and go. The service wasn't exactly friendly to be honest, they were just trying to get the line moving and that was pretty obvious. After trying their empanadas, I started trying to find empanadas in my area (south of San Francisco and in San Jose area). I think El Porteno sort of ruined my expectations for other empanada places for me because none have come close to theirs. It's that CRUST. I took a point off for PRICE. I think over $8 for one empanada is about $2 too much. I understand overhead and all of that, but when you spend over $45 and then they're still so rigid that they charge for bags or a box, I don't think they care much about customers having a good overall experience. Great food, but other details like this matter and makes me want to spend less next time.

They are remodeling their original location and moved a few steps away. If you are facing the original location, walk to your left and you'll see it on your left. I typically love their empanadas but I did have a weird empanada today. I picked up a jamon y queso (ham & cheese) and when I started to eat it on my ferry ride home, it was just filled with thick cheese with no ham so I'm a bit bummed this happened and definitely think it was strange.

After getting a hot chocolate at Dandelion, I stopped by El Porteno for an empanada. With many flavors to choose from, it can be a bit overwhelming! I went with the vegetarian Maradona which has tomato and basil. It was warm, stuffed with cheese as well. Super delicious, hearty for anytime of the day. Highly recommend a stop if you're in the ferry building!

el porteno has some of the best empanadas, and you can't find many in the city! i tried the carne empanada which had ground beef. it was very flavorful and i loved the crispiness! also great if you want a quick snack and you're in the area!

Bomb empanadas! Flaky crust and fillings full of flavour. Unlike those hardish shelled ones. Perfect snack for walking around this beautiful waterfront! The lamb in malbec was especially good. The chicken, the mushrooms ones were good as well. The banana dulce de leche had promise but felt like omly dulce de leche with no prominent banana flavour.

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!

I was there on a Saturday evening. I went for a carne empanada. It was a flavorful item. I wanted to try the pollo one as well. But that was over. So I had to be satisfied with one.

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!

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.

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.

Great spot My partner really liked this cookie: Alfajores (Dolce de leche w/ cookies)

The empanadas here are so good, I definitely recommend stopping by if you're at the Ferry Building. It's always warm and the crust is nice and flaky. For savory options, I've tried the carne, chicken, and cordero (lamb). My favorite is the carne which has raisins and olives. If you're craving something sweet, the banana dulce de leche and apple are both good. I would opt for the apple you like some texture.

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.

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 am writing to share my very disappointing customer service experience today 10/12/25 . I was at the Ferry Building with my family (my husband, our 1-year-old baby), and two friends. We waited in line for a while until another customer told us the stand would open again in 15 minutes. Since my baby was getting cranky, we stepped away and returned after about 20 minutes. When we came back, the line had been closed again. There were still a few customers being served, but when I politely asked the two employees, they simply said the line would reopen once they finished with the last guest. We waited patiently, but then the male employee told me I would now have to wait until 6:00 pm. I explained that we live in Oakland, had already waited twice, and that my baby was getting very restless. Unfortunately, the employee showed no empathy at all--he was rough, dismissive, and completely unhelpful. He simply repeated that I needed to wait another 20 minutes. The empanadas are delicious, but the staff's attitude was terrible--disrespectful, unprofessional, and lacking even the most basic communication and customer service skills. Front-of-house employees need empathy and clarity when dealing with customers, and sadly that was missing today. I sincerely hope management addresses this issue and provides proper training for the staff. I would hate to see such a good product lose customers because of such poor service. For me, this experience makes me hesitant to return.

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

5 stars for their Dulce De Leche banana empanadas!! They have a soft exterior vs tough and they are filled with delicious warm caramel and slices of banana inside. Hands down the best dessert empanada ever. Service is always fast, usually a short line unless you come on Saturday mornings. It's def a quick bite type of food since it's located inside the very building where there are multiple food, shops, people traffic etc.

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!

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

Wanted to update my review eleven years later just to say the Champiñones empanadas are bomb! I love how the mushrooms are sautéed with shallots and paired with crème fraiche. The crust is flaky, buttery goodness. The Pollo tempted me once again and disappointed me once again, Spinach & Cheese was pretty solid, and they had run out of Carne but not sure it could compare to Champiñones anyway. My husband and I have vowed to just get Champiñones in the future.

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!

I got an empañada because of a DoorDash credit promo. Ham and cheese. It's too salty (and I love salt!) and greasy. It's overpriced, too. For the taste of a reheated Starbucks quality pastry, I wouldn't pay more than $4.

Overpriced, under-filled, and I'm still hungry 2 empanadas and $20 later. The empanadas are 95% dough. A 9 dollar ham and cheese empanada had 3 small chunks of ham. Mostly bland greasy dough.

I've walked by this place for so many years... curious to try them out today after some word of mouth recommendations at the plaza and I'll say it's pretty good. But I've had better empanadas. I got beef and lamb just to compare both. I'm more of a lamb person but the cashier said the beef was a popular so I decided to try it out. I should have stuck to the lamb... not a fan of the beef. Overall, not bad and the staffs are friendly/helpful if you have questions

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?

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!

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!

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.

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.

Been here many times Customer service was great Has amazing taste to all of them Carne was good Pollo was good Shrimp was good In ferry building. No seating near it

Omg i'm not vegetarian, but the MUSHROOM empanada is sooo good. The pastry is nice too, not too dry, not too bland, not too thick or too flaky. My work has gotten catering from them and every time i've been to their Ferry building location, service was always friendly and fast. Pick up an empanada, find a seat near the bay and watch the ferry boats roll by.