Empanada Kitchen

Argentinian restaurant · San Diego

Empanada Kitchen

Argentinian restaurant · San Diego

819 C St, San Diego, CA 92101

Highlights

Bright counter-serve outpost specializing in handmade Argentine empanadas, plus take-out.

819 C St, San Diego, CA 92101 Get directions

empanada-kitchen.com

$ · Menu

@eater

"Both the Downtown and North Park locations are accepting pick-up and delivery orders for their Argentine empanadas and also sell gift cards. Additionally, they accept large orders of handmade empanadas that they will freeze for you to bake yourself at home." - Candice Woo, Darlene Horn

58 San Diego Eateries Adding Takeout and Delivery Options - Eater San Diego

View Postcard for Empanada Kitchen

@eater

"A featured vendor at local farmer’s markets since 2016, Empanada Kitchen is now running its first storefront in downtown San Diego. The eatery will continue to have a presence at the La Jolla Open Aire Market every Sunday, and its empanadas can also be found at Bump Organic Coffee Roasters in Encinitas and Meraki Cafe in University Heights. Founders Matias Rigali and Dan Housenga bake many different versions of the Argentine hand pie, from beef, braised lamb, and chicken to vegan ratatouille and sauteed chicken, as well as a vegan ratatouille, mushroom and goat cheese, and even a breakfast variation filled with bacon and egg. Served with homemade chimichurri sauce, they’re available in sets of three for $9.50 as part of the eatery’s meal deal. Currently open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Empanada Kitchen is celebrating its grand opening this Friday, March 30 by offering free dessert empanadas with the purchase of an empanada meal deal." - Candice Woo

Empanada Kitchen Emerges Downtown - Eater San Diego

View Postcard for Empanada Kitchen

Nathan Kalinowski

Google

Crispy, flakey pastry with very tasty filling. Filling is moist and flavorful. Not much seating so mostly a take out place. Would visit again!

Patrick Mederos

Google

After a long day at the Baloboa Park we wandered past the San Diego High School and City college down Park Street and decided to walk towards the downtown on C Street. We saw this beautifully painted bright yellow store front and decided to give it a shot. From the outside walking in, the mouth-watering smell of the kitchen smells lured us in this lambently lit area. There's a couple of see-thru display showcasing the empanadas so you can pick exactly which one you want. The excellent options of flavors is very broad. They offer vegetarian, beef, chicken, mushroom, lamb and more! We tried the chicken, ratatouille veggie and beef empanadas. They are the best empanadas I've had! The chimichurri sauce both spicy and regular are very delightful! The spicy is perfect. I recommend everyone to go here and try this out.

Colton Crist

Google

Absolutely great little place serving delicious meat pockets. I've had to go here a couple times before I could try their lamb empanadas, they sold out on previous days before noon. I would definitely recommend getting their house made chimichurri sauce to go with your pockets. I also love how each empanada is crimped uniquely so that you can tell which one from your plate full you are eating. This is a new favorite on my list of hot spots

Andrea Brentano

Google

Nice little restaurant in the heart of downtown San Diego. If you are looking for something different definitely try this place. Indoor and outside seating. Prompt service. Ordered the chicken, sweet corn and basil and the apple for dessert. Only complaint is the empanadas could have been hotter and chimichurri needs more herbs.

Dylan Nielsen

Google

Braised lamb and spicy beef empanadas were delicious. Salad was good and very generous walnut portion. Alfajore also excellent, an excellent spot for an affordable lunch.

Ivy Ebanks

Google

I was looking for a bite to eat that was small and inexpensive since I had food at home and didn't want to overspend or overindulge. As I perused Google Maps to find out what was in the area, I came across Empanada Kitchen and after reviewing the menu and determining they were in budget, I walked around the corner to their downtown location on C Street. The place is hard to miss with bright yellow painting color blocked against a white wall with black lettering. The venue is very clean and the menu is simple and easy to navigate. This was my second time coming here and both times service was great. (Shoutout to Chris and Dan!) The second time around I ordered one instead of two empanadas and settled on the pollo (chicken) with the chimichurri. I LOVE that the empanadas are baked versus fried for those that care about how their food is prepared. It was flaky and not too crispy on the outside and then succulent on the inside. The chimichurri is heavily seasoned (which I like) so if too many flavors simultaneously in your mouth isn't your kind of party, don't ask for it! Will definitely make this a local go to spot. If you like supporting local and small businesses, put your money where your mouth is!

Mark Milliner

Google

I'm a professional Chef. For the last two years I've been working on the food diversity in San Diego. I'm also researching the history of food culture in this region and recently began working on a critics blog to acknowledge the individual entrepreneur, the corporate food industry, tourism, current prices, Mark-ups, and many more topics that will give the public access to the very best and worst San Diego has to offer. Everyone knows, that the element of surprise is a critics best friend and being undetected while searching gives me the best advantage of finding the most authentic and traditionally prepared food in San Diego, county. The Empanada Kitchen has not been rated, but from my experience, this is the place to get an authentic empanada with great flavor, very good texture and traditional ingredients for the region. Service was good, with room for improvement. I recommend the Empanada Kitchen for anyone's next lunch, dinner, or afterhours snack.

Josh West

Google

Holy moly best empanadas I've ever had in my life! What a great little place. Dan the owner is such a great guy providing little pockets of pastry wrapped meaty (& veggie) love to the community. Thanks Dan for what you do!

@eater

58 San Diego Eateries Adding Takeout and Delivery Options - Eater San Diego

View Postcard for Empanada Kitchen

@eater

Empanada Kitchen Emerges Downtown - Eater San Diego

View Postcard for Empanada Kitchen

Nathan Kalinowski

Google

Crispy, flakey pastry with very tasty filling. Filling is moist and flavorful. Not much seating so mostly a take out place. Would visit again!

Patrick Mederos

Google

Colton Crist

Google

Andrea Brentano

Google

Dylan Nielsen

Google

Braised lamb and spicy beef empanadas were delicious. Salad was good and very generous walnut portion. Alfajore also excellent, an excellent spot for an affordable lunch.

Ivy Ebanks

Google

Mark Milliner

Google

Josh West

Google

Empanada Kitchen

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