La Buena Empanada

I was looking for empanada spot. I found one inside of Union Market food hall. It’s a quaint eatery that you might pass if you’re walking by fast enough. Trust me you’re going to want to stop and check these folks out…LET’S GO!! . Where I am: @labuenaempanada . Location Reviewed: 1309 5th St., N.E. Washington D.C. . Menu Includes: Beef, Chicken, Ham n Cheese, Spinach n Feta, Chorizo, Sweeet Corn n Cheese, Turkey Pie, Chimichurri, & Beverages. . items Reviewed: 6 Empanadas for $28, or $6 each. Their Beef Empanada (with seasoned ground beef). STAMP!! Bold, savory, & hearty!! Their Chorizo Empanada (with seasoned Argentina sausage), STAMP!! Meaty, spicy, & fresh!! Their Spinach n Feta Empanada (with cooked spinach, & feta cheese). STAMP!! Well seasoned, with a balanced blend of cheese!! Their Pollo Empanada (with seasoned, & roasted chicken, & peppers). Flaky buttery crust, well roasted chicken, & scrumptious!! Their Corn n Cheese Empanada (with a sweet corn & cheese). LIKE THAT!! Different!! I tasted brown sugar, & a hint of cinnamon!! Their Ham n Cheese Empanada (with ham & Swiss). DELICIOUS. Savory ham, & tasty Swiss. A tad bland. Their Turkey Pie (with turkey pot pie inside of a flaky crust, & cranberry sauce on the side $8). DELICIOUS!! It tasted exactly like a traditional turkey pot pie!! . Customer Service: On Point . Online Navigation: Easy . Parking: Decent lot parking . Recommendations: ALL the empanadas!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️=STAMP ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️➕=LIKE THAT ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️=DELICIOUS ⭐️⭐️⭐️=DECENT ⭐️⭐️=PASS ⭐️=NAH #Bigschlimsreviews

So fantastic!! I absolutely love this place! I first had Argentinian empanadas in California and was searching for a while to find somewhere else to get my favourites, so I couldn’t have been more thrilled to find this place, which has more than lived up to the hype! It’s an adorable empanada stand in the Union Market building, which itself is a trendy collection of local businesses (primarily food stalls). The decor at La Buena’s stand is proper adorable, and I’ve never met anyone working here who wasn’t absolutely lovely— everyone is just always so very friendly and kind! But of course the biggest draw here is the food, which is truly fantastic! Honestly I’ve truly had days where I’ve made a trip from the Maryland metro area just to come here and get my snacks! The alfajores (little shortbread style sugar cookies with some kind of Dulce de leche like filling) are a real treat. They’re not enough to be overly sweet or too rich, and make for a perfect light dessert with a wonderful flavour. But naturally the real kicker is the empanadas! The pastry itself is chewy and flakey, and pairs perfectly with any filling. Often they’ve got about six to ten different flavours available, my favourite being the ham and cheese by far, which feels like a French breakfast turned empanada and is tasty enough that if you come by too late in the day, they might just be almost sold out! The empanadas are lovely, so very tasty, and well worth the prices, which are always quite reasonable and fair. I truly have to give this place my recommendations, as their food is too tasty to describe, the service prompt, the prices reasonable, the staff friendly, and the atmosphere fun and vibrant! I’d recommend coming before the dinner rush or on a weekday for your first time so as to have the greatest possible selection, as well as the most ease in parking, as the area can become rather hectic during the busier times. Seating can be a little bit limited as well in the midst of a big rush, as it’s shared with many other local businesses operating their own stands in the Union Market, but that being said, I’ve personally never come that I couldn’t find a suitable place to sit after a a few moments looking about. Altogether it’s always a wonderful experience whenever I come by, and I certainly give la Buena my strongest recommendation, and many thanks for the yummy food! I look forward to my next visit! Cheers! : )

Genuinely come to Wundergarten sometimes just for La Buena Empanda. They are always hot, flaky and phenomenal. My favorites are the ham & cheese, beef and new sweet corn! So glad to hear they have expanded into Union Market too! I can’t wait to check them out.

Incredible experience! We went up and ask to try their best empanada, and Hernan treated us with some of the best empanadas I’ve ever tasted. They were filling and so flavorful. Also the chumichurri sauce is the best stuff I’ve ever had. Highly recommend!

Hernan was so nice! Gave us a bit of history alongside why his empanadas are different. And then gave us a little taste! Omg, one bite and we knew that would be our lunch. So flavorful and flaky. YUM

We stopped by to gather an eclectic array of food for Friendsgiving and by far, our favorite was the empanadas from La Buena. The owner was so friendly and made a couple of North Carolinians feel right at home with his hospitality and down right DELICIOUS empanadas. Go check them out!! If you are not an empanadas person, try these! They'll change your life. Cheers!

Absolutely delicious - light flaky pastry with moist flavorful fillings. Everything tasted really fresh and the ingredients were high quality. Run by super friendly folks who take pride in what they make and enjoy sharing it with others. We were their last customers of the day and they treated us to a free empanada and drinks. Please support them!

Thease are definitely the best empanadas I have ever had they are flakey not cakey I enjoy all of the but sausage is usually my favorite but the sweet corn and spinach even blew me away as a meat eater I never thought veggies could truly turn me on Oh and I happen to be a chef for the record

Love love love the empanadas here! But the chimichurri is to die for! You have to get a bottle if you are here. I also recommend the spinach feta as it is so flavorful and the only empanada I dream of. If you are in the area you have to go here! The owner is super sweet and love talking to him and learning about his business.

If you're walking around Union Station, can't decide what to eat, look no further. These empanadas a deeelish. Service can be slow if understaffed but that's almost everywhere these days so know that if all the places in Union Station, here is one of the best places to wait on. You also have the option to buy cheaper by buying frozen and heating at home. While I liked all flavors, I liked the vegetarian ones the most. There's something about the sweet corn and the spinach and cheese that's just... chef's kiss level. Also the chimichurri sauce! Owner is super friendly!

While visiting DC with friends, I got to run around Union Market and try some happy foods! I decided to grab a corn empanada from La Buena empanada which was a fantastic choice! The empanada was fresh and warm with delicious chimichurri sauce. I was so pleased to get to have one and will definitely try other ones next time!

I was looking for empanada spot. I found one inside of Union Market food hall. It's a quaint eatery that you might pass if you're walking by fast enough. Trust me you're going to want to stop and check these folks out...LET'S GO!! . Where I am: @labuenaempanada . Location Reviewed: 1309 5th St., N.E. Washington D.C. . Menu Includes: Beef, Chicken, Ham n Cheese, Spinach n Feta, Chorizo, Sweeet Corn n Cheese, Turkey Pie, Chimichurri, & Beverages. . items Reviewed: 6 Empanadas for $28, or $6 each. Their Beef Empanada (with seasoned ground beef). STAMP!! Bold, savory, & hearty!! Their Chorizo Empanada (with seasoned Argentina sausage), STAMP!! Meaty, spicy, & fresh!! Their Spinach n Feta Empanada (with cooked spinach, & feta cheese). STAMP!! Well seasoned, with a balanced blend of cheese!! Their Pollo Empanada (with seasoned, & roasted chicken, & peppers). Flaky buttery crust, well roasted chicken, & scrumptious!! Their Corn n Cheese Empanada (with a sweet corn & cheese). LIKE THAT!! Different!! I tasted brown sugar, & a hint of cinnamon!! Their Ham n Cheese Empanada (with ham & Swiss). DELICIOUS. Savory ham, & tasty Swiss. A tad bland. Their Turkey Pie (with turkey pot pie inside of a flaky crust, & cranberry sauce on the side $8). DELICIOUS!! It tasted exactly like a traditional turkey pot pie!! . Customer Service: On Point . Online Navigation: Easy . Parking: Decent lot parking . Recommendations: ALL the empanadas!! 5 Stars=STAMP 4 1/2 Stars=LIKE THAT 4 Stars=DELICIOUS 3 Stars=DECENT 2 Stars=PASS 1 Star=NAH #Bigschlimsreviews

Wandering around Union Market, this vendor caught my eyes so I gave them a try. An empanada costs $6 each, which is pretty steep in price. I did their 3 Empanada Combo ($17), although $1 in savings is not much, but allowed me to try a variety of their offerings. My favorite is the Argentinian Chorizo. The Beef Empanada is pretty standard from other empanadas I've had. The Chicken Empanada has some nice flavoring to it with bell peppers, onions, garlic & spices.

There are so many options within Union Market, but this small empanada stand sucked me in. The owner is an outgoing man who pulled three of us over to celebrate his birthday with free samplings of empanadas and dulce de leche. Each bite tasted great so I ordered a classic empanada and a ham and cheese one for my six-year-old daughter. She loved it, including the chimichurri sauce.

Hands down! These are the best empanadas I've had. I tried chicken & beef. The chicken was really good but the beef was even better! The pastry is cooked to a perfect golden brown and served very hot. They also sell them frozen (I believe their 30% cheaper) to make them at home. If you like empanadas., you'll love these!

i tried this empanadas about two years ago when I first moved from Argentina and I literally cried because of how good they were. They transported me back to my grandmas house. Please if you have the chance to try them, do it, you won't regret it.

I went to Union market this past weekend for Ramen and discovered this place had just opened. Although I did not order from this place, the owner supplied me generously with multiple samples of delicious items. They were so friendly and conversational. Very down to earth and lovable people. Ambiance need not apply. The prices are excellent! See my photos. I had a portion of an empanada that was fantastic. I had two samples of soups that I thought were scrumptious. I also had a dessert sample that was phenomenal. I will back very soon to order from the menu! I recommend you meet me there!

As we took a little stroll through Union Market, we happened to notice a new stand and so happy we did! These empanadas were so delicious. So perfectly baked and perfectly filled. The flavors were phenomenal. Today we tried three empanadas: Spinach & Feta- so fresh and filling, perfectly balanced. Cheesy Chorizo & Sausage Chicken & Peppers We will return, please never leave.

Five Stars. All Day. No Questions Asked. This was our first stop in the market as we wanted to walk the whole thing before deciding what to eat, but just couldn't pass this place up. We immediately started talking with Hernan, and he was such a pleasure to talk to. We tried almost every flavor of empanadas they offer, with he exception of the spinach and feta. We also tried his steak & chimichurri sandwich was was insane. I'm telling you right now, they bottle the chimi sauce, and if I wasn't worried about the bottle being broken while AA kicks my luggage onto the plane I would've purchase 15 of them. If you're in empanada fan, this joint will not disappoint.

We had beef, chicken and vegetarian empanadas catered from La Buena for our work event in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, and they were a hit! The flavors were amazing, with crispy, perfectly baked crusts and delicious fillings. Our whole team enjoyed them. Highly recommend for any event or gathering!

LOVE the empanadas and their sweet Alfajores!!!! Soooo delicious, the empanadas was soft and flaky and the meat was so yummy!

Stopped in to Union Market for a quick bite, saw this new place had opened. Best empanadas in DC I've had since moving from NYC 7 years ago! Definitely recommend. I had the Beef and Potato and Chicken and Peppers. Plus side to it all was the Manager of the stand, very polite and helpful. Delight to speak with.

I came here when I stopped in Union Station and came to their stall. The staff were so warm and friendly. The male manager made the atmosphere so calm and inviting. It almost made me feel I was in the quiet place of the market even though there were busy stalls around us. The empanadas were amazing. Combined with the chimichurri, it creates a delicious experience. I can't wait to be able to taste these again! Please come by and try them out! You will be amazed at their yumminess.

DELICIOUS Empanadas that make you feel like you're eating with your family. Hernan and Co are extremely warm and provide an A1 customer service experience every time. Highly recommend visiting them at Union Market!

While they are a bit pricy, you know it is worth it once you take a bite into the empanadas. They do ofter 3 and 6 combos which help you save a little bit. I was delighted to see they had some veggie options and ordered the corn and cheese and the spinach and cheese. My wife got the ham and cheese. The corn one was a little sweet, and I wish they had a spicy version of the chimichurri sauce, but the winner for me was the spinach. I was surprised by how well the spinach did become mushy and soft. It was flavorful, and the flaky and crispy outer empanada made it so much better.

Had their empanadas while at Union Market - they were delicious! The owner was super friendly and we were lucky enough to buy the last ones at the end of the day. The baked crust makes all the difference. Would definitely come again!

This place is filled with so much love- not only in the food but by the owner who runs the stand. We came here on Thursday evening for some Winterfest drinks and sat next to the empanada stand, which was nicely decorated. When we heard it was the final call to order empanadas, we dashed to get our order in. The owner was wonderful! She brought people together and was easy to talk to! We met so many people in the empanada stand; it felt like a party. We tried 3 empanadas (beef, ham and cheese and spinach and feta) and the sausage wrap. My favorite was the sweet Italian sausage with cheese, wrapped in a homemade dough, and topped with an herbaceous Italian parsley chimchurri. The sauce was refreshing and bright, the sausage was juicy and perfectly seasoned, and the wrapped dough was flaky and light. All of the empanadas were delicious- wrapped in the same homemade dough and topped with chimchurri like the sausage wrap. If you're looking for delicious food or just some happiness for your day, stop by La Buena Empanada!

Best empanadas. He gave us the the gift of empanadas on his birthday and I'm wondering if love was the secret ingredient. The best dough and wonderful flavor. Full of season and great texture. Thank you so much for sharing your gift with us.

Best empanadas EVER!!! Also the owner is so kind!!!! I think his kindness is the special ingredient which makes them sooooo good. I ordered two sausage empanadas and wanted veggie but they were out of corn/cheese. The owner suggested spinach and I declined as spinach is gross usually for me. He swore by his spinach so much that he gave me one for free. Guess what....I ate the spinach one as I walked away and then made a u turn and ordered 2 more spinach, 2 more sausage and a few of the others we didn't try. I loooooooooove the spinach ones and my family is still raving about the sausage, ham/cheese and beef ones I brought home. One more thing about the spinach ones...it's fresh sautéed while spinach not some frozen chopped up stuff. Wow they were amazing. K go get some now

Good empanadas, I had the ham & cheese, the beef, the chicken, sweet corn, the chorizo, and cheese. They were good, but at $6 each I found them a bit pricey! Oh, and the parking situation is horrendous!! I give it 3 stars for the product, the price and parking is a whole different matter.

The ham and cheese is delicious! The chimichurri is the best I've had, the owner is so sweet and gave us suggestions and even samples

The empanadas here are outstanding and taste more like a croissant than the usual empanada. I found La Buena by accident at the Union Market and was amazed at the flaky crust. One of the owners said they bake rather than fry and that makes all the difference. I don't know how these places survive but La Buena is a winner and I'll be surprised if they don't open other locations.

The best empanadas in DC tucked. 100% recommended. The crust is light and perfectly crumbly (not fried!). I tried the beef and it was so delicious, that I then wanted to try them all. I ended up buying the frozen ones to bake at home. The owner is sweet and very attentive in a welcoming ambiance. I think I found my new regular empanada place in the DMV.

I had a dinner party for 50 law students in April and was trying to think of good, easy food to serve. After reading some reviews, I decided to order empanadas from La Buena Empanada and I could not have been happier! The person who I spoke with about what I needed was delightful. (I'm embarrassed that I forget his name, I waited too long to write this review.) He was a great help when I was trying to decide which empanadas to choose and how many. The process went without a hitch -- the empanadas showed up at my house exactly when I needed them. The best part was the empanadas!! They were absolutely delicious. The crust is flakey and light and there is exactly the right ratio of crust to filling. The fillings were all terrific. I got chicken, beef, spinach and feta, and sweet corn. The chimichurri sauce was fantastic too. I got raves from my students -- and even from my husband, who isn't usually an empanada fan. I will definitely use them again for a party and will stop by for lunch or dinner whenever I can.

Nicest owners! Had great conversation and are super generous with their amazing food. Try their corn empanada and alfajor.

Delicious food and the guy working there was so friendly. Offered samples and was extremely outgoing. A+

Reasonably priced food with an Argentinian flare. The empanadas look small, but they pack a filling, delicious punch. Herman, the owner, is a sweet soul who loves sharing his family recipe with his customers. I would highly recommend this spot if you're visiting Union Market.

Your staff lied to you. I showed him the foreign object. As I said, he refused to cancelled the order--so I was still charged for the order. He replaced it instead. I have multiple colleagues with me that day who saw the foreign object. You were not present at the incident, and your response is simply false.

Can't say enough good things about this place! The empanadas are unreal and the chimichurri sauce is unbelievable. My friend and I were talking on the way home about how they should bottle and sell the sauce as well. We definitely will be back!

Fantastic empanadas and outstanding service to match. I first had their empanadas at a happy hour I hosted at Wundergarten. They were so attentive and helped carry them out to our group's cabana where they were promptly devoured. I enjoyed them so much that I used their catering service for a kids' birthday party too. They delivered right on time, piping hot and even brought balloons for my son. The varieties are perfect for a crowd because they have ham and cheese for the kids and other options for more adventurous eaters, including vegetarian options. Plus they genuinely care about their customers and they make sure you know it, every time.

Excellent food and really friendly staff. Absolute Union Market staple and the chimichurri slaps.

Super yummy empanadas. Definitely seek these guys out when you can. Phenomenal flavor and always fresh.

Delicious empanadas!! And the host was super sweet. We will be coming back again for trivia Mondays!