La Cocina - Empanadas Catamarqueñas

We were excited to dine here but (1) the empanadas counter did not have any seating - you have to go to the other hall to eat in, (2) the menu was hard to get, (3) you can only pay cash, the Internet was not working so no card option. A real pity as everything looked really good.

This place is in the basement level. It opens at 12 AM but the empanadas won’t be ready until 12. I like it snd had soup as well. The owner is very friendly

Legit place for locals to grab empanadas

Excellent Empanadas and very friendly staff. Owner even gave us dessert.

Hidden gem. All the locals are eating here, so figured it must be good. Best empanadas I’ve ever had. - quick street food

The empanadas are great, but the service is awful. It took them more than 30 minutes to get the empanadas, and the owner was pretty rude when talking to us. I wouldn't come back.

Good empanadas but not the best I've had in Buenos Aires. You pay a premium price compared to most street vendors and even though the quality you get is better, I'm not sure it justifies the price difference. The place is below ground so there is no reception but the store feels pretty authentic. I highly recommend the cheese and onion option, it's probably the brst we've tried.

Highly recommend the Pikachu and the carne picante

The best empanadas I have ever tasted. This place is a hidden gem in Buenos Aires, and when I say hidden, I mean really hidden. You cannot see La Cocina from the street. You must enter the shady underground plaza with the barber and sex shop, walk all the way to the back, and there you will find this unassuming little empanada shop. No habla Español, but navigating the menu was easy. They make beef, chicken, and ham empanadas, plus four vegetarian flavors. I ordered one of each of the veggie options, plus a few Carne Picante ones for my boyfriend. Their empanadas are made fresh to order, so be prepared to wait about 15 minutes. There are a few tables outside, but if dining in a fluorescent lit basement isn't your thing, you probably want to take your order to go. My empanadas were still piping hot 30 minutes later when I arrived back at my hotel. The best of the vegetarian selection was the Pikachu, a four cheese empanada with mild chili spices. The filling was packed with richly savory flavor without being overly oily or salty. The Queso y Cebolla (cheese and caramelized onion) and Pascualina (Spinach) were also fantastic, but more on the mild side. The Choclo (sweet corn) was okay, but too sweet. It tasted like congee with honey in it-enjoyable for a bite or too, but not one that I would order again. Highly recommended.

Unpretentious eatery, where empanadas are made and baked on order, in front of you! They have eight different stuffings, enough for two people if you order one each and are willing to share. One - with corn - appears vegetarian. Another one - with spinach - also appears to have no meat. Locals frequent this spot.