La Masa Empanada Bar

Pretty far away to travel for me, but its well worth it. If Im close to north Milwaukee again, I will definitly stop by. The choice of empanadas are excellent. Such a great variety. And shoestring fries is a great match. And to top it all off...they have EMPANADA SPECIALS that you wont find out about until u arrive These are new items that are not on the menu. We went with the 12 platter (which is essentially buying 12 for the price of 11) in order to try everything we wanted. Pesto was pesto-ey, jerk chicken was spicy, and the crust was lightly charred. Service was also 10/10. parking was a breeze behind the building, and cost $2 for 2 hours. They even have dessert empanadas like a chocolate chip and a Nutella filled. I will definitly be back!

Even though it was New Year's Eve and I didn't have a reservation, they still had open seating at the bar and we're super kind! I love ordering a trio and there's always tons of options. Plus they had a signature hot and spicy Martini for the evening. I've gone quite a few times and love everything they have to offer, and it goes without saying you have to have a barbacoa empanadas and do the mushroom truffle risotto one.

Great selection of both traditional and more modern flavors. Having an initial cooked into the crust helps when you're trying to figure out which one is which. We ordered the platter and very much enjoyed a great meal. Parking is a pain in the area and the meters are aggressively monitored. Park wisely.

La Masa is a must visit! Lots of options for empanadas including dessert ones. The initials on the empanadas was a great touch as well so you know which ones you are trying. My favorite was the Cuban!

My first time since I moved back to Milwaukee after 5 years and seems like they improved so much the service and the quality. The "empanadas" were so tasty abs addicting. We are so much of it. Come and enjoy too. You will be so happy!

We tried the chicken tinga empanada and the corn empanada, and both were absolutely delicious! They came out baked, warm, and fresh, with perfectly balanced flavors in every bite. The outdoor seating made the experience even better — the perfect spot to relax and enjoy such tasty food. Highly recommend!

We decided to try the platter of empanadas due to the variety of options. We shared the 12 between two and felt like it was plenty. Our top three 1) Grilled Chicken Pesto 2) Wisconsin Corn 3) Spinach and Cheese Try all the sauces—they’re all fantastic. We enjoyed the entire platter and will definitely be back to try more empanadas. Also, a great place to cater for a party!

I love La Masa! I discovered this restaurant a couple of years ago and have been going back ever since. I’ve done a larger group dinner (8-10 people) and also small tables - great for both. My favorite item is the Wisco Corn. Can’t wait to be back soon! Delicious food and reasonable prices!

I've been to La Masa several times, so it's safe to say I'm a fan. I'm always torn between trying new empanadas versus getting my usual (since they're already so delicious). So I usually compromise with a mix. And I'm invariably impressed. Also I love how they brand each one so you know the inside contents. La Masa is a big recommendation to anyone looking for more unique foods in a hip area of town or on game day!

I've been to this restaurant multiple times, and I've never been disappointed. I also love how I've never had an issue with seating or long wait, even though it's a popular dining spot. The low, gentle lighting gives the place a very chill and elevated casual dining experience- great for a date night, grabbing drinks/food with friends, and solo dining (multiple bar seats available as well). My favorite menu items have been the BAKED AJÍ QUESO DIP and SPICY BLACK BEAN DIP (comes with perfectly grilled ciabatta and crisp red bell pepper, jicama, and green apple. My favorite empanadas are Argentine beef, chicken tinga, spinach and cheese, and grilled chicken pesto.

All the empanadas are fantastic. They are a bit pricey but they are really good. I like that they have a to go option but eating there is also good. We tried most empanadas and they were all delicious. Great place to hang out.

Seems unassuming for empanadas, but exceeded expectations. the dough is made in house and takes the empanadas to the next level, they have several vegetarian options, each with layers of flavor. We were there just after lunch rush and everything came out fast, and the staff is friendly. Most of the seating seems to be high tops, but not all, so might not be the best option it is during a busy time and needing traditional seating. The space is nothing special, looks kind of like a dive bar, with some games on the TV.

Met a friend at this cute cozy restaurant for a quick lunch and this spot was great. We split the queso appetizer and the burrata. Both were delish, I love love love their queso. It's thick and decadent and just perfect. I really enjoy the veggies the queso comes with as well, the jicama is my personal favorite. The burrata was light and creamy just so good. Our server was super friendly and quick. It was in and out and we left full and happy.

La Masa has some of my favorite empanadas in the city! It's conveniently located on the East Side and offers dine in, take out and take and bake options. I've only ever went for empanadas and drinks- so all I can speak too (for now). We love to split the platter which is 12 empanadas for $5 off- definitely worth it (especially if you want to try a little bit of everything). My favorite empanadas are the chicken tinga and carnitas verde with the chimichurri sauce - so fresh tasting and full of flavor! Also love the dessert empanada as well. They offer quite a wide variety of choices/ flavor combinations to cater to all. When I have dined in, staff was super kind to us and I really enjoyed my experience/ the overall ambiance. Would definitely recommend trying out La Masa for any occasion!

Food is fantastic - 5 stars. Salads are huge, pork carnitas sandwich was amazing - probably the most tender carnitas I've had, and very flavorful. Huge selection of empanadas - my favorite were the barbacoa and the mushroom ones, although honestly all were good. The shrimp curry empanadas had lots of shrimp pieces and a good amount of heat. Nice drink list - the foamy margarita (with egg white) was a nice touch. Most tables are high tops - keep that in mind if dining with others who require lower seating . I would have given 5 stars if not for the subpar service. Our server rarely came by to check on us and did not refill our waters even once. My husband ordered a pale ale beer which arrived looking weirdly opaque with a color never seen before in any style of beer. There was definitely something wrong with it/the keg. There was not one word of apology.

Finally stopped in and dined at La Masa. Overall, I enjoyed all the empanada flavors but the non-traditional ones truly stood out. The mushroom truffle parmesan, Cuban, and peasant pot pie were fun and tasty. Each bite was packed with creativity and flavor. The traditional flavors were good but not as memorable. A nice touch is that when you order three empanadas, they come with a small side. I decided to upgrade to the spicy Caesar salad--because you know *healthy*. For dipping sauces, I tried the Ají Amarillo, which was a creamy spicy sauce (not spicy imo), though the classic chimichurri was equally good. Next time, I'll have to sample the creamy garlic lime and pineapple pico--both sound delicious! The restaurant also had a decent amount of cocktails to pair with the meal. I was able to snag a reservation the week of, but the place filled up quickly on a Friday evening. It was nice sitting down to enjoy the atmosphere rather than grabbing these tasty bites on the go during Brady Street Fest. I hope to see the menu continue to seasonally change because I would love to try some more creative pockets of filling.

This space has transformed from its previous incarnations as Detour, a high end fashion store, to World of Beer, to now--La Masa. The space is beautiful! Clean, classy, and comfortable with both inside and outside dining. Brady street festival memorabilia line the walls, and large picture windows allow for the ultimate in people watching. Our group of six was preparing for summerfest so we had some craft cocktails and shared a platter of 12 empanadas since by ordering in bulk, you save $5. We tried Argentinian Beef, Thai peanut and chicken, Wisconsin Corn and peppers, and bacon and cheese. The dough was fried yet flaky and each little pouch of pastry tenderness was stamped so you could identify the flavors. Two was enough for a great base and I would definitely visit again to try more flavors. Well done staff and kitchen!

Came on a weeknight with friends to catch up. The music wasn't too loud so it was perfect for us to chat. Vibes were spot on. Food was amazing- we all got a variety of empanadas. One in our group ordered the platter size to take leftovers and she said they reheated well. Staff were accommodating. Delicious empanadas!!

I can't say enough good things about this place! It was very busy but we were seated right away. The service was great. She was so attentive and when asked for the check early, she came right back. And the good...yummmmmmy! We had 2 trios and enjoyed all 6 empanada flavors. Will be back!

Love their empanadas! They have so many fun fusion flavors. They seem small but they're pretty filling. I also love their spicy Cesar and occasionally make the extra $1 splurge for it. I've only ever gotten take out so I can't speak to the service inside but it's pretty cute. Everyone is always so nice. I'm a big fan of their curry shrimp, truffle Parmesan, and queso poblano!

As always I love it here so much. Came after a long work week at around 6 pm and it was amazing. Each empanada was so flavorful and the chimichurri made it all even better. Our waiter was great and they were dealing with the receipts not working so in addition to dealing with that, they really made sure we were enjoying everything. I also had the pineapple caipirinha and I wish it had a bit more alcohol haha but it was quite delicious.

Always wanted to try this place, glad I did. I went with the LaMasa trio... jerk chicken, Thai peanut chicken and the verde pork, side of jicama slaw and chimichurri sauce. All three were good. Loved the Thai peanut. More flavors to try. Will definitely be back.

Wow! This place was absolutely amazing the food, drinks and staff are beyond amazing. I love how you can get delicious empanadas in a cute setting that dresses the empanada in an upscale way . Highly recommend this place .

On Brady Street it can be hard to find spots to go, but in the midst of all the chaos, there is La Masa. A haven of beverages and delicious cuisine, La Masa is a great spot to be. Their food is great, lots of variety and full of flavor. Empanadas are their specialty but they have many other options. For instance, this most recent time I got a steak sandwich that was definitely the best steak sandwich I ever had. Bartender was great and mixed our drinks just how we asked. We had some house margaritas that were delicious. Overall, this is a great spot for any occasion: nights out, late night snack, date night, you name it

The bar area is really cute with a vibrant atmosphere. There is a big variety of empanadas to choose from. I tried the carnitas, Thai peanut, and spicy shrimp. I would say the spicy shrimp or thai was my favorite but all were delicious. If you get 3 empanadas you also get a side included. It comes with a jicama slaw which I thought was just okay, or can upgrade to a salad or fries. They were great at accommodating our large party of 10 as well which was nice considering they are a smaller restaurant.

Just wanted to stop in since I hadn't had the empanadas in forever. So many different empanada options to choose from and was recommended the Argentina beef which was alright and the peanut chicken one which was the better of the two with a green dipping sauce. I liked how hot and fresh the food was probably because it was not too busy either. Worth a try and priced accordingly!

Had this for take out with a friend when I was in town and was impressed. The options for empanadas are endless and creative. The Wisconsin Corn one was incredible. I loved how they marked all of the empanadas and how they encourage trying things and sharing. Amazing local spot

We visited La Masa to celebrate a birthday, and we were truly impressed! None of us had been there before, so we decided to start at the bar. They offered a variety of drinks, including vodka, tequila, and everything in between. After two rounds, all four of us were happy with our choices. Once we were seated at our table, we enjoyed the aji queso, which was surprisingly good when paired with apple, along with our empanadas. Out of the three dishes I tried, the pesto chicken was my favorite, and the Caesar salad is a must-try! Overall, everything was delicious! Our server even surprised us with a special birthday dessert, which was very kind and thoughtful. It was quite busy for a Thursday night, but considering it's right on Brady, the ambiance really transports you elsewhere. I will be recommending La Masa to everyone I know and plan to return soon.

Can't speak highly enough about our server Zack! He was attentive, quick, and got us everything we needed! I have loved La Masa for years, but have never received better service than Zack (and mind you it was a holiday weekend!). The evening started a little touchy with the hostess, who unfortunately greeted us with a less than warm reception, but Zack totally made up for it and our meal was great! Service, food and ambiance were amazing once we were seated! Can't recommend the spicy shrimp empanada and sangria enough! 4 stars only because of our greeting :/ Zack deserves 6/5

Empanadas! Empanadas! I was in heaven! Trifecta- Argentine Beef (A), Grilled chicken pesto (PC) and Spicy Shrimp Curry (SC) * they have imprinted label on the empanadas and a menu with the details) with all 3 sauces: Sauces: Chimichurri, Ají Amarillo, Creamy Garlic Lime I purchased to go the recommended fave by Vanessa and the rest based on the ingredients included. Go back home .. like 8 hr drive and tossed them in air fryer to warm up... can I say SIMPLY PERFECT! These Argentine Inspired Empanadas are PACKED full of the filling and baked with poppin flavor not overpowering! Some places don't get pesto right but Las Masa certainly did!! Oh and I got a side with my La Masa Trio... fries! Can't wrong with those either!

Highly recommend La Masa for dinner with friends, or a quick lunch date with your mom. I most recently visited with my mom on a Sunday afternoon and we enjoyed our meal, however our server got the bill wrong at the end (put a drink on that we didn't purchase) and kind of gave us a hard time about it.

I've been trying to be more strict about handing out 5-star reviews but Masa earned theirs like a beast. Their empanadas are DELICIOUS. I got their trio of Argentine Beef, Barbacoa, and Chorizo & Black Bean. They come with the initials of their contents branded onto the top so you know which is which. Service was good, but they can get pretty busy during happy hour so give them a bit extra time to get the drinks going. Situated perfectly on a corner on Brady Street so you can people watch (or watch the fog roll in off of Lake Michigan in the spring, equally cool). I also tried their Fernet & Coke, which was different but great. Honestly I can't recommend them enough.

Such an enjoyable experience. The vibe is more "date night" with the dim lights and candles but the menu explores a variety of interesting flavors for each empanada. They do have other options but obvi that would be your best bet. Pricing is fair, service was delightful and quick. I would highly suggest trying it out. Especially the "mushroom truffle Parmesan"

These were excellent Empanadas! We went as part of a tour and went back the next day for more. Good blend of fluffy pastry and great fillings. Bean & Chorizo, steak, and chicken were all good. I couldn't stop thinking of the Chorizo one after eating it the first day! Had the cheese curd and bacon- it was good but probably needed more bacon to balance. Sauces were great. Really enjoyed the Cheese Croauettes too. Friendly staff.

We were up by Pleasant Prairie and Milwaukee is really not that far on a day when you can drive quickly on I-94. I was initially wanting to go to St. Paul for a Lobstah roll but La Masa is a place I had never been to so the die was cast (meaning my mind was made up). I'm glad I came here because it's a nice and airy restaurant with plenty of natural light. I also like Brady street because you can go on a foodie crawl whilst you're here. The empanadas, there was definitely a Nice selection and I recommend getting twelve (12) for variety. The ones I liked the most were 1) Wisconsin corn 2) Spinach with cheese and 3) Ham and cheese. These were bursting with flavor. I was thinking of asking for more chimichurri but there's a charge of $1?? Anyway, it was great coming here and there's adequate street pahking in the hood. The arcane letter markings on each empanada will lead you back to the menu for deciphering.

Such a fantastic spot with authentic baked empanadas. The filling selection was diverse and had some classics like Argentinian ground beef, barbacoa, as well as some really delicious varieties like a really tasty corn option and spicy shrimp curry. The platter comes with a sauce and the chimichurri hit the spot. Our server was really friendly and had great recommendations. Lastly the drink menu is not one to reckon with, really inventive additions to classic drinks like the matcha colada and chamomile pisco sour. Our party tried them and they were all very good! Definitely worth a visit and several revisits afterwards!

I finally made a trip here and I was not disappointed. Milwaukee needs restaurants like these! The space isn't huge but it works. The server was polite, but a bit inattentive. Cocktails and food were great and was the highlight no doubt about it. The empanada options are both traditional and creative. I will be back with a high degree of confidence.

I can't say I've ever been to an empanada bar before so this was probably my first. What's not to love about empanasas? A pastry pocket stuffed with meat or veggies or cheese, it's a simple concept and La Masa does it well. The menu offers 16 different empanadas including black bean and chorizo, spinach and cheese, Wisco Corn, Cuban with ham and cheese and pickles and mustard. I opted for the "La Masa Trio" which includes three so I chose Argentine Beef, Lamb Barbacoa and Jamon y Queso (ham and cheese). They took about ten minutes (heating them up, I suppose?) and were presented on a tray with a bowl of jicama slaw and chimichurri. They were hot and while I had high hopes for the ham and cheese, that was my least favorite. It tasted too sweet. The beef was my favorite of the three, well stuffed and with a rich baked flavor. The empanadas themselves were good - flaky and buttery. La Masa has a full bar but it's lunchtime on a workday and a cocktail would definitely have put me out for the afternoon. They have Coke products and several other non-alcoholic drinks. [Review 20672 overall - 242 in Wisconsin - 1653 of 2023.]

These Empanadas are the best in all of Gringolandia and even better than some places in both Argentina and Chile.... And I'm an Empanada connoisseur! La masa is soft yet firm enough to hold everything in. The pino???? INCREDIBLE! I'm definitely coming back

We had a visitor recently who had never been to Milwaukee before. With so much good food here, it was so hard to figure out all the places I wanted to take her, so I let her pick and this was appropriately very high on her list. And it had been a while for us too, which was a bonus. We came after 8pm on a Saturday evening and they were able to seat us right away, which was a very pleasant surprise. The restaurant was really loud though due to a few groups that were seated near us, but that's just Brady street for ya! For drinks I got a Pisco sour and my husband got the classic red sangria. My sour was very tasty and the egg white foam on top was so good! It was sweet, tart, creamy, and very easy to drink. My husband enjoyed his sangria quite a bit as well. We started with the queso dip, which is fantastic. It comes hot, creamy, and SUPER flavorful. It comes with toasted bread and slices of jicama, apples, and red peppers. All of it goes so well together and our guest was surprised by how good the apples taste with the queso. I got a trio of Wisco corn, tomato basil mozz, and the mushroom Parmesan empanadas with fries. The corn empanada is my absolutely favorite vegetarian empanada. The tomato mozza was really good as well. I'm not a mushroom girl, but that empanada was tasty and if you're a mushroom person, I think you would love it. It's full to the brim of nicely cooked mushrooms. We asked the waiter for a hot sauce or something similar and he recommended the spicy aioli which was delicious! It went with all the empanadas and while it wasn't particularly hot, it definitely had good flavor and spice. The fries are only okay in my opinion, but it's because I prefer my fries thicker. They're super crispy, as advertised, but just not my preference. I love this place so much and I want to try their brunch as well!

Yum yum yum! La Masa has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants in Milwaukee! Initially I was skeptical of an all empanadas place but man I have been impressed time and time again. Obviously the empanadas are the way to go, I love that there are so many to choose from and there are new ones monthly. They're all really good. My particular favorite is the Cuban. That being said I've also had their salads and several appetizers which are super delicious as well! The drinks are really good and decent wine selection. Service is typically pretty good but sometimes it's a little off, notably the hosts can be a bit cantankerous. Not always but on occasion. My only other gripe is that it can get very loud and echoey so have found myself having to almost shout sometimes

TOO SPICY. Love the concept. Love the size of the empanadas Love the pastry. Great service. But what's the obsession with spicy food? I get that it's probably traditional, but for a spice wuss like me who really wanted to love La Masa I won't come back. I just want to have more options on the menu that I can love without being overwhelmed with chili. The Barbacoa looked great but too spicy. The sauces not good. Thought the pineapple salsa was going to be bright and refreshing but I couldn't even taste the pineapple.

Quality/Quantity - Argentina beef empanada - Good. Other options are: salads, sandwiches, empanada desserts, etc. Extensive drink menu, see picture. Atmosphere - Indoor/outdoor seating. Bar seating. Two entrances, one for full service and one for take out only. Catering available. Take and bake available. Open 7 days a week from 10am or 11am to 9pm or 11pm. Check the website, as Yelp hours differ slightly. Service - Hit and miss. Gave us everything we asked for but I think the team was too busy catering to ALL their take out business. Our one empanada took 17 minutes to make, as we watched them make bags and bags of take out empanadas (we were quoted a 10 min wait). Due to another beautiful hot day, they were nice and gave me a glass of ice (I have water in the car). It almost melted... Price - $4 + Tax. Owner Comment - Congrats on all your success.

Such delicious empanadas!! I loved the spinach and cheese and shrimp curry ones! The vibe inside was so fun and the music is reggaeton which I loved! Service was friendly too.

After a failed lunch time trip elsewhere on Brady St. we stopped at La Masa. Why have I never been here until now? I had the La Masa Trio with the jicama slaw, a barbacoa empanada, the spicy shrimp curry, and the carnitas verde. All three were delicious, far exceeding my expectations. The ambiance is nice, service was quick. I will be thinking about these empanadas for a long time but hope to be back for more soon.

Super good lunch today at La Masa! I've never been before and have heard awesome things and it really met my expectations! I mean how can you go wrong with empanadas?! I got the chicken tinga, black bean chorizo, and the carnitas verde empanadas and they were all so good but I have to say- the black bean chorizo was my fav! The flaky crust and hot fillings were so perfect. Even the chimichurri was amazing- super fresh flavorful and zesty. I will say the fries were a little stale but still alright. Took a brief look at their drink menu was the cocktails looked amazing so next time I might stop by for their happy hour. Good place!

Whenever I have to drive from Chicago into Wisconsin or towards the upper peninsula of Michigan, we stop here. Some of the best empanadas. I have dreamt of their black beans

We got there a little before they opened and they seated outside right away. The patio is do friendly! The food and Bloody Mary were delicious! Not pictures I had the Jerk Chicken Empanada and it was very flavorful! Our puppy Fiona gives this place 2/2 Paws up!

Impecable service mixologist quality drinks. Loved our empanada trio and blackened blue salad. Oh the croquettes! Scrumptious

Don't let the inexpensive price and photo fool you. These empanadas are packed with fillings and if you manage to eat all three, you'll be rolling out of the place. I had the Cuban, Argentinian and cheese and was not disappointed. The slaw on the side is also so good! I will for sure be back.

This restaurant is located in a popular area with several bars and restaurants nearby. I went on a weekend, and finding parking was somewhat challenging - I had to park a ways away, so be prepared if you're going on the weekend. The restaurant itself has some outdoor seating while a majority of its seating is inside. I ordered a margarita, which was pretty classic and satisfying. Some of my friends ordered some of the other cocktails which weren't as great unfortunately. If you order three empanadas, it comes with a small side, and I chose the Jicama slaw. I really liked this dish, the flavors were refreshing and it felt really light. I also ordered an Argentine beef, lamb barbacoa, and chicken tinga empanada. The chimichurri sauce complimented the empanadas well. Overall, great spot for some small bites and a margarita, and the area is fun for a night out!

SO GOOD!! I got the shrimp curry, jerk chicken and Thai chicken peanut empanadas (5/5). I can't wait to go back to try more dishes!!

You seriously haven't had an empanada until you've had a La Masa empanada! After trying the trip at Summerfest I was blown away. They are more substantial (ie can actually be a filling meal) than others I've had. And the flavor is AMAZING. The staff was all great and I feel like the food is ready reasonably fast. Bonus at their Brady St permanent location is their cocktails. I HAD to a frozen Old Fashioned. With a decent amount of dine in seating inside, and outside, they also make carryout super easy with a separate register where you can pick up orders placed on line/phone or you can order and pay there, even on a Friday night our order placed at the counter was ready in less than 10 minutes.

I went to La Masa this afternoon, and it did not disappoint. I got a chorizo, carnitas verde, and chicken pesto. My favorites were the chorizo and carnitas. While the chicken pesto was good, I recommend sticking to the classic flavors. My go to is usually the lamb barbacoa but they were out. One thing to note is they take more of a trendy approach to empanadas. The atmosphere is awesome. I loved the colorful tiles and bar area. Finally, the service was good. Our waitress was fast to refill our drinks and quick to let us know when she found out that they were out of the type of empanada we wanted (the lamb).

Empanada's are fresh and delicious always.. I will definitely return very soon. This place is always delicious .

Cool space and delicious menu options. So great that you can buy take and bake empanadas to enjoy at home.

This has been one of my favorite places for a few years now.... While I don't like driving down there often, it's always worth the drive when I do. The Wisco corn is my favorite! I wish they had other sides because I personally don't like any of their sides but now I just order more empanadas lol..More recently I tried some of their sauces & I had a cilantro lime one (not sure the name) but it was soooo good