Lunas de Buenos Aires Argentine Street Food

Easily the worst pizza I have ever had. It was disgusting. They called it a flatbread, but the dough is so thin you basically just got a mountain of melted watery cheese and meat. It’s pretty horrible.

The service staff is wonderful, however the food is mediocre at best. I ordered the empanadas and chips and queso. The queso was maybe velveta . If you had a few drinks and you’re hungry it’ll do the job.

I spent $20 on a couple of empanadas that I assumed would be sizable to make up for the hefty price tag. They are so small and with barely any sauce. Just so disappointing (see photos).

Two mediocre tiny empenadaz for $20!! Avoid this place until they get their act together and not charge exuberantly for an empenada that’s barely worth $5! The chicken empenada has a puree texture!

We're visiting DC from out of town. We were walking around looking for a quick bite and empanadas sounded good. We tried the beef and the chicken empanadas. The beef was okay. The chicken was better, but still not great. The flavor of the chicken was good, but the texture seemed odd. Both of them seemed more like a puree inside. The bread was also more firm, like a crust almost. Generally just not my preference. Their other food may be great, but I was underwhelmed by the empanadas.

Live in the area and I’ve been wanting to try this for a while. While the service was good, I set my expectations for the food way too high. The chips with queso and salsa are laughable! You can literally tell that both come out of wholesale containers. The chimichurri tastes and looks old. While the empanadas weren’t terrible, they are definitely over priced (even on happy hour). This is my first time trying Argentinian food and was let down exceptionally.

Stopped in for lunch and I’m glad I did! I had the “One of Each Empanadas + A Side (Potato Salad)” and a new menu item, a dulce de leche cannoli, all of which were wonderful! The empanadas are the star, for sure! Each one has a flavor as distinct and different as their adorable colored dough, and all of them delicious! I was amazed at how much flavor they packed in such a tiny lil pocket pie! The space is beautifully decorated and there are at least 6 different places to charge electronics from the tables with regular outlets and USB plugs (and that’s only what I could see from where I was sitting.) They also had a set of iPhone and USB charge cables available if you don’t have one. They also offer a good amount of outdoor seating. Music is pleasant and at a reasonable volume (re: doesn’t inhibiting conversation). It’s a casual vibe and the service was nearly instant. Also the person who served me at the counter was very friendly and even gave me an extra empanada! 😊 Highly recommend this place!

We found this place while stretching our legs after work and found everything we wished for: tasty food and refreshing drinks in a casual ambiance *heaven* We had the empanadas “Nice to meat you combo” and two drinks to start but ended up trying the spinach and mozzarella empanada and the Carne Asada sandwich. All a must try but my favorites were definitely the mini empanadas

I'm giving this place a three star only because it has potential and might be a great place for a nice game night with friends enjoying great cocktail. I would not recommend eating her. Not happy with the food choices and the taste. We ordered empanada and sandwiches which I think was over priced for what you get. The vibe is fun with lots of game board you can play with and great music. That's about what you get. If you come here, I say come after eating and have your drinks here but do not go there when you are hungry.

We enjoyed the empanadas and carne asada loaded fries at Lunas. I love that they have Quilmes beer. You order at the counter and take a number. They will bring the food to you. It's casual. They have a lot of board games you can play, so it's a great spot to hangout and chill with friends.

Lunas de Buenos Aires has such a cool vibe! I loved that each table had games, which made the experience even more fun. The drinks were great, and the empanadas did not disappoint--I tried the Creamy Corn and Mambo Chicken, both delicious! The fries were super tasty too. The staff was super friendly and had good energy! Definitely a great spot for happy hour with good food, drinks, and a lively atmosphere. Highly recommend!

The vibe is definitely right here! It's definitely the place for drinks, having happy hour until 8 on both weekdays and weekends, and the music can be heard from outside. There's outdoor seating too, regardless of the weather. The lighting is really cool inside, and games are scattered throughout to enjoy. The empanadas are advertised as the star of the show, and their color scheme makes them even cooler. I tried the corn and mambo chicken empanadas that took about 5-10 minutes. They came out PIPING hot, and with a rather small container of sauce. The corn was my favorite -- the chicken one was only decent... I was hoping for more mambo flavor. I wasn't the biggest fan of the texture of the shell on either one, but maybe that was just me. Also, each empanada by default is $8. You pay $7 if you get two, but that's literally double what I pay at my usual spots. The empanada flavors are unique, but I've had better ones, so that steep price isn't necessarily worth it to me. Otherwise, I think this place is awesome to hang out at for drinks -- and the several other food options on their menu might be worth exploring!

I have walked past this place dozens of times, and for whatever reason never gone in. I'm glad I finally rectified that and wandered in. The empanadas are amazing - crisp yet chewy dough, and stuffed with fillings. Each order comes with a dip that's well spiced but not spicy. The chorizo sandwich is also good, a croissant with sliced sausage and cheeses. The drinks are straightforward and good, I recommend the fernet and coke. Each table has games on it, I haven't played jenga, connect four, or rock em sock em robots in years and it was a great time. Really fun ambience and music, the staff are fun. Overall a really enjoyable, informal stopover.

Yall I'm not gonna say too much yall but if you tryna get lit, play some games, have a good time in a cute space!! I don't wanna say too much bc I love this place and don't want yall to go and compete with me! But yall. Drink here.

This was really disappointing. We are empanada fans and enjoy how different Latin cultures make theirs. So we were enticed by the sign outside this Argentinian eatery. They claimed to have been rated the best empanada for 2024. These are not empanadas. They are more like "Hot Pockets" you find in your local grocery store. These are made with what looks and tastes like a pie crust. The beef, chicken, and pork all had the consistency of a thick paste like in a tuna fish sandwich. You can't tell what they are by taste or appearance. It's truly questionable as to what's in these "empanadas" aka hot pockets. In reading the Yelp reviews - most reviewers noted that their empanadas lack thought, flavor and a sense of pride in Argentinian food. I have to agree. Maybe there are other offerings to enjoy but avoid the empanadas and save yourself the disappointment.

A wonderful hidden spot in the market area. Authentic choripan!! The service was excellent, the restaurant is clean. The taste of the Argentinian sauce " Chimichurri" was really good. Sit down enjoy the meal and maybe play with multiple options of table games available to make your experience more enjoyable and relaxed.

Vibrancy the moment you walk up to the doors. The music of Latin vibes. The art rich in color. Board games to further enlighten the way. 2 sided menu with argentinas finest: finger food delight. The empanadas were a hit- baked and toasted . Service was pristine. Def a place to admire from the inside and out while enjoying a $5 capuchino/expresso. Definitely a spot to hang with friends, plays some board games and or watch the game. Last but not least, check out the drink menu! Have fun Enjoy!

Low maintenance place. Order at the counter and then seat yourself. I went in last night for a margarita and chips with queso. Margarita was $8 for happy hour and very good and a decent size for the price. Chips were mostly crumbs and the "queso" was really just a nacho cheese sauce. I'd go for a drink but probably not the food.

Decent food and convienient for union market area late night bites. Cool lights and collection of board games while you wait. In my opinion, the food is not worth the price, it is more of bar quality food for people who are there to watch a game or hang out and drink. We had the double choripan 5/10 and carne asada fries 6/10. The Moscow mule was poorly mixed and strong and definitely not worth $14, at happy hour price it's worth it. 3/10. Overall nothing against this place , it was close to our hotel and open while many other places were closed. PLEASE NOTE YOU WILL BE CHARGED A $10 service fee REGARDLESS OF YOUR PARTY SIZE.

Chorimessi sandwich was good. Empanadas though were really bad. They lacked flavor and interest. We didn't finish them which is pretty rare for us. Far overpriced for how bad they were. Interior was kind of cool. Service was fine. Wouldn't recommend overall.

Lovely shop with fun, colorful empanadas and sandwiches if you're looking for a quick bite to eat with some Argentinian flair. The empanadas overall were decent, although it was hit or miss with the flavors. The spinach and mozzarella and chicken tandoori were tasty, but not enough to make the restaurant a regular on my dining list. The blue cheese flavor was the most unique of the bunch - and the most pungent. If you're not an absolute blue cheese lover, beware. Served with a side of honey mustard sauce, the flavors are bold - but don't exactly compliment one another without overwhelming the palate. TLDR; good for a snack if you're around Union Market, but maybe not worth the trek for the empanadas alone.

The service and staff was quick. I love the ambiance since the place was instagramable and many board games, darts, and pool tables to play. I got the creamy sweet corn and beef empanada. They aren't out of this world best empanada. I wish the prices were cheaper and more sauce options. However, this place is cheaper than the options in the union market area.

Foods very overpriced and not that good. Last time I ordered something it had bugs (no joke). I've never heard any bueno aires artists either (e.g., Charly, stereo, paez, etc.). I'd only go for the drinks and pizza. Not even the deserts are worth it. But the vibes are chill Worry this place might go out of business soon; could easily prosper under better management - perhaps someone more passionate about bringing Argentine culture to DC and not trying to make a quick buck.

Lunas was so cute!! They have both indoor and outdoor seating and you can choose from so many options on their menu. I tried the chicken tandoori, it came with a green sauce that complimented the empanada so well! My boyfriend enjoyed the beef empanada and was quite pleased. I got the swirl margarita (lime and strawberry) it was pretty tasty and very refreshing. The hostess was super friendly, she's originally from Argentina and takes pride in great service. I plan to come back during the week to enjoy their other menu items.

Absolutely beautiful place with beautiful snacks. Your food blog is waiting for gorgeous pics of what this restaurant has to offer. The empanadas are colorful and 2-bite sized. Perfect size for a snack! They are offered in 6 colors and flavors: White: Tradition beef Red: Chicken Tandoori Orange: Cajun Pork Blue: Blue cheese Green Spinach & Mozzarella Yellow: Sweet Corn Carbonara If I were to return, I'd probably get the traditional beef (which includes olives and I think I saw a piece of egg in mine, like a traditional Argentinian empanada) and possibly the tandoori chicken, (which had spices, and veggies). The other 3 flavors felt lacked something which made them, not bad, just boring.They were too cheesy needed a spice or herb to balance out the flavor and give it an aroma. This is just me, if you are a blue cheese lover, you might love the blue cheese empanada. I also felt the dough, although thin, lacked some flavor and texture. Maybe an egg wash would take it to the next level. Can't forget the dessert: the Alfajor was loaded with dulce de leche but the biscuit was not the butter salty to balance out how sweet the filling was. It was ok. What the food lacked in flavor, was made up in the flare. I do think that this restaurant will do really well in the Union Market area if they tweek their recipe just a little bit. P.S. They have Happy Hour every day! You can find it on their menu.

Lunas de Buenos Aires is a new restaurant near Union Market that sells six different kinds of colorful empanadas. After stopping in for a snack, here's what you should know: 1) Food: On display in a glass box are six types of mini empanadas for $2.30 each- red for chicken tandoori, orange for cajun pork, blue for blue cheese, green for spinach and mozzarella, yellow for sweet corn carbonara and white for traditional beef. Get all six and pay $14. That's what we did and were surprised how each one was packed with flavor. My five-year-old daughter loved the traditional beef and my favorites were the chicken tandoori and cajun pork. The blue cheese one surprised me. It's not overly blue cheese flavor filled and very creamy. They also sell alfajor, an Argentinian cookie sandwich with dulce de leche. So good! 2) Drinks: They have a few soft drinks and a full bar. 3) Space: The outside is painted blue and the inside has murals from a Chilean artist. There are tables inside and out and TVs hang on the inside walls playing soccer. They also have a dart board in the back! 4) Neighborhood: It's in what's being called the Union Market District with Union Market and La Cosecha food halls nearby. Next door is The Village Cafe, a locally-owned coffee shop. 5) Story: Owned by identical twin brothers Lunas is the manifestation of their dream to start a business in the U.S.A. They are very passionate about their store that it's contagious!

Mixed review as the location is great and the vibe of the restaurant is fun but the quality of the empanada is meh. We did 2 for $8 (beef and lamb) and I thought the breading was hard and flavorless. The meat inside was ground and I had a hard time even telling which one was which. Have had much better empanadas elsewhere sadly

I was on my way to meet a friend for drinks at Union Market and passed by this little storefront. Seeing the word "empanadas" immediately stopped me in my tracks, and after a few seconds checking out the menu, I knew I had to come in. I'm so glad I did! The guy at the register was so friendly and when I told him it was my first time in, he recommended his favorite empanadas. All the colorful empanadas looked delicious, but I decided to get two (beef and spinach) because they run a deal ($6 each or 2 for $10). Because I had been torn about the spinach or corn, he generously threw in a mini corn empanada for me to try. The empanadas came with a side of dipping sauce, which I assume was a chimichurri. Whatever it was, it was delightful! For all the empanadas I tried, the pastry was flaky and not too chewy, not too thick to overwhelm the fillings. I would recommend eating them over a napkin or something, since the generous fillings in the corn and spinach empanadas did tend to get a bit messy. But what is eating without a little mess? The traditional beef empanada was very tasty, but probably the lowest on flavor between the three. The chimichurri sauce took it to the next level though, so I would definitely recommend that pairing. The spinach and mozzarella empanada was delicious: the filling was creamy, not stringy (like some spinach gets), and had a very light and fresh flavor. Not the biggest punch of flavor (especially after eating the chimichurri sauce), but in my book, it's hard to go wrong with cheesy spinach in yummy flaky dough! The surprise standout was the creamy corn, in my opinion. Bursting with flavor, creamy cheese, and soft corn kernels with an absolutely fantastic flavor! When I come back, I'm definitely getting a full-sized one of those! The interior vibe was also very cute and colorful, with great music. They also serve drinks, which I didn't try this time, but would love to try soon!

Went to Lunas de Buenos Aires while visiting DC the other day. It was a very colorful place with some great empanadas. The empanadas have some unique flavors. Each one is a bright color. I had the spinach and cheese empanada and the beef one. They were super delicious!

This place has such a fun vibe! The drinks were super refreshing, and the atmosphere was just perfect for hanging out with friends.

Don't cry for me Argentina!!!! This place brings the culture of Argentina to life!! I've been here several times and it hit they same way.. As you know from reading some of my other review I love a good drink.. And that's what they have here.. Good drinks!! Try the Sangria or margarita. These amazing drinks come along side some authentic dishes.. There empanadas hit ya soul and sandwiches unwind your mind. They also have tons of board games and other style of game to interact with friends or loved ones.

Sign said they were voted best empanadas in DC. I disagree. Cool spot and nice staff but didn't like the empanadas at all. Got a chicken and a pork one and both tasted basically the same and neither was worth finishing.

It was a cool vibe, and I enjoyed playing the board games. We came in to try the empanadas. Had the empanadas ( mambo chicken and a pork one with blue cheese); it wasn't for me.

The corn empanada was amazing, I had never had a corn empanada and was quite impressed. However, the beef empanada was horrendous. I added the chimichurri sauce to the beef empanada, which somehow made it taste like pork. But it wasn't pork, it was beef. It did have olive and boiled egg as expected, but this did not make up for poor quality beef and poor preparation of the filling. I'm very disappointed at this poor execution of what should be an amazing treat.

The empanada are not really good!! They could be alot better. There is not a lot of flavor and the olives are to big inside. The drinks are sweet and I didn't taste any alcohol.

The food and service were awesome! I was craving a choripan sandwich. Delicious. My friend had a prosciutto pizza and beef empanada. She said both were delicious. Homemade alfajores are delish. I will be back.

Good vibes and love that there are games but the empanadas are flavorless. Would recommend for drinks not food.

Las mejores empanadas de DC Los sabores increíbles , el choripan exquisito y los alfajorcitos de dulce de leche un placer inigualable Todo en un ambiente muy amigable La atención de todo el personal es de primera calidad El precio es adecuado con la calidad del producto Volveré con seguridad

A great place. The empanadas were excellent. It also has a very cool vibe. Games at every table, and many folks were playing them. Awesome to watch people laugh as the jenga tower falls.

Had the milanesa and my bf got the carne asada sandwich. I couldn't get past one bite on each sandwich. Worse than airplane food.

It's a cute space and the board games are. A fun touch but the food itself was disappointing. I've been to Argentina and love their food... this was nothing like what I expect from Argentine empanadas. Mediocre at best. I didn't try the pizza the but the photos look nothing like the Argentine style pizza it claims to be... I feel like they are counting on Americans not being familiar enough with Argentine food to know how in authentic this is.

Not my favorite empanada experience, though I love the concept. Soccer's on the tv, there's a foosball table in the corner, and empanadas on full display. Enjoyed the beef empanada, the chicken tandoori not so much, definitely wasn't I was expecting. The dipping sauce don't have the pop I was hoping for, but some more heat or spicy sauce would've gone a long way.

We tried this cute new Argentinian empanada place by Union Market today. Highly recommend trying this place out for the empanadas. We decided to order one of each of the 6 varieties they offer. The 6 mini empanadas came nicely arranged in a bakery style box. First, the empanadas are indeed mini -- maybe 2 inches across -- as advertised. So you'll want to order with that in mind. They come in different vivid colors -- red, orange, green, blue, yellow. The dough is wonderfully soft and tender, not hard, dough-heavy, and tough like other empanadas. Really loved the Cajun Pork (12-hour braised pork) and the Traditional (ground beef). Eat those on their own and don't muddy the flavors with the dips provided. The Sweet Corn was also very, very good. The other three -- Chicken Tandoori, Blue Cheese, and Spinach & Mozzarella -- were fine but a bit bland and forgettable. I'll focus on the first three when I return next time. We hoped to try the Lemon Pie Cupcake but they were out. So we got the Alfajores and the sweet croissant. Didn't love something about the caramel filling with the Alfajor. A bit of a grocery store caramel candy vibe. I prefer the ones at Peruvian Brothers (at La Cosecha) which are perfection. The mini croissant was interesting, but sorta felt like the filling was just raw sugary dough. Desserts came packed in a small turquoise bakery box (hello Tiffany). I'd skip the desserts...unless the Cupcake is back to try. Vibrant interior and extremely friendly staff. Check it out!

Amazing!! Best empanadas ever. My family ate them all in minutes. Will def go back often

Just went to this place for the first time with my roommate and it was great! Empanadas were amazing and their happy hour was great especially for DC/ NOMA. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. Definitely a hidden gem near Union Market!

Loved the vibe of the location, but after trying all six kinds of mini empanadas Lunas offers, I wasn't a fan. The pork in the Cajun pork was dry and had a weird taste, which rendered it inedible. The regular beef and the chicken tandoori both had no flavor--they were just OK. You got the texture without the taste. I did like the sweet corn, spinach, and blue cheese, but again, very little flavor. After six of these mini empanadas, I gave up. We went over to Peruvian Brothers around the corner and got a couple full-size, full-flavor empanadas. Those hit the spot nicely, which only accentuated the disappointment over the mini iterations.

I had a spinach and cheese empanada. It was tasty, fluffy, fresh, just all around very solid and something I would get again. Reasonably priced too, I would say

El lugar es muy limpio, agradable a la vista y el servicio muy bueno. Tuvimos la suerte de ser atendidos por Rodrigo, quien nos atendió de lo mejor. Las opciones de la carta son pocas pero su sabor muy agradable al paladar y el concepto de #miniempanadasdecolores muy creativo. Recomiendo el lugar para darse un gustito, pero el precio es algo elevado para el tamaño de sus porciones. Las empanadas de carne #enamoran

The service was stellar and the bartender was very nice. he food was not good at all. Took a bite of the carne asada and could not finish. Same with the empanadas. They have weird indescribable flavor although very bright. Go for the games and drinks

The food and space might look good on Instagram, but that's about where it ends. The empanadas cost almost 2x as much as other places and aren't nearly as large or tasty. The fact that they are fun colors doesn't really make up for it. One cannot eat on vibes alone! Save yourself some money and go to one of the options in the La Cosecha food hall nearby.

This place is great! Really beautifully decorated and the people working behind the counter are conversational, friendly, and professional. I tried the corn carbonara empanada and it was incredible- I would definitely come back sometime for dinner!

Great place to watch games, especially during the world cup of course. As an Argentinean, I have to say I'm offended by the below poor quality and weird artificial food coloring of the empanadas... Maybe just eat the fugazetti instead.

Lunas dc es un excelente lugar para pasar un agradable momento, el ambiente es cómodo y relajado, uno se siente como en su propia casa. Las coloridas empanadas son exquisitas, el sandwich de chorizo es muy sabroso, la carnes, en especial la de cerdo, es una delicia. Los postres como el flan o los alfajorcitos con dulce de leche son increíbles. Uno puede disfrutar de algún malbec o de alguna bebida preparada en un clima muy simpático, rodeado de conversaciones, que pueden ser en distintos idiomas. En realidad visitar Lunas dc es una imperdible experiencia para conocer Washington a pleno! Estuve en el verano allí y disfruté de Lunas dc. Estoy deseando regresar pronto!

I was excited when I happened to find this spot on a late night walk to another bar. The vibe of the place looked pretty lively/ cool, and I was excited to try some Argentine street food. Besides the great vibe of the establishment, the food left a lot to be desired. I got the beef empanada which is one of their 'traditional' flavors. It's had absolutely no seasoning, no spice, no flavor. There was a side of what I assumed is chimichurri, but even with that addition, there was still not real flavor. It's disappointing, especially since the Union Market area is a hub for some good eats. If you're just looking for vibes, then sure....but if you're hankering for some quick little delicious bite between bar hopping, I would not recommend, unfortunately:(

For a quick lunch that won't sit with you all day, I would definitely recommend this place. I ordered the Carne Asade without cheese along with an empanada. The empanada was solid at best, but the sandwhich was reasonably good. The meat wasn't salty, it tasted fresh, and the chimichurri added a great dipping sauce to round off the meal. As it was only my second time ever having brisket, I would by no circumstances call my self an expert, but I do know a good sandwich and it was a solid one. Coupled with a very polite staff this spot is a good option for a quick lunch that won't give you the it's.

I went to Lunas on a recent Sunday evening. Loved the ambience and their pulled pork sandwich! We also had the empanadas as an appetizer to share - they were quite good. I also want to highlight how willing Martin and Rodrigo were to accommodate dietary restrictions - which is not always the case in "fast-food"-ish places. Definitely coming back when in DC to try more empanadas and their dessert options.

Cute little spot with games, empanadas, drinks, and desserts! Stopped by after dinner for drinks and alfajors. The alfajors were amazing. Will need to come back!