Paraná Empanadas

I had the Spicy Mortadella empanada, and it was absolutely delicious. It was actually spicy — not like other places that say “spicy” but aren’t. The Green Oliver sauce they served with it was incredible, and they even let me try a hot sauce they’re working on — Chipotle chimichurri — which was absolutely delicious. The ladies inside were super friendly and helpful, explaining the different flavors and what to expect. The empanada was hot, fresh, and packed with flavor. Great atmosphere, great location, and honestly this place deserves way more recognition than it has. Hands down my favorite empanada in San Diego. Well-deserved five stars. I can’t wait to come back and try more empanadas!

Yummy empanadas! Found this empanada shop while wondering around UTC mall. Menu had lots of options. We tried the beef, 5 cheese and mushroom empanada. They also offer complimentary sauce such as chimichurri and green olive. We really liked the mushroom and beef with the green olive sauce.

This place has the most delicious empanadas! So many flavors to chose from. I opted for 4 different ones to share with my group. I love that there are so many vegetarian options too. Each empanada was hot and fresh. I don't think they actually make them on site but they do taste fresh and they are hot. Each empanada has a nice sturdy crust so you can eat as a hand held, nice amount of filling in each and ample amount of seasoning for a unique flavor with each empanada. The staff were helpful and offered that the sauce is complimentary. I typically eat the empanada on their own but I did taste olive sauce and it was delicious. The downside - which isn't truly a downside - so many flavors and all so amazing that it's hard to pick which ones to indulge in. Each little pie is marked in the crust so you know which one you're eating. I'll be back. This is more of a food stand/small walk in building which doesn't offer inside dining. Your order is packaged to go and you can sit and enjoy at any of the seating areas in the mall.

There was a strong smell of urine. I should have made a U-turn. The empanadas were gross- tiny, flavorless and the crust was crunchy and thin- like a saline cracker. Empanadas tasted freezer burnt. Hot Pockets are a superior choice for much less money. The tablespoon sized container of chimichurri was not fresh and tasted off which is why I tossed it into the garbage. See photo. AVOID

Delicious empanadas. 13 flavors. We tried the BC "BBQ chicken", FC "five cheese", MB "Malbec beef". All were great.

Had to pay a visit here after taking a mini tour around UCSD after both accidentally discovering this place about a year ago, and from word of mouth by a friend of mine who also came around last year. As a first timer, I decided to try with one of the basics & not go for anything crazy as I didn't know what to expect. I went for the Chicken Chipotle empanada with a side of chimichurri sauce along with a cup of Yerba Maté Lemonade. Overall, it was a 10/10, and I ended up bringing a box of empanadas on my Amtrak ride back to LA. Next time I come back to SD, I'm trying out the other flavors!

Great empanadas. I’m only rating them a 4 star because our order was wrong, we received one I couldn’t eat because of an allergy so I was short an empanada. Other than that, fantastic!

Yummy!! We had beef & chicken... loved both but chicken was the fav! The Olive oil based sauce was delicious 😋 They sell it by the jar $5 but we didn't risk traveling w it! It works be great in garlic bread, etc!!!

I used to go to an Argentinian restaurant growing up for the empanadas, and this really took me back to fond memories of high school! The staff recommended the Malbec Beef Empanada and it was phenomenal! Especially paired with the chimichurri sauce. I can't wait to visit La Jolla again to try other empanada flavors! There's decent seating inside and directly outside of the shop, and it's very easy to find in the beautiful Westfield mall

So far. This is the best empanadas place I tried. Malbec beef and chicken are some of my top picks but five cheese and corn contenders as well. If you into spicy thing. Try the spicy beef. Apparently it's HOT.

Purchase 6 and get one free during Happy Hour! So of course I purchased 12! Tried various flavors...Malbec Beef was my favorite, next Chipotle Chicken, then the NEW Mortadella, and finally the Mushroom. Margherita was okay & basic chicken lacked flavor. All in all, I'm definitely go back. The crust was made to perfection! Why did I leave off a star? Not enough dip provided for so many empanadas. Ran out, and they're really not as good without the Chimichurri dip. Location is a stand outside of Eureka, with minimal bar seating inside and a few tables outside. Everything was clean and organized. Service was acceptable, not friendly but answered questions and quickly boxed everything I ordered with any mistakes.

Parana empanadas have a nice consistency, their pumpkin flavor is surprising, with consistent filling and stuffed to the brim. Order a box for a large party and enjoy!

Was picking up my laptop from apple and was craving an empanada! This is a little stand with plenty of outdoor seating around it. I got the 3 for 10.95 + a yerba latte. My total was $17 which looking back, I feel like I never received my deal for getting 3 so make sure to double check with the cashier. Yerba Latte 1/5: I love yerba mate so I thought this would be a good choice. The initial taste is good but the after taste is awful. I like bitter things but this just tasted kind of rotten. I'm no waster but I had to throw this away after finishing half of it. Empanadas 3/5: I got the chicken chipotle, corn, and mushroom. The mushroom was my favorite. Corn was pretty underwhelming (after having the one from Jaunt I can never go back) Chipotle chicken was just okay. Felt like these needed be served warmer. The only thing I would most definitely come back for is that chimichurri sauce. They sell it by the jar and oh boy I understand why now.

Tried the beef empanada here -- one piece came out to about $4.13 with tax, and I added chimichurri sauce on the side. Unfortunately, it didn't hit the mark for me. The dough had an overwhelming flour taste, and once I got to the filling, the beef was coated in a very bland sauce with a lot more sauce than actual meat. The overall bite felt doughy and unbalanced. For the price, I personally wouldn't recommend it. This is a small pop-up stand located among the shops, so I was hoping for something a bit fresher and more flavorful.

This is a fantastic mall snack -- quick, warm, flavorful, surprisingly filling! I always see this kiosk at UTC, and once I finally tried it, I've become a fan! They have a variety of flavors, and free sauce on the side! Each empanada is $4, but they have slight discounts for ordering multiple ($11.50 for 3, $39 for 12!). I only ordered 2 as I wasn't super hungry and wanted it as a snack. BUT 3 empanadas could definitely be a meal. food ordered - Malbec Beef (ground beef marinated in wine with raisins and sautéed onion): you can taste the wine flavor but it's not overpowering! a more unique flavor profile than regular ground beef - Chicken Chipotle (sautéed chipotle chicken, cilantro, roasted red bell pepper, cilantro, green onion, sautéed onion): I LOVEEE chipotle flavored things, and this was so delish and quite flavorful. my favorite of the two. - Green Olive sauce: a creamy olive oil sauce, surprisingly liked it a lot and complimented the flavorful empanadas - Chimichurri sauce: classic chimichurri, oily and slightly tangy

Great option when you need a quick snack or meal that's served hot and ready to eat. Service has always been friendly and quick, and there have been times when I was able to take my order home frozen to heat later. I've had small orders for myself and large orders to share and they are great all the same. My top favorites are beef, chicken, and mushroom. I have tried all of their regularly-served flavors since they opened some years ago. I like all the sauces, though creamy olive is my favorite. Outside their kiosk, they have a couple of tables with shade if you want to enjoy the open view facing Macy's. Pleasant for a weekday afternoon.

Parana Empanadas is a little gem, sitting between Cotton on & Wushiland boba at UTC. The cashier was so nice, she explained each option to me & recommended the Malbec empanada -- which i'm VERY glad she did. I ended up trying their 3x$12 deal, 2 Malbec beef and 1 chipotle chicken--- and omg, they were so delicious. You can actually taste the hints of wine in the Malbec empanada. Dont forget to grab a chimichurri, I'd recommend the chipotle one. Definitely a good place to grab a quick bite if you're shopping.

It's a given that I will drop by for empanadas when I'm at UTC. I've tried all thirteen flavors, but the following three stand out. 1. Chicken chipotle: not spicy, but well-seasoned shredded chicken and onions with a hint of cliantro, 4/5 stars. 2. Spinach: surprisingly more satisfying then the beef empanadas because the spinach and sautéed onions are complimented with the mozzarella and feta cheese, 4/5 stars. 3. Five cheese: the layers of cheese add depth of flavors. This reminds me of a mini cheese calzone, minus the tomato sauce. 4/5 stars. One of these days, I will have to finally test the alfaiores (short bread cookies) filled with dulce de leche.

Great little spot for a quick snack while walking around the mall. We tried two empanadas, beef and spicy beef and both were warm and packed with filling. The spicy beef had a nice kick and was especially good with the chimichurri sauce they give you on the side. Easy, tasty option if you're craving something savory.

Not sure where my last two reviews disappeared to... Since I couldn't reference my last review (to see which empanada I enjoyed), I ordered one CHICKEN and one BEEF with the SWEET OLIVE sauce. It was under $9 for two! The beef is kind of salty and the mixings get lost in the beef. I wouldn't order this one again. I really enjoyed the chicken empanada as it wasn't overly salty and the flavors blended well together.

I absolutely love empanadas. My favorite of the three I got was the corn empanada. I got the spicy beef, chipotle chicken and corn. Love the variety of choices and complimentary sauces. The sauces made the difference.

Was shopping at utc and got hungry so I decided to try this place out. The empanadas were good. A couple were a little overcooked, and it took a bit longer to get my order than expected. The flavors were solid though, and the staff was nice. Not bad overall, just not something I'd go out of my way for.

Pretty good empanadas. The corn one was very good. The staff was pretty friendly and service is quick. It's a stand in the walkway of the mall but they still have seating.

Fast moving lines and the empanadas are fairly priced. Customer service was great, but the taste of the empanadas is decent, I got the Margherita and spicy beef. Both the insides were like mush and not much taste to each one.

I ordered 3 empanadas and chipotle chimichurri sauces. I liked the Malbec Beef and Cheeseburger a lot but did not care too much for the Jackfruit one. The former two were well-seasoned and delicious, especially when eaten with the sauce, which was herby and filled with spices. The Jackfruit was a bit dry for me and lacked in flavor compared to the other two. The empanadas could be stuffed better with fillings--I saw big gaps between the dough and filling when broken in half. I could be wrong about this, but from my past experiences with empanadas, they are baked until they are more golden brown; these were a bit softer and more underdone than what I am used to. Overall was still very yummy though and the staff were very nice, friendly, and welcoming.

Small little shop of empanadas at UTC, in front of Wushiland. Totally recommend if you're in need of a light and quick snack while shopping! Great service and the empanadas are delicious! Their chinichurri sauce is good too!

All super juicy: Beef 5 flavorful Malbec Beef 5 slight wine taste Spicy Beef 3 not flavorful other than spicy Chicken Chipotle 4 5 Cheese 3 Margherita Spinach Corn 3 cheesy Sauce: Chimichurri 5 green, semi-transparent Chimichurri Chipotle 5 red, semi-transparent, slight kick Green Olive 5 white, creamy, strong olive flavor

This is a small and empanada stand located at UTC mall by Wushiland. I like to stop by to grab a few empanadas when I'm walking around to munch on as a small snack. Prices are reasonable for what you get, and they always taste very fresh. I highly recommend the chipotle chicken or beef flavors, and the chimichurri sauce is a must-try!

This is my favorite snack to grab whenever I'm in UTC. The empanadas here are fresh, tasty, and pretty cheap, too. I will warn that towards the end of the day, they actually run out of most of their flavors besides like Mushroom and 5 Cheese. If you do order multiple flavors, the crust of the empanada has the initials of each flavor pressed. into them, which is adorable and effective! Logistically, they sometimes get a bit of a line and the store is simply a small ordering area with like 5-ish counter seats. Typically, I just grab mine to go and there are more picnic tables outside or walk around as I eat. Malbec Beef is the best flavor here by far. The filling has a perfect balance of savoriness from the beef and slight sweetness from the raisins. Be warned that this can be a little juicy when you bite in and the inside is always piping hot. Additionally, their chimichurri sauce is to die for; super fresh, vibrant and tangy. Definitely worth a stop any time you're in the area to shop!

Stopped by to try out some empanadas. We chose three Spinach, Beef and 5 cheese. I felt they were okay. The dough seemed to be missing flavor and wasn't flaky. I missed the homemade feel. It's still good for a to go treat and a quick in between meal.

Cute stand. 3 is enough for lunch. Good portioned empanadas. Each empanada is marked at the top with initials of the type: ex. CK=chicken. The jackfruit empanada was surprisingly good. They gave 3 sauces; pretty tasty. We ordered lemonade. However, either the cashier guy gave us tea or their lemonade tastes like tea. Two tables right outside to quickly devour your food. It might be nice to add a couple more tables. We didn't get to try their desserts.

01/27/2023: They brought back the corn! Well, it has been back for awhile now, lol. Just wanted to share this fantastic news :'D

This delightful empanada shop is a tiny kiosk located conveniently in UTC. They offer a selection of empanadas and a choice of chimichurri sauces. The server was very polite and offered their recommendations. I ordered the Rajas empanada with a chipotle chimichurri sauce on the side. The empanada was in my hands seconds after I had ordered. The service was appreciable and speedy. The empanada altogether was a nice, warm small treat. However, the breading was quite thick similar to pie crusting. Every bite included a mouthful of the dough with the filling inside. The filling of roasted chilies was quite nice, and I would've loved to taste more of it. The chimichurri sauce paired well with the empanada, and it would have been elevated with a bit more heat. Overall, this was a satisfying snack that I would indulge myself with again if I found myself exploring the shops of UTC.

This place is such a gem! Also this review is Part 2 of my experience in the restaurant Eureka that is right next door. To sum things up I regret going to Eureka and not just coming here and ordering a box of all their empanadas, sitting by a fire on the patio and enjoying time with my family. Well next time that will be the plan. After being sent off for a supposedly 45 min wait for the other restaurant we had to have something to eat so decided to do empanadas as an appetizer and boy were we right! We had great service and of course food was hot and ready to be served. We tried their sauces which should be sold in bottles because damn where they good! It was authentic flavors and they also offer a verity of fillings so if you want something less spicy their is something for you. It's a small place where you walk in and order and their is a bar area to stand and eat or sit. They also have 2 picnic tables outside. Thank you for great food and service ! You made our San Diego trip special!

Came here to try their empanadas and they're absolutely scrumptious! They're HUGE and reasonably priced. You can taste the freshness and quality of ingredients. I tried the chicken and beef and just those two pieces alone filled me up! My tummy was very happy. Like other folks on Yelp, I was also very impressed at how they label their empanadas with the initials engraved outside to let you know what it is. Very creative!

While strolling through the mall, we noticed a steady stream of people coming in and out of this stall, so our curiosity got the best of us. My family and I decided to check it out and were pleasantly surprised to find they were selling empanadas--a snack that's close to our hearts and culture. We decided to try the Argentinian empanadas, and they did not disappoint! The variety was impressive, and we indulged in so many delicious flavors. Each one was fresh, flavorful, and satisfying. This place is a hidden gem, and we'll definitely be back for more!

Avoid at all cost!!! Customer service is beyond disrespectful. Sat in line for 10 minutes, then after I finally got to the front of the line they acted like I wasn't even standing there then proceeded to take the order of the person standing behind me. When I told them I was in line first, they acted like they were doing me a favor to take my order. They don't deserve my money or anyone's business.

The sauces were fun, a creamy cilantro, chimmichurri, and chipotle chimmichurri. The chipotle was my favorite. There are a lot of flavors to choose from and the cashier was helpful explaining the menu since my husband can't have dairy. The empanadas themselves fell flat though. The crust was bland and not flaky and it wasn't like any other empanadas I have had in the past. It was warm and the insides were not bad but it was only okay. Pass.

I've tasted their empanadas from Liberty Station food court and when I found them there couldn't resist a quick snack. The flavors were just as I remembered, each distinctly different- I tried the chipotle chicken and spicy beef here, both delicious on its own but amazing with the complimentary green olive dip, chimichurri and chipotle chimichurri. The empanadas had a perfectly buttery flaky shell, stamped with initials of the chosen flavor, and the various fillings were on point in terms of flavor. Highly recommend trying this cute little kiosk.

Parana Empanadas Argentinas has become a good, quick food option at the Westfield UTC Mall. They were my pit stop for a snack before heading to the gym. I've eaten their empanadas at Liberty Public Station before so I expected the same quality products here. The kiosk was located close to Macy's and across from Eureka! I chose the beef, chicken chipotle and mushroom flavors for my order. I also sampled each of the three sauces... chimichurri, chipotle chimichurri, and green olive. My favorite empanada was the chicken chipotle as the filling had the most seasoning and flavor. The best sauce was the regular chimichurri as the original still can't be beat. In hindsight, I probably should have indulged in the happy hour deal which at the time was buy six, get one free. It would have allowed me to try another four of the ten empanada varieties that were on the menu.

I got the chicken chipotle, mushroom, and five cheese flavors. I wish there was more filling inside. My favorite was the chicken chipotle since it was very flavorful. I also wish they served the empanadas warm because the filling for some of them got cold. I wouldn't come back here.

Fun Fact: Panara is named after a city in Argentina! This location is in a little covered kiosk , near Macy's. - BAKED empanadas that taste absolutely consistently delicious? Score! Usually empanadas are deep fried, fried, etc.. oily.. but these are baked and are top-notch. Empanada MENU: beef, chicken, chicken chipotle, spicy beef , jackfruit, mushroom, bbq chicken, corn , spinach, 5 cheese, rajas (roasted chilis) , margherita Sauces: 1 CHIMICHURRI 2 CHIPOTLE CHIMICHURRI (my favorite) 3 GREEN OLIVE I have tried just about everyone and my favorites are the 5 cheese, mushroom, spicy beef, and jackfruit. They are all so flavorful and go well with the sauces. The sauces are so popular, you can buy them in jars. I also love how you can easily reheat these, just pop them in the oven at 325 for 5-10 min. If using a toaster oven, I microwave for about 20 seconds and then pop in toaster oven for a bit until crunchy. Have 1 and its a great in-between meal snack or to try, have 2 and you will be slightly filled for a few hours and have 3 and you can just about call it a meal. So delish, crunchy, soft and buttery all at the same time.

Absolutely love the ground beef empanadas and the chipotle chimichurri sauce, everyone is always friendly and they have great service!

Honestly ordering seems discriminatory. We ordered a dozen empanadas and were told it would be 15 minutes. We ordered a variety of flavors and specifically asked what the hold up was in flavors, she said all of them. I specifically asked this because we were willing to adjust our order for more timeliness. We ordered 7 Malbec Beef, 2 mushroom, 2 spinach, and 1 Rojas for reference. I then watched 6 other people order, all ordered between 3-6 empanadas (including the same flavors we ordered) and all magically had their orders filled immediately. And ironically, all were Spanish speakers who ordered in Spanish. We were the only non-Spanish speakers in the establishment and we were the only ones waiting. After I noticed this and asked why the inconsistent treatment. She claimed "they all ordered one or two of each flavor". I responded: "Besides the Malbec Beef, we also ordered 1-2 of the respective flavors". She said "you ordered 7 Malbec beef" and I responded "I asked you when you told me there was a delay, what the holdup would be, and we could change flavors, but you told me all of the flavors had a delay, which is CLEARLY not the case." Then she asked if I wanted to change flavors after we had already been waiting over 10 minutes and all of the Malbec Beef in the case had gone to fill the orders of the SIX people that ordered after us. Draw your own conclusions but I saw and experienced the discriminatory behavior firsthand. That's not how you run a food establishment, it's first in first out, as with all businesses. We were the first to order but were literally the last out.

I only have been to Paraná Empanadas in PB but this place was close by so I decided to give it a try! The empanadas were pretty good but not as much filling as the ones I tried in PB. The spicy beef ones are best if you like spice! The chimichurri sauces are also a must.

I've been getting empanadas here for years. They are always in point and authentic, the service is always super fast and the chimichurri is sensational. There are plenty of food options in the mall, of course, but if you're looking for something small and fast and affordable, I highly recommend this place.

Delicious empanadas filled with meat, chicken, rajas, mushrooms and more. Any of the empanadas are delicious and the cookies are perfect, they dissolve in your mouth

If you love empanadas then this is the place for you. Conveniently located in a tiny kiosk in Westfield UTC. This place is easy to park, grab your favorite empanadas and be on your way.

Honestly such an amazing experience so far! Why hasn't this place blown up on Yelp yet!? My hubby stopped by for two fresh empanadas about a couple months ago for a snack. DEEELICIOUS I TELL YA. So delicious, I just went back a couple of days ago and got their 12 for $25 special (FROZEN) they let you pick whatever combo of flavors you want which is so nice, and I got Beef, Malbec Beef, Chicken, Chicken Chipotle, spicy beef, mushroom. You get complimentary sauces but like you don't even need them bc they are so flavorful already! Aching to try other flavors once were done with these! Great for a quick snack or meal. We've tried air frying v convention oven, and the latter won!

The cutest empanada kiosk! I love that they make it so easy for you to tell which flavor each one is too. Now as for the tastes: The beef empanada was flavorful and delicious! The corn and mushroom ones were good BUT nothing special. Just imagine what the picture would taste like and you'd probably land pretty close. I am a self-proclaimed corn and mushroom enthusiast so I can't say that either really wowed me. I recommend asking for all three sauces so you can have a variety of flavors in each bite. I don't expect fresh handmade dough for mall food but the crust was quite mediocre and reminded me of frozen in-store pie dough.. :( For three pieces, my total was around $11 with tax so I would say it was a well-priced meal since it filled me up for hours. All critiques aside, I will be coming back for more because they have so many other flavors and service was 10/10 wonderful.

Great little kiosk next to Wushiland Boba. I almost just walked by it. The prices are good for the area. I got two empanadas for less than $8, which was enough for my lunch. They were very tasty. I tried the malbec beef and the mushroom. The beef is very flavourful. The chimichurri sauce is also fantastic. Great snack or light meal. No greasy at all.

This was my first time here, and I'm glad I stopped by - perfect spot to grab a quick snack / bite if you enjoy empanadas! It is a cute little place and was immediately greeted with a warm welcome as I walked in. The atmosphere was pleasant with bright natural lighting which I adore! They have several choices and I've decided to try their chipotle chicken empanada which was packed with flavorful filling!The service was very quick - received it immediately and It was hot and fresh! If I wasn't planning on eating lunch, I would've ordered more!

Monday 2020/10/19 13:00: We came for some empanadas for lunch. The quaint kiosk doesn't have a lot of room inside, but there were tables outside where we could sit and eat. We got 3 empanadas: 2 Mushroom and 1 Chicken Chipotle. This place has great empanadas. They're baked, not fried, with generous fillings and a yummy crust. The Chicken Chipotle Empanada has a nice mild taste with lots of chicken inside. I look forward to trying out all their different empanadas in future visits.

Always come here when I go shopping because it makes for a quick and easy pick me up before I shop til I drop! They have many flavors of fresh empanadas, but I just love the beef and margherita. Tasty and not too heavy!

A cool little shop in the mall with some tasty snacks/ small meals. Prepared and baked onsite, Paraná Empanadas brings the taste of Argentina to San Diego. They offer vegetarian, beef and chicken options. The sauces help accentuate the flavors within the empanadas. They have chimichurri, chipotle chimichurri and a seasonal options. Currently, the seasonal sauce is green olive. I've tried the spinach, rajas and jackfruit empanadas to date and have enjoyed each. Love the flavors. The first bite can be a bit hot, so be cautious. Otherwise, enjoy! Service has been friendly and personable each time I've been through. Cost wise, they can be a bit pricy at $3.50 each. But get three for $9.50 is a bit easier to swallow. Keep on Yelp'n!

I have been craving this place ever since discovering it a week ago! They located at UTC is a an enclosed kiosk. They had many variations, I ordered a chicken one that had onions and peppers....it was SOO good!! The empanadas are ready, hot and toasty! All my friends loved theirs too. The caramel cookies are the bomb and they sell water in paper cartons which I have never seen before! Everything was so inexpensive, I was really surprised. I will definitely be back, like ASAP! - Tons of parking since at the mall - No restroom or seating since its a kiosk but there are plenty of places you can get both at around the mall - Hot, fresh and fast - Inexpensive - Unique!

I got the Spicy Beef empanada, and chicken empanada with the olive green sauce and this white one. the empanada was alright, i wished it was warmer. i really liked the sauces on the side, those did it for me. one empanada was $1.50 which is kinda pricey. staff is friendly :)