Don’t Cry For Me Argentina
Tuesday, August 16, 2005 14:44Ever since I came back from Argentina last winter, I have been haunted by the empanada. It is a deep-fried pastry shaped slightly like a croissant that is filled with some filling. Down there, the most popular ones are beef and well…beef (Argentine beef was the best I have ever had). Because of the exchange rate, I was able to eat one for the equivalent of 50 cents.
Coming back to the States, I quickly realized that I wouldn’t be able to just find my empanadas just anywhere. The only Argentine place that I’ve been to in LA was Gaucho Grill on 3rd Street Promenade. Suffice to say that their empanadas didn’t live up to my standards as well as the rest of their menu.
And yet, in the most unlikely of places I have found my salvation. Empanada’s Place, located on Sawtelle just south of Venice offers a wide variety of empanadas for very reasonable prices. The different varieties are meant to reflect the regional flavors of Argentina.
I sampled the eggplant, spinach, criollo (beef with egg and raisin), chicken, cheese & onion, and spicy beef. The chicken was moist and very juicy. The spinach was very much like creamed spinach, but in a good way. Both beef empanadas were extremely tasty. I wasn’t as much a fan of the eggplant due to the somewhat bland flavor. I wish I had tried the beef Arabe, which is lemon-herb ground beef, but I guess I’ll have to wait until next time.
At a price of $2.75 an empanada, I expected to receive a healthy serving and I was not disappointed. Close to the size of my outstretched hand, each empanada gives you plenty of time to enjoy the combination of the pastry outside and the filling. You’ll only need 2-3 empanadas to be completely full. A note on the pastry, it is meant to be a very thick and doughy, so don’t expect anything you might find in a bakery. However, it is this thick skin that really gives the empanada its distinct texture and flavor.
In addition to the empanadas, there are Milanesa (which is breaded steak) sandwiches and Argentine-style tamales. You can also have a mate flavored drink, which is a flavor particular to Argentina.
Overall, I would highly recommend giving this place a try. Having been to Argentina, I can honestly say that these are the real thing. Trust me, once you’ve had an empanada at Empanada’s Place you’ll be going back again and again.
Empanada’s Place
3811 Sawtelle Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90066
By Jeff (see more of his posts).
sarah says:
August 16th, 2005 at 4:04 pm
omy. i tried the empanadas there for the first time at the beginning of this year - not too bad, though i did think they were slightly blander than i would think for latin american food. but hey, who couldn’t love deep fried pastry wrapped around oozing cheese? ;)
the few empanandas i tried
db says:
August 16th, 2005 at 4:38 pm
My faves are from Empanadas Gourmet in Monrovia, which is one of my very favorite places. Their empanadas (about a dozen different kinds) are all *baked*, not fried, and I’ve never been disappointed with them. I like the artichoke and beef the best. The milanesa is only okay, but their beef torte is wonderful.
Empanadas Gourmet
113 E. Lemon Ave.
Monrovia, CA 91016
(626) 359-0946
Dylan says:
August 16th, 2005 at 4:51 pm
i’ve seen this place. thanks for writing this, now i know what to try.
Freddy says:
August 16th, 2005 at 5:10 pm
There is a place in the Grand Central Market downtown that has a large selection of Argentine empanadas. Check them out. I think they are a dollar each.
Pauline says:
August 17th, 2005 at 10:09 am
Love Empanadas Place. Also like their tamales - not the best but still fairly good.
Jonah says:
August 17th, 2005 at 2:31 pm
Border Grill has some plantain empanadas that are amazing. Definitely not traditional, but they are on the happy hour menu. Here’s a quick run down of their happy hour
G-net says:
August 17th, 2005 at 4:29 pm
I ate empanadas every single day i was on Easter Island (pretty much every other dish was seafood and i don’t go there). Thanks for posting this. The only great Empanadas I’ve had here were homemade ones from someone’s mom. I wouldn’t eat anything at Grand Central Market, though. Anyone working in production who has ever filmed anything there at night knows it’s a rat ranch.
Manic Organic says:
August 17th, 2005 at 4:50 pm
I have been to Empanada’s Place several times, and have never had a bad experience. Friends of mine that I took there when visiting in LA requested it specifically when they returned to visit again. It’s a real crowd pleaser, and plenty of variety for the vegetarians among us.
VdV says:
August 21st, 2005 at 12:56 am
Try the chicken empanadas from any Red Ribbon Bakery around L.A. They are Filipino, not Argentine, but trust me, they’re Da Bomb!
Charles Escoffery says:
October 31st, 2005 at 11:58 pm
Somewhat expensive. When the place first opened, they were $1 each. Maybe I shall follow what Freddy says (#4).
Brandán Buenosayres says:
February 15th, 2006 at 5:58 pm
If you are nostalgic for Argentine eats:
brandanbuenosayres.blogspot.com/
Katherine says:
February 16th, 2006 at 2:17 pm
I kept driving by, and just had to pull over one day. How could anyone resist a name like Empanada’s Place, especially when it’s handpainted in that homey, inviting way. The empanadas are good, but I also think it’s a little expensive for empanadas.
Melanie says:
May 27th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Empanada’s place was the best. I just ate there for the first time, and I can’t wait to go back. I thought it was a bargain at 2.75 a piece,since it only took two to fill me up! You must try their new spicy beef and cheese, it is toooo die for! Love this place :)