13 Hole-In-The-Wall Restaurants In New York Serving Unforgettable Empanadas In 2026
Empanadas have a way of turning a quick snack into a full-blown food obsession, especially when the best ones come from places you could easily walk past.
Across New York, tiny counters and no-frills kitchens are packing serious flavor into golden pastry pockets, and locals know exactly which ones are worth chasing.
The appeal is simple but powerful: crisp edges, warm fillings, bold seasoning, and that first bite where everything somehow works at once. Some spots keep things traditional.
Others get creative with fillings that make lunch feel a lot more exciting than it had any right to be. These are not polished dining rooms built for long reservations.
They are the kind of places where the food does all the talking and regulars come back like clockwork. In 2026, these thirteen New York empanada spots prove the smallest kitchens can leave the biggest cravings.
1. Empanadas Cafe
Twenty-eight varieties of empanadas sounds like a challenge, but Empanadas Cafe in Corona, Queens, treats it like a calling. Open since 2003, this Colombian gem has been feeding the neighborhood with handcrafted pastries that are deeply rooted in tradition.
Six of those varieties are made with organic whole-grain flour, which is a thoughtful touch you rarely find at a spot this size.
Head to 56-27 Van Doren Street and ask for the Carne y Papa, which is shredded beef and potato tucked into a crispy shell. It is the kind of filling that feels like a warm hug on a cold New York afternoon.
The Carne y Queso, ground beef mixed with cheese, runs a close second in popularity.
Colombian-style empanadas tend to be smaller and crispier than other regional versions. Every bite at Empanadas Cafe delivers that satisfying crunch followed by a savory, well-seasoned center.
The menu has enough variety to keep you exploring for weeks without repeating yourself. This place proves that great food does not need a fancy address to earn a loyal following.
2. Empanadas Mix
Jackson Heights is one of the most food-rich neighborhoods in all of New York, and Empanadas Mix fits right into that delicious reputation.
The area is a melting pot of Latin American cultures, and the empanadas here reflect that beautiful mix of influences.
You will find bold seasoning and generous fillings that make every order feel like a full experience.
The shop sits at 81-03 Northern Boulevard, right in the heart of a neighborhood known for taking its food seriously. Regulars know to arrive early because the best selections go fast.
The spot keeps things simple and focused, which is exactly what you want from a place that calls itself a mix.
Jackson Heights has long been a destination for food lovers who prefer authenticity over atmosphere. Empanadas Mix leans fully into that identity by keeping the menu approachable and the quality consistent.
If you have never made the trip out to Northern Boulevard for empanadas, consider this your sign to go. Bring cash, bring an appetite, and bring a friend because sharing is absolutely encouraged at a spot like this one.
3. Supreme Empanadas
Some spots play it safe with their menu. Supreme Empanadas in South Ozone Park is absolutely not one of those spots.
The menu here reads like a greatest hits album of bold, creative fillings that nobody else is putting inside a pastry shell. A Chopped Cheese Empanada, inspired by the iconic New York bodega sandwich, is reason enough to make the trip.
Find them at 137-32 Rockaway Boulevard, where the menu keeps expanding in directions you would never expect.
Curry Goat, Jerk Chicken, Chicken Rasta Pasta, and Shrimp Rasta Pasta are just a few of the options that set this place apart from every other empanada shop in the city.
They even do a Hawaiian version with ham, sauteed pineapple, and mozzarella.
Breakfast empanadas with Bacon, Egg, and Cheese or Sausage, Egg, and Cheese are available for morning visits. Vegan customers are covered with a Spinach and Vegan Cheese option.
Supreme Empanadas has somehow figured out how to make everyone happy without watering down the creativity. That is a rare skill, and this Queens kitchen wears it well.
4. Empanadas On The Hill
The Bronx has its own empanada culture, and Empanadas on the Hill represents it with pride.
Dominican-style empanadas have a slightly different character than their Colombian or Argentinian cousins, and once you try them side by side, you will instantly understand why the distinction matters.
The dough is heartier, the fillings are familiar, and the whole experience feels grounded in community tradition.
You can find this spot at 337 East Gun Hill Road, right in the thick of a neighborhood that takes its Latin food seriously. The menu keeps things classic with fillings like Chicken, Cheese, Ham and Cheese, and Salami and Cheese.
The Chicken, Cheese, and Corn combination adds a subtle sweetness that works surprisingly well.
Nothing on this menu tries too hard to impress you, and that confidence is exactly what makes it impressive. The empanadas here are consistent, affordable, and made with the kind of care that only comes from a kitchen that knows its regulars by name.
Gun Hill Road in the Bronx is worth the trip on its own, but Empanadas on the Hill gives you a very specific and very delicious reason to make the journey.
5. Craft Empanadas
Right down the road from Empanadas on the Hill, Craft Empanadas at 261 East Gun Hill Road is doing something completely different with the same basic concept. The word craft is not just a name here.
It is a genuine philosophy. Every filling on this menu feels deliberate, layered, and a little bit unexpected in the best possible way.
Oxtail and Cheese, Lobster, Philly Cheese Steak, BBQ Ribs, Ropa Vieja, Pernil, and Lamb are among the savory options that make your eyes go wide when you first see the board. Seafood fans can try Shrimp Pico, Mixed Seafood, or Salmon empanadas.
The range here is genuinely remarkable for a spot this size.
Save room for dessert because Craft Empanadas does not stop at savory. Tres Leche, Oreo and Banana, Guava and Cheese, Red Velvet, and Apple Cinnamon are all on the sweet side of the menu.
Having two excellent empanada shops on the same street in the Bronx feels almost too good to be true. Make a day of it and try both because your taste buds will thank you generously.
6. Chanta Casa De Empanadas
Midtown Manhattan is not exactly known for its hidden food gems, but Chanta Casa de Empanadas is quietly holding it down at 888 8th Avenue. The name translates loosely to house of empanadas, and the vibe fully delivers on that promise.
Compact, focused, and completely unpretentious, this spot earns its place on this list through sheer dedication to the craft.
Being surrounded by overpriced tourist traps makes a genuinely good hole-in-the-wall spot feel even more special. Chanta leans into the neighborhood without being swallowed by it.
The empanadas here are made with care, and the menu keeps things rooted in Latin American tradition while staying accessible to the Midtown lunch crowd.
Eating well in Midtown on a budget feels like finding a cheat code, and Chanta Casa de Empanadas is exactly that kind of discovery. The location near 8th Avenue puts it within easy reach of anyone working or exploring that part of New York City.
If you find yourself in the area and hungry, skipping this spot would be a genuine mistake. Pop in, grab a few, and enjoy one of Midtown’s most satisfying and affordable meals.
7. Criollas At Columbus Circle Underground Market
Criollas earns major bonus points just for its location inside the Columbus Circle Underground Market at 1000 South 8th Avenue. Markets are already exciting, but finding handcrafted baked Argentinian empanadas inside one feels like a very pleasant surprise.
Everything here is made using fresh ingredients and recipes rooted in genuine Argentinian tradition.
The Argentine Malbec Beef empanada is the star of the show. Ground beef, green olives, and caramelized onion come together in a combination that sounds simple but delivers layers of flavor you will keep thinking about long after you finish eating.
Smoked Chicken with BBQ sauce and caramelized onion is another crowd favorite worth ordering.
Vegetarian and vegan options are handled with the same level of attention as the meat-filled varieties. Spinach and Cheese, Ham and Cheese, Caprese with fresh basil and locally sourced tomatoes, Creamy Corn, and Mushroom are all available.
Criollas proves that market food can be just as refined and satisfying as anything coming out of a full kitchen. Argentina brought the empanada to the world, and Criollas is bringing a proper taste of Argentina to the heart of New York City.
8. Felix Empanadas
Felix Empanadas on the Lower East Side brings a genuinely playful energy to a food category that some spots take a little too seriously. At 192 Orchard Street, the menu reads like someone sat down with a world map and a very open mind.
The result is a collection of empanadas that feels both adventurous and completely approachable.
Steak, Chicken, Street Beef, Jamaican Beef, and Pulled Chorizo cover the savory classics. Then the menu takes a sharp and delightful turn with Spanakopita, Bacon Date and Goat Cheese, Cheeseburger, and Pepperoni Pizza empanadas.
Yes, you read that correctly, and yes, you should absolutely order the Pepperoni Pizza one.
Dessert is handled just as creatively with Guava and Cheese and Apple Crumble options waiting at the end of your meal. The flaky dough at Felix is consistently praised for its texture, and the fillings are well-seasoned without being overwhelming.
Orchard Street has always attracted food lovers who appreciate something a little outside the ordinary. Felix Empanadas fits that street’s personality perfectly, offering a menu that rewards the curious and keeps the adventurous eater very, very happy.
9. Titi’s Empanadas
Brooklyn has strong opinions about food, and Titi’s Empanadas at 160 Havemeyer Street has clearly earned the neighborhood’s approval. What sets this spot apart immediately is the variety of shell types on offer.
Most empanada shops stick to one dough style, but Titi’s gives you corn, puff pastry, and even sweet plantain shells to choose from.
The corn empanadas are crispy, gluten-free, and filled with options like Carne Mechada, Carne Molida, Pollo Mechado, Domino, and Papa con Queso.
Puff pastry empanadas bring a buttery, flaky richness that elevates fillings like Oxtail with red wine braised meat and roasted red pepper served alongside oxtail gravy.
The NYC Chopped Cheese empanada in puff pastry is a borough-appropriate masterpiece.
The Pabellon Empanada in a sweet plantain shell filled with shredded beef, black beans, and cheese is the kind of dish that makes you want to tell everyone you know about it immediately.
Titi’s is proof that paying attention to the shell matters just as much as the filling.
For anyone serious about empanadas in New York, Williamsburg’s Havemeyer Street deserves a dedicated visit and a very empty stomach.
10. Doce Empanadas And Coffee
The name Doce means twelve in Spanish, which is how many empanada varieties this Carle Place spot started with when it first opened. They have clearly been busy since then, because the menu has grown well beyond that original dozen.
Find them at 566 Westbury Avenue, where Argentinian-style empanadas meet Long Island appetites in the most satisfying way possible.
The bestselling beef empanada combines ground meat, red and green peppers, sliced olives, and hard-boiled eggs. That combination is classic Argentine and absolutely worth every single bite.
Buffalo Chicken, Pepperoni Cheese, Spinach Ricotta, BBQ Pork, Ham and Cheese, Sausage, Shrimp, and Veggie options round out a menu that covers almost every craving imaginable.
A Hawaiian empanada with ham, provolone, and pineapple adds a tropical detour to the lineup that somehow works beautifully. Doce pairs its food with coffee, which is a brilliant move because an empanada with a proper cup of coffee is one of life’s genuine pleasures.
Long Island does not always get credit for its food scene, but Doce Empanadas and Coffee is exactly the kind of spot that earns that recognition one golden pastry at a time.
11. Sofia’s Empanadas
East Meadow is a quiet Long Island suburb that does not usually make headlines for its food scene, but Sofia’s Empanadas at 224 East Meadow Avenue is quietly changing that narrative. The name Sofia carries a warmth and familiarity that sets the tone before you even open the door.
Spots like this thrive because they feel personal, like someone cooked this specifically for you.
The menu here is built around the kind of flavors that make you feel at home no matter where you actually came from. Empanadas with this level of care are usually found in neighborhoods with deep Latin American communities.
So finding a gem like Sofia’s in East Meadow is a genuinely exciting discovery for anyone living on that part of Long Island.
Neighborhood spots like Sofia’s tend to build their reputation slowly and steadily through word of mouth and repeat customers who refuse to eat anywhere else on a Tuesday afternoon. The consistency and heart that go into every order are what keep people coming back.
If you are in Nassau County and have never stopped in, you are overdue for a visit that will absolutely rearrange your lunch priorities for the foreseeable future.
12. The Empanada Spot
Forty-plus empanada varieties at a single take-out spot is not a menu, it is a commitment. The Empanada Spot at 850B Main Street in Farmingdale, New York, specializes in Colombian cuisine and takes its mission of variety very seriously.
Both corn flour and wheat flour empanadas are available, giving you a textural choice before you even get to the fillings.
Traditional Colombian options like Beef and Potato, Chicken, and Rice and Beans anchor the menu with familiar comfort.
Then the fusion section kicks in with Cheesesteak, Bacon Mac and Cheese, Greek style with spinach, feta and mozzarella, Cuban with ham, pork and cheese, and even a Chicken Parmigiana empanada that should not work as well as it does.
Dessert empanadas feature Banana and Nutella, Guava and Cheese, Caramel and Cheese, and Apples and Cinnamon for anyone who needs a sweet finish. The Empanada Spot proves that Long Island has a serious appetite for bold, creative food.
Farmingdale might not be the first place you think of when empanadas come to mind, but after one visit to Main Street, it absolutely will be the first place you think of next time you are hungry.
13. Tico’s Empanadas
Costa Rican flavors meeting American and Latin influences on the South Shore of Long Island is not a combination you see every day, but Tico’s Empanadas at 55 Montauk Highway in Blue Point makes it feel completely natural.
The menu blends familiar comfort with Caribbean-inspired boldness in a way that keeps every visit feeling fresh and worth the drive.
Savory options cover serious ground with traditional Beef, Beef and Cheese, Beef and Potato, and Cheeseburger empanadas leading the charge. Pork lovers get Pernil, BBQ Pulled Pork, and Pork and Chimichurri.
Chicken fans can go bold with Buffalo Chicken or bring the heat with Chicken Habanero, which is not for the faint-hearted.
Vegetarian options like Loaded Baked Potato, Gallo Pinto, Sweet Plantains, and Spinach and Artichoke Dip show that Tico’s genuinely thinks about every type of eater.
Many of the menu items are gluten-free, which is a welcome detail for those who usually have to skip the pastry-based fun.
Blue Point is the last stop on this New York empanada tour, and Tico’s sends you home full, happy, and already planning your next visit to this small but mighty spot.