Empanadas in Pittsburgh
Empanadas from Mi Empanada in Lawrenceville.
I’ve never met an empanada I didn’t like, though this statement is particularly true when talking about Mi Empanada.
The year-old Lawrenceville shop is filled with Argentinian flavors, well-represented in their lineup of dough-wrapped handhelds: beef, chicken, lamb, ham and cheese, sweet potato and black bean, and more. Owners of the pop-up-turned-storefront, Argentina-native Ivan Gil-Silva and Rachel Jenkins, wrap their fillings in a flaky dough, just golden-brown enough to leave a few crisp crumbs behind with each bite.
Thankfully for Pittsburghers, Mi Empanada isn’t the only city shop putting out authentic empanadas, a street food found – with slight differences and variations – across South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. We’ve outlined a few of our favorite shops to grab empanadas, each one showcasing a different culinary tradition.
cilantroajo.com
On the Southside, Cilantro & Ajo serves up authentic Venezuelan empanadas. Try their deep-fried, white corn patty stuffed with anything from chicken to chorizo to sweet plantains and cheese. Wash it down with their traditional brown lemonade.
empanadafusion.com
Exactly as their name says, Empanada Fusion fuses cuisines to create their handhelds. Find global influences wrapped in their dough, like the popular Korean beef or vegetarian elote.
Empanada Fusion is an online-only business, so keep an eye out for an empanada drop near you.
kipollopgh.com
Along with fried chicken and – in light of sister restaurant Ki Ramen’s closing – ramen, Ki Pollo offers a small list of empanadas. They are a standout on the fast-casual menu, with options of classic beef, Szechuan-hot chicken, banana and Nutella, and more.
miempanada.com
You can’t go wrong at Mi Empanada. Order their empanadas hot and to-go or get the take-and-bake frozen option. Whatever you do, don’t miss out on the chimichurri.
thecolombianspot-pgh.com
At this traditional Colombian restaurant, empanadas come in three varieties: chicken, beef, or vegetarian. Find them all wrapped in corn, fried, and stuffed with potatoes, tomatoes, and onions.
zorrosrestaurant.com
Zorros’ traditional Dominican empanadas are made with housemade dough, then fried. Get them stuffed with one of the eatery’s 11 flavors: chicken, guava and cheese, mac n’ cheese, and more.
STORY BY MAGGIE WEAVER / PHOTOGRAPHY AND STYLING BY KEITH RECKER
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