The Yummiest Empanadas in San Francisco

CTK Empanadas - The Market

★★★★☆ 3.9 (9)

"If you live and/or work in the Mid-Market area, you probably noticed how much The Market has changed since the pandemic. I remember the day shutdowns were announced and getting caught in techbro mayhem. People were furiously grabbing whatever they could off the shelves...while the vegan area remained fully stocked. Lol!Once bustling, The Market (food hall) today is more of a ghost town but we gotta stay optimistic. We need MORE food options in the area and CTK is coming through with that!CTK Empanadas took over The Market Café location in The Market. Central location since it's to the left of the main entrance. They're a tri-city based business that sells their goods at Farmers Markets. I believe this is their first storefront. Delivery available. M E N UPeruvian-Argentinian Empanadas: Breakfast (pulled pork or chicken sausage), Beef, Chicken, Chicken Chorizo, Ham & Cheese, Mushroom, Sweet Corn + Cheese, Potato, Apple, Etc. They also have bagels, toast, and tamales.For drinks, there's coffee, soda, oj, and chicha morada (peruvian purple corn).F O O D* Breakfast Empanada - Chicken Sausage w/ eggs ($7) // 3.5 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/2ap77y85Compact empanada with a light, flaky crispy shell with well-spiced, savory chunks of ground chicken sausage and pieces of scrambled eggs. Wish it was warmed through. * Classic Beef Empanada w/ potatoes ($7) // 3.5 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/4drbvkjkThe pastry shell was too thin to support the filling so unfortunately, the empanada started to fall apart upon picking up. Generous filling of ground beef and potatoes. * Pork Tamale w/ salsa criollo ($6.25) // 4.5 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/4ktd768yBest value item, the tamale was delicious and satisfying with a firm, spongy texture. The masa had good corn flavor. Filled with spiced pulled pork. The creamy rocoto sauce and acidic red onions (salsa criollo) brought everything together. Also, includes a piece of buttered ciabatta. * Sauces:- Huacatay Sauce: Creamy and mild. I think more garlic and herbs would help to cut through the richness of the savory fillings. - Rocoto Sauce (extra spicy): I liked this one better, as it has more flavor but def could use more heat. IMO, it was barely spicy. S E R V I C EVery kind owner with prompt service. He was receptive to feedback. A M B I A N C EPlenty of seating around the market and food hall. Dog-friendly outdoor seating in the courtyard with a firepit. P A R K I N GThere's a parking garage half a block away on Jessie (alleyway). Overall, props to the owner of CTK Empanadas for taking a chance with The Market and I hope this is the start to more food vendors moving in. If you're looking for your empanada or tamale fix, give this new business in The Market a try!"

Ap’s Cafe

★★★★★ 4.9 (47)

"Ap's is a tiny place filled with yummy foods and friendly folks.We were walking near Castro and 24th streets and came upon this little shop. We read the menu (see photo) and smelled the savory scents and went inside. The display case is packed with hand pies - both savory and sweet - plus there are soups, and there is a a frig of beverages. We each ordered 1 empanada and 1 pie. 4 different flavors filled our plates. The proprietor was welcoming, patient, and knew all her stock. The seating area is limited to the storefront window, but we were comfortable and had plenty of room in our corner of the U shaped area that seats about 6-9.Our lunches were heated to perfection, smelled heavenly, tasted delish, and were easy to hand eat. We had our eyes on the sweet pies for dessert, but were too full! But, that's OK - we'll be back next week on another errand and will stop by again --- "life is short, eat dessert first!""

Nina’s Cafe

★★★★★ 4.7 (84) • $$

"My husband and I went on a bike ride around Foster City and stopped by here for a quick lunch because they have this gorgeous outdoor seating in the back. We ordered the chimichurri steak sandwich, and it was not too oily, tangy, savory with the crunch of a slice of lettuce. What stole the show was the beef empanada. The pastry was light, not oily, crunchy and the filling was perfect balance of savory and umami. We had the Nutella empanada last as dessert and the temperature was perfect. I'd come back again and order all these items again."

El Porteño

★★★★☆ 4 (29)

"El Porteno opened where Cafe Lambretta was. Seating similiar. New decor. E.P. here goes beyond Argentine Empanadas..Offerings: Empanadas, salads, sauces, drinks, covfefe, alfajores (cookies), daily specials...A fam member picked up an edible here for me..Carne Empanada (7)-certainly pricey. Size nearly as big as my hand so it's worthy. -traveled well. Kept overnight in fridge, warmed in convection oven 10 minutes- as good as fresh..-definitely better than lst impression. This version better than other country's.-savory notes from tender ground beef, onions, raisins, cinnamon, boiled eggs, cinnamon, broth, brown sugar & salt. -fluffy crispy outer texture creates comfort food vibes. oilyness & salty aftertaste only negatives4ish stars. Great as an appetizer or dessert, not as a main...wide variety of fillings"

Chile Lindo Empanadas

★★★★☆ 3.8 (231) • $

"They've recently opened a new location right across the street at 2943 (I THINK!) 16th.The new space is beautiful and has plenty of seating. It feels comfortable and very "Paula".We stopped in for empanadas on my brother's birthday because we are long time devotees and she did not disappoint.The guys got the vegetarian empanadas and I got a pino clasico. Delicious.While we were there Paula pulled a gorgeous Chilean meringue dessert from the fridge so of course we needed to buy a slice to celebrate the birthday boy.Don't be fooled by the still in process exterior - the new Chile Lindo location is lovely and has the same personal, homecooked food they have been known for for years."

Cocina Milonga

★★★★★ 4.8 (136) • $

"Huge props to the young lady holding the front counter. Very friendly and professional. She was eager to answer any questions that I had about the menu and happily walked me through the unlabeled treats in the display case upon request.She also informed me of unlisted empanada flavor specials and I ended up getting some of those. The BBQ pulled pork empanada was amazing; succulent pork chunks! The tomato and basil empanada was a little lacking on flavor but had a satisfying mozzarella cheese pull. Unfortunately not a fan of the Mexican chorizo empanada as the chorizo was a bit salty and dry.Also got some items from the display case. The guava tart was slightly overly sweet but the buttery and crispy shortbread crust encouraged me to continue eating the tart in just small bites over time. The filling of the pineapple and coconut empanada was quite gloopy when it was hot (wished the pineapple component was more like a jam instead of being of juicy pineapple pieces); this empanada was much better to eat once the filling consistency thickened at room temp.Overall 4 stars for the food and added a star for the stellar service."

Nucha Empanadas

★★★★☆ 4.4 (9)

"I've been to Spark several times and never actually noticed that there was an empanada spot until I discovered it! Nucha Empanadas is tucked away within the food truck park as a small stall with an assortment of diverse empanadas that cater to a diverse palate.I ordered the:- Traditional Beef Empanadawhich consists of organic ground beef, onions, green onions, raisins, sugar,spices & green olives. The meat was incredibly flavorful and the empanada was well stuffed.One thing to note though is that the empanadas are a bit pricey, granted many spots at Spark Social are a bit pricier. One empanada will be $5.75 so just keep that in mind. That being said, the one i did have was very delicious!"

Baires Bakery & Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.3 (29)

"The pastries are so yummy at Baires! I can't remember what they were called, but one had quince jam on it and the other had dolce de leche, and both had custard. The quince was such a unique flavor, really good. And I love dolce de leche. I wish I ordered another one to go for later!Service was great, guy behind the counter was helpful. I ordered coffee and he explained what the accompanying bit of orange juice was for. Ambience is really nice, clean and fresh. The pastries are out in a serve-yourself display similar to Paris de Baguette. Makes it fun to look at them all before deciding. I'm sure we'll be back to try more!"

Lolita Artisanal Bakery Cafe

★★★★★ 4.7 (116) • $$

"Always a good place to get a homemade snack. Good service, reasonable prices. Drip coffee isn't bad at all. They also have lattes and such, but the pastries are the reason to show up. There is actually parking behind the diner. Family oriented. Buy your coffee from a local business!"

Tanguito Argentinean Grill

★★★★☆ 4.3 (693) • $$

"Cutest little place with an amazing seating area! We had the chicken empanadas for a snack after a long day of traveling and they hit the spot. We asked for extra chimichurri because it was that good. Please bring this to the east coast!"

Universal Bakery

★★★★☆ 4.1 (58) • $

"Great food & coffee!I live down the street. Been here for a few years & just tried UB. Wish I did sooner! Delicious food, fresh baked goods! Taste & looks clean & freshIm going again tomorrow :)"

Cafe Buenos Aires - San Francisco

★★★★★ 4.8 (41)

"The chagaccino was surprisingly very good. Cute Argentinian coffee shop. Good coffee selections and a variety of pastries and empanadas. Got coffee here on our way to Oracle park. The staff was very friendly and provided a good recommendation. Super convenient location and will be going back."

Chill Spot Rendezvous

★★★★★ 5 (9)

"Chill Spot is right around the corner from my place, and I can tell right now, it's going to be a regular on my neighborhood rounds! Stopped in yesterday to just pick up a small Rocky Road ice cream for a friend. The owner, Maggie, was a delight. Not only does this place have ice cream, but they also have some great lunch items and a fabulous back room for community activities. I'm definitely dropping in for the Gratitude Meditation on Sunday. Even if it's a little cold to be thinking ice cream right now, Chill Spot offers a lot more. If you're in the neighborhood, stop by. Maggie makes you feel like you've just met your new best friend! (P.S. Did I mention all the ice creams are home made?)"

Origen

★★★★☆ 3.5 (4)

"chicken tlayuda y'all it's like a flattened out taco bowl. but the one i ate tasted fresher. they cook it all at the back of the tent. sit in the fresh air & eat."

El Porteño Empanadas

★★★★☆ 4.2 • $

"Empanadarama! The Buenos Aires local! A Porteño is someone who is from BA. This place is legit. They have a variety of baked empanadas, from the mushroom, ham and cheese, chicken, the traditional beef, or the Maradona- which is like a caprese salad in empanada form. They are super friendly, and I love how the stall is decorated in the traditional sign-making artwork called Filetado. It's such a beautiful location. The food is cheap too! For just a couple of bucks, you can get a filling, baked empanada made with chiefly local ingredients. This location is located in the San Francisco Ferry Building, with a bunch of food stalls. It's a great food hall to get a bit of this and a bite of these empanadas. They also sell alfajors, which are the national cookie of Argentina. Legit."

Venga Empanadas

★★★★★ 4.5 (39) • $

"Ok the guy behind the counter was right. I shouldn't have shared lol! But I wanted to be good and watch my portions and I knew we were going somewhere for dinner. The gentleman behind the counter was super helpful and had some amazing suggestions. They have some delicious fresh flavors and variety. Grab a few and the cookies to take upstairs to Skypark and enjoy the scenery with this wonderful savory treat!"

Rosi's Alfajores

★★★★★ 4.8 (77) • $$

"Their alfajores are pillowy biscuits of subtle sweetness & sabor and perfect for gatherings/events. been picking them up for certain occasions the past few years and they never disappoint. tried the lomo saltado for the 1st time recently & it was made to order, pan fried and assembled on the stove top and tidy counter top. the large chunks of tomato & onion slices may be a bit unwieldy & overly chunky but the cubed-cut steak is definitely packed with flavor from the marinade and topped over a bed of freshly made, steaming hot white rice and large cut fries. for under $20 & sizable enough for 2 humans (or 2 separate meals), it's worth it. don't forget a box of alfajores for dessert."

Venga Empanadas

★★★★☆ 3.8 (507) • $

"I've seen advertisements for this place plenty of times on yelp as well as an Instagram. Every time I've come by in the past, there was no parking and today I got lucky. I pulled over and jumped out the truck! What you first have to understand is, I'm from South America. I grew up, with my mom making empanadas my entire life. I've had her cook them here and I have gone back to South America and had them there. To me, empanadas are life and I am a harsh critic. Unfortunately, they are not for me. To me, from the dough to the ingredients inside, it all lacked that South American flavor. I get it this, they are playing to the neighborhood. You know what I found crazy odd, they don't have Aji. Aji is our version of salsa picante. It's like going to a Taqueria and there's no salsa for chips. Come on guys, that's the real travesty. But Remember, this is coming from an empanada snob! Now, for you folks that have not grown up with this cuisine, come right on in. The bottom line, they are tasty. A plus, they had so many types of emanadas, from beef to vegan. I also have to add, that the service was friendly, attractive and attentive."

Nucha Empanadas

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (61) • $

"I first found out about Nucha Empanada at the SOMA Food Truck event. Nucha offers many different flavored empanadas (sweet and savory), some of the favorites are the ham and cheese, corn and peppers, mushroom, spicy beef, onions, and cheese. Some of the sweet flavors include pineapple, apple, peach cobbler, and blueberry. The empanadas are shaped like big, fried, crispy potstickers. I ordered the apple and the spicy beef which were both very delicious! My spicy beef came with a small sample of green sauce to put on it, but honestly, I didn't even need the sauce. The empanadas tasted great just warmed up and was very filling. I plan to try more of their empanadas and come out of my comfort zone to try out flavors I normally wouldn't. The prices are a little steep coming at $4. When I want to treat myself to a $4 empanada, i'll come to Nucha's!"

Universal Bakery

★★★★★ 4.5 (140) • $

"Stop. And, stare.If people aren't stoppin' and starin' when you walk through the doors...you're going to the wrong places! J/k. Well, kinda.Even when I go to AZN restos, it happens cuz you know how nosy aunties are....Not even a booger hangin', they'll stop, stare, and whisper *something something*. Universal Bakery has been a staple in the local community for three decades (second location is in Daly City) and I've slept on them because I wrongly assumed they only sold pan dulce (bread). They have an entire menu of Guatemalan breakfast and lunch fare that you do NOT want to miss out on. Walked in, got some stares so I knew I was in the right place!Universal Bakery is open for takeout and dine-in only. No delivery. No outdoor seating.M E N UArray of Guatemalan pan dulce (bread), breakfast, pan con todo, tortas, snacks, tamales, entrees, tostadas, and atole (hot bevs): https://tinyurl.com/2atcmhrc. Cc's accepted. Order at the counter, pay, and your order will be delivered to your table. F O O D * Doblada: Shredded beef, cabbage, grilled onions, salsa, handmade tortilla ($7.75): https://tinyurl.com/y7sm93v4You've had a quesadilla and you may have had a [Honduran] baleada but have you had a doblada?It's a deep-fried flour tortilla that's stuffed with shredded beef, stewed cabbage, grilled onions, and mild red salsa. It's crunchy, savory, and deeply satisfying. I like that the shredded beef had crispy caramelized edges. While it looks to be a knife and fork situation, they only have plastic utensils so you're going to have use your hands to attack this bad boy...with plenty of napkins on deck. Make sure to ask for a side of their habanero sauce that packs a spicy tang.They're so generous with the shredded beef that one is good enough for a meal...not a "little craving"/snack that the menu indicates.* Pollo en Crema y Loroco: Chicken in cream sauce, herbs, vegetables, rice, choice of tortillas or pan francés ($16.95): https://tinyurl.com/bdfsurb5They were sold out of the pepián de res (Guatemalan beef stew) and I saw several people eating the pollo en crema so went with this. It did NOT disappoint. Two skinless, bone-in chicken thighs stewed in a savory cream sauce with edible flowers (loroco) served with a side of flavorful arroz (rice) and creamy frijoles (mashed black beans). I choose the pan francés which is freshly baked on the hour. The mini french baguette was lightly crisp with an airy, fluffy softness. Really good for sopping up the cream sauce and frijoles. S E R V I C EFriendly and prompt. Staff spoke minimal English but I got by with my terrible Spanish. The young lady in the hairnet at the front of line preparing all the hot food orders was so sweet!A M B I A N C ECasual with a handful of tables.You'll probably have to share tables with strangers because it's busy during peak hours.P A R K I N GVery challenging street parking but that's the city. Overall, Universal Bakery is an awesome hidden gem serving delicious Guatemalan food. They've been in business for 40 years and with just 120 reviews...it proves longevity has nothing to do with social media, trendy novelties, or hype."

Chalos

★★★★★ 4.5 (464) • $$

"Can't believe I haven't submitted a review for Chalos to date. Chalos have the most delicious empanadas which have become a regular delivery staple in our household (spicy beef and ham & cheese are firm favorites). The food is consistently excellent, the presentation great, and the coffee is some of the best in the area. Highly recommended."

Woods Outbound

★★★★☆ 4.1 (86) • $$

"visited this place from a recommendation of a friend who lives in the area and said it was a great place for empanadas and drinks, and she did not disappointthey have super interesting beers and wines and absolutely delicious empanadas. I had spent a few moments trying to decide which empanada to get before the bartender let me know there was literally only one left (the champignon mushroom one), and after I ordered it the poor guys next to me got turned away when trying to order some as wellwe tried the local honey beer with our snack which was super interesting and fun, I would get it again for sure. the bar overall had a really nice chill relaxing vibe. if I lived in the area I could definitely see myself being a regular here grabbing an empanada and a drink!"