El Porteño Empanadas

At El Porteño Empanadas, you're in for a treat with their delightful Argentinian pastries! The comfortable atmosphere invites you to relax and savor a range of wonderful flavors, all while enjoying exceptional service that makes you feel right at home. We particularly loved the La Maradona, featuring a perfect mix of local tomatoes, aromatic basil, and creamy mozzarella cheese--a flavor explosion that's hard to resist! Equally impressive were the Champiñones, filled with a fresh blend of seasonal mushrooms, sautéed with shallots, aged Parmesan, and crème fraîche, delivering an incredibly rich and satisfying experience. I am now an empanada lover, El Porteño is a must-visit for a taste of Argentina!

Empanadas Worth the Hype (Almost)My boyfriend has been raving about this empanada spot, calling it life-changing, so of course, I had to try it. I'll be real--I haven't had the best experiences with empanadas before, so my expectations were low. But I've got to say, this place seriously delivered.FoodThey have a huge range of flavors, from classic savory options to unexpected dessert empanadas. The best part? They're warm, fresh, and perfectly crispy--which caught me off guard because, for some reason, I was expecting them to be cold. Definitely a game-changer compared to the mediocre empanadas I've had before.Vibes & LocationThe location is so cute! After grabbing your empanadas, you can walk by the water and explore all the cool little shops nearby. It's the perfect spot to grab a bite and then wander around.Final ThoughtsI'd give this place 4.5 stars. The only downside? The price--$7 for a pretty small empanada. If they were a bit bigger (or a little cheaper), this would be an easy 5/5. Still, totally worth checking out if you're in the area!

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.

While in San Francisco for a conference, I stumbled across El Porteño at the Ferry Building Marketplace, and I'm so glad I did! This isn't a full restaurant--it's a cozy stand--but don't let that fool you. The empanadas are out of this world and absolutely deserving of 5 stars.I tried their traditional beef empanada, and it was perfection. The pastry was buttery and flaky, with a golden crust that crumbled just right. The filling was seasoned beautifully, with tender beef, olives, and a touch of spice that made every bite memorable. I also sampled their ham and cheese empanada, and the rich, gooey filling hit all the comfort food notes I was craving.The location couldn't be better--right inside the iconic Ferry Building with gorgeous waterfront views just steps away. It's a perfect spot to grab a snack while exploring the bustling marketplace and nearby attractions like Alcatraz ferries and Fisherman's Wharf.If you're in the area, El Porteño is a must-visit for a quick, authentic Argentine treat. Grab an empanada (or three), enjoy the views, and thank me later!

Convenient. Expensive. Mediocre.Those three words sum up the empanadas I had from El Porteno. You're definitely paying for the convenience and location because I've had much better empanadas from almost anywhere else.I was one of the first customers of the day, so they definitely should have been fresh and flavorful. The flavor, simply, was lacking. Nothing really stood out or had much flavor to begin with.Temperature wise, they were lukewarm.Service was definitely transactional; nothing special or exemplary.I doubt I'll return. 2024: 75/100

My go-to pick-me-up spot in the Ferry Building! Came here on a rainy Monday morning craving something warm. There was no line (but maybe because the Ferry Building was not crowded anyways), and there are always so many varieties to choose from. The staff are always so friendly and happy to help. There's not much seating around the storefront but this was better for eating while walking.I got the Espinacas y Panceta Empanada. It was so savory and good! It's warm so the cheese pull was great, and the texture of the spinach really enhances the experience. The bits of meat add a smokiness that just really sells it. The pastry is also buttery and crumbly. Determined to keep trying more of their varieties!

My mom and I love coming here!! My favorites are the lamb and beef empanadas - they're always piping hot with delicious flakey crust. They're a little pricey but I always feel like it's worth it and there's a type of filling (sweet, savory, vegetarian, etc.) for everyone.

I've always wanted to try this place. The line is always long. So today was my day. No line at all. So I got the mushroom empanada and let me tell you, OMG was it good. Flaky crust and buttery. It was delicious.

The empanadas were actually pretty good, but I would say it be better. There are cheese inside the empanadas and some is not melted. So I got like a bite of unmelted cheese. I ordered mushroom flavored as well and there is barely any mushrooms inside. It's popular since it's right by the pier. And serves is pretty fast.

I've been enjoying empanadas from different locations when a generous friend gifted me a box of El Porteño empanadas. Today we did a sampling and discovered the goodness of El Porteño! Love how each empanada is packaged and labeled with whats inside. Love how each different flavor is in a different shape so even after taking them out of the bags they can be distinguished from each other.But what I love the most is the flaky delicious crust stuffed with the most delectable filling! Today we had a sampling. After heating up in the oven for about 10 minutes, each empanada came to life. My favorite so far has to be the mushroom flavor. Also loved the lamb and the chicken. Have yet to try the beef, humita, prosciutto and (2) dolce sweet flavors. So that favorite may still change. Thank you Mike C. for such a thoughtful and delicious gift!Located in the Ferry Building. Have a big feeling these won't be the last I enjoy El Porteño empanadas!