You know your kids will eat empanadas — the real question is which NYC spots are worth the detour, and which ones actually work when you’re already juggling nap schedules and subway maps.
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New York’s empanada scene is absurdly good — and absurdly spread out. You can find them in 24-hour Manhattan shops, Colombian bakeries in Queens, and Peruvian spots in the Bronx that earned a Michelin nod. But if you’re navigating this with kids, not every spot works the same way. Some are takeout counters with nowhere to sit. Others are full restaurants where a slow kitchen means a meltdown at the table. I spent time sorting through the city’s best options to figure out which ones actually make sense for a family outing, and which ones you should skip if you’re short on patience. The short version: Queens has the highest concentration of worthwhile spots, and a few places in Manhattan are worth planning around.
Bolivian Llama Party, a tiny Sunnyside spot, holds the highest Infatuation rating of any empanada spot in NYC at 8.9 — and their salteñas come with a piping-hot stewy filling that’s nothing like a standard empanada.
What’s the actual deal with taking kids to an empanada spot?
The honest answer is: it depends entirely on the setup. Some of the best empanadas in the city come from places with zero seats, a cash-only policy, and a line out the door. Empanadas Cafe in Corona has been around for over 20 years and serves Colombian-style empanadas with a fresh-fried crisp shell — but it’s takeout only, and the neighborhood is a solid subway ride from midtown. That’s fine if you’re already in Queens, less fine if you’re staying in a hotel near Times Square and everyone’s hungry now.
On the other end, Empanada Mama in Hell’s Kitchen has 40+ varieties, is open 24 hours, and has actual seating. The tradeoff: it’s tourist-central, and the quality is solid but not transcendent. The Viagra empanada (tiger shrimp and crab stew) is a conversation starter, but your five-year-old probably wants the mac and cheese one.
The real limitation I kept running into is that many of the best-reviewed spots are in residential neighborhoods — Bolivian Llama Party in Sunnyside, Claudy’s Kitchen in the Bronx, Parador Caleño in Woodside. These aren’t places you stumble past. You have to plan to go there. That’s worth it if you’re already exploring those areas, but if you’re looking for a quick lunch between museums, you’ll want the Manhattan options.
Which empanada fits your family’s afternoon?
I grouped the options by what kind of outing you’re actually having, because “best empanada” means different things when you’re killing time before a Broadway show versus when you’re doing a weekend food crawl through Queens.
Manhattan: quick, reliable, and open when you need it
If you’re in midtown and need a fast, kid-friendly option, Empanada Mama is the safest bet. 40+ varieties, 24-hour operation, and locations in Hell’s Kitchen, the East Village, and Times Square. The wheat and corn shells are both available, and the Desayuno Colombiano (breakfast-style) works well for younger eaters. The tradeoff is that it’s busy and the quality is more consistent than exceptional.
La Churreria in Nolita scored an 89% on Savor’s aggregated ranking — the highest in Manhattan — and their beef and spinach-and-cheese empanadas are fried to a golden crisp. It’s a Spanish café with a sit-down setup, so you’re not eating on a curb. Margon in Hell’s Kitchen is a Cuban lunch counter that’s been around since the 1960s, frying empanadas to order with a crunchy shell. No frills, but reliable.
For a sit-down dinner with the family, Palermo Argentinian Bistro Gramercy has corn and cheese empanadas plus steak options, and they encourage reservations on weekends. Live music, late dinner — more of a meal than a quick bite.
Queens: worth the trip, especially for adventurous eaters
Queens is where the empanada scene gets genuinely interesting. Bolivian Llama Party in Sunnyside serves round salteñas with a sweet achiote-sugar dough and a stewy filling that’s nothing like the standard baked or fried empanada. The chicken or beef versions come with a green sauce, and the owner will tell you to eat them outside or freeze them for later. It’s a tiny operation — don’t expect a full restaurant.
Empanadas Cafe in Corona is a Colombian takeout spot that’s been doing it for more than 20 years. The carne y papa (shredded beef and potato) is the classic, and they use organic whole-grain flour in six varieties. Cash only, no seating, but the quality is hard to beat.
El Gauchito in Elmhurst is an Argentine meat market that’s been selling empanadas for over 40 years. Baked chicken or grilled beef, and they’ll ship frozen empanadas anywhere in the country. That’s useful if you want to stock up before heading home.
Palenque in Brooklyn has two locations and pop-ups, and makes their empanadas with a house-made multi-cereal dough — brown rice, quinoa, flax seeds, sesame, and chia. Gluten-free and actually good, not just a compromise.
The Bronx and Brooklyn: hidden gems with real payoff
Claudy’s Kitchen in the Bronx is Peruvian, and their empanadas are light and crisp with fillings like aji de gallina, lomo saltado, and chicharron. Michelin-recognized, but it’s a small operation in a residential neighborhood — plan the trip.
Empanada Loca in Brooklyn has 30+ options including spinach pie, pernil, and a veggie option with red and green peppers, zucchini, onions, and mushrooms, plus a cilantro jalapeño sauce. Good for families with mixed preferences.
Sophie’s Cuban has 11 locations citywide, which makes it the most accessible option if you’re not doing a food crawl. The guava and cheese empanada is a solid dessert move.
| Spot | Best For |
|---|---|
| Empanada Mama | Quick Manhattan stop, 24 hours, 40+ varieties |
| Bolivian Llama Party | Unique salteñas, highest rating (8.9), Sunnyside |
| Claudy’s Kitchen | Peruvian, Michelin Bib, Bronx destination |
| El Gauchito | Frozen delivery, 40+ years, Queens |
| Sophie’s Cuban | 11 locations, reliable, guava & cheese |
What this actually costs and how to get there
Empanadas in NYC run roughly $3 to $6 each depending on the spot and filling. Pueblo Querido Coffee Roasters in Greenpoint sells Colombian-style empanadas at $3 each. Criollas at the Columbus Circle Underground Market charges over $31 for six — that’s the premium end. Most places fall in the middle, and two or three empanadas per person makes for a filling meal.
Getting to the Queens spots requires the subway or a car. Bolivian Llama Party is a short walk from the 7 train at 46th Street in Sunnyside. Empanadas Cafe is on Van Doren Street in Corona, about a 10-minute walk from the 7 train at 103rd Street. The Bronx spots like Claudy’s Kitchen are easier with a car or a ride-share, especially if you’re bringing kids.
If you’re staying overnight near any of these neighborhoods, it’s worth noting that a few spots are open late. Titi’s Empanadas in Williamsburg is open Thursday through Saturday until midnight. Empanada Mama is 24 hours. Most others close by 9 or 10 p.m.
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If you want to cover more ground without navigating the subway with tired kids, a guided walking tour that includes food stops can save you the route-planning. For families who want to focus on the food without the logistics, a city tour that passes through multiple neighborhoods might be a better fit.
What to know before you go
A few things I wish someone had told me before I started this. First, cash is still king at a lot of these spots. La Nueva Bakery in Jackson Heights is cash-only. Arepas, Empanadas & Latin Food in Bed-Stuy is also cash-only. Second, seating is limited or nonexistent at many of the best places — Emilia’s Bakehouse in Melville has exactly two seats and no restroom. Third, the best empanadas are often in neighborhoods that don’t see many tourists, which means you’ll need to be intentional about the trip.
- Hit Bolivian Llama Party on a weekday afternoon when the 7 train is less crowded and the salteñas are fresh out of the oven.
- Bring cash to Empanadas Cafe — the carne y papa is $4 and worth every cent.
- If you’re staying near midtown, Empanada Mama on West 40th Street is open 24 hours and has enough variety to satisfy picky eaters and adventurous ones at the same table.
- Order the pabellón empanada at Titi’s (plantain shell, shredded beef, black beans, cheese) — it’s a full meal in one hand pie.
Where families find the best empanadas in New York City
Are the empanadas at these spots actually kid-friendly, or is that just marketing?
Most are — empanadas are basically handheld pies, and kids tend to like them. The question is more about the setting. Takeout spots like Empanadas Cafe work if your kids are OK eating on a bench or in a stroller. Sit-down spots like Palermo Argentinian Bistro work better if you need a table and a bathroom. The mac and cheese empanada at Empanada Mama is a guaranteed hit with most kids.
Which borough has the best empanadas overall?
Queens, by a noticeable margin. Between Bolivian Llama Party (8.9 rating), Empanadas Cafe (20+ years), El Gauchito (40+ years), and Parador Caleño (8.4 rating), the concentration of high-quality spots is unmatched. Manhattan has convenience and variety, but Queens has depth.
Can I freeze empanadas and take them home?
Yes — El Gauchito sells frozen empanadas and will ship them anywhere in the country. Bolivian Llama Party also recommends freezing their salteñas for later. Most baked empanadas freeze well, but fried ones lose their texture.
What’s the worst-case scenario with a picky eater?
You’ll find a cheese empanada or a plain chicken version at almost every spot. Empanada Loca in Brooklyn has 30+ options including a straightforward spinach and cheese. Felix Empanadas on the Lower East Side has a cheeseburger empanada. Supreme Empanadas in South Ozone Park has a Hawaiian (ham, sautéed pineapple, mozzarella) and a Breakfast empanada. Picky eaters are covered.
One last bite
The best empanada experience in NYC isn’t at a sit-down restaurant in Manhattan. It’s a Sunday afternoon in Queens, eating a Bolivian salteña on a bench outside a tiny shop, with a green sauce that stains your shirt and a filling that’s almost too hot to eat. That’s the trip worth taking. For everything else, there’s Empanada Mama at 2 a.m. For more ideas on eating your way through the city, check out our full guide to Little Italy’s authentic Italian food spots.
Sources
The Best Empanadas In NYC. The Infatuation, 2024.
Hole-in-the-Wall Restaurants in New York Serving Unforgettable Empanadas. Taking the Kids, 2026.
Best Empanadas in New York. Atly.
Best Empanadas in Manhattan. Savor the Universe.
Everything You Need to Know About NYC. Travels with Sophie.
