Mi Empanada - Restaurant in Pittsburgh - 4034 Butler St, USA

I've not had Empanadas since I moved out of Washington DC. Over 20 years ago. And I was not let down today , I got the spinach empanadas and they were excellent just like I remembered, staff was wonderful and the location though simple was spotless. I will definitely be back

Loved the empanadas here. The real joy of it is in the balance of flaky crust and flavor and I think they did that so well! I tried the onion fugachetta and it had an amazing crust and delicious filling. The onions were jammy and a bit on the sweet side. It deserved a 4/5. The star of the show was spinach empanada and it was perfectly flavored and spiced. It deserved 7/5. I had two and felt filled!

I was looking for a high carb Latin American/Argentinian dinner before a race, so Mi Empanada intrigued me. I tried the beef empanada, chicken empanada, peaches and cream empanada, polenta, Spanish rice, and a meringue alfajor. Everything was very tasty. I have to say the flavor of the food is improved by 2 or 3 fold if you microwave it after getting pickup. The beef empanada also has some pancetta and olives. It was juicy and flavorful. It goes very well with side dipping sauce, which is oily, garlicky, and full of herbs. The chicken empanada was also pretty good. The meat is tender and seasoned well. It's not too fatty nor too tough. The peaches and cream empanadas are so heavenly when heated. Peaches are fresh and vibrant. The cream is sweet and delicate, just incredible. Easily my favorite part of the meal. All the empanadas have a flaky shell that is a bit thick. It's quite different from the Venezuelan empanadas I have tried, but still great. The empanadas from Mi Empanada are more expensive for the portion but they are very tasty. Their sides are also great and the portions are quite good for the price. I'd recommend the polenta over the Spanish rice, since the latter is a bit blander. The polenta is buttery and rich, so you can't taste the grains. Their tomato sauce is excellent and flavorful. The rice is definitely better than any store bought option. Some tomatoes, peppers, and seasoning, but still pretty standard. I really enjoyed their imported alfajor. It's quite large for $3, and the dulce de leche inside is on point! So good. All in all, I would definitely recommend trying this place out. They have some unique imports, delicious empanadas, and pretty good sides. Portions might be a bit small for the empanadas, but the flavors make them worth the price.

I ordered some delivery from this place, and these empanadas are at the top of my list of favorite foods from Pittsburgh. I got two vegan empanadas: the spinach and butternut squash ones. They were so amazing. The fillings were perfectly light and filling at the same time. I hope to order more from here again before I head back home:)

Argentine fast casual take out specializing in fresh empanadas filled with meat or vegan ingredients. My favorites were the lamb, sweet potato and black bean, and spinach empanadas. Can purchase a dozen empanadas frozen to cook at your leisure. Don’t forget dessert. The chocolate alfajor is delicious!! Definitely a winner in South American cuisine!

Specialty restaurant with freshly made empanadas. Friendly service with fast prep time. Fillings run from classic beef/chicken/onion to more innovative s sweet potato and black beans. Great choice of hard-to-find sodas. Sauces for sale separately including chimichurri, chili aioli, and more. Seating on stools at the window.

UPDATE per owner’s response: Your shocking recriminating response causes me to reduce my rating to one star. 1. Read my review again. It’s flavors that need to be incorporated NOT the sauce itself. 2. From at least two visits, they’re okay but I repeat, I find the empanadas missing a distinctive taste. I am not convinced what makes it Argentinian. Although good, they are non-discrete flavors. To be frank, they taste more like Cornish pasty than South American empanadas I’ve ever tasted. 3. I am very very very informed (culturally and gustatorily) about empanadas, be it the Castellano original or the different South American varieties (Chileno, Venezolano, Colombiano, Ecuatoriano, Argentino), from the dessert to the snack to the meal versions. 4. CONTRARY to your uncalled assertion, I do have very sophisticated palate. I have dined in highly sophisticated places/homes/estates/establishments in many countries you may only imagine. 5. Further, there is nothing in my review about delight/advocacy of sugary food. I don’t do sugar as a matter of fact! 6. Additionally, IF you don’t know what spices are and what they bring to food, THEN you need to ask yourself if you should be in the food industry. AGAIN, your empanadas are okay but I don’t taste anything distinctively regional about them. That’s what MY palate says! Let’s just say your it’s your version of empanada. “Sophisticated” (whatever your definition is) or not, CONSIDER: Successful restauranteurs take criticisms well instead of resorting to recriminating statements as you have posted here. —— ORIGINAL REVIEW Okay empanadas, and have potential to be excellent IF AND ONLY IF there’s better attention to flavor. Empanada, whether from its origins in Galicia to different countries en Suda America, has distinctive flavors and takes. Herbs and spices (and other additions like eggs onions chives) make the difference. Here, the meat empanadas (chicken, lamb and beef) are good snacks. The dough is crisp and flaky, when bought at the store opening and eaten when still freshly cooked. The FLAVORS are however very UNREMARKABLE; they needs more seasoning. Not sure why they call their beef variety Argentinian given the regional differences. The hint of cumin suggests Famaila, but it lacks the common Argentinian ingredient, garlic. Their sauces, sold separately (WHY?), are very good especially the chimichurri and chili. BUT these flavors MUST be incorporated in the meat filling. Empanadas, whether the original Empanada Gallega or the new world version, the most flavorful Empanada Chileno, are street food and have to have all its flavor without extraneous tubs of sauces. There’s much room for improvement.

Best empanadas in the USA. They are done the traditional way, the right way, baked instead of fried. It’s honestly hard not to eat here every day! 15/10 would recommend to anyone in Pittsburgh or visiting Pittsburgh.