Why 5 stars? Because despite a few non-ideal circumstances, it was very worth the visit. --- --- --- After eating lunch nearby, I had one final stop to make here for coffee and dessert, before I headed to SFO. The issue is that I was definitely pushing it on time if I planned on making my flight. As I was driving here, I had the thought that if there was an annoying parking situation or a line, I would just have to pivot and forego patronizing. But as it turns out, there was one spot available right next to the front door and no one inside. But then when I requested a nitro, the owner (I assume?) was extremely apologetic that their coffee machine broke. I asked for a few alternate types of coffee, but it turned out said machine controlled it all. So we shifted to the pastries. I read on the website that they had something with guava, so I asked for two of those: one for me, one for the wife. He even offered to heat mine up, which I will say yes to 100% of the time. I then jumped back in the car and was back into "don't' miss your flight mode." Of course, when you're in a hurry, you manage to hit every red light along the way, so I was doing a lot of yelling at electricity and God. But then I figured I might as well take the time to try the pastry that I'd originally planned on eating on the plane. As it turns out, it brought me into a nearly immersive experience of zen. The only bad thing is that I devoured it within seconds and then it was merely a thing of the past. My wife is fortunate that I have the amount of integrity that I do because I am sitting on the plane as I write this and I could easily inhale that 2nd pastry with her being none the wiser. If you're reading this, wife, remember that you hit the spousal lottery. read more

Cocina Milonga - Guava pastry - Argentine Near Me - South San Francisco, California

Discovered Milonga at the farmers market and so happy I did! Their empanadas are amazing! My husband and I tried the mushroom, potato, tomato and basil, chorizo, beef and pineapple. They were all well balanced, not too salty or sweet, toasted to just the right crispiness, and definitely satisfying. Not to mention the staff were fun and friendly read more

My bro wanted to check out this place as he heard about it and we wanted to try an alternative to the Farmer's Market California Bakeshop version. Cocina Milonga has Argentinian Empanadas. The price is $5.75 for the savory Empanadas. The sweet ones are less. Upon entering, we told the clerk we need a few minutes as it was our first time there. We asked what was popular and we knew we for sure wanted to try the Mushroom Empanada to compare w/CA Bakeshop and wanted to try the Beef, Chicken, Mushroom and Chorizo. The first Empanadas we tasted were warmed, Mushroom Empanadas which tasted like a mushroom-filled Calzone as the dough is thinner. I enjoyed that one. They're smaller than the California Bakeshop versions. At home we tried the Argentinian Chorizo which reminded us of Breakfast Sausage as it had a little herbal taste to it. I think it was Oregano. It was a little salty & not an orange-tinted type of Mexican or Portuguese Chorizo. Some part of the sausage tasted off so I had to spit it out. We have yet to try the rest. I was told by one of the employees that it is made using a Vegan dough that's more conducive to California tastes since traditional Argentinian Empanadas use Lard. I'm fine with Lard in certain foods like Sonoran-style Flour Tortillas or Tamales. That's what makes them tasty and as long as you eat it in moderation & are mindful of your saturated fat intake. My brother liked the thinner crust. There are other items like ground coffee, Dulce de Leche, Alfajores, brewed coffee and some pastries for sale. There's a small countertop seating area which overlooks the street. I like what they did to the space with the colorful walls, festive decor and fun packaging. There's a coffee station so you can try some Argentinian brewed coffee. Parking can be a little tricky since the store is in a residential area. read more

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No thank you. I've never been so disappointed as I was biting into this doughy, greasy no flavor empanadas. No veges either and for the price not going back. read more

Cocina Milonga makes my go-to savory and sweet Argentinean empanadas . Location: Located in a quiet residential neighborhood and also served at San Francisco's Chase Center, they just opened up a location in Napa. Food: at $5.50 each, reasonably priced. They're even better with a side of their chimichurri, sold by jar or on the side. My favorite is definitely the chicken. Beef is also good. Favorite dessert is the blueberry with almonds Service: They go above and beyond and make sure the order is warm and provide a box upon request. I've gifted these 3 times now and everyone loves receiving them. read more

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Visited this establishment on a late Sunday morning around 11am. There were no customers in there but this place is such a gem! It was warm and cozy inside. Also, very clean and organized. Lots of different Empenada options if you're looking for a savory item. They also have different pastries if you're wanting sweets. All the 3 Empanadas I tried were good but the chorizo was really my favorite. The pastries were good as well. Lots of filling. They have hot/cold beverages to go but also sell coffee. I will absolutely be visiting again if I'm in the area and recommend that everyone give them a try! read more

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Literally everything about this place is amazing! Delicious empanadas, service was great. It seemed to be the owner was in back, busting his a** and greeting customers. Ordering in advanced was easy. We ordered empanadas for the World Cup watch party so they were a little bit slammed but everything ran seamlessly. And as a bonus, they use TCHO chocolate for their mochas! Overall great vibe and can't wait to go back and fill up my punchcard. I guess I should've waited to dig into them to send a photo of how beautiful the empanadas were. lol read more

Came here for lunch and was not disappointed. Hole in the wall business. I'd return and suggest this business. Very friendly staff. read more

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Great empanadas! They toast them up to a temp that results in a perfectly hot n toasted, fresh tasting empanada! I tried their beef as well as mushroom. Both are repeats for me! Don't forget to ask for their chimichurri sauce. I also love the vibes of the spot. Felt like I traveled to Argentina for a brief moment. read more

The owners here are 2 of the nicest people ever and were so happy to answer all my questions and even offered a small sample of their pastries. The empanada were absolutely HITTIN they tasted amazing. Although 1 empanada is pretty pricey for their size, the hospitality and great quality alone makes up for it all. (Tried the chicken beef and chorizo) beef was my favorite read more

The empanadas are top notch here as well as the staff, especially Denise. We stopped by during the super busy World Cup finals and even though there were a ton of customers that day, Denise handled our order with professionalism, kindness and attention to detail. The empanadas were a hit for our party. We ordered beef, chicken, mushroom and sweet potato. They were the best empanadas we've ever had. read more

We discovered this place because we have tried them at the Martinez farmers market a few times and loved their empanadas- mushroom and chorizo being our favorite. We were in the South Bay for an event and decided to visit their store. We called ahead of time to make sure they were open and had our favorite, mushroom, available. We asked what time they close and she answered "We open at 10:00AM" (not answering our question but maybe she didn't hear us). We asked again and she seemed annoyed and answered 5PM. We then asked if they still had mushroom available, again we were met with attitude "yes???" was said in an annoyed manner. We show up and i inquired what HER favorite was. Again, met with "our most popular are..." again, not answering the direct question. She seemed annoyed to do her job and could have been more welcoming. The empanadas came out hot and fresh- super good but i feel like they were better at the farmers market- but i could be bias because of the poor customer service we received. Maybe she was having a bad day. When we visit the farmer's market the employees are super nice and welcoming. I would give 5 stars but because of the interactions, 4 stars read more

Came here on a whim because I was craving some empanadas! This place is tucked into an inside street and is a small cafe that serves up some Argentinian treats. Inside the place, the cafe was nicely decorated (so colorful!) and featured many Argentinian products like local coffees and mates. Because it was my first time here, I asked the lady at the counter for some recommendations because I was a little indecisive. While I was the only customer there, she seemed a little unfriendly and annoyed with my questions and only recommended the beef one. At the end, I got two empanadas: beef and humita. To my pleasant surprise, they were actually both really good! I liked the flakiness of the shell and the fillings were flavorful. I enjoyed them and would likely come back (although I may opt for pick up only in the future!). read more

Cocina Milonga - Argentine Near Me - South San Francisco, California

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I would give this place 6 stars if I could! My partner found this place on a quick search, and after I looked more on Yelp, I agreed we should check it out. & I am so so glad we did. Service was so welcoming and kind! It was sincere and genuine. To my understanding this was the smaller location out of the two, but it was nicely decorated and clean and had some seating at the window front. Now to the food! We tried the chorizo empanadas which were cooked to perfection, flavorful and the chimichurri sauce is absolutely amazing. I regret not buying some to go!! The apple empanada was fantastic... I could have ate 3 by myself! If I could get these mailed back to PA, I would. Highly recommend. So glad we found this spot! read more

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Stopped by on a total whim. Located it by typing in empanadas on Yelp. Cute small store with bar stools and counter top at the windows for eating in but more set for to go orders. As soon as I walked in I was given a friendly greeting by a gentleman who turned out to be the owner Raúl. He took the time to explain all the different types of empanadas as well as the pastries. He gave me a sample of the mini palmiers which was delicious! The mini palmiers and all the pastries are made by his sister who owns Lolita Artisanal Bakery-Cafe in San Mateo (will be my next stop when in SM). Now for the important part the empanadas: beautifully made and love that they "stamp" initials on them so you can recognize which empanada is which! Ordered a variety - beef, chicken, tomato basil, potato, Mexican Chorizo, breakfast, and Chorizo (Argentinian style). My daughters loved the chicken and Tomato basil (like a pizza), I absolutely enjoyed the Mexican Chorizo, and beef. We were too full to try the potato and breakfast one but tried the filling which were delicious and will definitely enjoy them later. The flavor profile of the Argentinian Chorizo is like an Italian sausage with a heavy fennel taste which is not for me but my eldest enjoyed it so it didn't go to waste. I even had their Chimichurris (original and spicy). I absolutely love the spicy version the most, had great flavor without large amounts of spiciness. Will definitely be back another day to enjoy more and try other pastries as well. read more

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Service, food, and ambiance all fantastic. Great prices for the area with helpful staff

Great empanadas and they make it fresh every day. Especially the sauce they sell over there. Very small shop but they do have some sitting area for you to seat there. Prices were reasonable. Definitely will go back for more. read more

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Ambiance 5/5 Cool little spot with some bar stools facing the street to enjoy your coffee and treats Service 5/5 Excellent service on explaining the different types of empanadas (savory & sweet). So, if you have a question, do not hesitate to ask. Food 5/5 We had the special Tomato & Basil, Chicken & Mushroom empanadas with their "spicy" sauce. Their sauce is not really "spicy" but does have a very small kick. The sauce is as in taste DELICIOUS! We also ordered to pastries (guava one and mango one) but we have not eaten it yet. Saving it for dessert for dinner All in all, you will not be disappointed with their empanadas so what are you waiting for? Go now and get your empanada fix read more

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Miss the owner and his daughter who used to run the front counter. They are so friendly and warm. New woman is curmudgeon. Can deal with that but not when she messes up the request of what to warm up and what not to warm up and take away. Annoying. Still great empanadas, just train the new counter person to be more friendly. It's not hard to not be grumpy. Also, wish they were open to grab a breakfast empanada before work. read more

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. read more

Shout out the girl at the counter. She has the patience of a Saint. She dealt with a difficult customer graciously. I keep coming back here for the delicious chimichurri sauce. Its also delicious with steak read more

Oh wow - ok so we were at Lowe's and found a place for my kid to get a fried chicken sandwich and right around the corner was this place that's been on my bucket list for a while - yay! Ordered a beef empanadas and a fugazzeta empanada and a little tub of chimichurri for dipping and a Mexican coke - wow those empanadas were so darn good! I'm sorry, I didn't take a picture of the insides, once I started eating I didn't focus on anything else lol. The beef was flavorful and juicy and beefy and so good - the Frazier was tasty and oniony and also good but my favorite was the beef - I look forward to returning and ordering more of these delicious piece of yumminess - I'll order the remaining flavors as well as these two again - and extras for my family - the only problem is parking but you can park in the lot of the goodwill or the street next to it - totally worth the block walk to eat this delicious food - 5/5 no question - and the woman at the register was very nice, we talked while I waited - so personable - love her! read more

Cocina Milonga - Argentine Near Me - South San Francisco, California

Dont visit this area much but what a find! The caprese empanada was amazing -- we will be back.

My friends and I came in to try the empanadas that another friend said were the best empanadas he's ever had. Eloisa was at the front and she welcomed us in and walked us through the menu, since it was our first visit. I had asked her what her favorites were and she led us to our selections. We ordered: spinach, ham & cheese, caprese, mushroom, roasted veggies, fugazzeta, humita, and chorizo, plus some pasta frola (guava pastry) and frangipane tart for dessert. They were heated for us and packed to go. I like how the empanadas are labeled with letters pressed onto the dough! Eloisa chatted with us while we waited and we had a great time! She was super friendly and funny. She gave us a sample of the palmiers and packed two little containers of chimichurri sauce for my birthday! What a nice, welcoming place! When we got back to my place, we cut the empanadas into threes and had a feast. They were all delicious! Our favorites ended up being the vegetarian ones- roasted veggies, humita and spinach! But the chorizo one and ham & cheese one were up there too! It is hard to pick a favorite because they were all so good. The desserts were also wondeful! I don't think that you can go wrong with anything on the menu, and I will be back to try the rest of the menu! Thank you, Eloisa and Cocina Milonga, for great service and excellent empanadas! Can't wait to come back! read more

Cocina Milonga - Counter & menu - Argentine Near Me - South San Francisco, California

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Love this Argentinian pastry shop! They sell everything fresh! Empanadas are very tasty and they also heat them up so you can eat it hot! My favorite are the mushroom, beef, and chicken. Mushroom is the most moist with more flavors than both beef or chicken. The pastry is very fresh with a crunchy, flaky, and buttery crust that is not dry. The worker said the pineapple one is her favorite for sweet empanada. I decided to get the other pastries she recommended which are the apple and blueberry tarts. The tarts are interesting as the inside has a very mushy texture. The blueberry one has more flavor than the apple one which reminds me of a very light cinnamon apple pie. The best and most popular pastry is their pastel de Gloria. They usually sell out this pastry before I get here. After trying the pastel de Gloria, it quickly becomes the favorite item for me, my family, and homies. The guava pastry by itself is good too but no way does it compare to pastel de Gloria. The best thing to do is pre-order the pastel de Gloria for pick up the day before or if you are lucky like me, the worker baked fresh ones for me with a 15-20min wait. So delicious! A sweet caramel with guava jam inside a toasty puff that reminds me of a croissant! Must try!! Just for the record, this is not a hangout spot so not a place to bring a date to have intimate conversations. It is a small space with a few chairs available for those waiting for their orders. Conversations are easily heard across the room. Prices are reasonable with both empanadas and pastel de Gloria costing $4.75 each. I easily spent $60 here for the baked goods! Definitely a bakery I recommend to family and friends. On the plus side, they are also vegetarian and vegan friendly! read more

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Amazing...delicious...adorable establishment in South San Francisco. The colorful space pulls you in to temp your tastebuds with special empanadas, tasty coffee and sweet treats from Argentina! We enjoyed the attentive counter service, the mushroom, spinach, beef and chicken empanadas. The coffee was served in an ample cup and saucer and was huge! Yay! We purchased some of their frozen empanadas to share with friends along with their chimichurri sauce! If you have not tried, it's a must! Clean, friendly and a neighborhood gem! read more

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This cafe is a fantastic spot to grab a meal. The cashier provides excellent service, the place is spotless, and the food is delicious. If you're in the mood for a Mexican-style breakfast and happen to live nearby, I recommend visiting this cafe to savor a peaceful and relaxed morning atmosphere! P.S. For the first time my husband and I tried the empanadas and were pleasantly surprised by their delicious and unique flavor. This probably added extra score to the positive experience at the cafe. read more

Amazing food & customer service. Appreciate your honesty and kindness in regards of suggestions.

Love this cute little shop! They have a lot of coffee beans you can buy, great food, and service is friendly. Honestly, all of the Argentinian empanadas are yummy but my personal fav is the chicken! You can tell what is inside the empanada because on the outside, they have letters that represent the filling. The Palmeritas are really good as well. Definitely a must try if you are in the area! read more

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Excellent food and service! I will be returning on my next trip to SF. The beef empanadas and chimichurri sauce were great!

Nice and hot. My favorites were the beef and the mushroom with cheese options. Very nice and filling. read more

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Stumbled into this spot by mistake. My partner and I needed done baked goods to bring to a baby shower and binka bites next door was sold out. We got a bunch of empanadas and they were a hit. I had the tomato basil one in the car on the way there and it was phenomenal. Didn't get to try the other flavors because they went fast! Everyone loved them. They also have really good coffee! And after chatting with the lovely staff, we got to try some of the palmier samples , which were so flaky and addicting I ate a whole bag by myself. Plus they have some jars of Dulce de leche and it was so good I'd go back just for another jar. read more

Came here with a friend Hope in the wall place that's a sleeper for a snack! I can't recall where the owner was saying the food/coffee originates from, but I was excited and sold Honestly, can't go wrong with special flavored empanadas with a a sauce? The chimichurri sauce on every bite of the empanadas was a must Black coffee to chase it all down Scrumptious, but may need 3 to put a dent in your stomach Recommend. Enjoy! read more

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So I found this place, thanks to a friend. Sadly, my friend had been coming here for a year and did not give up the info, wtf... It's OK now, we talked about it and I have forgiven him. We were getting ready to hit a café on Grand Avenue the other day and I said to him I was looking forward to trying their empanadas. He looks at me and says, "You want to eat better empanadas? I know of a great place". I put the car and drive and we took off! This spot is a hidden little gem, right around the corner from the south San Francisco bowling alley. It's the last place you would think of, that would have a variety of delicious empanadas! Also, the cherry on top, they serve mate and sell it! As soon as we walked in the front door, we were welcomed into this cool little eatery. I love the way the place is decorated and the items that you can purchase. I've always wondered where I would go to, to get some yerba maté, and also the legit vessel to drink it in. It's all here!!! For those of you who have never had mate, it's kind of like our South American tea and you should definitely give it a try. I kept it basic and old-school and ordered the beef empanadas and a maté. Now let me tell you a little something. I'm from Chile and I grew up on the Chilean cuisine and especially empanadas. I can also honestly admit, I am a empanada freak/connoisseur and this place is legit! As soon as I bit into it, it instantly transported me back to my moms kitchen and her incredible cooking. The taste, texture and aromas are definitely there and you will not be disappointed. Other than the two that I had, I took four more to go. Finally, the hospitality, service, conversation, knowledge of their food and how it was prepared, was above and beyond. You can tell they love what they do and do it with pride. I can't wait to go back and try all the other empanada types! Thanks guys, I truly enjoyed the experience and the goodies that you guys prepare. I'll be back! read more

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The empanadas were delicious! So many flavors to try from! So far I'd say the Ham & Cheese as well as the mushroom are my favorites thus far!! I was also given a sample of the mini palmier cookies and can I just say "YUM"!! Definitely a place we will be coming back to not to mention that the staff are kind, polite and welcoming! These days that's a MUST! Highly recommend!! read more

Cocina Milonga - Argentine Near Me - South San Francisco, California

They have all the premium Yerba Mate plus so E delicious teas as well, the alfajores are a must and so are the empanadas which took me 40 past to Buenos Aires and a pizza empanadas joint in Laprida. The variety is great so if you're vegetarian or vegan or what ever floats your boat you can get an empanada and a coke and enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon. The staff is super friendly and helpful. So if you're craving a small piece of Buenos Aires stop by. read more

Cocina Milonga - Spinach empanadas and an ice cold coke !!! - Argentine Near Me - South San Francisco, California

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Adding yet another 5 star review for them. Small but mighty neighborhood spot. Enjoyed a couple empanadas, with a cortado. Wow. Thx yelpers! read more

Cocina Milonga - Empanadas: One beef, one chorizo. House chimichurri. Cortado. - Argentine Near Me - South San Francisco, California

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Amazing empanadas, excellent coffee and great desserts. The also have items for sale, we got some of the amazing chimichurri

We tried at least half of the empanada menu and all of them were delicious...literally EVERY. SINGLE. ONE! Meat, veggie, vegan, sweet...all of them with a buttery flaky, perfectly crispy outside and flavorful filling. Even my 5 & 7 yr old grubbed! Our faves were the Fugazetta and Humita, but even just chicken was yummy...add the chimichurri and they're at a whole 'nother level. The pasteles though?? That guava and dulce de leche?! OMG... We loved everything so much we ordered more as we were leaving and will probably be back tomorrow! Aside from the amazing food, the owner is extremely warm and welcoming. We learned so much about their story and humble beginnings, which was really motivating and just a feel good story. I love this place and you definitely will to! read more

Entre to la casa de empanada - Cocina Milonga. Simply put, an empanada is like a turnover except you get more choices than just apple. At Cocina Milonga you can get sweet, savory, breakfast, or other part of the day empanada. Cute storefront located next to a Filipino Cupcake / Donut shop and Hometown Bowl. Not much parking in the residential section that's one block removed from busy El Camino. We went to the Salvation Army to drop off some donations and needed a quick lunch bite for the drive back home. A hand sized empanada fit the need - wifey had the Humita (corn, butternut squash, cheese - sweet) while I had the Beef (Beef, Onion, Raisins, Hard Boiled Egg - savory). Five inch baked crescents that took 15 minutes to bake and minutes to eat... Hits the spot for the road. read more

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