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El Sur

4.5 (205 reviews)
InexpensiveArgentine, Empanadas
Closed 9:30 am - 3:00 pm

Order El Sur Takeout or Delivery

El Sur Photos

Business Info

EL SUR ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Quiet
Good for kids
Good for groups

Recommended Reviews - El Sur

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Reviews With Photos

Eric L.

I have finally found an empanada rival to my North Bay favorite. El Sur has terrible hours (you have to be local to get a taste), but these empanadas are filling and, more importantly, delicious and perfectly cooked. It's a counter service restaurant, but service is friendly, and they know what they're doing. I loved the traditional empanada so much I'm hoping I can find a way to escape work early one day again so I can pick some up.

Daniel F.

Must try! The people are friendly and food is delicious. Got the traditional empanada, carne sauve and churros. Empanada was fresh and the crust was very crispy. The churros were pretty good as well. Great indoor dining and there's a parking lot right next door. If you're in Redwood City make sure to stop by.

Allister D.

I thought this was a pretty good empanada shop. They have seating and the place is really clean which is a plus. It felt like a restaurant. I enjoy the nice glass casing of the empanadas for customers to see. I don't like how each empanada is a different size and shape though; even though they are all priced the same, their sizes vary which is slightly annoying. For example, their traditional was big in size (regular empanada size). It had incredible flavor from the diced beef cubes which was basically steak bits. The marinade and filling was delicious and the best traditional Argentinian beef empanada I've had. On the other hand, their Parisien flavor was small like a tiny ball shape. It had Kurobuta Ham, prosciutto, and 5-cheeses but this whole thing was a small puff pastry. I wish all the flavors were the same shape and size to better stretch our money. The empanadas are amazing tasting and freshly made. I'd love to come back for more but El Sur needs to make each one equal in size otherwise it'll feel like I'm getting ripped off for my money. Maybe next time El Sur?

Mushroom/cheese, traditional, and chicken.
Tíbor G.

My best friend and I were in Argentina eating empanadas all over the place and this place could easily fit right in! Got there within the last hour before close and the staff was just as helpful as if I would've been there in the morning. The food was equally as flavorful! Love the mushroom cheese, the traditional was super savory and comforting, and the chicken was an easy go to! They even have frozen empanadas to bake at home when you need a quick little meal! Come support them, they totally deserve the business!

Marianne
Mary F.

Thanks to Paolo and Marianne for a wonderful event with delicious food! Everything was so full of flavor, and I will definitely be back to pick up more Traditional beef empanadas and to try the breakfast flavor! Marianne was great to learn from and I love the story of how the building was originally her parent's grocery store! It was also very nice of them to have the chips and charcuterie boards out when we arrived, and the drink selection! Thank you again to Marianne, Paolo, and the staff members for a great experience!

Lisa H.

A hidden gem! So excited to get fresh made empanadas and especially vegan ones to boot. Only two flavors of this option currently but the Championes (mushroom/cheese) is very flavorful and filling. Several vegetarian as well as the expected meat ones too. Great little cafe - looks like they are set up to do coffee but didn't see a menu for those offerings. Well worth coming in to check them out. Also sell frozen unbaked to take home = I got a couple of those to try but haven't made them yet. Pro-tip -easy to miss the parking lot next door and street parking is challenging.

Kathy L.

I never knew this place even existed and when I was there for an event, I had the opportunity to taste these wonderful handmade Argentinian style empanadas. They are worth the price--flaky crust, packed with filling and so flavorful. There are many choices--beef, chicken, vegetarian, fruit filled and even a breakfast version. If you want to have some for a rainy day, you can purchase frozen ones too--easy to bake, no thawing needed. I bought frozen ones for home--the traditional and the breakfast ones. It's an open space--cafe style, so you can have a coffee, enjoy your empanada or takeaway. Definitely worth checking out--not far from the Costco either.

Keila P.

They have a parking lot on the side of the building which was easy to access. The inside was very neat, clean, and aesthetic. The display case was helpful in generating an idea of what we wanted to order and the staff at the register was very friendly in explaining what her favorite empanada was and making recommendations. We didn't wait long for our food and we ate inside the place. It was amazing! Would definitely return here. Thank you for your hospitality and great food!

Julianne C.

i grabbed some empanadas from the el sur food truck outside fort mason during a craft fair. overall, the quality is really great but i think it's a bit overpriced in my opinion ($8 per empanada). i've tried the mushroom, chicken, and beef and all are solid! i would recommend if you're in the mood for yummy empanadas! hopefully i'll be able to try the brick and mortar location soon!

Inside
Kimberly L.

Omg these are some of the best empanadas I've ever had! The mushroom one was so delicious I had to order another one. It was creamy and savory and the flaky crust was very tasty. I loved how they had a private parking lot and it was a quiet lunch spot with friends! Can't wait to go back.

Delicious empanada

Definitely 5 stars! I have gone to the Menlo Park food trucks and had their empanadas and they were absolutely amazing. I just saw that they now have a store on Middlefield Road. I had a beef empanada and it was delicious. They also have a special with two empanadas and a salad for $17. The flavor and spices were perfect and they were very filling. I took some frozen empanada's home in their take and bake freezer! The owner was telling me they do a lot of catering. I will definitely use them for my next party. They are south of Costco in Redwood city and they have a nice size parking lot so it's easy to get in and get out. I would definitely recommend them and if you haven't tried an empanada before, just come in one time and you will be hooked!

David B.

Are these the best empanadas in the bay area?? The tradicional, pollo and champiñón were all excellent! Friendly staff to help you choose and the place is clean and simple. The alfajores are worth snagging as well

Came all the way from San Jose to have this delicious empanadas! Pollo spicy was a good kick but Nutella with banana had my heart! The place is super cute, super clean and the lady very sympathetic. You can also bring some frozen ones to bake at home, like me

4 delicious empanadas!!! 5/5 recommend great food great service! Coffee superb as well

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1 month ago

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Marianne D.

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11 days ago

Empanadas are so good! I had one for the first time at the Fort Mason night market and I had to go to Redwood City for more

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11 months ago

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Thank you for coming and we hope to see you again soon!

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So glad you found us! Hope to see you again soon :)

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Page 1 of 6

El Sur Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - El Sur

Do they ever do bean empanadas? The vegetarian options look like they rely on cheese to make them filling. I would love to try a healthier/heartier vegetarian option.

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Angelicas

Angelicas

3.9
(1.4k reviews)
1.1 mi
$$

We came here to celebrate an early Mother's Day brunch, and it was such a fantastic experience! The…read moremimosas were amazing, with a great selection of juices and the food was absolutely outstanding. Khin was our server she mentioned she was fairly new, but you wouldn't have known it. She was incredibly sweet, attentive, and took great care of our entire party. Thank you, Khin! We had a large group, and I really appreciated that they accommodated us inside since it was a bit chilly that day. They seated us in the front area, which we loved. Everything we ordered from the appetizers, to the main dishes was packed with flavor. Nothing missed the mark. Truly one of the best brunch experiences in town! I had the chilaquiles along with a champagne drink that came with different juice options and fresh fruit such an adorable and fun presentation. My family couldn't stop raving about how delicious everything was, including the dessert. We'll definitely be back for future family gatherings and next time, we're excited to try the outdoor patio seating!

We walked by this place on our way to another restaurant that ended up having a 55-minute wait so…read morewe ended up coming back. We arrived at about 1:00-1:30 and the inside main dining area was already closed to patrons as staff prepared for the evening service. The host's tone did not encourage potential customers to dine there during the transition to dinner prep. Not a great first impression that gave off a late arrival so you'll get what's leftover vibe which was exacerbated by being forgotten for what seemed to be a half hour before our waitperson came to take our order. We chose to sit in the front sidewalk patio which was cold and windy not an alternate choice we will need to make again. We ended up sitting across from two loud, self-centered, immature, foul-mouthed college grad girls bragging about studying for their masters attempting to appear cultured were distracting everyone on that patio. After we placed our order, we finished up the app and hubbs was furious they forgot about his glass of pinot which arrived without an apology for the delay preceding our plate arrivals. I had the ny strip steak on the breakfast menu which came out perfectly med-well & added cilantro rice which was good although a little sticky not fluffy. Hubbs had the salmon which looked amazing and he enjoyed the mango sauce--the dish just didn't fill him up. Good thing we ordered fresh chips, salsa& guac.--which was very well prepared; the freshest guac I've ever had. It had fresh chopped tomatoes & green chiles all perfectly combined. Our wait person/food server made up for the less than stellar first impression of the host. And the food was flavorful. The ambiance was ruined by the diners across from us and the forgetfulness of taking our orders timely and serving the wine after the appetizer couldn't bring us back from what started out as negative experience. There are many restaurants up & down the bay that we aren't bothered. This wasn't the best reception nor dining experience and we are moving on. We hope it's a lesson and possibly could've just been a bad day for the crew, and unfortunately there is so much competition out there. We highly recommend the food for its freshness and flavor; recommend the salmon dish for its flavor and balance but not for its portion size. And wish this place nothing but the best and to improve where they dropped the ball.

Photos
Interior
Interior
Elote apetizer
Elote apetizer
Shrimp lettuce wrap tacos

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Shrimp lettuce wrap tacos
Cocina Milonga

Cocina Milonga

4.8
(159 reviews)
16.6 mi
$

Why 5 stars? Because despite a few non-ideal circumstances, it was very worth the visit…read more --- --- --- 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.

Discovered Milonga at the farmers market and so happy I did! Their empanadas are amazing!…read more 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

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Counter & menu
Counter & menu
Empanada
Empanada
Mini Palmiers/Palmeritas

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Mini Palmiers/Palmeritas
Espetus - San Mateo

Espetus - San Mateo

4.1
(3.3k reviews)
8.5 mi
$$$$

I had a nice lunch here with my sister and brother-in-law. Lucky we went during lunch time because…read morec it is expensive. My sister and brother in law trick me to treat them out there because they were driving me to the airport. Anyway food is great here so I understand the pricing. Very tender meat. The salad is good too. Service is superb. It's a nice place!

Overall, Espetus was just okay for me. They offer a great variety of meats, including picanha,…read morewhich I was really looking forward to. Unfortunately, I found most of the meats to be quite bland and lacking flavor. The beef ribs, on the other hand, were the complete opposite--they were way too salty. It felt like there wasn't much middle ground. I even tried adding hot sauce, hoping it would give the meat the kick I was looking for, but it still didn't do much for me. The surprise highlight of the meal was the chicken wings. They were incredibly tender and flavorful inside and out. I also really enjoyed the grilled pineapple--it was perfectly sweet and delicious. The salad bar was decent with a good selection, but nothing particularly memorable. One thing that really stood out, though, was the staff. They were amazing--friendly, attentive, and constantly checking in to make sure we had everything we needed. Their excellent service definitely made the experience more enjoyable. Overall, the experience didn't quite live up to my expectations, especially considering all the praise the restaurant gets. While I loved the chicken wings, grilled pineapple, and outstanding service, I wish the signature meats had more balanced seasoning and flavor. Given the price, I expected the quality and taste of the food to match the cost. For a premium dining experience, the food should leave you feeling completely satisfied, and unfortunately, it fell short of that for me.

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Dining area
Dining area
Chicken hearts
Chicken hearts
Dining Area

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Dining Area
Telefèric Barcelona

Telefèric Barcelona

4.1
(2.2k reviews)
3.8 mi
$$$

Top notch service, vibes, and food!…read more I visited on a recommendation from a friend and was not disappointed. The Sangria flight was a great way to start and share. The spicy sangria was surprisingly my favorite! It was savory and strong. I was a huge fan of the patatas bravas and the crab croquetas. They were the perfect appetizers. Then came the aim attraction: the fiesta paella. It had the best that Telerific had to offer: ribeye, lobster, chicken, and pork belly. A truly luxurious meal. The proteins were seasoned and cooked to perfection and paired perfectly with the Spanish rice. I was incredibly impressed with the experience overall and look forward to my next visit!

Great food, great presentation. Able to accommodate us despite no reservation at kitchen area or…read morebar (not bar b/c we had kid but they had that option had we not had kid) iberico paella (for those that don't like seafood, but love the crunch rice and flavors of paella) Giant portion, definitely not for 1 person. crunchy rice. warned about hot plate and it was initially very hot. small slice lemon, maybe would've liked 2 slices for that much volume? cali-flower: only comment is that it was deep fried and that should've been made clear for the healthy peeps and that it could be air fried to be healthier... Brussel sprouts came with 2 dips but the server didn't explain what it was. She only spoke spanish, I think and just said use those 2 sauces with the sprouts in spanish. (I speak fairly fluent non food spanish) wellington, delicious though the creamy sauce with potatoes was too much unhealthy minus 1/2 star for all the unnecessary creamy but deserves 5 star if we are just talking food alone the special fish avo radish salad was GREAT per my husband and daughter (who eat raw, I don't eat raw). minus 1/2 star for automatic 20% for service (only 3 people). I like to choose, control freak, I am.

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Gin Tonic Drink Refreshing Cocktail at Telefèric Barcelona
Gin Tonic Drink Refreshing Cocktail at Telefèric Barcelona
Grilled Salmon
Grilled Salmon
Salmon Tartare

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Salmon Tartare

El Sur - argentine - Updated July 2026

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