Love, love, love Empanada Mama!!! Anytime I'm in the area, I stop by for my go-to empanadas: Bombay & Viagra. The restaurant is open 24 hours and is the perfect place to go for those late-night cravings. One can sit at the full bar, in the dining area, or get items to go. The restaurant is always lively and patrons get seated quickly. The most I have ever waited for a seat is 5 minutes. There are more than 40 empanadas in corn or wheat shells to order. The menu celebrates diversity through its' empanada pairings. Greek - spinach pie, Cuban - ham, pork, and cheese, Americana - cheeseburger, Bombay - Curried chicken, Brasil - traditional ground beef, Hawaiian - ham, pineapple & mozzarella cheese and many more. Besides empanadas, there is a full menu of Colombian delights to eat including arepas, salads, sandwiches, soups, tacos and tapas. They have dessert empanadas as well. Love the USA empanada, which is apples & cinnamon baked and the Nutella & banana one. You can get it topped with ice cream as well. Really looking forward to my next visit. read more

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For a quick night bite this place is fantastic. So many different types of empanadas to enjoy. Toro and Bourbon chicken were great. The only one I didn't like was the Romero and Juliet. It was too a big chunk of fried cheese with the jam. But overall would go anytime I get that late night food craving read more

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

Our local Hell's Kitchen resident suggested Empanada Mama as a place for dinner for us to catch up. We walked in around 7 pm on a Monday and was lucky to find a table. Initially, they wanted us to sit in the far left corner but it looked really dark there. I'm not sure if there was a light out or what. I saw another table on the far right corner and asked if we could sit there instead. The person seating us seemed slightly annoyed with my request, and I did not mind waiting if they needed to set it up as we were still waiting for the rest of our party. It only took a moment and they had a take a seat. It took a good while to get a menu as they only have 1 paper menu on hand and everything was online. We were not getting the best internet service at the restaurant, so it was hard to look over the menu. And not everyone at our table had a device to look at the menu as well. We also waited a good while to put our order in. Thank goodness we were not in a rush, but it was noticeable. Despite being called Empanada Mama's, they also have a plenty of other dishes if empanadas aren't your thing. I'm not the biggest fan of empanadas, so was excited for the other items they offered. These were some of the things we ordered: * Yucca & Chips Combo $16.50 - I really enjoyed the plantain chips, which is why we ended up having another side order of them. The yucca was okay. * Homemade Plantain Chips $5.00 * Mama's Steak and Eggs $23 - This is a huge order and honestly, should be shared. However, the Little Guy, who is a growing teenager, ate pretty much the whole thing minus the bread. * Cubana Arepa $13.50 - I enjoyed their version of the arepa. It's a good size and can be shared as well. * Cheesesteak Empanada $4.90 * The Argentinian $20 - This is a pretty filling sandwich and it comes with chips. * Ham & Cheese Arepa $13.50 * Coconut Margarita $17.00 * Pineapple Shake $7.95 * Guava Shake $7.95 * Pisco Sour $17.00 For the amount of food we ordered, including beverages, there just wasn't enough room on the table. We were struggling as we had a party of five and the platters were huge. At one point, we wanted to look at the menu again to order an item but the lone menu was being used so we couldn't look at it again. Thank goodness I took photos of the menu earlier. We did end up ordering too much food and had some to take home. There were some highlights for sure like the plantain chips and arepas. What put us off was the automatic 20% gratuity added to our bill. I did not see this written anywhere and would have been fine with it if the service actually warranted a 20% tip. But we had wait often, and that's not a good thing. In the future, I would consider grabbing their food to go as dining in wasn't worth it. read more

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My boyfriend and I went here for an early bite. Bottom line...the empanadas are good. I would stick to the traditional empanadas (beef, pork). The drinks were decent. My issue is the service. The host was super rude...wouldn't allow us to sit in window bc we were a party of two. We later saw two white women sitting in window seats. Racism? Whatever it is...I won't be returning to this location. read more

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

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Amazing. Great late night bites. So many options. Can't wait to visit again. Plantain chips with guacamole was amazing. Jerk chicken empanada was amazing read more

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I'm not sure how I've never written a review for empanada mama, I've been to this Hell's kitchen location many times in the last 20 years. Congratulations to them, by the way, for being there for 20 years and their expansion. We were lucky enough to get a table for 5 there on Mother's Day, and everything was excellent. We had the shredded chicken, el jefe, cheeseburger, portobello mushroom and eggplant parm empanadas. Both wheat and corn versions were great, I'm a big fan of the green sauce- not as spicy as the red sauce but still has a nice kick. The maduros were delicious, shared by the table. Guava cheese dessert empanada was OK- most didn't love the guava but enjoyed the cheese part. The service was great, and my kids enjoyed their Shirley Temple read more

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Maduros - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

I had the most annoying experience at this place. As I entered the place , I said out loud my cousin & I were going to sit down inside to eat. I ordered an empanada from the kiosk and sat inside to wait for it. As I was about to enjoy the food, I was told I couldn't eat the empanada inside because I ordered from the kiosk. There were so many empty tables & chairs I was confused as to why I couldn't eat inside. There were others whom ordered from the kiosk & had sat down eating their food. While I hadn't been a patron in some time, I was highly disappointed that I couldn't enjoy a simple empanada. On top of the inflation of pricing on smaller items, the service was poor. I was not greeted & I had to wait for atleast 2 minutes before the person at the front to stop talking with the others whom worked at the place. Will not ever be returning to this location. read more

Empanada HEAVEN! I have only had these delivered but they never disappoint. I can't decide if I prefer the flaky wheat or the corny corn. They are both delicious and make sure to dip in the delicious green sauce. read more

Pretty good empanadas. Surprisingly liked the corn shell more even though it was much thicker cause it hold the topping in better and the sauces as well. The rice and and bean one was my favorite. read more

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

Im an out of towner and my friend who is a local suggested we meet there before seeing a broadway show. So glad she did! Such a hidden gem! I hardly ever eat empanadas and I probably still want because these were so amazing that it will probably be hard to find in LA. But I had the buffalo chicken and bourbon chicken ones, and my friend had the ham and cheese and cheeseburger ones. They were so delicious plus they came with so many dipping sauces which is like heaven for me! We also split an order of plantains which I think might be the best plantains I've ever had. They were so perfect and had a caramelized crunchy border that was just amazing. It also happened to be Halloween night, and we arrived as they were setting up for some sort of party, which was awesome. Everyone was dressed in costume and they had a DJ plus decorations. Big props to the DJ who was playing amazing throwback tunes. Who doesn't love Eating with a good soundtrack?! read more

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Perfect plantains - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

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Hi there Empanada Mama, I gotta say I'm a big fan in a big way! While drinking around enjoying a chill afternoon in Hell's Kitchen a buddy took me to Empanada Mama for a quick bite and it hit the spot. So much so that each time since I've been in the city I've stopped by for another round. This location not only has table service, and a full bar, but also offers easy takeaway options to boot. I've always dinned in and service has been fast and friendly, without being overbearing. I'm vegetarian and have tried a variety of their offerings and have never been disappointed (the corn flour empandas hold a special place in my heart and belly) . I usually will order an extra empanada or two to take back with me to the hotel for later on. Speaking of their offerings...the menu has LOTS to offer...like it can be overwhelming, but I love how diverse their offerings are. Not only that but they also have seasonal and rotating/limited menu offerings to boot, so be sure to check it out. As I mentioned earlier, they have a full bar and an extensive drink menu, but I have never personally partaken in their boozy libations. All things considered, it is safe to assume that I will continue my Empanada Mama tradition in coming trips and now that I've typed up this review I am craving said return visit. read more

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It's a Tuesday night and there's a crowd here with people looking for some good drunchies. But also still a great spot for empanadas even when sober too. Two or three empanadas will fill you up at under $5 each. My friend and I shared the Al Pastor, Viagra, Jerk & Cheese, Bombay, and Romeo & Juliet. All the flavors were delicious and the crust is flakey and crispy holding all the fillings very well. They were all well stuffed and seasoned for a delicious bite everytime. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the flavors here honestly. Love that they are open 24/7 and offer a pretty big dining space when you just want to wine down after a night out, but also great for on the go. It is also great for pre-gaming too as they offer margarita towers. read more

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Empanadas. - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

We absolutely loved this place. The vibe is very upbeat and energetic. The service is exceptional and the food was amazing. We ordered several different options of empanadas to try and loved all of them. The flavors are perfect and I would love to go back to this place again. We didn't get a cocktail this evening, but they have an extensive cocktail menu. read more

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They added some items to their menu and I couldn't resist the Mexi-burger. It did not disappoint! So delicious! Their take on the burger has fresh avocado slices and a tasty sauce on it. Very filling too, with a side of light chips that are very flavorful. I went with the happy hour red sangria today to drink and it might be my new go-to! read more

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

Disappointed because they didn't have my bourbon melt. That's my favorite. Ordered 2 buffalo chicken, 2 cheeseburgers & 1 viagra. Buffalo chicken was good with the ranch sauce. Cheeseburgers were very greasy. Tried the Viagra for the 1st time & now it's my 2nd favorite. Yummers! Will always support empanada mama! read more

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The staff here was completely rude and disrespectful. We were told that we cannot eat our order in the sit down area- we placed an order on the machines and did not know it was designated for take out. The security guard claimed I pushed him and then tried to start a fight with us. We will never come here again!!! read more

Popped in here to grab a bite after walking around the city on a cold day just before the holiday wrap up. Food is always fresh. Our server is a little bit in a mood but it's all good. The vibe is always chill otherwise read more

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Empanada Mama is usually open when others are not. That is a big deal. Chicken empanadas of any sort are usually a go to for me. Spicy chicken there is a no brainer. Regular chicken is cool also but I don't usually get that. Nutella & Banana is good when you want something sweet and there is nothing else available. Romeo & Juliet with the guava/mozzarella cheese is a more savory sweet as is the Caramel and Cheese. read more

food was great for an amazing price! seemed like a fun vibe, but i got take out. fast service even though it was 1am! i recommend the brasil

Yummy empanada shop with other spread of soups, rice plates, and drinks! Love the pride flags and (kinda) tiki theme they have going on inside, staff were all really friendly The empanadas are great, the viagra empanada was my favorite. The shrimp is cooked just right and tastes fresh and is contrasted so well with the crispy empanada shell. The Romeo and Juliet (guava + cheese) was interesting, wasnt as much as a fan of it because the cheese wasn't very liquid it was kind of chewy like it didn't fully melt and tasted more savory than sweet. But if you really like guava and a sweet / savory combo this might be up your alley read more

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Avocado Salad - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

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Empanada Mama's delivered a solid meal. The steak was tender and seasoned well, and the rice and peas actually had flavor instead of tasting like filler. The tostones came out crispy, not greasy, which I appreciate, and the guacamole tasted fresh with good balance instead of being bland. Of course, the star here is the empanadas -- flaky, well-stuffed, and actually worth ordering again. Service was friendly, portions were fair, and the vibe felt welcoming. Definitely a spot worth coming back to when you want comfort food done right. read more

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Guacamole & Plantain Chips - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

Shoutout to Johnnie and Ce Ce!!!!! Johnnie and Ce Ce were absolutely amazing behind the bar. Their professionalism and great personalities made them hands down the BEST.. They brought so much warmth and joy to the experience - quick with a recommendation, attentive.. genuinely fun to talk to. Their energy elevated the whole visit and made the place feel even more welcoming. It's rare to find bartenders who make you feel like a regular on your second visit, but they pulled it off effortlessly. My Hubby and I can't wait to return We luv luv this place can't wait to hang with you guys again. Thank you for making our Anniversary weekend Fabulous! See you soon read more

Five days in the Big Apple means countless food options, but since we were seeing Hell's Kitchen on Broadway, I sought out local eats in the neighborhood--and Empanada Mama was the major discovery. I'm hitting this spot up fa' sho on my next NYC visit! They offer flavors galore that will satisfy every tastebud. The moment I saw their Jerk Chicken and Viagra (seafood) empanadas, I was sold. Our appetizer of plantain chips and guac was hittin', and the entire meal was fantastic. To top it off, the service was fast, friendly, and top-notch. I will say the music was a little loud; maybe because we were sitting by the DJ booth, but we're music lovers, so it didn't take away from the vibe. Just be prepared because this 24-hour spot might be jammin' when you visit! read more

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Food was fresh and hot I waited maybe 10-15 mins but worth the wait great variety's of empanadas they also have a Bar so that was a plus. I'm not normally in this area but there's a lot of restaurants pick your choice staff was quick and efficient. The atmosphere is a chill low -key spot I myself picked up my food. They also have a great Dining section it's nice and cozy Latin spot Mucho Buenos. read more

You need this in your life being GF I ordered the corn flower ones. Bbq , cheese, ground beef and a cheese steak Arapa. They were all amazing with the garlic and red sauses. I would recommend this to everyone you cant get this in my home town and the pricing was extremely good. One world of advice is skip the flan it tasted old and not like eggs more like a mouth full of wet flour. read more

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - My order of gf dinner - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

It was my first time in New York. I was craving for Colombian food so I came here to Empanada Mama. Let's start with the people working here. The bartender was amazingly friendly. Then, I was lucky to find a seat empty by the corner of the bar, and I was able to order a delicious bandeja paisa. It's enough to say that I love the food. Also, one of the waiters, Mateo, was so helpful and friendly. I will definitely come back!! read more

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I truly can't believe I've never left a review for this place yet. One of the best places to eat in the city, for sure. It's a super cozy restaurant but still with ample space to move around. I would always come here for their empanadas, but recently, I actually ordered something else off their menu, an actual dish. I ordered the Carne Sudada, and it was amazing. The beef was so tender and packed with flavor, and the sauce had the perfect balance of richness and spice. It came with rice and plantains, which made the meal even better. Every bite was comforting and full of the kind of flavors that make you want to come back again and again. As always, the service was great, and the food came out fresh and hot. Whether you're grabbing empanadas or sitting down for a full meal, this place never misses. Safe to say I will be expanding my usual order from now on. PS: For empanadas, make sure you try the spicy chicken and viagra! read more

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Came here after catching a show at the nearby studio and it's taken the throne for my current fav Manhattan spot this trip! We were seated quickly and there was lively music playing. Our server was also really nice and attentive. As always, food is what I care about the most and it's fantastic. Everything was so well seasoned and flavourful. The first that came was the Cubano arepa. It was my first time trying an arepa and I loved it. It came with a huge portion of slow cooked pork and melted cheese, I would have been full from that alone. But since we were there to try the empanadas we got 5 different ones. Viagra was my favorite; it's packed with whole tiger shrimps and was perfect with the crispy crust. But I would definitely get bombay, spicy chicken and jerk and cheese again. I got the cheesesteak thinking it was my safe bet and it turned out to rank last compared to everything else we got, so that says a lot. We were so stuffed after. Would love to try some more flavours and the dessert empanadas next time. Yum. read more

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Alright! So I ordered my empanadas and they came out Freshly fried and not like they were in a warming draw! That's all I ask for. Fresh food! I had a cheeseburger and Pizza empanada. Soooo delicious! I'm glad they corrected their methods because before I could definitely tell the empanadas were kept warm (Not hot) in a warming draw which made them Not Crispy and fresh tasting. Great job. Service was on point as usual. Environment was perfect as usual. Nice Latin jams, salsa playing lightly in the background. Patrons enjoying themselves while munching and conversing. If you're looking for fantastic empanadas or great Cuban food this is your spot here! Gotta try this spot out! Ok! Have a great one yall! -Ray read more

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Classic Tostones - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

This review is specifically about their To Go system. They have a machine in the restaurant where you can place takeout orders. All I ordered was a picada and green sauce, yet I waited close to an hour for my food. I was told it was because the food takes time to cook, but I watched several people who ordered after me receive their orders first. I considered canceling my order, but by that point I had already wasted so much time waiting. If they can't handle the volume of the online orders, they shouldn't open their online ordering or turn the ordering machines off. To make matters worse, I ordered my meat medium rare and it came out well done. The green sauce also wasn't sealed properly, so it spilled all over the bag. On top of that, the order only came with one small red sauce and one small green sauce (about 1-2 oz each). In the end, all I got was a simple "sorry." read more

Food was great: a ton of empanadas and they all had their flavorful stories to tell. HUGE menu so you'll never run out of new things to find. Service was wonderful: even though the area is quite crowded and the place was packed, we were seated within a few seconds upon entering and the waiter was attentive to our requests. read more

I loved their ox tail empanadas and their viagra empanadas. Those are the best ones. It's a grab and go spot for me but you definitely can sit down there it'll just be a little chilly right now because of the weather. Definitely dip the empanadas in their green sauce read more

DO NOT ORDER FROM KIOSK. TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE We went on Saturday may 2nd at 4:40 pm We were so excited to come here and when we saw the to go kiosk and we thought "perfect !" We were grabbing food on the way to Central Park. We selected our items and paid on a card and the kiosk was processing for about 2 minutes and then said it couldn't process the order and told us to try again. Our money didn't refund immediately so we had to use a credit card which we were trying to avoid but we had no choice. The second swipe with the credit card went through with the total being $49.58 I asked a worker named Hiram how long it would take for the refund and he said because it's the weekend it should be done Tuesday. Tuesday came and the transaction went from processing to complete.... We ordered 6 empanadas and two drinks and got charged $99.16 total because we got charged twice. We live out of state so I immediately emailed them with the screenshots of the two transactions and never got a response. I called them a few days later and they told me to email another person named Jen which I did. This was a week ago and still no response or anything. This sucks because we saved up for a month for this trip to make the best of it on a budget because we don't make much and losing $50 hurts especially with the cost of living and I couldn't even get a response. read more

We were lucky enough to catch them during the street food market and we tried the spicy chicken empanadas. It was packed with chicken and a punch. I enjoy spicy and this was the perfect amount with a crunchy outside for a great price of $5/ea. I will be back to try multiple more kinds. read more

Empanada Mama is a HELL YES in Hell's Kitchen. After a night of reverie, stop in for a veritable feast selected from many different kinds of inventive, unique, and also traditional empanadas. Their staff rocks and so does the decor. I loved the Reggaeton and Pernil versions. Their sangria is also sooo good. read more

There are several mama empanadas through out the city and queens. This location has a full restaurant and a bar. They are also opened till late. This location has a lot more empanada choices than the other ones. The staff at the bar was rude and asked me to stand up because I wasn't dining in. However, the bar was dead, not one person was sitting there. I would have understood if it was busy and I was taking the space of someone that could have been ordering at the bar. On the other hand, Carolina was the person that helped me with my empanada order and she was really nice. Not like the girl at the bar. I ordered the Romeo and Juliet, El Toro, and the Shredded Beef. read more

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York

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I love that this location is open 24/7 because this hits the spot after a night of drinking and its so affordable too! I can't remember what we ordered but everything was tasty! read more

Crowded in a fun way, competent and friendly staff, empanadas delicious. I'm gluten free and my friend is vegetarian and we were both very happy. read more

What can ya say...empanadas after a night of partying, CANNOT GO WRONG! The empanadas are really large and so the $4-5 price per item is worth it. Wait time really depends on how busy. Ordering to go you have to wait outside and they'll yell your name. The inside looked fun too, but we got our order to go. Gluten Free Friendly! From what they mentioned, the baked items and the corn empanadas are fried in a separate frier. read more

I came here and it was delicious. I have come twice and both times the food was good. The drinks are good. The service was great. The food is also excellent. I would definitely recommend this place it is the perfect place for a late night meal. The place is lively and friendly. The first time I went I ordered empanadas. The second time I ordered a Cuban sandwich. The Cuban sandwich was well cooked; the cheese was melted perfectly. My drink was good and strong enough. read more

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Cuban Sandwich - Latin American Near Me - New York, New York