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    Franchesca’s Empanadas Cafe

    4.7 (124 reviews)
    ModerateCafes, Empanadas
    Open 10:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Order Franchesca’s Empanadas Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    Franchesca’s Empanadas Cafe Photos

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    FRANCHESCA’S EMPANADAS CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Franchesca’s Empanadas Cafe

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    Shrimp 3 Empanadas with Aioli Sauce
    Ashley S.

    I ordered from this place all the time through DoorDash. I haven't been to the actual location. I usually get the shrimp empanada. That's the best one. It's so good! Try it with their aïoli sauce. The staff is very friendly and answer questions, whenever I call in over the phone about my DoorDash order. Love this place..

    Tamal, empanada and passion fruit juice.
    Estrella C.

    I 've been here a few times and it's always such a great experience! The food is flavorful, the staff is friendly, and the venue is pleasant.

    Chicken and corn empanada
    Erica B.

    Tasty! Not the best I've had but tasty. I enjoyed both empanadas but not enough to try them again. On my first visit I asked for the fan's favorite. The very kind lady behind the counter mentioned maybe 4. I chose 2. I went with the Chicken and Corn and the Creole + Crab and Shrimp. The wait time was last than 10 minutes. When she called my name she said we labeled them for you so you'll know which is which. I said great, thank you. I couldn't wait until I got home to try them because they smelled so good. I took the chicken and corn out the bag first. Took a bite, it was the creole, bummer but cool, except it didn't taste creole, I didn't taste crab, I knew there was shrimp because I saw them but it didn't taste very "creole". More like shrimp, peppers and tomato sauce. Bummer. The chicken and corn was tasty, but nothing made me want to try it again. Nice place, nice people, just not my place.

    Plantain and cheese, spinach and ricotta and corn chicken and potato. Brought home as takeout
    Nicole W.

    Okay first of all, the empanadas are made fresh to order so there is no concern for getting one that's been sitting around for awhile. Second of all, oh my gosh. The plantain and cheese empanada is one of the best things I've ever eaten and the spinach and ricotta was a close second. I also tried a corn one, chicken and potato, which was admittedly heavy on meat and short on potato for someone who doesn't love meat but it definitely gave you your money's worth. I'm partial to the flour ones but the corn ones are solid especially if you can't have gluten! I got three which was a good size for a meal but I could've eaten one more if I was particularly hungry. So much delicious food for such a reasonable price. Highly recommend!!

    Inside
    Jasmine M.

    Great vegetarian empanadas! Tried several of the veggie empanadas including spinach & ricotta, plantain/cheese, eggplant, sweet potato and veggie and the guava and cheese! They were all pretty good and pretty affordable ($3-4 for each). Our favorite was the spinach and ricotta and the eggplant!! Looking forward to trying more! We parked around the corner and went in to pick up our empanadas, which was easy and seamless! They are on a lot of the delivery apps as well. The inside of the place is really cute though, has a nice vibe to sit & eat!

    John B.

    This place delivered Baltimore charm, with a splendidly upkept rowhouse, which was visited by a tour group while I was there (apparently there's something interesting out back). The normality of the place also stood out, with the people working there casually conversing with customers in mildly politically incorrect ways with no masks on. The menu is varied and the benefit of basing a cuisine around small finger foods is that it's easy to mix and match what you want. They also have an extensive vegan menu. I thought about getting a nice and healthy quinoa bowl, but settled on some flaky, delicious empanadas. My sweet plantain and cheese empanada was composed largely of mashed plantains, while a spinach and ricotta one was quite indulgent. Dipping sauces were included. The strawberry Nutella dessert empanada had a filling of preserved strawberries with Nutella freshly drizzled on top. I would come back regularly if I was around.

    menu
    Kaelyn C.

    If YOU want the best empanada in town... YEAH THIS IS THE SPOT! The service was fast and friendly and my empanadas were warm and tasty. I do recommend ordering more than you think you need as the empanadas are small. I ordered the chicken and beef but to me the beef was better. It's a really small cafe on the inside so just make sure to be aware in a busy day it may be best to order to go! Loved it here

    Veggie tacos
    Smitha M.

    Absolutely delicious food, this is a gorgeous hidden gem in Baltimore City. The food is affordable and well made. The service is fast and smooth, the staff is so friendly and welcoming

    Pineapple Coconut Caramel Apple strawberry Nutella shredded chicken with corn chicken & potatoes buffalo chicken
    Dejuan L.

    I decided to stop through since I was in the area and wanted to try something different. I called in my order and was told 20 minutes. I arrived 20 minutes later and my order wasn't ready. It took about another 15 minutes, but the lady behind the counter was very nice. I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich, because they were out of the torta sandwich. I got home and everything looked good. The flavor was great, but the only thing I didn't like was the sandwich was hard. Not in a burnt way tho so I'm not sure if that's just how the sandwich is supposed to be made. Besides that everything was cool. I probably won't order that again, but will go back for the empanadas and to try something else on the menu.

    Empanadas and Chicken tamale
    Vidisha S.

    Found this place on Yelp! We ordered the passion fruit juice, which is freshly squeezed daily (and you can tell). It's so refreshing, and you can tell there's no added sugar. For food, we got the chicken tamale and the following empanadas: - Buffalo chicken white flour - Sweet plantain and cheese - Shredded chicken and potato Everything was made to order (took maybe 10-15 min) but absolutely phenomenal. I've never been a huge empanada person, but this place may have changed my mind. I will definitely be coming back and highly recommending them to everyone!

    Empanadas
    Rica R.

    Hands down some of the best empanadas I've had 10/10! Savory or sweet, the empanadas are packed fully with the filling of your choice. I've had the guava & cheese, beef and chicken empanadas, and they were delicious. The empanadas are made fresh for each order. This is a quaint spot with some indoor seating, as well as, a small outdoor patio area. They also serve coffee, fresh juices, sandwiches, entrees, etc. (and some vegan options as well). I highly recommend giving this restaurant a try!

    Chipotle Pork Empanadas and Chicken and Beef Tamales

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    great food, wait was a little long, a little cramped. Only tried empanadas but the other food looked good, too.

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    Photo of Ashley D.
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    5 years ago

    Every vegan item I've had has been so flavorful and filling! Plus it's so affordable. Can't wait to see if they add more vegan options!

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    4 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    5 years ago

    So freaking good! The empanadas where cooked perfect, sauces were awesome.

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    5 years ago

    Everything was delicious! I highly recommend the passion fruit juice, pupusas, and beef empanadas!

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    6 years ago

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    6 years ago

    Empanadas are so good here!! I love the pizza one and the veggie one. The staff are all very nice and very accommodating. 10/10 recommend!

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Great Highlandtown spot. We are big fans of the guava and cheese and chicken and corn. The beef is a solid classic option.

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

    My rating would be higher had they not forgot my seafood empanada which I was REALLY looking forward to.

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    Page 3 of 4

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    Empanada Lady

    Empanada Lady

    4.0
    (136 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    This food is bomb!! I'm on the last hour of my time in Baltimore and I'm already planning my meals…read morefor the next visit. We split the "just enough" and it was more than enough for 2. The empanadas are large, flavorful, and mesh perfectly with the sauces. The chimichurri on the tostones was a big highlight for me. On top of all that, the cupcake that comes with it ain't no grocery store dessert! Lastly, the music was just perfect! I'll be back here every time I'm in Baltimore.

    INSANE delicious, you must come try this! I came during…read morejury duty - for $20, it's one huge empanadas, a side, a drink, and a dessert. It was a ton of food. I think even without the jury discount it was only a few bucks more. The empanada was amazing - I got beef, it was huge and filling. I also loved the tostones but I want to try the fried sweet plantains too! Dessert was also BOMB, some kinda bread pudding. So delish. Everything came quick and was hot and fresh. I know they do catering, I would definitely consider it. The space is also very nicely decorated with nice furniture and decor. Unfortunately, the area is a bit odd, not much to do around there. Service was also a bit strange. My server may have been having an off day but he was quite impersonal, I wondered if he was okay. Also note that tip is included (they call it "love" on the bill." Overall, I would definitely recommend The Empanada Lady and really want to come back!

    Photos
    The street corn was the highlight of the visit.
    The street corn was the highlight of the visit.
    #mood
    #mood
    Beef empanada

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    Beef empanada
    Alma Cocina Latina

    Alma Cocina Latina

    4.3
    (536 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$$

    First time in but it won't be our last!…read more Service was amazing. Our server, Spence, was great! Very knowledgeable about the menu and always there making sure we had what we needed. Do not sleep on the cocktails! The Lessons In Alliteration will bring me back here, it is so well balanced and goes down a little too easy. The food was incredible. We started with the Tequeños and Patacón Salvaje (the best bite of the night for me!). Then came the Caribe Atómico (a little too salty) and Caribbean Surf & Turf Salpicón. For our entrees we tried the Duck Atollado (the rice in this dish was amazing and so flavorful) and the Pelao Guayanés. Everything was well prepared and so tasty. Dessert was the Vanilla Quesillo and Cacao+, would skip, dessert was our least favorite course.

    What can I say... I had a lot of expectations as this place has been open for a while, but I was a…read morebit disappointed. We had to get an early reservation as they were fully booked at dinner time. The food was just okay: the appetizer with the plantain and fried calamari was okay, it lacked a little bit of dimension and was too acid forward (needed more salt to balance it). The main was the "olleta" which is a vegetarian meal; it wasn't exactly memorable. It has an incredible amount of olives and capers and not enough tofu/plaintain/mushrooms. It was also very acid forward and lacked layers/balance to the flavor. Lastly, we tried two desserts: the flan (I believe it was called quesillo) and the chocolate one. I LOVED the flan with the foam on top, and the chocolate one was towards the bitter side (which was pretty good) but I wouldn't get it again. The desserts were very overpriced for the size of it. The place is well maintained and I love the plants all around. I would like to give it another try as I like to support my fellow Latinos

    Photos
    Private room
    Private room
    HAMACHI ESCABECHE (GF) flame seared hamachi, escabeche plantain, pickled ají biquiño, ají chirel, orange vinaigrette
    HAMACHI ESCABECHE (GF) flame seared hamachi, escabeche plantain, pickled ají biquiño, ají chirel, orange vinaigrette
    Evening cocktail special: Rum, mezcal, cinnamon

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    Evening cocktail special: Rum, mezcal, cinnamon
    DMV Empanadas-Baltimore

    DMV Empanadas-Baltimore

    3.9
    (22 reviews)
    2.5 mi

    I'd like to think I'm an empanada connoisseur. I'm also blessed to have family members that make a…read more20/20 empanada but they live 3 hrs from me. We came here for a Sunday funday excursion. I was curious about this place as many ranted and raved about it. Service is easy, there is a kiosk you can use to order your choices. The menu is detailed. The price points are somewhat reasonable. Your food is prepared quickly by being heated up in an oven and served with 2 different sauces which were both 10/10. This location is housed within the Cross street market. There are Many places to sit and dine once you get your food along with TVs that had the game running. While it was rainy, many people were out and about enjoying a nice lunch. It can be a bit of a noisy ambiance if it is a busy day/timeframe. The empanada itself was good but underwhelming in terms of what I am used to eating when it came to flavor. I was expecting a more crispy outside, it was super soft. The filling wasn't necessarily as "spicy" as I would have liked. Iam finding as I make my way around the food scene, some restaurants/eateries they tend to "turn it down" in terms of spice and taste for general consumption.

    Today I went to the farmer's market and was delighted to see this place! These are the best…read moreempanadas I've ever had! They look small but they're filling and thick. I ended up getting the bacon, egg, and cheese one. I love the design on the edge because it tells you exactly what you're getting.

    Photos
    DMV Empanadas-Baltimore
    Spicy chicken
    Spicy chicken
    Empanadas and Spicy Sauce

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    Empanadas and Spicy Sauce
    Tapas Teatro

    Tapas Teatro

    4.0
    (356 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    It has been a long time since I ate here or a drink here, but I was at the Charles recently and got…read morea preshow drink. I highly highly recommend their vermouth sodas. It's just a really light drink and you get an olive. It's nothing super special but it does taste really special. The cool thing about tapas teatro is that you can order a drink here and take it inside the theater. Honestly, this place is one of the most solid institutions in the city so I'm very glad that they were doing well. The food here was a mix. My favorite bite was probably the octopus and romanesco sauce. A few things were a mess like the random loaf of bread they gave us to start that was dry. The ambience probably hasn't changed much since since they opened, which was probably around the early 2000s it's giving very much a sex in the city vibes of the years past but honestly there's nothing wrong with it and it's a solid place. I really hope they never go out of business.

    I know Tapas Teatro isn't new news but I think there's something to be said for a restaurant that's…read morebeen around decades, has had almost the exact same menu the whole time, and still brings in a solid crowd most nights. We went back after a movie night recently and tried the chicken with the cumin aioli. It was incredible! Grilled to perfection with the perfect char while still being juicy. Then a few nights ago, we perfected our order by selecting the brussel sprouts (probably some of my favorite brussels EVER), the papas bravas, the shrimp, and the chicken. These four dishes have become our go-to and while I'm eager to try more from the extensive menu, I don't think I'll get tired of these. We also tried the paella which is the most expensive dish on the menu at $29 but it is also probably the largest serving size on the menu. It was pretty good but could've used more cracked pepper and/or saffron. I'd probably skip it next time. I'm still in love with their sangria and this time we got a pitcher and also tried the white sangria. I don't normally like white sangria but this one I enjoyed -- although the red still takes the cake for me. Service was friendly and fast, as always. The check was super reasonable for the amount of food, in my opinion. We will definitely be back! This spot is probably in my top 10 favorite places in Baltimore. I love the welcoming atmosphere and the consistency.

    Photos
    Tapas Teatro
    Grilled Octopus
    Grilled Octopus
    Tapas Teatro

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    Franchesca’s Empanadas Cafe - cafes - Updated June 2026

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