This place was amazing!!! Don't let the outside of the place fool ya. From the moment we walked in, everyone was super attentive and the restaurant was super clean and welcoming. Most review stars will mislead you but this place deserves every star I gave. We were so hungry we didn't take a moment to take a picture of their food but trust me they did not disappoint on the flavor and presentation. Service was top notch. I wish they were in my town, I'd be there regularly!!! Well done! read more

La Empanada Loca - Excellent food, service, great friends, and happy bellies - Puerto Rican Near Me - Oakland Park, Florida

I had a great experience at La Empanada Loca. I ordered the pollo a la plancha and it was absolutely delicious--well-seasoned, cooked perfectly, and very satisfying. What really caught my eye, though, were the mofongo dishes coming out of the kitchen. They looked incredibly authentic and beautifully plated--definitely something I'll be coming back to try. The portions were generous, which made the meal feel like a great value. Overall, flavorful food, solid portions, and a spot I'd happily return to. read more

La Empanada Loca - Pollo A La Plancha - Puerto Rican Near Me - Oakland Park, Florida

this place gets packed and so you know it had to be good!!! parking can be tricky to find so plan ahead. *chuleta kan kan is about $34 plate but the highlight of the meal. *my aunt cannot stop thinking about the chicken/cheese and the beef empanadas. *loca fries was perfect appetizers. read more

La Empanada Loca - good size and enough crispiness. - Puerto Rican Near Me - Oakland Park, Florida

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The folks here were so friendly. Great vibe. And the food was absolutely delicious. I was happy that they were literally 8mins from our hotel. Will come again read more

La Empanada Loca - Sign - Puerto Rican Near Me - Oakland Park, Florida

I grew up in New York City eating lots of Puerto Rican food. I have not found many PR food places here in South Florida. I finally got to try La Empanada Loca. Parking is in front of the establishment, but there are only about four spots and it's right on the very busy West Dixie Highway. If those spaces are full, you may have to try parking at a business lot either next to the restaurant or across the street. The dining room is cute and nicely decorated. A large TV runs with Spanish programming. The tables are sturdy. The chairs are a little bit rickety. Service is excellent. I had to try their alcapurria (fried banana batter stuffed with chopped meat), something I grew up eating, and their bacalaito (saltfish fritter). While I really enjoyed the alcapurria, the bacalaito was disappointing. Although it was very attractive and crispy, I could not taste any saltfish in it. And the batter was quite skimpy (see photo). For our main entrees, hubby had the pork chunks and a double order of yuca fries, and I had the chicken stew with mofongo. The pork chunks were tasty, with bits of fat attached. The fries were fat and crispy and needed salt, but that's okay. Better to add salt than need to remove it. Hubby found the right solution by topping his fries with some of my chicken gravy. The chicken in my stew was extremely tender. The gravy was a tad salty, but since my mofongo didn't have any salt on it (again, that's good), I used the gravy to help flavor the mofongo. My dish also came with a small (simple) side salad of lettuce, tomato, and raw onions (had to remove the latter) that was accompanied by a light, refreshing dressing. Our satisfying lunch with 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, tax, and tip was $55. read more

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Love the vibes in this restaurant! The customer service received was great! They weren't shy and love their recommendations. The music was on point as well with their decors. Those empanadas definitely are a must, big and delicious. They were made to order so there was a wait but worth it. The bacalaito was taste but on the crunchy side. Parking isn't bad but definitely would go back read more

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This was such a great find for actual authentic Puerto Rican food and ambiance. Felt like someone Puerto Rican grandma was doing the cooking and picking the music; I loved it. The food came out hot and fresh and the empanadas were incredible and worth the hype 100%. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful with explaining the menu and giving recommendations read more

Went here as we were craving empanadas and this place did not disappoint. The owner was so nice and friendly. Some of the best empanadas we ever had! The beef and pizza ones were hot, fresh, stuffed with filling and the flavor was outstanding! We also had some pasteles - they were amazing - so filled with meat also hot and fresh. We took these to go but wanted to come back and eat at the restaurant - the problem is very limited parking - hopefully next time we are in the area we will make it a point to eat there. My mouth is watering thinking about those empanadas - don't pass this place up! read more

Hands down the BEST Puerto Rican restaurant in Broward. I take my family here for dinner at least twice a month since we enjoy it so much. The service is incredible, we go there so much the serve knows what we like. The owner is always so kind and friendly. read more

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My family came down from a cruise and they were craving Puerto Rican food. We got a little bit of everything and it did not disappoint. We got the queso frito, la bandeja de picadera which had alcapurrias, tostones, empanadillas, y carne frita. I got the mofongo con chicharrón, my family got chuletas and carne frita. Honestly everything was seasoned perfectly. The pina colada tasted like I was back on my island. We did get everything to go, next time I would love to eat there. The grilled chicken was a little dry but apart from that I would get everything else again. From a service perspective, the woman who took our order was very friendly and patient with us. The parking can get very packed which is the only downfall if you're coming during a busy time. read more

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We went on a Sunday for brunch. The cuchifritos were excellent, especially the bacalitos yum! Great mofongo too. Cool atmosphere, PR celebrity murals and music.Service was friendly our waiter was Geo. Nice guy. Great food read more

La Empanada Loca - Mofongo with crispy fried pork. Yum! - Puerto Rican Near Me - Oakland Park, Florida

10/10 authentic Puerto Rican food! Came here last season and got a platter to go. I got their pernil which was perfectly cooked and salted. It came with 2 sides and I got the arroz con gandules and the tostones. The whole dish tasted just like abuela makes it. Such delicious comfort food. I had to try their pastelillos too. I got a beef and a chicken- they were so meaty! Crispy, filling, and not greasy. I went again a couple weeks ago because I was craving some home cooking. I got the pernil and arroz con gandules again this time with a side of the maduros. Wow they were amazing! The whole dish hit the spot again!!! Consistently tasty Puerto Rican cooking. The guys at the counter are super friendly and service is quick! I drive over 25 min to get there and it's worth it every time. If you are searching for quality boricua food look no farther! read more

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My friend and I came here expecting to get a couple empanadas for a light dinner. We were seated quickly and one of the servers came over to explain the menu. I won't lie, there was a bit of confusion with the menu when we first looked at it, but the server explained it succinctly and expertly. Once I saw the rest of the food, I was sold on a more substantial meal! I had to get the mofongo, of course, with pork and served with a side salad. It was so. So. So. Good! I loved the sauce that came with it as well. It was also such a huge serving, I took a large portion home for leftovers! The restaurant itself was cute and cozy, with not many tables. Despite the small space, they were accommodating with different sized groups coming in, and cleaned tables quickly after people left so they could seat someone else right away. It was a busy dinnertime, but I didn't see anyone waiting more than about 20 seconds to be seated! Overall, I was extremely impressed and plan to come back soon! read more

La Empanada Loca - Mofongo Pernil - Puerto Rican Near Me - Oakland Park, Florida

Great food and ambience and very clean place. The service was great. Location was easy to find !!

Holy smokes! That sandwich! That coffee! That flan! This is exactly what I was needing! This place is legit read more

La Empanada Loca - Menu with Puerto Rican flag - Puerto Rican Near Me - Oakland Park, Florida

Another great night at this place Everything was yummy the pollo guisado the pastel the alcapurria the tripleta sandwich the arroz con gandules as you can see I went all out even the beer medalla was Rico; here's to Puerto Rico and the Super Bowl with bad bunny! We are starting early celebrating! Remember LOVE!!!! And Puerto Rico!!! WEPA!!!!!!! read more

Great food, great service. This place is a hidden gem! From the moment you walk in, you feel the warmth and hospitality that Puerto Rican culture is known for. The food is absolutely incredible -- full of flavor, perfectly seasoned, and clearly made with love. read more

This is a wonderful authentic Puerto Rican restaurant in the Oakland Park area. They have all of the most popular Puerto Rican dishes.

Authentic Puerto Rican cuisine. It's like eating at Mamí's house. The food is excellent. You won't be disappointed.

OMG!! Authentic Puertorrican food for sure! I'm born and raised in PR and that what you enjoy in the Puertorrican cuisine. My husband was amazed with the mofongo (he is gringo), he said "this is what I eat in PR. WEPA! read more

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Authentic and delicious food. This spot is a hidden gem. I wish I would have found it sooner. They were very welcoming and gave some pretty great recommendations. The atmosphere is minimalistic, done just right. The menu had plenty of options, I went with a mofongo recommendation and an empanada. The parking is a bit tough, as you need to either back in to a spot or back up onto Dixie Hwy which can be a bit crowded. The food was the star. The mofongo was absolutely delicious, as close to Puerto Rico as you can get here in Florida. I got the pernil, roasted pork. It was tender and juicy and came with the most delicious dressing. Not pictured was the empanadas. They were recommended for the beef and cheese and guava and cheese. Definitely some of the best empanadas I've had. The price is right, the food on point and service is great. You can't ask for much more! While I'd love to keep it a hidden gem, it is definitely worth trying! read more

La Empanada Loca - Puerto Rican Near Me - Oakland Park, Florida

Always a warm welcome at La Empanada Loca--love coming back for our favorites! Out of the world , delicious! read more

Excellent food, service and prices. He is using his mother's recipes and has the family business touch.....I come from Miami Beach to eat here. read more

What a unique Puerto Rican restaurant. I had heard about this place from my brother and then a really good friend of mine. I finally was able to try it and it did not disappoint. The interior is nicely decorated with murals of Puerto Rican musicians and actors. It was also decorated for Christmas as I came right in the beginning of January. We didn't have to wait long to be seated. Once seated we ordered some appetizers and our meals. The waiter was very nice and even felt bad we had to wait a little bit for him to come around. We got our food served promptly and everything we ordered was hot and delicious. At the end of our meal the waiter even gave us a complimentary dessert of our choice for him arriving a few minutes late to greet us which was very nice! We enjoyed our mofongos and mine even came in the thing that is used to smash the mofongo up, which I'm blanking on the name. Overall very good and we will be back! read more

La Empanada Loca - Flan De Queso - Puerto Rican Near Me - Oakland Park, Florida

I'd assign 5 stars based on food, service and ambiance. Stellar for what it is, an authentic Puerto Rican restaurant in a strip mall. read more

La Empanada Loca - Mofongo Pollo A La Plancha with trifingo $1.00 upsell and salad - Puerto Rican Near Me - Oakland Park, Florida

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The best PR restaurant in Ft Lauderdale! Everyone is very friendly & welcoming. The food is delicious - reminds me of my grandma & mom's cooking. Sooo happy they are minutes away from my home. read more

Está comida es rica, los empleados principalmente eManuel fueron lo mejor, y les recomiendo a todos que vayan. The food is amazing, all staff were awesome including Emanuel, I recommend everyone to go eat here read more

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My food was excellent exactly what I was craving! My husband and I truly enjoyed our food. Would definitely come back again and refer many many friends! Our server , Daniel was top-notch. What an amazing guy, they're lucky to have him there. His customer care and attentiveness was excellent. Thank you so much again. See you soon. read more

La Empanada Loca - Roasted pork ( Pernil) fried plantains(tostones) arroz con gandules!! - Puerto Rican Near Me - Oakland Park, Florida

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Had lunch with the family today. We were pleasantly surprised to find this beautiful display of Christmas trees in this unobtrusive restaurant. The food was excellent from maduro rellenos, ensalada de bacalao, mofongo, arroz con gandules y pernil to super sides like yuca y maduros. Amazing Puerto Rican cuisine! Ay bendito, just like home! Samantha & Manuel were great servers. Attentive & super friendly. Highly recommend "La Empanada Loca" You won't be disappointed. P.S. Loved the music. read more

Picked up an order. The food made me sick....i just now noticed the 3 recent Health Inspection violations. The manager, Tony, said nothing he could do and claimed to know nothing of these public violations. read more

I must say Geo was an excellent server, service was on point, everything was delicious 5 star hands down !! definitely will be coming back!! read more

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I was looking for real Puerto Rican food and I googled it. I've been living here for 12 years. I've never ventured out to this location. It is about 15 minutes from my house. I did take out food. It was very good a little high on the salt but their food was good. read more

The food is ALWAYS tasty and the service is always on point. I like that the owner comes and greets every table to have conversation. Make sure you are enjoying your food. read more

x10 I recently had the pleasure of dining here, and I must say, it was an unforgettable experience from start to finish! The ambiance is warm and inviting, with amazing art from Steven Nunez and soft lighting that create a cozy atmosphere perfect for both intimate dinners and lively gatherings. The menu offers a delightful selection of dishes, showcasing fun and creative fresh, presentation. My husband opted for the Cuban Sandwhich, and I ordered the Monfogo Chicharron Pollo. which was perfectly cooked and served cute. The flavors were vibrant and well-balanced, truly a testament to the chef's skill. The service was impeccable; our server Emmanuel was attentive without being intrusive. Also, I definitely want to make note that the turn around was impressive. The food came out quick. Which is always a bonus. Overall, I can't wait to return and explore more of their menu. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a fantastic dining experience! read more

La Empanada Loca - Puerto Rican Near Me - Oakland Park, Florida

Simply delicious. Great staff, quick service Glad to have found this place. Only downside, they're so busy, parking may be a challenge read more

Highly recommended!!! I feel at home each time we go there! Staff are friendly from the moment you step in, service is great, clean and vibrant restaurant and delicious food!!! 10/10 the most authentic it gets!!! weeeepa! read more

Empanada Loca did not disappoint! I always order takeout here. I had the steak with rice and gandules, plus plantains, and everything was incredibly flavorful. The steak was super tender and juicy, and the empanadas were absolutely delicious. Everything tasted so authentic, definitely a spot worth coming back to! read more

La Empanada Loca - Empanadas - Puerto Rican Near Me - Oakland Park, Florida

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If you are looking for an authentic Puerto Rican place in South Florida, this is it! The food was just incredibly delicious and the portions are perfect. The Alcapurrias that we ordered for starters were so yummy. I could have ordered more if it wasn't that I wanted to try something else :-) I went for the the churrasco which did not disappoint me at all. It was tender and perfectly seasoned. The yuca that I ordered on the side was also delicious. I was fortunate to also try the Chuleta Kan Kan that my friends ordered and besides the amazing presentation, it also tasted "out of this world". The portion is so big that 3 ppl shared it. Lets not forget the rice and beans that were also fantastic. The truth is that food is so delicious that it deserves a 5 Stars. The restaurant is small and parking is very hard to come by. We ended up parking on the back as there is very limited parking in the front. On another note, the service could have been better. We found ourselves having to proactively ask for service. One of the servers was attentive and did what he could to take care of us but there was another one that was not fully servicing the tables. We had a very small table for four of us and used plates, empty glasses and soda cans were not cleared out on a timely matter. It was hard to get attention. I ended up moving the items to an empty table next to us for them to clear it out. Overall, we loved the place and will definitely be visiting again. I do highly recommend it but just be aware of the parking situation and hopefully get better service. read more

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Beautiful atmosphere & drinks. Food is tasty & service is great!! Drinks are fire!!!

Service was great for being busy and packed. Was seated quickly as well. The food was very good. I need to go back and try more items on the menu but so far so good. The Pernil was made with great flavor and the Sorullitos was cooked perfect. They definitely need to expand but the ambiance was great. The music wasn't so loud but you can still hear it. The paintings on the wall were very nice. I would definitely be back to try more things so I can judge it more but so far so good. read more

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