This morning I was about to be pick up a can of Yerba Mate. I thought why not go to a restaurant that serves it. This restaurant was the first option that came up on Yelp. Glad I skipped the can to try the real deal. The cashier offered two different options for the iced Yerba Mate. Regular and Mango. Mango was my choice and it was great! Way better than the can. Empanadas were delicious and filling I chose 3 spicy beef, chicken and the Arab. All were very good. I was full after the second but still devoured the third. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Clean spot grab and go or chill and enjoy your meal.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I'll definitely be back. read more

Located across the street, towards the side of the "Veterinary Emergency Group" on Adams and Harbor is an Argentinian Cafe named "La Farola" beside Gotcha Tea. La Farola serves up authentic foods of their country from Beef, Chicken Empanadas to Alfajor cookies (powdered caramel melt in your mouth cookies) served well with a Cafe Con Leche. I suggests ordering this for a Holiday Dessert! I have taken this for Thanksgiving and everyone's eyes lit up and they came and asked "where did you get these!" That should tell you a lot. But bring coffee to go with it! Lolz Their Empanadas don't need to be made spicy, unless you want to self-cool your tongue. Their Empanadas are good already. Their Manager, "Jaoquin" is a delight both in personality and service. Plus, he looks like a model! This place has small cafe tables that would seat 12 people, 2 each and a bar area for 4-5 people. Add[[HIGHLIGHT]]itionally, they cater, so order a hit dessert. Definitely worth it to come by for food or just a [[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]hot Cafe with Alfajor. Customer service is what makes you return to a food establishment aside from the food. I applaud Joaquin because his customer service truly gives people a good experience. Thanks Joaquin! Lastl, if you are served by the shorter man, expect him to have a dry, serious and emotion-less based personality. A few people have mentioned his personality to be uninviting when you go in, just order your foods and realize it isn't you. He is just a calm and serious person. Don't take it personal! Come in for the food and you won't regret it! read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]This is a cozy place in Costa Mesa![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I stumbled into it while craving something sweet after lunch. The staff is very friendly and answered my questions. I ordered a box of alfajores and a pastelito. Alfajores- The shortbread is light, buttery, and crumbly. The caramel filling is rich and creamy. Such a perfect bite! Pastelito- The pastry is delicate and flaky. You get a custard filling that is creamy with a hint of vanilla Finished with a dollop of rich caramel. Tasty! Great experience overall! read more

La Farola Empanadas - Pastelito - Empanadas Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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The dough of the empanadas tastes natural, there can be more options but all together it its authentic. The chimichurri is delicious! The service is ok. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambience is clean[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

I have been meaning to try La Farola's empanadas and I finally came around to it. I tried two chicken and two beef flavored ones. My sister got the spicy ones in the same flavor. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The location has plenty of parking and walking in, the location seemed very clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I also got a delicious cheese pastry as I waited for my empanadas to be ready. When they came out, they were perfectly baked, and had a side of chimichuri sauce which was lemon-y and perfect. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We sat and ate our empanadas there and the business was pretty busy on the Sunday afternoon.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I would definitely tey the empanadas and other plates they serve as the people next to us had them and they looked delicious! read more

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Baked empanadas! I grabbed the saltena which is one of their most popular and it has beef, potatoes, peppers and onions. My bowling teammates loved them and it's a great snack. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Casual. Indoor seating[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. Good parking. Good service. Please come and create your own adventure. read more

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Loved this place. We got a few different flavors of empanadas and sampled some of their dessert pastries. Everything was tasty. Additionally, the gentleman behind the counter was super friendly. I may have had some slightly better empanadas but for this area, I think these guys are a good choice. read more

A dozen was picked up today and I was not with the pick up party but I was on the receiving side of these wonderful pockets of delicious! Chicken and Arab empanadas I wish I took a picture but dove right in while they were hot! First up was the chicken, basic filling of chicken and bell pepper and onions but the flavor was popping and so good! Next up was the arab, not the standard empanada pocket, slightly different shape. This was filled with ground beef, onions, bell pepper and lemon juice. These were deeeeelicious! First time having empanadas from here and will definitely be coming to try more. See you for the next bite La farola!!!! read more

Happened to be be in the area and decided to stop in. So glad we did! Their empanadas are unique and tasty. Each empanadas is huge. We ordered a half dozen and tried a variety. They also had spicy chicken which was yummy. I loved the Arab empanada the best. Pleasant service and cute cafe. The food was prepared fresh and we got a takeout to go. They had a few tables for indoor seating. read more

Amazing Argentinian bakery spot and the best spot for freshly baked, flavor packed empanadas / pastries !! The employees are so nice and welcoming ! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place is very clean and organized ,[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] with lots of selections to choose from which I love the variety. My favorite is the beef empanada , with a Brazilian guanaba soda and a pastry of course to end my meal off the right way! read more

La Farola Empanadas - Empanadas Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Spinach empanada was good with chimichurri sauce and the side hot sauce you can add if you dine in. Would've wanted more of a cheesy pull though but relatively quick service. Need to try the other flavors and baked goods. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Several tables available and a TV making this a cozy casual place.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Parking is bit difficult with a full lot on a weekend. read more

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I stumbled upon this place as I was stopping by the spa in the same plaza. There is plenty of parking available in the lot. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant itself is pretty small. It has 4 tables inside and 4 bar stools for bar seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The service was quick and staff were very friendly. They offer bottled beverages and have a wide variety of options on their menu from sandwiches, pizza, desserts, and their empanadas. Definitely worth a try if you're in the area. Food review: I only ordered empanadas to try this time, but I will definitely be back again to try more menu items. My top 2 are definitely the Arab and Spicy Saltena. The chimichurri here is AMAZING. I wish I would've ordered a second one, it just wasn't enough for all 4 of the empanadas. Arab: (5/5) Omg! When I took the first bite my tastebuds exploded. Flavors are amazing, it came out nice and hot, and the texture was great. I'd definitely order this one again and again. Chicken: (4/5) This one is pretty good, but nothing spectacular. I'd pass and try a different one next time. Spicy Saltena: (5/5) This one is definitely in the top 3 as well. The flavors are amazing, it's stew like? Idk. Whatever it is was delicious and wasn't too spicy. Pepperoni: (3/5) This one was OK. It tastes exactly like pepperoni and cheese, but I could've gone without this one. read more

La Farola Empanadas - Empanadas Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Went in hoping to snag some alfajores, but they were sold out. Ended up with a container of smaller-sized ones that were supposedly "the same thing" but basically mini and rolled in coconut shavings. However, I think they were too doughy or shortbready for my liking, and I was missing the oomph of the sweet filling that alfajores are known for having. I also tried a pepperoni empanada. At $4, it seemed so small, but it was a satisfying and surprisingly filling savory snack. I loved the melty cheese and salty pepperoni. The friendly lady who helped me at the register told me my empanada was going to be made fresh, so I just waited about 10 minutes at one of the few tables inside. Not sure if all empanadas are made to order, though. The interior is very casual. I can see La Farola being a solid spot to grab a quick lunch. It's located in a very unassuming white building with dark windows. No issues with parking in the lot. read more

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Muy rica milanesa, es cómo comer en casa! Sabor casero! Delicioso El servicio es excelente cómo siempre read more

La Farola Empanadas - Milanesa clásica, una delicia - Empanadas Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

You absolutely HAVE to check out this place! My friends and I were SO hyped to finally try it after seeing all the rave reviews, and let me tell you, they weren't kidding. The food is seriously delicious - authentic and flavorful, the kind that makes you want to lick the plate clean (almost!). [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's super casual - you seat yourselves - and the food comes out perfectly cooked.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We were a group of six, and the whole meal only cost us $75! Can you believe it? Where else can you get a fantastic meal for six people for that price? The empanadas were an absolute highlight - so bursting with flavor! I'm already planning my next visit. read more

La Farola Empanadas - Empanadas Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Wowwwww seriously no complaints. Got there 3 piece empanada meal, with Caprese, Mushroom & cheese, and Spicy Onion & cheese. The spicy was too spicy for me but the other two were delicious!! Hot and fresh, with a bunch of cheese. Service was quick. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Cute small local place- will be going back[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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Amazing Empanadas and Even Better Chimichurri! La Farola is an absolute gem if you're looking for authentic, delicious Argentinian empanadas. We got four to eat there and four to-go-every single one was packed with flavor and cooked perfectly. We tried the Arab, Spicy Beef, Spicy Chicken, Salteña, and Chimi Cheese. They were all really good, but the Arab empanada was definitely the standout-so flavorful and unique. The chimichurri sauce they serve with the empanadas was incredible too-seriously next-level and the perfect pairing. Whether you're dining in or grabbing some to-go, La Farola delivers quality, authentic flavors that will have you coming back for more. Can't recommend it enough! read more

La Farola Empanadas - 4 empanadas (1 spicy chicken, 1 chimi cheese, 1 Arab, and 1 spicy beef) and 1 Chimichurri - Empanadas Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

La Farola is a cute little dining spot that offers one of the best empanadas in the area. It is my preferred spot to go get empanadas in Costa Mesa. Not only do they offer delicious empanadas of all different flavors but they also offer a full menu here. La Farola has sandwiches, pizzas, and pastas. All of which are just done right here. The owner is super nice and very helpful. The food may take a little time but it is worth the wait. The last time I came here was to pick up a few empanadas. They had over 17 types of empanadas. Our favorite was the Saltena, which included ground beef, potatoes, onion and red peppers. It was recommended by the owner and she was right because I was about to not get it. Empanadas are $3.75 each or $42 for a dozen. We got 3 and paid about $13 total and it came with a small chimichurri sauce and a hot sauce. They were good. The inside is smaller but there are some tables and chairs for you to enjoy your food. It's casual but cute. We would love to come back. read more

La Farola Empanadas - Insidr - Empanadas Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Great local spot for us. The spinach, cheese chimi, mushroom and cheese are our favorites. Don't skip on the dessert either. *Here's a tip, let them select the dessert. She said, salad was good, and don't forget the chimichurri sauce. Service: 10/10 every single time we 're there. *Disclaimer, been twice hahaha. Would definitely recommend when in the area. read more

Recently, I ordered 3 empanadas and french fries from there. It was good. The sweet beef needed more raisins and sweetness. I like the corn empanada. I will order from them again. read more

La Farola Empanadas - French Fries - Empanadas Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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The food was amazing at the empanadas were amazing the chimichurri sauce [[HIGHLIGHT]]amazing atmosphere[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] amazing the people that work here amazing definitely will be back read more

OMG! I was just driving by when La Farola Empanadas caught my eye with all those mouthwatering pictures. I thought, "Wow, the pictures look amazing--hopefully the food does too!" And wow... it absolutely does! My 7-year-old is so picky with food, but this place won her heart instantly! The empanadas are beyond delicious, and the staff is incredible--so kind and welcoming. You can tell they really care about what they do (I believe the people working there own it). [[HIGHLIGHT]]It honestly feels like stepping into another part of the world. Everyone is so friendly, and the atmosphere is full of authentic Argentine vibes.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I already love this place and will definitely be coming back! read more

Love this place! Located in a plaza with plenty of parking. Service was friendly, ambiance was nice, and the food was delicious. They have a pretty extensive menu going from empanadas to pizzas to sandwiches. We only ordered the empanadas but would probably come back to try the other menu items. Definitely order some of the chimichurri sauce, extra if you can, as that's what really made the empanadas great. We also took them home to eat them with lemon wedges. If you eat them in store, ask for lemon if they have and it will really elevate the empanadas. I really don't think you can go wrong with any of the empanada flavors. I'll be back and will recommend to my friends and family! read more

La Farola Empanadas - Empanadas - Empanadas Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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The food is delicious I love brining empanadas to my family functions and they love them aswell. The service here is very welcoming and I will continue to be a customer here read more

Best empanadas I've ever had. I have eaten here for several years and every time I've had it its been the best.

We came here for empanadas and was surprised to find they also had Italian dishes! We didn't try those, but the table next to us ordered a pizza and it looked pretty good! We were definitely peeking over. We got a dozen empanadas because we planned to have some there and take some home for later. It came with a pickled onion/pepper salsa and a chimichurri sauce. Empanadas to note: - Pepperoni tastes like a hot pocket, but in a good way! - The spicy beef and chicken were not spicy. The spicy beef was more tasty than the chicken. - Spinach was just ok, likely wouldn't get it again. - Ham and cheese was good, and I was pleasantly surprised it was not Swiss cheese. - Chicken was good too! We liked this one better than the spicy chicken. We had 5 there, and we were satisfied because the empanadas are a good size. We popped some remaining into an air fryer and they were just as good the next day. read more

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On Saturday, July 19th, my wife and I took a day trip to San Juan Capistrano. We did the usual touristy stuff--visited the mission and checked out some antique shops in Old Town. On the way there, we stopped at La Farola Empanadas, an Argentine restaurant with all the favorites from Buenos Aires. Since my wife is Argentine and I have family in Argentina, we picked up some pastries (called facturas), and they were delicious--especially with some mate. The pastries were the perfect size and tasted amazing. We have a few other Argentine spots we visit for our food and dessert fix, but right now, when it comes to pastries, La Farola is our go-to. The prices are a little on the higher side, but the quality and portion size make it worth it. read more

They're empanadas are amazing! I get them to go at least twice a month. The chimichurri is also great to always have on hand for steak. I've ate several of their dishes all were great! Best Argentinian food in the area! read more

I ordered 2 dozen empanadas for a party. Everybody loved them. Especially the mushroom and cheese. My personal favorites were the beef and the chicken. The texture was great, they were not oily, and the flavors were outstanding. Will be ordering again! read more

I came here on a whim one day after getting my hair done in the building next door. So far I've tried their croissants and empanadas-- both were amazing! Everything is always fresh and full of flavor. The staff are friendly and welcoming. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I like that it is a calm and relaxed cafe, a great place to chill for a bite to eat.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I will for sure be coming back! read more

Rude Service Ruined the Experience Entirely We visited La Farola on a Wednesday evening at 7:40 PM, well within their posted closing time of 8:00 PM. We were immediately greeted by a cashier who, in a very rude and dismissive tone, informed us we could not order to eat in, only to take away. The situation was made more frustrating by the fact that he was actively socializing and having coffee with a friend who was seated and enjoying empanadas at a table. This double standard and his disrespectful attitude made us feel like an inconvenience. Although my wife still placed an order for empanadas to go, I was so put off that I left the store to avoid causing a scene. The entire interaction left such a bad taste in our mouths that we didn't even have a chance to properly enjoy the empanadas later. The service was so poor that it completely overshadowed the food. It's a real shame, and I hope the owner, Martin Lola, addresses this, as it's no way to run a business. read more

I'm devastated by the new management changing the ingredients. The old choripan was far better in terms of quality, taste, and presentation. The new bread was different and tasteless and the new chorizo is quite bland. This used to be my go-to spot for Argentinian food but the changes to the menu have been less than stellar. read more

Great local family business with a few tables for dining in as a option. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The establishment is friendly and clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The Saltena empanadas are amazing! read more

Very satisfied with both portion size and flavor. Good customer service as well. 100% recommended. read more

La Farola Empanadas - Lomito - Empanadas Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

The beef empanadas are delicious the best in Orange County !The service is fast and great customer service.[[HIGHLIGHT]]The place is clean and has lots of parking infront[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] .I love the food. read more

This place is incredible. Customer service was friendly and helpful. The food is delish. We ordered 2 empanadas and some sweets. All were so flavorful and perfectly made. The chimichurri was so bright. Already running back ... read more

La Farola Empanadas - Pizza empanada, mushroom empanada, and alfajors - Empanadas Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I believe La Farola opened up during the pandemic, but it has taken me this long to make it here. Its located on Adams, just East of Harbor in CM. In addition to empanadas, LF serves traditional Argentinian dishes like choripan and fugezzeta. The empanadas were nice sized and packed with fillings. The crust was GBD. Secondarily, I've heard choripan is the national sandwich of Argentina, and LF's version is just like I remember in Buenos Aires. The sausage was seasoned very well and the bread had a nice chew to it. Combined w/ steak fries, you could feed two normal people. Lastly, the fugezetta was not what I remembered. Argentinians love a lot of cheese on their pizza, and LF's version had plenty of cheese. However, the plethora of onions were underneath the cheese vs being mixed in (the version I had in Buenos Aires). There is nothing wrong w/ LF's version. It was simply different than I had before. Regarding the ambiance, its a quaint place with indoor seating. I called in advance for take out, and the food was ready quickly. The ladies who work here are super nice & friendly. Kudos to LF for filling the void left when another nearby empanada place moved to LA. I sent pics to my Argentinian friend, and he said he was going to make a beeline to LF to sample their tasty food. read more

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Changed owners not the same miss the original authentic Argentinian empanadas. Crust is thick and although same ingredients taste generic. So sad they changed read more

Very good food! Fast casual dining experience, so no bathrooms here. You kinda just stop for a quick lunch and then leave. I ordered the spicy salteña empanada and the ham and cheese empanada, which came with their house made chimichurri sauce. The chimichurri sauce is oil based and has fresh herbs in it. I'm not sure what herbs but it also had a slight kick. It was really delicious with the empanadas and I really recommend it! The empanadas are AMAZING. You can tell they make the dough recipe in house, and also cook every empanada FRESH to order because if you try to bite into one right away you'll really burn the roof of your mouth, I guarantee it. Even after you've broken one in half and wait for 5 minutes, it'll still be hot to eat! The spicy salteña one wasn't spicy at all, it was filled with ground beef, onions, potatoes and peppers. Had a good balance of flavors and I enjoyed it a lot especially with the chimichurri sauce. The ham and cheese is made with what I can only assume is a better version of mozzarella, the cheese pull was insane and an overall great choice for any picky friends you may have that like playing it safe. My friend ordered the spicy chicken empanada and it was filled with ground chicken. Unfortunately this was not spicy either, I thought it was alright overall but I'd recommend the beef over the chicken empanadas personally. Another friend ordered the Choripan sandwich which was recommended by the woman working there, the bread was on the firmer side but the inside had what tasted like an italian hot link, it was tasty! The chimichurri sauce was not detected while trying but it was evident that they smeared it inside as if it were mayo. Do drop by if you're craving some empanadas, or grab some to go for a party! read more

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I really enjoyed my visit here... I honestly felt like I came to someone's house, and they treated me as their guest... I felt very comfortable here and like mom was taking care of me in her kitchen. She even intervened when I was making some wacky coffee order haha much appreciated! Oh and if you didn't know they have a seriously baller espresso machine! They make a 10/10 cup off coffee fyi. The empanadas were SO good. You can tell they are fresh and made day of and the chimichurri was delicious. Makes me want to go to Argentina and eat my way through the entire country! I had the spinach and chicken empanadas. They have a large menu, actually kind of overwhelming if you know nothing about which foods to get like myself. In conclusion, I can't believe I've never been here before. I'm in this area all the time. So this is going to be one of my new frequent spots! Thank you :-) read more

La Farola Empanadas - 10/10 coffee - Empanadas Near Me - Costa Mesa, California