Maria Luisa Empanadas in Seattle's SoDo/Industrial District was brought to my attention by fellow Yelp Elite friend, Richard U and bookmarked. Also, thanks to another Yelp Elite friend, Elizabeth L's post that put that urgency back on the radar screen. I finally had the opportunity to seek these fine empanadas out, but it also came with a bit of a challenge (12/8/21). This business is located in a building that houses Maria Luisa Empanadas, Cafe Con Leche, and Club Sur. Parking area full of potholes were occupied, so I had to park along 1st Avenue South where all vehicles travel fast - exercise caution. Once inside, someone will check your vaccination status and pretty much you're on your own. The cafe side was busy. The center coffee stand had a line. And the club or pseudo banquet area was hosting some private event. I noticed signage that ordering is done by QR code or via their website. I didn't have great signal indoors, so had to go back outside to place my order, then return for about a 15-20 minute wait since I requested the empanadas to be baked and not frozen. I ordered one each of the Boca (beef), Palermo (chicken), Almagro (ham and cheese), and Lugano (spinach). I also ordered a Chocolate Alfajor. Eventually the goods will appear on the ledge, check for your name on the ticket to claim the correct bag. It was pretty much a mostly contact free transaction. Takeout box had a huge sticker on it giving additional empanada instructions which came in handy. If ordered frozen, you can have your stash that lasts up to three months. No worries there, so delicious, they won't last that long! I did have to briefly refrigerate the Chocolate Alfajor once home. It was placed atop the hot empananda takeout box, so it got kind of melty. Each empananda had its distinct savory flavor in a tasty pastry crust. They were so flavorful, that I didn't even need the chimichurri dipping sauce that was added to the takeout box. These lasted over three sittings and reheated really well, chockful of generous fillings, and not greasy. And that Chocolate Alfajor with the dulce de leche filled cookie and covered with a rich chocolate exterior, absolutely delicious! A definite exclamation point to end your meal. I will definitely have to return and try other menu items. Plus I need to do a side by side tasting between the ones offered from Maria Luisa's and the empanadas and alfajors from another popular site in NE Seattle/Lake City. Again, many thanks to Richard and Elizabeth for their respective Yelp reviews. read more

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We got food here recently for the very first time during restaurant week. We got 6 empanadas (2 each of chicken, beef, then 1 spinach and 1 corn) and 2 desserts for $35. Such a great deal! The savory empanadas were delicious. If I had to choose, my fave would be the chicken followed closely by the corn. But they were all so good! The desserts, though--wow! We had a dessert pastry that was like a croissant with a sweet glaze and it was the best pastry I've had in the US. Hands down. I mean it, it was one of the best things I've ever eaten. We also had a chocolate pastry with orange in the center that was creamy and flavorful--it melted in our mouths. Overall, I wouldn't hesitate to come here again. The staff were so friendly, the food was readied quickly, and everything was tasty. Highly recommend. read more

First understand this - This place is real (real) weird. This isn't a restaurant, or a cute little pop-up. Its a place to pick-up food within a terrible rundown restaurant, and a gross concert venue. Food: 4 out of 5 stars. - Meat filed options were by far the best. - Cheese filed option were so loaded with cheese, this is all you taste... This may or may not be your thing. "Restaurant" and pick-up experience : 0 out of 5 stars. - This place is not easy to find when you drive by. I hope my photo will help. - Once inside, its confusing. You walk to the side and scan a QR code. No one from Maria Luisa is there to talk to you. - The staff from the main restaurant were annoyed when people ask where the empanadas are. - The people from Maria Luisa, just drop off the bag on a ledge. No hello, no thank you, nada. - Should I even mention that there was loud band practice going on the whole time?! (see attached video). Message to the business: This location is HURTING your business. We watch 4 separate people walk in, ask where the empanadas were, walk around confused, look at the decor, and promptly leave. Heck, we wanted to leave too, but I pushed through. But there's no way you would know this, because you have no representative greeting your guest!!! Consider having an online menu only, and a sandwich board at each entrance of the restaurant. Tell your customers to order and wait in their car. When their order is ready, run it out to them, smile, and interact with your customers... Lots of businesses sharing a kitchen go this route. read more

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The empanadas are handmade with love. Super authentic. We tried 6 flavors: steak, chicken, beef, chorizo, ham and cheese and spinach and cheese. They are all different and rich flavors. The ham and cheese and spinach are cheesy. This is the perfect thing to bring to a dinner party or BBQ as an appetizer. Support this local gem! read more

Maria Luisa Empanadas - 6 flavor sampler. - Argentine Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Yum!! So delicious. I got a variety of empanadas, because I it is my first time coming here. I just ate one on my drive home, a chicken one, and it was so very good-- really tasty and a good size. The crust is so flaky and beautifully made, and the interor had great flavor. They served the empanadas with salsa verde (incredible) on side. The restaurant is spacious and nice and it looks like it would be fun watching sports during events. I also saw someone reading and working. Seems to have a nice balance. The people were kind and welcoming. Loved the photo of Maria Luisa. I look forward to trying more. Highly recommend! read more

Maria Luisa Empanadas - Amazing Empanadas - Argentine Near Me - Seattle, Washington

They were good but weren't great. We may have done a disservice by not eating them fresh, so maybe that's the key. Nice place to order and sit down at, or outside. I would try it again, and not order as many and eat there when it's hot and fresh. read more

Maria Luisa was amazing! I'd been meaning to come down and try this spot after all the rave reviews, and I'm so glad I finally did. It's on Leary in a spot that you can easily pass if you're driving too fast. Not a ton of parking but luckily I went during off hours, so it was easy to park. They have a ton of seating and outdoor seating as well! They have such a good assortment of empanadas, and they're huge! I got the lomo, chorizo, and spinach for me and my partner as an afternoon snack, but we definitely could've gotten away with only ordering two. They come with a chimichurri sauce on the side, and all three were delicious! I think my favorite was the lomo, and my partner is between the lomo and spinach. Don't sleep on the spinach one just bc it's veggie! The cheese in that empanada is so gooey and yummy. Will def be back! read more

Maria Luisa is AMAZING! I picked some up on a whim and went back for more the same week. My favorites are the spinach, san telmo lomo, and chicken empanadas but I haven't tried them all yet. The empanadas are hefty so 2-3 should be enough depending on how hungry you are. You MUST get the chimichurri sauce on the side. The parking lot is tight so I usually park in the neighborhood. read more

Best empanadas I've ever had, and I've been to Argentina haha. I tried the Lomo, chorizo, and chicken, and I think my favorite was the chorizo, but they were all fantastic, including the dessert one (dulce de leche and banana)! Friendly service and chill atmosphere too. Highly recommend. read more

Such a savory and/ or sweet treat. It's about time Seattle has brought some different flavors/ culture to town. Caprese and Lomo are soo delicious. I have stopped by at least once a week after leaving the Dog Yard. Such wonderful staff read more

Maria Luisa Empanadas - Argentine Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Delicious empanadas! The ordering process was a bit confusing as Maria Luisa is purely an online ordering business but the pick-up is inside of a Cuban restaurant. You order online and then walk into the Cuban restaurant. Then slightly to the right at the wall separating the walkway with the bar area, you'll find a small sign for where to pick up the empanadas. The empanadas were flaky on the outside and flavor packed on the inside. Will definitely be back. read more

Maria Luisa Empanadas - Delicious empanadas! - Argentine Near Me - Seattle, Washington

One of my favorite places to order take out from in the entire city. WOW! They are always quick about delivery, the food is always warm, and I love love love every empanada I have ordered. As a vegetarian, I have a lot of options on their menu. Dinner is ready in 20 minutes or less for pick up. They often are out of stock of most dessert options, but when I can snag the churros or chocotortas, I do! read more

Flavorful, homemade, authentic empanadas in Seattle! Thanks to Yelper Richard U for reviewing this hidden gem in Sodo. These cozy empanadas are the perfect comfort food, freshly baked and packed with flavor. Loved La Boca (Beef), Palermo (Chicken) empanadas - juicy and hearty. Lugano (spinach) was a sleeper hit! Flores Humita (sweet corn) was savory with a unique flavor profile. Online / mobile ordering makes it extremely convenient to order a dozen empanadas or however many you'd like! Ordered a dozen for 5 of us to share. Counter pickup was painless, safe and convenient. Highly recommend! read more

Good empanadas, but ordering online is a disaster, and not worth the trouble. It was so bad I had to go into the store to ask for instructions on how to use their website. I was told at the store that they also sell frozen empanadas, which I was happy to hear (and later noticed this was confirmed on their website). So, confident I had entered my order as instructed, I arrived to pick up my order for two dozen empanadas that I had planned to serve for Mother's Day, only to be told that no order for me existed. The charge on my credit card had been reversed and I was also told they DO NOT sell frozen empanadas. Young guy working there didn't seem to care I was clearly unhappy about my experience. Disappointing. Something is clearly wrong. read more

Wow! Excellent Argentine style empanadas! A bit confusing ordering at first! It is currently housed in the same space as Club Sur and Cafe Con Leche. Take out only so you have to order on line only as well even if you show up to the physical location first. You also have to specify if you want your empanada baked for you or frozen for you to warm at home! I tried the spinach (Lugano), mushroom with eggs and cheese (retiro), spinach with egg whites, sundried tomatoes and feta (recoleta), caprese (caminito). They were all very tasty! Great flaky crust and hot pipping filling. Do yourself a favor and make sure you get a jar of chimichurri to schmear on everything! So garlicky and tangy! The chocolate alfajor was a great small sweet treat at the end. I will definitely be back! read more

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The mushroom empanada tasted good but it was all cheese, there was essentially no mushrooms which was disappointing. I mentioned we couldn't have anything with spiciness and was told the chicken was fine - it definitely was very spicy and we couldn't eat it. Spinach and cheese pie was very good. I asked for anything spicy (ordered for my husband) in a separate container but the sauce was put in with our empanadas and spilled so that was frustrating bc the kids couldn't eat the empanadas it touched. Overall, the place is good but would be careful with kids due to spice level. read more

Very delicious but forgot the dipping sauce :( No other complaints then the sauce. Very quick if you lunch in the area. read more

We got a few empanadas to eat at the breweries and they were all delicious! Great spot of you need some quick and delicious food.

The best empanadas I've ever had! The dough is super fluffy and soft and it's stuffed with delicious filling. My favorite is the beef, ham and spinach, but just try them all because it's worth it! Also don't skip the homemade chimichurri! read more

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Amazing empanadas, fresh and totally flavorful. The service was amazing as well,. Maria Luisa Empanadas is my place for having a great Argentinian treat. read more

As a Ballard resident who is always looking for new quick bites, I've been here 3 times in the last week. Truly outstanding baked empanadas--these are the best I've ever had. They have ample seating and open air seating when weather permits. I highly recommend any and all of them. None of them are too heavy. Such a great neighborhood addition! read more

Like some other have mentioned, the situation here is confusing. I came here hoping for a relaxing lunch experience after a morning spent working nearby at a different location from my usual routine. They are a sign and QR code inside of Cafe con Leche, which is part of Club Sur. The folks at Cafe con Leche don't seem particularly pleased about the setup and were rude. I didn't feel comfortable in there. The empanadas were high quality but not baked all the way through and had cold pockets. Next time I will order them online and frozen, and reheat at home. The actual quality of the food is excellent-the experience of getting it is a challenge. read more

Empanadas were ok, my struggle was with customer service. Went in and ordered a bunch of empanadas a few days before Christmas for Christmas Eve. When I got home and looked at their site to see hours it advertised 5 empanadas for $25 as a Christmas special, I went to pick up my order and asked the dude why he didn't tell me about the promotion and could he honor it? He just shrugged and said "you had to mention it when you ordered", seems so uncool, I ordered it in the store from him. I didn't even want a refund necessarily but a gift card for the balance would have been appropriate. Didn't appreciate how dismissive it all was. They also gave me about a 1/4 cup of chimmichurri for over 15 empanadas. read more

Let me order three empanadas at 1:57 pm, without telling me they're two bucks off starting at 2 pm. Is that their responsibility? Of course not. Is it my fault for walking past multiple signs advertising their happy hour special without reading them? Probably. But I remain peeved. read more

Ordered Maria Luisa's empanadas for a work event off of EZ-Cater. Not only was the ordering process super easy, but the empanadas arrived promptly on time but everyone LOVED the empanadas. I ordered the beef, the Palermo chicken empanadas, and the Flores humita empanadas. My personal favorite was the beef with chimichurri sauce, but the chicken was also popular. I liked the Flores humita empanada too, but it was probably my least favorite. It did serve as a great vegetarian option however. I can't wait to order from Maria Luisa's again, I am in need of more beef empanadas! Yum! read more

Maria Luisa Empanadas - Beef empanadas and chimichurri sauce - Argentine Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My son and I tried the chorizo empanada. One of the best bites we've ever had! Flaky exterior, perfectly seasoned filling. We'll be back!

I've tried 3 or 4 purveyors of Empanadas and I got to say these are my favorite. When the latest deal came up I jumped all over it and got 5 for $20 dollars. Yum. I just wish they were also on the eastside so I could shop there more often. read more

OMG BEEF EMPANADAS OMG OMG OMG I'M GOING BACK JUST FOR THE BEEF EMPANADAS I tried the chicken but even with the sauce they weren't as good. The beef ones are made with this like curry or some kind of spice like that and it blows my mind This place is inside the Sol bar / Cafe Con Leche place. Just ask at the bar or scan their QR code to your right, and start your order! Food took about 10-15 minutes for me to arrive. read more

Empanadas were delicious! The crust was perfectly crisp with excellent flavor. Very friendly service. Need at least two containers of chimichurri per empanada (need to ask for second as only comes with one). Will be back. read more

Delicious and authentic empanadas. Super flavorful and baked to perfection. The sign is easy to miss, park below a blue "Sur" sign and it's on the corner. read more

Very difficult to order. I keep trying. Tired of wasting my time. Please make it easier.

I'm so glad that this place moved from Sodo to Ballard! I got a beef empanada and a spinach empanada. They were both fantastic and correctly seasoned. Also size wise they were big. If you are visiting the breweries close by, come and get some empanadas from here, you won't regret it! read more

We first experienced MariaLuisa Empanadas as part of a Savor Seattle Market Box. They were some of the best empanadas we've had since moving to Seattle from Texas. We found their website and ordered one of their combos which included six meat and six veggie/cheese empanadas as well as two bottles of Argentine red wine. Chef Rodrigo delivered it to our apartment building in downtown Seattle. We will be ordering from them again. The empanadas are full of fresh ingredients and come with a homemade Chimmichuri dipping sauce. So fresh and flavorful. We plan on ordering again for our houseguests coming up Friday Thanksgiving! read more

My grandma would make empanadas- i would help fold the end as a little girl! These are amazing and will definitely be back for more! Thank you for bring them to Seattle! read more

Maria Luisa Empanadas - Amazing flavors spinach, beef and salmon empanadas. Brings back memories of my grandma making them - Argentine Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Excellent empanadas! The beef, chicken and spinach were our family's absolute favorites. The ham and cheese was a bit light on the ham and a bit heavy on the cheese, but delicious all the same. We will absolutely be back. Insider's tip: they're currently located inside of Cafe Con Leche. When you enter, there's a counter to the right with a sign with a QR code to scan. You can scan the code, place your order easily, and wait for it to be made. They are extremely fast! read more

Bad experience getting empanadas. The woman on the front desk was pretty rude to me and my friend. The place is confusing, it was out first time there and nobody explained us how to order. The woman just scolded us and made us feel uncomfortable. read more

I've never had an empanada until I tried this place out but wow they're good! Outside is flaky and crispy, while the inside is packed w beef, cheese, chicken etc and dipping in the chimichurri complements the empanadas very well :) the chicken one I got was a little dry and bland and ham and cheese one was just straight cheese and a little much for me. I would stick with the beef one, super flavorful! read more

Maria Luisa Empanadas - Empanadas - Argentine Near Me - Seattle, Washington

These are the best empanadas I've ever had! I bought some frozen ones so that I can make them at a later point in time, and I decided one day to have the four I bought for breakfast - beef, corn, spinach, and dulce de leche. I baked them all at the same time with the intention of only eating two of them that morning, and saving the other two for later in the day, but they were all so good I ended up just eating them all in one sitting. I didn't even have a chance to take a picture because I was just thoroughly enjoying each and every one of them, living in the moment! While they were all delicious, the beef and the dulce de leche really stood out to me as my personal favorites. I cannot wait to go back and get more empanadas from this place! Definitely go out of your way to support this small business because their products are fantastic. read more

Tried the ham and cheese, caprese, and chicken. All were good but chicken was our fav. Definitely need more sauce next time but no jars were available. Also, if you're looking for them at Ravenna Brewery, it's not a food truck. They set up a table within the outdoor seating area of brewery. read more

Absolutely amazing and authentic empanadas with the perfect dough to filling ratio. Definitely order the chimichurri to compliment the empanadas, you don't regret it. Pro tip, buy extra frozen empanadas for later, you won't regret it! read more