I went around their closing time on a weekday so there was no one else in the store. They gave me free samples of the mocochinchi (drink made with dried peaches and cinnamon very delicious) and the passionfruit drink (I ended up getting this one). The worker was very nice and gave good recommendations, and since they were closing soon, they only had the spicy beef salteña and chicken salteña left. I got the spicy beef salteña; my first time trying one! It was PHENOMENAL and the worker explained how to eat it (there's hot soup inside)! I wouldn't call it spicy but it was very flavorful and hearty. The store is small inside but they maximized the number of seats they have. Definitely best for a quick snack! read more

Savory comforting amazing We each had the 2. Saltena and drink combo. One fussy child was having a fit. Did not want to get any of this new and foreign food which none of us had tried before. Making faces and being unpleasant after the rest of the fam voted for this place. So we were going to get food near by for the Fussbucket. But had FB try my soupy deliciousness of a Saltena and FB no longer wanted other food. But also wanted 2 Saltena and a Mexican Coke. Which was thoroughly enjoyed!! Mouth quickly and pleasantly occupied with Saltena and drink. Saltnas apparently cure tantrums. Bring your fussy kid. The Saltena's are just beautiful. They have embossed words on them and this beautiful pattern of where the dough is pinched together. The dough is flaky but reasonably firm to hold the contents which are like a savory, warm tasting very very mildly spicy rich soupy umami flavor bomb. But with the unique spice/flavor combination. One Santana was just enough to make one not hungry. 2 might have been too much for normal appetite. 2 was good for really hungry people. It's special. You have to try it!!! The fancy drink-mocochinchi was awesome. Peachy cinnamony goodness. With a dried peach --rehydrated in the drink--at the bottom. Loved it! If you love peaches this is for you! Staff were so, so nice. Explaining how to eat the saltenas without causing a huge explosion of soup. Bright airy inside the shop w a few tables. Also a few tables outside the shop. Fair price for the area. The execution of this soup in a pastry concept is amazing! We are used to the soup dumpling fail w leaking and loss of the precious soup--so this technical win was such a pleasant surprise! Lovely staff. Pleasant environment. Just beautiful, savory, umami packed unique food. 10/5. Must eat here! Highly recommend. It was not busy. I'm shocked. It deserves way more business. It's our DC miracle --the saltenas cured a kid meltdown. It is somewhat hard to find. We walked through the lobby of a building to find it around the corner on the other side near another restaurant store front. But it's worth the effort!!! 1000% read more

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I recently went here again after a couple of years and was still disappointed. I got the fried chicken sandwich, and the meat was greasy and flavorless. The sandwich also needed more veggies, although the brioche was good. December 2023: Saya Saltena was disappointing in every way. I got the vegan and the spicy beef saltenas, as well as the cunapes. The only good thing I had was the filling of the spicy beef saltenas-it was spicy, rich, and had amazing flavor. The dough tasted cheap and thrown together at the last minute, and the cunapes needed more cheese and flavor. read more

Saya Salteña - Fried chicken sandwich - Latin American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

They have a small shop (without any apparent restrooms) with a couple of tables in a very downtown area. I was surprised that despite their posted hours starting generously at 10:00, they were still setting up at 10:30 or so when I arrived, and were not especially quick in getting things put together. They did throw me a little cheese ball as an apology for the wait, which was good. I am a quinoa fan so the opportunity to see a place that focuses on it was worth pursuing for me. Their quinoa burger with peanut sauce was tasty, if on the mushy side. It comes with fries and potatoes are a distinctively American foodstuff. I like that they're offering something distinctive and regional. The price and the convenience wasn't quite what I'd hoped, but I could see stopping back for their little dumplings in the future. read more

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Delicious Bolivian Saltenas which are like soupy empanadas! The Vegan Saltena made of quinoa and potatoes was dry (not soupy) and surprisingly very flavorful with a sweet outer shell. It reminded me of the Indian samosa and used my own dipping sauce. I wasn't a big fan of the Relenno de Queso and Potatoes, and didn't match the appetizing photos from the website. It was very greasy and messy and tasted like a cheesy mashed potatoes in a crispy shell kind of like an ovestuffed arancini. After a few bites, I threw in the towel, glad I got the Saltenas. Highly recommend the Saltena, will come back for more! read more

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I had to stop into Saya to check out there Bolivian street food. I kept hearing about it on various social media. I tried several specialties, including a spicy chicken saltena. Everything was really tasty! The saltena was the best thing I tried, although I would not call it spicy. I would love to come back here and try more menu items! The service is very friendly, too. The shop is more of a to-go place than a dine-in spot. You order at the counter, and they will give you a to-go container with heating and eating instructions. Love! read more

Saya Salteña - Latin American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Excellent salteñas! Friendly and professional service. Very clean and bright inside and there's an outdoor patio. Highly recommend! read more

Saya Salteña - Latin American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great juicy salteña, with the best Bolivian coffee in the DC Metro Area. If you're looking for a culinary escape that surprises your palate and warms your soul, this Bolivian restaurant delivers in spades. From the moment you walk in, you're met with an eclectic, cozy atmosphere that blends Andean charm with modern flair. But it's the food that truly steals the show. Every dish bursts with flavor and personality. The salteñas are perfectly golden, with that signature sweet-and-savory stew inside--comfort food at its finest. And don't sleep on the sopa de maní--creamy, rich, and deeply satisfying. What makes this spot shine is its ability to take traditional Bolivian flavors and elevate them without losing authenticity. It's savory, soulful, and a little unexpected in the best way. Whether you're a first-timer or a homesick Bolivian, this place hits the mark. Definitely a place you'll want to come back to--and bring friends. read more

It was the first time here and taste the salteñas great pleasure for my palate, 100% recommended and the staff very nice read more

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Their sálteñas are extremely overpriced! $ 6.00 for one sálteña!! That's insane! Yes they have to charge more because they are appealing to a different demographics and rents are high in DC, however I still think it's way too expensive! It's something that shouldn't cost more than $ 3.00 max! Obviously I won't be buying them at Saya's any longer! read more

I got the potato beef ball--if left much to be desired. It came with a side of some sauce.

So happy to find a yummy salteña place in DC! For those who don't know, a salteña is a Bolivian food that is kind of like an empanada with sweet dough but the inside is a savory soup with chunks of potato, meat, and other foods depending on the variety. I went to Bolivia last year and this was the food I missed the most! I highly recommend if you are also a salteña lover or if you want to try something new. They have many varieties (including a vegan one!) and you can even purchase frozen ones to eat later. I will note that the place is difficult to find. You have to go through a door that isn't very clearly marked and ring a doorbell to be let in. Aside from my difficulty in finding the place, pickup went smoothly. read more

Saya Salteña - Salteña - Latin American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I highly recommend Saya Salteña! The dough and fillings are just perfect. The menu is small but it's mighty. They offer cuñapes (amazing cheese bread), sopa de mani (peanut soup), and alfajores. I feel like this spot was made for me, they're all my favorites from Bolivia! The great thing is they offer baked and frozen salteñas, which is just perfect. I have some in my freezer right now (). You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. My boyfriend and I got a little of everything and it was all delicious. Also, great vegan options! Very grateful because vegan versions of salteñas and sopa de mani are hard to come by. I'm a customer for life! read more

Saya Salteña - Vegan salteña, vegan sopa de mani (I added little french fries), and alfajores! - Latin American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Authentic and delicious salteñas. Has the soupy consistency you expect from a real salteña.

Fantastic homemade tasting spicy chicken Salteña and peach infused drink (omg the latter was so completely delicious it haunted me in a good way later). Prices are super reasonable/low especially for the DC area. Managed by super friendly and helpful staff. PS. This was very tricky to find for the first time using my iPhone maps as it was taking me to the wrong side of the street (it's located on 20th St side (corner 20th/Penn) not 19th where the CVS is located). read more

I am currentlt visiting the area and found myself craving this Bolivian delicacy. Saya salteña definitely hit the spot and I am so happy I found them! A salteña is something that is not easy to nail, so kuddos to them for perfecting this. The shell or dough was sweet and had the perfect texture. The insides had so much juice and meat. The balance of this Salteña was amazing. The cuñape or Bolivian cheese bread was also super good. I must say, I made the order and my driving took super long but the people from Saya expressed their concern and were attentive until I got my order. Service is also a 10/10. Please try this place! read more

Easy-ish pick up from Mess Hall in Washington D.C. I believe there are other options for pickup and delivery based on the day. The food: I tried both a beef and a chicken salteña and I absolutely loved it. I love empanadas but this is like the soup dumpling of empanadas. It's filled with this super flavorful broth, meat, olives, potatoes, and hard boiled egg. The outside is crispy on top, but still has a nice chew, and slightly sweet. Definitely would recommend! read more

Saya Salteña - Chicken Saltena - Latin American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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such a great place to eat and enjoy tasty food, the service was excellent and really nice people.

Really delicious food and non-alcoholic drinks, and friendly staff. The vegan salteña was awesome!

It really hit the spot, my wife and I have been searching for what we thought we had eating in Peru / Bolivia boarder for years. Having eaten empanada's they just weren't the same. After reading the reviews and description her and I were like maybe we had a Saltena. YESSSS, the sweet bread with stew is perfect combination for hearty snack or lunch or dinner. Think of these like homemade hot pockets; if hot pockets weren't gross magma burn your face off disasters. We had the beef and chicken, both were great. We even reheated one for dinner and it was great. She sells frozen ones and she told me they take 20 min to heat up, which we'll do and leave a few in the freezer for kids or us if we don't want to make or order lunch/dinner. These are not pastries, they are on the go meals that need to be on every other corner of the city; these are GREAT! read more

Really nice! Reasonably priced and very tasty. It's mostly a takeout place to bring back to work. It's cute and I liked the little llama mascot lol. Def recommend for a quick lunch place. read more

Absolutely delightful saltenas - these were my first saltenas, but my friend has tried many before and was really impressed. The crust was wonderful, with a light sweetbread taste, and the filling was a hearty stew. We tried the spicy chicken and spicy beef. Neither of them are particularly hot, so don't worry about that - they're just well seasoned. We ordered online the night before for lunch with a set time for pickup because we were walking there, but you can easily order online or by phone same-day. She texted us when they were ready (5 minutes early) & we called when we arrived, about 15 minutes later, and they were still perfectly hot & fresh. This is a kitchen pop-up, so there isn't any seating area or bathrooms - but it's also right next to the Metropolitan Branch Trail, where you can set up a picnic. They plan to add some additional desserts & have just added a wine special to the menu as well, to make a full meal. Enjoy! read more

This place is great! Their spicy chicken salteña is my favorite. The vegan one is good too but I wish they would sell vegetarian salteñas so that it's more than just quinoa. I also really enjoy their sopa de mani (peanut soup). No matter what you get, be sure to get a couple alfajores! read more

Saya Salteña - Their alfajores are so good! - Latin American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

There is no doubt I had an authentic Bolivian dish. The presentation and packaging was good. The salteñas had quality ingredients. My experience was also fun. Just like a noob I did not read the directions - AN ABSOLUTE MUST - and I had what amounts to hot soup everywhere. My issue here is me. I couldn't tell if I was having a pastry or not. I was expecting savory but it turns out these are sweet. I was really confused eating it, so just not a fan. I would encourage you to go and try for yourself. read more

Saya Salteña - Salteña - Latin American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Excellent food, really good service, and reasonable prices. I highly recommend Saya Salteña!

I have tried salteñas before and is the worst I have tried, for that amount I would have thought it was boom. The "beef" one was not that great. This is the first one time I have seen salteña with ground beef. read more

My friend brought some Salteña to us. It is so delicious with light sweet bread and juicy fillings Highly recommended! My Bolivian friends told me this is very authentic! Cannot wait to try the alfajores! read more

As a Bolivian I was truly excited to finally try out Saya Saltena. The space itself was really well done. Loved the llama mural on the wall and the cute merchandise (mugs/tshirts). The main thing I came for was the Saltena. I got the spicy chicken since they were out of the regular chicken. The box had a disclaimer that the contents of the saltena were "Hot + Juicy". My saltena was neither of those things. I guess I'm used to really brothy and mouth scalding Saltenas that I get in Northern Virginia. Irregardless, the saltena was flavorful and fulfulled the craving I had. I didn't realize you had to pay for your green spicy sauce so make sure to order because unlike other Bolivian places these Saltenas do not come with them. I ended up getting the Papa Relleno (with ground beef) and the Sopa de Mani to split with my co-worker. I have to say that I was dissapointed in both. The Papa Relleno did have a nice golden crispy exterior but the potatoe on the inside were gummy and the beef filling was lacking in flavor. The Sopa de Mani was again IMO, overpriced for the amount you get. Also, the peanut flavor could have come through more, it felt more like a beef stew. All in all I would come back for the Saltenas and to try their coffee which are made from Bolivian coffee beans. read more

Simply delicious. We've gotten to go orders from here twice now and the second time we also stocked up on frozen ones. All the flavors are good though the spicy beef is my favorite--mild heat. My spouse says these take him back to the saltena stands of his teenage years in Bolivia, picking up a quick snack after school. Meant to take a photo but would have had to stop stuffing my face for a sec to do so. Located inside Mess Hall. read more

After reading about Saya Salteña in City Paper, I knew I had to try it, and it did not disappoint! I made a meal out of a vegan salteña, peanut soup, and alfajore cookie. It's hard to tell from the images on the website, but the portions are substantial--it was the perfect amount for lunch. I placed the order online, and it was ready for pickup 7 minutes later. The soup, which comes in a 16-oz container, was thick and subtly spiced, and topped with potatoes. The dough on the salteña was pleasingly sweet. I definitely recommend checking this place out. Just remember, salteñas are not empanadas--follow the instructions on the packaging to eat (from the top down, since the filling is partially liquid). read more

We saw the article in the City Paper, about how savory saltenas are the comfort food DC needs now, and we knew we had to tries these saltenas and we were not disappointing. I have never had a saltena before, which is a cross between an empanada and a soup dumpling. Also kind of like a potpie. First let me say the dough was light and fluffy. It was heaven and you could tell that all the ingredients were fresh. We order for delivery and couldn't have asked for a better experience. read more

I really enjoyed the food and the friendly conversation from the owner. Tried the spicy chicken salteña and a fresh-from-the-oven cheese rolla. The rolla was a little piece of heaven -- highly recommend them, especially if they're hot. The salteña had really nice flavor, more well seasoned than spicy to me. Hot and fresh. I wasn't sure how filling it would be. Both items together felt like a light lunch. I would get two salteñas for a fuller meal. Looking forward to trying more of their offerings. read more