Where are you celebrating life today? Viva Empanadas is a great spot to do just that! The Albany location at 90 N.Pearl Street is visually stunning while the empanadas are a true fiesta for the taste buds. Popped in for a late lunch where we enjoyed the tropical lemonade and the empanada special. Shrimp D'verde, Spinach & cheese, and Colombianita for me Classic Cheese, Vegan-licious, and D'verde for my friend The gentleman at the table across from us ordered the rotisserie chicken which looked and smelled amazing - might have to go back to try it soon! They also have a weekend brunch menu served from 10-2 that looks epic. read more

Viva Empanadas - Viva Empanadas Special - Latin American Near Me - Albany, New York

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Not one, not two, but 3 separate credit card companies sent immediate fraud notifications after our cards were swiped at this restaurant. I went here on Saturday, on Monday morning my credit union called letting me know they are increasing fraud protection on my account because I swiped my card at this restaurant. The owner was asking us to Zelle her money. We are still monitoring our cards to make sure everything is okay. We went to multiple restaurants in Albany during the course of the weekend and this didn't happen anywhere else. And the drinks are watered down. Don't come here. read more

I had a lovely dinner at viva Empanadas - the Cuban Ropa Vieja, which was a flank steak dish. The steak was stewed in vegetables and spices, and accompanied by plantains. It was a very filling dish and nicely cooked, well plated. My server was great. If you're downtown looking for dinner this is a much better option than the hotel restaurants down the road. I picked one of their featured glasses of red wine and it paired well with the steak. read more

Viva Empanadas - Nice relaxing vibe in downtown Albany. - Latin American Near Me - Albany, New York

I wanted very much to love this restaurant. I will start with the good. There was no wait. The paella was good. The tostones appetizer was great. It's a very cute restaurant. That being said, they appeared to be short staffed so the staff wasn't as attentive as they needed to be. There were only two people at the front of the house and it appeared that they were running everything themselves. We were told that we could not order cocktails or mocktails. I'm assuming that their bartenders were not there. It was 6pm on a Friday. We ordered wine instead. We wanted a bottle, they did not have any cold bottles so we agreed to a room temperature bottle. My husband ordered rare churrasco, it came medium well. The chimichurri did not have enough acid to offset the fat from the steak. Overall, not the worst dining experience, but not one I'm anxious to repeat. read more

Viva Empanadas - Spanish Chicken Paella - Latin American Near Me - Albany, New York

The atmosphere is colorful and lively and the empanadas are flavorful, with a good selection of dipping sauces and sides. I wish they had more vegetarian options, and the ordering system is a kiosk, which seems to be to allow a quite small staff to be productive. Don't be in a hurry. read more

Had a great experience here today!! We came in a group of three. The place was very nicely decorated, clean, and friendly! I would recommend any of there entrees. My friend and I split the empanada deal that is half a dozen empanadas. The margaritas were also fantastic. Can't miss place in Albany! read more

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Let's start with all the positives: excellent empanadas with many variations available. The dipping sauces taste homemade and accompany the empanadas beautifully. The shrimp ceviche was a hit-flavors really popped and that was my favorite item from that meal. The paella was just ok. I had high hopes that I'd find some paella around here that I would insist on going back to, but I'd try something else next time. We ordered the seafood version but it was served with mostly chicken. There are some service issues: only one person (who we found out was the bartender) was managing the entire front of the house. Poor guy was taking orders, seating people and making bar drinks. Food was excessively slow to come out of the kitchen and many parties in line waiting to be seated left while observing a restaurant full of folks without food. After a bit, someone else showed up to wait tables and she was fantastic. Thankfully we arrived early enough to relax, eat and get to our show at the Palace on time. I did enjoy a lovely glass of Spanish red wine which I rarely indulge in these days. This place has lots of potential. Everyone is struggling to find and retain staff. Hopefully they'll work out some of those kinks. read more

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Hit and miss overall... Food was tasty but one of the empanadas came out cold. The other two were hot and all 3 tasted great. Service was strange and slow, but friendly. The food took quite a long time to come even though I was one of the only people in the restaurant. read more

Viva Empanadas - Viva Special (3 empanadas). Spicy Chorizo, Chilean Pino, Chicken; rice & beans. - Latin American Near Me - Albany, New York

My friend and I came here for dinner before a show at The Egg. I made a reservation using Google but that was unnecessary because the place was nearly empty. I'm not sure if they honor those reservations anyway? I was warned the service was a little lax and it did take a little while for the server to come over. We ordered the arepas and empanada sampler of our choosing. The arepas were unlike any arepa I've had in the area. I am used to the pocket-type arepa stuffed with cheese/chicken/beans, etc. These were almost like a tostada with the "fillings" on top. They were so flavorful! The empanadas were huge! I think it came with 6 and the 2 of us couldn't even finish them. The food took an appropriate amount of time to come out too. I would absolutely come back here. Also worth noting that my friend is from Argentina and says the arepas/empanadas are the most authentic/best she's had in our area. read more

Cute place. We didn't have a reservation and were seated right away. Service was good, food is great. Got the 3 empanada sampler and everything was very delicious. Steak and rice & beans were excellent too! read more

Viva Empanadas - Latin American Near Me - Albany, New York

I ordered gluten free empanadas for pick up online. My order was ready when said. Friendly staff. So yummy. I will be going back. read more

Viva Empanadas - Gluten free empanadas - Latin American Near Me - Albany, New York

Visited this place twice on my quick trip to Albany. I'm a sucker for a good empanada and this bright and airy place scratched that itch. The empanadas are not huge and so it was fun to try a variety of them with friends for lunch. A few days later, when I came for dinner I also ordered half a rotisserie chicken, a lemon sangria-ish cocktail, and a tres leches cake. Overall, I found the empanadas the most exciting of my order. The beans and rice were flavorful and a nice addition to the chicken. However, the chicken was pretty tough and overcooked, despite solid seasoning. The most disappointing was the tres leches. This was a cake that did not seem to be covered in the three milks, but was rather sat in the three milks and was iced with a traditional vanilla icing. It made the cake cloying on top and overly soggy on the bottom. Plus, the cinnamon was a bit overwhelming. Overall, come for the lovely environment, the range of empanadas, and drinks. You won't be disappointed. read more

Viva Empanadas - Half Rotisserie Chicken, 2 Empanadas (Spicy Chorizo (GF) and Colombianita (GF)), and lemon spritz. - Latin American Near Me - Albany, New York

Viva Empanadas is a welcome addition to the downtown area. I've been there no less than 10 times since they opened and have found the food to be consistently delicious every single time. Many of the empanadas are gluten free which is a blessing. I've worked my way through most of the empanada menu by now and haven't met one I didn't like. Their rice and beans? Wonderful. The paella? Drool-worthy. So what's the problem? The service is pretty bad. The orders are always correct but finding someone to bring you your food or refill your water is damn near impossible. In all of my times there, I have not had good service one time. There have been times where my friends and I are the only ones there and the service is still terrible. On my most recent visit in early June, the restaurant was pretty crowded. We were asked to order from the touch-screen menu in the corner so that the waitresses could spend more time bussing the food. I keep coming back because the food is great, the portions are generous, and the price is right. The service clearly hasn't been a deterrence - I just wish it was better. read more

Such a great addition to the Downtown Albany food scene! I went here for dinner on a Friday night and was warmly greeted by the owner and staff. The menu is great because it's not just empanadas - they offer several entrees. Though they don't have a liquor license, they have wine based cocktails so I tried the red sangria, which was awesome. For entrees, I ordered the Spanish Chicken Paella, which had chicken and chorizo simmered in rice, served with sweet plantains. It was delicious! My boyfriend ordered the Cubano Sandwich, mojo pulled pork, honey hams, and provolone, with fries. He also really liked his entree. For dessert, I ordered the churros, which were great too. Overall, a delightful dining experience with friendly staff and great service! read more

Viva Empanadas - Cubano Sandwich - Latin American Near Me - Albany, New York

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I was very impressed. The rice and beans were well cooked and seasoned. Empanadas were crispy, and I haven't had an empanada with corn shell in a while. I like how they incorporated other Latin American sauces that deviate from the traditional salsa rosada and other dipping sauces which are also delicious. Only thing that was disappointing was that they stuffed the chicken empanada mostly with rice, which is a bit stingey to me personally, especially considering the dish I ordered had rice on the side. The other empanadas were good. I know most places would balance the stuffing with potato for a 50/50 ratio but this chicken empanada was 80% stuffed with rice. Food was ready within the expected pickup time. The staff are friendly ! The restaurant is spacious and aesthetically pleasing too! read more

Viva Empanadas - Viva Special - Latin American Near Me - Albany, New York

Cute little place in what I think was the old Bishop (RIP). Staff was nice, place had plenty of seating and a cozy bar. Food was excellent. Got the empanada platter and sweet plantains. The ropa veija were amazing. Next time I come back I want to try that in non empanada form. Sauces were a nice touch too. read more

Viva Empanadas - Chicken empanada - Latin American Near Me - Albany, New York

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My husband and I enjoy eating at Viva. We have been here four times over the past six months. The chef is amazing and talented. All drinks and dishes are consistently delicious. The waitstaff is always kind. The owner works really hard every day. The space itself has a bright, airy interior design. Be aware that they have a beer and wine license. They do not have a liquor license. Their neighbors do have liquor licenses, so you can always start at Viva, then go elsewhere, if you must have hard alcohol. read more

Viva Empanadas - Guava and cheese empanadas, yuca fries, garlic oil dip, wine margarita - Latin American Near Me - Albany, New York

I enjoyed the food but the service was pretty slow. I was alone so I sat at the counter and was largely overlooked. It took awhile before I was asked for my order. Also, it took quite some time to pay out. The plus, empanadas were so good! read more

Viva Empanadas - Special empanadas - Latin American Near Me - Albany, New York

Look at how colorful these empanadas are! Aesthetically I loved how they came out; but once I started eating...wow super filling and probably top 10 empanadas place I ever had. I will look to come back and see how the other menu items are. I did have to wait longer than expected (especially for 2 empanadas) but I still will say really good! read more

Viva Empanadas - Latin American Near Me - Albany, New York

Wow! Viva Empanadas is a great new addition to North Pearl St. We went to dinner here tonight and were just blown away. We started with a glass of white sangria for me and a Voodoo ranger juice haze for the husband and a dish of plantain chips that were outstanding. We ordered an array of empanadas with rice and beans. Our favorite was the spicy chorizo but all of them were outstanding along with the spicy pico, avocado crema, chimichurri and chipotle sauces. The rice and beans are usually an afterthought for most restaurants but these were outstanding. The woman who waited on us was delightful and brought us a complimentary spritz at the end of our meal. It was delicious, made with prosecco, some type of lemon liqueur and the juice of the lulo (also known as naranjilla) fruit. We will definitely come back for more. read more

I was so excited when I heard Viva Empanadas was moving into the neighborhood. I've been a fan for a long time, and now that they are literally steps away from where I live I couldn't be happier. I love their vegetarian empanadas so much -- especially the D' Verde (that green plantain crust is everything) and the sweet guava and cheese (Albany already has mozz sticks with melba, this is just the Latin version and it's delicious). The side of rice and beans is great, very flavorful. My meat-eating partner has also enjoyed several meat dishes from here so I don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu. They also get bonus points from me for having truly soaked Tres leches, the best way to end a Latin American meal. I love what they've done with the space, it feels so fresh and modern. While service can be a bit slow, it seems they are trying to hire more people, and the ladies who are always there when we go in are incredibly kind and pleasant. Can't recommend this place enough. Downtown Albany is lucky to have them! read more

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Oh my god so good. These were exactly what I was looking for--just a quick bite for less than $15. The chicken was fantastic. Wish I got two of those, but a little cheese one also hit the spot. read more

Highly recommend this place for authentic Latin dishes. We started off with the half dozen assortment empanadas, which is a great sampler dish. The cuban beef empanada was my favorite; moist and flavorful. The chicken sofrito empanada could have used a tad bit more seasoning, but you can still taste the freshness. All of the empanadas are made in-house. I had the Rotisserie Chicken for my entree and it was delicious with a perfect blend of spices! It was served with yellow rice and beans. I was pleasantly surprised with the high quality and flavor. We then had the flan which was a perfect sweet end to the meal! All were great portion sizes. Service was very friendly and ambiance was relaxed. read more

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The best empanadas I've ever had, and I've sampled ones from all over. The dough is perfectly crisp without being too greasy, and great flavor/sauce options. The owner is a delightful human and puts so much detail and care into the menu and the food. The menu includes a great variety of really impressive Latin entree's as well. read more

We love Viva Empanadas! And while the empanadas are absolutely awesome, we like to come here for their ceviche and steak and seafood dishes. They have a great wine list - we love the Rioja! And great sangria and mojitos! The flavors are all spot on and very approachable for any picky eaters. I am gluten free and this is the widest range of gluten free foods available in downtown Albany! The staff is super friendly and helpful in deciding what to get and explaining each dish. And we always get their tres leches for dessert - it is our favorite! Definitely check them out for lunch or dinner when you are downtown! read more

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We really loved the atmosphere. The food was fantastic. The empanadas were amazing and the churros were so good. So many good flavors. Everything we ate was freshly made. We hope to go back in the future. Highly recommend!! read more

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Without a doubt, one of the most delicious restaurants I have ever been to. The empanadas were incredible. The chicken on top of the avocado salad was the most delicious, tender, juicy chicken I have ever eaten. The owner is an incredible chef who put so much thought and effort into her food. I cannot recommend this place enough read more

Viva Empanadas - Avocado salad with chicken and paella - Latin American Near Me - Albany, New York

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Pretty slow when I went in for lunch. But was greeted by the very friendly bartender and had lunch at thr bar. I tried the Chilean Pino and chicken sofrito empanadas. Both were excellent. The Chipotle sauce on the side had the perfect amount of heat and complemented both well. I had the Cuban sandwich as well which was delicious. Fries were perfectly crispy. Will definitely be back soon. read more

The food was delicious. The service was friendly. The restaurant is clean and beautiful. I would definitely go back. read more

Viva Empanadas - Peruvian roast chicken. - Latin American Near Me - Albany, New York

I did not expect this quality and type of restaurant in the area. Everything was beyond expectation, from the flavorful food to the service. Will definitely come back and recommend! Must try the empanadas paired with a glass of Prosseco, and I would go for the Churrasco or Paella. Finish off with the flan. read more

Viva has a real service problem. I've been here twice now. The first time was right after they opened, so I chalked it up to working out the kinks. Tried again and it was just as bad. We were the second table in the restaurant and it took 45 min for our food to come out. The rice and beans were cold. The server didn't check on us or refill drinks. We had to get up to pay the bill (otherwise we would have been there another hour) and on credit card checkout the tip was mandatory. read more

Everything was delicious. We ordered the mix n match empanadas. All were different crusts and different fillings and all were delicious as we're the dips. We also had the seafood paella which was incredibly tasty. Not to mention a beer and the classic sangria. Ambiance was cozy and well lit. Very clean and pretty inside. There's also a corner with a fireplace. Service was speedy. That said it was in the afternoon and not very busy at that time. Highly recommend. read more

I ordered their $12 lunch special, you can get 2 empanadas and it comes with yellow rice, black beans and pico. The spinach & cheese and their classic cheese is fantastic! My husband got the Cuban beef and spicy chorizo which you can't go wrong with. Plus their red sangria is to die for! They make everything in house and you can tell they're proud of what they create. I couldn't have asked for better service. Veronica was perfect the entire time and made some awesome suggestions! I'll definitely come back again. read more

Viva Empanadas - Latin American Near Me - Albany, New York

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This place has amazing empanadas and deserts. They also had attentive service , and we were never rushed. Great relaxed interior decor. read more

Viva Empanadas - Empanada sampler - Latin American Near Me - Albany, New York

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A must visit eatery in Albany!! Beautiful decor, friendly staff, great food - made fresh from scratch. We ordered tropical lemonade which was also made with multiple seasonal fruit pulps. Kind and friendly staff provided great service! Highly recommend! read more

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What a charming place to get excellent Latin American food in downtown Albany. Excellent flavors, authentic cuisine, and attentive service. I highly recommend this place for lunch or dinner! read more

Loved the skirt steak. Flavorful, tender, tasty. There is a gas fireplace in the corner which is very nice on a cold day in Albany. Get the table next to it. read more

Happened upon this restaurant as we were looking to grab dinner before a show at the Palace. It was packed, but they had one table for two open. We were greeted by friendly staff and our order was quickly taken. The passion fruit margarita and Malbec were outstanding, as were the ropa vieja and paella. We enjoyed the music and ambiance while we waited, and our server offered to process our check as we were trying to make an 8pm show. What a find! We plan to come back soon to try the empanadas and desserts. read more

Empanadas are deep fried. Service was poor as server was overextended. Noisy dining room - all hard surfaces.

The food was so bad. I should have known better seeing 5 tables leaving with their half finished food while I was waiting for mine ‍