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Empanada Man
Categories: Restaurants Pizza Restaurants Latin American Pizza, Latin American [Edit]
20761 Lake Forest DrLake Forest, CA 92630
(949) 855-9257
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 10 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 10 am - 10 pm
Sun 11 am - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
115 reviews for Empanada Man
Review Highlights
"I had the Chili Verde Pork and thought it was also..."
(in 10 reviews)
"My Spinach Cheese Empanada was fantastic."
(in 23 reviews)
"The Seven Heaven pizza was to die for."
(in 8 reviews)
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115 reviews in English
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Review from Kim D.
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
2/5/2012
Amazing. Delicious.
Kills off any worth of calorie-counting if you're into that.
If you are, this is a good place to be bad at least once... a day. -
Review from Kressler N.
Orange County, CA
12/26/2011 4 photos
I really like you Empanada Man! =)
My friends & I had a party for Christmas but decided to order all of the food to keep it simple. I always wanted to try Empanada Man & suggested it so we ordered three pizzas and two dozen empanadas to share between 8 people - it was more than enough food!
For the pizzas, we ordered:
-Vegetarian (mushrooms, olives, peppers, garlic, tomatoes) = looked really good but I did not try a piece; the vegetarians in our group seemed to enjoy it though =)
-Garlic Chicken (white sauce, mushrooms, red onion, garlic, sliced chicken, tomatoes) = good but I wish it had even more garlic flavor to it; the chicken was thinly sliced over the entire pizza instead of little cubes of chicken which I really liked. I would definitely order this again.
-Mucho Macho Meat (pepperoni, ham, sausage, meatball, crushed red peppers & jalapenos) = REALLY GOOD! I think this was my favorite of the evening...not because of all the meat but because of the spiciness to it! The meats were good...I would probably choose only one or two meats at most on my pizza - I will say that the meatballs/sausage/ham were favorites. The jalapenos & red pepper on top gave great flavor and from now on, I think I'm ordering my pizzas with jalapenos! =)
The empanadas were slightly larger than the palm of your hand & are baked. We ordered:
-Ham & cheese = boring...like having hot pockets
-Garlic potato = yummy! Really liked the spice here & the potatoes kept their shape but were really tender
-Saltenas = good! I was worried about the raisins but all the flavors came together nicely;
-Chicken = 2nd favorite of the night; I liked the corn inside - gave a nice balance to the saltiness.
-Beef = good but standard I think
-Chorizo & egg = Best of the night! I loved the spiciness but it was not overwhelming at all.
I really enjoyed the food...the pizzas were not like the ones you would get from a chain-pizza outlet. The ingredients were fresh & I enjoyed the hint of spice & garlic in everything. I definitely recommend! =) -
Review from Peilin N.
Lake Forest, CA
What an unassuming little hole-in-the-wall! Honestly wasn't expecting much from this place, but wow was I wrong! I was filling up gas at the Chevron just down the street and smelled a wonderful smell...
We followed our noses and found Empanada Man!
The spinach and cheese empanadas were out of this world. The beef empanadas were flaky on the outside, and moist on the inside - with tons of flavor! Don't forget to use the mayo hot sauce and the basil olive oil mix that they have!
YUM!!! -
Review from Bonnie H.
Mission Viejo, CA
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
love these baked handmade empanadas! I want a dozen! I had the Chicken and it was delicious! Super clean place with friendly and quick staff :]
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Review from Nick M.
Trabuco, CA
11/6/2011
Even though The Empanada Man can be a lil' Soup Nazi'ish when it comes to minimal amounts of his side-sauce(s), there's nothing that says we can't follow our own taste-buds and create something to accentuate of the fantastic flavors that YOU decide to have waiting for you in your very own empanadas.
And, seriously - no disprect to the family-friend's at Inka Mama's - there's only one Empanada Man.
No matter the time of day or meal (soon to be) at-hand, the Empanada Man should be part of your plan.
P.S. Did I mention his Chilean wine selection isn't too shabby either? -My bad.
Cheers. -
Review from Phoenix A.
Los Angeles, CA
9/17/2011
Finally, the answer to what I have missed about living down the street from Grand Casino Bakeries in L.A.! Empanada Man!
So I have been here 2 days in a row to enjoy those cute little pockets of epic flavor.
The pepperoni & sausage emps are so far my faves. I've tried the chicken, ground beef, potato, & ham & cheese and all are good. Tonight I ordered the antipasto salad and it, too, was good, fresh tasting.
I really like the spicy fancy sauce. The chimichirri sauce is just a bit too oily for me so I just looked at it.
The prices are very very reasonable. $10 will get you a meal. They deliver, but I am out of their range so we told the guy that we would meet their driver at Alicia & the 5.
Eh, next time, I think I want to eat there. There are home made pastas and pizza on the menu.
Of course, it will be orders of empanadas with a side of pasta. -
Review from Anh N.
Anaheim, CA
8/31/2011
A clean & humble establishment, Empandada Man delivers little pastry treats that are adequate but none too amazing. Like many, I visited based on Yelp recommendations.
Very slow business on a Tuesday evening around 7:00 PM. I think this is the kind of place where the food benefits from fast turn around. I was one of only 2 people waiting for food and based on wait time, I assume the Empanadas are made fresh but they didn't taste "fresh" out of the fryer somehow.
Had the original beef & chicken flavors. They are decently made, tastes fine but to get a filling meal you'll need minimum 3 and perhaps 5 for a healthy appetite. At $2 each I don't see a good value. Fair at best.
My overall feeling for Empanada Man is that it's a nice place for a meal that is somewhat different from usual fare but nothing memorably delicious for the $ spent. -
Review from andrea v.
Had to try the empanadas based on Yelp friends' reviews.
Maybe it was an off night.
Kind of dissapointing.
Kind of small.
Kind of burned.
After verifying that they don't use lard, I tried the dairy-free vegetarian option:
Garlic Potato empanada (red potatoes, garlic, tomato sauce, onion and spices): 3/5 decent flavor, but not enough seasoning, a little bland.
Wifey tried the Spinach and Cheese empanada (white sauce, onions, red peppers,hard-boiled eggs & spices). It sounded good except for the egg.
Also ordered the garlic bread. Sorry, but I make better garlic bread from scratch better than this in my sleep (practically).
Sorry, but two stars for the food. I really have had better.
An extra star because they have some cool products for sale in the restaurant and it seems like a decent family run place.Listed in: Yelp made me do it
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Review from Rocky H.
San Juan Capistrano, CA
9/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've driven by for 3 years but never stopped. My loss. Finally, I stopped because of a severe empanada craving. I ordered a dozen to take home and it was all I could do to keep from ripping the box open right in the car. The smell was comfort food goodness.
I wondered on the way home how you would tell the difference between the meats. Turn out they put different shapes on the pastry. Beef has one horn, chicken has the seam turned up. They even provide pictures so you can make your way quickly to your favorite.
The family was skeptical when they saw the pizza box (standard carrying method for a dozen) but were delighted with that first bite.
My favorite were the saltenas; the wife's also. Getting a bite with a hint of sweetness from the raisins just makes it.
My daughter's favorite was the chicken. Of course with ketchup.
Great pastry, moist and great flavor.
Based on the pizza reviews it won't be long before I get back. -
Review from Allyson M.
Irvine, CA
7/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Our team was having a potluck, and I wanted to bring something that wasn't packaged in an airtight container or a teeth rottener. I was going to bring some cultural culinary flavor by bringing in some buy 'n' fry (i.e., lumpia), but I just wasn't in the mood to endure oil burns or face the cleanup.
Enter Empanada Man.
I love these little pockets of meaty, veggie goodness. I bookmarked this place for a while based on the great reviews from fellow Yelpers and decided to finally come in.
I was impressed with the interior. It's very modern and much bigger than I expected.
I ordered a dozen empanadas -- beef, chicken, Hawaiian, and spinach and cheese. I also ordered a couple of shredded beef ones for the bf and me to stuff our faces with in the privacy of our home.
The empanadas are shaped differently so you can determine which flavor it is. They even provide a chart, which is very cool.
So, how did they taste? Well, I'm assuming that they tasted pretty darn good considering there was only one empanada left at the end of the day.
I'll definitely be back to try their pizza and the other numerous flavors on the menu. -
Review from Cali K.
Lake Forest, CA
11/25/2011
LOVE! Totally agree about The Empanada Man being a little Soup Nazi'ish with the side sauces (which are amazing) but that's my only real complaint. Great variety and leftovers heat up really well. Bummed I didn't try them out sooner!
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Review from Kris H.
Mission Viejo, CA
9/1/2011
Holy scrumptiousness this place is wonderful.
We found this place on yelp and decided to give it a try. And we were amazed!
-The empanadas were mouth watering.
- The garlic cheese bread was fantastic.
- Even the ranch was great!
They have two specialty sauces that are insanely good! One spicy and one garlic/pesto flavor. And even better, they deliver!!! Up next, delivery of the 2 foot wide pizza :-)
Yum Yum Yum
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! -
Review from George U.
Irvine, CA
Updated - 7/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
You know, it's not the worst nor is it the best, but I like the place enough to come back due to convenience.
The place isn't great for sit down and enjoy a dinner, but of course, that's my opinion. I tend to come here wearing basketball shorts and a messed up hairdo, order my items, watch some CNN (or whatever they have on the tele), pick up my items and go home. The environment is nice, but I'd probably never take a date here.
The food is good. Now, I've had empanadas before, so I'm not going to say this place is the best. I tend to enjoy Peruvian empanadas better, but this place is UNIQUE because of the type of empanadas they have. There's close to or over 10 unique flavors.
Just to let you all know, their MEATBALL sub is fantastic. Nothing fancy, just delicious and simple. I crave their meatball sub from time to time.
The service is...eh. They stand behind a counter, call out your name (or deliver your food to you) and then take off. There's not much to it.
Yes, I come back here. Yes, I like it. Yes, I'm rather blah-seh about it, too.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/26/2008
The empanada's are a bit small, but tasty. I like eating here, but sometimes I feel like I gain… Read more »
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Review from David M K.
Irvine, CA
8/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Per a yelper's review, I went and tried the seven heaven small pizza and a spinach and cheese empanada.
I gotta say, the pizza has a lot of flavor packed in a small pizza, with overload of toppings, which I love. It's kind of like the combo/supreme pizza level 2.
Since I ordered it to-go and brought it home to eat, the foods weren't oven-fresh, but the pizza was very good but the empanada was a bit cold by the time I finished the pizza, but was still good.
Try this place if you're feeling adventurous and want to get some good pizza.
btw, make sure to use the 15% off pizza coupon by checking in! -
Review from Jason B.
El Toro, CA
8/23/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Empanadas are out of this world. Probably my favorite place to eat.
The beef empanadas are the best ones.
Oh and btw, they have the best pizza in town. -
Review from Dan H.
Updated - 3/19/2011
As has been previously reported over and over.....Great Empanadas. But what blew me away yesterday was their awesome minestrone soup. I haven't had minestrone this good in a restaurant since my friends Ed and Franca closed Sabatino 19 in HB many years ago. De-frikken-lish.
Edith and I both got the #1 special: 3 empanadas, choice of soup, green salad, or potato salad, and a soda, all for $7.99+ tax. Great deal. My chardonnay was more than drinkable and a bargain at $3.75. Great deal too. Since the empanadas have all been raved about already, I'll just make one comment. Even though Edith is a Mexicana she doesn't care for spicy food, and the chorizo and egg ones had jalapeno listed as an ingredient. She said she barely tasted any. Typical for SOC I guess.
This was my 1st time dining in here, and it was nice and relaxing with prompt service. If you work nearby you'll def be back at your desk within an hour. They have 2 flat screens, on this day 1 with sports and 1 with CNN. Not a comfy kinda place one would care to linger at, but chill enough to enjoy your meal and go.
Another place in SOC that is changing my attitude regarding this part of the world. Doubt if I'd ever want to live here, but as "they" say, its a nice place to visit. Occasionally.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/18/2009
EM is waaaay the other side of the world from me, but have a friend that lives close by. I have… Read more »
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Review from Kelley U.
Thought about getting some empanadas today and looked at the full menu at Empanada Man. Discovered they had milanesa sandwiches, which are a favorite of the ours. BF and I ordered a beef and a chicken milanesa sandwich and split them so we could try both. Who would have thought a place that is well known for their pizza and yummy empanadas would now make my favorite milanesa sandwich. They were awesome, incredibly flavorful! So excited that there is a local place for us now to get a great milanesa sandwich.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/12/2011
After reading fellow Yelp friends reviews on this place, I have been anxious to try Empanada Man,… Read more »
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Review from Ritchie B.
Lake Forest, CA
10/18/2011
Just ate lunch there.... Empanadas are good size for the price & taste AWESOME! Also had the antipasto, excellent as well!
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Review from Michelle M.
Lake Forest, CA
Simply amazing! Those two words are all you need to know about this place because it's just that good!
I've had this place bookmarked for months (literally) and have been itching to try it for even longer thanks to all the rave reviews by my fellow Yelpers. I finally got around to trying it this past Friday evening and it sure didn't disappoint!
I browsed their online menu before I left work and decided what I was going to order (one small Seven Heaven Pizza and one Spinach and Cheese Empanada). I called them on the way to my car and placed a To-Go order and they informed me that my order would be ready in about 15 minutes. Sweet--just the amount of time it'll take me to drive from work to Empanada Man.
Walked in about 15 minutes later and was greeted by the most friendly cashier I've ever come across. I paid (total came to $11 and some change) and she let me know that my order would be ready in about 2-5 minutes, which was not a biggy. As I waited, I "checked in" to the establishment on my fancy smartphone....and JUST because I checked in at this location, I will get 15% off my next order of either a M or L pizza--score! I will be visiting soon just because of that! As I waited, I took in the restaurant. They have two plasma TVs playing (one a sports game, the other news), a decent size selection of wine and assorted other drinks and a spotlessly clean dining area.
After I got my food and got home, I finally got to try these good eats. The Seven Heaven pizza was to die for! Topped with tomatoes, green peppers, sausage, pepperoni, olives and garlic--this pizza hit my taste buds like no other! So yummy. Plus, the crust wasn't too thick or too thin, it was just right! The small pizza is 4 pieces total--if you're hungry enough, you could eat the whole thing, but it can be easily split between two people.
My Spinach Cheese Empanada was fantastic. This was the first Empanada I ever tasted, so I didn't know what to expect, but it didn't disappoint. It's like a dessert for pizza! LOVE it!! It was cooked just right, the spinach and cheese were nice and warm and the outside pastry type crust was to die for! I'll be trying more of these soon.
On a side note--I noticed that as of 1/1/11, Empanada Man will no longer be taking coupons from http://restaurant.com--sorry to everyone that loves this website!!
I for sure will be coming back here soon. I'm in love! Cheers!!Listed in: The Unexpected
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Review from Krista R.
5/7/2011
The kid and I discovered empanadas at an Argentinian restaurant, while living in Japan. (Many foreigners open ma-and-pa restaurants in the Land of the Rising Sun.) The stuffed pastries there were gargantuan but they were also rockin' expensive.
One taste of Empanada Man's delicacies and I was quickly reminded of these little bites of heaven from Latin America. Cannot wait to try their pizza! -
Review from chelsea m.
Anaheim, CA
5/21/2011
Located in a strip mall on Lake Forest Drive as you make your way south from Foothill Ranch, Empanada Man certainly stands out from the surrounding "fast food" joints. The interior reminds you of a pizzeria. As you walk up to the counter, you are cheerfully greeted and in awe as you try to decide what to get from pizza, to empanadas, to sandwiches. Just like chocolatiers make certain designs for different chocolates, Empanada Man has certain crimping styles for the different types of empanadas. They include a photo legend so you can identify each flavor. It's an ingenious idea.
Let's start with the Chorizo and Eggs Empanadas. They are stuffed with beef chorizo, potato, egg, and jalapenos. The flavor combination is divine! The chorizo melds superbly with the potato and the egg and the jalapeno lending a little spice. Thumbs up with 5 stars! -
Review from Peter C.
Irvine, CA
2/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was hoping to bring some unique side dish to an evening get-together, so this was the perfect reason for me to finally get over to Empanada Man. I will say that I was a bit surprised to find the place empty on a Saturday at noon, but like many other mall strip eateries, this place probably caters more towards the weekday lunch and evening crowd. Not a great start, but that didn't deter me from getting me some of these empanadas that I had heard about for months.
Decided to order a dozen empanadas after getting an idea of the size of each of them. Not very big at all, but they aren't that far off from the other empanadas I've tried. The great thing, as mentioned by some of the other reviews, is that Empanada Man has such a wide selection of empanadas ranging from the more traditional flavors, such as beef, chicken, and saltenas, to empanadas that combine the tastes of other popular foods, such as chorizo and egg, pepperoni and sausage, corn chowder, Hawaiian, spinach and cheese, and ricotta with mushrooms.
When ordering by the dozen, you get to choose up to 4 different types of empanadas. I ordered the beef, chicken, saltenas (combination of beef and chicken along with other ingredients), and the chili verde pork. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that there's quite a bit put into the making of these empanadas, meaning that you aren't just going to get a couple of chunks of chicken inside the chicken empanada. The ingredients for the chicken empanada also includes "sweet corn, red & green peppers, onions & herbs".
Since this was for an evening event, I was able to get them un-heated, but pre-cooked. It was very easy to reheat with the very simple and effective oven instructions provided.
As for the quality of the empanadas...having to heat up the empanadas ourselves surprisingly didn't have too much of an impact it seemed, unless they are that much better if cooked at the restaurant. They were nice and crispy on the outside and not greasy at all on the surface. All of the goodness and juices were sealed inside by the combination of ingredients. Juicy, moist, and extremely flavorful. The chimichurri sauce was the perfect compliment. There was also another sauce that was pretty good as well, but I kept going back to the chimichurri sauce. I probably had 2.5 empanadas and that was far less than what I wanted to eat, but I have to tame the monster in "public".
Bottom line: 4 stars! Good stuff. Will definitely come back again to try the other selections of empanadas.Listed in: Best Hole-in-the-Wall Joints!
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Review from Michael V.
Mission Viejo, CA
6/5/2011
We finally decided to try Empanada Man, and a big reason was because they deliver. For this reason, the 2 1/2 stars bumps up to 3 stars. We ordered the Seven Heaven pizza, buffalo wings, a ricotta/mushroom empanada, and a chili verde empanada.
The person taking our order was very friendly, and so was the person delivering the grub. The pizza was par at best, I think I've had better frozen pizza. The wings were absolutely lousy. They were breaded and very soft. And the empanadas were doughy on the inside and not flaky at all.
We were so disappointed, especially after we read all of these wonderful reviews.
Was it a bad day for them? I'm not sure. We may give them another shot, but only with the pizza and empanadas. There is no salvaging the wings. -
Review from Mike F.
Long Beach, CA
3/29/2011
Quality was really good and my only knoc on this place is the size of the empanadas. Im used to the Argentina Empanada in Venice and when I saw these, I thought they were appetizers! Filling, along with a salad and drink but still felt like I needed the "wow" factor.
Owner was very polite and kind. Not disappointed, but not overly stuffed either.
Enjoy -
Review from Jennifer S.
Lake Forest, CA
9/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
The girl that took our order was very rude. She made us feel like we were bothering her. Food was OK. Not sure if it would have tasted better if we didn't feel like we should eat and get out of there. Will not be coming back
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Review from Eric T.
Aliso Viejo, CA
11/17/2010
D*e*l*i*c*i*o*u*s!!!
Had the Seven Heaven pizza....oh my!!! The garlic on the pizza really made this pizza one of the better pizzas I have had in a long time. In fact, I could taste some sort of delicious seasoning on EVERY topping (including the vegetables - tomatoes, green onions, red onions, etc). The crust was also very good...reminiscent of NY style crust (not quite)...I actually ate all the crust up. This isn't a bargain pizza, but not ridiculous expensive either (~$10+ med/lg).
There were other garlicky dishes and pizzas I can't wait to try!!! Wifey had a few empanadas (what I was supposed to originally come here for lol). She preferred the beef styled empanadas more than the pork. I had the Chili Verde Pork and thought it was also delicious!!! The texture first, oddly reminded me of salmon roe??? But don't take my description the wrong way...it was not fishy at all. The Chili Verde Pork was very flavorful and encrusted by very good, baked-right crust. I thought the chimichurri was tangy, slightly spicy, and tasty. It is something like green chili paste married with olive oil dip from Macaroni Grill. It maybe slightly heavy for some tastes.
Service was excellent from the young woman that helped us!!! I was slightly apprehensive reading other reviews about the service, but did not encounter any issues at all.
I also have tried Empanada's Place. The difference between these two places include: baked at Empanada Man (EM) vs fried at Empanada's Place (EP), fist size portions at EM while EP portions were larger, delicious home made desserts at EP!!! I prefer EM but EP is nothing to scoff at either (love their desserts).
I will definitely be back for more!!! Droolingly delicious!!! -
Review from Cindy C.
Irvine, CA
12/4/2010
We stopped by here after finding it on yelp. Decor is typical of any mom and pop shop. The people were friendly.
We tried the following: spinach and cheese, shrimp, pork, beef, chicken, saltenas. I like the pork and chicken the best. Dab on some chimichurri sauce, and it is super yummy.
this is probably some of the better empanadas I've had. Especially since I'm a super picky eater. -
Review from Minh D.
1/28/2011 1 photo
So my boss offered to buy lunch for all of us, so I suggested we go here so I can order and try an abundance of empanadas. Of course he agreed and I get to order whatever I wanted.
I tried beef, spinach/cheese, shrimp, chili verde pork, shredded steak, and saltenas (Beef, chicken, peas, potatoes, carrots, raisins, celery, onions, hard-boiled eggs, olives & spices.).
Also got a pizza, seventh heaven (Tomato sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, Italian sausage, black olives, red onions, green peppers, fresh garlic & fresh tomatoes).
I absolutely love chimichurri sauce, and they provided plenty of that. My favorite empanadas were the beef, spinach/cheese, and saltenas.
The pizza was above average at best, it was lacking something but I couldn't figure that out. The dough wasn't the greatest.
Best part was I didn't have to pay any of it! -
Review from Allison P.
Newport Beach, CA
1/21/2011
I came here today at 11:15 to try the empanada and saltena's. My friend and I ordered a dozen to-go. We tried the shrimp, chile verde pork, ham & cheese, and saltena. They were ok, but I've had better. =(
The pastry reminded me of a pot sticker, really thin and greasy. The filling wasn't any better.
I usually buy my saltenas from La Rancherita Bakery on Westminster in Santa Ana. They are made with a sweet dough and they are packed. -
Review from Kelly J.
Lake Forest, CA
I was so surprised when this place came up when I searched for Pizza in my area.
I checked out the menu online and decided we're get a mexican pizza to try, a mushroom pizza (a staple in our house) and some empanadas (since I'd never had them). We ordered Shredded Steak, Chicken and Hawaiian Empanada's.
It's been a while since we ordered but I do remember it was a bit on the pricey side for what we were getting.
The mushroom pizza was just okay. The mexican pizza was very good. The empanada's were okay. Our favorite was the chicken. Is it bad that we probably won't order empanada's again, but just get the pizza? -
Review from Melissa F.
Fullerton, CA
7/29/2010
While taking advantage of a typical sunny Southern Cali day, I did a Yelp search for Pizza, and low and behold, Empanada Man pops up as the closest location. Whoa, Empanada =Pizza?!? Since when!? Well, too bad for me, didn't end up eating there. Next time!
The day finally arrived, OK, pizza was still out of the question, but really, its in the title, Empanada! So my friend and I decide this will be an appetizer, we're thinking its just empanadas, no pizza, no pasta, just empanadas.
The guy behind the counter was very helpful and nice. He gave us a back ground of the Empanada's, whats everyone's favorite, etc. Our order was up (to go) and it was in a pizza box and the most awesome part, it had pictures of the different flavors! Each flavor (about 14) is cut/folded in a certain way so they can be easily identified, IE, the devil looking one was one flavor and the rope edged one was another, so no "what empanada was that one?!" Why couldn't my box of See's chocolates come with pictures!! They even give you re-heating instructions! OK, so it doesn't take much to amuse me. We got 4 flavors.
Spinach and Cheese- By far my favorite of the 4! Lots of garlic and spices blended together for the perfect bite.
Beef - Good, but missing some flavor
Chile Verde Pork- Not a huge fan of their chile verde sauce, but also by this time, I can feel myself getting full...
Saltenas- Had awesome flavor, the right amount of meat, would have been my favorite but it had raisins, sorry for all you raisin lovers, but thats the deal breaker for me, not in food.
Surprisingly enough, I was full and after eating only 3 full empanadas.
Prices are pretty reasonable, 1.89 for one, 10.79 for 6, and 17.99 for 12. You can get up to 4 flavors for the 12 pack. Gotta come back... -
Review from Geraldinne E.
Santa Ana, CA
12/2/2010
I've been here twice and have had the following: spinach w/cheese, hawaiian, ricotta w/mushrooms, and salteñas. The last being my favorite since I'm really into opposite flavor combinations. It accomplishes sweet and salty really well. The spinach w/cheese is also really good. I do have to admit that I expected more of the ricotta w/mushrooms, but no, it was just salty. Also, the dipping sauce that they give you for them is really good.
However, I feel like they're slightly over priced. The empanadas are about 3-4 medium sized bites big and they're almost $2 a pop. I suppose that's the south oc price but I can't help but feel slightly ripped off. Especially when the flavors aren't all there. -
Review from J.P. A.
Irvine, CA
1/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
I get coupons all of the time for this place and heard quite a bit about it. At last, I *finally* gave in to the Empanada Man. We ordered cheese pizza with sausage topping - pretty basic, right? Even then it was quite tasty. If you're looking for NY style, this comes pretty close. If you have room for dessert, try their dulce de leche goodness. Mmmm.
Now I'm going to have to go back to try either the specialty pizzas or the empanadas... -
Review from David v.
7/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
Looking for a great lunch at an affordable price? Empanada Man has got you covered. The food is simple and yet tastes oh so good. I got the lunch special for $8 which comes with 3 empanadas, your choice of salad (potato salad), and a drink. At first, I was a little worried that it wouldn't be enough food since the empanadas were so small, but combined with the potato salad, I definitely left satisfied.
We ended up splitting the empanadas so we could try a variety of them. Here is what we got:
* Chorizo and Eggs - very good and very tasty
* Beef - excellent
* Ricotta with Mushrooms - pretty good
* Chili Verde Pork - I enjoyed this but I was hoping this would be a knock out, but fell short.
* Saltenas - pretty good as well.
* Hawaiian - alright
This place is especially good for lunch or if you want to do take out for like getting food for a party or pot luck. The only down side is the guy behind the counter is a little lacking in the customer service department. It might take you a while just to get acknowledged and event more to place your order.... happened to a number of people came in while we were eating. Overall 5 star! -
Review from Tin S.
San Jose, CA
Empanadas - The speciality here. try it and you will like it.
I liked the food and this place deserves a 4 star, but removing one because of
1) Poor Ambience
2) Stingy Management - They gave 3 Napkins to 5 people. When I asked more they gave me 2 more.
Now since you know what to expect you can go ahead and enjoy good food.
Veg Pizza was Very good. Chicken Pizza was OK. -
Review from Carolina G.
Torrance, CA
8/16/2011
AWESOME!! Me and my boyfriend came here to try the pizza and empanadas and I was definitely impressed with this place!
I ordered a 'small' personal pizza, the "Seven Heaven" and my boyfriend ordered a half dozen empanadas (two of the Chorizo&Egg, two Mushroom&Riccotta, and two Garlic Potato empanadas). It was a little pricey for both our orders (about $20 total) but definitely worth it!
The Seven Heaven pizza is DELICIOUS, it is like a Super Supreme pizza, and with crispy dough and delicious flavor. The only thing I would change is the garlic (ask for none), since I am not a huge fan of minced garlic on my pizza.
Out of the empanadas that my boyfriend ordered, I liked the Mushroom/Riccotta best (the Chorizo and Egg was actually drier that I anticipated). I'd like to come back and try different ones, though. I also saw on their menu that they offer Alfajores from Argentina!! (Impressive, considering how I almost never come across these delicious shortbread and caramel cookies!)
Also, the service and locale are great too--parking is easy to find here (plenty of open spaces in the lot), and the cashier person showed great customer service by being attentive, bringing us out our food and being super friendly! He even ran after us when we left our boxed-up leftover on the table (oops!).
Lastly, the inside decor and ambience is good; the tables are clean, they have two TVs, and they even have a section of goods for sale, including real Argentine Yerba Mate tea and Argentine Malbec wine! :D
Overall, I would recommend this place and I can't wait to come back! -
Review from Christopher G.
Fullerton, CA
8/19/2010 1 Check-in Here
The wife and I made the journey from Orange to Lake Forrest to the try this place out. We took the 241 and had to pay a toll which was a bummer. We arrived and there was lots of room to park. We were the only people there so service was pretty good. We ordered a half dozen empanadas. 2 chicken, 2 potato and 2 shrimp. The wife bought a Saltenda (sp??) one as well.
The chicken was excellent, we both enjoyed the flavor inside and the crust was pretty good. They were a little smaller then I had thought but for the price it made sense.
The potato was ok. Not a lot going on flavor wise and it wasn't hot all the way through.
The shrimp was the out least favorite.
These are not on par with Empanada Place in Costa Mesa. Totally different look, taste and feel. -
Review from Kelly G.
4/14/2010
Thank you Yelpers for the recommendation! I would have no clue that this plaza even existing, although it's actually only about 7 minutes from my house! 5 stars for this "category" or restaurant. Yes, I know it's not a fancy pants place, actually, the complete opposite, but for what it is, 5 stars!
I was surprised how large the emanadas actually were, between my sister and I we ordered 12, and ended up with four left over. Trust me, I tried...I was way too full! Took the try four flavors option with the Hawaiian, potato, sausage and peperoni and ham and cheese.
My favorite by far was the Hawaiian, and I'm actually not too found of Hawaiian pizza. There was a little kick to the Hawaiian, which was nice. I do love how they shape the edges differently so you can distinguish between the flavors.
I was not such a huge fan of the potato and cheese (maybe too much of a starch overload) or the ham and cheese, which I was surprised since that seems to be one of the favorites.
I will definitely be back for a casual (and cheap) meal....or to bring some home for a dinner/movie at home night. Yey, I'm so excited for this discovery! They included a coupon on our to-go box so I'll definitely remember to hunt down a coupon for next time I come, which I hope will be soon! -
Review from Marc L.
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
6/11/2010
Empanada Man is a little best-kept-secret for south OC. I've been coming for years and have found that most people have no clue it even exists, or what the heck an "empanada" is. Those people I have recommended this place to are always surprised at how good it is.
Get the empanadas. I have tried a few pizzas and they are good, even really good, but their niche is really the empanadas. They are cooked to perfection and are a nice fist-size for the perfect quick-grab of some good food. I recommend the Saltenas, but then again I am Latin and I love the combination of hard-boiled egg, meat, raisins, etc. If you're more of a plain-food, "gringo-esque" kinda person, go with the beef or chile verde empanadas.
Each kind of empanada (I think they have 11 or 12) have a unique little "sign" made of pastry so you can identify them. The beef will have braided edges; the chicken, a plain edge. The saltena, a little pastry "tail." It's a fun little "try-to-guess-the-empanada" thing.
Some yelpers have complained about the owner not being very friendly. I find that he is just quiet. If you talk to him in Spanish, everything changes. And his wife is one of the most delightful people in the restaurant business. She's awesome. She slips in extra goodies with my order, or gives me special coupons, makes recommendations, coupon deals after they expire; in other words, she cares about her customers. Like most Latins, she enjoys talking with her customers, and when you speak with her in Spanish, well it's even better. She and her husband run a great little restaurant.
A quick word about the green chimichurri sauce that comes with the empanadas: it's unbelievably good. not spicy but flavorful. It's a little carnival for your tastebuds. Trust me, try the sauce.
So come for the empanadas. Get yourself two or three, then dip them in the Chimmichurri sauce and experience what Heaven will be like. I often run in and get a to-go order of a couple along with an icy soda and some extra chimichurri. It's unbeatable!
Tip: Go to their website and ALWAYS print the coupons. They make a good deal even better. Also watch for them in the local junk mailer ads. It's worth it. -
Review from Jennifer A.
Pomona, CA
7/19/2010
I am so excited to find the Empanadas Man and so close to my work too! For a couple of weeks, I thought about stopping every day and drooled over the online menu until one fateful day I found a coupon stuck on my windshield. Score! It must have been a sign from God.
After work I promptly drove over and placed my order for a dozen. I tried the beef, saltenas, cream corn and the pork chile verde. With my 20% off coupon, I think it was about $15? My order came up very quickly and I started my long drive home. I couldn't resist and gobbled one up in the car. I was too busy driving to determine which was which by the intricate folds, but I ended up with a pork chile verde. This actually ended up as my favorite flavor. It was very juicy and flavorful with a light, crisp crust. The empanadas here are baked, not fried, so the pastry is a lot lighter.
At home, we enjoyed all of the flavors - even my Grandma who ate 2 of the cream corns! I also liked the chimichurri and there was another sauce that was almost like a pinkish spicy mayo. Both were very good with the empanadas.
I could have probably eaten half a dozen at once, which could start getting a little pricey, but I think I ate 3 or 4 over the course of a couple days. Definitely not an "everyday" food, but I'm looking forward to coming back and trying out some more flavors!
