- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
House of Empanadas
Category: Restaurants Latin American Latin American [Edit]
1220 Bute StVancouver, BC V6E 1N4
Neighbourhood: West End
(604) 669-8977
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10 am - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
21 reviews for House of Empanadas
Review Highlights
-
"Oh and that Chimichurri sauce is divine." In 6 reviews -
"Filipino Spicy Pork = fusion, yes, but damn, delish." In 5 reviews -
"...Yl3g-qpQ) - everything from "traditional" beef empanada to..." In 2 reviews
Loading...
21 reviews in English
-
Review from honky t.
Vancouver, BC
10/31/2011
Great well priced empanadas!
I like the mini mango...addictive!
Speed up the service...and we'll be lining out the door!
(remember, many of us are illegally parked and need to get out fast!) -
Review from Victoria R.
Vancouver, BC
5/22/2012
I'm Argentinian, so I take my empanada quite seriously. I make them in the Porteno-style from scratch, and have long searched for a restaurant that produces them, so I'm giving myself some license for elitism here.
They were all right. The dough was a little on the thick side (it should be thin and flakey if you're doing the baked style, and for the deep fried version.. well, who cares, it's deep fried!
I wasn't overly impressed with the fillings, but probably because I've eaten my grandmother's and they don't hold a candle to her 70 years of cooking experience. Like I said initially, they were all right. Just all right.
I will agree with others that it's a bit on the pricey side. Makes me think I should start selling my home made ones since people are willing to pay that much!
The location is small (Davie one) and wasn't really anything to write home about. If I need a latin fix and I'm too lazy to make my own, I might consider stopping in here.. but that's only because I have yet to find another empanaderia. -
Review from Deniz T.
5/21/2012
One of my favorite spots in the city is Mary's diner on Davie street for various reasons. I always take a seat close to the back, by the window facing Bute St to get the wi-fi signal from the office. Not that I am saving lives or contributing something useful with my computer work, which usually ends up to be Craigslist; convertibles, tropical jobs and Married with Children DVDs, and then some... House of Empanadas always catches my eye right across the street.
A rough Sunday morning I headed to Mary's again to get the morning cure. It is just the season switching from cold to hot, and very hot on that particular day. Leather jacket, sweater, helmet, jeans, 25C, a heavy hungover, bad bad stomach. I parked my beloved Vespa Rossa just to realize; I can not handle any coffee or food now. I need something doughy, close your eyes, stuff it in your mouth, push it down, take the jacket off, go for a ride around Stanley Park and pass out under a tree until somewhat presentable with the lowest standards or even just able to talk without worrying or scaring anybody...
This particular pastry reminds me of Raw Pie or Tatar Pie of Turks, which I used to enjoy with my sister when she studied in the city of Eskisehir. The pie shop would only have one type, beef with onions, and strictly no cutlery (they would get upset if you ask for it), yeast dough, no sauce, shallow fried, wonderful little crispy blisters on the outside, inside wall of the pastry would be almost steamed, shiny and lubed from the moister added to the filling, which is a spectacular example of succulency. When it comes to old world eating, nobody orders a single pie and attacks gently. You bite half a pie at a time, rolled and go through 4-6 of them just because it is ridiculously delish!
Oppss, here me again, standing by the cash register thinking about those things with a blank and a white face, while the poor cashier is trying to talk to me. I had no idea what she said, but certain she did not like me. Anyhow, put a smile on, use the bass tones of speech and form a kind statement; you would like to purchase a beef pie. She relaxes acknowledging that I am not a homeless guy that is after the chimichurri or the tip jar. As she packages, they are assembling the pies right there from scratch.
I get it to go and stop at the beach. A good size pie for the price, heavy for the weight, good sign in this case. One bite... two bites... dip it in miniature container of chimichurri, another bite. Let's start with the dough, the greasy reminiscent on my palate tells me there most be some form of shortening involved, I think. Outside is very dry and no layers... It almost feels like it needs a higher temperature to bake and less time. Maybe somebody just turned the timer off and didn't say anything. I am not expert on empanadas, but really do not get, are they after the tenderness of the dough which would be fat addition to shorten the gluten strands. But why work it so much to get a weird, chewy break. Might have been tasted better if deep fried. Anyhow; the filling is well seasoned, generous and cooked all right. Oh god, is that a raisin? Not a fan of dried fruits in savory dishes, good cooks can work wonders, but mostly a disaster in many cases. And surprisingly another thing in the filling that I could not identify. Chimichurri was good enough, but the to go container was just right for the first three bites, not enough. The bad thing, it does not eat well without a sauce, dry. And they should give the sauce jar a stir before scooping it out so that herbage and oil levels balances out. Mine was mostly the oil part. There are many other choices of this pie offered both savory and sweet. All this aside, I really do appreciate that everything is made in the house, just by looking kitchen's energy, I could easily tell, they have been working hard, keeping it very tidy and clean.
I would not mind trying another one sometime, but I don't think I am going to wake up to an empanada crave very soon. -
Review from Joshua N.
5/18/2012
Delicious product, but I think the price point is a little too high. $3.50 + tax = $4.42 for (admittedly, a really great) little meat-filled pastry. One isn't really very much food, but if I get two then I've spent $9, which is just way too much for this kind of thing.
There are many varieties, including miniature dessert versions for $1.50 each. I could understand buying a whole bunch of these to cater an event or for a dinner party or something like that, which is probably the market they're aiming for anyway. -
Review from Megan S.
4/20/2012
I'm certainly no empanada expert - this was actually my first time eating an empanada from a place that seemed to know what they're doing.
Every other empanada that I've eaten in my life has been made by yours truly, altering an old recipe from Gourmet magazine to suit my own tastes (marinated tofu instead of meat, throwing in some red peppers and peas, etc) and topping it all off with a homemade chimichurri (it takes about 30 seconds in a food processor, no biggie).
I came here with high expectations - possibly unfairly high. I suppose I was expected to be smacked across the face (metaphorically-speaking) with a "REAL EMPANADA!!!" that would put my kitchen creations to shame.
That didn't really happen.
I ordered a traditional beef that seriously lacked in flavour. It tasted mostly like unseasoned beef and required a solid drowning in chimichurri "sauce" (more on that later). I also ordered the salmon nicoise because I couldn't for the life of me imagine what the hell that would taste like (and here I was thinking I was making "fusion-y" empanadas!). The nicoise ended up being my hands-down favourite - smoked salmon, potatoes, green beans with a light provencal-style flavour (sort of herby-mustardy). Really good, I could've eaten two of those alone.
And speaking of eating two, I had the wrong impression from reading these yelp reviews that one empanada was a meal. Maybe if you're not a big eater, but I certainly needed two!
Now, the chimichurri sauce...it seemed to have nice flavour, but I could hardly judge as the container they gave me was about 90% oil, 10% sauce. Don't know if I was uncharacteristically ripped off or if this is the norm, but that sauce was WAY too stretched.
On the whole, not bad - I'll be back for a snack...but I might bring my own chimichurri. -
Review from Kenneth E.
Vancouver, BC
1/31/2012
This is for their Davie location, but their new one on Denman is a new, spiffy-looking that earns a 4 star.
Had the beef enpanada, first time, I think it's a bit too hard for my liking. I was offered to try out this cake, which was kinda nice, kinda like an angel one. Seems it's freshly-made and give marks for its uniqueness in its decor.
Friendly service but not exactly itching for a return anytime soon. -
Review from Kate W.
Vancouver, BC
12/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ordered a mushroom empanada and got home, took a bite, and it was ham and cheese. I'm a vegetarian...
Tried to call and not only doesn't the new location NOT have a phone number listed but the phone number for the location on Davie's phone number goes straight to a full mailbox :/
Well, that was a waste of money. -
Review from Raymond O.
Vancouver, BC
9/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great hidden gem along Bute St and just off Davie St. One of the many locations that should have the recognition of places along Davie, but aren't so they are what I call - "Off Davie".
Friendly people with great food and great service. The main attraction which of course are the varieties of empanadas some filled with organic ingredients such as corn or the more expensive ones such as wild salmon.
If I need something more fulfilling than a samosa, but not as big as a calzone, I reach for an empanadas. For $3.95, it's a meal replacement in itself.
Talk to the guys behind the counter and they will gladly help you out with any questions you may have and even provide a sample to try.
They offer it in ready-to-eat hot and toasted or if you plan on getting a couple for the next day or a party, they also have the cold ones so you can heat them up yourself and they will be as fresh-tasting as the toasted ones like you just got them straight from the store.
Kudos to the owner. I don't mind it being Off-Davie. It keeps the prices low and the quality ingredients high. This place has potential. I can't wait to see what other filling he can concoct next. -
Review from Sarah O.
6/6/2011
I love empanadas. Just seeing the word 'empanada' conjures bubbles of delicious images in my head that make me salivate. Although this place doesn't fit my definition of the most perfect empanada, I'm giving it a whopping 4 stars and I'll tell you why:
The man working (owner?) was extremely kind. I was simply asking about the variety of available flavors and he insisted that I try them- for free. And not just a small piece, no, no- but a whole piece that they actually sell. He actually kept trying to give me one of each flavor and I had to argue with him to stop! Why is this man so awesome, I have no clue but I must tell the Yelp world about him. Everything about this place has a home-cooked, warm, family atmosphere.
I generally don't have a sweet tooth and don't like dessert-like fillings in my empanadas so the guava/cream cheese and the dulce de leche weren't my favorite but the chile verde sauce was yummy on the pollo empanada. Next time I'm in the area, I might go back to pick up some other flavors, or maybe just to say hi to the awesome empanada man.
AND. They serve churros! Love! -
Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
Here's why you've got to Go. There. Now.
Guava + Cream Cheese = Bite size bodaciousness!
Filipino Spicy Pork = fusion, yes, but damn, delish!
Chimichurri* Sauce - It's homemade! HOMEMADE!
Whether you're a seasoned empanada lover or a novice, you're in for a treat with these baked pockets of meaty goodness. And yes, they're a meal size indeed for $3.95. But if you want my advice, go with a friend, order 3 different types and split them all down the middle. It'll be like your very own sampling plate! And if you're like us, you'll end up buying more for tomorrow's lunch too. Yup, they're that good, and portable!
But... Get. There. Early. They sell out.
*Haven't had chimichurri before? It's a green sauce with parsley, chilies, oil and vinegar. Great on grilled meats and slathered a top of a empanada. And the bottle I brought home from Argentina (where it's from) doesn't even begin to compare to the homemade goodness of House of Empanadas.Listed in: Favourite Vancouver…
-
Review from Marc D.
Vancouver, BC
3/16/2011 3 photos
* Empanadaria Fusion *
Combine some traditional recipes with some West Coast ones, throw in some classic West Coast food norms like grass-fed meats grown on organic land, cane sugar and fresh organic greens and you have this fusiony empanadaria.
They have a wide variety of flavours in their multiple display cases (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...) - everything from "traditional" beef empanada to Pacific Wild Smoked Salmon Salad Nicoise empanada to cranberry almond goat cheese empanada back to dulce de leche empanada. You get the drift.
I ordered the traditional beef empanada (yes, I'm old fashioned) for $3.95. It was served piping hot, nicely plated, with a side of fresh made chimichura sauce. Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
Breaking into the empanada revealed a generous amount ground beef (which was slightly under seasoned), mixed with hard boiled eggs, olives, and plump raisins. The crust itself was nice and flaky. The chimichura sauce added a nice flavour punch to round things out and it made the slightly under seasoned beef make sense to provide overall balance to taste. I must say this empanada was much better than I expected based on the fusiony aspects of the menu. Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
Service was extremely friendly as well - really going out of their way to make everyone feel very welcome.
I will certainly be returning!Listed in: Vancouver Latin and Caribbean…
-
Review from Evilyn T.
3/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Do not be fooled by this little hidden location, these empanadas are worth checking out! OMG! I had walked by this place pretty much twice a day to and fro work, and after reading Marc D's review I had to stop in and check out the goods. And they were good goods!
I guess I hadn't bothered to try this place because I always think of empanadas as having meat in them, so I figured it would be a waste of my time to bother checking for veggie options. As it turns out, they have a whole selection of veggie empanadas! The first time (yes, I liked it so much I went back before I even had time to write my first review!) I tried the spinach and goat cheese one, and it was super good. It could have used a bit more goat cheese, but I always want more cheese, you know, cheese please! People always ask me, did you want some more wine with that cheese? What a silly question, of course I want more wine with my whine....
The second time I tried the mushroom one, and the BF tried the squash and red pepper one, they were both pretty deluxe. I got a little cranberry/almond/goat cheese one too and it was super flavourful. I also really liked the green sauce (its kind of like pesto but not) that they give you to go with the empanada. But my favourite part was the super cute boy working in there, hubba hubba! Haha! Ok maybe there was another reason I went back so soon, but that's just the cougar talking. Maybe I'll take a beefy empanada after all.... to go!Listed in: Beers, Steers and Queers
-
Review from Luisa D.
4/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Warning: if you have a close quarters meeting after eating here you'd better hope your associates like garlic breath.
I grabbed a couple of colleagues yesterday and we went for a stroll down Davie in seach of HOE. We each got two empanadas at $4 a piece. I chose the spicy pork and the beef options. I ordered a drink but don't think the server heard me. No problem - they have a water station if you're thirsty.
The empanadas I remembered from Argentina had flakier pastry but these HOE ones were delicious nonetheless. I loved the currants, olives and egg in the beef one. The green chimichurri sauce that was served on the side looked like a lot but it was so good I added some to every bite. Two empanadas was definitely really filling. I will be back to try the curried chicken one next.Listed in: Davie Street from West to East…
-
Review from Charly S.
11/14/2011
Delicious. Loved the Spicy Pork (not too spicy, just a hint of chipotle) and the chimichurri sauce is the best I've ever had. We bought a little jar ($3) and have been eating it on just about everything - yum! Tried the Tres Leche de Coco as well and were not disappointed, very moist (as tres leche should be) and the flavour was fantastic. Lovely ladies working here, very friendly and helpful. A great find.
-
Review from Kas D.
Vancouver, BC
5/15/2011
I went here the other day after walking by nearly everyday and saying "I need to try that place sometime." I am glad I did! The empanadas are tasty and affordable. The staff is also very friendly! I got the Chicken empanada and the husband got the smoked salmon one. I really like the fact that the meat is organic and grain-fed (huge bonus in my books!) We also split a squash and garlic mushroom empanada which was very interesting and yummy. For dessert we tried the bite-size strawberry and pecan empanadas which really hit the spot. Yum. Definitely will go back and can't wait to try the goat cheese and spinach empanada *drool*
Oh and that Chimichurri sauce is divine! (Even if I smelled like a garlic factory afterwards!) -
Review from George H.
10/6/2011
I've eaten here 4 times in the past month and I've enjoyed it each time.
While going to university in Montreal I discovered Empanadas at a small Portuguese bakery that was on my way to work. I quickly grew addicted to them and bought 1 or 2 daily for lunches. Back then it cost about $2.50/empanada or 2 for $4. When I moved back to Vancouver i kept trying to find a good place to fill my Empanada cravings and my 7 year search is finally over!
There are so many things I like about House of Empanadas that I have to list them off:
1. Owner, Chef and staff are very friendly. The owner has given me free food every time I've seen him there.
2. The pastry chef is very highly trained and has worked at 5 star restaurants before.
3. They use high quality products: grass fed meats, organic vegetables, no plastic bottles, home made paletas with real fruit, etc...
4. CHIMMICHURRI!!!! If you're not aware of what this is then you definitely need to go here asap. Chimichurri is an Argentinian sauce that they serve as a dip/sauce. It is basically a Parsley Pesto with oil and lots of garlic. It's not spicy but it's packed full of flavour. I was in there a few days ago and saw that they are starting to sell the Chimichurri in bottles to take home and use! (I immediately bought 2 jars)
5. The ambiance is very homey. After speaking with the owner, he told me that the majority of the furnishings were his own that he brought from all over the south america. It definitely feels like you're in his livingroom having a home cooked meal.
These are my favorite empanadas: Classic Beef, Spicy Pork and Spinish & Feta. You have to try it for yourself and ask for extra Chimichurri sauce!!! -
Review from Namit M.
11/17/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Like the spicy pork emapandas. Our traditional beef ones a tad bit cold on the inside. The dessert emenadas were were very good. Two large (savoury) and one dessert Empanadas hit the spot. The price is right and the servers/counter people are friendly.
-
Review from Josh G.
8/8/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Holy moly are these things tasty. Just a random discovery walking back from the beach, tried the beef tradicionale empanada and it blew my mind. The description seemed weird, beef with onions, raisin, olives, egg and cheese....but the flavors worked so well together I had to go back yesterday to try the Pork empanada, another smashing success. So TASTY!! and with the homemade chimichurri these little hand held meat pockets make the ultimate snack. If you've been reading my reviews lately, you've seen my street meat 2011 project has been an epic fail....but don't peg me for a food snob or some picky eater.....you could serve these empanadas off the back of a truck and I would sit beside it all day long with a smile on my face =) !!
-
Review from Jeff K.
Vancouver, BC
10/28/2011
Feels home made and the little shop has a warm, slightly hold in the wall but clean vibe. The food is very good and the history of emphanadas written on the wall is a total WIN.
-
Review from C R.
Vancouver, BC
8/20/2011
I love this place. I've tried almost every empanada and they are all tasty. The chimichurri sauce is a touch and I love that you can purchase them to bring home. Also, LOVE that this place serves organic! It's very rare to find organic, healthy ethnic foods. It's great for picnics, snacks, quick bites and parties.
My husband doesn't care for the raisins in the beef empanada, but it reminds me of the Philippines. Speaking of which, both times I've been there, the Philippines Style Empanada was not available, which was disappointing. I will keep checking back though!
Warning: the pork empanada is VERY spicy...too spicy for me, but my husband loved it.
My only other complaint is that I wish the savory MINI-empanadas were always available and didn't have to be pre-ordered. Basically, the sweet ones are available mini-sized, but savory fillings are not. Not a big deal, but I have 2 kids and would love access to the mini ones.
All in all, we will keep coming back! -
Review from Kelvin L.
Vancouver, BC
3/17/2011 1 photo
Tasty bite sized empanadas from 1.50z. Curried chicken. Pulled pork. Coconut pineapple! All your heart desires! Larger meal sized ones for 3.95. Home made in the kitchen just behind the counter. Highly recommended
