Understand an empanada is a kind of savory, baked or fried pastry, stuffed with meat, vegetables and condiments. A unique dish of Creole cuisine typical in the Argentinian northwest, but very widespread in the rest of the country.
A rapid solution to the voracious hunger between meals, it has become the star for fans of delivery. Because they are delicious, they are fast, there is a variety, and you can eat them with your hands. Without using a knife and fork!
And here in Barcelona you can stick a good “empanada” with a crowd of locals to find this Creole delicacy. A gastronomic weakness that melts and pushes us to enter and try one of these magnificent homemade creations. Breakfast, snack, lunch… anytime is good to devour them so here we have five places where you can make a compulsory stop to try one of these lavish creations. Careful, they are addictive!
The hidden symbol of Argentinian gastronomy is located in the heart of Sant Antoni, a few steps from the Floridablanca cinema. And Horacio already says it, “We have built a tunnel between the cinema and El Laurel”. A perfect gastro-cultural synergy.
A portal to another time and space. A galaxy where Horacio is the commander and El Laurel is the Millennium Falcon. A refuge for illustrators, musicians, filmmakers, and eccentric artists. A medley of authors who share the same passion, the empanadas at Laurel.
Without a doubt, the best combination for a movie night is to start your evening here, devouring a wide variety of Argentinian empanadas. Its special menu for those who are going to the movies is something common in the neighborhood. Our favorites? All of them! The traditional beef empanada, the spinach empanada, the fish empanada, tomato, basil and mozzarella or the favorite vegetarian empanada made with apples, Shiitake mushrooms, almonds and goat cheese. All this, the cultural events, and the passion of Horacio make El Laurel one of our favorite hideouts of the neighborhood.
A small Argentinian pastry shop that specializes in artisan cakes and pies. A place with a certain charm that reminds us of the typical pastry shops in life, with a modern air and a menu that adapts to the needs of the market.
Here you can find anything from traditional homemade pastries, including gluten-free or vegan options, to the typical Argentinian empanadas. Among the range of possibilities, we had the Empanada Heüra, made with soy protein and vitamin B-12, totally homemade.
A small hideaway where we relive memories from our childhoods between pies and empanadas.
Underneath the motto “Author empanadas made with hands and heart for your mouth” the pillars of Las Muns are built. A gastronomic concept made at the hands of a group of friends who have been kneading empanadas for almost four years.
Here they only work with fresh ingredients, natural products and a wide variety of recipes. An appetizing and quick gastronomic offer that we love to devour at any time. And here they make things easy. You pick your empanada, open your soda, and in two minutes, you are done!
Our recommendation without a doubt is their empanadas with caramelized onions, goat cheese, and walnuts; and tomato, mozzarella and basil. And if you are hungry for more, they make an incredible spicy beef empanada. If you want even more spice, they have three sauces for the most daring. Empanadas? Las Muns!
Three partners, originally from Argentina, with great passion and pride for their gastronomic product of Creole heritage. With four locations in the city, La Fábrica has become one of our favorite places of passage.
Here everything is prepared with passion and care. A completely homemade job, hence the name. They have a variety of food, suitable for all tastes. Beef, vegetarian, or vegan empanadas. They even have a section for the cheese fanatics like us.
You can’t leave here without tasting their three star empanadas. The unconditional spicy beef empanada made with veal, onion, pepper, egg, olives, and chili. An Argentinian delight that melts in the mouth.
And if you go with the provolone cheese empanada, Italian eggplant, mozzarella, and pesto, it’s the best. We always end up asking for the vegetarian empanada with spinach, onion, Emmental cheese and sauce. Fast, tasty, and Argentinian!
A union of two cultures, the Quechua and the Catalan, this small gastronomic space is born where the people line up, waiting for a table in the sun or a spot inside to devour their variety of empanadas. A living synergy in its own name, an Argentinian symbol reconverted into a local shop synonymous with our favorite corner.
The vermouth plan is Rekons. Cold beer, vermouth or soda; sunglasses, a ham, and a couple of empanadas. Our favorites? The Caprese, the beef and pumpkin empanada. Sundays at Rekons!
Text: Alejandro Moneva
Photos: Anel González
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