La Empanada Llama

Excellent!!! I have tired the chicken, chorizo and cabbage, and Mexican empanadas all delicious. They have a quinoa salad with mango and avacado that is also wonderful. Excellent flavors and wonderful service. Great to stop for lunch they are always super speedy and courteous.

After two dining experiences, I felt like I could leave a review. The first time we had the food it was flavorless and portions really small. For $ 18, we got two globs each of refried beans and rice, and 4 little empanadas. I had hoped it was an off day for them and promised myself to return.
Today, I tried to use the Grub Hub online ordering and «delivery wasn’t available.» When I called Empanada Llama, they said they only deliver within 4 miles. So I opted for pick-​up and clocked my distance. It was 2 miles there and 2 miles back. So I feel like I was within the 4 mile radius. Hmmm.
The green tamale with green sauce was a creamy, spicy dressing consisting of cilantro and jalapenos. Very good. The nutella and banana empanada was tasty also. However, the quinoa, mango, avocado salad was not that flavorful and was missing the avocado. Boo.
All in all I feel for the prices, this place is hit or miss. The food quality and availability isn’t reliable. I am annoyed that my friend reportedly got delivery to our work using Grub Hub but they wouldn’t deliver for me. Unless I really miss the green sauce one day, I probably won’t go back.

I just moved to town last month and was lucky enough to stumble across this place at the downtown Schenectady farmers market. I am a big fan of the chicken empanada and of course the awesome green sauce! The owners are super nice and welcoming even when busy. I would definitely recommend this place.

My husband and I have been looking forward to eating here for quite a long time. Unfortunately, I was really surprised and disappointed. I really want to love this place — but I’m not even close. We ordered Tequenos — and they were OK — they just were pretty bland. We ordered the chicken, Mexican and cabbage and chorizo empanadas. The chicken and cabbage and chorizo wasn’t bad — but it just didn’t have much flavor. The cabbage and chorizo had OK flavor (probably the best of all) but it was lost in the doughy, thick pastry that was very plain. We didn’t really care for the Mexican empanadas either. I’m really disappointed — I wanted to love this place — but I don’t. I noticed a lot of great reviews — so obviously others really like it — but I’m not sure we went to the same place or why. One reviewer gave it 3 tries — we won’t. There just wasn’t any flavor to the food.

If you don’t feel like reading my review, here is the tl/​dr: Go here! This place is awesome and has excellent empanadas!
Empanada Llama had a food table set up at the Empire State Plaza’s 50^th anniversary celebration today, so my wife and I decided to try their empanadas for the first time. I’m so glad we did. We had one chicken and one beef empanada and they were seriously awesome. I’m not sure that you can find better quality empanadas in the Capital District. We enjoyed them so much that we tracked down their restaurant and made our way over there later on to pick up a few more to bring home for dinner — even though the place was a little out of the way for us.
If you are looking for tasty, genuine, amazing empanadas you have to try this place — I would recommend it to anyone. Can’t wait to try their other food!
Also, as a side note, I wanted to mention that the owner (I’m assuming he’s the owner) seems like a great, down to earth guy. We spoke with him briefly at the plaza celebration, and then he remembered me as soon as I walked into the restaurant today, where we proceeded to chat about baseball and the Yankees for a little bit. Makes for a great experience when the owner enjoys engaging with the customers.

Always delicious! Haven’t disliked anything !! Always recommend this place to my friends and family. I suggest everything

Authentic taste of Peru. Expertly seasoned and moist chicken breast, delicious platanos with perfect consistency of natural caramelization and temperature, great and fragrant white rice. Will definitely be back to try the empanadas. They seem to have a great variety and also the fact that they have traditional dishes and tamales struck a cord. Oh and did i mention MADE TO ORDER!!! Get it to go or eat in its a great place… park around the corner and walk it though. Very good timely service and a great addition to Delaware avenue. One bite will transport you to Lima!!! My latina heart is singing!!!

I had their food for the first time at the Schenectady Greenmarket. The beef and chicken empanadas were really good. The chicken one had a creamy, cheesy, shredded chicken filling. The beef one had black beans and raisins in it. The chicken was my favorite.
I thought the sides were terrible. The rice w/​chorizo had no flavor, and the chorizo was chopped up into such tiny pieces, you couldn’t taste it at all. The chickpeas w/​spinach just tasted like frozen spinach. I didn’t taste any spices. In fact, they both had a musty taste to me.
My advice: Go for the empanadas, but skip the sides.

I’m from Los Angeles and have eaten Empanadas at various restaurants. I had the pleasure of eating their chicken and beef empanadas, plantains, and rice and beans at the farmer’s market in Schenectady. The food was very tasty. In my experience the size of the empanadas were similar to other restaurants and the dough was not heavy or greasy. Both empanadas were flavorful and in my opinion are not meant to be too spicy, similar to Puerto Rican, Cuban, or Costa Rican cuisine. The fried plantains (platanos) were delicious just the way my mother makes them. Some might say the rice and beans could have been seasoned more however I enjoy having a balance of flavors and like to taste food without being overly seasoned. you know, just tasting food in it’s simplest state can be enjoyable too.

Pretty good empanadas. They chorizo ones are fantastic. I liked the other ones, but they weren’t super flavorful. One of them clearly sat under a heat lamp for a while which seemed to make it a little soggy and not as hot. The rice and chorizo was a little dry, but still pretty tasty. Their green sauce is amazing, probably the best thing about the place.

Love their food!
Authentic!
It’s seriously good. Every time we have gone there, we feel like it was the most satisfying meal. It’s total comfort food, bursting with flavor. Did I say authentic?
New location is far better than the previous one. They even deliver!
Walking in, it’s nothing fancy whatsoever. Could use something else to make this place look better. But with how good the food is, I really don’t care much about the décor.
Love the food!

Went here for the lunch buffet (only on Wednesdays) only to find that there are no empanadas at the buffet! Very disappointing. For $ 11 the buffet had only six items. The meats were good, but the tamales were pure mush, and the black beans & rice and spinach & chickpeas were completely unseasoned and tasteless.
The buffet also isn’t set up to be sanitary. In order to access one tray, you have to put it’s lid on top of the handle of another tray, which has had peoples hands on it.

I love empanadas. I think llamas are adorable. A llama who could help meet my empanada needs? I was pretty certain I had found my new favorite place in Albany.
My first empanada llama experience was at their old location near St. Peter’s Hospital. I ordered the chicken and beef empanadas ($ 3/​each). I found the pastry/​crust on both empanadas to be too tough — it reminded me of a pie crust. As for the filling, I thought the shredded chicken had good flavor and was tender, but no had detectable spice. As for the beef, I liked the addition of olives, which added a nice saltiness, but found no spice or heat. I did not yet know about the mystique and allure of the «green sauce,» (mentioned as such in other reviews) so I was without, and overall found the empanadas to be dry. My side of white rice was very, very over salted.
My second and third tries were at their farmers market stand several months later. On my first farm stand visit, I waited in a substantial line and tried a chicken empanada again. Much like I remembered, the crust came across to me as tough, rather than flaky. The crust had a taste that immediately reminded me of the fried noodles that come with chinese food take out. I am not sure if that has to do with the kind of oil used to fry them, or the oil needed to be changed. It wasn’t unpleasant, per se, but just tasted very «fried.» The chicken was similar to how I remembered it on my first try, a mild, but good flavor, almost sweet, but with no heat. I did not see the green sauce as an option, so I went without again. Perhaps this is a in-​store option only?
On my final visit, I opted for the spinach and cheese. I had the same crust experience again, but found the filling to taste bright and fresh. However, it was fairly monotonous. Again, no green sauce with this one, but I had given up hope at getting any by this point.
As much as I love empanadas, the style offered by La Empanda Llama is just not the empanda for me. Their empanadas may be just right for some, and I wish them well. Should I make another visit here, I may go for one of their entrees. And I may visit again as I still really need to try this green sauce! However, I suppose I will have to find a different pack animal to make me my perfect empanada. La Empanada Camel, anyone?

Fantastic empanadas, friendly owners, and just a very positive atmosphere. Tried a chicha morada drink for the first time. Ordered the flan and les treche cake and again not disappointed. Was a perfect lunch trip. Even left with some amarillo paste to cook at home with!

I was in Albany for work and didn’t feel great about the room service options at the Hilton. Did some Unilocaling and ordered delivery from grubhub. Delivery took over an hour — but it was delicious.
Pros: I ordered the grilled chicken breast (flavorful) with rice and beans and plantains — all delicious! The chicken empanada was moist and flavorful in the middle, but maybe its because it was delivery, but the friedness made it a little bit greasy. Finally — the guac and chips were just okay, the guac didnt seem that fresh and the chips needed salt.
Cons: The order didn’t come with any utensils or napkins and I had to order $ 20 worth because of the delivery minimum.
Give this play a try if you want latin food and empanadas!

Absolutely delicious. My boyfriend and I ordered delivery from here and it arrived in less than the estimated amount of time, the order was all correct, and still hot. I opened the aluminum containers and a luscious aroma filled my nostrils. We ordered chorizo and cabbage, chicken, and Nutella banana empanadas. They were all sooo delicious, especially the crust. It is flaky and chewy and just the perfect combination of everything an empanada should be. My favorite was the chicken one, though. It was stuffed with deliciously seasoned tender shredded chicken breast, and dipped in the green sauce that comes with it, it is to die for!
We also ordered entrees– I got the quinoa stuffed chicken breast with rice & beans and plantains, and he got lomo saltado with rice & beans. The quinoa stuffed chicken was AMAZING. It has mango pieces and mango sauce on it that is so delectable it’s not even funny. And the quinoa is perfectly cooked & seasoned. Same goes for the rice & beans. Lomo saltado was awesome as well– and this is something we have tried and many places, but is most definitely the best at La Empanada Llama.
Oh! And the salchipapas are great too! Dip them in ketchup or green sauce and you, my friend, are in for a treat.
Highly recommend :)

My rating will be more 3 ½. The set up is small but friendly. More colors will bring in more the south American feel.
Now I come across as not Hispanic (I am) but I believe as a professional certain conversations can be done in a break room not in front of a client. Just a suggestion.
Now the food taste good. Decent prices but the serving pretty small. I might have giving just a spoonful more of food or bigger empanadas. I will return for sure. But I know they have room for improvements.

I really wanted to like this place. Maybe it was just an off night. A couple things about the restaurant itself… it was freezing cold in the dining room. I get that it’s expensive to keep room warm in the winter, but it couldn’t have been much above 60. Also, white walls with a few Peruvian handicrafts hung on the wall doesn’t really make the place feel very cozy. A little paint on the walls could go a long way toward giving this place some more character.
The food was pretty good. The empanadas were tasty, but at $ 3 a piece, I would expect them to be just a little bigger. It would have taken 4 of them to serve as a meal if that’s all I had ordered. My wife and split the aji de gallina as well. Again it was decent, but kind of bland and the rice and beans that came with it were about as plain as you can get. Compared to what you can get at similar «hole in the wall» restaurants, everything seemed a bit pricey to me.
I love South American food, and I really want for this place to survive and improve. I think with a few changes it could be a lot more charming and inviting. I’ll probably give them a second chance, but not until it’s warmer outside!

I’d been looking forward to trying out the Llama for long time, and we finally stopped here before a movie at the Spectrum. And speaking of spectrums, we tried nearly their entire spectrum of empanadas. We were short on time, so didn’t try any of the entrees, and opted for the empanadas which came out of the kicken quickly.
First thing, these things are beautiful. They are expertly rolled and crimped, perfectly fried, and just begging for you to dig in when they arrive. We had beef, chicken, cabbage and chorizo, Mexican (beef, guacamole and beans), spinach and cheese, and a dulce de leche for dessert. These savory pockets were delectable. The flavors are big and bold, and each is served with a little shot of «green sauce» you can add. Not sure what’s in the green sauce, but cilantro, hot peppers, and garlic is a safe bet. Really, mouthwatering stuff. If you have some of the chewy crust left, you can dip it in the sauce.
My wife and I debated which of the savory flavors was the best, and we couldn’t decide, since they all shine. My only problem was the dulce de leche, and it may be just be my problem. I love caramel and all, but the dulce de leche was a case of too much of a good thing. I could do a bite or two, but no more. Probably a good idea to split that one. I look forward to trying their entrees another time.

The is the best place to get an empanadas!!! Family owned business and they are so friendly and nice! Empanadas taste amazing and fresh! I will go back again for sure! :)