Empanada Shop

I was really surprised that I hadn’t heard of this place until a friend from out of town told me about it. The Empanada Shop has been open since last May, and really deserves some more attention!
They sell empanadas ($ 3.50 for one, or $ 15 for 5) that are fried on the spot to get a perfect crunchy exterior. There’s a creative (and constantly expanding) menu of over 20 varieties, including classics like Beef and Cheese, and less traditional ones like the Garbage Plate or the Pizza. The owner is colombian, so a lot of the food is colombian style! One empanada is enough to hit the spot of a light lunch, but I recommend going for two.
Some of my favorites include:
Basura, Cuban, Beef and Cheese, Shrimp and Beef
I’m also tried the:
Garbage, Pork and Mango
The Garbage even comes with a cute side of Mac salad.
They have a bunch of dessert ones as well. I’ve only tried the guava and cheese, which I wasn’t too big on, but my friend loved the strawberry and chocolate! They also have tamales, friend plantains, and a host of other goodies.
Honestly, come support this business! The people in the shop are super nice, and the filling combinations in the empanadas are excellent.

I went back tonite for the permit, rice and gandules. Excellent! Last week I had the BASURA EMPANADAS delish and NOT greasy. The restaurant is so… cute, clean. So far this place is a gem! We need to spread the word !!!

I love this place. The staff are super friendly, the food is amazing, and for $ 3.50/empanada, you can’t really beat the price.
Every empanada i’ve tried has had a special something to it that makes it delicious. My first favorite was the Basura, the avocado/​mofongo combination gives a lighter and creamier take on the Garbage ingredients. The spinach empanada is equally good with as the filling inside is flavored and cooked to perfection.
I’ve been here quite a few times since this place opened but haven’t felt the need to write a review despite how much I enjoy it. But yesterday I tried The Cuban and my world changed.
The Cuban is the yummiest empanada I’ve ever had. It comes with a side of what seems to be homemade mustard and the pulled pork inside is so tender and juicy. The pickles included in with the cheese and meat give this empanada a certain tang that is pleasant but not overwhelming. ¹⁰⁄₁₀ will eat again, every time.

Great addition to Monroe Ave — been in for dinner three times and haven’t had a disappointing meal yet! My favorites have been the spicy veggie empanada, guava & cheese empanada, yucca fries and the yellow rice with olives. You will NOT leave hungry. Hope they keep getting business so tell your friends!

The food was great. Fast service. Not many people inside. It’s only a matter of time before this place is packed with customers

Not exactly a hopping spot on a Thursday night — we had the place to ourselves. I guess most do take-​out vs. dine-​in in this sparsely decorated space.
There is quite the selection of empanadas and sides — we just focused on their 5 for $ 15 empanadas since we were not super hungry. The empanadas we ordered were good and flavorful — no skimping on ingredients. We really liked the pork & mango one and a couple of traditional empanadas whose names I cannot recall (really helpful, huh?). If I had the appetite I would try some of the dessert ones or some fried plantains which I like a lot.
Service was a bit slow — we had to wait awhile for the food even though no one was dining in or taking out at that moment… good alternative to typical fast food on Monroe.

Many Latin American countries have empanadas and those who’ve had another place in Rochester (I won’t say the name) will know theirs are Chilean style while most others are Puerto Rican. This place is Colombian style with a few twists, including a garbage plate style empanada (basura). I’ve tried six of their empanadas and liked them all! The chicken jalapeño is nice and spicy and the pork mango is super tasty.

We’ve been here a couple more times since my last review and wanted to share our latest experience.
First, every meal has been great! We are trying all the mains and sides, even though the owners have decided to also carry ‘standards’ like burgers for those less adventurous.
On our last lunch we had the pernil plate and the chicken wing plate. For $ 10 and change, the pernil plate came with a generous heap of delicious roasted pork plus a choice of 2 sides — I got yellow rice (studded with beans and olives — yum) and fried sweet plantains. Before The Empanada Shop opened, my favorite place for pernil was El Coqui, which is now closed — so I’m psyched to find it done equally well here.
The chicken wing plate was a revelation. 8 wings, but really it’s like 4 huge chicken portions — each with a ‘drum’ and a wing — also served with 2 sides (and my husband chose the same sides as me) for around $ 8. The wings are totally gluten free and fried or baked in a way that the skin was perfectly crispy and delicious — not greasy or smothered in sauce or gelatinous in any way. Pretty close to the best wings we’ve had though you can’t really compare this preparation to ‘traditional Buffalo wings’. This is more like a chicken plate.
I am still perplexed as to why this place isn’t busier though. The owners take great care with their recipes, sourcing quality meats and vegetables, and striking things off the menu if the meat/​veg they receive don’t meet their standards. They are constantly adding new items and take a lot of time taste testing their empanada flavors. It’s definitely worth the money — and definitely a step up in quality, atmosphere, cleanliness and value from other Caribbean places in the city. Does this mean it’s healthy? Not necessarily — fried food never is — but delicious? Yes, indeed!
If you’re looking for a crappy, greasy, cheap piece of crap then this is not the place for you. But if you want the true taste of Puerto Rico and Colombia, or just want a quality meal experience, you’ve got to give these guys a try.

Okay, if you know me by now you know I will usually wait for a review before I visit. But after passing this place day after day I had to give a try. Wow! I totally recommend the beef and cheese empanadas, with the sweet plantains!
Original Columbian dishes and some new twists on old classics. Trust me if it isn’t on the menu it can’t be cooked.
I would have given this spot 5 stars but the bathroom situation is a little weird. I can’t even with all honesty explain it, you have to experience it for yourself. I will say that I laughed all the way home! I would really like to hear feedback.
Enjoy!

I think my favorite empanadas so far are the beef and cheese. Second, goes to the chicken — tender and flavorful. Then, pork mango — sweet and salty combo done well. They have 15+ options so I’m still working my way through the list. Lots of cumin in the sauces and everything is seasoned and richly flavored. The crust is top notch too. The empanadas are fried so they have a great bubbly, crispy texture. I always go for their tostones as a side. They come out hot and are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, smashed thin, but thicker than a chip. They tend to be a little dry so the tangy pink sauce dip is a nice balance.
They also have larger dinner plates with meat and sides. The yellow rice and beans are good too — pieces of olive mixed in for a unique salty bite, which I haven’t had elsewhere.
The space has several tables to dine in, but the space has a takeout vibe. Orders take 10−15min to prep so I’m planning to call ahead in the future since this is a great place to grab food on the go (and on my way home).

The Empanda Shop is a relatively new restaurant in Rochester having only just popped up a couple of months ago and it is quickly becoming a one-​stop-​shop for me for delicious, deep fried, meaty goodness whenever I’m in the mood. As the name would suggest, their specialty is 100% empanadas and for the first time in Rochester, we finally have a vendor doing them justice. Instead of several run-​ins with cardboard crusts across town, these guys really have mastered that crispy, crunchy, and bubbly crust that people want to sink their teeth into. The filling is also of course pretty important at the end of the day, but as with pizza, if the crust or if the shell isn’t any good, it totally ruins any delicious insides that the empanada might contain. And these guys really get it — just take a look at the pictures! Pure perfection.
As for the fillings? I have to tell you — I’m a happy man! I’ve tried their jalapeño chicken, pork and mango, and beef and shrimp empanadas, and good Lord the beef and shrimp one is euphoric. I know some people consider fish and meat together old-​fashioned or a faux pax, but the miniature browned shrimp paired with chunks of tender beef combined with cumin, chili powder, hot sauce, and lime is an absolute flavor tornado. Different textures, different flavors, hot, sweet, salty, savory, and acid all in one tightly knit package never fails to make my day. The pork and mango was especially delicious too because instead of using the sweet orange mango we’re all so familiar with, they used sour green mango which completely puts a stop on all the sweet doldrums you constantly see around town and replaces it with something far more delicious.
In short, the Empanada Shop is a deliciously wonderful hidden gem that more people should take time to visit. It’s somewhat sad that it’s the successor to Rosie’s given Rosie’s legacy, but you know what, at this rate it’s definitely become one successor I’m proud to support.

The best empanadas I’ve ever had! Extremely nice service and a welcoming atmosphere. I’m definitely coming back here with more people next time. We had the spinach, spicy vegetable, garbage plate (my favorite) and crab empanadas. The sweet plantain fries are addictive, too!

Amazing, fresh food and great prices! The garbage plate empanada is absurdly delicious. Absolutely huge portions, too. I also recommend the pork/​mango empanada and the steak and shrimp empanada. Tons of options and very friendly employees. The ambiance is great, with nice lighting, a fresh paint job, and cute flowers on the tables.
I must say, these are better than Juan and Maria’s at the Public Market. The food is fresher AND you don’t have to wait as long. Less greasy, too.

This little spot makes me wish they were open late night in my 20’s. Great blistered crispy yet tender super flavorful pockets. I tried the new chicken and jalapeño option the filling is tender and creamy and spicy enough for a great aftertaste. On the recommendation of the very sweet and helpful lady up front I also got the basura (beef, egg, avocado, plantain) this was also flavorful. Now I wish I’d gotten the 5 for 15 special! They aren’t huge it’s true but at about the size of your palm they aren’t mediocre. I think you pay the same for a slider or a steamed bun at some of the area restaurants and food trucks in the area.

The Empanada Shop is a great addition to Monroe Ave. So far I’ve tried the beef and cheese empanada and the buffalo chicken, the flavors and amount of filling in both were spot on ! I’ve also tried the ropa vieja which came with rice and tostones, it was good not the best ever but good enough that I’ll order it again. I can’t help but feel it’s a little pricey, for 2 empanandas, 1 ropa vieja meal and 2 drinks it was around $ 26. As long as they keep the quality up I don’t mind paying a little more.

The food and service here is fantastic !
Lady at the counter is wonderful at giving you recommendations. the prices are so reasonable.
I throughly enjoyed every single item I tried here.
They currently have a 5 for $ 15 deal which is a great sampler.
The place is huge plenty of seating.
Can’t wait to go back !

Good Food here!
The convenience of having a Latin restaurant so close from home and work is priceless! Now, whenever I feel the need to eat some tostones, empanadas, or yuca, I don’t have to go too far for it, or even worse cook it myself.
The food here tends to go for Colombian/​Puerto Rican, so some items may not be familiar to some. So far I’ve tried some of the empanadas and their ropa vieja, and have been pretty happy with what I got.
But first, let’s talk about the service. In this restaurant, you order at the counter and get your food there. It doesn’t take too long for the food to be ready, but you can also call in and pick it up, if you’re in a hurry. Everyone I’ve dealt with has been very friendly and helpful.
The empanadas are good. They don’t lack in the amount of filling you get, and that’s a plus. Way too many times I’ve had mostly breading empanadas, and left wanting for more. In here, they have plenty of meat! The beef and the basura one were great. The basura is beef with plantain (ripe), it’s really good. Served with their pink sauce which is one of the best pink sauces I’ve had in a long time. My friends loved the guava one. We were rather disappointed with the crab empanada. Although filled to the brim, the filling wasn’t really tasty and it was kind of dry.
I had one of their dinners (rice, beans, and meat) for lunch also, and I must say it was a mixed bag. The ropa vieja was tasty, not the best ropa vieja I’ve had, but still delicious. The beans were a disappointment though, they tasted sweet, almost like bad marinara sauce mixed with beans, will not be ordering those again.
But the highlight of the whole meal, and the reason I’ll become a regular here is their yuca frita. Really tasty and crispy, and salty, a fantastic side to get.
I still have to try their tamales (Colombian Style) and their other meat options, but i’ll probably stick to getting them with the yuca, that was so good!

Great food! Love the Yucca fries! Everything was fresh and tasty. Great prices too!
I love that she caters to all people: gluten free and vegetarians.

Tried to go once. They were closed at 7PM.
Went the 2^nd time with SUCCESS! They were open! We got a sampling of maybe 8 empanadas: crab, beef & plantain, pork mango, sausage, beef, chicken, etc. We also got a side of tostones.
Empanadas: meh. I wasn’t impressed. Lack of flavor. Some were dry. The crab tasted awful– very canned. And… $ 3.50? The best empanadas I have ever had have never been over $ 2.50.
Tostones: delicious! Only about 8 small ones came in an order though. Sad face.
Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll be going back. I was so excited for them to open… but it fell pretty flat. Maybe I’ll try again after they’ve been open awhile longer.

The Empanada Shop has a lot of potential and in my opinion the best menu items are actually the side orders, but the empanadas themselves range from mediocre to disappointing. I will qualify that statement with the fact that I don’t eat meat and that my husband really enjoyed his buffalo chicken empanada which came with a side of blue cheese. The vegetarian empanadas, however, are really disappointing with the vegetable one being filled with literally nothing but soggy vegetables and no seasoning. I was a bit surprised to find not even a plain cheese empanada on the menu and although there is a spinach and cheese empanada which sounded promising, unfortunately it was also exceptionally bland. My husband and I visited on a quiet weeknight and we each ordered one of the dinner meals that comes with 2 empanadas and 2 sides. The rice and beans were delicious, as well as the yucca fries and maduros (sweet plantains). It’s rare to find yucca fries in this area, so I will return again if only for the sides, or perhaps if the owners expand the menu to include an empanada with delicious latin american cheeses. The owners are really friendly and the interior is simple and inviting. There is also a nice counter that overlooks Monroe Avenue which would make for a nice spot to dine for lunch and watch the bustle of Monroe Avenue. If you’re looking for quick, budget-​friendly, decent empanadas and traditional hispanic foods like plantains, rice and beans, or yucca, then this place will not disappoint.