Empenadas in South Beach

[san_diego_city]

who has the best

[Gus]

Mmmmmm. Empanadas are my favorite! There are a few places to get 'em in South Beach.

My favorite bakery is Cafe Charlotte at 1497 Washington. Doug wrote about it here.

Another good place is Panizza Bistro on Lincoln Road, just north of Alton.

There's also a casual, take out restaurant on Alton called Go-Go that's primarily known for their soups and salads, but they also have a healthy version of an empanada on the menu.

Does anyone else know of a place that serves good empanadas on South Beach?

What about you, SDskater, have you found a place?

[Doug]

Hi Gus, I think the Charlotte Bakery is the best place on the beach, hands down. They've got Venezuelan empanadas and Argentine empanadas. The Venezuelans are different because the dough is made out of a cornmeal type shell -- like tamales, sort of, and the beef ones have much higher quality shredded meat. The Argentine empanadas are more like a typical pastry, and the meat in them is more like hamburger.

Dave's favorite is the Pennsylvania version: pierogies, available frozen at Meridian market. They're made of potatoes and cheese.

[Maria de los Angeles]

Doug, there is a little bakery in between Española and 14th ... I think they have empanadas, as well as the little coffee shop that's attached to Kafka's. With the presence of an Argentine community in Miami, empanadas have become quite common.

I used to live in Venezuela ... do you mean arepas? Did they look more like an English muffin? I love arepas! They are delish!

My mom made Cuban empanadas for xmas. Basically the same as the Argentine. She filled them with beef, olives, etc; and then fried them. They were damn good. That's probably the only time of the year I eat them.

[Doug]

Hi Maria -- they're not arepas, they're definitely empanadas, which are similar to arepas, but closed off at the ends like a regular empanada. When you ask for empanadas there, they say, "¿venezolanas o argentinas?"

[Doug]

Here are some pictures I found.

Regular empanada, top
Venezuelan empanada, middle
arepa, bottom

Delicious, no matter what!

[Doug]

All this talk of empanadas got me hungry, so while I was out running errands this afternoon, I stopped by the Charlotte Bakery and picked up a Venezuelan empanada. I snapped a picture of the menu with my cell cam -- forgive the low resolution!

[Maria de los Angeles]

Yummo!!!! Thanks, Doug!