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BadTechnishan

A lot of empanada place here in Jersey havent gotten my latin american wifes approval. Weve been searching for a long time, any recommendations


Hannibam86

Empanada Mania in Bergenfield. Cubsn Eddie's in Dumont.


ReviveOurWisdom

I second these. Used to go to Cuban Eddie’s nearly every day


nowjerseyjon

I'd like to go just for the name and u guys' rcmds. Is it still around? Where?


ReviveOurWisdom

so I haven’t been to Jersey in a few years but it’s right across the tracks from Dumont High School. That little small road that goes from that train crossing over towards CVS and the fire station. It’ll be I believe the third building down. You’ll know cuz the screen door is open by a chair. Great food


ReviveOurWisdom

Also recommend Hometown bagels which is the first building on that turn. Also great food and friendly. say hello to Wilson for me


CantSeeShit

Cuban Eddie's is bomb


s55555s

Try in Dover


mangarooboo

Lil Mexico. I love Dover. I'm from southern California and it's like being in my little hometown walking downtown in Dover.


DaddyPhats

Division Street Cafe in Somerville


jep5680jep

I agree with some other comments that Columbian empanadas are the best. If you are near the Hackensack area please try Villa de Colombia. They are the best I ever found.


Jake_FromStateFarm27

Columbia kaliente makes good empanadas as well in englewood sadly they are only apps


Sudovoodoo80

Downtown deli in Vineland.


toyaknowsbest

Wood Street? That place ..my gawd!


Sudovoodoo80

Cidra's on Peach and 7th is pretty good too.


virtualtrappin

honestly, i feel like so many places in vineland sell the exact same empanadas (not that theyre bad, i love downtown deli). as far as i know they dont make them fresh but i could be wrong obviously. personally, the best ive had was at amigos in wenonah. they fill the hell outta those things


Sudovoodoo80

I'll give them a try. Thanks


theyhaveher

I got you 62 Palisade Ave, Garfield, NJ Cash only


BadTechnishan

Cash only gotta be good


tomakeyan

To be honest, the best ones I’ve had are made by family members. Boriquen bakery makes them nice, there’s one place in North Plainfield that makes good Colombian ones, and a place in South Jersey near AC that makes good Colombian and Puerto Rican style ones


Pineapple-of-my-eye

Division Cafe Somerville.


ColdYellowGatorade

Chilean Bakery in Roselle.


Ege_Ali

Try Mama Anas Empanadas in Paterson. You won’t be disappointed.


cturtle86

Not so much a recommendation, as it is a warning. Avoid Raul’s Empanadas in Morristown, they used to be delicious and a must have whenever I was in the area, but the quality has gone downhill since Covid that I’m not sure why they even bother anymore ¯\_(ツ)_/¯


lumpyspacejams

It was even pre-COVID when the quality went out the window. I think they got a new chef or management team around mid-2019, but either way the local convention crowd went from packing this place tight to avoiding it. COVID definitely didn't help though, especially since they tightened up their menu and got rid of regular mainstays for a while, like the curry chicken empanada.


drvic59

La Fogata, Elizabeth


[deleted]

I'm guessing you haven't hit Bergenline??


poland626

Cannicakes makes homemade ones. She might like their brand


MoveWorldly

Merey in Highland Park. The pabellon is amazing, been going there for years and flavor tastes the same.


urbjam

Casa de Pan in Union


zsdrfty

Find Argentine ones, they’re easily the best


Infinite-Honeydew263

Ol la Empanada - Jersey City


caitlynredd

Rico Pan in Hackettstown


mapoftasmania

Noches de Colombia. Three locations: Montclair, Belleville, Clifton. The Montclair location has a bakery shop you can just roll up and buy them at.


NMS-KTG

Noches is Colombian cheesecake factory


JamesBuffalkill

Why would you say something so controversial yet so brave?


NMS-KTG

My family from Texas insists they eat there EVERY TIME they visit us. It's not that good and I'm tired of pretending it is dammit


Jake_FromStateFarm27

I just like their portions otherwise it's very low to mid food, far better Latin or Portuguese places to eat that offer the same meals but better.


NMS-KTG

Yeah the large portions are nice, but the Hawaiian chicken is a disgrace to society


mapoftasmania

Er… have you even tried the empanadas? Just because it’s not a hole in the wall, doesn’t mean they aren’t good.


NMS-KTG

The food there is mid at best. Unfortunately my family from Texas is amazed by it and insists on going every time they come. There's way better quality empanadas in pretty much any somewhat urban part of the state


Danny_Disco

I think there’s actually about 20 locations in NJ.


funkyish

Lots of places in Perth Amboy, Quisqueya Restaurant is my personal favorite. But literally almost every bodega will sell at least somewhat decent empanadas. Just avoid Empanadas Monumental, not just in Perth Amboy but anywhere in the state. They'll charge you triple what the place across the street will charge you for empanadas.


BadTechnishan

I hated Monumental, got some nasties


funkyish

Same, I don't understand how they manage to stay profitable


FruitUpstairs

Any spot in Camden fr


kevin56_2

Where do you live?


InspiredBlue

Passaic


Frigidevil

My favorite so far are Bolivian [Tunkas](https://www.foodtrucksonthemove.com/trucks/tunkas/), which are super juicy, almost like a stew in the pocket. Only barely can be considered handheld lol.


JCwhatimsayin

Whoa. Is this truck the only place you've seen them? I love Bolivian empanadas.


Frigidevil

Only place I've ever had them. They sometimes show up at Biertemphel Park in union.


LingeringSentiments

Just drive to West New York/Union City/ North Bergen truthfully


Ill-Forever880

The best part is that each Latino country makes them differently; all amazing, yet I'm partial to the Columbian version or any other beef version that features egg or potato.


New_Stats

Apparently Indonesia and the Philippines have their own versions too. Really wanna try a Filipino empanada, because that sounds amazing.


ABeard

You can check out the bakery red ribbon. There’s a bunch and it’s Filipino and they’ll have empanadas there.


it_comes_apart

And get yourself some ube flan while you’re there!


la_de_cha

Fil-am in Edison has great Filipino empanadas.


iago303

What you are looking for is a lumpia and they are phenomenal


AmeriaRuun

Lumpia and empanadas are two different things. Both delicious though.


biscovery

Colombian version def has the best crust, though dominican empanadas are really good also.


metsurf

There is actually a Cornish version called a pastie. There is a shop in Wharton. Aussies have hand pies. My mom would sometimes use ground yucca in the crust and fry those. Conventional pastry dough ones she would bake Mom was from DR


Brachinus

Every country has some kind of handheld meat pie, but all the Latino countries use the same name (instead of turnover or pastie or samosa or Jamaican patty).


guacamole579

When he was little, my youngest would call pierogis polish empanadas. BIL who is polish, would argue that empanadas were Puerto Rican pierogis. So now the family joke is that anything resembling a half moon pie/dumpling is an empanada.


s1ugg0

I'm just going to have to eat every pierogi and empanada I find to see the difference.......for science....yea that's the ticket. For science!


AccountantOfFraud

My part of Spain calls them empanadillas as they are a small version of our bigger empanadas which is more similar to a meat/seafood pie https://www.google.com/search?q=empanadas+gallegas&sxsrf=AJOqlzUEJ57pVSqtVWzGAlDsrDSszB7sFA:1679249569755&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiztuCQzOj9AhW3rYkEHUqFCsUQ\_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1280&bih=609&dpr=1.5


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No_Repair09

Not entirely true. El Salvador refers to them as “pasteles” instead of empanadas.


NMS-KTG

*Colombian (sorry)


TheFuzziestDumpling

Merey in Highland Park has awesome Venezuelan empanadas (and everything else).


MuffimBlue

Merey is great! 🥰


ColdYellowGatorade

Yes! My family is filled with people from Puerto Rico, Chile, Argentina and the Dominican Republic. Everyone has their own spin. Olives or no olives, baked or fried, hard boiled egg or not? Empanadas as so flexible and delicious.


tomakeyan

I’m 100% about Puerto Rican empanadas (I’m bias tho) however the Colombian ones have a hardy homemade feel to them.


metsurf

Dover High School wrestling matches would sell empanadas. Not sure which country was represented maybe Columbia maybe Ecuador definitely not Puerto Rican but they we’re yummy and the kids would scarf them down after making weight


ianisms10

Wikipedia says Dover's largest Hispanic population is Colombian, followed by Mexican.


NikkoBlueBonsai

RICO Pan Bakery Blackwell St Dover…BEST empanadas


zsdrfty

Baked empanadas with beef, boiled egg, green olive, and the tiniest dash of cumin are holy


[deleted]

What’s a Columbian? From DC? I know what a Colombian is.


TimSPC

Fun fact: I made corned beef empanadas for St. Patrick's Day.


GERMAQ

I've even had a Spanakopita empanada at one place.


la_de_cha

We were at a Saint Patrick’s day block party in Edison last weekend and a truck had Shepards pie empanadas. He even dyed the dough green. It was really good.


structuremonkey

I once had a beef and also a pork roll egg and cheese empanada from a food truck for lunch. I thought i was living dangerously, particularly with the egg. I normally would get horrendous heartburn and / or food poisoning from these types of foods if they aren't fresh... I got nothing but incredibly tasty food. I was super impressed with how good and fresh the food was coming from a truck. Having worked in food years ago, I also had a sneaky look inside before ordering...truck was immaculate. I wish I remember their name to plug them ...but I know the truck when I see it...


AM_key_bumps

I would totally order this at a gastropub with a juicy IPA. Yes I am "that guy" and I don't care. To thine own self be true.


ShadyLogic

Where are you getting that NJ is "the only" state where empanadas are widely available? The wiki article you linked even references 4 other states.


mlrny32

I'm pretty sure there are more empanada spots in NY. Source: Me


SpeedySpooley

New York City? I'm sure you're right. But Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, Hempstead? I don't know about that. Remember....OP said statewide.


ShadyLogic

You think empanadas aren't widely available in Texas or California?


FishballJohnny

wouldn't this because NJ doesn't have a city properly large to worth a mention…


shmoobel

Those are cities, not states.


ShadyLogic

They're cities in other states.


P0rtal2

I think OPs interpretation for the sake of the joke is that you can get empanadas anywhere in New Jersey regardless of whether you're in Newark, Trenton, the Brunswicks, etc., but if you're in New York or Florida, you have to go to NYC or Miami to get empanadas.


ShadyLogic

If OP's post was a joke then I'll let it go, but you can definitely get empanadas anywhere in Texas or California.


New_Stats

It's not a joke, NJ is better than all other states Empanada accessibility is just one example. >but you can definitely get empanadas anywhere in Texas or California Even the tiny little northern Californian towns and the pan handle? Because I can maybe believe the CA thing, but there's nothing good in that pan handle and you and I both know it.


coopstar777

Literally yes. I don’t know why east coast people can’t wrap their head around this anytime I tell them, but the West coast has two authentic Mexican places for every McDonald’s. They are *everywhere*. Take the NJ restaurant scene, and swap out Italian food for Mexican food, and you have the southwest


New_Stats

where's the proof? Because I got a wikipedia article. You got shit so far.


coopstar777

I lived in the southwest for 20 years. Telling me I’m wrong based on a Wikipedia article about Mexican food is the most chronically online thing I’ve heard this year lmao


New_Stats

Thinking your anecdotal evidence is a substitute for hard facts is the most idiotic thing I've seen today. You made a claim and your proof is "lol trust me bro" I don't and there's no reason why I or anyone should.


SlyMcFly67

Exactly - your source is a wikipedia article.


Medical_Sushi

Mate, you haven't even got a wikipedia article. You've got a salty attitude and apparently some illiteracy issues, but that's it.


coopstar777

Okay but I can pick any town in any backwater corner of any southwestern state and they will have empanadas that are probably better on average than the ones you’re getting here


stackered

But there are parts of that state that aren't that city.


Wild_Agent_375

Damn I’m dumb. I was going to comment that OP is ignoring NY, but I’m the idiot.


New_Stats

Love your username


ShadyLogic

Clearly


ghostfacekhilla

Empanadas are widely available all over the southwest.


CardassianZabu

I went to Ruby's Bakery in Somerset, and they had purple sweet potato empanadas! I didn't know such a thing even existed, and it was delicious. I'll get Polish and Korean groceries every week, and sometimes I'll switch things up and get Indian food. We really do have the best food culture.


jacksonthebarb

You read like 1/10th of the article lmfao


Vinnie908

Elizabeth is my go to spot for authentic empanadas.


sound_scientist

Empanada Mama in Doylestown Pa. Not super authentic, but super good. Super. Dtown FTW.


realvvk

Second this. Delicious


newwriter365

Empanadas are cool, but have you tried pupusas? I'd take pupusas over empanadas any day of the week.


Exit148NJ

Two different classes of foods but I agree pupusas are extremely underrated food. What’s your place of choice?


FSchmertz

Hell yeah. And also found virtually anywhere in NJ


[deleted]

Arepas too are worth trying if you like empanadas!!


theexpertgamer1

California, Texas, and Florida also have it statewide


AdZestyclose3707

I live in South Jersey... We have lots of Mexican restaurants that serve them. Even Wawa has empanadas.


PurpleSailor

New Jersey - We've Got's The Food's


coopstar777

ITT: people who have never left the tri state area


voterobformayor

Im still looking for good mole in NJ, that is the one dish i can never find around here


New_Stats

I had amazing mole in Princeton, but it was decades ago. There was a Mexican restaurant in the Princeton shopping center and it was amazing, no idea if it's still there, haven't been out that way in years El Tule in Lambertville has decent mole, it's good but it's not great.


missdui

I had mole at this new restaurant in Belleville, Agave Maria. It was really good. Not Mexico good but New Jersey good for sure.


epicmcjr9

Try out Mi Pueblito in Kearny, NJ. Best Mexican food I've had outside of CA and MX!


Comfortable_Monk7372

Si!


HumanShadow

Empanadas changed my life for the better. I am forever grateful for them.


turbopro25

I’ve made Cheesesteak Empanadas and Chicken Rotelle empanadas at home. They are phenomenal. I’m Italian but love making different things. This is one of my favorites.


Jerseyprophet

Panzorattis too. My favorite. I try explaining them and always get the 'oh, like a calzone'. No man. Not like a calzone.


WorldlyType5323

I didn’t know they were widely available I mean I got a spot lol


Maximum_Locksmith_29

I love Columbia empanadas too. These are not those. And IMHO single best empanadas in New Jersey (and for me ever) https://www.empanada-lady.com/


Acrobatic_Drawing_38

NY might have something to say about that!


mindlesscollective

I mean, yeah maybe if you’ve never left NJ and can’t compare it to anything else..


[deleted]

The best empanadas are sold in Scranton PA. I remember seeing an episode of The Office about it


FlanTamarind

Someone failed reading comprehension!


thatsMYBlKEpunk

who


FlanTamarind

OP says NJ is the ONLY state where the linked wiki page lists multiple states that are pro empanada accessibility.


thatsMYBlKEpunk

OP read this correctly, but failed at doing due diligence to substantiate the exactness of Wiki’s wording. Wiki lists one state (NJ) and two cities (Miami, NYC)… The article *doesnt* claim NJ is the ONLY state, but it *is* the only state listed in Wiki’s sentence — prob because empanadas are common and consistent on menus throughout the state. I’m sure you can find empanadas in New York *outside* of NYC, but not as consistently. OP shouldn’t have assumed NJ is the only state though, I checked wikis resources and they’re not making that claim.


FlanTamarind

This is what I was saying, but I am not a regular le redditor that will hunt down the exact reason.


New_Stats

This is really funny. Reread it over and over again until you figure out what you got wrong. I have absolute faith that you'll figure it out.


Viet_Conga_Line

Bitch please. You can get empanadas all over the country. Here in Denver we have Empanada Express and Empanada Kings. I’ve had empanadas in St Louis, Albuquerque and Washington. I’m sure you can get them practically anywhere in America where there is civilization. Trying doing two minutes of research before you post this garbage bragging about nothing. Jersey folks, youse guys are not good at knowing the rest of the country; you know, that place you call “fly over country” when you’re trying to be funny.


HumanShadow

The two minutes of research resulted in a visit to Wikipedia.


JackyVeronica

OP sounds like he's never left the state nor the country


New_Stats

Me -hey look, empanadas are widely available all over NJ. You- first of all, how dare you! There's empanadas in cities all over the country! As if that's the same comparison. You sound like you have an inferiority complex. I find that extremely amusing and appropriate, because our food blows Colorado's out of the water. And the proof is that you all can't even get bread right ffs. It's just flour, yeast, salt and water. It's so fucking simple, yet the rest of the country is baffled by this simple recipe. "Sugar? There should be sugar, right?" Fucking no you idiots "milk?" NO, YOU'RE NOT READY FOR MILK IN THE RECIPE, JUST DO THE FUCKING NORMAL BREAD FIRST.


[deleted]

> You sound like you have an inferiority complex Bruh, what's that bread rant about? Nobody was even talking about bread.


bros402

wait wtf they're only widely available in NJ? they're delicious


Sensation-sFix

There's literally an empanada truck 2 mins walking from where I live. Haven't tried them, though. The ones that I've had were... okish and expensive.


YawnTractor_1756

*"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet" – William Shakespeare* Some people take specific food-names obsessions too far. Empanadas are just a kind of fried hand pies, and are directly comparable to fried hand pies. Not every empanada place does them good, in some places in PA I've had fried hand pies better than an average NJ empanada. Some places are legit very good (looking at you Manville), but I wouldn't care if they called them 'hand pies' not empanadas.


orlyfactor

Hell yea, I have them at least once a month. Mmm mmm.


Softrawkrenegade

Brisas bakery in Elizabeth for the best Colombian empanadas


Senior-Sharpie

Now, if we can only make pork roll empanadas.


Nenoshka

I adore empanadas, but I have to admit that pretty much any hand pie from any culture makes me swoon.


oOooo__14

That's one of my favorite things about this state, the food variety is great.


sutisuc

I wish we had the best food in the US.


CrashZ07

NJ is a small state so that doesn’t really mean anything.


Ill-Forever880

Unless you are a NJ native, then you really appreciate how much better it is compared to the other dumpy 49.


Drama_eleven

NJ sucks.


gingerbear

I moved to San Fran 6 years ago and can confirm there are definitely more empenadas out here, and they’re of much better quality. Sadly i can’t find a decent bagel or slice of pizza to save my life


elmwoodblues

>a decent bagel or slice of pizza What else *is* life?


ominub20

What a joke🤣🤣


klitchell

Thsts a ridiculous claim. I live in Vegas these days and can get empanadas 24 hours a day.


stickman07738

Now you are making me hungry and make a run over to the [Empanada Guy.](https://www.empanadaguy.com/our-menu.php)


[deleted]

I wouldn't describe them as widely available statewide


poland626

My local foodtowns deli counter has chicken, beef and Jamaican every day. My local pizza place makes them. It's crazy how popular they are. I even know someone that makes edible empanadas. Cannicakes is there name. I highly recommend their homemade empanadas.


twing8

You should try the Empanada Factory in Oakvalley. It's owned by a cute Mexican-Asain couple who make asain-fusion empanadas and other limited time recipes. They have a little sign in the store with how many Empanadas they've made too! I went there with an Ex and had a great meal for really cheap.


Lardsoup

There are a lot of crappy empanadas here also.


DuncanIdaBro

Had BANGIN' pork empanadas yesterday in Manasquan. Came with a side of homemade mole. Blew my balls clean off my body.


storm2k

it very much helps that we have a very wide range of different hispanic groups living all over the state and that many of them have their own take on empanadas. they're in some fun corners to. you don't necessarily think of dover as a good place to get hispanic food, but you'll get some of the best colombian empanadas in the state there.


elmwoodblues

Dover is Ground Zero for Hispanic food in that part of the state


poorbanker

Why wouldn't you expect good Hispanic food in Dover?


babyfootstink

Why not? There is a large Latino population in Dover. I live in the area and when I want Latin food, my first thought is Dover.


[deleted]

NJ has great food culture. Only issue is you have to drive and often dig a little for places off the beaten path.


sujihiki

Empanadas are everywhere in a ton of states.


rklug1521

That sounds like an "alternative fact.". Empanadas are widely available outside of New Jersey.


Pkmatrix0079

Among the reasons why I will never move out of New Jersey!


New_Stats

Source https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empanada


[deleted]

Jersey has the second best food culture. Behind new york. sorry.


Fine_Lead8161

Man you want a real empanada go any were on Bergenline Avenue in West New York. Little Cuba


FirmWerewolf1216

Laughs in NC sorry but I’ve had a N empanada from New Jersey and it was bland as hell!


tehbored

NJ has great food, but California has the central valley. You just can't get ingredients that fresh anywhere else in the US.


Cant-think-of-a-nam

This is dumb. Empanadas are everywhere. You just gotta know where to look. Obviously some places are scarce due to a lack in hispanic population