Where to get the best empanadas in San Antonio
For the best empanadas in San Antonio—both sweet and savory—check out these nine restaurants.
There’s so much to do in San Antonio, and that’s simply because of the great people who live here and create fun, soul-enriching opportunities for their communities. For instance, San Antonio is slated to be filled with can’t-miss festivals in 2026, but anyone who’s lived or even visited our fair city knows that one thing you can’t say about it is that we have bad food. No, the River City has some of the best Tex-Mex cuisine in the Southwest, not to mention the empanadas that keep the mouths of locals and tourists alike drooling.
Empanadas don’t have as clear of a history as other foods, but Spain and Portugal are often believed to have originated the fried treat. The best part? The pastry can be filled with anything from stewed chicken to marinated pork and even guava and cream cheese (the latter being a beloved Cuban dish). Naturally, this all led us down the rabbit hole to find the best empanadas in San Antonio, and boy howdy, did we find some good ones. Here are the ones you need to try ASAP, including one featured on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”
1. Fat Tummy Empanadas
Address: 2922 W Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78207
Hours: Tuesday-Wednesday: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
We can’t mention the best empanadas in San Antonio without starting with Fat Tummy Empanadas. This joint is an institution, with longtime Food Network host Guy Fieri calling it a true “example of the American story” in a 2018 episode of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” a quote that the restaurant proudly displays on its website’s home page.
The savory empanadas here include beef and potatoes, ham and cheese, and spinach and cheese, while the sweet options include dulce de leche, pumpkin, and guava and cream cheese. And, yes, they’re that good. “Absolutely the best empanadas I have eaten in San Antonio,” one Google reviewer shared. For more, check out every San Antonio restaurant featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”
2. La Panadería Bakery Café
Address: 17030 Fiesta Texas Dr., Suite 105, San Antonio, TX 78256
Hours: Monday-Friday: 7 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday: 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
We can’t mention full-fledged institutions without bringing up La Panadería Bakery Café, a local chain serving up some of the best empanadas in San Antonio. La Panadería has four locations in the city, but we’re focusing on the Fiesta Texas Dr. bakery here because of its sky-high reviews and longer daily operating hours. On the menu, you’ll find a variety of sweet empanadas, with fillings including apple, pineapple, and strawberry. “The conchas and empanadas are so delicious,” one pleased reviewer wrote on Google. Yum!
3. European Dumplings Cafe
Address: 2211 NW Military Hwy, Suite 131b, Castle Hills, TX 78213
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Cultures across the world have their own versions of dumplings, from Indian samosas to Chinese wontons, and sometimes, those cultures come together to create the mashup of our dreams. Enter European Dumplings Cafe, a Ukrainian restaurant in San Antonio’s Castle Hills suburb that makes the traditional fried-dough dish chebureki—just like empanadas—including a chicken-and-cheese option that’s to die for.
“We tried the chicken skewer, lamb dumplings, and empanadas. … The empanadas were hot and fresh with a flakey crust,” one Google reviewer shared after trying European Dumplings Cafe. We’ll take two!
4. Mi Tierra Cafe y Panadería
Address: 218 Produce Row, San Antonio, TX 78207
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 8 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday: 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
Looking to start your day with Mexican treats that are sure to leave a smile on your face? Mi Terra Cafe y Panaderia is your one-stop shop for sweet and savory items alike. You can order full breakfast plates here or simply opt for items from the bakery case, like scones, danishes, churros, and donuts. Of course, you can also order empanadas, and visitors tend to love them. “I love their pumpkin empanadas,” one Google reviewer shared, while another wrote, “The ‘empanada de camote’ was delicious.” Who wouldn’t love fried dough with a sweet potato filling?
5. Los Azulejos Restaurant
Address: 2267 NW Military Hwy #101, San Antonio, TX 78213
Hours: Monday-Wednesday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Thursday-Friday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Los Azulejos Restaurant is one of the highest-rated restaurants on this list, coming in at a cumulative 4.8-star rating on Google from more than 4,100 reviews. One dish that reviewers praise is the Empanadas de Tinga de Pollo, which can be ordered during lunch service from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. throughout the work week. This set of three empanadas has accompaniments that will make your taste buds sing, including habanero mayo and avocado mousse. “The empanadas and the chicken mole enchiladas were exceptional!!!!!” one reviewer wrote on Google. We’re on our way!
6. Four Brothers Venezuelan Grill
Address: 203 8th St, San Antonio, TX 78215
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Another highly rated option, Four Brothers Venezuelan Grill has 4.9 stars on Google, and it’s bringing seriously good vibes and bites to San Antonio. The restaurant began in 2015 in Austin, and it eventually came our way with a River City location—and we’re so thankful it did. Here, you can dig into authentic and melt-in-your-mouth arepas, but you can also crunch into some of the best empanadas in San Antonio. Options here include chicken, beef, and cheese, as well as cute little ones called empanaditas. “Highly recommend the beef empanadas and the bowl! Both were amazing,” one visitor wrote in their Google review.
7. La Maracucha
Address: 5710 San Pedro Ave, San Antonio, TX 78212
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.; Sunday: 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
La Maracucha may not have thousands of Google reviews like other restaurants on this list, but it does hold a perfect 5-star rating and photos that look heavenly. Here, you can order empanadas, arepas, patacones, and more, but reviewers really love the empanadas. “Hands down, best Venezuelan-style empanadas this side of the Mississippi,” one reviewer shared on Google, adding, “ The dough is light, fluffy, and crisp, with just the right thickness. At the same time, they are stuffed to the brim with filling.” Other reviewers back up the “crispy” claim, so if you love your empanadas perfectly fried and not skimpy on filling, this may be the perfect place for you.
8. Paladar Fusion Mexico Cuba
Address: 3615 Broadway UNIT 4, San Antonio, TX 78209
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday: 4 p.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
While some spots on this list are great on-the-go options, Paladar Fusion Mexico Cuba is the place to be if you’re looking for some of the best empanadas in San Antonio in a nice sit-down environment. Notably, the restaurant serves a trio of empanaditas featuring ropa vieja (Cuban shredded beef), chicken tinga, and lechón (suckling pig), and everyone adores them. “Great food, the empanaditas were amazing and the service was impeccable,” one Google reviewer wrote, with a second calling the empanadas the “best” alongside Paladar’s chocolate tamale and guacamole. Consider our palate interested!
9. Empanadas De Acá – EDÁ
Address: 9703 Bandera Rd Suite 303 B, San Antonio, TX 78250
Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
When searching for the best empanadas in San Antonio, it doesn’t get much better than finding a restaurant with the dish in its name. That’s where Empanadas De Acá – EDÁ comes in. Hands down, EDÁ has the biggest filling selection on this list. Its countless variations include savory options like chicken and potato, pepperoni and cheese, tuna, and cream spinach, while its sweet offerings include apple and guava and cheese. You could eat here every day for a week and still find new empanadas to try!
“I have to say that they have really good empanadas! … I got one chicken and one beef! Both really good!!” one reviewer raved on Google. We know where we’re going next!
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