EMPANADA'S PLACE - A Restaurant Review
All the flavor of Argentina - in a flaky pastry crust

By CATHERINE GARCIA, staff writer

Empanada's Place
3811 Sawtelle Blvd.
Culver City
(310) 391-0888

Feenin’ for some good Argentine food? Why not take a quick drive to Culver City and stop by Empanada’s Place? After long finals cram sessions, it was comforting to take a seat in this small, kitchen-like restaurant with walls lined with pictures of the city streets of Argentina and Argentinean tango dancers. I anticipated good food after reading some of the framed articles of superior restaurant reviews which praised their dishes and their authenticity.

As the name implies, Empanada’s Place specializes in empanadas (turnovers with a flaky crust and filled with meat or vegetables). You can choose from a menu of 16 different, meat or vegetable empanadas, large beef or chicken sandwiches, or a chicken or cheese Argentine tamal. I highly recommend the criolla empanada—the most typical Argentine empanada, as well as Empanada’s Place’s most popular dish. The crust was flaky with crispy outer edges, and the inside was filled with a blend of beef, raisins, green onions, eggs, and spices—tasty, filling, and addicting…the perfect combo! I also highly recommend the Arabe (lemon herb ground beef)—filled with lemon-seasoned ground beef, tomatoes, and onions. The spices were excellent and the empanada was altogether very flavorful. If you want a taste of Northern Argentina and you like the taste of home cooked beef stew, you’ll love the slightly spicy, chunky beef empanada—filled with chopped beef, potatoes, peas, and carrots. Care for a taste from the Tucuman province? The Tucuman empanada is filled with chopped beef and boiled eggs and spiced to perfection. You can also choose from beef, chicken, ham and cheese, or pepperoni empanadas.

Empanada’s Place’s vegetable empanadas are also delicious. The ricotta empanada was rich and creamy and the fresh mushroom and basil combination was mouth-watering. Or, you could try the spinach empanada—fresh spinach, melted mozzarella and parmesan cheese, and a white sauce. Among other choices were cheese and onion, potato and cheese, potato, corn, broccoli, and eggplant empanadas.

After having such a delicious meal, why not try their delicious flan? Their homemade flan is very rich and is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth. The caramel and sugar crystal topping is to-die-for!

With a cozy ambiance, fast service, and good, affordable food (empanadas at $2.25 each, $22.50 per dozen), Empanada’s Place is a definite must-try! Just don’t forget to bring cash or your checkbook—they don’t except credit cards.