Top 5 empanadas in Brampton
Published March 27, 2020 at 4:03 pm
Have you ever tried an empanada? If the answer is no, then you must add these savoury stuffed pastries to your foodie bucket list! A staple in Latin American cuisine, these semi-circle meat turnovers are absolute delights. Whether baked or fried, empanadas may look similar, but there are many unique fillings/flavour combinations. This is because every country has a different take on the empanada.
Here are the top 5 empanada places in Brampton:
Located in WestBram Plaza, Pampanga is a small Filipino take out restaurant that serves up traditional Filipino food favourites, including empanadas and bite-size empanaditas daily. These deep-fried dough balls stuffed with chicken and veggies (pictured) were surprisingly a little sweet and reminded me of timbits! The balance of sweet and savoury was quite nice. They’re perfect as an appetizer or a snack and cost $6 for a dozen. If you’d like to try the Filipino take on the empanada, then Pampanga Cuisine is the place to go.
La Guanaquita is a hidden gem located on Orenda Rd. This special Salvadoran restaurant serves up perfectly shaped crescent empanadas. The beef and potato empanadas (pictured) were very filling and crispy. The restaurant’s décor gives it a very authentic feel, making it an ideal place if you’d like to experience something new and different (such as Salvadoran cuisine) that you may have never tried before! Although there is a large seating area, they also offer take out.
If you’re craving some Latin American flavour and culture, look no further than La Favorita Latin Food Market. Although there is a large selection of groceries and specialty foods, the empanadas are the main attraction. There is a selection of empanadas at the front counter, including Chilean, Argentinean and Columbian (pictured is the Argentinian beef empanada). The crust was soft and delicious and the beef filling was warm and well-seasoned. Chances are you’ll want more than one, so why not try one of every kind?!
Segovia Coffee Co. is a cute Mexican coffee shop located on Main St. in the heart of Brampton. The music and decorative ornaments will make you feel like you’ve travelled to Mexico and the friendly service will brighten your day! They serve up a selection of homemade empanadas including black angus brisket, chicken, bean and cheese and guava and cheese. Pictured above are the black angus brisket and bean and cheese empanada. These were by far the softest empanadas on the list. Be sure to try the iced horchata latte. This sweetened Mexican rice milk latte is the perfect drink to pair alongside a warm empanada. It’s a great spot to catch up with a friend or stop by on a Sunday stroll for a coffee or a snack.
La Gran Uruguay (also known as The Empanada Spot on Google Maps) is a cool takeout spot that feels homey and is very welcoming. The jerk chicken empanada (pictured) is a cultural fusion that did not disappoint. Every bite was bursting with flavour and had just the right amount of spice. It was a marvel they could pack so much jerk chicken with rice and peas into one empanada (but hey, we’re not complaining). Although they do have the classic beef empanada, what makes this place unique are the jerk chicken and cheeseburger empanadas. La Gran Uruguay definitely deserves a repeat visit. Just a heads up, it’s cash only.
