Saturday night my friend who writes reviews for NY Magazine invited
me to dinner at Empanada Mama, a small empanada spot in Hells
Kitchen I had recommended to him. I was excited that I was not
paying!
The long list of empanadas are made in either wheat flour or corn
flour. We ordered a bunch of them. From the wheat side we tried the
cheesesteak, spicy chicken, and the spinach and cheese. From the
corn side we ordered the chili and beef, and chicken with peas and
carrots. Every empanada we tasted was truly excellent. The corn
flour ones were a tad crispier, and I liked that. All the meat
inside, including the chicken and beef was very tender and
juicy-perfectly cooked.
We also tried the veal and rice ball tapas. I never tried anything
like it and it was also wonderful.
For dessert we tried the belgian chocolate and banana empanada, as
well as the fig, cheese and belgian chocolate empanada. They were
both delicious, and in fact the fig, cheese, and chocolate empanada
turned out to be my favorite meal of all. I never thought chocolate
and cheese would be a great pairing. But the warmth of the chocolate
and melted cheese together was superb. The most amazing fact about
this restaurant is the pricing. Each empanada ranges from $1.75 to
$3.00 each. This is truly one of the best deals in town. I recommend
Empanada Mama to anyone interested in a great deal and great food.