La Empanada — Restaurant in District of Gungahlin

There are hundreds of places in Canberra that claim to have “the best coffee in town”, but there is only one place that I know of that claims to have the “second best coffee in town”!

Nestled near the light rail stop in Gungahlin is a amazingly awesome empanada joint that has me reminiscing of grandma’s cooking with every bite of their food.

The food is locally made and fresh (few places can claim that nowadays), with a huge range of empanadas including vegetarian and vegan. I have yet to meet an empanada I didn’t like, and I’ve nearly tried them all! They have a regular menu as well with quite possibly the best waffles in town from a choice of sweet to savory. They have an all day menu as well, but if you’re fortunate enough to come on a weekend you’re treated to a special on the menu that hails from somewhere in Latin America that is absolutely delicious.

Andre, the owner, is very welcoming and engaging and will happily help anyone out who is trying out empanadas for the first time. La Empanada has a great family feel, and even though their title for Second Best Coffee is undisputed, I personally feel they’re a contender for the best...

Cute little place in Gungahlin, a must try for everyone!! The empanadas are baked, not fried, so you don't have to feel guilty scoffing down a few.

Everything on the menu looked absolutely delicious... The empanadas, the meal options, the desserts & cookies and the drinks. It's a very authentic and well designed menu, with lots of traditional items. The menu is also succinct, while at the same time offering quite a lot of variety - good mix of veg and non veg options, hot and cold drinks, savoury n sweet etc.

The empanada filling for me was just so so. There is a variety of fillings, so if you select a few, each one tastes a bit different. I liked the cheese and spinach the best. The cheeseburger was slightly too salty for me. The sweet potato and lentil was definitely different, quite good but did not wow me.

The staff are friendly and service is good. It's a small shop, but they have made the space work and it's very comfortable.

Edit: went here again and updated...

Outstanding, great-value dining experience. Whether for a quick takeaway or eating in, La Empanada delivers in spades. Empanadas are well-sized (2 will do for lunch) and are delicious. Obvious care has been taken to ensure fillings are not gluggy, keeping the pastry perfect. The paired sauces and infused oils heighten and freshen the fillings well. The Columbian coffee beans make for some of Canberra's best coffee, prepared incredibly quickly without sacrificing flavour. The mug size is very generous! The painted South American flair in store contributes to a welcoming and lively atmosphere. The owner and staff engage with customers with obvious passion for their products. A genuinely...