La Masa Empanada Bar
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Most empanadas in North America lean more towards corn flour based pastry. I noticed right away that these were more rough puff pastry, wheat flour based. I had the Argentine Beef (A) Grilled Chicken Pesto (PC) and the Carnitas Verde (C). Each had an identifying stamp. A was the star of the trio the bites were filled with complex flavors. The olives and raisin punctuated the flavorful shredded beef. The shell was soft, but layered. I would have preferred more salt in the dough and a bit more color and crunch. Also the forked seal edges were missing which indicated a press. A small detail that only effect perception not flavor. The grilled chicken pesto was lacking the grill flavor in grilled and as much, the pesto showed up and partied hard as one would expect pesto to do. The carnitas verde was bland and I struggled to feel and taste the salsa verde component. But the overall note was elevated with small spoons of the chimichurri and Ahi Amarillo aioli. Both of which were stellar. I missed ordering the garlic and lime. The jicama slaw was a complex crunchy delight and reset the pallet between each empanada. a brief but satisfying wine menu allowed a reasonable glass for meal time and a "desert" selection. In conclusion the three empanada entree was a delightfully satisfying meal accompanied with a glass of wine. I think that northern palettes are ready for full flavor and "spicy" but that is maybe just me. There is something comforting in empanadas and my exposure though limited was elevated by the overall experience. This was my 2nd visit. A few years separated the visits. I ask myself why...but COVID answered that question as some tended to become recluses.
Eva OdlandEva Odland
00
In the heart of the bustling Brady Street food and drink and weekend party strip this is a fun small plate venue in a clean establishment with wonderfully welcoming service. Empanada, salads, and sandwiches is what you'll get here with the accoutrement of a full bar. With a crispy flaky dough on the outside, and deliciously packed with savory on the inside, these empanadas will have you salivating and craving another. They are not huge, about the length not a standard spoon, but still shareable for a "try as many as possible" experience. Save some money and get the platter. My favorites so far are the Thai peanut and mushroom truffle Parmesan. They are stamped with grill marks to let you know what's inside. Now, do not leave without trying the Dulces(sweet) empanadas, you will thank me later. Especially the banana Nutella; you will dream about that. It is accompanied with some ice cream if buying the trio. The service was wonderful and attentive, surprising for a high traffic place like this, kudos to the staff. I came on about 5 on a Saturday and the Saturday evening crowd was starting to ramp up. Brady Street is vibrant so expect the noises, but quiet conversations are doable broken by an occasional "look at me" tail pipe. Definitely a people watching venue, with some seats outside if you are interested in that. Definitely not a cozy romantic place but absolutely a fun sharable experience for a couple. Easy parking at the meters in back, 25c per 15 minutes, bring quarters or navigate the app. $1.25 should do you. All and all, a wonderful experience, great food, and a great place. Enjoy!
joe mjoe m
00
I can't say I've ever been to an empanada bar before so this was probably my first. What's not to love about empanasas? A pastry pocket stuffed with meat or veggies or cheese, it's a simple concept and La Masa does it well. The menu offers 16 different empanadas including black bean and chorizo, spinach and cheese, Wisco Corn, Cuban with ham and cheese and pickles and mustard. I opted for the "La Masa Trio" which includes three so I chose Argentine Beef, Lamb Barbacoa and Jamon y Queso (ham and cheese). They took about ten minutes (heating them up, I suppose?) and were presented on a tray with a bowl of jicama slaw and chimichurri. They were hot and while I had high hopes for the ham and cheese, that was my least favorite. It tasted too sweet. The beef was my favorite of the three, well stuffed and with a rich baked flavor. The empanadas themselves were good - flaky and buttery. La Masa has a full bar but it's lunchtime on a workday and a cocktail would definitely have put me out for the afternoon. They have Coke products and several other non-alcoholic drinks.
Bruce K.Bruce K.
00
We came here on a chilly night, looking for good food and ambiance. I was excited to try the food because I heard great things and saw great reviews. Disclaimer, the food, atmosphere, and staff was awesome, but I got food poisoning after eating my meal!! The empanadas were a bit smaller than I expected, but they were all pretty good. I recommend the Argentinian beef and lamb barbacoa empanadas! The meat is seasoned very well, the crust is crispy and flakey. I enjoyed the thin fries and sauce that it came with. The entire platter was great and since they're small, you can order a few and split half with someone else, that way you can try a lot of different ones. I recommend this place for a date, casual date, small celebration, a yummy snack, or for a drink at the bar with good food. There's a bathroom, a bar, a decent amount of dining tables, and street parking available.
Vy DVy D
00
Opted to try La Masta instead of this other restaurant and I was glad I did in the end! The restaurant itself is big inside and out, easy to move around in, and has a pleasant atmosphere that went beyond just being a bar! Service was good on all ends; attentive, pleasant and just nice to talk to really! The food was great on almost all ends! I've never has Argentian food or STYLED food and what I had, the meat packets that come from Argentina, were flavorful, tasty, and hard NOT to wolf down, fries and main course and dessert, all at a VERY reasonable price! My only complaint is the appetizer was just....not a good combo that went with cheese TO ME but they were still good! Give La Masa a chance, everything about this restaurant is good! Videos and pictures are of the outside and inside of the building, menu, and food I got!
MistahZMistahZ
00
Opted to try La Masta instead of this other restaurant and I was glad I did in the end! The restaurant itself is big inside and out, easy to move around in, and has a pleasant atmosphere that went beyond just being a bar! Service was good on all ends; attentive, pleasant and just nice to talk to really! The food was great on almost all ends! I've never has Argentian food or STYLED food and what I had, the meat packets that come from Argentina, were flavorful, tasty, and hard NOT to wolf down, fries and main course and dessert, all at a VERY reasonable price! My only complaint is the appetizer was just....not a good combo that went with cheese TO ME but they were still good! Give La Masa a chance, everything about this restaurant is good! Videos and pictures are of the outside and inside of the building, menu, and food I got!
MistahZMistahZ
00
Nearby Attractions Of La Masa Empanada Bar
East Pointe Marketplace
The Knickerbocker on the Lake
Adventure Rock MKE
Swing Park
Kadish Park
Expert Electronics of Wisconsin
Kalina & Co. Jewelry
Jewish Museum Milwaukee
Burns Commons
New Land Enterprises

East Pointe Marketplace
4.2
(723)Click for details

The Knickerbocker on the Lake
4.2
(402)Click for details

Adventure Rock MKE
4.8
(396)Click for details

Swing Park
4.5
(332)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of La Masa Empanada Bar
Colectivo Coffee Lakefront
Up-Down MKE
Lakefront Brewery
Comet Cafe
Pizza Shuttle
Points East Pub
Beans & Barley
Zaffiro's Pizza The Original
BelAir Cantina
Thai-namite on Brady Street

Colectivo Coffee Lakefront
4.6
(1.6K)Click for details

Up-Down MKE
4.6
(1.3K)Click for details

Lakefront Brewery
4.6
(1.3K)Click for details

Comet Cafe
4.5
(1.2K)Click for details
Basic Info
Address
1300 E Brady St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Map
Phone
(414) 885-1866
Call
Website
lamasaempanadas.com
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.7
(832 reviews)
Ratings & Description
Description
Buzzing tavern featuring a variety of oven-baked empanadas & Latin American mains, plus cocktails.
attractions: East Pointe Marketplace, The Knickerbocker on the Lake, Adventure Rock MKE, Swing Park, Kadish Park, Expert Electronics of Wisconsin, Kalina & Co. Jewelry, Jewish Museum Milwaukee, Burns Commons, New Land Enterprises, restaurants: Colectivo Coffee Lakefront, Up-Down MKE, Lakefront Brewery, Comet Cafe, Pizza Shuttle, Points East Pub, Beans & Barley, Zaffiro's Pizza The Original, BelAir Cantina, Thai-namite on Brady Street
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