Argentina's Best Empanadas — Restaurant in Salt Lake City

While on a long layover I tried Argentina's Best Empanadas. Although well labeled on Google Maps, I had trouble finding it...more my navigation than anything to do with the restaurant or Google Maps, LOL. I add this fact because this part of SLC has some fun and colorful stores/streets that make the walk enjoyable and builds a nice appetite for these empanadas.

The storefront is small and cute. The inside is clean and well decorated. Other reviews with photos are still accurate. I really liked their merchandise of frozen empanadas, desserts, yerba mate, bombillas (filtering straws) and traditional yerba mate gourds.

The empanadas are a bit small compared to other places I've tried. If a 3x5 inch empanada is the norm, then these were 1/2 to 2/3 the size. This is the only reason for 4 stars instead of 5.

Despite the size, the flavor was excellent!

I tried the beef, breakfast, and chicken. The pastry crust tasted and felt like ones I had in Argentina, baked, not fried. The construction of them was good too...I've had some lately that were too wet and consequently fell apart after the first bite, but not here!

I must also give a special review of the alfajores. I bought the box of small ones, it had about 12-15 in there and they can be a two bite cookie or one big bite (nom-nom-nom) cookie, dealer's choice. I think my family liked them because I left them out when I arrived home and the next day they were gone; leaving only guilty looks and excuses of "I thought you already had some." I'd say they were a hit.

While eating there, I heard the woman working the desk talking to another woman. They seemed to be discussing how business is going. The owner (my assumption) said they're working to expand and be open in the afternoon/evening. To me, it sounded like a common problem today of finding/affording someone to work the hours and keep the quality high...but again, that's my interpretation.

I share this last tidbit to give context to the limited hours and production of empanadas. This appears to be a small business with excellent quality and customer service trying to meet demands with limited resources...for now.

So, if you're in the area during their business hours, want some excellent Argentinian empanadas, and want to feel good for helping expand a small business, definitely try Argentina's...

Usually have a 5-star experience here, but today around noon I went in and ordered a dozen empanadas (3 lemon beef, 3 roast chicken, 2 ham & cheese, 2 breakfast, and 2 traditional beef) for $24 only to bite into 2 that were completely empty except for 3 small strips of caramelized onion (picture included). I'm guessing these two got switched into my order instead of the ham & cheese, since every other flavor was accounted for in the dozen.

Really really wish they would better organize or even bother to label their heated serving cupboard (since all the flavor surfaces outside appear the same), so future customers don't get disappointed by mixed-up orders like...

I will never order from them again! I specifically asked them for vegetarian empanadas(for religious reasons). Guess what they sent instead? But ok I get mistakes can happen and the other three empanada were what I ordered, so I was going to make the best out of it. I took one bite of the cheese and spinach empanada and the front of my top was covered in spinach juice. Did no one ever teach them that you're supposed to squeeze all the spinach juice out first? The dough wasn't fully cooked and to be honest everything was very bland, only their potatoe side dish was good. I don't know who told them they are the...