Empanada Spanish Grill

I was really excited to stumble across this place, with such a variety of empanadas, and happy to see that pernil was one of the available specials.
The empanadas: I don’t mind baked empanadas, but the shells/​pastry were very dry. I ate one in the car and didn’t have any water, and was having a hard time getting it down. I will see that the cheeseburger one was delicious, the best one of the 4 I tried (some of the others were also dry).
Other food: I got 2 containers of the pernil with beans and rice, and the price point is great. My container had only 1 very small piece of meat that I could actually eat. The rest of the pieces were just skin and fat. My husband’s portion was better. Flair of the meat was good, but the beans and rice were a little lacking in flavor.
I would go back for the cheeseburger empanada bc it was so good, but probably pass on the rest.

Been coming to Empanadas since it opened, my go to spot for lunch in the area when I feel like having Spanish food. Ample portions at a pretty low cost for the area make it a prime spot during the work week.
Not a huge location, a couple of tables setup for those that wish to dine in. Street parking only, but typically spots are open and difficult to find (today I had to park the farthest I ever had and it was a quick 2 minute walk to Empanadas). Friendly and courteous staff, happy to help you out and explain any of the dishes they have.
For food platters, you can check the website for what they have available to pick from that day. And you can pick multiple from what they have available. The worst complaint I ever with the selections is when they run out of what I was wanting).
What I like the most here is their namesake, the empanadas they offer. Many choices to pick from and they are baked not fried!

Great authentic food at a (very) fair price. The staff always welcoming and customer oriented. I haven’t had any Spanish (PR) food this good since moving to NJ. If they could change one thing… I’d tell them NOT TO! Que comida, que delicias!

Super friendly staff, the food really falls short on flavor though. I honestly don’t think that I’ve had pernil this bland ever before. I’m not a fan of baked empanadas either, figured I’d give em a shot, not my thing at all.

Delicious, fresh, and hot food! The empanadas are to die for also. I had the roast beef, rice, and pinto beans. Also had the Cheeseburger empanada and the Chicken empanada. They had a huge variety of empanada flavors. Wish I could’ve tried them all. Again, awesome spot with cool décor.

This place really deserves 5 stars.
I’ve been going to this place since the year it opened, and I have NEVER been let down. Everyone I’ve brought here has loved it. Abel and his staff really know how to make some real good food and know how to make you feel like you’re home. I have literally tasted everything this place has to offer and it’s ALL GOOD! I will continue to be a patron of this fine establishment until they either close their doors or I die. And if I die, I want cheese burger empanadas and pernil on my deathbed. Thank you!

Never had anything bad here. Nice people. The baked empanadas are delicious, I could eat them all day.

Pretty good empanadas. I like that their baked and not fried. They have a good variety… my faves were bacalao, cheeseburger, and buffalo chicken.

The food is similar to some homemade food I’ve had in Central America. The prices are very reasonable and they have a nice selection of hot sauces.

Cute décor. It’s like being at a countryside neighborhood restaurant on the island. Extremely small. 2 full round tables, 3 half tables up against the wall and the long high bar table against the window. Salsa playing somewhat low. You can speak to your friends softly and still here the music. The food is good but dry. Needs some more of the great Spanish flavor. Maybe it’s just what I ordered. You can tell they were standing out for a while. I would come back for dinner but take it out.

A fan. Lunch specials are good.
They have lots of different kinds of empanadas. Also a assortment of hot sauces.

I come here to eat all the time and it gets better and better. The restaurant makes you feel like you’re in Puerto Rico and is perfect for relaxing and enjoying great food. The staff is awesome and really cares about the food you’re eating. Is owned by great people.
They mix up the flavors of the empanadas everyday and they all have so much flavor. They bake their empanadas so they can fit more inside and there’s a perfect crunch when you bite down into them. The cheeseburger is my favorite and every bite is juicy with so much flavor.

I came in here a while ago for my first time, and as a Hispanic man myself I love a plate of rice with Pernil! Oh boy did I not regret it! The flavor was amazing and the pork pulled ever so nicely that I was amazed at how it kept the consistency that it did. Their empanadas come in such a variety of flavors; I believe I had the cheeseburger empanada and it tasted so good! Haha!
I highly recommend this place; it is the best Spanish restaurant in the Athenia/​Allwood section of Clifton (and I think the only one!)

We have tried this place a couple times and every time I hope it gets better but it does not. They are known for their baked empanadas but I have definitely had better and cheaper. Maybe I’m just partial to fried empanadas. The Latin dishes are just ok. The beans taste like they are missing something. Chicken is decent, cooked right and falling off the bone. Pernil was dry but had good flavor. Portion size is decent for the price. Cute inside décor. Employee who helped us last time we were there was very unhelpful when we had questions about some of the dishes. Maybe we will have to give it another try. 3 strikes and out right?

I recently tried this place after a co-​worker recommended it, but forgot where it was. I have been down Market Street several times and must have missed this place, but I’m glad I finally found it. I went in on a Tuesday evening and they had certain empanadas they were serving that day. I tried the beef, the cheeseburger, the wife and the picadillo. I even had the nutella cheesecake dessert empanada! They were all delicious and are baked, not fried, so they are not greasy. I thought the price per empanada was reasonable since they are pretty big. While I was in there, I struck up a conversation with the woman behind the counter and the cook. They are both very friendly and even asked me to try some of the pork they were serving that day. It was good, but I was more eager to try the empanadas, so I didn’t get any of the pork to take home. Parking is easy because there is street parking and also a lot around the side of the place, so I parked there. There are also places to sit if you are dining there. I’ll be back here for more empanadas on a different day so I can try more of the ones they make.

Everyday with different empanadas. They taste good and healthier for you cause they’re baked. However I think 2.50 for 1 empanada is a bit pricey.
All the food is on point, all of it. Ropa vieja, chicken, oxtail, beef stew and more. With white or yellow rice. Honestly not a big fan of the rice pudding they sell but I do like the Malta. Less sweeter than the Goya brand.
I do like how they have a small collection of hot sauces for customers to try.
I just get a little sad when I want to go get food on Wednesday night and forget they close early like 6 or 7. Don’t know why.
The owner is a nice dude. Seems ambitious from his personality. I respect that.
I didn’t give this place 5 cause it didn’t WOW me. Place is really good and serves great Cuban food. And I honestly recommend all to go down there. especially the spicy lovers. Haha

I came here for lunch because I had a snow day from work. I wanted a quick bite before going to the gym. Many of the food option near the gym is take your time and eat except for Moe’s. I inhaled the chicken stew with rice and pinto beans. I also ordered a spicy beef empanada. Both items were under $ 10 and it filled my belly with comfort type food. There’s a lot of hot sauce bottle for you to experiment if you’re adventurous as well.
The décor is pretty cool. There a lot of Caribbean nic naks stuff. The bathroom is clean.
There’s no real wait service. Just walk up and point to the 2 – 3 entrée dishes and several variety for empanadas. This place is a hit with the lunch crowd.
I paid in cash. Not sure about cc.
I’d come here for sure.

Being only 5 minutes away from the office, Empanada Spanish Grill quickly became my go-​to spot when I was craving some latin food. Despite having several other offices and law firms around, this place never seemed too crowded during weekday lunch hours (12pm-​2pm). I have stopped by several times and would be in and out within a matter of 5 minutes.
Like any other establishment, there are very good days and not good yummy ones since I know they can be spot on. The chicken is always spot on in terms of flavor and same with their pernil. There were times, however, when I would end up with some dry pieces. I’ve always gone for the yellow rice and pinto beans. Despite having ordered food from here several times, I have yet to try their white rice and black beans. Their oxtail is great and beef stew even better. Can’t go wrong with any of the choices they have to offer at Empanada Grill.
I’m not a huge fan of empanadas in the first place but I do enjoy their baked empanadas. I do like the fact that the empanadas are baked, as they are healthier.
The portions are great for the price. There have been times where I would ask for half/​half (i.e. a thigh of chicken and some pernil). They never charge me extra for my little special request and understand that how difficult it is to just choose one! The only disappointment you will leave this place with is that you couldn’t try a little bit of everything that they have to offer.

Have gone two times, first time a friendly gentleman who took my order, great empanadas, etc.
The second time a young kid who won’t even say hi or thank you. Gave me a mini portion of meat. Disappointed. I guess I’ll only get empanadas from now on.

Empanadas are left much to be desired. Crust was very flat. Most of the ones I saw on display were burnt. Inside was very dry. At least they had a lot of meat — mine being venison.
The daily special, however, is a very different story. I opted for yellow rice, pinto beans and bbq pork. The bbq pork was probably the moistest pork I’ve ever had without being too stringy like pulled pork, yet there was still bark with crunch on the outside. The sauce wasn’t too sweet or salty. Not to mention there was a generous portion of both pork and rice & beans.
The chicken and steak offerings also looked good. I might have to stop by here more often.