Highlights
Dive into this vibrant empanada spot where the friendly staff serves up piping hot bites like the must-try Pikachu, all in a quirky, casual vibe.
Av. Pueyrredón 1508, C1118 Cdad. Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina Get directions
Open (Until 12:00 AM)
$$
"La Cocina in Recoleta bakes up a handful of empanada flavors sealed with careful repulgue folds. The stewed chicken is a keeper, as is the Pikachu, loaded with cheese, onions, and mildly spicy red pepper flakes. La Cocina also has a second downtown location hidden in Galeria Boston." - Allie Lazar
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Jan 9, 2024
"It would be easy to walk past this tiny, unassuming joint in the Recoleta neighborhood. But those in the know flock to La Cocina, which is still run by the Catamarca Province family that opened it 40 years ago (the owners’ grandson answers the phone and wraps up lunch orders nonstop). La Cocina’s famous empanadas are oven-baked (as opposed to fried), and this lighter take on the Argentine staple feels like something you could eat every day. Go early for lunch or dinner, as the tiny place fills up at peak hours; don’t miss the picachu , a spicy cheese-and-onion empanada. Open Monday through Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. By Travesías"
The Best Restaurants in Buenos Aires
·
Mar 16, 2022
"Looking for something quick and cheap without a fuss? Empanadas are the answer. Go by the general rule that less than two empanadas are a snack, three or more are a meal. At La Cocina, most locals will probably order the empanadas to-go, but there are a few tables to sit and eat. Insider tip: downtown business workers go crazy for the the second location hidden in a mall on Florida street (Florida 142). La Cocina specializes in baked empanadas from Catamarca, a province in Argentina's north. Try flavors like beef, chicken, humita (corn), or pikachu, cheese with a kick of spice. During the winter months, most people order rib-sticking comfort foods like locro , a beef and hominy stew." - Allie Lazar
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May 24, 2018
Hussein Al-kaf
Google
Those were great empanadas but nothing insane. I think I had better some other places. I only really liked the beef ones, the rest is just okay.
The owner/person working there is super friendly and fun. Great service and lovely people.
Paul Smith
Google
The food was incredible. We tried the chicken, beef and spicy beef empanadas. All were very delicious. We also had a piece of apple pie, which was delicious. The service was quite friendly and the food came quickly.
The atmosphere is very unique and nostalgic. I did find that the restaurant was a bit dirty overall. Dirty tables and used napkins all over the floor. The only beverage offered was water. No pop or beer available, which for a restaurant I found strange. No bathroom availability.
Shahveer Patel
Google
Don't listen to 1 star reviews as most of them love judging books by their cover and expect such businesses to spend hard earned money on looks and comfort instead of the food!
I came at 730pm when they just opened up and everything served was served straight out of the oven!
Caution it's going to hot so break it in half and let the steam escape!
The reviews will mention Pikachu over and over and they are all correct it's amazing! MUST TRY!
I had the beef and chicken as well which were great but the Pikachu and Flan were simply fantastic!
Valentin Paul
Google
Delicious and traditional empanadas. Good variety of different flavours. The beef ones were juicy and yummy. Small and atmospheric little place. Service was fine, latin chill. Empanadas are freshly made and come super hot. Will go again and try the different options. Wine was cheap but fair.
Tamta Odisharia
Google
Delicious food and a good place to feel the authentic taste of empanadas! 🙏🏼
Sarah Mortier
Google
Visiting from US and stopped here. Loved the carne suave and carne picante empanadas. Bring cash ◡̈ ~$2-$3 USD per empanada
Brock Goodman
Google
Empanadas all day!
Really good ones, grandma's recipe since 1950 kind of place.
This is like Buenos Aires version of a taco stand in california.
Cruise in, order a couple empanadas, grab a stool and eat. Then order a couple more, then maybe a couple more after that.
Lots of flavors to try, Carne, Humita, Pikachu.
They come out quick and hot.
This isn't a sit down restaurant. It's a quick bite and they nailed it.
Simge Yurdakul
Google
The empanadas were absolutely delicious! The Pikachu was my favorite, though my husband found it a bit too sweet for his taste. The service was a bit slow, but it was New Year’s Eve, and with locals placing big orders, it’s understandable.
Jack D.
Yelp
Best Empanadas in Buenos Aires, hands down!
This tiny little spot has a line out the door all day.
If you're looking for the best empenada you've ever had, don't miss this spot.
Cyrus A.
Yelp
La Cocina is the quintessential dining option for locals, so of course I have to recommend it to fellow tourists!
Seriously, if you need a break from all the fancy dining options in Buenos Aires, come here for a simple menu of amazing empanadas that are well worth the visit.
I had the picachu, which was sweeter than I expected, but still had a savory undertone. The texture of the pastry was perfect - flaky and crisp, with just a little bit of doughiness.
I also had the pollo, which again came wrapped in a perfect pastry. This one blew me away - it was a little salty, a little zesty, and a whole lot of delicious.
Don't let the hole in the wall vibe fool you; this is excellent food at a steal. And with a friendly owner at the helm, it's a great opportunity to support a long-running business!
Wendy A.
Yelp
Excellent. Loved the onion and cheese and the spicy beef. The perfect empanadas. Good variety. Very friendly owner.
Alice C.
Yelp
The best empanadas! Super local spot and there were a bunch of people lined up when we arrived around lunchtime. I loved that these empanadas were baked, and the carne picante (spicy beef) was my favorite. Will definitely come back here if I'm ever in Buenos Aires again!
They don't take credit cards but they do take debit.
Henrique R.
Yelp
Was here in Feb 2020.
It's a local spot, but thank God for Yelp! I found these guys and they are cheap and delicious!
The guy at the front was very cool and approachable with any questions I had.
My friend who's a local was busy that day so I went alone and sat on the side. A conversation struck up w/locals there and they were telling me some interesting stories of growing up in BA.
Nice local spot. I tried 3 flavor empanadas. I think I'll do w/out the cheese empanada next time.
Becky H.
Yelp
This is probably my favorite empanada place so far. The empanadas are baked and they offer several different options. We tried the Pikachu (cheese and sweet onion - not pictured because I ate it before I remembered...oops), the Pollo (big chunks of marinated chicken - very tender and juicy), Carne Picante (spicy beef with potatoes). They were all delicious but if I had to choose one I would say the Pikachu was my favorite.
The guy who took our order was very friendly and the place had a cool, local vibe.
Julie Ann I.
Yelp
Yum fresh delicious empanadas, each one is about $1 - $1.40 (41 to 48 pesos) a piece (exchange rate was 36.60 to 1 USD). When we visited it was right when they opened for the day and we had to wait about 20mins for the empanadas, we opted to order one of each flavor which they had 8. There is a small seating area and it can get busy, so we opted to take away our food. Since we had it as a takeaway, they provided a picture menu so we knew what flavor we were trying.
It was delicious, it's baked empanadas the dough was perfect not too thick and a lot of filling. The only flavor i didn't like was the Choclo(it tasted to me like rice pudding) which was kind of odd consistency and taste for me. Overall we enjoyed our quick meal before exploring. I highly recommend.
Darren R.
Yelp
Best empanadas so far in Buenos Aires. We tried one of each. The spicy beef and the spinich were the 2 stand outs for me.
Art C.
Yelp
This was our second most favorite spot for empanadas- on our way home, delirious from eating way too much steak and drinking way too much wine, we'd somehow end up here, standing in line for empanadas which we didn't really need.
Wish the empanadas weren't quite so pricey. But they're all tasty though- try them all...
Anu M.
Yelp
La Cocina was quite close to where we stayed in BA, so we came here late night to snack on their popular empanadas.
The place is quite small, with a few tables and chairs, making it ideal for take out. Each empanada costs 28 pesos and you're sure to get piping hot empanadas fresh out of the oven.
We tried these three flavors:
- Picachu: Onions & cheese, this was my favorite
- Carne picante: The beef wasn't spicy enough for my taste, but my husband liked it
- Ricotta y jamon: Blah; we didn't enjoy it
I'd still give 4 stars, just for those delicious Picachu empanadas. The crust is excellent - crisp and perfectly baked. The stuffing with onions and cheese is a tad sweet and offers a very refreshing taste.
If you're in the neighborhood, definitely stop by to snack on their empanadas.
Vicie M.
Yelp
Hands down best empanadas! Happened upon this place as we were walking through the Recoleta. Neighborhood In Buenos Aires, Argentina! Small, quaint, limited seating, but definitely worth the wait! We tried 1 of each item on the menu and the spicy beef was my all time favorite! The spinach empanada was surprisingly delicious as well! Can't wait to visit this spot again!
Nicolas D.
Yelp
Son excelentes esas empanadas y flan. Pikachu la rompe!!! Es como un mix de quesos medio picante
Lindsay W.
Yelp
They let us in at 12pm - we were their first customers of the day! I had 3 empanadas- the pikachu, the jamón y ricotta, and the pollo. We had a pretty long wait (about 15 minutes) but they came out very hot and fresh! My favorite was the jamón y ricotta! This was an authentic place and one of my favorite experiences while visiting BA.
George H.
Yelp
This is a tiny, tiny place that looks like it is run by college students. They are always welcoming and kind and fun. The empanadas which one can either eat there or take away, are delicious. Though I am no empanada expert, it is still much more tastier than the ones I have had from other places. I still have not figured out what the actual filling of the "picachu" empanada is, although I had bother ordered and consumed it along with 3 others.
The Locro is so so, I think I prefer El sanjuanino's Locro over theirs!
Raphael C.
Yelp
Great piping hot empanadas that are ridiculously cheap even for Argentina standards. The meat content however is not as dense as what we usually expect so you kinda get what you pay for. Just keep in mind that these empanadas are snacks and if you come here expecting to make a meal of it all, you will not be satisfied. Do yourself a favor if you're really hungry and head to don Julio. You're welcome.
Dana J.
Yelp
Really delicious empanadas and a cool, small spot to
hang out and chat. The onion and cheese and carne suave empanadas were amazing. Less so the ricotta and ham. Going back to try others for sure.
Edward N.
Yelp
The empanadas are perfect If you want the best empanadas in Buenos Aires this is the place to go. The restaurant is very traditional and most tourists don't know about this place. Highly recommend La Cocina
Diego R.
Yelp
This place is the shit. The Picachu tastes like mozzarella with the creamy sauce used for humita, although I don't know if that's an accurate assessment. Great atmosphere....if ya can find a seat. Charming when you find a spot with friends.
Nurbek T.
Yelp
Best empanadas in the city. Different types. I got chicken. During dinner the place gets pretty busy. So it's not their fault that they are so popular among locals.
Kylie H.
Yelp
The best empanadas we had in BA. We walked in and ordered the picante, pollo, and onion/cheese empanadas and two cups of wine. Converted it was around... $5? The cheese/onion was our favorite by far the others were delicious. Definitely recommend!
Maya M.
Yelp
We went here for lunch and it was amazing. We speak very little Spanish but the communication wasn't an issue as their English was pretty good. They were able to help us decide how much we needed for a family of 4 which was 10 to 11 Empanadas. The food was great and our favorite Empanada was the Chicken. Would totally recommend!!
Grace D.
Yelp
La cocina is definitely a must try if in the recoleta area- i visited on a rainy night and went back the very next day! I don't even have a favorite empanada to recommend because they were all good- be sure to save room for the stew esp if you go on a. Cold night or day! The ambiance is great too love the music and local feel. Seating is a bit limited but that's what makes it so cozy and charming!!! Disfruta !!
Sofia N.
Yelp
The empanadas here are flaky and perfectly baked. They cost 30 pesos each, and the place doesn't take credit cards. We came here at 11:30 AM once but the place didn't end up opening until 12, so I recommend not listening to the posted hours and going a bit later. We had the Pikachu, which is a sweet onion and cheese filling, and the carne picante. The carne is not spicy at all, but it's still nicely seasoned with eggs, potato and vegetable. The pikachu isn't too sweet and I enjoyed the oozing melted cheese. We asked for a Coca Cola, but the place only sells Pepsi (?!).
I was a little disappointed that there is no hot sauce in the restaurant, as the empanadas really could have used some spice, but they were good nonetheless.
Alex K.
Yelp
Excellent empanadas. Big. Not as good as Costumbres Criollas', but really great nonetheless. Small little restaurant. Great atmosphere.
Jennifer S.
Yelp
Best Empanadas in Buenos Aires! The bread of the empanada is so soft, stuffed with a lot of meat. So cheap too it is $1 USD!! My bf who lives in Buenos Aires goes to this place all the time, he showed me this and we compared it with other venues, by far this is the best!!! love it can't wait to go back. Our favor is PIKACHU
P M.
Yelp
A hole in the wall with a 60s vibe and decor. Tons of options, friendly employees, and excellent empanadas.
Joshua G.
Yelp
Delicious empanadas. I highly recommend the carne picante. 2 empanadas per person is enough, but 3 if you really are craving empanadas. They have water, wine, beer also.
Christopher K.
Yelp
This place is dank! the empanadas are really good and I recommend it. It is not very expensive but you get some incredible empanadas. You can get steak, chicken, Pikachu, Jamon y queso, and few others. I highly recommend it.
Ken F.
Yelp
Great empanadas, no pretensions, chill place. They're open mid-afternoon when many places are closed!