The American Empanada

Empanadas Like You’ve Never Tasted

At MPANADAS on Columbia Pike Arlington VA, we serve over a dozen creative Latin food Arlington VA flavors, each bursting with fresh fillings, wrapped in a perfectly crispy golden crust, and served steaming hot. Don’t forget our signature sauces!

Looking for the best restaurants on Columbia Pike Arlington VA? Unsure where to start? Our friendly staff are always happy to guide you through the menu so you can find your perfect empanadas.

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Seasonal Favorites — Order Today

All-Day Empanadas

  • Sooooooo Good

    The spinach and artichoke one was a perfect balance of spinach to artichoke. Right amount of cheese and so flavorful.

    - Sammi C

  • Raving Fans!!

    I would love to bring my whole family! Gaby is amazing, and everyone raves about her and the empanadas. I tried a spinach empanada after everyone left, and I absolutely loved it—packed with all my favorite ingredients! And the green sauce? So, so, so good!
    - Lisa Borrow

  • Hot Empanadas and Good Vibes!

    We asked what they recommended and got the beef empanda and horchata gelato. Super friendly staff! Very cute seating.

    - Annie S

  • Mpanadas Is a Delicious Treat

    The cafe is very cute! The empanadas were so good and love the vegan option. They also had a vegan guava sorbet that was yummy.

    - Amber K

  • IYKYK

    A cute little spot that seems a bit like an "IYKYK" location!

    - Kay L

  • Everything Was So Delicious

    And the customer service was superb. We just found it less than a week ago and have been multiple times already. Empanadas are varied and they have a nice lemonade selection. Not your usual empanada fillings but yummy.

    - Karla S

A cartoon llama with a big smile, standing on two legs, with light brown fur, dark brown hooves, and wearing a red bandana around its neck.

Looking for more delicious flavors?

Our Menu

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Catering

Fresh. Hot. Tasty.

From business lunches and PTA events to dinner parties and birthdays, Mpanadas has you covered! Our fusion empanadas and fresh offerings make any event delicious. Let us cater your next gathering and bring flavor your guests will love. Feed Your Crowd — Llama Style!

Start Your Catering Order
Illustration of a happy llama wearing a red bandana, with its tongue out, sitting with a bowl of food in front of it.

Who’s Larry the  Llama?

Mpanadas is a family-owned café on Columbia Pike in Arlington, Virginia, proudly serving handcrafted empanadas with unique, globally inspired fillings.

You’ve probably spotted our cheerful mascot, Larry the Llama, holding an empanada with pride. Larry represents everything we love about what we do: warmth, creativity, and community. He’s a playful reminder of our South American roots and our mission to bring bold, fusion flavors to Arlington. Larry’s tongue-out grin says it all: the joy we want you to feel with every bite of our delicious, freshly made empanadas. Each one is crafted with care, passion, and a touch of fun.

We’re proud to be part of the Arlington community, connecting with our neighbors through food that’s made with love.
If you have any questions about our empanada flavors, catering, or seasonal menu, reach out — we’d love to hear from you!

About Us

OUR MERCH WINNERS