Where Do Empanadas Come From? The Surprising History Behind Everyone’s Favorite Handheld Bite
✨ “From Ancient Roots to Arlington Streets — Taste the Story in Every Bite.” ✨
Empanadas are loved worldwide for their crispy, flaky, savory, sweet, and endlessly customizable nature. But where did they actually come from? And how did they evolve into the creative fusion-style empanadas we make today here on Columbia Pike in Arlington? Let’s take a quick, flavorful trip through history.
🌍 A Bite-Sized History of the Empanada
1️⃣ Middle Eastern Roots
The earliest versions came from Middle Eastern pastries like samosas and fatayers — portable, stuffed breads perfect for traveling.
2️⃣ Spain Makes Them Official
These ideas reached Spain during the Moorish influence, inspiring early baked empanadas. They were so loved they appeared in a 1520 Spanish cookbook, one of the first printed recipes.
3️⃣ Latin America Makes Them Iconic
Spanish settlers shared the dish throughout Latin America, where each country made its own version:
Argentina: beef, olives, paprika
Chile: raisins, onions, hard-boiled egg
Puerto Rico & DR: crispy, fried empanadas
Colombia & Venezuela: corn-based dough
Empanadas became a symbol of culture, community, and comfort.
The American Empanada: A New Twist
Here in the U.S., empanadas entered a new chapter inspired by tradition but reinvented with bold, modern flavors. At Mpanadas in Arlington, we proudly create the American Empanada, defined by:
✨ Creative, comfort-food fillings
✨ Both sweet and savory options
✨ Latin technique meets American flavor
✨ Handmade and baked fresh daily
Think Cheeseburger, Chicken Little, Chili Chicken, Maple Bacon — tradition meets creativity in every bite.
📍 Why Arlington Loves Empanadas
Columbia Pike is one of the most diverse and food-driven neighborhoods in the DMV. Empanadas thrive here because they’re:
• Quick and easy to eat
• Perfect for office lunches
• Family-friendly
• Freezer-friendly
• Ideal for catering, parties, and events
They fit Arlington’s fast-paced and flavor-loving lifestyle.
🥟 Today’s Empanada: A Global Fusion Favorite with Mpanadas
Empanadas continue to evolve, blending cultures and comfort foods:
✔ Beef Papa (Halal, Dairy-Free)
✔ Chicken Little (Halal, Dairy-Free)
✔ Philly
✔ Tangy BBQ
✔ French Toast (Halal, Dairy-Free, Vegan
It’s a dish with history, but always reinventing itself.
📸 Taste the Evolution at Mpanadas on Columbia Pike
Curious about the next generation of empanadas? Stop by our Arlington café and try our most-loved flavors, made fresh every day.
👉 Whether it’s your first bite or your fiftieth, you’ll taste the history and the creativity in every empanada.