Just imagine: you’re strolling through the picturesque side-streets of Barcelona’s Old Town when hunger strikes. You don’t really want to spend valuable sight-seeing time sat in a restaurant – well, not today, anyway. What you need is a hot, tasty stop-gap: empanadas! Like cornish pasties without the Boris Johnson connection, these delicious morsels can be enjoyed as a sit-down meal, on the go, or even sat on a handy bench… you get the picture.
As the name suggests, this Argentinian “factory” specialises in empanadas: they make hundreds of them every day, in 24 different varieties!
Go into the pretty shop, with its warm wood decor, and a difficult choice awaits you: faced with trays of golden empanadas in a whole host of enticing forms and flavour combinations, it’s not going to be easy to pick just one.
Obviously, we did have to choose, but fortunately, we live just round the corner, so we’ve been back several times!
Our favourites include the beef in beer, the thai curry and coconut, the spiced tuna, the spinach and bechamel, and the provolone, aubergine and pesto versions.
The Fábrica offers fantastic value for money: €1.80 for an empanada. There are also various offers available, including 3 empanadas and a drink for €6.50, or 12 empanadas (that’s a lot of empanadas!) for 20 euros.
The Fábrica also sells other Argentinian specialities, including chimichurri sauce and the sweet, caramel-like dulce de leche de Concha.
There are three Fábricas de las Empanadas in various parts of Barcelona, tripling your chances of stumbling upon one by accident!
The shop offers a takeaway service and also delivers.
Where? Carrer del Call, 19, 08002 Gòtic Plaça de la Llana, 15, 08003 Born Avenue de Sarrià, 15, 08029 Eixample
When? Every day, 11am – 11pm
How much? From €1.80
Why? For the 24 different flavour options
Las Muns, home of colourful empanadas
This empanada shop was opened by a group of foodie friends with the aim of offering easy, healthy, gourmet cuisine. The empanadas are made from fresh ingredients, with no artificial colours or preservatives.
The dough is kneaded and rolled by hand in the traditional manner, then coloured with natural ingredients – that’s how you know it’s a Muns empanada!
We recommend the green empanada, stuffed with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil; the yellow empanada, featuring pork in beer and apple sauce; and the brown empanada, stuffed with smoked tofu fumé, quinoa and cumin.
The empanadas will set you back between €2.50 and €3.50, but the portions are generous and the flavours original. Pick your own favourite!
Check out the special offers – for example 2 empanadas, a salad and a drink for €9.90.
Room for dessert? Try the sweet apple and cinnamon empanada for something a bit different!
The original Muns opened in 2012, and more have sprung up all over the city since then. Some have space to eat in, or you can have your empanadas delivered.
Where? Carrer de Sancho de Ávila 171, Poblenou Carrer de Ferlandina 37, Raval Ronda de San Pere 27, Born Carrer de Casanova 189, Eixample L’Illa shopping centre, Avinguda Diagonal 577 Carrer de Verdi 29, Gracia
When? Every day, noon – 11pm, except the Poblenou branch which is closed from 4.30 – 7pm and the Diagonal branch which is open from 9.30am – 9.30pm.
Rekons: empanadas like your (imaginary) Argentinian grandmother made
There’s a secret ingredient in the empanadas at Rekons: love! (Everybody say aaaahhhhh…) The owner came to Barcelona from Argentina with fond memories of the empanadas his grandma made every Sunday, and Rekons is his way of spreading the love.
Don’t miss the classics, including the spicy beef and cheese and onion options – there’s something for everyone, from dedicated carnivores to veggies.
The menu also features more original offerings, including chicken with prunes, courgette and almonds, or celery, roquefort and walnut.
Rekons also represents great value for money: an empanada will set you back €2.10, or you can get 3 special empanadas for €3.90.
The Kilombo meal deal includes a salad, 2 empanadas, a soft drink and coffee for around €11.
As with the other options, you can choose to eat in or take away.
Where? Comte d’Urgell 32 in San Antoni
When? 10am to midnight every day except Tuesday, when Rekons only opens at 6.30pm
An intrepid investigator of the world's cultures and riches, Mathilde has two passions: travel and dancing! She also enjoys good wine and food and loves to discover new bars and restaurants.Always up to date with what's going on in Barcelona, Mathilde has a talent for spotting great opportunities for her and her friends... and now she's agreed to share them with you. Enjoy!
