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Whether you’re driving through the desert, hiking on a mountain, or sitting in a café, there are foods that let you handle them with one hand, making your day a little easier. The most versatile and flavorful of these in Tucson might be the empanada, those Latin American hand pies with a yummy filling, sweet or savory (and sometimes both). If you’re curious about where to get empanadas in Tucson, check out the five places below to get started on your empanada journey!
La Estrella Bakery
5266 S 12th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85706
While the location on 12th Avenue has been around since 1986, La Estrella Bakery has three homes in total, including one at Mercado San Augustin and one on Grand Avenue. The Mercado location freshly bakes sweet empanadas like pumpkin and pineapple daily — and each spot offers a bunch of other amazing Mexican treats as well, including the best tortillas in the city and mouthwatering tamales. If you’re in need of something that screams “authentic Mexican bakery,” this should be your first stop in Tucson.
Bombolé
100 N Stone Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701
Believe it or not, fusion food made its way into the world of empanadas. At Bombolé, you get to enjoy Indian food with a Latin twist — which includes a ton of different empanadas in different categories. For example, their meaty ones include a pork empanada, while vegetarian options include their Matar Paneer, a blend of spicy tomato sauce with slowly cooked peas and paneer, an Indian cheese.
Empanadas El Dominicano
5030 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85711
This food truck is open from Tuesday to Saturday to showcase the best combination of Latin American and Caribbean cuisine. This includes savory empanadas that span fillings from chorizo and cheese to smoked tuna/marlin and salami with tostones, or fried plantains. This hopping business is known for its great service and even offers delicious juices and beautiful smoothies with authentically tropical fruity flavors like banana, papaya, mamey, and guava.
Che Café Empanadas Argentinas
1998 E Irvington Rd, Tucson, AZ 85714
Who doesn’t love empanadas for every meal? At Che Café, they make it a point of pride: breakfast empanadas, served-all-day empanadas, and even some sweet ones for dessert. These pocket-sized snapshots into Latin American cuisine vary in flavor, filling type, and texture, but they’re all only $3.95 each. That price is only one reason why this is a popular choice for fans of these one-handed foodie favorites — especially their biggest crowd-pleaser, the beef empanada.
Mendez Bakery and Tortillas
1219 S 6th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85713
The baked goods from Mendez Bakery and Tortillas can make your mouth water — whether it’s the muffins, bolillos, conchas (Mexican sweet breads), or even seasonal treats like their roscas de reyes. Their variety of empanadas will also catch your attention: try one with pumpkin filling, or venture into an even sweeter treat like the cajeta empanada, filled with a sumptuous caramel made from goat milk!
