Typing “best empanadas colombianas near me” into Google gets you a map full of pins, star ratings and not much else. That gap is the whole problem with “near me” searches for a dish this specific.
Get the dough wrong and you don’t have a Colombian empanada at all, you have a different pastry with the same name. This guide covers what separates a genuine one from an imitation, how to search for it properly wherever you are in the UK, and specific places worth seeking out in London, Manchester and Birmingham, based on research into menus, reviews and reporting from food writers who know the dish.
What Actually Makes an Empanada Colombiana
The defining feature is the dough. Colombian empanadas are made from masarepa, a precooked yellow cornmeal that’s completely different from ordinary cornmeal, corn flour or maize flour. Mix in wheat flour, breadcrumbs, or anything else, and the texture changes completely.
That corn dough is what gives the empanada its signature crunch. It fries up lacy and crisp on the outside while staying tender inside, with a faint sweetness from the corn that you won’t get from a wheat pastry.
If a menu lists “empanadas” with no mention of corn dough, or serves them without any form of ají, that’s usually your first sign you’re not getting the real thing.
How to Actually Find Them Near You
“Near me” searches work reasonably well for pizza or coffee. For a specific regional pastry like this, they tend to surface generic Latin American or Mexican spots that happen to have “empanada” on the menu as a side dish. A few adjustments make the search far more useful.
Search Google Maps directly for “Colombian restaurant” rather than “empanadas near me”. Colombian venues are more likely to make their empanadas properly, since the dish sits at the centre of the menu rather than being an afterthought.
Check the photos tab before the reviews tab. A genuine masarepa empanada has a rougher, slightly bumpy golden crust, not the smooth, blistered look of a wheat pastry. Photos will tell you faster than star ratings will.
Look for Deliveroo, Uber Eats or Just Eat listings under “Colombian” rather than “Latin American”, where UK delivery platforms increasingly separate the two. Reviewers on Tripadvisor’s London empanadas page repeatedly single out the empanadas specifically rather than the meal as a whole, which is a decent signal a kitchen takes them seriously.
If you’re near one of the UK’s established Colombian communities, in south London, Stockport or parts of Birmingham, ask locally. Word of mouth in these neighbourhoods tends to outperform any algorithm.
Where to Find Them: London
London has by far the largest Colombian population in the UK, concentrated historically around Elephant and Castle, Brixton, Seven Sisters and Peckham after migration from Colombia accelerated through the 1990s during the country’s internal conflict. That history is why the capital has more genuine options than anywhere else in Britain.
Donde Carlos, Shepherd’s Bush. Chef and owner Carlos runs this Goldhawk Road spot cooking recipes from his native Bogotá, and it’s frequently cited by food writers, including Café con Sazón, as one of the standard bearers for Colombian cooking in the capital. The empanadas here sit alongside arepas and the full bandeja paisa platter, Colombia’s national dish.
El Rancho de Lalo, Brixton. A relaxed, popular spot with outdoor seating that Time Out readers repeatedly nominate when asked for their favourite Colombian meal in London. Go hungry, since portions run large.
La Bodeguita, Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre. One of the longest running venues in the area historically known as Little Colombia, though the shopping centre itself has been through redevelopment in recent years, so it’s worth checking current opening status before a special trip.
Sabor, Tooting Bec. A small, family run restaurant that reviewers describe as feeling genuinely like home cooking rather than a restaurant experience, tucked just outside Tooting Bec station.
La Barra, Elephant and Castle. Set among the railway arches, this one takes a bit of finding but has a loyal following for its full Colombian menu beyond just empanadas, including pica pollo and hearty stews.
Prices across these venues typically run from around £2 to £4 per empanada when ordered individually, cheaper as part of a sharing platter.
Beyond London: Manchester and Birmingham
Colombian food is harder to find outside the capital, but it exists if you know where to look.
Cafe Sanjuan, Stockport.Sanjuan imports his own coffee beans and roasts them in house, and on Saturdays the kitchen runs off menu lunch specials aimed at Manchester’s Colombian community, so it’s worth calling ahead or messaging on Instagram if you want the full experience rather than the standard menu.
Colombia Picada Mix, Birmingham. Reviewers on Tripadvisor highlight the empanadas served alongside platano baskets topped with Colombian chorizo, chicharrón and shredded chicken, a picada style sharing spread that’s become the venue’s signature. Search “Colombian” rather than “empanadas” on these apps, since the latter search term returns Argentinian and Spanish results too. You must also try Best Pollo al Curry Argentino Near Me.
Ordering Tips: What to Ask For
A few questions will tell you fast whether a kitchen knows what it’s doing.
Ask if the dough is made with masarepa or corn flour. Staff at a genuine Colombian kitchen will know the difference immediately and most will be happy to tell you.
Ask whether ají comes on the side. If it doesn’t, request it, or ask what condiment they’d recommend instead.
Order beef and chicken versions if both are available, since the seasoning technique, usually a guiso base of onion, tomato, cumin and paprika, tends to reveal more about a kitchen’s skill than the protein itself.
Making Them at Home
If nothing is nearby, masarepa is increasingly stocked in UK supermarkets with a Latin American or world foods aisle, and it’s reliably available through specialist online grocers and larger Tesco or Sainsbury’s branches in areas with bigger Latin American communities.
The basic method: mix masarepa with warm water, a little oil and salt until it forms a soft, pliable dough, rest it for around ten minutes, then flatten small portions into thin discs before filling with a cooked mixture of beef or chicken, potato and guiso. Fry in oil at around 180°C until golden, roughly two to three minutes per side.
FAQ’S About Best Empanadas Colombianas Near Me
1. What’s the difference between Colombian and Argentinian empanadas?
Argentinian empanadas use a wheat flour dough and are typically baked, giving a flakier, pastry like texture. Colombian empanadas use masarepa corn dough and are fried, producing a crunchier, denser shell with a distinct corn flavour.
2. Are Colombian empanadas gluten free?
The traditional version made purely with masarepa, water and oil is naturally gluten free, since no wheat flour is involved. Always check with the kitchen though, since some recipes and commercial versions blend in wheat flour for ease of handling.
3. What sauce goes with empanadas colombianas?
Ají, a fresh condiment usually built from tomato, onion, coriander, lime and chilli, is the standard pairing. Recipes and ratios vary by household and region.
4. Why can’t I find Colombian empanadas outside London?
The UK’s Colombian population is concentrated overwhelmingly in London, particularly south London, which is why options thin out fast elsewhere. Smaller pockets exist in Manchester and Birmingham, and delivery platforms sometimes list home cooks in areas without a dedicated restaurant.
5. How much should an empanada cost in the UK?
Expect somewhere between £2 and £4 each at a sit down Colombian restaurant, often cheaper when bought as part of a sharing platter or from a market stall.