On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Category: Latin American [Edit]
Neighborhood: Dupont CircleDupont Circle (Red)
Farragut West (Blue, Orange)
I got pretty addicted to Julia's on a recent stay in DC. After two weeks of work-travel, sometimes you just want to grab something quick and tasty and bring it back to your hotel so you can watch football in peace. If this is what you want your evening to be, Julia's should be in your future.
I can heartily recommend the Chilean and the Saltenas. Both had an unusual mix of ingredients (meat, raisins, eggs, potatoes) that turned out to be unusually good. If you are really adventurous you can get one of the dessert empanadas. I got the strawberry one - just be aware that they are more filling than they look!
All in all a great little place for some quick and tasty food.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
I love this place!!
My personal favorite is the Jamaican, then the turkey spring onion. I don't like raisins or olives though, which is why I haven't tried the Chilean or the saltena.
A heads up, they're cash only!!
Best feature is that they are open until 4am on weekends so that all the drunk clubgoers can get a bite before they pass out.
True story: I once woke up with half of a peach & guava in my purse. I drunkenly decided to stop eating but wanted to save it for later. Just shows how good it is!!
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (3)
Cool (2)
I want to like Julia's because of all they hype and everyone loves it so I feel like there is something I'm missing. I just don't like the texture of the Empanada. It is kind of hard and slick on the outside and then it 'breaks' when you bit it... I feel like im biting through a film. I had it after a night in Dupont Circle and I just could not imagine eating it in the middle of the day. It is heavy and not extremely appetizing. I got a desert empanada also and did not think it was very good either. The fruit was just a generic sugary jam filling with some weird cream cheese stuff. I plan on trying the new one in Columbia Heights to see if maybe it was a bad couple experiences.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
A long review just wouldn't fit for this place: It's about 2 blocks from work, I walk in, order the vegetarian (which is vegan) empanada, and I'm eating it 60 seconds after I walk in. Tasty as hell, $4.00 with tip, and I'm happy. Great Friday treat after a week of work. The desserts all use egg wash though. Which stinks because they are tasty as well.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
I went here on a Wednesday night (after Fly lounge and before Hudson) to accompany a friend who was on the border of about-to-be-sick-if-she-doesn't-eat-soon. So we walked across the street and hit up the empty Julia's Empanadas.
We both had the Chilean empanada (my friend had two) - something like beef, eggs, onion, etc wrapped up in a pastry.
They keep 'em coming out fresh and hot, tray after tray, and are conveniently located next to all cheesy club-spots. I'll hit up Julia's if there's no Boli's around (read - Boli's jumbo slice = way better than "Jumbo Slice").
Rich L. asked "what's an empanada?" and my colorful response was something equivalent to "a dish" and then the second attempt: "something you may or may not put in your mouth".
Laura T. gasped when she heard me confess I've never eaten Julia's before. I think it's along the lines of not having ever eaten at Ben's after living in DC for say, three months. Thank God I don't fall in to that crowd any more. I guess that makes Julia's a true "DC establishment" or something.
Establishments and "the Man" aside, what these empanadas are, are great drunk food. So good that I could recognize their potential while totally sober.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (6)
Cool (6)
Nice little empanadas place. I've had a bunch of them including the desserts and they are all very yummy.
the one problem I would take note of is that there is no seating inside the place so it is more of a get your empanada and walk type of place. If you're out in Dupont Circle but live on the orange or blue lines it is a great place to grab some food and take a walk down to Farragut West to get the train.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
I went here on a Saturday night after dinner knowing I would want something to snack on later. I got the jamaican empanada which was delicious. I also got the pear and almond paste dessery empanda, which was also amazing. Both of those and a bottle of water for $6.
I'm definitely coming back!
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Ok - I get that the word "Empanada" somehow signifies a Latin presence, however, Julia's Empanadas are far more sophisticated than any empanada I ate while living in Latin America. First off, they are not fried. They are baked. Secondly, they are quite larger than the typical empanada one might eat in Latin America. Thirdly, what Latin person puts tumeric in their turkey?
While I am a big fan of the place and I like to speak Spanish with the owners, I am still skeptical of the recipes. Where is the queso y jambon option that I knew and loved?
Regardless, this is THE place to go for "fast food" that doesn't taste like it. I love grabbing a Saltena or Turkey empanada and eating it on my way home from Dupont Circle after a night out, or after a long day where I didn't get the chance to grab lunch.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
I love this place. Every type of empanada I have had here, I enjoyed. They have this EXCELLENT potato salad that has sort of a mustard vinagrete rather than a mayo base. I think.... I might not be describing it right but seriously it was probably some of the best potato salad I have ever had along with some consistently fantastic empanadas. CHECK IT OUT!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Oh, how I miss Julia's! Walking home from work I'd occasionally drop in for a vegan empanada: dinner for less than $4! There's nothing like wandering home while munching on these perfect delights. Baked with love ...and eaten with love.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
My friend, Sergio, brought me here after learning that I became vegetarian. Their veggie options are delicious and the empanadas have the perfect softness to crust and slightly sweet taste to it. I didn't get one of the dessert ones, but Sergio offered me a bit from his and it was even more delicious than my lunch. I would have gotten, but I was stuffed. They are a great price and great serving size. You should definitely go check it out and bring friends.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Cool (1)
The trickiest part of getting an empanada JUST right is easily the crust- for me, its easily the most important part of the whole experience. it has to be flaky (but not fragile), buttery (but not greasy and heavy) and really compliment the filling. Most places really concentrate on the filling and the outer part is a gross mess- not so at julia's.
i had the spinach empanada which contained a mix of spinach (imagine that), feta cheese, and a mix of spices. it was heated JUST perfectly to seem as if it was just made and while i thought it was a tad overstuffed (on to the concrete the extra stuffing went), it was great.
NOT so great were the desert empanadas which were served cold and the dough was MUCH thicker. i had the pear and while the presentation was very nice (it had a string bow- aw), it tasted of licorice? im not sure- but it wasnt good. the dough wasnt the best.
i would easily go back to try another empanada though- just not the dessert variety.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Cool (1)
I love Juiia's empanadas!!!!
When family would come to visit.. they would take home a dozen or more!
The places stays open til the wee hours of the night... I like the Chilean empanada.. it's got a hard boiled egg on the inside! Even the dessert ones are good, too! Hot, not-greasy and filling... my kindda street food.
There's no seating here.. you just go to the counter, point to what you want and off you go with a smile.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
Julia's is awesome. My favorite is the chorizo (Spanish sausage with beans and rice) - I had one of the dessert empanadas once (I think it was raspberry), and that was good, too. I usually just go for two chorizos, though - more than enough for a full meal (eating just one usually leaves you still a little hungry, unless you are just looking for a smaller meal, in which case one is perfect).
The Dupont location leaves just two things to be desired: credit cards and seating. To their credit, though, they have recently opened a location in Columbia Heights (right by the metro station), which does have like 4 or 5 tables for two (which can be put together if you have 3 or 4 people). The Columbia Heights location also takes credit cards. On the flipside, though, the Columbia Heights location closes at 8 PM, while the Dupont and Adams Morgan locations are open LATE.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
I've been here so many times. Always around 2 am after a night of drinking. So that might have something to do with how much i like the place, afterall we all know there's some places that are awesome when you're drunk but suck when you're sober (like the pizza in adams morgan). I personally like the spinach empanada and the jamaican.
There is only 1 negative to this place and that is the other annoying drunk people :-p. I've seen lots of arguments flare up from drunken idiots cutting in line or just generally having pissing contests attempting to impress some girl who's not even paying attention. Besides that this place is awesome heh.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
I am truly honored to be the 100th reviewer of Julia's Empanadas!! I went here for some drunk food and did not leave disappointed. I am not an empanada, how do you say... connoisseur (what is the word for this in Spanish???) but the one I did have (beef and bean) was piping hot, tasty, with delicious spices and a soft flaky crust. It was the perfect size to cure what would have been a very nasty hangover. Recommended!
People thought this was:
Funny (1)
I've been addicted to Julia's empanadas for years! The BEST kind they make is the CHILEAN empanada. 2nd best is the SALTENA.
True, if you go on weekends or Thursday nights late after midnight, you'll have to deal w/ crowds of drunks, but if you're hungry, who cares?
Cheap, filling, and fresh. Not much on atmosphere, but that doesn't matter when you're RAVENOUS, now does it?
NOTE: This is a family-owned business
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Cool (2)
I've been here twice: at 12pm and at 12am (erm, not on the same day). Both times the empanadas were hot and delicious- it says a lot about a place when you have good quality around the clock. I got the vegetarian both times and it was different each time. Once was something with sweet potatoes I think, the other....... It was midnight! Even better, it was delicious. Plus they have a lot of choices, so it's great for crowds. Just not in the actual place, it's tiny.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
My husband and I love Bolivian Saltenas and they are hard to come by so usually we make them ourselves- we were delighted to find out their was an inexpensive place we could get some... but I can't say I was super impressed. Yes, their saltenas were better than the other offerings we tried, but they still weren't as good as I would have hoped. If you really need great Bolivian food sometimes you just have to make it yourself... But if you need a quick fix, Julia's will do.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Ever since I came here a year ago, I regularly crave Julia's Empanadas. So the other night, at 2AM, I decided to bike to the Dupont one. Of course I had to wait in line for some time, with all the drunken Dupont clubbers, but that's a small price to pay for the best Chilean empanada in DC. Sure enough, the crust was exactly as I remembered it - like some other reviewers have said, not too flaky and not too greasy. The filling was perfect - the onions and the meat left me feeling not-quite full. I know enough not to order a dessert empanada (truly not very good), but I was still a bit hungry. So I ordered another one. The best part? I paid less than 8 dollars for it. Really a must-try if you live in DC. I haven't been to the Adams Morgan location, but I hear it's just as good. Just remember to bring cash!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Nothing says ultimate alcohol induced satisfaction than a Julia's empanada. This stuff actually puts the lead back in my pencil after a night of clubbing and absorbs any bit of liquid stupidity I might have put into my system.
The Jamaican is the proverbial favorite - nothing has topped that one so far. The desert empanadas are fine too - but I never would have known it had I not left it in the fridge (despite my attempts to find it in the house after coming home). If it were consumed while under the influence, I never would have been able to separate the strawberry flavor from the mixed drinks that my wife likes to get from the empanada.
Julia's, I love you. In that I'll eat you all day long and lick my fingers after touching you sort of way. It's only good for my marriage that you're an empanada and not an actually woman or I would have a divorce on my hands.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (3)
Cool (2)
Cheap and yummy. $5 gets you a dinner empanada, a dessert empanada and a fountain drink. I tried the chorizo empanada which is filled with chorizo, rice, and beans, in a nice doughy crust. For dessert, I had an apple one, which was nice and crispy with a crispier crust. Well worth the $5! There's nowhere to sit, so grab your food and eat on the run.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Hmm, how to say something that's already been said. Well let's see.
Before going to Julia's Empanadas I hated empanadas. I had some really bad ones at the Ann Arbor Art Fair two year in a row (2004 and 2005).
Of course I thought that I hated them because I figured all empanadas tasted like the crappy ones I had in good ol AA. Little did I know that empanadas are actually flaky, sweet and savory creations made by the gods themselves.
I first heard about this place on the food network and after coming back home to the city, I've enjoyed four empanadas and I plan to enjoy many many more.
So here's to the food netowrk, never giving up on a new taste, and of course, here's to Julia's Empanadas for allowing me to realize how much I love empanadas.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (2)
yummy late night treats...kinda like a jamaican beef patty, but with all kinds of other spanish stuffing.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Based on a carefully calibrated metric taking into account cheapness, tastiness, healthiness, and proximity to my job, Julia's Empanadas is basically the best lunch spot in DC. Nuff said.
Actually, no. In addition, their gazpacho soup is also awesome on a muggy DC afternoon.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
With all the hype surrounding Julia's Empanadas, I couldn't wait to try it out for myself. Unfortunately, I was rather disappointed, not by the quality of the food per se but by the inexplicable lack of flavor. I had the vegetarian empanada with lentils and curry, which was allegedly seasoned with all sorts of yummy spices. My empanada was neither spicy nor flavorful. My friend's Jamaican patty also lacked spice and had he not been so hungry, he said he wouldn't have eaten it.
I have high hopes for Julia's though and plan on giving her empanadas one more chance!
I love Julia's. I have only had their vegetarian and spinach empanadas (the vegetarian is infinitely better), but they're amazing. An almost sweet dough mixed with chickpeas, potatoes, greens, incredible spices, and all sorts of other mish-mashed ingredients for less than $4 is simply amazing.
I happen to also like the pear dessert empanada, but the others have too much fake fruit-pie filling for my taste.
Minus one star for cash only. Some people might also find the lack of sitting space (it's purely takeout) a bad thing, but I prefer to go sit in the Circle and enjoy my empanada out there.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Awesome drunk food! Cheap and soo yummy!! I dunno how late it stays open but late enough to feed the hoards of drunk folks leaving the club!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
the vegetarian empanadas and the spinach ones are really delicious. i craved it for dinner after i had it for lunch.
the desert ones are hit and miss. the pear almond one was good, but a couple of others, like pineapple and banana or something tasted too fake fruity.
there's no seating at the tiny little store, but benches at a little square across the street with plenty of trash cans and buses going by, so eat there and people-watch.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Just right! Warm and the crust was perfect- not too flaky or hard!
I got the Jamaican one and my friend got the Chilean one. Mine was great, but hers was better. There was even a slice of hard boiled egg in the Chilean empanada. It tasted like the best kind of cooking- home cooking!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Mmmmm....I heart Julia. Her empanadas are so cheap & so delicious. When I'm bar hopping on Connecticut Ave., this is the place I like to hit up for some food. Saltenas is my favorite, but I should branch out and try some different types.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Eat only when stumbling back from a night out on 18th St.
Julias beats Quick Pita beats Fudds.
You really can't go wrong here at 3am. It's quick, filling and flavorful. Be sure to ask for their spicy sauce! They don't give it to you unless you ask.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Pretty much the only place to get decent empanadas in DC. Being hispanic, I've had my share and let me tell you these are, while not traditional, very delicious and cheap.
One is enough to fill me up- and I eat a lot.
Also, I don't know what this crap is about their dessert empanadas not being tasty. The peach and guava empanada- AMAZING. I thought it was the best part of my entire meal.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Visited here once sometime around midnight, and wolfed one down - even though I've never liked empanadas I've had at restaurants. Would eat again.
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
Cheap.
Healthy.
Quick.
DELICIOUS.
Different.
Look, I just named each of the five stars I gave them!
Turkey Empanada FTW.
ps everyone go in there and ask them to bring back their carrot salad
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (4)
Cool (4)
Last night, I discovered the marvel that is the empanada! After a bit of partying across the street at Five, a buddy and I tipsily stumbled over to Julia's Empanadas. "What the hell is an empanada?" I asked. "You know samosas?" he replied. "Well, they're kind of like those. They've got a lot of the similar Indian spices inside. Get the turkey one!" he slurred.
The whole way back to the Farragut West metro stop, I praised the deliciousness of my turkey empanada while my mouth was filled with said awesomeness-stuffed pastry.
I highly recommend drunken forays to Julia's Empanadas after working up your appetite clubbing at Five, 1223, Indebleu, Fly Lounge, or the like. It's got to be healthier than drunken pizza, anyway.
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (2)
Cool (2)
Fast food? yes (hence docking 1 star).
Local chain? yes
Delicious? yes
I've visited the one in Dupont (pronounced WHO lee yuhs), and the Jamaican empanada is great. They are all really good, and the place was always open when I passed by.
I recommend.
People thought this was:
Useful (5)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
2.5 Stars
It's convenient and easy, especially when you need food in your stomach pre- or post-drinking. They taste homestyle and are decent, but the fillings' flavors are just not up to par with what I would call a "damn good empanada". I've had much, much better Jamaican patties at a gas station in South Florida. And much better original beef/chicken ones with the meat+olives+raisins etc. (but Bolivian-style) in Arlington.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
My boyfriend and I just got done exploring the National Geographic Museum (where they only had one exhibit: the frog exhibition) when we remembered that Julia's Empanadas was just around the corner.
While Julia is mad busy during the PM (filling drunk club-goers up with empanadas), Julia is not as busy during the day. We saw her chillin' outside (I'm just going to assume that everyone that works at Julia's is named Julia), smoking a cig waiting for customers. Well we ordered two empanadas: turkey and spring onions and jamaican chicken.
We walked to the park and ate our empanadas. Dude, they were awesome. The chicken was a little too sweet for my taste though, but I still enjoyed it. They're about the size of 3/4 of a turkey sandwich.
Next time I go there, I am definitely going to order two, instead of one. As a snack, I guess one would be OK for the average girl, but I eat a lot (and enjoy doing so!) so I would definitely man up and get two. My boyfriend was right. I should've ordered two. Haha, can you see that I am still dissapointed that I didn't order another empanada?
I almost forgot to mention how CHEAP they were! $3.50 for each one? Wow! Definitely stop by there if you are visiting Embassy Row, are around Dupont or chilling out at the National Geographic place with one exhibition place.
Five stars. Five stars.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Quick, tasty and options for veggies too. The prices are right and it's nice and filling. The crust is tasty and flaky for sure. The desserts aren't bad either. Good food for walking or being on the go. Also good for a snack for cranky pple like me who get ugly when their blood sugar is low.
Related Lists
