World Empanadas has been operating for over a year as a take-out spot in the rear of a liquor store at the corner of S. Victory Blvd. and W. Providencia Avenue. This little shop has the best empanadas around, from the standard flavors of beef, corn, spinach and cheese, to more exciting combinations including fresh crab, chile relleno, chicken marsala, fajitas and pulled pork. The empanada dough is not too heavy or greasy or too abundant, but rather, just right.
With changing weekend specials, more options for lunch and a newly added breakfast menu, World Empanadas does more than just make spectacular empanadas. The Chicken Milanese sandwich is out-of-this-world good, joining lighted breaded tenderized chicken breast with lettuce, tomato, melted cheese and a flavorful, garlicky spread in a soft roll. Chicken tortilla soup, a chorizo sandwich and a Chicken Milanese salad are also available for the lunch menu.
The breakfast menu includes burritos, muffins, cinnamon buns and coffee. It’s more for the late riser or a mid-morning bite, since the shop doesn’t open until 9:00 a.m.
Started by young chef and Le Cordon Bleu graduate Matthew Hirtz, who gets some help from his parents Lia and Carlos, World Empanadas is known for baking, not frying, the empanadas, which leads to a fresher, lighter taste. The creative combinations of ingredients and flavors shines here. Hirtz is not afraid to try some pretty wild recipes sometimes – which usually turn out exceptionally well.
Because World Empanadas is a true mom and pop take-out restaurant in every sense of the word, we have found it’s better to call in our order ahead of time. That way, if the staff is very busy, we have a better idea of how long it may take to make our order. It’s not unusual for the shop to run out of popular items before closing. Sometimes the order taking is a bit hit and miss, and sometimes it takes a while to make the Milanese sandwich – which is okay, because it’s so delicious and worth the wait.
All the ingredients used are so fresh and the resulting creations are bites of deliciousness. World Empanadas often have a dessert empanada special; the recent Chocolate Gelato empanada was absolute perfection. Cool, softening chocolate gelato (from Ciao Cristina’s supplier) fills a flaky pastry topped with hardened chocolate. One-half of this dessert empanada is plenty for one sitting!
This coming weekend, in celebration of the Super Bowl, World Empanadas is offering two specials. Inspired by the Denver Broncos, the shop is offering a pulled pork, green chile, pinto bean and veggie empanada. For the Seattle Seahawks, the chefs are making the longtime-favorite, fresh lump crab meat empanada with tomato-mayo, veggies and cilantro.
World Empandas’ website and Facebook page list their upcoming specials weekly. We have eaten from this restaurant regularly for over a year and the place continues to wow our family, young and old, with consistently good food and exciting specials.
World Empanadas gets a Tops In Town for elevating the basic empanada and sandwich to new levels and is always a popular choice for a delicious, easy meal for the whole family.
Restaurant Info: World Empanadas is located at 529 S. Victory Blvd., Burbank, CA 91502. 818-934-1820. Open Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed Sundays.
World Empanadas receives: Tops In Town
myBurbank Ratings:
Tops In Town (Outstanding)
On The Marquee (Really Good)
Could Use A Rewrite (Average or Slightly Below)
Don’t Quit Your Day Job (Roadkill)
