Published by Angie. Last Updated on August 27, 2020.
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Mi Empanada has been on the Pittsburgh food scene for a few years now slinging their Argentinian empanadas at local events and brewery pop-ups. Now they have their own storefront in Lawrenceville where you can order takeout empanadas, sandwiches, and sides.
We were well-acquainted with Mi Empanada having tried them at several of their pop-ups around town over the past few years. At events they always had long lines and it's no secret why – their empanadas have a rich, tender dough and the fillings are a mix of traditional and creative options, including a lot of vegetarian options as well.
Needless to say, we were ecstatic to learn they were opening up a storefront in Lawrenceville. The spot is takeout only, but they offer ready-to-eat empanadas or a “take and bake” option which we haven't tried but also sounds delicious. Sandwich options include a steak or chicken milanesa, and they also offer sides like salads, rice, and polenta.
Go for Empanadas at Mi Empanada (Naturally)
Our recent order included three different empanadas (traditional beef, sweet potato and black bean, and humita), the chicken milanesa sandwich, and a side of polenta.
The empanadas are pure comfort food: tender, flaky dough envelopes rich and well-seasoned fillings. The traditional beef with eggs, olives, and onions gets a punch of fat and flavor with the addition of pancetta. The humita variety is stuffed with squash, corn, bell peppers, and onions, and has a hint of sweetness from the squash. The sweet potato and black bean also has a bit of spinach, cilantro, and cayenne, but to us tended more sweet than savory.
Oh, and let's not forget the intensely garlicky chimichurri sauce served on the side. We dipped everything in it including our cheesy polenta, empanadas, and our sandwich.
Perfection!
You'll Do Well to Add On a Sandwich
While we still absolutely love the empanadas, perhaps the most surprising item to us was the chicken milanesa sandwich. Everything about it was executed well, from the crispy crunchy coating on the chicken to the sweet roasted red peppers, to the slathering of aioli that kept everything saucy. Not to mention, it's a decent-sized portion for just about $10- making a great combo to pair with a few empanadas to give your meal some variety.
Mi Empanada is a great choice for some quick takeout in Lawrenceville. While the empanadas still make us swoon, we are happy to see the addition of a few side items as well as the excellent milanesa sandwiches. This all came together for a solid lunch for the two of us (albeit, without any leftovers) that we'd gladly order again in a return visit!
Mi Empanada is located at 4034 Butler Street in Lawrenceville.
Looking for more restaurants in Lawrenceville? Click the previous link to check out some of our favorites!
