Empanadas BA: Buenos Aires-Style Pastries in South Carolina

What Empanadas BA Serves and Where to Find Them

Empanadas BA is a South Carolina restaurant specializing in Argentine empanadas — the hand-held pastries that are a cornerstone of Buenos Aires street food and home cooking. The restaurant focuses on the Buenos Aires style, which means thicker, chewier dough than some Latin American versions, and fillings that reflect what you'd find in Argentina's capital city and surrounding province.

The name itself signals the approach: BA stands for Buenos Aires. Rather than offering a broad Latin menu, Empanadas BA commits to doing one thing well — making empanadas the way they're made in Argentina, with attention to dough texture, filling balance, and the ritual of eating them fresh and warm.

Key Takeaways

• Empanadas BA specializes in Argentine-style empanadas with thicker, chewier pastry and traditional Buenos Aires fillings like beef, chicken, and cheese.
• The restaurant focuses on a narrow menu rather than broad Latin American offerings, allowing them to refine technique and consistency.
• Empanadas are meant to be eaten warm and by hand, making them ideal for quick meals, takeout, or casual dining.
• Argentine empanadas differ from Mexican, Venezuelan, and other regional styles in dough thickness, cooking method, and flavor profiles of the fillings.

Signature Fillings and How They're Made

Argentine empanadas typically come with beef, chicken, ham and cheese, or vegetarian fillings. The beef version — often called carne — usually contains seasoned ground beef mixed with onions, hard-boiled egg, and sometimes olives or raisins, depending on the cook's preference and region. This sweet-savory combination is distinctly Argentine and sets it apart from simpler beef empanadas found elsewhere.

The pastry itself is the defining feature. Buenos Aires empanadas use a dough that's thicker and more substantial than the thin, crispy versions you might find in other countries. The dough is typically baked rather than fried, which gives it a golden exterior while keeping the inside tender. The edges are crimped by hand or machine, creating the characteristic sealed border that holds the filling inside.

Chicken fillings vary but often include shredded chicken, peppers, and onions in a mild sauce. Ham and cheese versions are straightforward — quality ham paired with melted cheese inside the pastry. Vegetarian options might feature cheese, corn, or roasted vegetables, though availability depends on what the restaurant offers on any given day.

How Argentine Empanadas Differ From Other Styles

If you've had empanadas from other Latin American countries, you may notice differences at Empanadas BA. Mexican empanadas tend to be smaller and often fried until crispy. Venezuelan empanadas are typically fried as well and have thinner, crispier shells. Peruvian empanadas often feature different spice profiles and sometimes include potatoes in the filling.

Argentine empanadas sit in the middle — heartier than some, more refined in filling than others. The dough-to-filling ratio is generous, and the baking method creates a pastry that's crispy on the outside but doesn't shatter when you bite into it. The fillings tend toward savory with subtle sweetness rather than heavy spice, reflecting Argentine cooking traditions that emphasize quality ingredients over heat.

Ordering and Eating Empanadas

Empanadas are sold by the piece or in half-dozen and dozen boxes, making them easy to order for one person or a group. Most restaurants keep several varieties available during service hours, though specific fillings may sell out if you arrive late in the day. Takeout is the primary service model at most empanada shops, though some have a few seats for eating on-site.

Eat empanadas warm — that's when the pastry is at its best and the filling flavors are most pronounced. They're designed to be held in your hand and eaten without utensils, making them perfect for lunch breaks, picnics, or casual meals. If you're buying a box to take home, they'll stay warm for an hour or so wrapped in foil or paper, and can be reheated gently in an oven.

Pairing Empanadas With Drinks and Sides

In Buenos Aires, empanadas are often eaten with a cold drink — beer, soda, or juice — and sometimes with a simple salad or chimichurri sauce on the side. Chimichurri, the Argentine herb sauce made from parsley, garlic, vinegar, and oil, complements beef empanadas particularly well, though it's not always served at South Carolina locations.

Some restaurants offer empanadas as part of a larger meal with sides like salads, rice, or grilled meats, but the empanada-focused shops typically keep the menu simple. If Empanadas BA offers beverages, they're usually soft drinks, coffee, or perhaps Argentine sodas like Fernet-Branca mixers, though this varies by location.

Finding Empanadas BA in South Carolina

Empanadas BA operates as a small, focused restaurant rather than a chain with multiple locations. To find the current address, hours, and menu, search for "Empanadas BA" plus your city or region in South Carolina, or check Google Maps and local restaurant directories. Hours may be limited — many empanada shops operate primarily during lunch and early dinner, closing by 8 or 9 p.m.

Call ahead if you want a specific filling or a large order, as popular varieties can sell out. Many empanada shops also take orders for catering or party platters if you're planning an event and want to serve Argentine food.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I order empanadas for delivery?

That depends on whether Empanadas BA partners with delivery services or offers its own delivery. Call the restaurant directly or check their social media to see what options they support. Empanadas travel well in boxes, so delivery is often possible even if it's not advertised online.

Are empanadas gluten-free?

Traditional Argentine empanada dough contains wheat flour, so standard empanadas are not gluten-free. Some restaurants offer gluten-free versions made with alternative flours, but this is not standard. Contact Empanadas BA directly to ask whether they prepare gluten-free options.

What's the difference between an empanada and a pasty or hand pie?

Empanadas, pasties, and hand pies are all pastries with filling sealed inside, but they differ in origin, dough recipe, and regional filling traditions. Argentine empanadas specifically use a particular dough style and filling combinations tied to Buenos Aires and Argentine cooking. The terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but empanadas refer to a specific cultural tradition.

How much does an empanada cost?

Prices vary by location and filling, but individual empanadas typically range from a few dollars to around five or six dollars each. Boxes of six or a dozen usually offer a slight per-piece discount. Call ahead to confirm current pricing.

Can I freeze empanadas to eat later?

Yes. Empanadas freeze well for several weeks when wrapped tightly in foil or plastic wrap. Thaw them at room temperature or reheat gently in a 350-degree oven for about 10 minutes until warm through. Avoid microwaving, which can make the pastry tough.