One pastry here holds shredded pork, barbecue sauce, and melted cheese. Another folds chicken fajitas with peppers and salsa verde into the same golden shell.
Then there’s Nutella for dessert. This Texas shop has made the humble empanada surprisingly hard to classify.
The choices extend well beyond those three. Beef chimichurri brings garlicky salsa and roasted peppers, while a pork al pastor filling mixes adobo with pineapple.
You can order a couple with a Latin side or build a six-pack with different flavors and dipping salsas.
I have no objection to a lunch where dessert arrives in exactly the same shape as the main course. Dulce de leche, guava cheesecake, and cinnamon apple fillings give the sweeter side plenty of competition.
Suddenly a little box of pastries starts to look like a full tasting menu.
A Chef Spent 20 Years Preparing For This Little Shop
Two decades at Pollo Campero is quite the warm-up act. Chef Rodolfo Bianchi, a Guatemala native, spent 20 years with that Guatemalan restaurant chain before chasing his own idea.
That idea became The Empanada Cookhouse, founded in 2017. Bianchi noticed something interesting during his research.
Empanadas were loved across many Latin American countries, yet they weren’t well known in the Texas market.
So he did what any serious food dreamer would do. He traveled through Latin America to study how flexible these handheld pies could be.
Every region seemed to have its own spin, and he took notes.
Back in Dallas, he started developing flavors in 2018 inside a shared kitchen space. He didn’t rush into a storefront.
Instead, he tested his recipes through catering gigs, pop-ups, farmers’ markets, and local food events during 2018 and 2019.
I believe that slow start explains a lot. Every flavor had to earn its spot in front of real Dallas eaters first.
By the time the doors opened, the menu wasn’t guesswork anymore.
Staff and fans even know him by a nickname. He signs replies to customers as Chef Chofo, which feels about right for a guy who clearly loves this work.
Opening Day Came With Truly Wild Timing
About a week. That’s how long the restaurant was open before COVID-19 shutdowns rolled across the country in early 2020.
Talk about a rough first week on the job.
The road to that opening was already bumpy. Bianchi began remodeling his Downtown Dallas space in early 2019.
His goal was to welcome customers by October of that year.
Delays had other plans. The opening slid into early 2020, landing just before the world hit pause.
Most new restaurants would have struggled to find their footing after that.
Somehow, The Empanada Cookhouse adapted and kept going. Handheld food that travels well probably didn’t hurt during a season of takeout and delivery.
Empanadas were basically built for grab-and-go life.
The shop has since celebrated its sixth anniversary. That’s a solid run for any small restaurant, let alone one born during a pandemic.
It says something about the food and the stubborn spirit behind it.
Bianchi isn’t thinking small, either. He hopes to bring the concept to airports and stadiums across the country in the coming years.
So if you try it now, you can say you knew it before it was everywhere.
Chicken Fajitas Got A Clever Makeover
Sizzling skillet? Not required.
The Chicken Fajita empanada folds those familiar Tex-Mex flavors into something you can eat with one hand.
Inside, you’ll find shredded and roasted chicken breast. Salsa verde brings brightness, while red and green bell peppers add color and crunch.
Melted cheese ties everything together.
It’s one of the menu’s most mentioned items, and the reason is easy to see. Fajitas are already a Texas favorite.
Turning them into a portable pastry feels like a smart shortcut for busy downtown days.
Chicken lovers have another option worth knowing. The Chicken Buffalo mixes roasted chicken breast with buffalo salsa, roasted jalapeño, and melted cheese.
It’s a fun pick for anyone who likes a little game-day energy.
Vegetarians aren’t left out, either. The Roasted Veggies empanada packs roasted corn and peppers with salsa roja and cheese.
Spinach and Mushrooms rounds out the meatless lineup.
Gluten-free diners get real choices too. The Pabellon Venezolano uses gluten-free cornmeal and comes fried, stuffed with shredded beef, sweet plantains, black beans, and white cheese.
There’s also a gluten-free cheese version. That’s a thoughtful touch for a pastry shop.
Save Room, Because Nutella Is Waiting
Dessert empanadas are where this menu starts grinning at you. A sweet, buttery pastry filled with Nutella is hard to argue with.
Nutella isn’t flying solo, though. The Dulce de Leche empanada brings that classic caramel-like Latin American favorite.
Guava Cheesecake pairs tropical guava with cream cheese, which sounds like a party in pastry form.
There’s an Apple empanada too. It’s filled with caramelized apples and cinnamon, giving you a handheld take on a cozy pie.
Picking just one might take a minute.
Churros also make an appearance, served with your choice of dipping sauce. So the sweet side of the menu stretches beyond empanadas.
That’s good news for anyone who plans meals around dessert.
Drinks fit right into this sweet mood. Horchata is on the list, along with a Cold Brew Horchata Latte the chef proudly calls the Horchalatte.
Aguas frescas include mango, hibiscus limeade, and passion mango limeade.
All the drinks are made in-house, just like the fillings. I can’t imagine a better way to finish a savory flight than with Nutella in one hand and horchata in the other.
Order A Flight And Skip The Hard Choices
Indecisive eaters, this one’s for you. The empanadas here are made a bit smaller on purpose, so you can order flights and sample several flavors.
That changes the whole game. Instead of betting everything on one filling, you can mix BBQ pork, chicken fajita, and something sweet in a single meal.
It feels a little like a tasting menu without any fuss.
Combos make this even easier. Meals pair empanadas with salsas and a side, so you get a fuller plate.
Sides include sweet plantains, cilantro rice, tater tots, and guacamole with chips.
Don’t overlook the tequeños. They’re cheese sticks wrapped in empanada dough, which is basically the shop’s signature pastry wearing a different outfit.
They’re a natural add-on for snackers.
Salsas deserve attention too. Chimichurri, salsa verde, and other house-made options give each bite a different personality.
Trying a few is half the fun.
My advice? Build your flight with contrast in mind.
Pick one smoky option, one bright option, and one dessert. You’ll walk away with a real sense of what makes this kitchen tick, and probably a favorite for next time.
Breakfast Here Comes Folded, Not Stacked
Mornings start early on Ross Avenue. Most days, the doors open at 8:30 a.m., and Thursday gets a head start at 8 a.m.
That early schedule makes room for breakfast empanadas. The lineup includes Bacon Egg and Cheese, Chorizo Egg and Cheese, and Western Eggs.
It’s a breakfast taco’s cousin with a flakier attitude.
Downtown workers will appreciate how portable these are. You can grab one with a Horchata Latte and keep moving.
No plate balancing or fork juggling required on the walk to the office.
Hours stretch later on some days, too. Wednesday through Saturday, the kitchen stays open until 9 p.m.
Sunday runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., while Monday and Tuesday close at 6 p.m.
That range means one shop can cover your breakfast, lunch, and early dinner. Not many places pull off that kind of all-day flexibility with a single star ingredient.
A quick tip helps here. Breakfast empanadas can be ordered any time, according to the chef himself.
So if a chorizo craving hits at dinnertime, go ahead and follow it. Your stomach makes the rules.
A Stylish Little Room With A Self-Order Kiosk
Small but sharp describes the space well. The dining room is cozy, with a casual yet stylish setting and trend-forward decor.
Modern touches show up in how you order, too. A touchscreen kiosk lets you tap through flavors at your own pace.
If you’d rather chat with someone at the counter, that works as well.
Speed is part of the appeal. The setup suits a quick lunch break, a fast family stop, or a snack between downtown errands.
Efficient service keeps things moving.
The room has a relaxed, welcoming feel without trying too hard. A TV hangs on the wall, which has shown big soccer matches like the FIFA World Cup.
That’s a fun bonus for anyone who likes a little sports with their snack.
Not hungry enough to stay? Takeout and online ordering for pickup or delivery are both available.
The empanadas travel easily, which makes them great for picnics or hotel rooms.
Planning a party or office meeting? The Empanada Cookhouse also handles catering.
Showing up with trays of Texas-style empanadas seems like a reliable way to become everyone’s favorite coworker.
Pair It With Fish Next Door And Call It A Perfect Day
Sharks first, empanadas second sounds like a pretty great Dallas itinerary. The shop sits close to the Dallas World Aquarium, making it an easy stop before or after a visit.
You’ll find it at 1001 Ross Ave #118, Dallas, TX 75202. The storefront occupies ground-floor retail space in an apartment building in Downtown Dallas.
Look for it at street level rather than up in a tower.
The location fits the menu nicely. Downtown draws office workers, tourists, and families exploring the city.
A quick, handheld meal works for every one of those crowds.
Families especially can make an afternoon of it. Watch the aquarium animals, then grab a flight of empanadas and a mango agua fresca.
Kids get to pick their own fillings, which usually helps everyone stay happy.
Travelers passing through Texas will find this an easy, memorable meal. It offers a flavor of Latin American tradition shaped by local tastes.
That blend feels very Dallas.
The Empanada Cookhouse has turned one humble pastry into a full menu of possibilities. BBQ pork, chicken fajitas, and Nutella all under one roof?
That’s a downtown detour worth taking.
