Franchesca’s Empanadas Cafe: Authentic Latin Delights in Baltimore

Franchesca’s is one of my favorite neighborhood spots. The empanadas are large and excellent. The vegan options are as good as the rest of the menu, which I really appreciate. I would highly recommend the vegan beefless and vegan meatball empanadas. I also ordered the plantain and cheese— the empanada was stuffed with filling and the plantain was very flavorful. Franchesca’s does Happy Hour from 3-6 pm. I’m planning to return and try the $5 sangria!

I went to an event there and loved the food, so I decided to host an event there myself. The food was delicious, service amazing! I unfortunately I can’t remember the lady’s name but she was so attentive the whole time and so helpful. The guests love the place, the food and the service. It was also very clean! & fair prices! I would def. be holding more events there and recommend the food and place!

Saw a TikTok that raved about the gluten free options and empanadas so I had to stop in while visiting Baltimore. It was ABSOLUTELY delicious. I felt safe with the descriptions of the dedicated fryer and staff were very knowledgeable of the menu. I'm sad that I don't live closer so I could make it a regular lunch spot!

Incredible food and incredible people working here. I think the sweet potato empanada and the dessert ones are truly 10/10, and nothing I’ve had from them is below a 8/10. I am allergic to: milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, chicken, tree nuts, and sesame. I could come back here multiple times and get different food each time (as I plan to!) - great for vegans and people with allergies

“Esta empanadera es la reina de todas las empanadas” {This empanada maker is the queen of all empanadas} People keep reviewing this place and they use words like delicious or amazing and that’s accurate but they also keep using the word food. The empanadas and the tamale go beyond that word it’s not food. It’s more I can’t explain it and if you wanna experience it, you have to come. I go to as many places that serve empanadas as I go to coffee shops. And I have never had an empanada worth saying something really good about. You can go and look at my reviews. I don’t even mention half the coffee places I go to. And I’ve never mentioned an empanada. I was looking for some coffee when I saw the sign for Franchesca’s empanadas Café. All I saw on the sign was Café as I approach the shop I realized oh I’m probably not gonna be able to get a cup of coffee here. When I entered, I did see they had a proper espresso machine I ordered a latte which was passable and filled my need, but that’s not what I’m writing this review about I ordered tamale and various empanadas to try them out First, based on the pricing and the area I was expecting to get an empanada smaller than the palm on my hand. You know those places that are all bougie and if the empanada is reasonably priced, then it’s a little tiny thing and you gotta eat like 14 of them Well, that was not Franchesca‘s place. For under five bucks, I got a very large empanada. That for a normal person could be a meal. I started with the pulled pork chipotle it was delicious. I highly recommend the Verde sauce, but the aïoli went well with it. I got the caramel apple and the apple so I could compare It was my intention to just taste these empanadas, but the full flavor explosion that happened in my mouth forced me to devour each one, and the only thing I could think of was how delicious they were. My brain had stopped processing the flavors and the textures, I could not consciously discern the ingredients. I could tell it was delicious- but I had lost the ability to disect what ingredients were used. I am no longer hungry in fact the opposite I ordered way too much stuff and it was still like just a hair bit over 20 bucks. Four normal people could’ve ate on that. Now to add to this experience. They have outdoor seating in the back it’s private and hidden and you don’t have to watch people walking down the street. You can come into this little enclave of peace and relaxation and almost escape the city for a moment and allow your taste buds to take you on a journey someplace far far away exotic place where the music is soft and the people are friendly

The empanadas and dipping sauce were absolutely delicious! We got the cheese empanada and cheese+ plantain empanada with the spicy dipping sauce, and each bite was perfect. The outdoor seating was a beautiful area. Definitely will be back. also the chefs making the empanadas were so sweet!!

First of all, the food is always delicious! I don’t usually eat in, but the outdoor space is going to have me bringing my friends! And this Hawaiian mimosa is so good!

Killer empanadas even the pizza one. The split empanada was excellent as well. Cute spot and friendly staff. Glad to see something this great in Highlandtown.