Che! Empanada Review

On Lincoln Street, Worcester, just a 10 minute drive from MAMS’ building, sits one of Che! Empanada’s four–soon to be five–locations. The small chain began five years ago, and is owned by Alvarez-Cote, who first began selling her homemade Argentinian empanadas in Newton before deciding to expand to Worcester. The Lincoln St location has been open for 3 years. I entered the establishment at 8:15 PM on Monday, December 8th, curious and apprehensive to discover an overhyped “five-star” eaterie, a bland, beige meal, or a new hidden gem.

Initial Thoughts

Upon entering Che! Empanada, we were warmly greeted by the employee behind the counter. One customer was seated at the front bar stools, sipping from a Pineapple Fanta and simultaneously scrolling. The store was clean and quiet: free from peppy music or chatter, but it didn’t feel void of energy or character. The ovens hummed, Worcester traffic seeped in through the windows, and when the door opened, wind rustled through the wall hangings. 

When we reached the front counter, the employee was patient and genuine. He explained what bechamel sauce is, the most popular vegetarian options, and the pricing system in a manner that matched the ease of the store.

My parents and I decided on six empanadas (with the included original and spicy chimichurri sauces) to-go for $28.50. We chose two Classic Chickens, and one of Spicy Chicken, Eggplant, Spinach & Cheese, and Banana & Nutella.

The empanadas were rewarmed, a process that took five or six minutes, and placed in a box. The box lid was labeled with the pastry names to aid with differentiating the empanadas, since the dough shape was nearly identical for most. The box itself had a handwritten “Made With Love” scrawled across the top. The car ride home was filled with the mouthwatering smell of rich, fried onions.

The Empanadas (and Chimichurri)

Classic Chicken:

This was my first bite after the tantalizing car ride home and the onion flavor was strongly present but complemented the chicken well. The chicken itself was juicy, tender, and bursting with salty tomato flavor–likely from being slow-braised. The empanada corners were crispy and had a crunch while the middle dough parts touching the chicken were soft (but not yet soggy). For my second bite, I dipped the empanada in the chimichurri sauce. It was tangy and the acidity of the parsley really shone and cut through the thick chewy dough.

Spicy Chicken:

As a disclaimer, I would not declare myself a lover of spicy food. However, for the full experience–and per the cashier’s recommendation–I tried the spicy chicken empanada paired with the spicy chimichurri. This definitely had a kick to it. I was not rushing for water, but my eyes may have watered a little. Flavorwise, this empanada had black beans in it and an almost olive-like taste. I did not get any of the juicy tomato brothy-flavor from the Classic Chicken empanada. I also–maybe as a spice-averse person–felt the spice detracted from the flavor. This empanada was not bad, but it’s likely best suited for someone with a stronger affinity for spice.

Eggplant:

This empanada was the only uncovered one purchased and it was reminiscent of a vegetable pie. The appearance was incredibly misleading, however, because this may have been my favorite one. The eggplant was so soft and tender that it melted in my mouth. The natural sweetness of both the eggplant and onion made this empanada so rich. The flaky crust exterior was the ideal contrast to the tender filling.

Spinach & Cheese:

This empanada was creamy, buttery, and cheesy in the most comforting way possible. It was very reminiscent of spanakopita and had a flaky butter crust that was like a crispier croissant. This empanada was heavenly, and if you enjoy a spinach feta croissant, you will love this.

Banana & Nutella:

This empanada was an elevated chocolate croissant. It was stuffed to the seams with oozing hazelnutty goodness. The bananas added more depth to the chocolate and tapped into the classic, nostalgic banana-chocolate flavor profile that dominated my single digit years. This empanada was so indulgent and rich.

Parting Thoughts

I thoroughly enjoyed all the empanadas I tried today–especially the eggplant and banana-Nutella ones. I look forward to more visits to Che! Empanada and strongly recommend this establishment to anyone seeking a warm comfort meal with chewy textures and rich flavors.