Being married to an Argentinian and having spent a considerable amount of time in the country, I’ve come to love their bitter mate tea, their sinful pastries, and, of course, their famous empanadas.
Although seemingly simple, a truly good empanada is not so easy to find on this side of the Atlantic: usually, either the filling is good but the dough isn’t right, or the dough is okay but the filling is bland. The experience always ended in disappointment - until one fine day, when I was walking along the quaint Marienburger Straße in Prenzlauer Berg and stumbled upon La Criolla, an Argentinian empanada shop.
Although with low expectations, I decided to give it a chance, and with the first bite, I was sold. These were truly authentic empanadas, just like in Argentina — and I would even dare to say, better than some I had there.
The dough is just perfect, and the fillings include all the classics you’d find there - carne criolla, caprese, fugazzeta, jamón y queso — along with more original recipes like pear and roquefort, pork with plums and also vegan options. Whatever you choose, they’re all delicious. My favorite is the fugazzeta, filled to the brim with melted cheese and roasted onions. They also make a fantastic spicy sauce to go with the empanadas, and for dessert, the homemade alfajores de maicena are the obvious choice.
La Criolla is the perfect spot for a quick lunch while visiting the beautiful neighborhood of Prenzlauer Berg.
Marienburger Straße 9
Empanada:
€
3.50
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