Queens Tribune

84-17 Northern Blvd., Jackson Heights
25-51A Steinway Street, Astoria
Phone: (718) 507-0400
PHONE: (718) 726-1400
Cuisine: Latino
Hours: 10 a.m. -11 p.m. 7 days a week

With a hand-drawn, mustached empanada wearing a chef’s hat on its front sign, you just know that Papa’s Empanadas has to be an excellent place to grab a bite. The empanada character can be referred to as the “Papa Empanada,” and he’s putting other such food characters like the Pillsbury Dough Boy and the Hamburger Helper Glove to shame.

A welcoming little joint for Queens restaurant goers, the restaurant has two different locations in Jackson Heights and Astoria. It is plain to see that Papa’s Empanadas has a great many delights for all of Queens.

The empanada is the Mexican version of a pocket of dough filled with something else – every culture has its own version. Papa’s Empanadas offers nearly 35 different fillings, with some very original ideas for empanadas. A delicious choice that will delight both kids and adults is the macaroni and cheese. Other great empanada choices from the menu include pizza, cheese steak, oven baked turkey, meatball, and chili dog.

The restaurant doesn’t just do it the Mexican way. There is also a section of its menu called International Empanadas, with Greek (spinach, feta, and mozzarella cheese), Polish (kielbasa and sauerkraut), Italian (sausage, onions and peppers), and Cuban (ham, pork and cheese).

From the restaurant menu, there are a number of full platters that will also delight customers seeking a full meal. Top choices include bandeja tipica, which consists of Sirloin Steak and rice; sobrebarriga, which is a grilled flank steak with rice and beans; chuleta de cerdo, a breaded pork chop; and pechuga de pollo asada, or grilled chicken breast.

When dessert comes around, Papas Empanadas enfolds a great number of sweet delights into their empanadas. Some desserts that are can’t miss include sweet plantain and cheese, guava and cheese, apples and cinnamon, cherry and blueberry. There is also a Papas Empanadas creation called the “Elvis,” which is filled with peanut butter and bananas.

Make sure to wash down your meal with a natural fruit shake, salpicon (mixed fruit cocktail), avena (oatmeal shake), or kumis (yogurt shake).

So the “Papa Empanada” is waiting for you, and he has a great many delights with which to fill you up right.