Julia’s Empanadas (DC)
Julia's Empanadas - Adams Morgan
2452 18th St NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 328-6232
Julia's Empanadas - Dupont Circle
1221 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 861-8828
Julia's Empanadas - Columbia Heights
3239 14th St. NW
Washington, DC 20010
(202) 328-6232
All cheap-eats seekers in D.C. proper owe it to themselves to check out Julia’s Empanadas, a mini-chain with locations in Adams Morgan, Columbia Heights, and Dupont Circle.
Each of the seven savory empanadas, or stuffed pastries, is baked, and Julia’s offers a range of flavors sure to satisfy any palate. The saltena—stuffed with chicken, potato, peas, hard-boiled egg, and green olives—is a particular favorite, its spicy sweetness stemming from the curry-inflected sauce. The spinach empanada is slightly mushy but delicious, with ricotta, muenster, and cottage cheese balancing out the hefty helping of spinach.
You’d be choosing wisely if you picked the Jamaican-style beef empanada, where a tasty blend of spices lends the ground beef a pleasant level of heat. Or select the turkey with spring onions—you’ll enjoy a pastry with chunks of white meat, potato, peas, egg, and a hint of turmeric.
Julia’s also offers fruit empanadas, a sweet counterpoint to the strong flavors of the savory ones. The apple empanada is like a handheld apple pie, wonderful with cinnamon and a dusting of powdered sugar. Next time I find myself in the neighborhood, I’ll make the tough decision between strawberry-cream cheese and pear-guava.
For those of you wondering just how big these empanadas are, depending on your appetite, one or two should cut the mustard. At $3.18 apiece, that’s a steal for a meal.
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By Alison L. McConnell
Alison L. McConnell is a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and writer. A native of New Jersey and upstate New York, she attended Bowdoin College in Maine and the London School of Economics before settling in Washington, where she works as a financial reporter, food freelancer, and studies at L’Academie de Cuisine. Some of her favorite things to make are risottos, roast chickens, and cakes. She abides by a long-standing family motto: McConnells always finish their desserts.
About The Humble Gourmand
The Humble Gourmand is published the first Friday of each month, edited by Alison L. McConnell, a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and writer. It is designed to offer straightforward lessons and advice to aspiring cooks, oenophiles, and all other eaters and drinkers.
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rebecca
December 21 1:46 p.m. 1This is a great lunch or late-night snack place. Thanks for reminding me how much I love Julia's!
PS Your site is awesome. As is your cooking.