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I recently had the pleasure of dining at República Empanada in Mesa, Arizona, and it left a memorable impression—both for its ambiance and its food! Atmosphere & Decor: From the moment we walked in, we were struck by the colorful murals adorning both the interior and exterior of the restaurant. The lively artwork creates a vibrant atmosphere that’s both welcoming and inspiring. One of the coolest features is the long high-top communal table running the length of the restaurant’s center. It’s a brilliant setup that invites strangers to sit together, sparking conversations and making the dining experience feel fun. While they do have a patio that’s perfect for warmer days, on our chilly winter day we chose the cozy interior. Lunch Experience: For lunch, we sampled a couple of empanadas: • El Capitan: This empanada was filled with seasoned ground beef, potato, boiled egg, green olive, and golden raisin, all tied together with a delicious house-made sauce. • Pernil: Featuring slow-roasted, specially seasoned pork, this empanada was equally delightful, also served with the house-made sauce. To round off the meal, we also had the Maduros—ripe sweet plantains served with a side of Crema. Everything was absolutely delicious, making for a standout lunch that left us eager to return later in the day. Dinner Experience: Later that evening, we had plans to catch a show at the Mesa Arts Center and were looking for a great place for dinner, but ran out of time, so we thought we’d go back to República Empanada as it was nearby. Although it was busy and we didn’t have a reservation, the staff managed to squeeze us in, which we really appreciated given that a line quickly began to form behind us. The service was really slow—after about 20 minutes we werw starting to worry—but once our order was finally taken our drinks and finally food, did not take long at all. I enjoyed a beer while my partner had a house-made cocktail (a special for the night that was quite good, even though I can’t recall its name). For dinner, we tried a couple of different empanadas: • Cubana: Packed with pernil, ham, mozzarella, and dill pickle. • Jalapeño Ham Popper: Filled with grilled seeded jalapeños, cream cheese, and salted ham. While both were tasty, they didn’t quite hit the mark compared to the lunch empanadas. We also ordered the Arroz Colombiano, a hearty dish featuring a blend of shrimp, sausage, and rice cooked in the restaurant’s tomato blend with achiote, celery, onions, red bell peppers, carrots, and cilantro. It was a flavorful dish, though I was a bit disappointed to find only four shrimp in the mix. Lastly, the yucca fries were served, but they were cut too large and the seasoning and dressing didn’t really do them justice. Final Thoughts: Overall, my experience at República Empanada was a mixed bag—lunch was a hit with amazing flavors and a wonderful atmosphere, while dinner, though good, didn’t quite live up to the expectation set at lunch. Despite the slight hiccups during dinner service, the restaurant’s ambiance (with its inspiring murals and unique communal table) makes it a great spot to try, especially if you can time your visit for when it’s less hectic. I’d definitely recommend it for a casual, art-filled dining experience in Mesa! J.S. 😘
I feel really lucky about arriving at just the right time. When we got there, there were only a few groups. By the time we left, there was a big wait, with people waiting outside. The place really filled up fast. The restaurant is pretty small, and with a full house, it got so loud. I was starting to get a headache. Luckily I had a pair of earplugs in my purse. It was much more tolerable with the plugs. Service was great. We had several different servers come to our table to check on us. We got an appetizer (the one that has the three things to sample) and 3 empanadas. (Jalapeno bean, jalapeno potato, and elote). Everything was good, but I just feel like it was a bit overpriced for what it was.
WOW, what an amazing dining experience. We have an amazing server it was the granddaughter of the owners. I have to say hands down yummy food for the price and the quality was spot on. Every staff member we came in contact with was just thoughtful. I am truly grateful for such an awesome experience. The fires covered in vegan cheese with avocado and pickled jalapenos was hands down yummy !! I got the vegan platter, THE BEST BLACK BEANS EVER, they make them from scratch. Great art work love the seating. I will be back !! I got food to go!
This is an absolute must visit!!!! The sampler appetizer was the perfect amount to snack on before the empanadas arrived. They have a kids meal option and we were so happy it came with cucumbers. The empanadas were some of the best I have had. The shell is thin, filling full of flavor and the meat was moist.
Found this restaurant while searching for something close by the Mesa art center. Show was at 8 o’clock so we came to the restaurant at 5:30. Staff was friendly and the food was very good. Definitely would come back.