Start with your phone. Type “best empanadas de cazón near me” into a maps app. Then ignore the chain pizza places and look for names like “Cuban Kitchen,” “Marisqueria,” or “Latin Bakery.”
Read the reviews—but skip the five-star ones. Go straight to the three-star reviews. Those are the ones that say stuff like “Good, but the dough was a bit thick” or “Needed more shark.” Those are your clues. A three-star review is just a treasure map with a few smudges.
Bonus tip: Call ahead. Ask, “Are your cazón empanadas fresh today?” If they hesitate, move on. If they say, “We just made a batch 20 minutes ago,” you put on your shoes and run.
What to look for when you find them
When that golden half-moon lands on your plate, check the seams. A good crimp means they won’t leak their delicious filling. That sealing pattern—like the edge of a pie crust—is a sign of care.
Take a bite. Does the dough taste clean and slightly salty? Does the shark flake apart in your mouth like a tender secret? Does it make you close your eyes for a second? If yes, you’ve found the one.
It’s a little like dating. You might have a few duds—dry ones, greasy ones, or ones that taste like nothing—but when you find the one, you know. And then you become that person who texts friends: “Dude, you have to try the empanadas at this place on 12th Street.”
