A paper bag that turns see-through with butter spots before you even reach the car is usually a very good sign. Across Florida, some of the best beef empanadas come from small bakeries you might drive past without a second look.
Inside, the crusts crackle, the fillings are rich and well seasoned, and the prices rarely sting. Grab a napkin, because these seven spots are worth planning a weekend road trip around.
1. Ricopan Bakehouse, Tampa, FL
Out on Causeway Boulevard, a bright Colombian bakery is quietly making some of the most talked-about empanadas in the Tampa Bay area. Ricopan Bakehouse builds its menu around traditional pastries and sandwiches, but the handmade beef empanadas steal the show.
Expect a deeply golden, crisp shell that snaps when you bite it. The beef inside is savory and boldly seasoned, so every bite carries real flavor instead of fading into the dough.
Chicken versions sit right beside them if your group wants to split a few.
Breakfast fans will find plenty to love too, from huevos pericos to buñuelos, cheese-stuffed pan dulce, and arepas. Sweet tooths can hunt down the caramel tres leches or chocolate mousse cake.
The space is clean and modern with outdoor seating, and doors open at 6 AM most days. Weekend mornings get lively, so a weekday lunch run is the calmer play.
2. La Segunda Bakery and Cafe, St. Petersburg, FL
Cuban bread is the famous name here, yet the pastry case deserves just as much attention. La Segunda Bakery and Cafe on 4th Street North brings a classic Cuban bakery feel to St. Petersburg.
Its beef empanadas are tender, flaky, and packed with savory filling. A beef and cheese version is a local favorite worth asking about at the counter.
Finish with a cheese or guava turnover for a sweet ending.
Sandwiches round out the visit, including the Tampa Steak, Mojo Chicken Caesar, and media noche. Free wi-fi and on-site parking make it easy to linger over an espresso.
Plan to come early, since the kitchen wraps up at 3 PM daily.
3. Bakery Pastelmania, Miami, FL
Twenty years behind the same counter teaches a baker a thing or two. Bakery Pastelmania on West Flagler Street is a cozy neighborhood spot with a friendly owner and a loyal morning crowd.
Empanadas are made fresh every day in both Cuban and Colombian styles, which is a fun way to compare two traditions side by side. The beef is nicely seasoned and the shells come out flaky.
Tastes vary, though, so try one before ordering a dozen.
Prices land in the budget-friendly range, often under ten dollars per person. Add a guava tartaleta or a loaf of Cuban bread to your bag.
Service moves fast, and the quietest window is usually the afternoon.
4. Mecatos Bakery & Café, Orlando, FL
Pulled beef, and plenty of it. That is the simple promise at Mecatos Bakery & Café on South Kirkman Road, where the Empanada de Carne skips extra cheese and lets the meat do the talking.
The fried shells arrive crispy outside with a generous, beefy center. It is a pure, focused take on a Colombian classic.
Unlike quick-stop counters, this place works as a full sit-down meal. Arepas, cachapas, dulce de leche cake, and hot chocolate fill out the menu.
The setting feels chic and relaxed, with outdoor seating, high chairs, and a kids’ menu.
Long hours, running until 9 PM most nights, make it handy after a day at nearby Orlando attractions. Reservations are accepted, and parking is usually plentiful.
5. Sunshine Bakery, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Variety is the name of the game on Davie Boulevard. Sunshine Bakery is a modest spot, but its empanada lineup reads like a sampler platter.
Spicy beef brings heat, Colombian-style options add a different crust, and sweet ground beef pastries offer a classic Cuban twist. Spinach and Argentinian styles are there for anyone skipping meat.
Ordering by the dozen is easy and makes sense at these prices.
Pair your haul with a café con leche, a house favorite. Croquetas and pastelitos are worth tossing in too.
Sunday hours are short, closing at noon, so Saturday is the safer bet for a leisurely stop.
6. The Baker’s Son – Jacksonville, FL, Jacksonville, FL
Here is the curveball on the list: a Filipino bakery. The Baker’s Son on Atlantic Boulevard proves empanadas travel well across cultures.
Filipino empanadas are baked, not fried, giving a golden, tender pastry around a savory beef filling. Fans call them some of the best around, and the chicken version is popular too.
Everything is made from scratch.
Make room for the rest of the case. Ube ensaymada, Spanish bread, hot pandesal, turon, and an ube latte or mango coffee cake all tempt.
Note that it is takeout only with no dine-in, so a picnic near the Jacksonville beaches might be the perfect plan. Open daily from 8 AM to 8 PM.
7. Delicias Cuban Bakery, West Palm Beach, FL
Who expects great empanadas inside a gas station? Delicias Cuban Bakery on Georgia Avenue in West Palm Beach flips that idea upside down, and it never closes.
Open 24 hours, it turns out crispy empanadas stuffed with flavorful meat. The shredded beef and spicy beef versions are the standouts.
Large pickup orders are welcome, which helps for parties.
Ropa vieja, pan con bistec, a Cuban sandwich, and flan add to the appeal. The cafe con leche and cortadito are strong morning fuel.
Weekday mornings bustle, while evenings are calm for a late-night snack run.
For a final Florida stop, few places offer this much flavor at any hour.